The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-08-03 00:00:00

KEAN AT CHELTENHAM.

Notwithstanding the unpopularity of Mr. Kean, occa-
sioned by the disgraceful Crim. Con. expose, which must
still he within the recollection of our readers, he was en-
gaged by Messrs. Yates and Farley to perform four nights
in this town, and which engagement he fulfilled last week,
to audiences, which, although certainly not very crowded,
were far more numerous than we could have anticipated
under those circumstances. There are few men, who,
perhaps, both in and out of their profession, were more re-
spected, or whose society was more courted and sought
after, than Mr. Kean's; yet now, notwithstanding the
exertion of all the stage trickery, of which he is so
dYmplete a master, blended with ravings, stampings, gri-
maces, and rantings, Mr. Kean gained but a trifling share
of that applause (with the exception of a few noisy
fellows in the galleries, who judge of the merits of an
actor by the pawer and extent of his lungs) which he
was invariably accustomed to receive from crowded and
most elegant and fashionable audiences. On Tuesday he
performed Richard, on Thursday Sir Cites Overreach,
on Friday Brut se, and on Saturday Shylock. lie likewise
on the same evening played the part of Silvester 'ag-
gcrwood , in which he introduced, according to the play
bills, " Imitations of Actors, Singers, and Harlequins.'
Richard and Richmond, as Incledon and Braham ; and
Kemble, as Ilfacheath. He likewise sung " The Lads of
the Village, as Mr. Incledon ;" and " My Heart with love
is beating. as Mr. Brahatn." We suppose that Mr. Kean,
disappointed in his expectations of drawing fashionable and
overflowing audiences at Cheltenham, hit upon this species
of tom-foolery, thinking by such means to fill a house, no
matter /tow. Although Mr. Macready, who was here a
few weeks since, from some cause or other, failed to draw
as much as he might have very naturally anticipated, yet
he never had recourse to such an expedient. And why?
we would ask. We leave this question to be answered by
Mr. Kean and his friends. We are most happy to per
ceive that the celebrated Mr. Young is engaged by our in-
defatigable Managers, and makes his first appearance here
to-morrow. We have no doubt that the attraction of such
transendant ability as Mr. Young possesses, joined to his
estimable character in private life, will insure to hfessrs.
Yates and Farley an ample remuneration for the taste
and liberality they have thus displayed in catering for the
-nusement of their theatrical friends.—Cheltenham Journal.

Col. Berkeley, we believe, is a favourite on the Chel-
tenham stage.

AN ITALIAN CUSTOM.

Among the customs of the common people in Italy, there
is one, founded, like our Christmas carols, in religious
ideas, which seems to have escaped the observation of most
travellers, but which, as it has some connexion with music,
may be described in the Parthenon.
ghepherda, or other country peopld-round Rome, and
some other cities, repair to town in the beginning of De-
cember, and continue to parade the streets in pairs, until
New Year'► Day. One plays a kind of bagpipe; the
other, who carries a simple zampogna, or flageolet, alter-
nately plays and sings. This practice is meant to be a com-
memoration of the shepherds' going to worship the new
born Saviour. The custom is extremely old, and some in-
quiries respecting its origin have been made without suc-
cess. It is supposed to he a ceremony descended from the
time of the Romans, which has changed its name and ob-
ject. Be this as it may, there is certainly in the phy-
siognomy and general appearance of these men something
of a patriarchal character. They wear a red cloak over a
green or blue underdress, sandals with thick laces, and
round hats, with coloured loops and knots, very much re-
sembling in their whole costume she shepherds, as they ap-
pear in the act of worshipping the infant Christ, in some
old paintings ; and as they are represented in the wax
figures, which, during Christmas week, are placed in front
of the altar in Roman Catholic churches. It is a remark-
able peculiarity of those street musicians, that they never
ask money of the inhabitants of the houses or shops where
they play ; but, on the day after Twelfth Day, when their
perambulations end, they silently, and with an air of modest
reluctance, accept any trifle which may be offered them.
As, however, their remuneration never exceeds a few la-
jocclii, and as they continue altogether nearly sit weeks in
Rome, it is difficult to conceive how they live. They seem
neither to eat nor to sleep, for they. play during the whole
night as well as the day. The taste of these people is very
rude, and they are altogether destitute of tart, but they play
in a bold brilliant style.—Parthenon.

In consequence of the continued heat, butter has ad-
vareed upwards of Wr.s. per cwt. iu a few days. Dutch
butter was yesterday at I is., or Is. per peund.

