The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-03-01 00:00:00

GENERAI. 011%EarATIONS OY 1rA51110,1 A.sn, pars%

Our fair pedestrians continue still too much enveloped in hies to
I aloet us mut It to say rtspeeting walking.dress: we have, how.
ever, seen two noyAtier„ which we consider likely to be very rash.
unable tOWATIIII the et.d of March. One is It mantle of pale tin_
utamon.colmored cloth, mad,. Moderately wide, and about half u
quarter shooter than thr. dress: it Is Irani with bright ruse_
' colouvul v,lourt epingle. and finished MUMd the edge by tour very
nary tie fre.,,, of the a sate material : the pele.ine, which is MIMI,
3 d rather I r :e, is edged to correspond, as is also the collar; the
letter is nr tie in the demi pelerice style. This mantle is a very
elegant anti epproprire sabring envtlope. The other nevelty is a
pelisse tifgras--green lays at tee, trimmed wi h it,tiche de owe of a
Mulcts %bade, bre-noised with satin, to correspond with the pelisse.
.1 broad band at pluche de aerie goes rotund the bottoni of t: e skin ;
it is soentoontel by a row of tworsts, termed of intermingled folds
of satin anti plush: de sore. The pelisse fastens up the front by
hooks aid eyes, and is ornamented wilt a single now of acorns.
The boat of the corsage is without ornament; the hark full. 'file
cviinure is of pluche de sole edged with satin, and fastened by a
Gold Hasp. in the form of two bands imerlactri. Long sleeve, of
;In easy width, simply li "idled by a bits* band of ptuche : full
I epaulette, arranged its the limn of 311 acorn, anti composed of an
lob: tttt isture of sa in and pluche de suit. The collar is shallow,
stands out front the neck, alit partially turns over.
Mack helmet, are atilt fashionable in promenade dress, but not
to much so as those which (Vire...pond in colour with the mantle or
pr hese. They are now of an cure iel v beirotitiogs:ze ; the Alm
S uart brim szeitie more in favour titan the close outage front. lately
so prevalent: the latter, littwever, is still frequently a/looted iu
imaming costume by mr.y cle.nuites. Merino, of the very fine
and thin kind, no 1111101 worn in France, is now in great favour with
us her high drese:s in carriage C03t4.13C. We have ?e'en wine of
these gow,,s tris ttttt tri with three broad wadded satin tucks, each
edged with a flat trimming in hard silk. They are disposed in
deep fello4l. 1., tilt 'cilia of each restrain being filled with a satin
,:sr_etiTtl wall velvet. Poplin high dresses. trimmed with broad
bands of yeuyet. through which are drawn satin pulls, of the cree-
-1 cent form. are also much in carriage dress. . . . .

The only novelty that we have to remarked in head-dresses it a l
bonnet of white velours Tingle; the inside of the bran is entirely
covered with broad blimd lace iii.posed in flutings. a:d pro ecting
about an inch tr ))))) the brim: this edging Of lace is surmounted by
a scolloped band of shaded pink velvet. The Mini is in the Mary
Stuart sale, but snicaer than tloy are ,7,en rally wara ; low oval
crown, ornamented wiih knots of shiuird piok velvet and phones,
of down feather' tipped with pink: rich white grits de Naples.
I strings. Jloruing dress's are now very generally made without
collars. 81111 in many instanta,' not quite up to the throat they are
worn with coliarettes of winked muslin, or of our imitation of fo-
reign lace. Smie:iincs a demi-litho with a deep frill, which falls
over, is substituted for a collarette. An Em.t:ish lace cornette or
demi-commie. of a simple and becoming form, is an indispensable
appendage to a morimg dress. The materials for gowns have not
varied since last month.

The triamt.ng of a white gros de Natiltsis dinner dress struck us
as being very novel and pretty : it k composed of lozenge pull** of
blond net ; they are made very full, edged by a bias hand of pink
satin. attached by bows of the same material. and ornamented with
a small rose composed of velvet in the centre of each poll: We
should not omit to say. that this trimming surmounts a very broad
wadded satin sock. %Ve have seen some dress hats made with a
ilimble brim ; the lowi•r one smell, a little pointed, and rather nar-
rower behind than before: the upper brim is of the same shape,
but turns up ; the crown is very small and low. These hats are
composed of blond net; some are embroidered in gold, silver. or
stet': when that is the case, they are ornamentkl with feathers.
These that have imembroitlery are adorned with flowers. A wreath
of flowers placed between the double brim is partially seen through
it. aid a small bouquet is attached to one side of the crown.
Fashionable colours are, various shades of brown; those called
trocadero and. hear's ear are much in I:ivour ; cinnamon and mouse
colours are also fashionable; and diflirent shades of ruse colour,
citron, lavender, deep blue, crimson, and azure.

