The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-07-25 00:00:00

HAYALIRICEe THEATRE.

Mr. WARDS last night made his first appear-
ance in (Marian, in Mr. Consam's play of The
Mountaineers. His performance was crowned with
great and deserved success. There are, indeed,
hut nne or two performers attached to the Loudon
boards, who could give on forcible, and, at the same
time, so delicately-finished a picture of the victim
of disappointed love, as he presented us with. Mr.
WARDS seem. to have formed his general mintier—
to have twinkled the outline of has acting—on
the principles by which that great master of the
histriooic ort, Mr. KERMA, wag guided. A cer-
tain degree of similarly may easily be traced
in the iitt le of these two Gentlemen—but nothiug
indicative of • slavish imitation is apparent in Mr.
WARDS'S performance. He may be raid to steer a
sort of middle course between Mr. KitusLit and
Mr. KIM He is nut so complete a precision as
the former—nor is he, like the latter, alwsys abrupt
and violent in his transitions. Those sudden

storms, and equally sudden calms, have often more
of trick than of moorr about them—and the con-
sistency of a character is oftener destroyed, than the
performance is improved, by their introduction.
But, though :Vlr. W•aps dors not appear friendly
to one of the leading errors of the new school. he is
not at all deficient in animation. He is not, by any
means, a tame, laboured, measured actor. Where
the scene demands passion, he possesses capa-
bilities which call it into immediate life. It
Bashes from Ins eye—it thunders from his tongue.
He expresses Ina feelings, not by dismembering a
widener, and uttering uue half of it in a whisper,
the other in a roar—but attains his end by giving
to the whole passage that degree of weight and
force, which, looking to the immediate situation of
the character, it may be fairly supposed to deserve.
The part of Octavian is not a great favourite with
us. We ihiuk it requires no inconsiderable skill in
are actor, so to perform it as to challenge the general
applause of an audience. If the actor, fearing that
he may be betrayed into rant, enters upon his task,
determined to be mild throughout, the character
becomes insipid--and, if he give the rein to pm-
'lmo, lie is likely to he Ird sotto a degree of extra.
vegan, e,uhich is still more offensive. Mr. WARDN
avoided these extremes, most felicitously. His re-
miniscences of Zoroyda were extremely touching.
His grief was out womanish. Though it was ten-
der and affecting, the tires of a manly, but de-
pressed spirit, sometimes shone through it, and
excited commi.eration more strongly. The scene
with Such Was played with uncommon Went.
The rage of (Macias, when he finds •• hiss
haunt broke in upon"—the kindly feeling which
succeeds, when the presence of a woman, like
oil thrown on the tumultuous waves, calms
his passion-41w anxiety with winch he endea-
vours to trouser from the fugitives every a' touch
of fear"—and the alacrity with which be has-
ten. to conduct them to a place of safety—were
faithfully and feelingly described. Mr. WARDN'S
bCrice with Pomade could not, perhaps, be ex-
celled. It was a grand picture, in which the cone
Meting passions were perfectly marked. Mad.
liras gives way to despair—despair coiljured pp
by the idea that " Pomade's dead." But the
fiend is conquered by joy, when Pomade's ex-
istence—and, more than that, her constancy—is
proved. Thr audience testified their delight at
Mr. WI:IDE:a performance, sn this scene, by se-
veral rounds of applause. Miss E. BLANCHARD
appeared fur the first time, as Zeroydo. She
plated the character, on the whole, delicately.
But her voice seemed, in many instances, too fee-
ble to give effect to Zoragda'a sententious obser-
vations. Miss BLANCHARD is, we ought to observe,
of very tender years—sod her vocal organs, it is but
lair to expect, will, ere long, assume a more de-
cided rod imwerful character. Baleazio Maley is
a part, from the performance of which we have
rarely derived pleasure. Mr. FOOTS, by whom it
was last night personated, forced it out of the
back-ground, and, by the feeling which pers
veiled his performance, imparted. to it that imis
oortsocr, which, from its situation its the drama,
it ought to command. Mr. BUSIONLL'S Dada
was al sically amusing—and MN. LI*TON, as
Atrom, *Hog very sweetly. Mr. CONNOR was the
Kiboulluck of the evening : he supported the
cha-
racier Eltistely and humorously. Mrs. CONNOR
was V wetly and interesting Pomade. The bowie
was very full.

The following is an extract (ruin a recent Ad.
drew. of Mr. Coi.cLout)n to the Electors of %Vex•
lord I'.,tios v.

" Gentlemen, when first I had the honour of addressing
you. I pledged myself to put to the test of a poll, my Halter-
ing hop. son Ilse ensuing Ehorsion. Sincere su my prof...
mons, slid faithful to my public as well as my private en.
grgenienta, I thought nugatory to tinder illusory or vague
selaid,, and now felicitate myself and the Electors of my
Italia.. County. that all the Caudidat.s have equally bound
themselves to bring our menial claims to the same redeem's.
I now soloist those Friends, who so often liberally sop-
Polled my old favoured family, myself a captive, and nay
brothel, repelled eyes by his adrersaries, to 'demi and
unite to massy others, whose favourable opinion has lately
beta a A,tleriugaddition to my pretensions, and convince,
lig their political discriminating choice between four his-
motrahle desk of popular faiour, the two who are moat
Mkoly to keep the Representation of our Cuuuty upeu and
tuilepeudeut."

Letter% from Preston state that one of the most
PXIrIISIVe inaisufactorias of that town had been hit-
11,,.mpleil to be set on fire by an incendiary. The lire
'Well gist tooter before great damage was done.
I he Niro:test tovrstigation was taking place.
DEATH BY PEDESTRIAN ISIII.—A young man
named llul.L, died by the rupture of a blood-ves-
sel ui the head. on Wednesday last, ou • piece of
ground sitar Uxbridge. He had engaged to du 20
miles in three hours and a half, but in going the
lath wile, within the three hours. he fell to rise
no Inure. The heat of the weather, was, no doubt,
the cause of his death.
Usat•G ROISISIT.—About eleven o'clock on
houndsy night, the house. of Mr. JAMES A NSOLL,
"cdtorre of Keppel-street. Kenna wins en-
tered by a mall by means of a false key ; he pro-
ceeded slung until lie arrived at the apartment
((here Mr.. A NIOLL was, who was emplo)iiig her-
self iu sewing, and presenting a pistol at her head,
hr ClllllMlll4lell her to he ; he then opened the
and drawers, and carried off all he
lliought fit.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS.

SIR—As your report of the proceedings at Bow-street, on
Thor.iliy lain, was inacenrate. I tryst you will' allow me
to explain that I was not taken there in custody of any
officer whatever, but appeared' there voluntarily to answer
to a eloarze of doing that which I considered prefect',
legal ; and that such wits the impression on my mind, it
only need be stated that 1 had previoisoly taken an opinion
as to its legality-isthat it was not dune clandestinely, but
most openly, it having beer advertised in 130 different
Newspapers. It appears, however, now, that the Secretes!
of she Lottery Offire entertains is different opinion, and
has judged it expedieot that a decision should settle the
point of its. legality ; accordingly, I assented to • verdict,
having no wish to continue a practice which he considers
ant allowable by the present Act ; hut tin plan itself wit
Lamed wills a view to the benefit of the public, and I
have letters from various parlour the kingdom speaking of
it iu the highest terms ofapprobotiop.
I am, Sra, your huribkarruns,
No.l, Corwhill, sad J. PIDDINO.
290, Holloorn.