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      974 The Leadeb. [No. 443, September 18,1...

      974 THE LEADEB . [ No . 443 , September 18 , 1858 . _ ¦ ' ¦' - '• ' ' ' ¦ ' ' ' ^^ ^^^^^^^^ Z ^^^^^^^^^^^ mm ^^^^ i ^ mm ^ ammmmtmmmmimiitmm ^^^^ Km m ^^ mmmm ^ t ^^^^ mmm mmtm ^ mmamm ^ K ^^ "

      Columns Bat By Numbers. We Can Only, The...

      columns bat by numbers . We can only , therefore , be content to sip at the well into which , we may not plunge , and to call upon those who thirst after philosophical investigation to do likewise . Tasso ' s Jerusalem Delivered . T / ie Godfrey of Builoigtie ; or , Jerusalem Delivered , of Torquata Tasso . Translated by Edward Fairfax . Edited by the Rev . Robert Aria Willmott , Incumbent of Bearwood . ( George Routledge and Co . )—This is a third edition , in elegant

      form and at an exceedingly low price—when we consider the taste and scholarship of the editor r than whom no fitter could have been chosen , and the bulk of the volume—^ of the beat translation , of the Jerusalemme Ldberata . The editor , who has collated the first and second editions , published in the early part of the seventeenth century , has reverentl y preserved , the text of Fairfax in almost perfect integrity , illustrating some obscurities , and modifying only a few of the more prominent archaisms with the wise observation that " mere , rust never enriches the

      medaL' Messrs . Routledge have used sound discernment in reintroducing to the reading million , for whom there is ; . of- a truth , not even a moderate supply of new readable poetry , a work which Campbell did not hesitate to term " one of the glories of the Elizabethan reign , " and which , as Mr . "Willraott truly says , " moves forward with the dignity , the splendour , and the changefulness of a pageant . " The translator , Edward Fairfax , was a grand-uncle ( though by some supposed illegitimately ) of the great Sir Thomas . A brother poet , Collins , Says of the great poet and his interpreter" How have I sat whenpiped the pensive wind , To hear his harp by British Fairfax strung , Prevailing poet , whose undoubting mind ,

      Believed the magic wonders , which he sung . ' An interesting biographical criticism upon , this Edward Fairfax has been prefixed to this edition by Mr . Willmott . He has , however , thrown little light , upon the uncertainty which surrounds the birth of the scholar . It is , perhaps , very immaterial to all but lovers of genealogy whether Edward Fairfax was » r was not a legitimate son of Sir Thomas Fairfax of Denton ; but we apprehenCjfeair fEe " family sanction to Sir Bernard BnEJj ^ g ^ nrolment of his name in their published pedi-^ reemaybe held to show that the Fairfaxes themselves have such proof of his legitimacy that they can accept , without hesitation , fresh honour for a name already glorious enough .

      Books Received This Weheksiudies Of Chri...

      BOOKS RECEIVED THIS WEHEKSiudies of Christianity . A series of Original papers by James Martineau . Post 8 vo . Longman and Co . Dives and Lazarus or , the Adventures of an Obscure Medical Man in a Low Neighbourhood . 12 mo . Judd and Glass . A Life of Linncnus . By Miss Bright well . Post 8 vo . Van Voorst . Weeds and Wild Flowers : their Uses , Legends ^ and Literature . By L . Wilkinson . Van Voorst .

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      M * Theatres And Public Entertainments. ...

      m * THEATRES AND PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENTS . Engjlish Opera , Drtjry Lane Theatre .- —On Monday night the Pyne-Harrison English Opera Company reproduced Mr . Balfe ' s Rose of Castille , an opera which last year at the Lyceum Theatre took nothing from the talented composer ' s well-established renown . The libretto has also taken so sound a position as a favourite with the public that our readers will hardly require at our hands the meagre analysis of the plot to which alone we could give space . Such , however , as have taken any interest in the

      ^ native talent' ! . problem- ^ -we : mdan . the ; question -whether an opera by a native composer , performed by native artists , could find favour or hold its ground with the upper classes—will rejoice with us to learn that the success which attends Mr . Harrison ' s present enterprise is more than proportionate to that he gathered on the smaller stage of the Lyceum . All those , again ,, who have lamented over the desecration , as they are wont to call it , of the patent theatre { hiring the dull season , by the admission of horseridera and mountebanks , will . be glad , if they cannot recai the majestic . tread of the Kemble-Siddons cothurnus , at least to welcome the delicious warblings of the Castilian Rose that might have cured Diogenes

      of course , a number of distinguished amateure and Tvellr-wiahers , cheered the lessee on his first appearance on Monday . The past he presented differ ? from that of last year in one particular only , we mean the . oubstitutipn of the conscientious and nocpmpliehed vocalist , Mr . Bartloman , in the uno 9 tan ~ tatious part pf Path . The part of Elvira ( the Rose of CftstUle and Queen of Leon ) was , as before , taken by . Mian Louisa Pyne ; the Donna Carmen was Miss nu ^ an Pyne ; the Muleteer ' . King t W . Harrison ; and W , plover , A . $ t , Albyn , and 0 . Money sustained

