The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-07-04 00:00:00

THEATRES.
KING'S THEATRE.
made his second appcaranco on S.:turday. Re
had a crowded and fashionable audience, and his perform-
ance was received with marked favour throughout.

figure or a young virgin, which opened her arms to
welcome him with apparent transport and affection,
and suddenly clasping him to her bosom, from which
innumerable sharp weapons sprung out into his body,
embraced the hapless wretch with the embrace of death.
Miss Kelly evidently gives herself up to the intensity of
her feelings more than any actress on the stage—witno.s her
Therese in the Orphan of Genera and on Saturday night,
in one scene, her feelings were wrought tr? to such a pitch
of excitement, as to oblige her to hurry off the stage at the
commencement of a song in the second act, unable to get
through .it. We shall only advert to her final exit, ih
dumb show, when she finds Macheath, after his reprieve,
persist in his preference of her rival : it is the sublime of
/ore tru.:Tedy, and we question if Mrs. Sidelong, great and
glorious a creature as she Was, ever did anything finer in
Elvish, than this Kean in petticoats in the last scene or Lacy.'
We have left ourselves but little room to speak of
the novelties of the evening—Mr. Thorne, as Mae-
/truth, and Miss Cloward, in Box/au. The former
performed, as we have heard, some years back at
Drury-lane; but if so, it Insist have been either in
minor characters or unsuccessfully, for we have no recol-
lection of it. Ile has been since, we understand, at Dub-
lin, and comes recently from the Norwich and York thea-
tres. Mr. Thorne is in person of the middle size, rather
fully formed, and with a handsnme but not very expressive
or striking cast of feature. Ilia voice is of a promising
character and farther improvable, as we conjecture, being
at present rather weak and undecided in some of its tones.
Ills speaking voice is not unphasing, but his utterance is
too rapid, and his articulation not sufficiently distinct.
This defect he will do well to correct, and by indMging his
falsetto less, he will soon prove a pleasing singer and au ac-
quisition to the theatre. Ile was more at home in Mr.
lie/eille than Macheitill ; for the former line of character
he is well suited.

