The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-05-12 00:00:00

LITEOARY PtIAD SOCIETY.

Yesterday the Annt Faiths' of this Society rag held at the
Freemasons' Tenth, reat Queen-atreet.
At hair. past six the Chair was taken by Savittr Oxte'r, Esq
P. a Trustee and Auditor of the Society ; and about two buitetral
gengemen, distinguished for rank and talent, sat down to dinner.
fhe Chairman was supported on the right by lard Straneford
and Sir S. Radice, and on the left by Dr. Copeland and Sir Wm.
(Ilayton. Among the company present we noticed Mr. Smote
of the Russian Embassy, , ergeant Bosanquet, Mr. Shaded!, 31r.
Arhitaker, Dr. Sout'ley (brother to the Laureate.) Sir A. Crichtoo,
Mr. Fitzgerald, Ater Jackson, R.A. Sir Thomas Tomlin*, dr.e. to
After the cloth was withdrawn, and Yon Nobis Doming hag by
the professional gentlemen present,
The Cu/knot/off proposed the health of "the King," white
was received with enthusiasm, and drunk with the usual Mahar.
" God save the King."
" The Duke of York."
(flee—" Hail Stalling Marti."
" The Navy and Army."
Air—" Rule Britannia." •
The CIIAIRMAN then rose and said, in proposing the gets wan
the Meeting, in common with himself. would have to regret the
absence of the Hors and Learned Individual (Sir J. Mackintoth)
who was ehtpectel td have presided on the Resent occasion. Moo,
however,
_as they night all regret the absence of that distinguaried
individual; lie (the might
thought the toast he was afloat to
propose would be sufficient to carry its own recommendation with
it. Ile was about to give—" Progperlty to the Literary Fond So-
ciete"--a toast which could not tail to be received wit-lithe wannest
sentiments of approbation by the present assenthly., He thoisin
we owed it to ourselves, and to the high character we possessed as a
nation, to make some provision for those individuals who had ehh;
tributed by their literary labours to exalt that character; aloha they
had, ty unforeseen and other casualties, unfortunately Allen into
a state that made the benevolent interterence of the present Society
necessary. We owed it equally as a debt to them and ourselves to
step forward with the necessary relief; and not with a Inc and
posthumous acknowledgment, such as that of the ancients—
" 'teven Grecian cities fought for Homer dead,
Through which the living Homer be)p& his bread,"
but with a kind and enlarged liberality, which could be experienced
by them while yet alive and an ormantnt te their country. The
Hon. Chairman conclude 4 by giving
" Prosperity to the Literary Fund Society," which was drunk
with three times three.

Mr. FI9IIOIIIIALD then rose, and recited the following stanzas
written to the occasion :
" When barbarous Nations sack'd imperial Rome,
And She World's 3listreas yielded tp her doom ;
Oblivion o'er that Land hde Poppies flung,
Where Patriot Sages sought, and Poets sung !
Science deplor'd her Tully's prostrate Bust.
And Genius dropp'd o tear on. Maro.ll Dust !
O'er Europe's face a gloomy darkness ipreatl,
And ,Learning deep in cloisters veil'd her head.
A Willie ~Age no Patrons coyl4 afford,
AWlialre ev'ry Klan was Vassal; or was Laid
Fierce was the Temper, barren was the Mind,
And War the only business of Mankind :
'Till Leo rose to foster every Art
Thas charms the Fancy, and delighti the Mean !
On him each Muse was eager w attends
And Learning found a Patron and a Friend.

RillWegen atertiWinter mire, all Nature sighs,
Theebeerful green of Vqpietien slits;
One dreary waste the Eyes of Man behold,
Deluged with Rain, or blamed with the Cold !
But when the glorious-Sun velumes the Sphere,
The Trees bud forth, and tender Plants appear,
Nature no longer feels the Winter's gtorm,
Cheer'd by the Rays that ripen while they warm.
Enlighten'il Science soon her radiance bore
From fair Italia to our Northern Shore:
Where Genius breathed his soul in Shakspeare's Paze !
And Milton shone the Homer of his Age!
Vet in this Soil, where all the Virtues grow,
And, ere the Poor can ask. the Rich bestow !
Atithois have often inoum'd their hapless lot.
Their works remembered, but themselves forgot !
Hard is his the Task who writes for daily bre;al,
And pillows on a couch of cares his head—
Can Fancy charm the Poet's tever'd Brain,
When Thought serves only to engender Pain ?
Can Passion animate his torpid breast,
By Hope deserted, and by Want oppress'd ?
Anil yet, though wretched Envy's constant aim,
'!'he sport of Fortune, and the slave of Fautt !
If he a 'Patron seek in time of need,
With Giant's weight he leans upon a reed—
AS'hkt can his Muse from Pride of Wealth expect.
But ostentatious aid, or cold neglect?
Towering Ambition scarce can look so low,
And !elfish Pleasure shuns the nice of 11'oe.
In Lift's more private scenes those Virtues shine,
Where Human Nature proves her source divine;