      th eir former parts as the malcontent Infanta and his adherents . The part of Elvira , written with the professed object of exhibiting the wonderfully fluid quality of Miss Pyne ' s voice , fails , while perfectly accomplishing that end , to leave on , the ear those lasting impressions : it has been taught to expect at Mr . Balfe ' s hands . So much has been written on former occasions about this gifted artist ' s manifold excellences that we will not fatigue the reader by reenumerating her triumphs iu vocalisation and declamation , contenting ourselves with a passing notice of the scherzo at the end of the first scene , "Oh , were I Queen of Spain , " the " Convent Cell , " ballad , the very spirited finale to the second act , and the

      air , "On , joyous , happy day ! " accompanied by the delicious clarionet of Lazarus , in the third . Mr . Harrison ' s most marked successes are the " Simple Muleteer , " with whipcrack obligato in Act L , and the clever refrain of the uneven duet with Elvira in the same . We were much pleased with Mr . Glover in the second verse of " Though fortune darkly , " and the " Hark ! Hark ! " in the last act , where he exhited a voice of timbre and au artistic delivery . This gentleman , with Messrs . St . Albyn and . Honey , render essential service by their excellent management of numerous concerted morceaux- —the ensemble at the close of the second act finale especially . Mr . Honey ' s comicality as the Don Florio is of the greatest value ,

      without considering his good bass voice , in lightening the whole opera .. His introduction of the peculiarities of Slender and Osric was intensely relished by the audience , and , at times , we must plead our impression , that he pushed his humour a little too far . As Donna Caivnen , Miss Susan Pyne was much admired for her song , " Though love ' s the greatest plague ;" and without her finished performance in the duos and finales , the composer would have been indeed at a loss . We have little more than space to add a few words in unqualified praise of the cbrouses , in which Mr . Balfe has generally displayed his wonted fire . The "Alia Marcia" in Act III . Scene 2 , is , perhaps , the best specimen , and , like all in the opera , was we ll

      sung by a strong selection from the Hoyal Italian Opera . The magnificent band of fifty first-class musicians , the flower of the same establishment , comprising Messrs . Dando , Hill , Case , jCollins , the two Prattens , Lazarus , and Barrett , under the masterly direction of Mr . Alfred Mellon , left so little to be desired , that we have good , authority for saying that even the composer himself was delighted . The ballet divertisement , not long enough to be fatiguing ' which followed the opera , was well danced , well got up , and successful ; and we learn that the attendance of the public during the week has fully proved to the talented impresario that the applause lavished upon his efforts on the first night of his season was truly genuine . .

      Young , a younger acquaintance , we may say that she brought to the part of the " most unhapnv lady , " all the tenderness and pathos it demands The subordinate parts were well jQlled , and the ensemble was as excellent as was assured b y the name of the director , Mr . Phelps , who , as well as the leading members of his company , was very warmly received on the occasion . On Thursday , Colinau ' s comedy , The Jealous Wife , was produced a t this t heatre in the most perfect manner with Phelps as Mr Oakley , H . Marston as Major Oakley , Mrs . C . Young as Mrs . ] Oakley , Ray as limsett , and Mr . Charles Young , a new acquisition : from the Strand Theatre as Sir Ham / Beagle . ¦ ' .. ¦ '

      Olympic Theatre . —Messrs . Robson and Emden announce their opening for the winter season this evening with A Doubtful ' Victory , Ilush Money , and Ticklish Times . The City of London Theatre has been redecorated and , indeed , partially rebuilt , in accordance with the prevailing competition among lessees , which acts favourably for the public , by stimulating the former to afford cleanliness , air , and ease of ingress and egress . Strand Theatre . —A new farce , being by some said to be an importation from America , deserves , perhaps on that account more than from its merit , a word or two en passant . Nothing to Nurse depicts the

      embarrassment of Maximum Muddle , a hyper-fast youn " man , whose last resource for the propitiation of his rich Uncle Brads is the extemporisation of a wife and baby . He succeeds in borrowing the first , and very nearly the second . The proper father , however , of his intended infant accomplice , entertaining valid and forcible objections to such " maintenance , " Maxhnum is obliged to get the best . substitute he can at the pinch . The great point of the piece is the discovery by all concerned that this sub-deputy baby is a black one . It wquld be wrong to say that the Not / tiny to

      Nurse was not amusing . The denoument was comical , although the first twenty minutes were just as dreary . Mr . W . H . Swanborough , who is a rapidly improving actor , did Ms best , and that well , as did Mrs . Selby as Mrs . Foanngen . There was a degree of breadth , it occurred to us , about some of the more prominent jokes , - that called for attention on the part of a management obviously intent upon collecting , and quite powerful enough to amuse and interest , audiences of taste and refinement . We do not anticipate anything like a run for Nothing id Nurse , in its present form at all Events .

