The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-09-28 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

Last night our old friend Dowton made his first ap-
pearance these two years at this Theatre as Sir John
A'alstaff, in the Merry Wives of Windsor. This actor's ex-
cellence, as a reprewmtatire of the fat Knight, is too well
known and acknowledged to render any farther eulogium
upon his merits necessary. It is enough to say his per-
formance of last night was fully equal to the best of his
previous efforts, of which the laughter and applause of
the audience showed that they were fully sensible. Our
readers will recollect the great success that attended the
slferry Wives of Windsor, when revived at this house a
few seasons ago. The cast of characters was then exceed-
ingly strong, and notwithstanding some chimp's, still con-
tinues so; and there is an case and keeping manifested in
what are called the minor characters, which, added to sp.,
propriate costume and scenery, are highly deserving of
commendation. Harley's Master Slender is a very clever
effort, and perfect in all that relates to dress, action, and
gesture; but this actor was never intended by nature for a
fool, and consequently "his speech bewrays him," and he
is unable to infuse into his tones the degree of imbecility
necessary for the preservation of an exact verisitnilitude.
Hia voice is inveterately lively, and his manner of enunci-
ating foolish things gives the lie to the matter. Mr. Wal-
l:iris's Ford is excellent, and was never better than last
night. The same praise attaches itself to Messrs. Browne
and battle, as Sir Thigh A vans and Dr. Coisis. Bordolkh,
in the hands of Mr. G. Smith, is a ruffian of the first
water. Mrs. Pace was in very good hands (Miss Cubit's),
and her daughter Anne was adequately represented by
blisaing. To the vocal exertions of these ladies and
Miss Graddon, who sustained the part of Mrs. Ford, for
the first time, the musical portion of the piece is much in-
debted. We hop in our peregrinations never to meet
with a worse Xsters than Mrs. Harlowe. We had nearly
forgotten to make favourable mention of Mr. Horn, who
sung the songs attuned to the character of Fenton in a
very pleasing manner.

The Duke of Tot k had a Levee yesterday, at his Office
in the Horse Guards. The following General, and
about thirty other Officers, paid their respects to his
Royal Highness :—Major-General Cumming, Lieutenant-
General Bayly, Major-General Mackie, General de Stet-
glace, General Homprach, Lieutenant-General Sir Henry
Wattle, and Viscount Strangford.
The Cabinet Ministers assembled yesterday afternoon at
one o'clock, at the Foreign Office, and continued in delibe-
ration for four hours. not separating till five o'clock. The
Meister, present were, the Duke of Wellington, the
Eels of Liverpool, 'Westmorland, Bathurst, and nar-
rowly, Mr. Secretary Peel, Mr. Secretary Canning, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Viscount Melville, Lord
Bexley, Mr. Huskiseint, Mr. Wynne, &c. After the
breaking up of the Cabinet, the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer left town for Beckenham.
On Saturday hat, the Marquis of llertfonl was elected
firorder of Coventry, on the demise of the late iVilliam,
Earl of Craven.
Jeremy Bentham is on a visit at Paris for his health's
sake.
Cortespondent states, that the plan for erecting a noble
Doric Column, of the most magnificent proportions, as a
national monument, on or near the site of the late "tiding-
school, in Hyde-park, to commemorate the termination of
ear and the restoration of universal peace, under the im-
e.eshate auspices of his present Mejesty,ie by no mens aban-
doned. On the contrary, we arc credibly informed, that
the substitation of iron palisades, in die place of dead
trails in that neighbourhood, is altogether prospective'
blenal4l this plan b carried into execution, the effect of
the rack ilea grariug round a monument of peace, will be
lucent slue enough. It is feared, however, that the new
strect from Charing-cross to the Nluatutit will for the pre-
delay the commencement of this public work.
he Dublin Frrninq Post says--" We can state, and
need not add that a gives us great satisfaction in being
drd to do so, that Mr. Cruise, a Catholic Banister of
derable eminence, has been appointed to the Chairman-
of the King's county, vacant by the death of the late
nos Persons. IV' congratulate the Catholics of
land on this proof, that, at least, the local Government
ate country is disposed to administer equal and impartial
`IV. In the 'Retribution of offices ; and, no doubt, the
*btu of the King's county, who are to meet upon their
question, on Tuesday next, will avail themselves of
opportunity of expressing their acknowledgments to
I,Wellesley and the Attorney-General."
(isnot ens ante.-IVe understand that It Is In con-
dation to establish an improved line of road between
reavenny and the Old and New Passages, by which the
'ult meta at Pen-y-Cae Mawr will be avoided, and
I'ssaoto Remaly leasennl. The saving in time will be
*Table. This, with the projected improvements at
l'&sages, will render the communication between Bre-
hire and the Merthyr side of Glamorganshire and Bris-
tly and commodious. We congratulate the public on
.4*te, nee.—Gloreerfer Journal.

