The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-30 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

ANNE HATHAWAY; or, SHAKSPEARE 1N
LOVE. By Emma Severn.
No man has been more celebrated, yet less
known than the bard of Avon ' • scarcely any details of
his private life have reached our days, while the
bright inspirations of his genius will be known and
admired through all time. One of the few events
which history has recorded is his marriage, at the
early age of eighteen, with Anne Hathaway, the
daughter of a yeoman of Stratford, then in her
twenty-sixth year. This lays the foundation of the
tale before us—the rest is the work of fancy. Though
bearing a name so celebrated, professing to chronicle
the adventures of persons so renowned, it is in reality
a work of fiction, not a history of the poet. The
"gentle Willie" is its hero, not the immortal Shaks-
peare. We may congratulate the authoress on this
discrimination ; people have ceased to fancy a poet a
different being from other mortals ; yet we have all
some indistinct, undefined idea of Shakspeare—he is
like a mighty wizard, " perceiving all, yet watching
unperceived;" he knows our thoughts and feelings,
unveils the secret recesses of our hearts, we are
awed by his power, and spell-bound by his genius.
He is our ideal hero, joined in our minds with all that
is grand or sublime—then, should some daring hand
seek to disturb the mysteries of the past, and to show
us the great poet, only as a man, we should regard the
deed as profanation. Anticipating such objections,
the authoress has left the poet untouched, and only
showed us the ardentand high-spirited youth, such as
Shakspeare must have been. Being a tale of do-
mestic life, it has little variety of. incident or adven-
ture, but as a compensation we find a series of
highly-finished portraits, rendered more forcible
by their combination. The calculating, avari-
cious character of the old lawyer, supposed to have
been his master, contrasts admirably with the generous
independence of the young poet, and the picture
of Anne Hathaway tends to remove our
objections to Shakspeare's ill-assorted marriage ; she is
described as a thoughtful, enthusiastic girl, yet ren-
dered wise by longer experience, and consequently
better suited to associate with him who was so much
above all others. We have one scene from the life
of Elizabeth, where she appears in a new and unusual
light. —her character drawn with softer touches than
historian ever used. We here behold her, not as an
imperious sovereign, but as a woman. The " Great
Queen" has had many admirers, and many enemies,
to give her praise, flattery, or reproach ; but who
would offer her sympathy Yet it is in the touching
character of one claiming sympathy with her sorrows
that the authoress seeks to excuse the faults of this
not faultless woman.

" If, indeed, as has been eloquently said, she ' lived but
for conquest and display ;' if she, indeed, thought in-
finitely less of bringing a sister queen to the block, than
of failing to make an impression on a gentleman usher,'
not unto her name wholly be the sin or the shame ;
with the crown of her inheritance she won a fearful gift
of error and weakness. The heartless levity of her
mother's spirit, the obstinate recklessness of her father's
will, were the needful and perilous adjuncts to her hope-
less isolation on a throne. Shut out from the blessings
of human sympathy, the dangers of her early life had
cast her lot with Ishmael, to exist essentially alone. To
live with an enemy is perhaps the bitterest curse ma-
lignancy need wish to a hated foe ; even to abide over
long on the defensive, perverts the understanding,
tramples on high thoughts and crushes the whole soul
into the mire of mean selfishness. Perhaps there is no
woe like unto this woe ; but Elizabeth was selfish—even
as a thief-taught child, driven by strong circumstances,
becomes a felon ; and at that hour it was her own re-
grets, her own misfortunes she mourned."
_ _

The third volume contains "Martin Luther," and
some 'other tales; but the chief attraction of the
work is the name of him who has himself said—

" What's in a name ?
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
The following passage is an example of the fidelity
with which the human passions are described :
" Memory,' observed Sir Ludovick, evasively, is a
true usurer, that multiplies past errors, wrongs, and
miseries, ad infinitum, long after they have vanished
away. A cursed tyrant is memory, gnawing the heart,
and racking the brain with an odious maddening repe-
tition of circumstance, place, and time, till the mind
grows giddy, and the soul sickens at the endless tale.'
" You forgot,' replied Sir Fulke, that no remem-
brance of past woes, no succession of present calamities,
can blind and obliterate the vivid picture of past happi-
ness, or efface the consolation which thought affords,
when looking back with thankfulness on the feeblest
deed of self-denial, mercy, generosity, or unselfish pur-
pose carried into effect.' "

MUSIC.