'Tie there the Great to sUffering Worth attend.
And Men's misfortune finds in Man a Friend !
Your plan, which Princes might be proud to own.
Long blessed in ....Henn, and was little known,
Early you saw, beneath your fostering care,
GENIUS and LEARNING rescued front Despair:
At first, lis true, you could but just l•estow
• A Dew of Comfort upon letter'd Woe:
Vet did tbat Dew a lingering Life sustain,
Chase the last pang, and soothe the bed of pain !
i,b A radual, bit' sure, your purpose steitk'd its way.
n ample Bounty consecrates this day—
...L:. e kitreamlet thus obscurely glides along,
'Till made by tributary Waters strong,
-Bub drooping Plant rcfresli'd, new vigzur shews.
• T. the Bring River as it flows;
Downy( it rolls to meet the Ocean's tide.
And sreads a general Blessing far and wide !
• other climes more genial Suns supply,
A purer Atniospliere, and clearer sky,
Amidst our gloomy Days anti wnitory Storms,
Bounty protects, and godlike Pity warms !
Though stern in War, and oft by Factions cross'i.l.
• The Nation's character is never lost ;
~ I
Humane and manly, liberal, brave, and free,
" Gontetaling Parties in one point agree,
To feel the pathos of Misfortnne's sighs,
And wipe the tear front pallid Misery s eyes !
Here Truth and Justice prompts the Muse to bring
Praise to our PAT RON-.-lIGIUSge to our Kt YU !
Whose feeling heart has always wished to dry
The secret tear that dims .alisfortune's eye;
Who, with a polish'd Taste and liberal Hand,
Spread* wide improvements through his Nltitt Land !
And, like Attottstrus, who embellished Rung,
Makes Grecian Arts his Denizens at home.
Where uncouth buildings met the public eyes,
Long spa:ious streets awl payees arise ;
And TIIASINS may soon behold, with conscious pride,
Another A TH Ems rising on his side !
Arts cannot droop, nor Sciences despair,
When Er:GLAND'S M ONAIICH makes their cause Itis cart:
Nor GE st tits pine neglected, and alone,
His all.aecomplished PATRON on the Throne;
Whose Sceptre's bonour'd, as his Sword was feed,
In War triumphant ! and in Peace revered!
The Tau All'S F. tt raid an abstract of the cash &coots ot I!.e
Society, and stated, that in the last year sixty-five cases of Etrisry
distress had come before the Society, and bean adequately ram!.
Since the commencement of the present year they had been en-
abled, by the increased liberality of their supporters, to &third re:lei
in twenty-seven different instances, and to a greater degree than at
any previous period. Many of these cases were those of the wi-
dows and orphan families of literary persons ; but the Soisetv did
not publish the names of the individuals relieved, through •
feeling or delicacy towards the parties.
Several complimentary and other toasts were then drank. and ap-
propriate songs sung by Messrs. Broadhurst, Collier, &c.
noun after ten o'clock the Chairman retired, attended by the ma-
jority of the company, after an evening spent is the best spirit et
good feeling and festive hilarity.
We observed a nutubt•r of elegant and farkionibly-dresatil
fema!es iti the gallery.

r'

`I!

