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Leader (1850-1860), 28th August 1858, Edition 2 of 2, Page 21

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      Fine Aut In The Crystal Palace If Ever H...

      see . What are designated the ancient masters constitute about one hundred and ninety out of the combined collection . The chief defect of the gallery wherein aie hung the modern painters , is , that it is seriously too narrow , and the light from above insufficient ; as you walk through , it gives the impression of walking in a tunnel ; this , in some measure , might be modified by closing up the two ends with drapery , and blocking up a third of the light overhead one side the wall . We say one side , because we would lay it down as an axiom to the directors , quality , not quantity , and one-half of these pictures can advisedly , and ought to , be excluded . When so much care lias

      been worthily displayed in the selection of Sculpture , why a negation of that attention to the sister—Painting ? Another vital error is the introduction of the " shop" element , by enabling the purchaser to take away any picture that might be bought , immediately on payment . Such a principle as this may sell a few flowers , but it must inevitably establish a stock of weeds . One circumstance is worthy of the most serious consideration of the directory . Out of a collection of six hundred pictures , not a third are English : The fact is , the English artists know what kind of a place their pictures are to go into , and the Foreign do not .

      Commencing from the western entrance , the pictures of the Modern school we would recommend to the especial notice of the careful observer are , a ¦" Nymph and Fawn , " by Taessaert , a sketch especially refined and exquisite in colour . A cabinet-size genre picture by Geselchap , called " Frcre et Sieur . " Three by Picou , delicate in treatment and charming in sentiment . Three by D . F . Xangee , " The Orphan , " "A Woman at a Cupboard , " jind " The Workman . " " The Xlyn Wwal , " remarkable for truthfully rendering this portion of nature under a

      very peculiar condition . " Stone Gatherers , " by Servin , keenly perceived and powerfully rendered . * A Coast Scene , " Germak \ several by ' ¦"¦ the late Madame Soyer , " An Old . Woman Knitting" being . full of power and truth . A clever delineation of . * ' Flovghihg , " by A . Bonheur ; a characteristic portrait of Napoleon , by Rouget ; a fine genre picture by Jordan cf Dusseldorf , called " A Wedding Party ;" il ( Jrand'mere et Petit-nls , " by Meyer Von Bremen , a little gem ; several works by Sir George Hay ter , Phillips , Pyne , Perrottj and which having been exhibited before , need no comment from us .

      There is also a considerable display of pV . otographic manipulation , all very good as far as the art has yet developed itself . Those by Francis Bedford and J ., H . Morgant Wing particularly fine , whilst Herbert Wat-kins , though deficient in artistic taste , still continues to hold his position as the very best of the portrait photographers . Xtceum Theatre . —New Comkdy . —Another new season and tenancy of this theatre , under the management of Mr . Edmund Falconer , were inaugurated last night by the production of a covr . edy in three acts , called Extremes , or Men of the Day . The author has evidently had the celebrated Money of the Right Hon . the Colonial Secretary and some other plays of still older dramatists before his eyes , both in the construction and general tone of his piece . The hero , Frank Hawthorne , is another Evelyn , who dresses and stalks about in the traditional

      manner of . that gentleman , and dogmatises , proses , and sentimentalises ns not alone Mr . Evelyn but as more of us than will own it have done and will yet do over and over again . Our readers will no doubt echo our self-congratulations that this play presents no intricacies of plot for condensation . The author lias taken a not improbable family arrangement on which to hang some scenes of society ; and these , though inordinately long , are smartly wrought out . The whole dramatis persona appear in the first scene , and author and audience plunge in medias res , wi th little preparation or introduction . The party arc assembled to hear the rending of a rich man's

      testament , whereof the most important provision is , that an enormous bequest made jointly to Lucy Vavasour ( Mrs . Charles Young ) and Frank Hawthorne ( Mr . Falconer ) shall , in failure of their marriage within six months , lapse absolutely to whichever of tliem shall have assented to , or not declined , the said alliance . Tins legacy and condition , instead of a blessing , is a blight upon refined Lucy and Frank . Kach is more than disposed to admire the other , but each believes the other to bo now indifferent , now actuated by mercenary motives . Their difficulties are of course enhanced by

      worldly Mrs . Vavasour , and by suitors of stagefashionable appearance and principU-s , who arc attracted by the honey-pot of the inheritnncc , nrirt in the last scene only , and at the eleventh hour and thirtieth minute , according to the precise attorney ' s watch , are those difficulties cleared oft * . All the dramatis persona arc again met , according to the provisions of the will , nt the six months' end , to hour tho determination of the parties , which is loyally Insisted upon by tho executora of the testator . Jlawthorne grimly anntomisca and demonstrates to tho wings the struggle he believes ho sees between