THE SHOCKING YOUNG MAN, WITH THE

GALVANIC RING.'
This is another production from the pen of Mr.
Bueler, to whom comedians and comic singers owe
a debt of gratitude, and the sooner they pay it the
better—a service of plate, for instance, for the service
he has done them for so many years, would, doubtless,
be very acceptable. A word to the wise—it is better
to remember a man alive than dead !
The song is announced as " Beuler's Galvanic
Ring," and as such rings are all the fashion, people
may as well have his as any ; because, though it
won't cure the rheumatism and tic-doloreux, it will
tickle their fancy and dispel the blue-devils,' the
vapours, and doldrums, and so may prove a good two-
shillings-worth to humanity.
The song is of a racketty gentleman, called young
Wit, who wears a galvanic riug to cure him of his
tricks, and who, either at the Polytechnic Institution, or
the Adelaide Gallery, Mr. B. don't mention which, gets,
out of bravado, so overcharged with electricity that
he ever afterwards goes through the world shocking
people, till, as one verse says:—
" At length his appearance was shocking to see!
His friends he had shock'd, and, of course. he was shied;
And with shocking bad hat' on his head at last he,
With shocking intentions, went to the sea-side.
And one dull day at Bright on, to finish the spell
That was set upon him, he took his last dip;
And some say 'twas he that exploded the shell
That fired Captain Warner's experiment ship!
Oh, oh, 0,0, 0, oh! What a shock! ! and I sing
Of the shocking young man with the galvanic ring.
And then, becoming food for fishes, he is supposed to
be the origin of electrical eels, more especially as—
" The last one exhibited, dying, did bring
To light the true cause that its shocks were so free,
For in it was found the great galvanic ring
Of the shocking young man who had jump 'd in the sea."
It is rather an ingenious story, bearing a good
moral, and, like Mr. Beuler's " Shiver and Shakery,"
may be made much of by the experienced singer.

A highly influential deputation of the salt trade of
Cheshire and Worcestershire, consisting of Mr. Worth-
ington, Chairman, Mr. Cheshire, Mr. Ashton, Mr. John-
son (Runcorn), Mr. Falk, Mr. Fardon, Mr. Lea, and
Mr. Granshields, attended by the Right Hon. E. J.
Stanley, Mr. George Wilbraham, Mr. 'Patton Egerton,
M.P., Mr. G. C. Legh, M.P., Mr. Tollemache, M.P.,
Mr. Ireland Blackburne, DLP., Sir Howard Douglas,
Bart., M.P., &c. &c., had a lengthened interview with
the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the East India
Company, at the India House, yesterday, on the subject
of the extension and introduction of British manufac-
tured salt into India.
PEEBLES-SHIRE ELECTION.—It appears that Mr.
Forbes Mackensic, the new Lord of the Treasury, will not be per.
mitted to walk over the course quietly. Mr. Carmichael, the son et
Sir Thomas Carmichael, has been put forward to oppose him by the
Liberals of Peebles.shire, and with every prospect of success.
ADELPHI THEATRE.—Madame Celeste, under
whose excellent management during the present season this
favourite theatre has recovered more than its pristine celebrity,
takes her benefit to.night, on which occasion Buckstone's suc-
cessful new drama of Green Bushes, with 1111adanie Celeste as
Miami, will be repeated for the 75th tune. This will be fol.
lowed by the Pretty Girls of Stilberg, in which Madame Celeste
will sustain her original character of Margot, while Mr. Webster
will appear as Ernest, and give his celebrated personation of
Napoleon. There arc various other attractions ; and, considering
the debt of gratitude which the patrons of this establishment owe
to Madame Celeste for the very efficient manner in which she has
conducted it, we cannot doubt hut that the house.will be a bumper.
DREADFUL FIRE AT WITHERSFIELD, NEAR HAVER-
'int..— On Saturday evening last, a most destructive fire took place
at Withersfield, when everything on the farm was consumed, in.
eluding six score of sheep,. The name of the sufferer is not at
present , known ; nor is it ascertained whether or not it is the
work of an incendiary. We understand the property is insured
in the Norwich Union.--Ipsioich E.Tress.
THE VICTORIA PARK.—Since the commencement
of the present favourable weather, a considerable number of men
levelledhasbeenmetropolis. Thecompletely
fields adjoining between it and Bethnal green have been thrown
open. A cross the latter, two lines of road, each 50 feet in width,
have beenformed in diagonal directions, one leading from Bethnal.
green to enter the Park over Bonner's-hall-bridge, and the other
to form a continuation of a new road from Cambridge-heath-gate.
It is also intended to erect terraces on three of the angular divisions
of these fields, leaving that portion of them on the Eastern side in
front of the new church of St. James the Less open for an orna-
mental promenade. The road from Bethnal-green to Wick,
where the River Loa forms the Eastern boundary of the Park, is
fast progressing towards completion, and we understand that it is
intended to purchase Sir George Duckett's Canal, immediately
running on the south, with a view to lay out a portion of the Park
informing ornamental pieces of water, which can amply be sup.
pleid at all times of the year from the canal.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, April 29.
Their Lordships met shortly before Five o'clock.
The Bishop of LONDON presented twenty-two petitions,
praying the House to discourage the sale of intoxicating liquors
on the Sabbath.