DRURY-LANE; THEATRE.
A neW 11 itorind play..fountled on the well-known story
dale patriot of Switzerland, William Tell, whose name it
kw, was pertilled at this house last night. 'fhe author
streatly given us proofs of his p3wers, by his Yirginies
ol his Gahm G racehu s, and the present production does
std soy way lessen our estimation of his qualifications,'
slob, although by no means of the first rate order, are, In
tlig present dearth of dramatic talent, very reputable PSI
ibie possessor. The story of Tell is so familiar to every
oder, that a very brief sketch of Mr. Knowles's version
0( it is all that can be required of us.
The Ken* of the play is laid in and around the town of Altar.
,ar the Austrian Governor, Gelder (Mr. Archer), tyrannise*
joithe :igloo till they are goaded on to league against him. Ted
ithskeder of a few chosen ones, who have agreed to assemble ma
may, and waylay the tyrant. The play opens with its=
Rothe Calde of Abort', into which a guard of Austrian io
/me nunibd of Swim primulas. Tell at this moment mem,
Aged' Blicbaet (Mr. Wallath), %merry mercurial Swiss peasant,
on the words of his father, who bad just told him to
serious, and go take Gesler's Castle as a feat worthy of
!, po ming at the guard, exclaims to Michael—" How
whose reply conveys an idea that Michael no lees
was a hater of tyrants, but they part without furthest
he Second acne introduces Tell solos amidst the rock
romantic scenery of his beautiful country, where he a‘
s prayer to God to' crown his and bis compatriots*
regain the liberty of his native land with stars
then arrive, and their plot is arranged for taking
(haler on the hills while he is hunting. The
a of this act is occupied with some small-talk be-
(alis Poveyi and Agnes t Mee. Yates),
4 winch is Imre. The second act opens with a WIN S&
present lag to us Tell's cottage on the masessio.
wife of Tell (Mrs. Bunn), is observed contemplatisg
ipostrophising therecnery around hes, and pathetically lemmata
enslaved ookdition of beg country. Her son (Alias Chia
paten, and modoes from her mime very good ad viewable.'
and contented ; to Which the boy (saving die tub-
tbat s•a man may lack content, and yet be
Albert's skill at sheeting at the target is no
effbrts to stithe the mut, Tell himself attire;
son to miss, ha gives him some good counsel lo
Yon said one due, that if you were a man, you would
• live : noir, look at that mark—that's Gelder ; new
-Mt to the :pant's heart I" sad he hits it. " Wefl
_ :informs his wife of the plot to take the life of
Weld ; and in some very good language, almost
, encourages her to prepare for the Worst. The
fseher to the mountains, to bear his dagger to his
friends, which was to be the signal of attack. The father
e cf those friends having been seized by murmur the Austrians
attempting to defend his son, his eyes art put out. In this
"t he comes before Tell, at the sight of which the patriot shud-
• rousing up his courage, d•nermines on instant revenge.
de Tell's son proceeds to the mountains, and there he finds
separated from his guards, and lying exhausted on the
The boy rouses him, and offers to become his guide:
demands his fatiaer's name; but the lad refuses.
't. ‘Vbsn arrived at the Castle of Aloof, Geller alibi
name of the boy's father, but the latter persists in his
after various ineffectual attempts to make him comply,
orders Man to be em•fined. The tynu:, foreboding that
s men as the father of this Loy lived on the mountains,
not safe, gives orders that his cap should be hoisted
the market-place, to which every one was to bow in
submission to the Governor. With this mandate
peasant refuses compliance—the Seneschal orders the
setae him ; but 'fell, alto had witnessed the scene,
.and disarms the Seneschal, strikes down the poll,
the symbol*, as he terms then], of tyranny. The
seism Teli, who is taken before (tester. This
,sUillagotie of err finest in the play, affords Mr. Miteresdy
opportunity •to display his powers In an eminent degree,
,c must not anticipate our critical remarks. Order demands
' what and who he is' and learning that he haa a son, it
• tyrant that the lad who is in his power is that son, and
ly orders him to be brought for h. Albert (true to the
. of his father, as we dare say the author meant It,
somewhat too sage and forethoughted for a boy,) resolves
• 07111 his father. Grater then orders Tell to be taken into
and there let the headsman do his Ace: this is to try
was observed to start at the hard decree, but he soon
.e courage. Tell then craves leave to address the boy,
does in a strain of the truest pathos, telling him, " You
oat, but I have a son much like yourself, and should you
.c freedom, tell him how I blessed him,"—and so on.
cling in his object of betraying the father, it is suggested
Seneschal that the boy should also be beheaded. This is
adeci, and then the father's feelings can no longer be sup-
l. The name of Tell being now made known, Gerber, in the
:newt of his tyrannical will, gives him and his son life, upon
on that Tell shall shout at an apple placed an his son's head.
red is done, and Tell and his son are liberated ; but the se.
arrow falling from his bosom, causes Gesler to ask why it
• "To shoot thee, tyrant, had I killed my boy !" Tall
In chains, sod the fourth act ends, 'l el! escapes, is
rider with bit arrow, the Castle of Altorf is take°,
' is flee."
is a mere common-place about love, and
sake of the main story, we could wish, if
to be expunged, at all events cOnSiderably cur-
its dialogue. We see no necessity whatever for
who is an insipid lover, and nothing more.
obvious that here are materials for a good acting
we mast in justice hay that the author has done
.4 them, although, perhaps, a inure diversified
character might have been given, when we consider
;tended is the field which the ttulsject of the piece
Tyrants, slaves, and freemen, with all the various
that actuate these most opposite and discordant
were within the scope of the author's plot, and
we only two other characters, besides that of Tell,
r minds can at all fix on, and those are delineated
miniature-like manner. Gesler, the tyrant, is a
and acts cruelly ; M ;churl is a light cheerful
Ind, when time serves, acts like a true patriot.
the sentiments of Tell *MI his wife are good,
env are all as old as the subject of them. Liberty
theme that of all others leavts the imagination of
• almost hopeless of a new idea. In every age
every clime, liberty has been the favourite subject
s, till nothing new can be said about it. We do
t.larrel with the author, therefore,- for repeating in
and harmonious language the thoughts that have
-liner to us from our boyhood. We have scarcely
select ; but the follOwitig passage °veers to us as
ce ry fair picture of the blighting effects of tyranny
lard once free :
IV 11 Leen ! %%Mem !—O !
be the parents of a boy like that ! •
hy speak you not—and wherefore du you sigh ?
.s.hat's in your heart to keep the transport nut
That fills no twine, when looking on our child,
'-'1 it u'etilows mine eye /
Now. Emma, I will answer you •
, I not love you ? Du I not love our child
not th.it cottage dear to ine, where I
•as bom ? How many acres would I give
"Ist little vineyard for, which 1 have watch',
ltd tended since I was a child ? Those crags
I peaks--what spired city would I take
lire in, m le:change for them ?--Yet what
e these to me ?—Vi hat is this boy to me ?--
'l.at art thou, Emma, to me—alien a breath
(jester's can take all ?
(I, \Valiant, think
tow little is that all to him—ton little
tr Getter, sure, to take. Bethink thee,
• have no treasure.

