The Express.
London, England, 1859-03-31 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 31, 1859.

LITERATUBB.

disiesities of Littratore. BT ISAAC DISRAELI. A
now edition. Edited by lug Son, the Right Hon.
B. Disuau. In two vols. London: Rout-

ledge, Wenn, and Routledge.
The clan of works to which this and most of Mr.
Isaac Disraeli's other writings belong has, we think,
had its day. To write them presupposes a love of
books for their own sake, and a sort of superstitious
veneration for authorship which, are becoming eve
day len common ; and to read them requires both
more leisure, and a taste more purely and exclusively
literary, than the multifarious exigencies of our pre-
sent state of society permit. Man now-a-days
have, we suspect, scarcely sufficient curiosity about
"the literary character" to care whether authors, as
• class, have quarrelled with their wives or been
subject to melancholy, or involved in pecuniary diffi-
culties. Men who study now study with a more
definite purpose, and are compelled to limit their
researches to a narrower field, and the librorum
is daily becoming a rarer animal. Southey is perhaps
the last man of eminent name who has published a
book of diffuse and learned gossip, and the cheerful
pedantry, the dreary }otiosity, and elephantine rale.
of "The Dater" certainly do not
one anxious to see the experiment repeated. Of
the It Mr. buys Diaraeli's are certainly the most
agrees as well ea the beet specimens in our lam-
page. He was fitted to be the prince of learned
garips by the calmness of his temperament, by the
thorough seclusion of his intellectual life, by his eon-
heatedness in a laborious and Benedictine occupa-
tion, and even by the absence of qualities that might
have made him a better writer and a greater man.
The title of the present work is somewhat mislead-
ing. It is a survey, though irregular and discur-
sive, of a emaidaabte portion of our literature. We
have said a word ea to the relation of this class of
writings to readers of the present day. The posi-
tion of these works of Mr. Disney's ea English
classics rendered unneesesary even the slight allu-
sion we made to their rank m their own province.
We need only add that this volume is handsome and
well printed.

TA. Freeeh in Africa. B 7 LAWRINCII TIENT
Cava, late Captain in H.M.• 64th Regiment, and
Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
Charles J. Skeet.
Considering its accessibility, the beauty of its
climate, and the interesting character of its historical
associations and present condition, Northern Africa
has scarcely received from travellers the attention it
deserve*. Algeria may be reached in three or four
days from England, and in leer than two
from the South of France; the heat is not
greater than that of Italy, and fine genial
weather is the rale e it abounds in game better
worth pursuing than partridges and pheasants,
and in fine studies of Arab life and Moorish architec-
ture. Jugurtha and Abd-el-Bader have made it
attractive to the soldier and the scholar ; and, lastly,
it is just now the scene of a remarkable experiment
in military colonisation. The present work was in-
to Mr. Cave by the recollections of a tour in
gestedren in 1863. It contains a clear and careful narra-
tive of the French conquest and occupation, preceded
bye sketch of the put history of Algeria, and a geo-
graphical description of the country. Dunng
his tour great facilities for acquiring informa-
tion were afforded Mr. Cave by the French
officers, and he has consolidated and added to
the knowledge thee acquired by subsequent study of
the most important treatises:and memoirs on the sub-
ject. The result is a very valuable contribution to
the understanding of the French North African
colony. The interest of the work, however, is not
eoefined to this point. Mr. Cave dimmers at consi-
derable length the claims of Algeria both on Euro-
pean residents and on tourists. Of its general
healthiness he speaks favourably, though he does not
venture on en opinion of its merits as a place for
invalids comparatively with the old established re-
sorts on the shores of the Mediterranean. Good

maps both of the provinoe and of the immediate
neighbourhood of Algiers add to the value of the
book.

DRAMA.

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.

