The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-12-13 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

Last night the Comedy of The Merchant of Venice was
performed at this Theatre, and a Gentleman named Preist
made his first appearance in the character of Skoh,ek. It is
unfortunate for him and ourselves that we are unable to
compliment him with the couplet applied to Macklin, in
the same

" This is the Jew
" That Shakspeare drew."
Mr. Preist's Shpock by no means realizes our notions of
the character, as designed by the great master-spirit of the
English drama. In person the performer is below the mid-
dle size, and singularly ungraceful. His features are not
of a quality, either in expression or formation, to redeem
the deficiencies of his bodily appearance ; and his voice,
though tolerably distinct, is occasionally husky, and never
impressive. With these disadvantages of personal con-
struction, Mr. Priest can lay no claim to the redeeming
quality of genius. His conception of the character
is as common-place as his countenance. Sometimes he
appeared to imitate the restless and tottering action of
Kean, but the resemblance was strictly confined to exter-
nals. In all the passionate and burning intensity that
characterises the style of that actor, our aspirant for thea-
trical honours possesses no share; and his resoling was so
inaccurate as to excite our surprise at the boldness of his
attempt. But folly is proverbially inconsiderate, and
" fools step in where angels fear to tread." The boldness
of the actor's tearing could only be attributable to the
confidence likely to be induced by considerable experience
in provincial performance, or the settled equanimity
generally attendant upon dulness. The expression of
his face was harsh and exaggerated in the scenes which
demanded exertion; and the performer appeared to strive
to compass by extravagance what he lacked in delicacy of '
expression. Not unfrequently too there were instances of
very gross deficiencies in orthoepy, scarcely to be expected
from any man bold enough to attempt the ordeal of a
metropolitan theatre. We have only to assure Mr. Preist,
that in selecting the mimetic art he has mistaken the pro-
fession indicated by nature as suitable to his talents, and
to entrtat him for his own sake, and that of the public, to
select some pursuit snore germane to the matter. If. in
spite of our sincere and friendly admonition, he feels dis-
to persist in his rash and ill-considered election, let
rt(i)osnedchoose comedy in preference to tragedy. A man may
be a very tolerable Caliban or Dennis Brulgroddery, who
cannot soar to the height of Romeo or Richard.

It is rumoured that the Committee of Management at
Drury-lane have engaged Miss Foote, and that her first
apptarance at that Theatre will be in the latter end of Fe-
bruary.

Farley, whose success in the superintendence of Panto-
mime and Spectacle has seldom failed, is prepared with his
Christmas banding at Covent-garden Theatre, which the
chit-chat of the Green-room reports to be superior to any of
his former productions.
The younger Barrymore has been preparing the Christ-
mas Pantomime for Drury-lane Theatre, of which report
speaks favourably ; it is quite ready for representation.—
Barrymore and his wife have left town for Milan, where lie
has engaged to produce a Pantomime after the genuine
English fashion, which is to astonish the natives of Italy,
early in February.
MR. LIM/N.—The following certificate from Sir
Matthew Tierney will explain why this favourite actor has
nut commenced his engagement at Drury-lane.• Subse-
quent accounts, we are happy to hear, give promise of his
first appearance early next week:—" Sir Matthew is of
opinion, that a week or ten days will enable Mr. Liston to
resume his avocations at the Theatre ; in the meantime, it
is of great importance that Mr. Liston be kept tranquil and
quiet, both in mind and body."
AMERICAN Hulsooß.—The Editor of the Rutland lie-
raid says he has been presented with a potato this season,
measuring nineteen inches and a half in circumference. It
should be shipped to Ireland. The National Standard
states that a Mr. Royal Stetson, of Randolph, has this year
raised a pumpkin vine six hundred and seventy7five feet is
length, which produced thirty-two pumpkins, twenty of
which were of the ordinary size. Mr. Randolph must
have procured the seed from Ohio, where, we are informed,
a gentleman resides who planted a pumpkin seed over
night, and on the following morning, finding the vine had
commenced running, he mounted his horse and rode in
vain for several hours to overtake it, but his horse becom-
ing tired he was forced to give up the chase! By the by,
our friend of the Cleareland Herald denies that the cucum-
ber, from four to five feet long, grew in the same harden
where the crow-bar shot forth innumerable branches of,
brads and spikes. We were therefore probably mistaken.
It was in the garden of another gentleman near by, whose
radishes ran so deep in the earth that they were stolen by
the Antipodes, wino pulled them through !—New York
Paper.
The whole of the materials of the houses, guard-room,
and lodge to the Lower Mews, Charing-cross, were
yesterday sold by auction, ine;uding the Mews Gate
Public-house.