• V.*

wished Ise there—the thought that mine was free
chock'd that wish, and I have r4is'd my head,
_ cried% thraldom to that furious wind,
Blow on ! This is the land of liberty
The performances were in every respect favourable.
Mr. Macready showed, throughout his part,•thejustest
conception of his character, and performed it ir. a manner
equal to that conception, and worthy of his high histrionic
fame. The scene where he tramples on the cap of liesler,
and that oue which we have already mentioned, where he
appears in chains before him, were, in our judgment., two
of the best in the play. The full gush of a patriot's heart,
panting for liberty, was shown in the one, and all the emo-
tious of a parent about to be torn from his chill, for lov-
ing freedom and detesting tyranny, were pourtrayed in the
other. The struggling commotions arising from the con-
sciousness of his being, as be thought, about to suffer for
such a cause, with the lingering wish of nature to live and che-
rish his wife and child, were most painfully wrought up by
this excellent actor. He was warmly applauded throughout.
We had no conception that Wallack (who was always'our
favourite) could cast off the gloom and soletnnity of tra-
gedy, aud with a light heart and a lighter lied frisk through
such a character as AI iehael. Ile was particularly good ;
and his cheerful chat and smiling face were in true keeping
with the unsophisticated honesty of a Swiss peasant, such
as he was before his country had felt the overreaching
power of Napoleon. Mrs. Bunn had but little to do, and
with somewhat less of a " drawl" (as a gentleman who sat,
behind us called it), she would have done that little well.
The character, though dealing in heroics, was not so tragi-
cal as to need the solemn emphasis and minute-lasting pause
with which some of her speeches were given. As to Mr.
Archer's Gelder, we dare say it was quite beconling is st
tyrant to be full of fearful apprehensions himself, and to be
particularly disagret able to all about him. We know not
that it is at all desirable that the character of an Austrian
timpot should be rendered amusing; so that Mr. Archer
may still continue the same awful enunciation and pompo-
sity of voice with which he offended us last night. There
was a little music scattered through the pikee, but of no
particular merit. When the curtain fell the applause was
loud and long continued from all parts of a very crowded
house; and upon the whole there is a chance that William
Tell, although not the first of that name on the English
stage, will be a very welcome companion for some time,
especially if the author should deem it prudent to curtail
some of its parts. In the scene of Albert shooting at
the target, and that where Tell accedes to the dreadful
alternative of shooting at the apple, and even in the
scene where the trial takes place, some shortening might
be judiciously made. Why the ladies should be intro-
duced in order to faint at the sight of Tell shooting at
the apple, we cannot divine. Such a conceit is too ridiculous
and absurd to be tolerated in a country barn. We hope
these fainting ladies will stay away on the next occasion.
The play was announced by Mr. Macready, who was
loudly called for, to be performed again on Friday next.