FxsitioNA BEL Iv•r Fiero c.—Nliss Macauley deli-
vered a series of recitations from her poem of Mary Stuart,
on Friday evening, at Lady Gresly's. Iler Ladyship's
rooms wtre thronged with rank and fashion, and her guests
expressed thcrost•lets highly gratti:ll with Nliss Macauley's
very superior recitations. This is not die first time during
the s •ason that Miss Macauley's talents have bean so em-
ployol, and se sincerely hole it may not he the last. We
cannot conceive a more interestiniz. thlightful, or useful
way of passing an eve 'g; and when we pare it with
the usual niciliods of killing time in the higher circles, we
mast cotnpl' •nt the good taste of of her Ladyship, and
the talents of Miss Macauley, tl:e one for collecting her
guests around her to enjoy, and the other for preparing the
mental treat. _ _

Loan Ott. roan.—A correspondent writes, " In refer-
ence to an article in yoar last, as to Lord Gifford, it may be
stated, that ho served articles with au attorney at Exeter ;
but was induced to go the bar by his oppidan and patron the
late Sir Vicary Oibbs, first es an Advocate at Exeter anti
on the Western t;reuit, and ale...rwArds in London, and but
a very few years since. Many of his seniors and expe-
rienced men at the bar, at the time of his promotion to
office, certainly felt sorely aggrieved at such a parceisa kind
of preferment, espet ally as he was not considered to have
real legitimate pretences, because he had not been to Col-
lege. and he received hut a short kind of education, limited
to Exeter tuition, withT the unfortunate O'Halloran and
Mr. Bretnell (the latt:•r a Unitarian divine). The father
of Lord O. was a grocer (and, as the shopkeepers would
say, too, in the general line), to which business his bro-
thers succeeded. The residence which they lately bought,
and now live in, is called Parker's Ilell (not Parker's Hill,
as you state). formerly in the demesne of the Baring fami-
ly, and is about half a mile from the town of Exeter, on
the real to Turham.--Etaruiner.

THEATRES.

KING'S TII FIA TRE.

Madame Catalani made her first appearance, idler a long
amid regretted absence, on Saturday evening, in the opera
of II Punalien per It if &Jim. The announcement of her 1,
return, to tesuine her former station as Prima !bona at
the Italian 1 titers, created the most lively interest and ex-
citement. Toe boxes had been lung pre 'Measly engaged ;
the utmost exertions were made to pmcuie them, and for
the lad ten slays the last-office of this Theatre seemed to
be a place of rends mous for all the coaches and aristocratic
cony. yances in town. The do rs, with much propriety on
the part of the management, we re opened before six I
o'clock, which in some degree diminished the inconve- 1,
Mem:• that arose limn the pressme of the throng that
crowded at an early hour for ashnission. Tac pit was melte
full More the nannienceinciat of the overture, and before
it was concluded the boxes were nearly so. Such was the
anxious interest cr ate) by the first appearance of this
lady, whose name in England is proverbially asseciared
with the idea of unrivalled vocal excellence. The overture
ansi erne passed off with indifference until the third scene, ,
in winch Madame Catalani, as Arittea, appears. Previous
to her coining forward, the utmost stillness prevailed, which
was interrupted on Its r entrance by a burst of applause from
all parts of the house. It continued for several minutes
with unabated warmth, and was a tribute of welcome to
this favourite perronner more cordial and animated than
we were prepared :u expect, front the unusually restrained '
expression of feeling observed at this Theatre. Madame
Catalani acknowledged the loud and warm greeting of the
audience with time utmost grace and dignity of manner. As
the applause continued she became deeply affected—even
to tears. The scene before her was certain y one that must
have predneed a strong impression, even upon a I not
very sensitive. She apparel before an assembly, after a long
lapse of years, whose admiration and partiality must have
tilled her with the most gratertil remembrances. She stood
Woman audience—the most refined and accomplished in
the kingdom—the stamp of whose early approbation was
a passport to her &ler-dame. She was amongst her first pa-
trons. her wannest admirers and trends; and it is not to be
wondered at, that at the mointnt of meeting she may have
1" caught a glimpse of the days that are Mier," and that a
spirit of affectionate gratitude should have expressed itself
in the intelligible language of a tear. The anxiety mul
anticipateal pleasure of hearing and seeing Madame Cata-
haul was qualified only by the apprehension that she might
be " aught less than she was wont to be." This apprehen-
sion, however, ceased with her first song, " No, no, pia
ra o," which proved that she still possesses ample cape-
hair, a to sustain, we hail almost said, to enhance
her very high reputation. In personal appearance Madame
Catalani is somewhat more emlanortiint than when she. was
last lame the public at this Theatre—an alteration which
is c rtainly tio small improvement to her fine personable
figure. Il.r countenance, from which "time has nil con- .
err, el to steal its youthful grace," still possesses the same
finely intellectual expression that always distinguished
it. She also retains the same grace and dignity of
deportment—the manic firmness and it dependence of tread
upon the sta,,,e—tbe same gorgeous and magnificent flow of
action, and, we will add (without the qualification of that
invidious term alnand), time same lofty and sedulously-cul-
tivated voice and brilliant execution, which have left her
without a rival upon this or any other stage. In the
several arias which were allotted to her, there was a
daring, quick, and masterly display of the most difficult
involutions of rapidly-succeeding sounds, such as no singer
but herself could even aspire to execute. Were we to
select that part of the opera which she seemed to reserve
for her greatest effort of the evening, it would he that in
which she obeys the direction of II Fanatic.) (Signor do
B .gnis) " to run the gamut with consequence and gra-
vity." In doing so she elevated her voice to the topmost
acme of ascent, and deseendeal amidst " t volume of sweet
sounds," to the most subdued and attenuated cadence. The
sad in the fifth scene was another instance of her superior
extent and compass of voice ; it is in the bravura style, and
qui:e suited to her powers. Site gave the line, confident
sentiment "E rincere e imglairful an panic, soh)," and the
spirited lines which followed it, In that bold, adorned, amid
luxuriant style, of which she alone is ntist rams. E ich display
of her delightful art was followed by the most enthusiastic
plaudits. " Segui
.fiJarli.- to a duet with haw Fel...
.rum the opportunities of 'trillion execution it afforded,
attracted the peculiar attention of the house; it was ho-
noured with an encore: Madame Catalani, in repeating it,
gave only the few concluding lines, which are the must
pi, axing and effective. In a few introduced arias at the
close of the opera, she evinced her excellence in that mezzo
style of singing, which consists in liquid volubility of voice
and sweetness of tones. Should we be disposed to deduct
at all from the rare merit of her performance, it would be
in falling soinetieness on a false note, after one of her or-
namental and splendid erderirss, and as occasional break in
some of her surprisingly rapid thrills and involutions. But
these are very minor defects ; they are not indeed a fair
topic for legitimate anisnadversion, but rather the deux-
' tions of an hypercritical scrutiny. Altogether Madame
Catalani acquitted herself in a manner worthy of her
high fame. We rejoice at her return to this Theatre in
uneliininisheal possess'on of her magnificent vocal powers.
We should not, in our notice of this opera, oniit to
mention an aria which was sung by Madame Caradori
Allen, with the most impressive sweetness. It drew down,
and it deserved, very general applause. Signor de Belida,
as Don Febeo, exceeded the good opinion we had already
formed of him. lie gave the symphonies, in the second
' act, in varied tones, with a felicity and effect which the
audience were not prepared to expect, and with which
they were exceedingly pleased. At the close of the opera
! the applause was loud and general. Madame Catalani was
called for, and, at the persevering request of the audience,
came forward. She was again greeted with applause, and,
pressing both hands to her lips in a graceful manner, she
, again gratefully acknowledged the kind reception she had
met with.

