Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-07-11 00:00:00

visitors to the Lake country a guide-book, which, if

not as full and minute as inferior volum

will be prized as

a valuable piece of literature, and a delightful companion,
by every visitor of reading and appreciation. Something' of
a similar task Dr. 111‘Nicholl has now executed f

less famous indeed than. the glorious poetlegion, to whose
celebrity Miss Martineau could not add: Oar own little plea-
sant, bright,-healthful Southport De. M'N'idiAl lies dCsabed;

in a volume, of which every page tells that its author is a man

of talent and a seholar. It tells all of Southport that the
dullest of mechanical guides could point out, and it makes

every detail interesting even to those not familiar with the

spot by the attractions of thought and style. So?i

lanters

is the volume have a N

le far beyond that which coald

attach to any, mer

graceful

such, for instance,
sea-bathing and the limitations within which it mist be
availed of by invalids. The book also contains aeon history

as those which are de

oted to the uses o f

of the various specimens of the animaVvegetable:Q fossil
kingdoms which belong to the shores of Southport. In hied
it exhausts in the fullest and best sense the subject which it

hes taken up, and while it supplies the ordinary tourist,
summer excursionist, or invalid, with all the infJrznation he

can require, it will form an attractive and an instructive
study to the cultivated reader, and may convey many
a valuable suggestion to hundreds who have never seen, and
are not likely to see, the pleasant little spot which it
describes. We may add, as an unimportant point, that this
little book is beautifully got up ; its typgraphy, and other
external characters being such as would do credit to the
foremost publishing house in the Metropolis.

410. -

THE KEAN TESTIMONIAL

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES

Sir, Can you tell me why the public should be
called upon to get up a testimonial to Mr. Charles Kean?
Especially I should like to know why Liverpool people
concern themselves about it, and why a local committee
should be rendered necessary to enable us to transmit the
expressions of our exhuberant rapture more promptly to,
London ? Mr. Thos. E. Moss was a schoolfellow of Mr.
Kean at Eton, and may naturally feel a pleasure in aiding a
public honour to his friend. But what special cause have
the other gentlemen of the local committee or the Liverpool
people for joining in, the demonstration ? Mr. Caarles
Kean is not a great actor. Hi

haksperian performances
are mouthing, gasping, teeth-grinding, snasm-working
burlesques upon nature, passion, and Shakspere
rendered no services to the English drama in his

He has

wteity of

manager, unless it be , a service to convert '• King John,"
"Macbeth," the "Tempest," and other of its great

Metes into magic-lantern raree-shows and blazing
variegated crowded spectacles for country visitors to wonder
at. Any original pieces his management has put upon the
stage have been the feeblest and most inane samples of
mediocrity

Ile is not, I have heard, popular among the
members of his own profession. But he has made a large
fortune ; and if he'bas not served Shakspere, Shakspere has
undoubtellrserved him. lie has also had the

good f

Intune

to please the Times, whose dramatic critic is never tired of
blowing the brazen trumpet of puffery in his favour. D:d you
ever see a little sketch which was in circulation among
dramatic people in London not very long since ? The
vene

represented Air. Kean seated in a money-office in the
Princess's Theatre ; and to him enters a certain dramatic
critic, who also does German translations, and writes small
dramas. The critic brings a new piece, which the manager
is supposed to accept. The critic (as we gather from the
dialogue at the foot of the sketch) has asked a certain sum
the generous manager doubles it ! " But," says the
modest critic, "I fear, Mr. K., you over-rate my abilities ?"
" Yes," replies the manager, with a meaning smile, "but
hen, Mr. -, you know how long you have over-rated

nine !"

Various motives. therefore, may warrant men in feeling
admiration for Mr. Kean. But those who were not at
school with him, who are not likely to have farces
purchased by him, who do not think him a great actor, who
prefer Shaksperc without either musical or magnifying
glasses, who do not want to have their names printed in the
lists of the testimoniareoinmittee, and who have a gem fa!
objection to humbug, may be excused if they restrain their
enthusiasm on the subject—l remain, sir, yours, &c.

PIIILISTER.