The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-12-14 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

The tragedy of King Jahn was the perforniance last
night at this theatre. Of all the historical plays of the
great poet that are represented upon oar boards, this, we
are free to confess, is the one we least admire, and from
the performance of which we derive least satisfaction. in
addition to the general want of interest that pervades al-
most all the characters, it is the production in which Shak-
speare has perhaps most closely adhered to history, and
drawn least upon his own strange powers, and it is per-
haps for this very reason that we cannot rant it as highly
as the other compositions of the great dramatist, in
which, though founded upon improbabilities, and carried
to their close in perfect violation of history and tradi-
tion, he exercises a complete ascendancy over our feel-
ings, and asserts the supremacy of his genius. It was
difficult even fur Sliskspeare to have clothed the tyrant,
Juba, with any thing like interest, without a total devia-
tion from history and truth ; and when this was not his
intention he probably was satisfied that, thou, 11 of primary
importance, the character should be subordinate as to the
interest excited in the minds of the spectators. If we were
allowed an opinion upon the subject, it would he that
Faokonbridge was the favourite of the poet's imagination,
and the character by whose buoyancy and tnercurial
spirit the disgusting John, and the cumbrous ap-
pendages of the French Court, were to be redeemed.
Mr. Mactcady was, of course, the representative of the
English monarch, and though, from the circumstance's
to which we have alluded, he could not make the
part interesting or attractive, his conception and acting
throughout were entitled to approbation, and well sup-
ported the reputation he has acquired. In his first inter-
view with the Legate, when be rouses from his torpor,
and spurns the temporal authority and usurpation of
Rome, the performer put forth al! his energies, and
his exertions were rewarded with that applause which such
sentiments wia be always sure to excite in an English au-
dience. The manner in which he stated his fears of
Arthur, and sounded Hubert, for the purpose of ascer-
taining whether he would be the murderer of the boy, was
well conceived; but the passage in which he appeared to
us to be eminendy successful, was when, fearing the muse-
quences of his crime, he endeavours to extrit ate himself
from the shame that must attend it, and throw it upon the
supposed instrument of his guilt. Here we think Mr.
Macrestly did justice to his author, and he received the
warm commendations of his audience. Mr. Wailack,
though respectable in Frukunt? itlgr, was, in our opinion,
far from doing any thing like justice' to this singular pro-
duct of the poet's imagination. Shakspeare and Savage
were, we believe, the only two English poets who attri-
buted any peculiar vivacity of temperament and character
to persons of a certain birth. The topic may be supposed,
from his unfortunate situation, to be congenial to the feel-
ings of the latter, but in the case of our dramatist, the de-
scription and the doctrine must be looked upon merely as
the exercise of an exuberant fancy and sportive imaAina-
tion, and of these qualifications the character bears the
most ample and unequivocal proofs. With the exerption
of Mercutio, we recollect nothing, in the range of Sliaks-
pesre that bears any 'resemblance to FuukonLridge. Play-
ful in the midst of danger, mingling deep and crustic
sarcasm with his mirth, he deprives his mother of her
reputation, whilst he professes the most sincere re-
spect, and expresses his gratitude, for that deviation
from virtue, which obtains for him the honour of an ille-
gitimate descendant from Richard. It was in this strange
i evietf de eau,. that Mr. IVallack appeared to he quite
deficient. The el:arc:ter in his hands was that of a
rough soldier, who might with perfect propriety be sup-
, posed the legitimate cdspring of poor and uodistinguished
parents. Mrs. Bunn, as Constance, seemed to forget that there
Ia a better method of expressing bitter anguish and a deep
sense of injury, than by mere declamation.—Between the
play and afterpiece, a new Ballet was exhibited, called, The
Family Fete; or, the 7'wo I.ittle Sisters. We were highly
pleased with the dancing of the elder branches of the
family ; but without detracting from premature ability, or
venturing to question the judgment which exhibited two
(we make no doubt) amiable children to the public, we
take the liberty of asserting, that the.3'wo Little Si.ders
would be much better employed anywhere else than upon
the boards of the national theatre. From certain indica-
tions o:s the part of the audience, we believe the success of
the Ballet to be extremely doubtful. The house was well
attended. -