DRURY-LANE.
The Merry Wires of Wiudaur, one of the most interest-
ing productions of Shakspeare, was the performance of Sa-
turday night. This play was written by royal command,
yet its scenes are drawn from the face of nature, and, until
lately, the copy was well received. live, however, in
a musical age ; we listen to the charms of melody with the
delighted attention of simple Arcadians, and the beautiful
descriptions of Shakspeare, with his lovely and most deli-
cate creations, excite no sympathy within us unless a sub-
sidiary to the poet is found in the unassuming person of
someingenious fiddler. 17,,hr, awakening love by her
timid bashfulness—Julia, proving the sincerity of her
af-
fection, and preserved in all her wandering by that " hid-
den strength" of which Milton sprits, " her own virgin
. . . .

Knight. The fears and anxieties and fruitless Jealousies
of Ford were repress ited with admirable fidelity, and
Wallack was justly applauded. "Mine host of the Garter"
too was well performed by Sherwin ; and flarley's Alf aster
Slender was a moat entertainibg performance: simplicity
seemed "a planet ever him." I i ardulph found in G.
Smith a moat natural representative. IVe presutue to
think, however, that the nos,. of this able performer
- needs not the aid of toreign ornament,

But is when uudorn'il aiinnid The most."
Dowton's Iddietidi; with his blemd spirit 111111 rich pleasan-
try and expansive love, was the chief attraction of the
night. The description of his journey "down llachet-
latte"—his elesc tit into the Thames, with all the formi-
dable accidents of that disastrous adventure, was exceed-
ingly humorous. The vivid impression he appeared to re-
tain of his manifold suferiiigs—the instinctive horror with
which the very mention of the hisket wellies! to fill him,
procured for Pug's merriment many a participator, and
the applause was long coutinu el. ltraham sang "Sweet
Anne PuLre" with the deepest and the t. Merest feeling ; hut
the cultivated spirits who heard this song had no delight
except in the ex,cutive ability of Miss (:übitt, and "Sir eel
Amine Awe," though elivimly sum% was honoured with a
very moderate share of applause. Miss Stephens sang, and
as we suspect that she had no hand in isnornring t4liak-
h.reare; we will say that her song was the "soul of music,"
and, from the harmonious melody of her voice, all who could
fed must have derived moat exquisite. delight. 'fhe sce-
nery was creditable to the establishment. In the course of
the eventing the house was full.