The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-11-02 00:00:00

tnElrnis.

cr • IY.T. ASS.
T/e Merchant of Pilate was performed on Sa-
turday evening. The ploy woo ehotien for the par-
pose of introducing to a London audience, in the
character of Portia, a Lady, •hose name, we be-
lieve, is Pope, and who was. a short time since.. 4
member of the 'Thespian corps at Newcastle. tier
person is extremely well adapted for the stage. She
is tall, and rather elegantly forded—her feature*
are not deficient in heauty or intelligeuee-s-and her
entire appearance is modest sod interesting. She
moves gracefully—in her action and attitude, con-
sults ease and propriety---ind sheers, by her general
mainier, that the possesses a competent knowledge
of stage buOness. Her voice is moderately power.
ful, and her articulation, in general, clear and well
deliord. The character chosen for her debut,
though not a very extended one, solicit* some vers
Wilily of talent. Portia, in her progress through
the piece, has her pl., her tender, her grave, and
her playful moments. With Nerissa, she is heel 7,
and a little satirical--wth Bitaseptic), gentle MP the
breath that whispers a first love—before the Duke,
grave. dignified, sententious--and, in the nog-
scene, which end. her " strange eventful history,"
poutingly playful. Mrs. Poet succeeded best in
the lighter ports of the character, which she hit off
with neatness and spirit. The remarks on her vs.
rious loven, which occur in her firrisrene, were
given with much point—but. at the same tim ,
with the smiling goodslitimonr of a cheerful, awl
the easy air of a well-bred, woman. She was also
very happy in the couclinling acne, particularly
where she described the manlier in which Portia
had become pawned of the ring. There was, in
her mode of uttering the words, "The Doctor gave
it me," in answer to the interrogatory of Bassani°,
a great deal of archness. We catinot speak so fa-
vourably of Mrs. Pope's performance iu the trial
scene. The solemn dignity. the impressive !Ali-
ness of character, which Portia should here assume,
were faintly perceptible. The b.autiful lines on
mercy—st once admired for the sublime sentiments
they inculcate, and for the exquisite poetry in
which those sentiments are conveyed—were not ill
recited, but they are eusceptible of infinitely more
force and grandeur in the delivery. In some few
instances, Mrs. Porn. by contracting the syllable
" ed," destroyed the harmony of the verse—and
her mode of pronouncing the word " confiscate"
was usanifestly faulty. The emphasis should be
on the second, not the last syllable. Mrs. POPE'S
debut was highly flattering, and we think her abi-
lities would be found extremely useful in genteel
comedy. The character of Shylock—the most
finished picture of reasoning revenge that any lan-
guage perhaps can boast—was performed by Mr.
KEAN. In this character he first appeared, when
destined to emerge from provincial obscurity into
the full blaze of metropolitan patronage—and this
character we rank among his very best. He acted,
ou Saturday earning, with great care—and succeed-
ed in describing the meaner, the vindictive feelings,
the outrageous sorrow, and, finally, the hopeless
broken-beartedneas of the Jew, with discriminating
judgment and powerful genius. Mr. D. Fatten,
for the tint time, sustained the character of Bus-
soda. His performance was moderately good : its
great errors were a want of elegance and polish,
and a 3111)%1441601:1 of petulance for true passion.
In reasoning on the caskets, he introduced one or
two pretty strokes of feeling—but his general style
of recitation is by no means agreeable. Mr. Ox-
Sellelre Lancelot amused the audience very
much. The soliloquy, is which Master Losincelut
states the arguments for sad against running away,
lost none of its original quaintness in Mr. Ox-
niallY'll