Perhaps the most noteworthy thing in the revival of
King Henry as fifth is the perfect training of everybody
cowered in the rerennitation; there are no supernume-
raries, rob man or woman, though the mere component pert
of a crowd, is en artist, carefully retorting his or her little
share towards the perfecting of the grand whole. This Is
specially to be remarked la the third leer of the fourth act,
when the air of wessizsese, despair, and fatigue which at first
prevails among the won-out English trove, contrasts
admirably with the spirit aroused by the King's delivery
of the well-known "Crispin" speech, when they at nom
refine to retire to Ragland without fighting, and at the
conclusion, word up to the highest enthusiasm, mem round
their leads sad straggle to kin his hand or the edge of his
drew The are training is to be noticed in the Haltered
Episode. All playgoers must have been struck with the
hitherto apparent impossibility to endow • number of subordi-
nate dramatic characters with anything approaching to
vitality ; It has generally been ocosidered prudent not even
to intrust them wither word, lest they should blurt it forth in
trireme place, and they are therefore generally left to express
whatever emotion m►y be supposed to influence th-ir actions
by a stiffening of the right elbow, and an expansion of the
right freer tope, grief, despair, rage, joy, triumph, no
m►tter what passion may be swelling la their bosoms, thus
finds its vent. But under Mr. Kean's tuition this has been
entirely done away with, and the one sentiment animating
the crowd—pride in their country's suocer and de-
light at their King's wear, naturally finds a hundred
different indeed expeession some sing, *owe deuce, some
about, some silently wring the hands of the returned aoldiers,
and some, intent alone on personal feelings, clasp their dear
ones to their ruts, or wail in passionate grid for those lost
to them for ever. The scene is a most affecting one, sad
her the power of puitomirs, without the aid of language, is
seen in its strongest form.
The play hes the further advantage of being, prep,
snore evenly acted than any of the former revivals. Dressed
in reunite taste, and speaking with the purest and most per
elocution, Mn. Kean renders the Chorus en important
sad a looked-for personage in the progeny of the play, a
result which Sharpers himself would sow to have le-
tended, es many of the most beautiful preps are placed in
the month of this character. Mr. Keen woe perhaps rite
seen to greater advantage than r the Ming : the indigna-
tion, veiled by courtesy, in the fir act; the bravery, some-
what dashed by the cordovan's of Werke waters mad
better disciplined men, yet 'Retained by a reliance en Provi-
dence, and the Indomitable courage which parr. the middle
portion of the play; end the hearty, horst, bluff
Bntiale fern-spanking exhibited at lest In his interview with
the Princess Katherine, were all squally well rendered,
Indeed, Mr. Kean seems to have marred all pliers of the
character, and ft Is difficult toy kid t►e palm to his delivery
of either of the two great speeches—the pious prayer "0, God
of battles, noel my soldiers' heads or the spirit-stirring

Crtspin's day," so emoellcnt was oecb.
Mr, Meadows played hi■ harmer part of linden with ali
tbs pianism:a, and, judgiag from the beadiness of the
tboadang he wholabiered to Pistol, with all the Ire of peel
okra Yr. Cooper's motel donation was bawd to groat
idivaitap Y the swam of the Duke dß:star ; Mr. Ryder,
raped, beam and truculent than usual, played the
Make W liege toecibly sad well ; and if Mr. Freak Ma-
dinat as Pistol had a fault, it me a pardonable one, consist-
ing so It did In over-eral.
She awry, by Mame. thieve sad Talkie, throughout le
adralreble, bat one slew, the Reel& amp at Agincourt by
Oleo, dowses panlicalar meatloa. The musk uteidentst
to the play boa bus are/ally ohm& by Mr. Irian" end
la well podium&

CZYSTAL I'ALACZ. 0111 MULLING DAL.=
WYDNIISOAT, SPACII 10.—AAsmires ea laymmie 729
arm Ili% 1103 Mg *Um. en.

MUSIC.

MUSICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.

The thiraoomsoort of this warty wen given lent
rain at Bt. Jmanfethall. The programme exhibited a
selection of very good tune ; but, with a single exception,
the pies performed were familiar to the musical public. This
single amity was a symphony by Pratt: Schubert, the cals•
brand rower of Berman Lioder, whose numerous nags
hems oogebei 'abounds! popularity not only la his own coun-
try but la Banos and England, where, with treenaealar ver-
sions of the w Ma, they delight every lover of good
rood musk. They are rich in original and expiedve
melody, while their masterly oonstruction and brilliant ao-
orepentmenta for the photo show that the author was sa ao-
oomplisbed muddle. But to write soap sad ballads mad to
compose a great orchestral symphony are very different
Wage. To wooed in this is the lee pima ultra of the meet-
times power. Numbers of composite who have achieved
fame in almost every other branch of their art have failed in
this. We may mention, as fastener*, two of the
greatest dramatic musicians of the last hundred years,
Cherubim, and Webie—bath men of the blend genius, both
deeply keened, both enthereast with comobsoirsl writing (sa
is shown by their admirable overture), and yet both of
them seek nadir the irk of oeseporlag a great symphony.
Indeed, shoe the symphony wpa arra by Haydn down to
the pram' day, On mums of his logitimate nonagon may
be oolta lea tangle hoc—)beset, Berhowo. Brit. ,
and Mendelerohn. Go beyond their narks, mad we ad
nothing but sesays—some of them vary rermotable, no
doubt, but not ons worthy of companionship with
the creations of the peat symphonists— the modern
tt Brisiii of the hundred bench." The Philluumonle Society,
which during half a century hie done more than has been
done by any other mud& body to make the works of the
great symphoniita known to the world—which made the
English public acquainted with Beethoven whin he was still
neglected sad unknown even in him own ocustry—have
proved experimentally the truth of what we ay. By a con-
stant perferrautoo, In a manner as yet muirralled, in this
ooreetry at lean, of the greatest masterpieces, they have
formed for themselves an audience of unequalled dis-
crimination —an audience who will not tolerate a