ADELTAII THEATRE.—.Last night a new farce, called
More Blunders than On:; or, The Irish ralet, was per-
formed for the first time, and was reczived with the most
decided applause. The piece, as may be judged from the
name, introduces a multitude of farcical situations, which
are chiefly dependent upon %he conduct of an Irishman.
This Irishman is called Larry O'Botdi.;•an. and is per-
formed by Mr. Power, with a great deal of humour. In-
deed, so mainly did this actors performance contribute to
the amusement of the audience, that it was generally rap-
rethe author had him, and him alone, in his eye when
a'l
was engaged in the composition. The piece has a great
deal of broad humour in it, and there is also the rccoiii-
menilation of agreeable incident, which, united to smart-
ness of dialogue, placer it much above the general run of
minor theatre. coniposiiioii, Mr. Wilkinson, Miss Par-
rock, and Miss S. B4tioi, were the only other performers
whose characters deserve notice. The house was crowded.

Mr. Mathews appeared for the first time in Dublin since
his return from America, t it Thursday night.
We regret to lie:tr, for oar sakes, though with an April
feeling of sorrow and pleasnre, since it is to make one fo
whom we hare the highest rcspec and esteem happy, (Italy
the blooming Tree of OA-mit-garden is shortly to be trans-
planted to the neighbourhood of Grosvenor-place. Ammigst
all the improvements which the Noble Proprietor of that
district is making, nenc wll Le more ornamental to the new
pariah of Brig-rune than this accession of beauty, talent.
and accomplishment, for which the public will be indebted
to the gootl taste and eli,cenusent of Mr. Bradshaw, the
son of Lady Peyton.—Alin Bull.
TIIE Anil MUSICAL Frierivitt..—At a meeting
of the Directors of the late Festival, held on flies(' inst.,
the Treasurer pres9ited a detailed report of his iistromis-
lions, and also his teccimnt of clrrge and discharge in all
their branch•;, iloiluetid by the Convener and the Com-
mittee of Finance, after comparing the items with the
♦OUrhera.

The
amount of the rcceliats is - £1940 .1 IR
And the total outlay - - 4397 18 11

Leaving for distributiol among the Public
Charities - - - - Z 542 6 II

Ga•s, r SEND, Dac. have been in a great bustle
during the last few days, arising from a variety of public
occurrences abiirliave tala n place in our town. On
Thursday evening we were generally illuminated with gas,
from the works lately erected by Mr. Iledley, the gas eon-
tractor. The first appearance of the gas-light here was
received with stelernatiumi by all ratil:s, particularly by the
juvenile part. On the following day, the Directors, Share-
holders, and Commissioners for lighting the town, dined
together, to celebri:e the event, at the Faleon Tavern,
which was brilliantly illumitinksl with gra.. Among the
improvements about to take place in this town and its en-
virons, is a turnpiloy road from this town to Tunbridge,
connecting it with Sursex, and by means of the ferry at
Tilbury, with Essex and Norfolk. To carry this pro-
jected plan into t xecutmit, a meeting was held I:erc last
wee::, at which the Lai of Ds:lacy prcridcd, alien the
ptopuscd unikrtakins received the unanimous approbation
of the meeting. It will be supported by the Lord Lieu-
tenant of the county, and insst of its leading personages,
as it is expected to be el incalculable advantage to this
town.

The subscription for the widow of the late Missionary
Smith, of Demerara, amounted, on the 2ttli of September,
to On. 10?. 7d.
An cxtetwion of the Guard Club has hem some time
contemplated, and lately proposed, by the addition of the
°Maws of the tiousehold Brigade of Cavalry to that So-
ciety. The Officers of the two Household Brigades of
Horse and Foot Guards would certainly furnish a suffi-
cient number of Members for the formation of an excel-
lent Club.

