The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-05-08 00:00:00

FROM THE COURT ATIVSMAN.

On Saturday the Duke of York transacted military busi-
ness with the King.
The Duke of York was busily engaged on Saturday
with Sir Herbert Taylor, his Military Secretary, at his
Royal Highness's residence in South Authey-street.
On Saturday the Princess Augusta had a select party
to dinner, at her residence in the King's Palace, St.
James's.

Yesterday the Princess Augusta attended divine service
at the Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace.
The Princess Augusta visited the King yesterday.
Prince Leopold gave a grand dinner, on Saturday, to a
numerous party, at his Royal Highness's house in Pall-
mall. Among the company w. re, Mr. Huskisson, Mr.
Wynn, the Earl of Shaftesbery, Lord Ashley, Earl
Spencer, Earl of Aboyne, Earl Bristol, Viscount Melville,
Viscount Althorp, Lord Clifton, Mr. Lushington, Mr.
Scarlett, and Sir Henry Torrens.
Prince Leopold honoured the Italian Opera-House with
his presence on Saturday evening.
Prince Leopold attended divine service yesterday morn-
ing at. St. Philip's Chapel, Regent-street.
Yesterday divine service was performed by the Rev. Dr.
Blomberg, at the King's Palace, Pall-mall.
The Earl of Liverpool held a consultation yesterday
afternoon with Mr. Secretary Canning, at his Office in
Downing-street.
Viscount Melville transacted business on Saturday at
the Secretary of State's Office for the Colonial Department.
On Saturday the Swedish Minister transacted business at
the Foreign Office. '
Saturday afternoon Mr. Havilarid, the King's Mes-
senger, arrived at the Foreign Office, in Downing-street,
with despatches from the Hon. Frederick Lamb, the
British Minister at Madrid.
On Saturday morning, at half-past ten o'clock, the
Lords of his Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council as-
sembled at the Privy Council Office in Whitehall-place.
The Lords present were, the Lord President of the Council,
Lord Bexley, Lord Stowell, Lord Colchester, and the
Master of the Rolla. Their Lordships were principally
occupied in hearing the further appeals of the Duke of
Luxembourg and the Duke de Valois. Mr. Boyd's appeal
was strongly urged by Mr. Fonblanque and Mr. Carr.
The King's Advocate and Mr. Tyntlal were heard in sup-
port of the decision of the Commissioners. An application
was made to their Lordships to re-hear the appeal of the
Baron Bourgh, the Baron not being satisfied with their
former decision ; but the principal ground of dissatisfac-
tion was, that Mr. Brougham, whom he had retained to
support Ids appeal, was, at the time his appeal was ap-
pointed to be heard before their Lordships, on the Northern
Circuit. Their Lordships refused the application.

TASHIONARLE ARRANGEMENTS TUB: THE wierr.
Tetra Eva se we.—The Duke of Northumberland's /fraud sheets Find pm,
nd the loichrts's evening party, Northumberiard House; the Martino!
nets of Camden's drat grand assembly, Aril °stun—of ret ; the C. antes. of
Jetsey'd party, Berkeley-square; Lady Neave's rout,' Old Borllngtm,
stet et ; Lord Itedesdale and the Hon. Mid. 311 ford's ball, Hatley.sevedi
31r, Chaplin's party, Weibetk-street.
To-Moanow.—The CoUnteas of Arran's csrd party, Dover.ate,et; ty
Thomas Chaplin's second assembly, Grafton-street) Long's
senably, Richmond-ten ace.
Wiut4l/10Ar.—Thr. Dowager Marchioness of Salisbury's im.mbly.
Arlington-street; the Archbishop of York's antient music dinner, 6,0„,
velor-square; Alenack's grand ball.
Tnuasns v.—The Marchioness of Lanadiwn's grand rout, Berkeley,
square; the Conotns of Arran's assembly, Dover-street; Sir Win. Abdy.s
music patty, Ma-street ; Lord and Lady Ducie's party, Dover-street.
YelDer.—Lady Campbell's rout, Baker-street; the Hon. Mrs. Hope.
assembly, Manslield-,treet. _

SATURI/All.—The Countess of Arran's card party, Dover-street; sti
Wm. Atxly's music party, !1111-street.
Su VOA Y.—The Couutess St. Antonio's concert of sacred music, Ea.
nover-square.

