The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-05-02 00:00:00

nay 2, $4

MRS. BUTLER'S READINGS OF SHAKESPEARE.

The piece selected by this lady for Thursday evening's
Reading, was the Comedy of "As you like it ;" and al-
though not affording a field for the display of the same
sort of talent which Macbeth, and others of her readings
offer, it is one to which, as a whole, genius alone can do
justice. In fact, it is a play which ought never to be
attempted on the stage, unless by a first-rate cornpanit
such as are seldom at present assembled on our boards, or
even on those of the metropolis ; but whose beauties are
best appreciated, unless placed before us by a reader capa-
ble of developing them fully, in the closet. Such a one
is Mrs. Butler ; and we account therefore her rendering
of "as you like it," *as one of the greatest of her efforts.
The well known monologues, if by that term we may de-
scribe passages, which the author seems to have addressed
rather to the audiences, or to the poetical of mankind
than made them subservient to the action of the pill,
were finely appreciated by Mrs. Butler, and as finely de-
livered. The versatility of talent displayed was also
wonderful, leaving us at a loss which to admire most, as
artistic efforts, her Rosalind and her Jaques, or be
Tonehstone and Audrey.

LAST NIGHT'S REALITING.
Yesterday Mrs. Butler presented to us her reading of
the play of " The Merchant of Venice ;" and the rich trot
which she gave us was almost sufficient to bring us to en-
tertain the notion that this talented lady has mistaken her
forte, if she ever imagined that she was more at home 10
the delineation of lofty tragedy than in those faithful in
the
of more softened female character, which
female genius can alone pourtray. The gems of this read-
ing were the celebrated dialogue between Clarissaand Portia,
in which the former is questioning the latter as to her
preference of Bassanio over her many suitors. The
dis-
course of Launcelot Gobbo is also a rich piece of comic
acting, and was given by the fair reader with evident gusto.
Portia's self-betrothal to Bassanio was also beautifirll/
rendered. In Shylock, Mrs. Butler shone most in the
dialogue with Tubal, in which she alternately reminds
him of his daughter's flight and extravagance, and of his
prospect of revenge upon Antonio. In the trial scene►
which was finely given, we miss the scenic part. Altoge-
ther this reading was a fine effort; and we were glad' to'
see that it was attended by even a more numerous audience;
than the previous readings.

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.—The interest of M. Junk*
in this establishment has ceased ; and Mr. Beale, the'
well-known music publisher, of the firm of Cramer, Bealer
and Co., is now the lessee.

The Dean of Hereford, Dr. Mereweather, presented a-
protest against the installation of Dr. Hampden as Bishop.
of Hereford, which, however, Canon Musgrave, who pre-
sided at the ceremonial, refused to read.
SUMMARY OF NEWMARKET RACES.—TotaI number of
stakes, 43 ; won by favourites, 18 ; won by non-favourites,
15 ; even betting, one ; forfeits, 9 ; horses entered, 258
horses started, 123; total amount of stakes, £12,905.
NEW STAR.—Mr. J. R. Hind, the celebrated astro-
nomer, announces in yesterday's Times the discovery of a
new star, of the fifth magnitude, and therefore visible to
the naked eye, which has just made its appearance in the
constellation Ophiuchus. This remarkable star is in a line
joining Eta and 20 Ophiuchi, rather nearer to the latter.
LIBEL.—In the Court of Common Pleas, on Saturday,
Mr. Thomas Piers Healey, a barrister, and proprietor and
editor of the Medical Times, brought an action against
Mr. Wakley, M.P., proprietor of a rival publication called
the Lancet, for libel. The article complained of Was
written in rather general terms, but was deposed to as ap-
plying to the plaintiff, who was called "a quack lawyer
and mountebank," "an impostor," " a briefless quack
secretary," &c. The jury gave the plaintiff £4O damages.
GRIEVANCES OF ORANGEMEN.—We perceive from a
series of important resolutions, embodying the senti-
ments of 460 Orange Lodges, that the. Protestants of
Armagh and Tyrone are not altogether-satisfied with the
proceedings of the Irish government, though they continue
to declare their undeviating attachment to the English
constitution. They do not hesitate to aver that they ba're
good grounds for discontent, and they complain that, in
the present state of public suspense, they- are still ne-
glected and discountenanced.
DREADFUL OCCURRENCE.—THIRTY LIVES LOST.'"
Letters from Peterhead, dated April 28,. announce the
recovery of the wreck of the Hannibal, a.ship of 500 tons
burden, from Quebec, found ashore near Dronshfiord, On
the coast of Norway. The vessel encountered the dread-
ful storm on the 24th of February last, while on her Pas-
sage to Hull, in the course of which a frightful sea struck
the ship, sweeping everything off her decks—masts bul-
warks, and boats ; and every soul (except- one man) be-
longing to her overboard, all of whom met with a watery
grave. The solitary seaman left on board endured the
greatest privations. After 14 days' suffering, the vessel
was carried by the current of the ocean on to- the 51)(4
above-mentioned, where he remained six, or seven days
before the wreck was discovered, that portion of Norway
being uninhabited, and some miles out of the track of
trading vessels. The poor fellow was insensible, and ap-
parently in a dying state, and it was with the utmost diffi-
culty that he was restored to life. Subsequently the
wreck was got off, and being found watertight, was taken
in tow and conveyed to Peterhead, where she arrived on
the 28th. The thirty sufferers drowned, we understand,
belong to Hull.
THE FRENCH ELECTIONS.—POPULARITY OF LAMAR.'
TINE.—As to the ultra party in France, except in the Per"
sons of its supposed leaders, the four members of the
government of the factious minority, it has been excluded
altogether by the recent elections ; and it is probable that
the report, prevalent during the time orthe elections, that
Albert had gone over to the majority, may have had as
much influence as the sympathy of the working classes in
placing him at the head of the four at the place No. 21;
The number of votes bestowed upon Lamartine is insti.,4ds
double of those given to Ledru Rollin ;.and, as rePit.
this fact, we may mention a scene, which those who the
nessed it will long remember with emotion. It was at. us
Paris opera, on Wednesday. The result of tho
was already partially known. The opera was over when
Lamartine was discovered in a box. " Lamartine
La-
martine is here ! rive Lamartins !"- M. Lamarrtd to
however, could not be persuaded to come for"
accept the homage of tne crowd. A partial silence
length obtained, when the curtain rose. The
about to commence. But no. The actors came forward,
many half dressed, en masse. The "Marseillaise" WaS
sung, and then the whole chorus shouted " Vive Lamar'
as
tine ?" Everybody stood, hats and pocket-handkerchiefa
balletNc t
s
were raised amidst the universal cry. The poet- statesma°
alone did not rise from his seat. He hid his face in his
hands. His feelings seemed to have, completely over-
powered him.