Star.
London, England, 1829-11-07 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

The following letter was written and intended for the
" Times" of this morning, in reply to a notice published
in that Paper of yesterday, on the subject of the New
Play ; but having been too late to expect insertion in that
print, I beg you will insert it in the Sri R of this evening
—as the intervention of Sunday might weaken the
freshness of its interest, as an answer to the paragraph
in question. W.

" SHAKESPEARE'S EARLY DAYS."

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIKES.

Bw—With a sentiment as much of surprise as regret, have I
long beheld the mall portion of your daily colonists devoted to the
subject of our National Drama. Its rapid decline and long priva-
tion of It and literary aliment, ought, for the honour of the
country, and preservation of taste, to occupy more serious attention
with the Journalists of this capital, who, professing to labour fur the
happiness of society, sod the improvement of the public mind, should
remember that a Theatre has become indispensable to every
civilised city, where the cares of business—the pains of study—the
fatigues of labour—and I must add, the mini of the idle, require
recreation and amusement. The intellectual kind which the Drama
affords, renders it not only a duty with the Legislature to promote
its encouragement ; but it behoves the philanthropist, the moralist,

and man of taste, to aid its progress and defrnd its purity. British
genius of past ages has right to the honour of posterity ; and if we
neglect the Stage we degrade its most splendid Temple, and de-
prive our succeeding generations of Inheriting our quota of wealth,
which Is the dot), of the lettered to accumulate for the National
Stage—the Stage ff Stakspetsre.
The hasty manner, and bandied phraseology in which theatrical
reports are commonly drawn up for Newspapers, by the persons
to wham that interesting department Is committed, is slighting to
the reader, and detrimental to the Drama. Ready to praise or
blame under any partial influence, as if the triumph of a bad play,
or the condemnation of a good one, was not a betrayal of the pub.
11c, and a deliberate effort to pervert and dishonour national taste
and literature—ft fa much easier, I contend, by perusals of Ridge-
way's ware, and studied periods 1 lama:dos, to declaim respectably
upon politics, than it Is for the writer to criticise with correct
judgment, and nice tact, the merits and demerits of living Drama,
submitted to the sentiments and opinions of all.

For this reason, it is incumbent on the conductors of the daily
press, so powerfully iniluendal with the public mind, alone to con-
fine Theatrical criticism to acknowledged taste—impartial judg-
ment—and thorough understanding of the art, both in its litera-
ture and stage representation.
I have been led. Sir, into these remarks, by the perusal of your
paper of this morning—in which the author of a new piece, en-
titled Shatespairea Ens* Days," very candidly steps forward in
his own behalf to conciliate the public, and in the tone of one
flushed with success, thanks you for your favourable opinions of his
happy production, and to solicit public interest towards another on
its way.
As your paper was this morning most Impartially open to a dis-
cusaion on theatrical readings of a certain ward. so shall I be per-
mitted I hope, for the interest of the national stage, to reply
to the author of "likakespeere's Burly Days" In the same
paper in which you have done him the honour to accord a place.
Unbiassed la my judgment, unconnected with the theatres, sad
altogether ignorant of the author, I am alone inspired by, this un-
usual challenge to public opinion, by an author in person, to ex-
amine how far he has a right to the bays be so confidently assumes.
I assisted at a representation of * Shiskaspasse's Early Days"—and
the following are my honest humble opinions of that production.—
The poetical character of the opening, in which Oberon,
Titania, and a suite of spirits are introduced, necessitated—to pre-
serve keeping—a consistent exaltation of mind throughout. The
supernatural machinery appended to scene. of broad comedy, in
Afitinsesser's Niger: Drew*" and " The Trwspest," are incon-
gruities to which it requires no less a genius than the divine ituAss-
srmas himself to reconcile us ; and let it be remarked that the
situations and character which give the name of Comedy to those
delightful Dramas, are of such an imaginative creation, and
are surrounded with so much poetic inspirat.on. that
the licentious interspersions of the familiar with the sublime and
fanciful, never for a moment break the enchantment—nay, the