PARTIES.

The Duke of Athol' entertained a distinguished party at dinner yester-
day, at his house In Great George.street.
The Earl and Countess Gower entertained the Marquis and ?if arcbicn,,
of Langdown and a large party at dinner yesterday, at their boast is
Hamilton-place.
Lord Colchester had a rand dinner party yesterday, at Ws house la
!Spring-gardens.
The Hight Honourable William Finsklsson had a large party at din.",
yesterday, at hls house In Somerset-place.
Mrs. Gurney ha+ is•ned cards of invitation for an assembly on Friday,
the 19th Instant, at her house in St. Jamees-square.
Mrs. Baring's rout, Intended for Thursday next, we have authority%
state, Is postponed mall the 19th Inst.
The following distinguished personages ha I dinner parties yesterday,.
The Honourable CI arles Wynn, Whitehall-place; Mrs. Couttg, Picts
dilly; Colonel Cuff, M.P., Whitehall-place; Lord Berwick, Br/mutton-
square; the Earl of Shaftesbury,Grosvenor-square.
------- -

1110VEMEN'r9.
The Marquis of 'Mehl:mid and Lord Georse Bentinek left town yeetn.
ay. for Newmarket.
The Earl and Countess of Sefton and the Ladies Molyneux left was
esterrlay, for their seat, Stoke Farm, near Windmr.

Lord t..:itarles Fitzroy Somerset left town yesterday, (or Newmarket.
The Honourable Mr. and Mrs. Ayre have arrived at the St. Geuree's
Hotel, Albemarle-street, from their neat In Hint, Departures._
William and Lady Cooper and family, and Mrs. bannas, for Sfaoor
House, Teddington.
Sir William and Lady Jane Houston have left town, for their test,
Avisford, Smo.ez.
Mr. and Mrs. Childers have left the St. James's Hotel, Jermyn-strett,
on a tour. _

Arrivals at Miller's Rotel, Jermyn•street —The Rev. Mr. Tyre, from a
tour; James Mo,ton, Esq. from a tour.
Departures from the London Hotel, Albemarle-street .—The Counteta
of Etiangham, for her seat, Lindhurst ; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bomar, f..t
their seat In Kent; Morland, Raci. on a tour.

—ArnimThe at Long's Hotel, Bond-street :—Count Wertenhsureh and
Baron Winner). from Germany. Departores•—Major 'llturhend, fur the
Continent; Capt. Griffiths, for Manchester; W. nippington, E3q. an a
tour.

Arrivals at the Brunswick Hotel, late Blake's, Jermyn.soreetl—M.
and Miss Whitby and Captain Symons, from Hants; Edward %Mat,
Esq. from Hants. Departures :—Mn. and the Misses Lister, for Boric!
Palk, Lincolnshire.
Arrivals at the Burlington Hotel, Old Burlington and Cork-streets --
Colonel Bromley, from tVorcestershire ; Mr. and Mrs. Davies, end Mrs
Crummer, from Herefordshire. Departures:-31r. and Mrs. Hunter, f.;
Dunbar, N.B. ; —!tunings, Esq. for ditto ; Rey. Sergisuo, for
Susses; Strgison, Jun. Esq. for ditto.
Departures from the Royal Hotel, St. James's-street :—J. Kinnear, leq,
for Armley House, Leeds; Sir W. Scott, for Scotland.

LITERATURE.

THE MARTYR, A DRAMA, BY JOANNA BAILLIE.