      Aliiambra . Palace , Leicester-square . —JWe have been painfully pleased at witnessing the last " great attraction" at this very pretty circus , which consists in the wonderful tight-wire performance of a Madame Delavanti . A cord termed " The Atlantic Cable" being drawn from side to side of the theatre , at a dizzy height , the unfortunate performer plays such fantastic pranks « ipon it as entitle her justly to the encomiums passed upon her in the affiches , but also , we must add , to the commiseration of persons of feeling . We must confess it , we never saw an exhibition of this , character , whether in a lust-gavtcn or in a theatre , without a mental inquiry whether the Great Britons who delight in it can throw stones at the gladiatorial enow of tho ancient circus , or the Corrida dc Toros of modern Spain . Surely an Irish echo would answer , <; Isiver a pebble . " _ . _ ,. The Canadian 9

      Lyceum .: —We are happy that the inexorable demand for the charming Mrs . Charles Young at Sadler ' s Wells Theatre has caused a , vacancy at the Lyceum for our no less charming old favourite , Mrs . Alfred Mellon , who was very warmly welcomed , on Saturday evening last , as Miss Vavasour , in the lessee ' s comedy of Extremes , which has been wisely pruned of its former luxuriance , The farce of Too much for Goodnature , which was produced on the same occasion , though sadly spun out , was bo rich in the genuine farce element , so riotous and mirth-provoking , as to take a satisfactory position at once among dramatic successes . It illustrates the troubles of a thoroughly good-natured man , Mr , Adolphus

      ( Mr . Emery ) , who is so completely Rareylied by hia young spouse that he has no force left to make head against the intrusion of a host of characters , who insist on making use of his apartments during the temporary absence of his wife for their own private purposes . Under pressure he sanctions a mesmeric sdance , under tho direction of filr . Spalding ( Garden ) , and an assignationbetween , Miss Jones ( Miss Thompson ) and Jaffier ' JenMno ( James Rogers ) . While these are going on round him , his wife ' s aunt is also in ambuicade watching his own demeanour in the interest of the family . When tho jealous Jajffler has wrought himself and the persecuted Adolphua into a state of phrenzy , the whole of the concealed oharacters are brought forward , and Mrs . Adolphus herself , in peppwy mood , returns from her promenade . The scene is , as may be imagined , in a perfect uproar ,

      Mr . Charles Mathews . — pres informs us that this gentleman and his bride y ore performing in tho School for Scandal , and other stodK comedies , at the City Hall , Kingston . It lias been discovered by some of our transatlantic conjreres that the lady is possessed of a high order oi dramatic talent . As Mr . Mathows , according to rumour , contemplates an immediate return to tius country , we can at present only say , Noun verroiu . Mlt . J . TOWNSENP , M . P . FOR GrKBNWICIJ , MS descended from , the arena whore he was an unquestionable misfit , to that of the Rochester rhfatre , in which , wp understand , his tastes , some talent , iuiu long practice as an amateur , warrant Inm Jn iiopint . for better luck . The honourable members flrw public undertaking in tho dramatic line was tli ° iw " of Jltehard the Third . He received the welcome no was sure of , as a man in trouble , from a . crow eu house , and exorcised a most commendable discrete in not addressing his vociferous admirers .

      Every party , to use ft legal phrase , flies a bill against everybody else , and makes everybody party to the suit . The pit rise with delight at the imminent prospect of a fray ; but oil is thrown upon the waters by , ^ aforesaid , and the omtMi ^ mea ii 6 Vfti ''' drlamodei 0 adlb ) r ' h Wmlls . —Mr . Phelps , after a prolonged absence froro the bower of rest he has created for the tragic muse where pageant and pantomime alone . were wont ] to sway , opened his sixteenth winter season on Saturday last as Othello to the / ago of Mr . Henry Marston , and the' Desdemana of Mrs . Charles Young . It wore almost superfluous to oritiolse a reading of the play which the two flrot-named artists , both gentlemen of education , refinement , and long practice , have settled and adopted . Of Mrs .

      Egyptian Hai ^—Thm H oward ?**" ' * * H * work . —This entertainment is winning , as rt oiib « > considering the exertions and joint-stock wkh * the pair , an amount of public notice »»» u J / Jyjf nyhichrno ^ oubfrrwiU ^ epay-them ^ their speculation . The pieces in tholr Jist ^ ™ from various points of view not needful to pa" * larioo , are attractive , are , " Under the Wft *» , ( 1 soW .. dah ! " ' « The Modern Ladies' Man , " " Thei Bowld bow jer Boy , " « Hurrah for tho Hlolands J" » W > y < J Sarah sell me ? " and " The Unprotected * em } W . We do not admire , fpr other amijigain ^^ B ' ,, /' reasons , " Bright Chanticleer , " " Willie Spooniofc » " La Marseillaise , " » The good old Days . x lw of tho bill iu somewhat unohwactoriatlQ .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 18, 1858, page 22, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_18091858/page/22/