LITERARY GLEANINGS.
No. XXXVII.
Da. Joni.' N.—The following character is drawn by the
energetic pen of Dr. Yana
Jortin," says he," whether I look back to his ve-se, to
his prose, to his critical, or to his theological works, there
are few authors to whom I am so much indebted for
rational entertainment, or for solid instruction. Learned
lie was, without pedantry. Ile was ingenious without the
affectation of singularity. He was a lover of truth, with-
out hovering over the gloomy abyss of scepticism, and a
friend to free inquiry, without roving into the dreary and
pathless wilds of latitudinarianism. He bad a heart which
never disgraced the powers of his understanding. With a
lively imagination, an elegant taste, and a judgment moat
masculine and moat correct, he united the whim and
amiable negligence of a school-boy. Wit without ill-
nature, and sense without ettbrt, he could, at will, scatter
upon every subject ; and in every book the writer presents
us with a near and distinct view of the real man!

ut omnis
Votiva paten tanquam descripta tabella
Vita vents. Hor. Sat. 1. lib. 2.
" His style, though inartificial, is sometimes elevated :
though familiar, it is never mean; and though employed
upon various topics of theology, ethics, and criticism, it
is not arrayed in any delusive resemblance, either, of
solemnity, from fanatical cant ; of profoundness, from
scholastic jargon ; of precision, from the crabbed forma-
lities of cloudy philologists ; or oT refinement, from the
technical babble of frivolous connoisseurs.

" At the shadowy and fleeting reputation which is
sometimes gained by the petty frolics of literary vanity, or
the mischievous struggles of controversial rage, Jortin
never grasped. Truth, which some men arc ambitious of
seizing by surprise in the trackless and dark recess, be was
content to overtake in the broad and beaten path : and in
the pursuit of it, if Le does not excite our astonishment by
the rapitlitx of kis...irides, he, at lust, secures" our confi-
dence by the firmness of his step. To die examination of
positions advances] by other men he always brought a mind
which neither prepossession had seduced nor malevolence
polluted. He imposed not his own conjectures as infallible
and irresistible truths, nor endeavoured to give an air of
importance to trifles, by dogmatical vehemence. He could
support his more serious opinions, without the versatility
of a sophist, the fierceness of a disputant, or the imperti-
nence of a buffoon—more than this—he could relinquish
or correct them with the calm and steady dignity of a
writer, who, while he yielded something to the arguments
of his antagonists, was conscious of retaining enough to
command their respect. He had too touch discernment to
confound difference of opinion with malignity or dulness,
and too much candour to insult, where he could not per-
suade. Though his sensibilities were neither coarse nor
sluggish, he yet was exempt from those fickle humours,
those rankling jealousies, and that restless waywardness,
which men of the brightest talents are too prone to in-
dulge. He carried with him, into every station in which
he was placed, and everysubject which he explored, a solid
greatness of soul, which could spare an inferior, though
in the offensive form of an adversary, and endure an equal
with, or without, the sacred name of friend. The im-
portance of commendation, as well to him who bestows,
as to him who claims it, he estimated not only with jus-
tice, but with delicacy, and therefore, he neither wantonly
lavished it, nor withheld it austerely. But invective he
neither provoked nor feared ; and, as to the severities of
contempt, he reserved them for occasions where alone they
could be employed with propriety, and where, by himself,
they always were employed with effect—for the chastise-
ment of arrogant dunces, of censorious sciolists, of intolerant
bigots in ever) iret, and unprincipled impostors in every
profession. Distinguished in various forms of literary com-
position, engaged in varlet's duties of his ecclesiastical
profession, and blessed with a long and honourable life,
he nobly exemplified that rare and illustrious virtue of
charity, which Leland, in his reply to the letter-writer,
thus eloquently describes: Charity never misrepresents ;
never ascribes obnoxious principles or mistaken opinions to
to ■o opponent, which he himself disavows; is not so
earnest in refuting, as to fancy positions never asserted,
and to extend its censure to opinions which will perhaps
be delivered. Charity is utterly averse to sneering, the
most despicable species of ridicule, that most despicable
subterfuge of an Impotent objector. Charity never sup-
poses that all sense and knowledge are confined to a parti-
cular circle, to a district, or to a country : Charity never
condemns and embraces principles in the same breath...-
never professes to confute what it acknowledges to be just
—never presumes to bear down an adversary with confident
assertions: Charity does not call dissent insolence, or the
want of implicit submission a want of common respect.'
" This, I cannot help exclaiming in the words of Bi-
shop Hu RD in his remarks on Huns, this ' is the solution
of a philosopher indeed; clear, simple, manly, rational,
and striking conviction in every word, unlike the refined
and fantastic nonsense of a writer of paradoxes.'
" The esteem, the affection, the reverence, which I
feel for so profound a scholar, and so honest a man, as Dr.
Jortin, make me wholly indifferent to the praise and cen-
sure of those who vilify, without reading, his writings, or
read them without finding some incentive to study, some
proficiency in knowledge, or some improvement in virtue."
—Dr. Purr's Preface to the two Tracts qfa Warburtonean.
Dr. Jortin, it is probable, did not consider his talents as
sufficiently rewarded. There is no doubt but that he often
saw church honours bestowed on those whose deserts were
less sanctioned than his own. We may infer that there
were moments when he felt this neglect, from the forcible
manner in which, in his " Life of Eaantus," lie quotes
a pointed expression of Lis to Lord Mountjoy, when speak-
ing of preferment which came late in life. " Fortune,
my Lord, e!ffirs a man bread when he has no teeth to chew
He then proceeds thus, as if from anonytnousautho-
rity, although the language and sentiment are clearly his
Own.

