The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-26 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

Whilst or.r Transatlantic neighbours at Boston have
brought on themselves no small degree of odium, by the
coarse and ferocious ebullition of popular rage which took
place upon the appearance of Mr. Kean, who, whatever
may hive been his defects as an actor, or his errors us a
man, has now possessed himself of a claim on the sympa-
thy of every generous mind, by the violent and apparently
interminable spirit of hostility which he has unfortunately
excited, the audience at old Drury manifested a better
feeling, and one snore honourable to national character, by
the cordial and indulgent reception given last night to
Mr. Pelby, of the Boston theatre, who made his appear-
ance in the character of Hamlet. The play of hfamlet pos-
sesses less extrinsic attraction than any other of Shak-
speare's plays, and depends almost entirely upon the native
energies of the principal actors to sustain its interest. The
character of Hamlet is therefore peculiarly well qualified
to display the merits of a finished performer, and equally
well calculated to expose the inaccuracies and defects of
an indifferent one. The aspirant swim undertook this
arduous character last night possesses no very striking
personal advantages. He is rather below the middle
size. His countenance, though by no means disagree-
able, is not remarkable for flexibility or expression.
His voice is clear, but wanting in compass, and his
movements, we are forced to add, are eminently defi-
cient in grace and dignity. Notwithstanding all these 1,
external disqualifications, Mr. Pelby possesses an accurate
conception, a studied ease of manner, and a complete know-
ledge of what is termed stage effect. In many sceneshe
displayed a chastened energy which fully justified the ap-
plauses with which he was honoured. The scene with
()Ouija seemed to us too like an imitation of Mr. Kean,
and we hate imitations, though ever so well executed. In
the soliloquies Mr. Pelby was elaborate and yet nut correct ;
in the dialogue he was more at ease, and infinitely more
effective. His performance of the preceding acts would
have excited a snore favourable interest, if it had not been
encumbered by an extraordinary exuberance of action,
an evil which we were pleased to perceive had diminished'
when he came to the more active scenes. Upon the whole,
the performance though faulty was respectable, and the re-
ception which this gentleman received throughout was such
as must gratify the most sanguine of his friends ; and their
' number, by the way, scented by no means circumscribed.
At the conclusion of the play there was a loud and very
general cry for the manager, which continued to the
rising of the scene for the pantomime, whets Mr. Wal,
lack came forward, and requested to be made ac-
quainted with the wishes of the audience. Some voices
called out for Mr. Pelby, when Mr. Wallack retired, and
in a few minutes Mr. Pelby came forward, and modestly
expressed his gratitude " for the reception bestowed on
him—a stranger." This was followed by a repetition of
the plaudits with which, as we before observed, this gen-
tleman was very liberally honoured. Notwithstanding this
earnest of approbation and success, we can't help regretting
that Mr. Pelby should have aspired to such a lofty range of
character. In a humbler line, we conceive, he would be a
very useful acquisition to this theatre, which is very den-
cieut in second-rate performers, if we should judge by the
arrangement of the inferior characters in the play of last
night. With the exception of Miss Graddon, who gave the
songs in Ophella prettily, the minor performers were by no
means effective. l)owton and Harley, as Putonins and the
Gravedigger, were sadly misplaced, and ',aeries would
need a much more spirited representative than Mr. Mercer.
The house was full after half price.

BUENOS AYRES AND BRAZIL
The political situation oft a epublican Government cf
Buenos Ayres, with her legitimate neighbour, the Emperor
of Brazil, has assumed lately the deepest interest,
ats
every arrival from that quarter heightens the Imporrartceo
the anticipated hostilities. The arrivals of yesterday,
which are to the I Ith of November, afford us intelligeei,'
of the active preparations of both the Governments fonds
war, which we conceive inevitable. A privateer of frn
guns sailed on the 9th Nov. from Buenos Ayres, to cycle
g
fa ;she had on board 120 seamen, the
greater i n st
tleproportionßrazil Americans. Several others were fitfiaa
t
out—their destination is reported to be the East irime,-;:
very valuable trade being carried on, particularly with
Macao, under the Brazil flag. lfhese privateers have
a
letters of marque from the Independent Goremaient
of the Banda Oriental ; but one letter we !tare received
leads us to believe that there are also letters of mart's;
by the Government of Buenos Ayres. The intellierect
from that city k
also interesting, as it throws light upor,
the late State Paper, and leads to a beliet that active
assistance had been promised by Bolivar, before the liuoita
Ayres Government formally annexed. the Banda Oritutai
to the United Provinces of La Plata.

Colonel O'Leary, of the Colombian service, with de.
snatches from Bolivar, arrived at Buenos Ayres on the
evening of the 4th. The state paper incorporating the
Bandal Oriental with the United Proviiires was isauid
the next day. The same officer (who of the staff ci
Bolivar) immediately departel for Rio Janeiro with
snatches for the Emperor, in the hand-writing of the Libe-
rator, stated to be of the highest importance. Oct the other
hand the Conn of Brazil ate making active preparation
to reinforce the army in the Banda Oriental ; one rend
has sailed front Rio Janeiro, and an order has been sent to
the northern provinces to detach all the disposable military
to the southward; the numbers of thesereinforcements are
stated to be about 2,000 men; but if the intentions of the
Government of the Banda Oriental be comedy represented
to us, we suspect that the Brazilian forces will be far from
being able to pursue offensive operations. It is said that
they intend, instead of attacking Monte Video, to direct
their force against the province of Rio Grande (thessithero.
most of the old Brazilian possessions), and to proclaim the
freedom of the slaves. '1 he proportion of negroes to the
rest of the population of Brazil is so large, that a eerie
war, supported by the cavalry of the Banda Oriental,
be of the most dangerous character.
A loan (probably in anticipation of the war) for nine
millions of dollars has been contracted for at Butnoi
Ayres.
At Rio Janeiro, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, L. J.
de Carvalho, had resigned. Sir C. Stuart was expected to
sail thence for Buenos Ayres on the :kith November.