The Duke of RICHMOND brought in a Bill to repeal so
much of the Turnpike Act of Scotland, as permitted toll-
keepers_ to sell spirits and beer.
Th*Bill was read a first time.

MAYNOOTH.
Lord STANLEY presented a petition from the High
Sheriff of Bedford in favour of the increased grant to Mayriooth.
The Duke of BUCKINGHAM gave notice that oil Tuesday
next he would put a question to the Government relating to
the power of the chaplain of prisons to keep and conceal fiom
the visiting justices the confession of condemned criminals.
CHURCH BUILDINGS ACT AMENDMENT BILL.
The Bishop of LONDON moved the second reading of the
Bill for amending the Acts relating to the building of churches.
Lord CAMPBELL wished to know if the Bill contained any
provisions relating to the law of inortmain.
The Bishop of LONDON was understood to reply in the
negative.
The Bill was then read a second time.

Lord STANLEY, in the absence of a Noble Friend, brought
up the amendments on the Customs (Import Duties) Bill. He
trusted that the discussion, if any, would be taken on the mo-
tion for going into Committee.
The Duke of RICHMOND did not wish to embarrass the
Government, but he at the same time would enter his protest
against the principle of this Bill, and most assuredly oppose the
further progress of the measure at a future stage.
On the motion of Lord STANLEY the Auction Duties
Bill was read a second time.
The Earl of CHICHESTER presented several petitions
from places in England and Ireland against the grant to May-
nooth. He did not concur in their prayer.
The Marquis of BREADAL BANE presented numerous
petitions to the same effect.
RAILWAY ENCROACHMENTS.
Lord BROUGHAM wished to call the attention of the
House to a petition which he was about to present from Perth,
setting forth that there was in the neighbourhood of that
town a wide space of ground on the banks of the
Tay, which conduced much to the enjoyment, and re-
creation, and health of the numerous inhabitants. In
consequence of the lowness of the grounds, fogs prevailed, and
the people attributed the healthfulness of their city to the
exercise and fresh air afforded by this beautiful plain.
It was called South Inch, and was mentioned with
admiration by the Roman historians, and we were told that
when the Roman veterans came within sight of Perth they
were struck with its resemblance to their own eternal city—
which, by the by, was in their time an eternal pest.—(A
laugh.) He would not say what it was now—the Roman
soldiers exclaimed " ecce Tiber, ecce Campus Martins !"
That plain, which the Romans likened to their own Campus
Martins was the one to which the petition referred. A change
was about to come on it—a land change.—( A laugh.)
There was a railway company that had taken a liking
to one-half of the ground.—( Hear.) It might
be supposed that the magistrates would protect the petitioners.
But, no, the magistrates were railway speculators, and all the
rich people of the town had shares in the railway,
so that the poor inhabitants of Perth looked only
to their Lordships for protection. The railway
people were sure to succeed fcr they had the Board of Trade
in their favour. However one favourite of the Board was
thrown overboard that morning.—(A laugh.) He hoped
their Lordships would prevent this encroachment. He hoped the
petitioners would have the protection of the Noble Duke opposite,
who, when there was an attempt made to enclose a part of
Hyde Park, came down to oppose the project, and it was given
up. When Sir Robert Walpole was asked what it would
cost to enclose the Parks, he replied " Three Crowns."
He hoped the House would extend the principle to
the park of the petitioners, which was as valuable to them
as Hyde Park to the metropolis.
The NoBLE and LEARNED LORD then presented a petition
from Devonport, against the grant to Maynooth, and from the
tailors, shoemakers, butchers, bakers, and others from Bermond-
sey, against the Debtors and Creditors Bill.
ST. ASAPH AND BANGOR.
The Bishop of BANGOR presented a number of petitions
in favour of Earl Powis' Bill against the union of those Sees.
Lord MONTEAGLE took that opportunity of giving
notice that he would, on a future day, move that the second
recommendation of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners should be
adopted instead of the third. The second recommendation
was that the emoluments of the suppressed see should
be applied to increase the incomes of the poor clergy
of the diocese. The third recommendation was that they
should be applied to augment the episcopal fund ; but he con-
sidered such an application of them unnecessary now, as the
episcopal fund had increased since the report of the Commis-
sioners.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE asked would his Noble
Friend bring forward the motion upon the second reading of
the Noble Earl's (Powis) Bill on Friday ?
Lord MONTEAGLE said that he would take whatever
course the House might deem most convenient.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE was understood to suggest
that the motion might be brought forward as an amendment,
and to ask the Noble Duke opposite what course he would
think most convenient.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said that the first question
would be, that the Bill be read a second time ; and if that was
affirmed, that the Bill be committed.
Lord MONTEAGLE asked, whether he might not move
the insertion of his amendment as a clause in the Committee ?
Lord STANLEY said if the Bill were affirmed there would
be two bishoprics, and the proposition of his: Noble Friend
(Lord Monteagle) would fall to the ground, as there would be
no funds to carry it into effect.
Lord CAMPBELL hoped the proposition of his Noble
Friend would be affirmed, in consequence of the extreme
poverty of the Welsh curates.
Lord ELLENBOROUGH considered Wales and England
all one country, and that we should not deal with the question
otherwise than as affecting the whole National Church.
Lord POWIS said that it was for the purpose of placing
the Welsh Church on the footing of the National Church that
he, as a Welshman, had thought it his duty to introduce his
Bill.

