The New York herald., 1863-03-15
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

NorEs CRrr,oIsxs AND CoRaEsroNpENcs ON SHAK-
sPERK's PLAYS. by James henry dackett.
Carleton Broadway.
The stas, has furnished competent critics and
Interpreters Of the difficulties OF the
dramatst q. his numerous commentators but small
proportion have the sock and buskin This Is 20
be att ibuted several In the FIRST place tho
education and opportunities OF the actor not
often favorable to oscupa OF this kind. Tho time,
research Thought which require are sell
dom his dspos when they (uness Ia the case
Of strong bls) they would be apt carry him Into an
other procession where rewards OF talent are more
i'm edate aud ain. Ia the next it NAV 90 hed as
general principle that pursuit OF the mimic arr u NOT
conducive To ,ndependeace Of criticism.
The author OF The agreeable volume before consti-
tues one of the rare exceptions rules He has
not only the lua necessary to enable him TO m
torpret nasy the obscure passages OF the great
dratist hut emoody his creations In the forms in
WI, svei them. His shaks .srian impersona
tio:,s embrace true but limited range; but they
sati,y ao ~ ,gn,at, which than DO said or
those ctors Sho undertake them. His Fastan
Judging by what we read and learn, is
s,ne o. the bsst. II tho very best, that
has been witesssd the English or American
ssgc Ho restores all those features Of
originality that properly belong TO IT, In his version We
recognize tn, thick booded vulgar roisterer such
is commonly represented, but the wted, imper.
tirbbiv good huui,red gentlsmanly knight Of
closet conc fptions
Mr.. Hacketts college education and family preudices,
though they did prevent him taxing TO the STAGE
fortunately ns 1,red HIM the ambition becoming
me,hing more tn N Dissatisfied with he
redugs given OF mary passages Of tho great dramatist
he commenced 70 investigate Tor himself, and before
he had att,inei mlcs of stage reputation the results
OF his studies began 70 excite attention We hsve
the S r, have prRtcnsiOn
brief newspaper article to into
examination o. wn,t he has accomplished In this
Snce Il tn say th his labors carly attracted tha
,ntin such judges John Quincy Adams
himself a Shsksneriin scholar and critic Washington
Irvng rres and Horace Smith (aahors OF the "Re ected
Addrusses'). John Payne colier Sir Tn Noon Tai
fouri, ian c. vepn,k. and the Earl Of Carlisle his
correspondence with wh forms the interesting
por'on of the contents OF the present volume.
bout a third OF the book taken up with q critical
oc The dugs given by different
t. tie doubtful passagcs Of ''Hamet" and "Kng Lear"
Mr. HicEess pee atoms OF them general mark
cd by sound Judgment aud scholarly appreciation
For readers however, that portion OF the volume
.hch idephes with those creations tho various
who, last two three generations have their
regulations IN then will have the greatest interest,
preseut them analy sis OF the merits
OF each by vino has not only seen but who well
Qgahacd g., iu tee ot treta.
In the ch u Ia,nlet the "reminiscences Of Mr.
Htck 10 enbrace the performances .; Cooper IT. },
ws.ack, conway, Edmund Kean. Young, M,cready,
Char HeWblc hooth tho elder, J. vandehhoR. Charles
Keine. G. Vanient OF aad Forrest Cooper, played
the Park Lcatre FROM 1916 to IS15 had hands,
face and A,ollllise hxure. HIS gestures however,
usually formI, .nd sometimes .siia, and the
carriage Of his body generally heavy
and sluggish, and OCCASIONALLY in action
clumsy and u,,-racerul. His style cold
and ds,iaml ltory All sonetmss turgd and bomblstc.
Yet ia ther characters, he retained enoush ~ hts
nral i'm break away from Of his
orsii, schooling, he eShb.ed very touching and
highly effective bits OF acting waack's Hamlet tho Ugh
uoisly approved d SPECIAL ,avore with tho New
Yo x % bic. appeared 10 hm lack Q sutnciency Of
weight tho oaosopnic. portions, and also O. de tn
anu intensity OF ,nsit in the soioquies In Con
way or ths its melancholy and
ba CONSTITUENCIES r.idered very prominent, and he
" atcd the occasional lightness and gayetv rq,ired
by the satire, AID warmth necessary for
the spr,d parts. fiis chief defect, conse usntiy.
WIS lc,viness and occasional monotony Edmund
Kcan satisfied ms conceptions Of the character better
tn any that he hes It's intelisctualty
aud seusitiveaess wrought Arcnt promi
nancy Every particle of sati-c given with
srailay ruigucy It's se.tncnt upon occasion
very prominently uttered, and tho melancholy plain
lively tonei and the syn path. winning the act6h
free and natural sod ugracsfu the heart
tirrng and the pcetry read with emphasis
aud n,ce rhy thmlcsl Young concepon
OF the chsraesr seemed nrcty jns, in the main brt
c,u,rmed nveniiona idea OF what is to- med
"mirceiy" than sr. keon's and did ndt Indicate
open a nature and innate nuhjy of sol ,.ean's
NJ nner coryev.d OF Macready he thinks highly bit
waie mttnt his !iamie TO b. most finished ard sd
mrable perror hs seems to regard It's merits
dae ratasr 70 careful training than to tho force
o. renis "a the OF the elder Kcan Charles iem
be's stye Il ralins Hamlet, though artstica, was
prsy measured, his action and gestures grace
,u never npuisive, ard his studied and
cnica TIE elder Both read the with good
degree or understanding and he had fine nte iectual
eye and coIl,enance; but his voice the act
or his arms awkward and seeming II they pin
toned 10 tns elbows, and his gait ard bearing were
Lot susceptible ot depicting any personal dguty 'In
desd I" ads Ar Ihcscit such Mr Booths natural
impelinent. that human genius could surno INT
iua .uei spectator. him to forget them
a.d hi. pcrsraton u Hamlet satisfactory
toeraoe John vsndenoI's delivery or the ,racte,
bou D Indicating sound and careful study, was
generally pro.iic and monotonous, and sometimes
snloked atrongy OF the convonticle Ho had,
over, a esiarfh-ke and seemingly organic i'm cdi
ment m HI. speech, and looked altogether too
Old 70 represent tho character. Charles Keaus
i'm srsnns n discovered proofs or do ect
I've car ny aiy tase snphl lses, bad ctdences aud
pllcsd y, Its person. remarkable aiso
tho clsDtrIp earts with which Il super tbounded. 1T
Aae 10 snort of bistlc and post iring"
Forret inclpabis o being subdued normal
aaiy and msi,tstive propensity Of Htnets philos,.
phc mind. Bis irur aud powerful physique ap-
pc.rsd pant continually Tor oppornniirs pretests
u display thBrnselvcs. "Hs oviioni unetslness," !"
says Nj, htcsstt, suggested % me such a.
would coaccve natural to young but fnl
grown Gswy oagcd Ion; and, though the perform
ance obtuaed TIE applause ., c large majority of the
audience, ~ very unssis,ic'sry " mo" It's pity
thai "a thi- intelligent and impartial examination OF tho
mc-its cr the yasous shasesHcc,n actors II hs time
Mr.. IA kctt should have included Edwin Bootn and
a. /. Lntel o. Tie nAnl-t Of hnih ihean rentlemcn