.
Tit i; all that can b
The scene of the plow
die the Austrian U
iiir the liaise till they
- *pleader of a few el
A,- agu, and waylay t
Itre the Caysle of Alt
ins numbs! of Sine
oil finds Michael (Mr.
el/Noising on die wo
wine serous, and i
wit. Tell. Po owl I,
sits you that;' whose
ses Tell was a hate
fent. The aecond s
d rettaantic scenery
pain a prayer to
istaracisregsin the
Its then ant
is life 'ef °ester c
seal scene of this ac
meet two ladle}—Ar n
de tha of wilich is I
fend scene, pretend
Nis, the wife of
peapetrophitting the
Naassisted owed
inters, and Ye
WI
I and cot
that "
• ' ' Albert's sk
#
efibrts
Ills son to
lechery. " Yen end
an let Gesler live : n
..10 liberty I—right t
done !" Tel nor in
ilit tyrant indeed ; a
szoontiog to poetry, 1
boy is sent by his lath
bad of friends, which
o' one of those friends
far attempting to di
legit he comes before
11
en; but rousing up
Meanwhile Tara son
desist, separated froc
rove. The boy ro
Healer demands his
is rough. IVben •
' moires the name of el
:Ann, and after yam
order orders him to
'hilt such men as the
la life was not safe,
aq a pole in the markt
wkse of his subtilise
ka:harl the peasant 1
riliers to seise hint
tithes forward-and die
1L...1:n.1406 00 the s)
I rate mates and nisi
ore, whielt.ls one of
rr, opportunity to di
iiit we must not antic
' of Tell what and wt,
niter the tyrant tha
Otiat)0110gly orders I
sole spirit of his ts
`it • somewhat too tai
eat to 01/11 his tither.
tat Coart, and then I
re hey, who was obis
!named his courage.
ataiii be does in a stn
i-ist me not, but I h.l
r;vc your freedom,
Osier failing in his o
tt :lie Seneschal that
toeintanded, and the,
possect. The name o
vrior.ness of his tvr
volition that Tell eh
The deed is done, an,
cited snow falling I
its there : " To shot
a again put In chain
paroled, kills Gelder
iIL" Ids payout!), is ft
The underplot is
Isbell, for the sak
possito!e. to be ex.
Li:ed in its dialogs
J,zielli, who is an
l; is obvious th
thy, and we must
inch with them,
tie of character In:
bow extended is t
tads. Tyrants, s
lesions that actu
tizacters, were wi
not we have only t
ilich our minds 0
r. a very miniatift
toward, and acts
runt, and, whi
s'ahough the seal
tit they are all
11 a theme that I
the poet almost 1
sod in every elite
cf genius, till no
no; quarrel with
risooth and harm
been familiar to i
time to select ; b
king a wiry fair p
ever a land one, ft
L4llli. •
To be the Put
Why speak yi
What's 10 yea
That fills up r
Till it &ado*
NI. !
Do I not love
Is not that cot
Was bom ?
That little sir
And tended si
And peaks-1
To lire in, Tii
Are these to r
ll'i.at art tho
Of Glister's
Eats.
How little is
Fox Geiger, 1
felt Wit have no ,
No treasure ?
Hare we nut
That pearl, t
Yet can't enj
His coffers DI
Yea, makes
Goes without
Frets till the
Forgets both
The wearer a.
And that's et
For deKription
vire, just prey in
blling the tyrant
The land es,
To walk the'
And bless hi
From end to
Free as our t
And plough
Or asour re
In very press
slow happy
le very stun
1 In my boot 1
The seats we
The wind ca
The thunder
To see him i
;in,: think 1
s'ini know tl
I p htther a
'f o such any
Par two obit