the very wildness of the contrast beneath his immortal pen rather
condoms to maintain as in the altitudes of poetic fiction, which
every conception of Shakespeare most still inspire.
But the production In question falls from the imaginative, pros-
trate at once into a matter-of-fact dialogue and character, too fre-
quently as low as pbtkode. The music, and moving pictures on
rolling machinery, are foreign to comedy, on our more regular
and improved modern stage—those pageants appettain to Opera.
A piece, exhibiting Shakespeare for its hero, should conjure up a
thousand poetic inspirations, and the beings associated with him in
the scene should all, I think, be attired in the charms of
fancy ; but in this new piece they are creatures of prose,
ignoble in trait, and common in conception. Shakespeare
himself Is stripped of the halo we are wont to bang
around his memory, and be appears to us, more of the " wool-
merchant" than the poet. Father, Mother, and Brother Keeley,
destitute of business, and mean in language, ringing vulgar changes
on the familiar name of Willy. is an insult niche shade of Shakes-
peare, and offensive to taste.. Sir Thomas Lacy, whose wit is in a
great belly—(poor Falstaff! !)—hls Core, whose humour is in his
nasal speech and spectacles—Sy-boots, whole comicality consists hi

nothing ;—tbe ierentiadv on our Game Laws, the hero's senti-
mental bombast in defence of poaching delinquency—the business
of the lampoon--the mob—the bell-man—and eternal quotation.
from Shakespeare's own plays, are paltry, common, and most tire-
some. They are not dramatic—they are not comedy—they are
not even farce.

' The second act, In which we are transported to London, pre-
sents this monstrous error, that not one personage of the first set is
reproduced, save Sir Theweas Lucy at the conclusion, preposterously
supposed to come to London to solicit at the hand of Queen Elisa-
beth herself the punishment of a poor vagabond poet. Here we
are dragged through several scenes connected by no developing in-
terest, as loose and as detached as if collected from various plays,
and devoid of any marked character, except that of the Doctor
Orthabs, effective but for one moment. The personages are mere
sticks, without situation, or any seemingly pronounced object.
The allusion to the alma& is a declamatory clap-trap, and has no
more to do there than a reference to Mary Stuart. The denoue-
ment is worthy of the lebyrinthean plot, which, Heaven knows
how, conducts us to it. From the royal thrum, surrounded by
players in cattily Mier, fihabeepears—matt —ls not rewarded for

dramatic talent; the sublimity of his genius is not even recog-
nised ; he walks from ►eggary in the streets, to the Queen's fa-
vour and familiar conversadoo ; guess, ob Reader, hoe 1"--.-by his
facility to turning compliments to command, at a given time!

If memo, therefore, has encoded this new piece, I wish the
Author every joy—but feel no mithitioo for his bays. The grati-
tude kiVowes to Covent Garden Managers is immense. The piece
is a ceatinsed paoorama, and display of costume;; wWI. u homer
has ben dose to hist which they even refuse to the great Bard
himself: nem*, the itembleet walking chancier. represented by
the but actors of the house.

The quotation front the intended continued= of the two-act
piece, meant, I presume, as put preliminary, if selected as the
best, does not promise, as far as ,language b etescerned. to In..
deninify as for our disappointment in the production before na.—
Tbe lime it contains of &Waal Dar, is an &siva stecepden,
wbleb becomes burlesque in the • mouth of Atikvaike.—Witbent
more doe than is necessary to compass a common letter, a young
Lady without any poetic -protendon bas composed the folowing
lines. on die die= quoted *mill you; and f contend that they,

at Mast, are equal to the visage in question; and which deribdes
coat the writer no MA effort to compose and polish —seeing Hat
be presents them as a specimen of talent for which he is courting a
favourable reception :
" I long to end my days" on Avon's banks
Where Inspiration ►eautiful, and
wild—
With thoughts voluptuous—and fantastic dreams
Dreadful with terror—bright with witching smiles,
Rapt my young thoughts with reveries so bright—
So swe et—so multitudinous—so vast—
That worlds of self•crcated shapes,—like truth
Strayed where I strayed—and peopled aU around.
Ethereal forms would flit before my eyes—
Sigh on my startled ear—t he air breathe music.
Threading my steps elves gsmbol'd mystic rounds,
Sylphs would descend front cloudy balls that roll'd
To shapes grotesque—or terrible—and Earth
Slave to my Caney—dye ber cavero'd womb
And vomit to the light—giants, whose arms
Menaced the very welkin with their might,
Yea. till I've talk'd—and gestured—wept--and smiled,
Unconscious of dark Solitudeor Time.
These were thy thanes, oh, Avon! and to these
Strainer/am—from City crowds—must fly once more.