      avance and the affections in Lucy ' s breast ; while she , poor maid , signs , seals , and delivers her assent in the full belief that Hawthorne , whom she really loves , is indifferent to her , but that his ruined fortunes demard of her this self-devotion . When she has so consented , he , as might be expected of such a character , declines , makes the inheritance all her own , and throws some Bulweresque reflections and platitudes , which the reader ' may almost imagine for himself , into the bargain . But the floodgates of Lucy ' s heart are opened : she throws herself upon his breast , and declares she will wear the willow all her days if he again decline her love and hand . He , somewhat too- abruptly , accepts her ; and before he

      knows exactly where he is , the curtain descends upon a scene of unalloyed happiness , in which a numerous audience , last night , very heartily participated . So promising a first representation we rarely assist at . The mechanism of tlie dialogue is so good and so dramatically ( though not equally so in a literary point of view ) effective , that although an hour ' s length should be certainly excised , very skilful surgery must be employed in the operation . The WihJbHars , a ^ Lancashi re family , are very well introduced . Mr . Emery , as Robin Wildbriar , did full justice , in dress and dialogue , to the author ' s new version of a stock character ; and , as good , motherly , impulsive Mrs . Wildbriar , Mrs . Weston was

      delightful . So rich : ind complete an impersonation of this line of part , avoiding withal the imminent and tempting Scylla and Charybdis of farce and vulgarity , has not of late days ornamented the Lyceum stage ; and we might have gone even farther . Mr . James Rogers made a successful first appearance since his return from America as Mr . James ( or Jeames ) Dodswort 7 i , n fashionable footman , with a banker ' s account of " three h ' aughts and a wery tidy figure before ' em , " who pops the question- to his young lady mistress . Mr . Fitzjames , ! as Sir Lionel

      Norman , and Mr . Charles , as the . ' Swell , " Mr . Adoljyfms , contributed actively to the ensemble : and the siuail part of Mr . Cunningham , the country solicitor , eminently correct , eminently punctual , precise , yet fussy , and awfully respectable , was made a feature by its representative , Mr . Garden . The acting of Mrs . Charles Young , as the heroine , was really finished , and therefore highly pleasing . Well suited in figure for the representation of the genteel heroine of the Pauline DesckapeHes school ,- she was most successful in the delineation of the half-veiled emotion

      demanded by the same line of characters . We missed Mr . Leigh Murray , who would have added foroo to a working company , of which we hope to see more . The part of the hero , which is adapted for him , was steadily pla 3 * ed by Mr . Falconer , ; to whom , of course , short notice , may be supposed almost immaterial . As author , artist , and manager , this gentleman is considerably indebted tohiscompany who , collected as they were from all quarters , worked better together , than might have been , expected after if limited number of rehearsals ; and to an appreciative audience , who gave more than usual encouragement to his efforts . In conclusion , Ave look upon Extremes as a decided addition ; and if properly trimmed of its exuberances , as a valuable addition to the repertory of acting plaj's .

      DitunY Lank Theatjie . Mr . Andekbon ' s Pareweix PEn ' p ouMANCKS . —On the point of his departure for a theatrical journey round the globe , Mr . Anderson lias during the last week taken n short season of farewell benefits on the scene of his early successes . The , first character ho selected was that of Jngomar . This part he has long made , so to speak , his own ; his renown in the provinces and at the easb-end of London , is mainly based upon his clear and intelligent reading of it . It is well adapted to the conditions of his physical and elocutionary style ; and on Monday evening , his manly

      delineation of the barburic hero was no less successful , and as attractive as elsewhere to a numerous audience . Mr . Anderson was fairly supported by the dramatic company iiv general , and very ably so by Miss Elsworthy , who , as Purthcnia , seemed to justify the anticipations of her aptitude ve ventured upon after seeing her earlier clforts in more prominent characters . The same artists gave the Lady ofLyons on Tuesday night , and Macbeth on Wednesday ; and Mr . John Douglass , the popular East London manager and actor , has appeared as Ben the Boutswain , in tlie " tar and trousers" piece of that name .

      Yq^ O^ Axjgtjst 28,1858.] T H E L E A D ...

      yq ^ O ^ AxjGTJST 28 , 1858 . ] T H E L E A D E B . 877

      I Nd I A.