- -
INTELLIGENCL.—eopper ores sold at Redrnth,
Dec. IY2I, %GUI. tons—.lverage produce 74. Quantity
of fine copper, ',VS tons 17 cwt.—Amount of the sale
17,1841. average stantlarl, I in/. 7s. Twenty-eight tons of
tluor vat were sold for li. 61 a ton from ‘i beat Buller.

LITEIIATUUE.

URANIA'S MIRROR, OR A VIEW OF THE HEAVENS

M'CONrAlfltD PT
ASTIR S FAMILIAR TREATISE ON AITtONOYY.

The plan upon which instruction in that most sublime of
all sea.. nees. A,?:tronotny, is here conveyed, is not merely
original, but is entitled to the highest praise for ita elegance
and ingenuity. The constellations arc admirably delineated,
and every star being perforates, on the cards, according to
its relative situation and magnitude, these heavenly bealies
ma) be traced, with the utmost precision, to the celestial
stations which they respectively occupy. This excellent
device, it appears, is indebted for its origin to the ingenuity
of a young lady, wlto has been induced to submit it to tile
pubLe, with a view of render:i;:: the study of Astronomy
fatuili,ir a:A amusing. We extract the following prelimi-
nary re;.tarks from the Treatise which accompanies the
l; rani for th.• sake of the magnificent conception which
they emir:lr of the great Cite ATO It of the Ileavens, and the
Earth, and of the sublime idea which they awaken of that
Eterni.l IVisdom which " ruleth over all. "
The generul opinion of modern Aisnoomicrs is, that the universe
is composed of an infinite nutnher . t systems fq'worMs, in each of
which are contained bodies moving in free snr:e. and revolving at
different distances round a pun, pia nut in or near the centre of each
system ; a...! that these suns and other both-a are the Stan which
we see in tin, heavens.

The :tars are classed under the heads of jf eisd glom, or ..uns, and
pkinth. The tonna shine by their own inherent light; but the
latter are dark "pantie bodies, the radi.inee of which is to be attri.
tinted to the reflection of the light thrown upon them by the suns.
Hence we tin I ourselves surrounded by thousands and thousands of
Aims, tr.ultirlied without end„ rangedail around us, at immense
distances front each other, atteneed by ten thousand times ten thou-
sand worlds, all in rapid motion, yet calm. regular,and harmonious,
insatiably keeping the paths pros robed them. Itw.soning by ana-
logy, we use authorised in concluding that these worlds are peopled
with myriads of intelligent beings, tornied for endless progression
towards perfection and felicity. It'hat a sublime idea of the works
of the Creator aloes this suggest to the human imagination ! flow
wondertid the power. wisslnni, goodness, 'sad magnificence dis-
played in the formation and government of so vast a scale of crea-
tion, which is extended through the boundless regions of universal
space—an extent incomprehensible to all but the 1111FINITZ MIX)),
and of which it has been aptly said, •• its centre is everywhere, but
its eircumforencz nowhere." The study of Astronomy, therefore,
is not only useful in the common occuarences of life, as our guide
in agriculture, geogtaphy, and navigation, but it diverts our amen.
don from bast and grovelling pursuits, and expands the mind by
bringing into irtioit those noble which so eminently
du-
tiogutah man from the brute creatim.

A ST AT EME XT WI Tlf PRMAR KS,

RELATIVE TO CANALS BETWEEN
A\l► IMIIOLITIL

STATEMENT.

The ItriOgtwatol Company will finish
their boat canal within tight:en months. The distance is
twelve milts.

The Cram). 11 estern Company talk of an iton rail-way
from Taunton to 11:dcomb.., in place of making an in-
tend( d boat canal. The distance is ten miles.

Tilll Company have tiois!Lil a boat canal from Hol-
combe to Tiverton. The distance is ten miles.
From Tiver:on to Exeter there is to canal. The dis-
tance is thitt.•en miLs.

From Exeter, not to Topsham, but opposite to Top-
sham, there is a ship canal. The (7hamber of Ex, ter will
prolong t' is canal to Turf, which juins rowderhon
Castle, bit tla ted at the centre of Exmouth Harbour. The
canal thtii will be eight miles; while the distance between
Exeter and Exmouth, by the road, is ten miles.