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.
The Iron Chest was acted here on Saturday evening. Be-
fore going to see this play performed, it is absolutely neces-
sary that one should read Caleb W illiams, a novel of as much
depth and power as any in the English language, otherwise
the interest of the piece is almost entirely lost. It requires
the imagination and the memory to be constantly going
along with the actor, to account for those violent transitions
of passion which rend the heart of Sir Edo ird Mortimer,
whore morbid sense of honour has driven him to be a mill.
deter, and whom an ever-living consciousness of his lust
fame has made alternately the victim of the extreinest rage
seel of a (Imp and blank despair. The play is essen-
tially undramatic. There arc but one or two inci-
dents in it, and they are very much forced; par-
ticularly that in which the discovery is made of
the blood-stained knife and the Britten confession of the
murder. But notwithstanding this, it admits of some very
tine acting, and is calculated to enchain the attention and
intet est the feelings of au audience. Mr. Young sustained
the characer of Sir Edward, the Falkland of the original.
This gentleman's style of acting is decidedly melo-dramatic.
There is the studied attitude, the stamping :of the foot, she
pompous declamation, and the deliberate preparation of the
countenance wine minute or two before the time, which
characterize Mr. Young's acting, and which render his
portraiture of a man made up of feeling erratic, it
it true, but still intensely real, comparatively cold and
indifferent, and incapable of exciting within us any
emotions either of terror at his crime, or of sym-
pathy for his miseries. There is a starch preci-
sion, an elaborateness of finish in such a ate le, which do
rot accord with the impulses of the human heart, and which
are constantly reminding iis that it is the acmr we are
lis:enittg to and not the being whose love of an unspotted
reputation had urged him on to a deed of blood, and whose
aspirations for that empty sound—a name—were as un-
qwenchabk as his despair was profound. Mr. Fawcett
rate the garrulous simplicity of the old steward, Adam
Wintertun, in an excellent insulter; perhaps he was oc-
casionally a little too robust, for a man who would he
" fourecere years next elartlemas." Cooper acted Wil-
ier./ eery efficiently.
The new farce, called .411 a Mistake, met with a very
unconneoue reception ; butt quite as good as its merits de-
served. The scene in which Jones first appeared as a
rambling half-cracked Geologist, seemed to promise some-
thing worthy repetition, but no sooner did Whincali come
forward, a creeture intended to represent that species of
whiekered and mustachioed animal, which tnay sometimes
be seen sulking up and down the King's highway, but a
very unequivocal expression of dislike was heard from
various parts of the house, and which increased as the
piece proceeded, though the applause was, perhaps, equal
to the hisses, at the falling of the curtain. As to plot or
incident—the piece was too &Aura fur us to be at the
pains of reruenthering whether there were either.
EYOLISII OPERA.
If we must go to theatres in the present temperature,
let it be to one of the summer houses. 'Those corpulent) The Whitehall Club signalised itself by a tplendid fete,
fellows, Drury-lane and Covent-garden, with all their !given to most of the rowing clubs on the river and a large
substantial provisions attaiest— I party of fashionable, on Seturday last.
" The winter's odd—ti:e whirlwind, and the flaw." At about twelve o'clock, the title serving for Richmond,
arc 11. e flannel in the deg-daye, positive nuelanc,s in July, , the company mustered at Whitehall stairs. Amongst the
and should be prorogued along with the two Houses of i home were, the Funny Club, the Eagle and Sharlee:utter
Parliament next Wedneslay, to prevent a dissolution of-1 Clues, the Emerald, and many others. Each boat was 1
the audiences. Let the Beard of Health look to it. We distinguished by the peculiar livery of its cockswain, the
would have them muzzled like mad-dogs, in order (ir. Wet arms and other devices of the club emblazoned upon their
tiny be allowed to enrich the language with a new word) I respective oars, flags, Sic. There were also several covered
to prevent aithophohia, or play-house pleurisy. It is a re- I shallops in attendance, for the security of the ladies, in case
now calamity to find one's self in a dramatic butt-house , the weather should prove unfavourable. The whole fleet
now-a-days—Reviling six inside, each fifteen stone, in a' started up the river in lire (not line of bettle), having a
mail coach, is only a type of it ; and then if the box-1 boat in the middle specially engaeed for the conveyance of
keeper, as is frequently the case, considerately leaves the I a military hand, which continued throughout the passage
door a-jar, what ninny to catch a glimpse of the cool even-Ito play lively and appropriate airs. Alexander Orme,
ing sky through the lobby windows, and see the moon Esq. member of the Whitehall Club, with officers
darting through, as if it meant to extinguish the gas-light under his command, anti a Committee of Management,
that oozes out of the smoky chandelier in the centre of the was the Captain of the day. Under the able direction of
cieling, putting one in mind of " the crescets with &spite]. these gentlemen, the ladies were served with a liberal sup-
tut feel,' in Milton's Pandemonium. It is too hot to pur- ply of refreshments on the voyage, consisting of ices, fruit,