There is a taste springing up of late, which seems to
promise a more,intim tte association between elegant liters.
cure and Christian knowledge than has hitherto chem-
. terized the more serious portion of the public—a large
portion, we are willing to believe, whatever bigots or
sceptics may say to the contrary.
That such a union is desirable, no person can doubt who
wishes to see religion disengaged km vulgar cant, and
who is solicitous, at the same time, and by the same means,
to purify the springs of literature until they reflect the
image of virtue with all the brighten; of the original.—
Mr. Milman's dramatic poems up, n scriptural subjects
have gone a great way towards procluci ig, or at least ma•
nifesting, this effect. Their reception has been flattering,
their circulation has been extensive, and the name they
have acquired for their author is one of those encouraging
circumstances which authors know well how to appreciate.
To the example gf Minim is now to be added that of
Joanna Baillie, a lady who is in need of no formal intros
duction to the reader, having by her p'ays on the Passion,
and other well-known works, advanced her pretensions
many years ago to the acquaintance of every enlightened
mind. It may not be uninteresting, however, to say a word
or two respecting the terms on which Miss Baillie seems to
stabd with her immediate judges (the public), in regard to
her reception ass writer. %Pith criticism (that is, with for.
mal written criticism) she can have no dispute. Its notices
have not only been kindly, but promptly administered; a
felicity not often accorded to genius. With her theatrical
tribunal the case was different: blunt and democraticin
their temperament, though often capricious in their taste,
they pronounced upon the dramatic character of her plsysa
sentence against which she will naturally appeal to any one
who will accept the jurisdiction. The fact, however, sem;
to be, that the system-building, attempted on so. novel a
plan as that of limiting each play to the developn ent of a
single passion, though like enough to attract curiosity in
the first instance, was too much at variance with 11 e free
action of the drama, and the complicated movements of the
human heart, to be attended with complete success. Poetry
might break through the impediment, and it did so; but pate
awn, and variety, and character, were discountenancal by
the very first condition on which it was proposed to unite
their suffrages. We cannot help thinking, therefore, that the
fine descriptions and lofty sentiments, and pcetic visions, of
this accomplished writer, are much better qualified to sus-
tain a dramatic poem than a play, in the strict sense of the
word ; and that even those which she has written, if not with
a view to the stage, with a closer adaptation than the rest,
will corroborate the opinion we have only echoed from the
authority of more than one audience.
But it is time that we should apply what we have been
saying to her last production, The Martyr,--s subject
worthy in every respect to exercise the powers of Miss
Baillie, and adapted in its nature to the peculiar bent and
tendency of those powers. In the first place, it is quite
evident that the character of a Christian martyr was nects•
sarily more simple than that of any other sufferer to he
found in the annals of affliction. Animated by a sin_]:
sentiment, which, if it did not absorb every other
in itself, subdued their force and corrected their
wanderings, and assimilated their complexion to its
own, it approached nearer to those isolated views
of passion and emotion, which, from early habit, this
writer bad been accustomed to prefer. In the next place,
there was, if we mistake not, in the calm sublimity of the
subject, another point of attraction to the sympathies of
such a mind. The tone of moral reflection apparent in all
the former productions of the sante pen, and the loftiness
and grandeur to which it was sometimes raised by the in-
fluence of smaller excitements, could scarcely fail to be
displayed in a manner still more striking and energetic,
when, under the auspices of virtue, it proceeded to the
august ceremony of presenting martyrdom with its crown.
Those who judge of a literary work as they would of a
piece of broad-cloth, by its length, will be discouraged
when they arc told that The Martyr consists of only
seventy-six pages. Those again who judge of a dramatic,.
work by the number of acts into which it is divided, will
be shocked, when they hear that The Martyr, instead of
five, is limited to three. For such disappointments as
these we can offi:r no consolation, except what the objectors
can collect from the following statement:—An illustrious
band of critics (peace be with their manes !) resolved, once
upon a time, that no poem should be cansidered an Epic,
however heroical the subject or poetical the verse, which
did not consist of twenty-four books; and such was the
force of authority, or the efficacy of dimension, that man-
kind took almost a century, to consider before they could
make up their minds to burst out laughing at the none
sense.

