The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-11-29 00:00:00

THE tRITI

PRESS.

The intrinsic value of British and Foreign Stock cannot
have been diniinished or in any degree affected by the
operations of money jobbers. If, however, individuals
will rush forward and sacrifice their property by forcing a
sale in a falling market, they are not only materially in-
juring themselves, but most grievously increasing the very
evil they dread. Interested speculators hare done much
to spread the alarm ; some of our contemporaries probably
have done more; but if proprietors of Stock would but
suffer themselves to act under the influence of their own
soberjudgment, they would perceive that the depression of
the present hour is just as irrational as was the excessive
excitement of last year, and that neither the one itor the
other can render the steady end bplus fide stockholder one
farthing richer or poorer. Ills safety depends not on the
result of the artifices and stratagems of a handful of spe-
culators, but on the integrity and resources of the Govern-
ments whose creditor lie is. Let him therefore refrain
from selling till the storm has passed away, and he may
then if lie pleases exchange or withdraw his investments
without wasting or impairing his fortune.
The closing prices of the day were Consols for Money
Fair, for the Account Mg . Exchequer Bills ss. dis.
Colombian Bonds 62k. Mexican 6 per Cents. 63A. Gua-
timala Scrip 6Si dis. Brazilian ditto lot dis. Greek
Bonds 20, and Spanish ditto 1 ti 15.
Notwithstanding the ports are now open for Barley, it
rather advanced in price this morning. The supply was a
fair one, as was that of Wheat and Oats, the quotations of
which were a shade lower than on the last market day.

A Lisbon packet arrived rstetday morning ; but the
letters by her, which are dated the 14th inst. do not con-
tain one syllable of political intelligence.
In consequence of the recognition of the independence of
Hayti' by the French Government. the cities of Ilamburgh
and Lubeck intend to send Consuls to that Island, as the
city of Bremen has already done.
The Paris Papers announce the arrival of Lord Cochrane
at
Amonßoulogne.
g tbeltassengert who save at Bordeaux in
the Trlegraphe, from Peru, are one ma sal, two brigadiers,
four colonels, nine Ileutenaiu-coloke , three captains,
seven subaltern officers, one pitygiOter, one intendant,
13 sergeants, 12 women, n merchants, and et soldiers,
all spaniards. The Dec de Bordeaux was daily expected,
with at least an equal number on board.—Path Paper.
New CONET.—M. Pons, Professor of Astronomy at
Florence, has just announced that he discovered on the
7th November, a comet, in the constellation of Eridanus,
' having about 34 degrees of right ascension, and 14 de-
' grees south declination. It cannot be seen without the
aid of a telescope; according to M. Pons, it moves
about 20 minutes per day, in a south west direction.
The crew of the Greek man of war brig Cimone, lately
wrecked at Alderney, are expected to arrive at Portsmouth
daily. The Greek Committee have chartered a vessel in
the River, which is coming round to this port, for the pur-
pose of conveying them back to Hydra.—Southampton He-
rald.

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE•

Last night a gentleman of the name of Serie made his
first bow before a London audience, in the character of
Hamlet. The new candidate for popular approbation is
somewhat under the middle size, and his figure is slight
and not remarkable for graceful proportion. In face Mr.
Serle bears considerable resemblance to Kean, but there the
likeness ends. His features are of a pleasing cast, and ca-
pable of no small share Jf expression, particularly the eyes
and mouth. If the new performer reminds us of Kean in
countenance, his voice invites a similar comparison with
that which distinguished the Kemble family. It is thin,
weak, and more remarkable for bright and occasional
shrillness, than body or richness of intonation. In
the upper tones it frequently cracks, and assumes some-
thing of the tremulousness of manner peculiar to John
Kemble. This whether the consequence of accident or
imitation, has the effect of reminding us too frequently of
that great actor, and provoking a comparison in one pirti-
cuter which cannot be favourably sustained in others.
Such are the personal qualities of Mr. Serle, possessing
which he has undertaken the performance of the cha-
racter of Hamlet. His artificial acquirements are not of
a much higher class or nearer perfection in their way. In
the management of his voice he is not much more fortu-
nate than in its organic construction ; and if his person is
not distinguished by symmetry, neither is his carriage re-
markable for grace. These are not precisely the requisites
necessary to the due performance of Hamlet.
With regard to the gift of genius—the
--" divine particula sure,"
which in some instances has enabled its possessor to dis-
pense with the presence of the accidental advantages alluded
to, or else to succeed in spite .of the want of them, we can-
not compliment Mr. Serle on its possession. Art has not
done much for him—nature still leas ; and however he may
succeed in characters of infcrior..importance, we do not
consider him adapted for those Of a higher class.
In the earlier scenes of the plait, and the less trying parts
of the character, Mr. Serle displayed a correctness, and %t
least an absence of glaring faults, which induced the hope
of more positive excellence towards the conclusion; but
this expectation was not realised. As the character ex-
paruled, tree powers of the performer appeared to contract,
and the passages requiring most attention were principally
inefficient. The best points were to be found in the scene
with the players (the following soliloquy included), and in
that of the play. The acting on either of these occasions
was such as to draw down very considerable applr.use ;
hut that scene which, for depth and intensity of feel-
ing, may be considered the trial-scene of Hamlet—we
mean the interview with his mother—was poor and power-
less. There was effort without effect, and the many and
earnest tattempts of the performer to reach the delicacies
and master the difficulties of Mat overpowering situation,
only carried him wider from the attainment of his object.
All after this was positively bad. Before it—the address
to the Ghost—

.Angels and ministers of grace defend us,"
was any thing but happy, conveyed as it was on one knee,
and after a pause of the true Kemble school as it regarded
length. The advice to the players was tolerably correct,
but the famous soliloquy on death cannot claim equal
praise.
►►'e have thus particularised the most prominent merits
and defects of the performance, in order that in the event
of its repetition the latter may be corrected as far as the
capabilities of the actor will admit of their amendment.
►►'e conclude as we set out, by observing that it is to a leis
ambitious line of character Mr. Sale must direct his efforts
if he desires those efforts to be successful. Time and
study may do much, but at present he must leave the
Hamlets and Othello' to other and higher actors.

FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE.

Earl Spencer left town yesterday for Mr. Cartwright's seat, in
Northamptonshire. . .