sue the parallel farther! and wine of various deseriptione. Tee Eel-pie-house,
Tragedy, in Summer, has passed into a proverb, and is Twickenham, was the destination of the party. Here a
only another name for every thing that is horrible. The sumptuous dinner was spread in the open air, under a
more powerfully pathetic so much the worse, at a time marquee erected for the purpose.. The Company enjoyed
when there is not moisture enough in the human system themselves on this spot till the cool of the evening, main-
to
constitute a tear. Let Mr. Kean think met. Comedy wiling. with great glee the festive hilarity of the occasion.
and laughter were, if possible, worse, and more unseason- At about eight o clock, they betook themselves to their
sonable than pork, at this time ; but our modern authors I boats, and adjourned to the Castle Inn, Richmond, where
are considerate, and let our risible muscles alone, by com- ' they partook of tea and coffee, and spent the remainder of
tnon consent. The only amusements attainable at pre- ' the evening in dancing. An excellent London quadrille
sent, (with the exception of eating ice and reading Thcodrifs band was in attendance for this part of the dny's entertain-
which are both excellent coolers,) arc song, coining ov r trent. The ladies returned to town in their carriages,
the sultry sense, like a cool air ; and dance, which—but highly satisfied with their excursion.
must give up this last entertainment for the sake of the
performers. We have been led into this train of
reflection by a visit to the English Opera House, which re-
opened for the season on Saturday, under what we consider
very favourable auspices. The Management seems, as far
as we can yet judge, disposed to pursue the none course
as that which secured to this pleasant little Theatre so
large a share of public patronage last year. Of course we
infer a similar result, from its exertions, on the present
occasion. There can be no doubt that the policy of
this House last year was a wise one; and as little, that
a continuance of it, in the engagement of old vocal favourites
and of new singers likely to become favourites in their turn,
and the liberal production of new pieces and music, will
insure a full tide of success. In a word, let Mr. Arnold
make his Theatre what its name imports, an English
Opera Howse, and leave the rest to the public.
On Saturday the bill of fare was the B,g,rar's Otero,
Rosina, and the Spoiled Child; three such courses as might
satisfy any musical glutton, with Miss Stephens' Polly,.
and the Lucy LGckit of Miss Kelly. The former was in
delightful voice: to particularise all the passages in which
she was excellent would be to mention the name of every
song in the character. " Cease your funning" was de-
lightfully given, and lost nothing in repitition, having
called down a deservedly enthusiastic encore. The acting
of Miss Stephens in this (the Gaol) scene was particularly
pointed and delicate, and finely contrasted with the rude and
characteristic force of Miss Kelly's Lacy. Indeed she seems
to have seized upon the mild and submissive traits, that
mark the gentle heroine of Gay, in a manner peculiarly
felicitous, and true to poetry, it not to nature. Pelee, as
de ieted by th poet, is a beautiful abstraction, a splendid
ureado:: purity mid confiding trust in the midst of poi.
tton and treachery, she holds to ' her bosom's Ion!'
with all the devotedness and guileless constancy of Juliet
herself ; and, like Juliet entombed alive in the vault of the
Capuleta, she is the personification of beauty and stainless
purity, buried amidst moral deformity and corruption.
The conception may be out of nature, and extravagant;
ben nevertheless is it the sole redeeming grace in a decidedly
immoral performance—the soft household charity that
coven a multitude of sins. This is the spirit in which
Polly" Stephens plays : her manner is rather refined for,'
her tank in life. Poky is a jewel" richer than all her tribe ;'
but Miss Stephens should remember she is a jewel that !
has been kept in a 'busty casket. Of Miss Kelly's Lacy,l
which is the antipodes of all this, what can we say that has I
not been said or thought a thousand tunes before ? The
general style of this actresses performance is the most re-
mote from the convential that can be imagined ; she never
stickers herself snider the common pliers of the art which
are handed down from father to son as the heir-looms of
itithecility—her motto is niagna est natara, we may add,
et presuld. What can equal her scene with Macheath,
in which she cosecs, rages, wheedles, and then rages again?
And then for character singing: will any of our readers
please to recollect the manner in which she enunciates a
particular word that rhymes with " flirt" (we don't care to
soil our pages with it), in the duet with Polly. ei'llo, we
ask, can lend a man such a handsome box on the ear, as
she does Machenth hi the same scene? In all she does,
says, or sings, she is " terribly in earnest," as John
Kemble said of a great rival. The second scene in
the prison with Polly was inimitably fine—the natural
regret she expressed for her violence—the assumption of
kindly feeling, neither two warm to excite suspicion, nor
too cold to check confidence in her intended victim—the
almaratitly careless and accidental mention of the strong
waters, were all proofs of consummate art in the actress,
and reminded one of the mode of death for malefactors
once prevalent in Germany, wherein the victim was
Ind up to a beautifully fonued and splendidly adorned