eland-rate wort, and would think themselves eerionsly
aggrieved were such a piece as this of Schuberes
served up at one of their cocoata as the only symphony of
the evening. In our opinion, they are quite in the right.
When we see Gambled before us one of the noblest bands is
the world, we dadre to hear them worthily employed; and
the works of the first clam are anfildently numerous to
render recourse to inferior works quite onnecurry.
Sehubert's symphony is a week of learning and skill, but it
le formal and conventional-4 °emporia of various
styli a, without any original, Individual style of
its own. There are many passages In it to
which we would listen with plena" did we
set remember that we are made to Ham to it while we
might have been listening to something mach better.
The selection true Mozart's Momenta was interesting.
This magnificent opera is never brought upon the stage, and
therefore we are glad to hear portion. of it in the concert.
room. The overture Is somewhat weak for Mezart—in the
Italian style which prevailed when he began his career;
bat the choruses sung last night—. 0 vote tn.
mende," Placid° b 11 rear," and . Goal nano
terror," are magnificent, and produced a great dint.
The k. sir Vedrammi intorno " wee azosedingly
well sang by Mr. Temsent, and wee much applauded; and
Madame Catherine Hayes was equally sacoessfal In the air,
"Sell padre pada," onset the gems of the opera. Another
interesting testate of the concert was Mandate Bennett's
pianoforte concerto in P minor, played by Wes Arabella
Goddard u she only can play it: It was noshed with enthu-
Oleero. The air from Robert Is Diable," Vs, dit-eite," was
sung by Madame Catherine lieges; and Webta's overture
to the Baler of the Spirits emainded the conceit

HANDEL

LT lON.

•
We are informed that the issue of vouchers for
ticket. hos far exceeded the most sanguine expectations,
the office. at the Crystal Bolero and at Bxeter•hall beingdeily
besieged by applintions for plata. But although the causal
blocks contiguous to the orehestra an all sold, the seen et
the great unwept of the Crysiel Palmas is so vast that there
is sUll ample room is most excellent situations for many I
thousands of additional visitors; ;swirly application, however;
requisite.
As the works at the Palace sproach completion the good
Week of the acoousUcal arrraraneents now in course of &dep.
ties becomes mare and more apparent • and it is beyond
doubt that all within sight of the orrae;tra will hese tho-
toughly. Prom some successful experiments made lam weak,
it was estimated that by elating tie orchestra the aspateet I
power of the organ bad brae rameesral within a tiara= of
three-fold, while the quality of tons praducted by this grand
Metrament had been immorally boyeerad.
Almost tavariably tickets see tab= la seta for the three '
days, but those taken to single whom's= present great
tutiformity, there being sesealy a perceptible damns,
between the dagle vouchers lona for rash of the three days.
This is sot surprising, betas" although the Messiah
sad bred is legypt missal peoraier attractions, there
is oleo a great fee erg is 1 moue et the " Deranges Te
Dram" The following extract frees the Swiss! World
la interesting in cinnerion with this grist travel work :
tt For reasons simply pommeled with modal Ant the
Dr ingen Te Dean' is well choose os the pert of the
meager, of the Handel Retire'. Its martial tone is
admirably calculated to impress • vast multitude. Then not
only is the instrumentation strident and imporing—so as
to stir the heart like a trumpet—but the choral porticos are
solemn end magnificent, proving incontestably, if proof were
wanting, the truth of the verdict delivered by a journalist of
the day—that the genius of Handel was thenhanstlble.'
Those who remember the effriit of the choral performances,
at the preliminary commemoration of 1867, an hardly have
forgotten the immense sunation produced by the menial
piece—the grand solo displays of Judas blaccabons (Mr.
dims Reeves), and the choruses that embody the same
patient ardour. Well, the genersl tone of tee Dettingen
, Ti strict conformity with its theme—is phoned
' in the same key; and it we are allured boldly to avow an
opirdoa that possibly may not have been hitseto universally
accepted, sedum, Halve, send a little heterodox, the
Te is this gertionler instance, is equal U not superior
, to the oratorio."