But there is a better class of judges than either of those
we have mentioned, who will also have to quarrel with the
execution of this work. They are the lovers of action, of
passion, of character. For them, too, The Marlyn can
have no charms, unless it be that poetry, in however ab-
stracted a shape, must find eome estimation in every breast
which is capable of harbouring a taste for any intellectual
enjoyment.
As for the plot, or story, we will not do the drama 60
much injustice as to divulge it in the two or three lines
within which it may be comprised. Suffice it to say, that
the only interest it possesses must be divided between the

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high principle it displays and the fervour, both of senti•
went and language, into which that principle, in alliance
pith the writer's genius, sometimes elevates the composi-
tion. But a few specimens will do more to satisfy the
judgment of the reader, than all that can be either said or
written in the absence of such evidence.
The following passage, which occurs in the very first
sane, is a beautiful instance of poetic imagery and de-
scription. Alluding to Christianity and the constancy of
the first martyrs, one of the characters observes—
" There s sorcery io it, or some stronger power.
But be it what it may, or good or ill.
They look on death on its most dreadful forms
As martial heroes on a wreath of triumph.
The tires are kindled in the place of death,
And bells toll dismally ; the life of Rome,
la one vast clustering mass, hangs round the spot
And no one to his neighbour utters word
But in an altered voice, with breath restrained.
bike those who +peak at midnight near the dead."
Bow natural and affecting is this description of a youth
who laid down his life in the same cause!
But he who seemed before an meek and timid,
Now sutklenly imbued with holy grace,
Like the transition of some watery cloud
In passing o'er the moon's refulgent dire.
(Bowed with new life, and from his fervid weeds
Words of most firm indignant constancy
Poured eloquently forth. Then to the pile
Sprung lightly up like an iindattnted warrior,
Scaling the breach of honour, or alas!
As I have seen him midst his boyish mates
Vaulting aloft for very love of motion."
We cannot, however, avoid objecting to the use of the
word " disc" in the fine figure contained in the above
quotation. Disc, be it remembered, is a mere technicality,
and poetry should not condescend to repeat the technica-
lities even of science, but where there is absolute occasion.
There is a great stretch of fancy in the following pas-
elFre, in which Cordeniust a convert front the polytheism
of the Romans, deveribes the effect of his conversion. The
images he employs are of that picturesque kind which im-
mediately seize upon the imagination, and the force of con-
trast is well preserved.
1 sm. methinks, like one, who, with bent back
And dos nward gaze—if such a one might be—
Hate only known the boundless cure sky
Hy the straight circle of reflected beauty,
Sete is the watery gleam of some deep pit;
Till, of a sudden rous'd. he stands erect,
And wondering looks aloft and all around,
On the bright sunny firmament:—like one
(Granting again that such a one might be) ,
Who hath but seen the element of are
On houw.hold hearth. or woodman's smoky pile g
And looks at once, mid 'ittounding thunder-peals,
On Jove's Megniiicence of lightning. Pardon,
I foray you, pardon me, I mean Ids lightning.
Who is the Jove of Jove, the great Jehovah."
It would be easy to accumulate passages of this kind,
but those we have already transcribed will be sufficient to
show that they have little, if any, of the dramatic cha-
racter about thetn--their excellence being moral and
poetical. We cannot, however, reeist the temptation of
extracting one of the songs, ?specially as it is calculated to
relieve the sombre effict of the preceding quotations.
" The lady in her early bower
As bleat as bee in morning flower,
The lady's eye is flashing bright
Like water in the morning light,
The lady's song Is sweet and loud
Like sky-lark o'er the morning cloud,
The lady's smiles are smiles that pare
Like morning's breath o'er wavy gross.
bhe thinks of one whose harnesed as
le triumph comes from distant war,
She thinks of one whose martial state
Will darken Rome's imperial gate,
She thinks of one with laurel crowned,
Who shall with sweeter wreaths be bound;
Vain eye and smiles, in mingled play,
The lady's happy thoughts betray."
We shall now take leave of The Martyr, and of Mies
Baihlie, by exprt using the satisfaction with which we have
witnessed such an effort front such a pen, towards producing
that union between religion and literature which promises
to be for the advantage of both.