COYENT-GARDRIT.
Saturday aught the tragedy of The Gamester was
acted. IVere all pldys of the character of this.
there could be but one opiniou on the utility of the
stage to society—the voice of censure would he still-
ed, and the moralist would hail the stage as the
most powerful ally of virtue, and the keenest
scourge of vice. The good effect which this drama
produces is without one particle of counteracting
alloy. While it lashes vice without mercy or corn-
pimitise, it does not indulge in a description, or
produce a scene calculated to inflame passion or
pamper sensuality. It is one of those compositions
an author might review in his dying moments with-
out feeling a desire to erase a line. it pourtrays
vice in its outlive deformity ; without a single good
feature, without one amiable or attractive trait to
weaken the general effect. The picture is toot sof-
tened by any of those finer lines. nor set off by auy
of those colourings, which in time overcome our
aversion, and make us " first endure, then pity,
then embrace." Simla& is such a monster of
wickedness, utiredeemed by any virtue, such a
compound of all mean mid bast qualities, that to
see is entirely to abhor hiin, our detestation of him
is not '4u:tidied with one grail* of kindly feeling ;
he and his odious pursuit, from begiumg to cud,
urpirr notliing but disgust and loathing ; and the
mend must he cartoon that does nut rejoice at the
detection of his practices. and the prospect of his
punishment. Bererley, the generous and bravo,
but weak and imprudent ! whose spirit, sirturs,
and happiness become the easy prey of hypoceisy
and enw.irdtee. is at powerful example of the dangers
that beset a too facile and yieldiug disposition—nod
of the its eessity, if we would profit by the advan-
tdges of mature mud fortune, of " learning betimes
to ray, No." Mrs. Beverley, Charlotte, I.etosaa,
and Jarvis, present each a delightful colonist to the
black sterility of Ntakely's eh:limier. It would not
peihaos be easy to tied in any other drama lour
clitirJeter3 so excellent. so strongly exciting our pity
and ; and at the same time drawn so true
to twine. All these, besides Baits, tie of coosi-
deralele importuner in the conducting of the plot, a
Cirronwaiter which makes it a wetter of some
darrulty to fill up tine lowered parts sue-
cessfolly. The consequence was felt to a cer-
tain degree. Miss O'NEILL sustained the he-
mine of the litter. %%* e were sorry to per-
crt=•r some ►light reusing of her cold in a little
coughing, towards the beginning of the pity, but
without an• boars. ness. This Lady's Mrs. Be-
reeky is koorti to be a performance of the very
first order. Saturday slight sic was .It least equal
to licrst;foti any former occasion. roe arta air-
liely of her cote, the resignation of he r looks. the
geotleuess add composure of her itiointer —till con-
wird to prodotr tt to IWI tepiesetitatiou of

Meekness in distress, fortitude under umetiled
efflietion, and cuiqogal affection exempt from
change or abatement—losing. in comp:maim for it
bashand's eu&rings, almost all sen..t of her men—
palliating his faults, and trealliliiigle cautious of
wounding his delicacy of feeling. The {-Jointly...
new of tone, end lioxitty of couotenalice in her ad-
dress to Jarvis. *hen she wiys. " But take care.
how you upbraid htiu—l never upbraided him,"
expressed all the isistoictive tenderness of a woman,
with all the deep-rooted fondness of a wife. IVlien
Stokely endeavours to instil into her doubts of
Beverley's faith, the accompanying expression of
unmixed wonder, formed a strong commentary on
the swords, " What thooglits!" and nothing could
be finer than the boldness, the heart-felt exulio..
non with which she declares her unshaken coofi-
deoce in his fidelity. The scene in which Stoke.
k makes trial of her virtue, gave slum, for the
display of higher powers. The chilling contempt
with which she repels my thing like interfer-
ence between her and her husband, was enough
to check the libertine's career; hut when he
makes his perfidious proposal, the caustic seve-
rity of her answer. the A:sating terrors of her eye,
the indignant and ineff.ble scpin of her looks, the.
awful dignity of her demeanour, rising bleier from
insult, and proud in conscious innocence, might
humble guilt the most hardened, and teach profli-
gacy the most confirmed to shrink back, and hole
its shame and dismay. This passage was received
with enthusiastic and repeated pbudits. In the
concluding scene, the dreadful cry Miss O'N at tr.,
at first • moving statue of woe, suddenly utters,
when her eyes fall oil her husbaild's come,
spoke horror and despair to every heart. Mr.
YOUNG performed Beverley with great correct-
ness send force. In the scene with Aryls. his
misery—his bitterness of heart, on comparing his
preseot with his past condition—his commiseration
of those whom his folly had ruined, and self-con-
demolition, were excellently pourtrayed. His fury
and desperetion in the scene with Stokely, after lie
had lost his wife's jewels. were fearfully energetic
and terrible. The awful solemnity and resolute
hopelessness of his last soliloquy ; the momentary
frenzy of his joy in swallowing the poison, and
his solicitude for his child and the other objects
of his love, while on the brink of another world,
stirred up • ready sympathy and pity. Mr.
EGErteci• scarcely manifested sufficient versatility
of powers for the insinuating hypocritical Stokely—
the character is a eery arduous • one. Mr. C.
KIMBLE was prevented Irons appearing in Lewson,
as had been intended, by sudden indisposition.
Mr. ABBOTT reed the part, and went through as
respectably as the circumstances would possibly
admit. Mr. CHAPMAN played the faithful, grateful
Jarvis with considerable ability.
To the play was added the The Barber of Seville.
The house was very full.