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.

CAMBRIDGE °class& I

The Rev. Wm. Chary, D.D. Mister of &daey Santa College,
was on Wednesday last elected Vice-Chancellor of this University
ler the ensuing year.
The Rev. Charles James Hoare, M.A. Vicar of God■tone Sur-
rey, and late Fellow of St. John's, has been presented to the Arch-
deaconry of Winchester, vacant by the death of the Venerabk Gil-
bert Heatbcote.

Saturday last the Rev. John Frederick Isaacson, ki A. Fellow
of St. John's and Tutor of King's College. was appoint-41 an
aminer for Writers in the service of the E4st India Compsny, in
the room of Thomas Thorp, 6aq Fellow of Trinity.
Sunday, at an ordination be by the Bishop of Petersboroosh ;
in the Catbedtal church of Peteraborough, the following gentl4 au•u
were admitted into holy orders. viz.-
I)zacoss
Charles Egerton, Dukiofield, B.A. Magdalen-hall, Oxon.
George Itigg, B.A. St. Peter's, by Let. Dim from tb; lit.b..p
of Lincoln.

Prierrs.
Win. Cape, B.A. Corpus Christi, Cambridge.
F.dward Dudley, ILA. Worcester, Olou.
Wm. Harding, D.A. University, Oxon.
James Harwood Harrieun, B.A. Almon, Moo.
Wm. &mum Phiipor, B.A. Lincoln, (hon.
Jobe Goan, M.A. &suer, Omni, by Let. Dim. from the %hop
of Norwich.

OXFORD, Nov. 7.

Tun*, in a Convocsdoo holden. the nomination of the Rev.
George Riggs, M.A. of Queen's College, to be Public &miner
in Diaciplinis Markemericis e$ Pkysicia, was approved.
On Wednesday the following Degrees were conferred :
SACHISLOS IN OWL LAW.
John Gregory, Balliol College, grand compounder.
M•CT&Y 01 • AWL
Rev. Patrick Murray Smythe, Christ Church.
John Day, Exeter College.

BACHELORS or ARTS.
Thomas Kemmis, Brasennose_ College.
George Taylor, gaiter College.
On Tuesday nest, the 10th inst. the P4lll Laminations com-
mence.
The Cambridge Seatonian Prise is adjudged to the Rev. John
Howard Marsden. NI, A. and Fellow of St. John's College, in that
University. for his poem on the finding of hfo..
The Rev. Noel Thomas Ellison, lace Fellow of Baßiot College,
and Rector of Huntspill, has generously allowed *..) per cent. to his
parishioners on their tithes due at Michaelmas last.

Ilea. C. J. Hoare, M.A. Vicar of Godstone, Surrey, to the
Arcladeaconry of Winchester, vacant by the decease of the Vow.
able Gilbert Heatbcote.

Key. R. H. Gripes Williams NI. A. to the Rectory of Rubin%
Wilts, vacant by the death of Dr. Millingchamp.
Fridejotnitught the Rev. Peter Hansa' NI.A. Scholar of Uui.
versify on Sir Simon Bennet's Fouudatiou, was elected
Fellow on the same foundation.

• Tuesday Edward ilulse, Esq. Gentleman Commoner of Christ
Church; Brooke Wm. Rt. Boothby, Fag. Student of Chrtat Church ,
and Francis Koyvett Leighton, Eat. Denny of Magdalen, were
elected Fellows of AU Souls' College.
The Rev. R. M. Boultbee, B. D. of Merton College, has been
instituted by the Bishop of Peterborough, to the Rectory of Barn-
well, Northamptonshire, on the presentation of the !light lion.
Lord Montague.
Monday the Bishop of Peterborough instituted the Rev. Wm.
Iludiagi B.A. on his own petition, to the Vi stage of Sulgrave, in
the county of Northampton, vacant by the resignation of the Res.
James Western Harding.
Monday the Rev. Barwick John Sams, M.A. of Christ College,
was instituted to the Rectory of Fakenham, in Suffolk, on the pre-
seatationof the Due of Grafton.