Lord BELHAVEN presented several petitions against the
grant to Maynooth.
OATHS DISPENSATION BILL.

Lord DENMAN moved the second reading of this Bill. He
said the Bill was founded on a petition which he
had presented to the House on a former occasion,
from an individual who had refused to take an oath before the
Commissioners of Bankruptcy from conscientious scruples, in
consequence of which he was imprisoned, and had now been in
prison for three years, and might be kept there all his life.
The case, therefore, was one which stood on singular and pecu-
liar grounds. His Noble and Learned Friend on the Wool-
sack thought it a case deserving of attention, and as he (Lord
Denman) had more time to spare after circuit than his Noble
and Learned Friend, he undertook to bring in the sill. The
person to whom he alluded was ready to state all he knew, and
the Commissioners and the creditors thought he was acting
with perfect good faith, and was ready to make every disclo-
sure for the satisfaction of the judge and the creditors, but the
Commissioners had no power to receive his statement till he
came and made them on oath. From this short statement he
did not think that their Lordships would have any hesitation
in applying a remedy. He intended to give the Commissioners
a power of receiving statements without the accompaniment of
an oath, when they were satisfied that the refusal to take the
oath arose from religious scruples, and not from pretended
scruples, for the purpose of concealing the truth. He intended
that the same penalty should apply to the person who made a
false statement as to the person who was guilty of perjury.
The Earl of DEVON suggested that it would be better to
make provision for the examination of bankrupts by declaration
instead of leaving it to the discretion of the Commissioners to say
whether the objection to the taking of an oath of any person
were conscientious or not.

Lord DENMAN entirely agreed in the suggestion of the
Noble Lord. He thought it was highly desirable that the de-
claration should be substituted for the oath in all bankruptcy
and insolvent courts.
Lord CAMPBELL expressed his concurrence in the object
of the Noble Lord, and he trusted the House would give its
sanction to the Bill. If the individual who had been alluded
to had declared himself to be a Jew, a Separatist, or one of any
other sect who objected to oaths, his word must have been
taken, and he would have avoided all he had suffered.
The Earl of WICKLOW said that he couli not but express
his objection to the principle of this measure. He thought
that this Bill, which was but a portion of the larger measure,
and it was, if possible, more objectionable than the larger mea-
sure. The principle was the same, and the more suspicious, as
it was put forward to claim what it might not be unwise
in itself to grant; but when that was granted, it would
be impossible to resist the larger encroachment. He
had no objection to abolish oaths altogether, and they ought
not to extend this provision to the Courts of Bankruptcy,
and not to other Courts. Why, if the liberty were granted to
declare and not to take oaths before the Commissioners in
Bankruptcy, on what ground was the same privilege to be re-
fused in any other Court? He (the Earl of Wicklow) was
ready to abolish the custom of taking oaths in all cases where
it possibly could be abolished, and not to confine the applica-
tion of the principle to any particular party or sect, and con-
ceiving that the principle as it was then advanced was likely
to be mischievous, he should resist it. It was only the same
principle that the Noble and Learned Lord had brought for-
ward and supported by the same arguments, session after ses-
sion, and without taking the sease of the House upon it; and as
he (the Earl of Wicklow) had opposed the principle of the ge-
neral measure, so he should resist it as it now stood before the
House.

Lord lIROUG HAM •ould assure his Learned Friend that
even the Judges were not prepared to say that even in such a
grave matter as the sanctity of an oath there was not that pro-
tection that was necessary, even with the terror of a prosecu-
tion for perjury in prospect. But they were not now discuss-
ing the case of a witness, but one of a rather ano-
malous character, namely, the position of a bank-
rupt in the Bankruptcy Court, under the present
bankruptcy laws, which was the case of a man called upon to
give evidence against himself for having committed a certain
offence (for bankruptcy was looked upon by the laws as an
offence), and he was called upon to account for his property,
how much it was, and what had become of it ; therefore it
was an anomaly to subject the bankrupt to the form of an
oath, although he would still be liable to the consequences of
perjury.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said that he wished to sug-
gest that a general declaration should be substituted instead of
the oath, and was desirous that the second reading should be
postponed for that purpose.
According to the suggestion of the Noble Duke, the order of
the day was discharged.