ESCAPE OF ROUMAGE.
—.......--__
The Paris Papers of Sunday give an account of an escape
from prison, very similar to the memorable evasion of
Lavalette. The individual who has escaped is named
Roumage. He was tried lately before the Royal Court of
Orleans, for forgery, and sentenced to five years imprison-
ment in the House of Correction in that eity. The par.
ticulars of his flight are stated in the following letter, dared
from Orleans, July 29 : .
1 " Yesterday evening, at eight o'clock, Madame Rou-
tine and her niece came to the prison, accompanied by a
on dressed nearly like an ecclesiastic. After they had
F. h some time with the prisoner, another individual,
I reseed like the ecclesiastic, and whom the keepers tZtok-for
him, appeared alOne at the wicket, holding a handkerchief
to his eyes, and seeming meth distressed; he desired the
diMr to be opened ; the gaolers, deceived, obeyed ; the in.,
dividual went out—it was Roumage. About a quarter of
an hour later, Madame Roumage, her niece, and the prc-
tended ecelesiestie who entered with the ladies, came down
from the chamber of Roumage,, and desired to be let
out. The seine potter who had just before let out
1 Roumage _in disguise, _ was still on duty at the gate.
NVhether the appearance of two persons, perfectly resem-
bling each other, did not strike the porter, or whether be
was a little intoxicated, or had been bribed, is not known:
he let the three persons go out, and the whole family of
Roumage escaped with the prisoner. Soon after gcing to
shut the inner doors, and look after the prisoners, the
escape of Roumage was discovered, the authorities were
incomes!, and all the usual methods taken. It wall soon
found that Roumage had set out lost on the road to Paris,
'and that on reaching Chevilly, Roumage and his Mend,
disguised as an ecclesiastic, supposed however to be a Pro-
testant like himself, separated ; the latter mounted a horse,
'and set off full gallop, doubtless, to order horses on the
road. The postillion who gave the latter information, de-
clares that Roumage travelled shove four leagues an hour.
People are in pursuit of the fugitive, and the porter sus-
-1 pected of having favoured his escape, is put in solitary
confinement." ..
...
IV:. W CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION, DUBLIN.

The Dublin Evening. Post of Saturday last gives th:
following in a Second Edition of its paper :
A Pdee ing of this Body was held to-day at-the Corn Exchange,
Counsellor O'fiatew in the Chair.
On the motion of the Rev. Mr. L'EsynawoE, Mr. Conway was
appointe 1 Secretary to the Meeting, and read the Minutes of the
last day's proceedings. • • -
Mr. 'CONWAY said that having moved and carried a motion on
the last day of meeting, for the nomination of a Committee .to
report to the Association-the best means of taking a teasing of
the people of Ireland, lie would postpone flue nomination to tins
day seek.
Mr. DOWELL O'REILLY read the Report of the Committee
appo:n ed to draw up regulations for the government of this As.
*sciatica, a copy of which we published in the Dublin Evening
Post of Tuesday.
When the Report was read, Mr. CONWAY moved that Saturday
be substituted as the day of meeting for this Association, instead
of Wednesday, as recommended in the Report of the Committee.
This resolution was seconded by Mr. Brown, and carried with on y
one dissentient.
Mr. O'REILLY moved that the Report, as amended, be received.
Carried.
Mr. CONWAY proposed that the rules comprised in the Rcyort,
be adopted as those of this Association. Seconded by Mr. REID,
and carried unanimously.
Mr. O'REILLY gave notice of a motion for the next day of
meeting, having for its object " that, as the promoting of reltglon,
and the ends of private and public charity, and the legitima e oh.
jects embraced by the Association, were objects which requited
money, two persons he appointed in every parish in lids .41
communicate observations, and receive subscriptions for these nut.
poses." lam (continued Mr. O'Reilly) happy to tell this Meet.
Mg that it is the opinion of every Lawyer of eminence in this
(*tin ry and in England, that it is perfectly legal to collect sub.
acripions, and send communications relative to the purposes fee
which this Association had been formed.
A Gentleman, whose name we could not learn, gave notice of a
motion, •"flunt the names of the Members of this Association be
publishe I in the Newspapers weekly."
I The SECRETARY, at the wish of Mr. O'Reilly, read the names
of the Members who had joined the Association since Saturday._
they amounted to 3l; making in the whole one hundred and tify•
one Members already Among the additional names are those of
Sir Thomas Esmonde, Sir Edward Bellew, the Hon. Wm. King,
Trinity College, Cambridge, Colonel Fitabenry, Talbot Glascock,
and J. W. Curran.
Mr. BAGOOTT moved that Mr. John Dean, of Paris, be ad•
mined a Member of the Association.—Carried.
Sir EDWARD BELLEw'entered at this stage of the proceedings,
and was received with applause.
Thanks were then voted to Counsellor O'Brien, on the motion of
Mr. Conway, and the Meeting separated.