      I ND I A .

      Notes On The Evidence Given Before Mr. E...

      NOTES ON THE EVIDENCE GIVEN BEFORE MR . EWART'S COMMITTEE . AiaroNG the witnesses examined before Mr . Ewarfc ' s Committee -was Mr . John Warden , a gentleman well known in Anglo-Indiau circles , and who left India about three years ago with a great reputation for ability , after having filled some of the highest , most responsible , and most difficult offices under the Bombay Government . The latest offices filled

      by this gentleman were those of Chief Judge of tlie Sudder Court ( the highest court of appeal in Bombay ) , President of the Eoard of Education , and Senior Member of Council , and in earlier life lie was associated in assistant capacities with many eminent-men , among others Mr . Mountsfcuarfc Elphinstone . This gentleman , therefore , was no mere " adventurer , " or " planter , " and his opinions ate above suspicion of party bias , and are evidently entitled to great attention . We purpose making a few gleanings from them , and in another column will be found au abstract of some of his evidence .

      The subjects oil which Mr . Warden was examined were numerous , and have a very miscellaneous appearance , and for tlie convenience of our readers we will prefix headings to our selections , 1 . The security of our power In India . — -It rests on the opinion which the natives entertain of out power and justice . Their opinion of our power was shaken by the disasters we suffered in A . n >

      ghanistan . The natives saw that European , regiments could be destroyed . Those disasters were the first proof of the kiiid that the natives hail . The natives also had given us great credit for justice and generosity , and their : opinion of us in-.. this vespect is changed . ¦ ' ¦ The change has taken place during the , last fifteen years , in consequence of the altered character of the measures taken by Government . The measures referred to relate "to the

      enams and' juglnt'esiu the South Maliratta country which we took from the Peshwah in 1818 . An eiiam is an interest in . land very like what iii England is called a fee-simple . It is a reward from the native Government , and is a grant to hold the lands included in it free , from land-tax ; arid a j ugh ire is a grant of land on condition of military service , cither for life -or inheritance , according ^ to tie terms of the grant . -When .-tlie British Government acquired the territory , these cuams were virtually secured to the holders by proclamation . About eight years afterwards a new law was passed , which established a title by prescription , and made enjoyment for twelve years

      before the British took possession of the country , or thirty- years as . to future enjoyment a title . Eight years , out of the twelve had expired when the law was passed , and an immediate investigation , into these titles was . intended , but nothing was done , up to 1 S 52 ; mid then , under Lord Dathousie ' s administration , a new law of prescription was passed , which altered the period from thirty to sixty years , abolished the title by an enjoyment for twelve years before the British rule , and required sixty years' enjoyment before the territory became British . The effect was that every proprietor of this class had to make out a title of ninety-five years ; and a commission called the Enam Commission waa established to overhaul these titles . Under this law

      upwards of 100 , 000 titles were questioned , and only 0000 had been decided on when the rebellion broke out . The holders of jughires , or lands under a military tenure , were also ignored . Mr . Warden read a letter from a native respecting these , in which the following passage occurs : — " The Company is , ns I have said , fast taking nosscssion , under one pretence or another , of lands which people have , in various wavs , held from their former governments ; and as it docs not give nor sell laud to the people , it is clear that very soon will disappear

      from India all who once held laud and could call it their own . An Enam Commission is now appointed by Government to invcstigalcj into the rights of peoplo who hold lands in Surub Zillah , and an act of the Legislative Council is , it appears / proposed that there should bo no appeal against the decision of the commissioners . The people whose ^ intcrcsts are affected by it arc much dissatisfied , and threaten not to appear before the commission , mid no wonder . The European inquisition was nothing to this . I have alluded to my own proposed action against the Government ; you arc aware that I can now , by law ,

      [In Our Notice Of The Picture Exhibiting...

      [ In our notice of the picture exhibiting at Messrs . Williams and Norgate , llenricttn-slrcet , it seems to he felt by thoso gentlemen that they arc included in the remarks we nindo in a ilisadvantngeous manner . Wo thought that an explicit declaration 4 'that Messrs . Williams ami Norgate are merely the consignees , and have nothing to do with the extraordinary circular nbout tho picture , " would have been sufllckMit to prevent any idea that they were in any way connected with the misnomer of tho picture ; as , however , vro liave received a communication from that highlj' respectfiblo firm to tho contrary , wo can only reprint and rciterato the statement above made . —Ei > . ]

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 28, 1858, page 21, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_28081858/page/21/