The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-12 00:00:00

THE l'.lliliS-THE ICE.

We seldom remember to have witnessed a fuller attend-
ance of fashinnabh s at any public promenade than thost•
which yesterday gtac•.d the Parks by their presence. The
ice v. as of course a principal object of attraction, but the
exploits of the steehdiosl exhibiters were, with some soli-
tary exceptions, scarcely deserving of notice. The fatal
calamity in St. Jarms's Park, on Tuesday, seemed to have
chilled the ardour for skaiting,, at least amongst the proti-
ciente in the art. There were, of course, a crowd of
learners, who amused the " million " by their awkward
achievements and frequent tumbhs. The more accom-
plwhed few took possession of the end of the canal
nearest to Buckingham-gate ; and, causing a line of de-
wsreation to be struck, beyond which the canaille were
not to pass except at the hazard of running the gauntlet, they
then showed off some very graceful evolutions: one of the
moat remarkable was the execution of a set of quadrilles
by a party of gentlemen, chiefly foreigners, which, notwith-
standing the absence of music, was very neatly done. One
young Frenchman, M. Courdrois, in the space of about
twelve feet diameter, performed some most ingenious and
graceful evolutions with the strictest mathematical pro-
portion, and he afterwards, for a small wager, skaited
from end to end against a gentleman who ran along
the verge, and who got a start of fifty yards. The run-
ner at first seemed to have a decided advantage, as
he rather gained than lost any of his odds; but having
to get on the ice where the paling intervenes, it might
be fairly said that he lost Art-word, for he unfortu-
nately got one leg into a hole, from which he experi-
enced some difficulty to extricate himself. The skaiter, who
by this time had come up, generously declined the advantage
of the chance, but went back a considerable distance until
the other was again on terra
.firma. Some, who had yen-
toted more mom y on the issue than he did, cried "Shame.
foul !" &c. But he speedily redeemed his character whh
them ; for, starting off with almost incredible velocity, he
toot distanced his antagonist, and reached the gaol amidst
the acclamations of thousands. With the exception of
aom:y particular spots, the ice was generally very strong.
S,-reral men belonging to the Royal Humane Society were
in attendance with ropes and drags, but fortunately there
was co occasion for their services. The beautiful variety
of colours sported by the furred and fair pedestrians gave
ficde Park the appearance of a Russian promenade.

Wusta's Nsw Or ea.a.—On the evening of the 2.411
tilt. ;he opera of Furyanthe was given for the first time,
before a most brilliant audience, in the Royal Opera-house
at Berlin, and, in fact, under the special direction of the
great composer himself. As soon SA he ap in the
orchestra the whole house rose, and greeted riliknerdvith the
loudest plaudits. While the overture was in the course of
being played, frequently the most astounding applause
shook the very walls of the building. All the airs were
received in the most enthusiastic manner ; indeed the
music is every way entitled to it. At the end of the first
set the composer was called for, in order to receive the
most flattering marks of approbation--a circumstance
which, to our knowledge (says the Berlin Editor), never
took place before in the Prussian capital. At the conclu-
sion of the opera lie was again obliged to show himself,
when a thundering of applause took place, such as never
before was remembered upon any occasion. Mr. Von
Weber sets out almost immediately, by way of Paris, for
London, with a view to bring out in March the opera of
Oberee, which has been expressly composed for the pro-
prietors of Covent-garden theatre.
Mr. O'Kr r e.—The public, who have derived so much
entertainment from the works of this dramatic veteran, will
hear with regret that, in a veryadvanced age, and deprived
of sight, he has hardly the means of decent support. Ile
had enjoyed a pension of 201. a year, but the receiver of
Covent-garden Theatre is not authorised to pay it under the
restrictions of the Lord Chancellor. It is not to be sup.
posed, however, that his Lordship could have intended
that any of the restrictions which he deemed necessary
could be intended to- deprive this literary veteran of so
humble a stipend, suit so well earned by the many suc-
cessful pieces from his pen which were first represented at
that theatre, besides the many others which are often per-
formed there. AVe think, therefore, that, as the annuity
in question was granted by former proprietors of the the-
atre, and, as we understand, remained on the books, there
tan be little doubt that the present proprietors would be
too liberal to annul this scanty pittance to an original and
humorous writer, who is old, infirm, blind, and necessi-
tous; and that the receiver, in paying it, would not only
be sanctioned by the Lord Chancellor, but receive his
Lordship's approbation.
Mr. Waterhouse, of the Swan-with-Two-Necks, Lad-
lane, London, has been fined in the sum of 421. 10s.,
being half the penalty of 85/., which had been imposed
on him for having the luggage of the Regent, Bristol coach,
seventeen inches above the legal height, the fine being 5/.
per inch.
Tee I strutter. Nouorte.—On Saturday a woman was
brought before the Magistrate, charged with having been
'wind drunk and disorderly in the street on the preceding
light. On being asked how she came to be in that dis-
.aceful state, she ingeniously referred it to have been
'sed by the new measures, which were the subject of
Anion in the company she was in, and which, she
iid, bad so completely bothered her calculation that in the
mftision *be supposed she had been " beguiled" into
oinking more than her usual Triunity ; and site therefore
loped the Magistrate would look over it for that time. The
*by Magistrate smiled at the woman's ingenuity, and
Amended her in future not to make so free with the
" Imperial Nugget."—Liverpool

set the composer
most flattering
which, to our I
took place befor
sion of the opet
when a thunder
before was ren
Weber sets out
London, with a
Oberon, which 1
prietora of Core
Mr. O'itaty
entertainment f
bear with regve
of sight, he he
. had ewioyed a
Covent-garden '
restrictions of i
posed, however
that any of th
could be inter
humble a stip
ensful pieces ft
that theatre, be
formed theme.
iii question war
site, and, as s
tan be little do
too liberal to al
humorous writ'
tons ; and that
be sanctioned
Lordship's app
Mr. IVaterh
\ lane, London,
being half the
on him for her
seventeen inch
per inch.
THE IMP!?
i brought before
found drunk a
, bight. On la
~ rueful state
*used by the
vehation i
id, bad so cc
4 confusion she
4 thinking more
hoped the Ma:
worthy Magisi
e, commended
" Imperial Ni
..-