The fair debutonte who appeared in Rubin is also from
the York Theatre; which is classic ground, by the way, in
theatrical history. and has nurs.ll some of our first-rate
actors into excellence. Miss Gowartl is really a very pro-
mising, young lady, possessing qualities of voice of no corn-
' mon order, and only requiting more time and practice,
and the confidence consequent on these, to develop them.
She possesses a goo-I face and figure, her deportment, con-
sidering the evident ethharraesment of a first appearance on
Loudon boards, appears to have been sedulously cultivated.
If ne do not speak more decidedly, it is more from fear of
wronging the future eminence of which she gives evident
promise, than through a wish to discourage this young
; whose occasional buratsof nature in acting, and some'
peculiarly brilliant notes that escaped from her timidity,
indicate the germs of (we venture to predict) no very dis-
tant and complete success. Miss Goward played Little
ickle, in the farce of The Spoiled Child, which, without
meaning to depreciate the performance, was, we think, in-
judicious. She was triumphantly received by the au-
dience.

We wish we had room to mention as it deserves Mr.
Tayleure's performance of Mg; it was inimitably broad
and droll, and some of the grins acre so genuinely Listo-
nian as to convulse the !muse with laughter.

AQUA TIC FE FE.

A Brussels paper states, that Mts. Bscher, late Miss
O'Neill, the celebrated actress, is now in Paris, deprived
of sight, and is about to undergo an operation for cata-
ract.

At the late splendid entertainment given by Mrs. Coutts
at her cottage at Hi,gligate, the gang of thieves assembled
round the pretniaes were most outrageous and daring—so
much so, that they attacked the police officers, and actually
robbed one of them of a gold watch and chain of the value
of twenty guineas.
Mr. Stockdale complains of having suffered from the
hostility of the Journals. It is curious to observe, by what
various classes of persons the public press is abused. Kean,
forsooth. was one of its victims; Probert made a complaint
on the same subject; John Thurtell also considered him-
self among its martyrs; and now we have the same sort of
lamentation from the publisher of " Harriette Wilson's
Memoirs."

CHARLES CARTWRIGHT, ESQ.—This gentleman dial
on Saturday morning, at his seat, Bertrams, Hampstead.
aged 72. Mr. C. was a Magistrate for the county of Mid-
dlesea, was late Accountant-General to the East India
Company, and retired from office after a service of 32
years. lie was a most worthy and benevolent man, and
closed the concerns of this life by an act as singular as it
was pious. Mr. C. was one of the Governors of Christ's
Hospital, and offered a presentation to a family with seven
children, in whom he took great interest; but, the father not
being at the time a feeeman, he contributed to the means of
purchase, which was accomplished ouly last Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday were occupied in obtaining the
necessary vouchers and signatures. Mr. C. slatted the
presentation on Friday evening, by the guidance of Captain
Moor, and next morning resigned his tranquil spirit to that
omnipotent Being in whom we trust hereafter.
DEATH or Da. Bua•ros.—ln our list of deaths will be
found a notice of the death of Dr. Burton, the venerable
and well-known Canon of Christ Church, Oxford. Dr.
Barton was Rector of Over Worton, Oxfordshire, with the
perpetual curacy of Nether Worton annexed. to which he
was presented byllr. Cartwright, of Aynho ; Vicar of Little
Berkhamsteatl, of which living the Marquis of Salisbury is
patron, and Incumbent of the first portion of the rectory of
Waddcselon, Bucks, in the gift of the Duke of Marlbo-
rough. Ile took the degree of M.A. in 1768, B.D. 1789,
said D.D. 1789. In 1792 he succeeded Dr. Remington as
Canon of Christ Church. Dr. Burton was educated at
Magdalen College, of which Society he was a Fellow. lie
married the daughter of Robert Jenner,D.C.L. and Regius
Professor of Civil Law, by which lady, whom he survived
many years, he had several children, all of whom are dead
except two daughters, one of whom is married to the Rev.!
Edward Marshall, M.A. late Fellow of Oriel College, and
now Incumbent of Utley, near Oxford ; the other is still
unmarried. A brother of Dr. Burton, who is one of the
Judges of the Court of King's Bench in Ireland, and •
sister resident in Oxford, still survive him. "It is intros.
sible (says the afford Herald) for us to do justice to the
amiable character of' the deceased. His urbane, kind, and
hospitable disposition rendered him beloved and respected
by all who knew him, and a large circle of friends and ac-
quaintances will long lament his loss. Notwithstanding
his advanced age, he retained the full possession of his
faculties, and was remarkable for a most retentive memory,
which enabled him to entertain his friends with anecdotes
of the wits and eccentric characters of yeas long past ; and
our readers are indebted to the Doctor for many tales of
Oxford men, which but for hint would longsince have been
buried in oblivion."

The Dorset County Chronicle contains flit following no-
tice :--" Two gentlemen, True Blurs, are wanted to repre-
sent the borough of Taunton at the twit tlection."