THEATRICALS.—The lists of good performers dis-
engaged, and the lists of bad (Hies that are engaged
and performing, might forma curious specimen of
the bad taste of the age, did we not know that the
managers follow the taste of Jahn Ball, whose rule
too often is—" Any thing fur a change."
Ou Friday evening, at ()uneasier Theatre, The
Peasant Boy, and Who's the Dupe? was performed
under the patronage of Sir GEORGE CooKe, Bart.
the Vice-President'', and Committee of the Na-
tional School, fur the benefit of that institution, and
the sum of 181. 13.. was paid into the hands of the
treasurers; and on Saturday the theatre closed with
The Dramatist and The Trrnpike Gate, by desire
of the Doncaster Troop of Yeomanry Cooky, when
Mr. Marisct. addressed the audience iu a neat and
appropriate speech.
In speaking of the great Irish Fair at &aline-
sloe, it was well said, that, in reckoning up the
heads of cattle, they omitted the broken heads of
their owners.

A pantomime taken from the tragedy of Othe//u
is to be performed on Thursday next at one of the
French theatres. To an English audience a panto-
mime on such a *object would, we apprehend,
convey but little pleasure.

Alarming News fur Smokers.—Monday the
journeymen pipe-makers at an extensive manufac-
tory iu Maidstone, after playing up •" smoke end
tatty," struck fur wages. The quidnunc: have. in
consequence, got very long faces. and many a pipe
is put out.

Sroaxtoc.—The Scottish sportsmen have already
commenced their Coursing Meetings. On the
16th of October the Meeting at l'urriff took place,
when the silver cup there was won by the Marquis
of HuNTLY's black dog Lochaber. Having pur.
chased the dog from Major TOPHAM, we under-
stand, the Marquis sent the cup to I as at present.
The Melton Coursing Meeting commences this
season at an early period, being announced for this
day. A large assemblage of members and visitors
are said to he expected.
PETERISOROLGH.—EarI FITZWILLIAM, with Ilia
usual liberality rod consideration foe the comforts of
the pour of this neighbourhood, is building a spa-
cious and convenient lodging-bonze for Ilse accom-
modation of patient' of the Peterborough Dispen-
sary who cootie from the country, and who may re-
quire daily medical and surgical attendance.
Sir C. Wot.austr, Bart. has addressed an appeal
to the Countrj \Geotleitien of England, but espe-
cially those of Staffordshire, on the line of con-
duct it becomes Jhent to adopt in the prevent state
of the country. His main argument is, that they
must either lead forward improvement, or sink
down under a march. that will be conducted by the
middle ranks of society.
Six vessels, laden with apples, have arrived at
Portsmouth; and the apples are selling at 2t.
per bushel.
While our own Government, as well as that of
many others, are sending fortis vessels, fitted out at
a great national expense, to make discoveries, the
Chinese nation are resolved not to discover any
thing, or to allow any other people to do so fur
thews. Satisfied with their own modes of govern-
ing, they do hot wish to have tiny slew modes intro-
duced, which might be the mi-olis of tillightenisig
the subject; thinking (perliap• tint unwisely) flint
its they have role oil very comfortsbly fur so mony.
iseiiituies In their present unimproved state, Ora
they might not do Letter in a stole of inspruvetevnt,
brought en by site and cuats4un.