" !lath literature been thy choke and thy occupation ?
(saith a certain author) and bast thou food and raiment?
De contented : be thankful : be amazed at thy good for-
tune. Art thou dissatisfied, and desirous of other things?
Go, and make twelve votes at an election. It shall do thee
more szrvice than to make a commentary on the twelve
minor prophets."
The discourses of Dr. 'Navin are full of good sense and
sound morality. He never could be persuaded to give them
to the world during his life, for what reason is not known.
When once asked by a friend " Why he did not publish
his sermons ?" he answered, " They shall sleep till I sleep."
Though he might see high stations and great preferments
betowed occasionally on those who would not easily have
established their title in the Court of Claims, his philo-
sophy taught him to estimate them gifts of greatness at
their true worth, and his contented spirit through life
exemplified the sincerity of his sentiments.
" li'here," says he in his Adnersaria, "where is hap..
piness to be found ? Itlere is her dwelling-place? Not
where we seek her, and where we exCet to find her. Hap.
pines" is a modest recluse, who seldom shows her lovely
faee in the polite, or in he busy world. She is. the sister
and companion of religious wisdom.
" Among the vanities and the evils which Sotowow
beheld under the sun, and which we daily behold, one is
this ; an access of temporal fortunes, to the detriment of
the possessor ; whence it appears, that such prosperity is a
dangerous thing, and that few persons have a head strong
enough, and an heart good enough, to bear it.
" A sudden rive from a low station, as it sometimes
shows to advantage the virtuous and amiable qualities
which could not exert themselves before; so it more fre-
quently calls forth to view, and exposes to open light those
spots of the soul, those base dispositions and hateful vices,
which lay lurking in secret, cramped by penury, and veiled
with dissimulation. _

" An honest and sensible man is placed in a middle
station ; in circumstances rather scanty than abounding.
He bath all the necessaries, but none of the superfluities
of life; and these necessaries he acquires by his prudence,
his studies, and his industry. If lie seeks to better his
income, it is by such methods as hurt neither his con-
science nor his constitution. He bath friends and ac-
quaintadces of his own rank: he receives good offices from
them, and he returns the same. As he hsth his occupa-
tions, be hath his &minims also; and partakes of the
simple, frugal, obvious, innocau, and cheerful amusements
of life. Ily a sudden turn of things, he grows great, in
the church, or in the state. Now his fortune is made ;
and he says to himself, The days of scarcity are past ;