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. Ko. 440, August 28,1858.] THE LEADE R»...
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IN I>I A.
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NOTES ON THE EVIDENCE GIVEN BEFORE MR. E...
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[In our notice of the picture exhibiting...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Fine Art In The Crystal Palaop 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 are hung the modern painters , is , that it is seriously too narrow , and the light from above insufficient ; as ^ ou walk th rough , 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 , arid ought to , be excluded . \ Then so much care has
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 riot .
Commencing from the western entrance , the . picture ' s of the Modern school ve would recommend to the especial notice of the careful observer are , a " Nymph and Fawn / ' hjr Taessaert , a sketch especially refined and exquisite in colour . A cabinet-size genre picture by Geselchap , called " Frere et SieuT . " Three by Picou , delicate in treatment and charming in sen-timent . Three by D . F . Langee , " The Orphan , " "A Woman at a Cupboard , " and " Tlie Workman . " " The X . lyn lawal , " remarkable for truthfully rendering this portion of nature under a
Tery 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 "Ploughing , " by A , Bonheur ; a characteristic portrait of Napoleon , by "Rouget ; a line genre picture by Jordan cf Dusseldorf , called "A Wedding Party ;" * ' Grand'mere et Petit-fils , " by Meyer Von Bremen , a little gem j several works by Sir George Hayter , Phillips , Pyiie , Perrott , and which having been exhibited before , need no Comment from us .
There is also a considerable display of pnotograpliic manipulation , all very good as far as the art has yet developed itself- Those by Francis Bedford and J . H . Morgiiht being particularly fine , whilst Herbert Walk-ins , though deficient in artistic taste , still continues to hold his position as the Tery best of the portrait photographers . Lyceum Theatre . —New Comedy . —Another newseason and tenancy of this theatre , under the management of Mr . Edmund Fiileoner , were inaugurated last night by tlie production of a comedy in three acts , called Extremes , or Men cyf 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 il ^ matises , 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 fi > r condensation . The author has taken a not improbable family arrangement on which to hang some scenes of society ; find these , though inordinately long , arc smartly wrought out . The whole dramatis persona appear in the first scene , and author and audience plunjre in media * res , with little preparation or introduction . The party are assembled to hear the reading of a rich man ' s testament , whereof the most important provision is ,
that an enormous bequest made jointly to Imcy Vavasour ( Mrs . Chnrlea Young ) and Frank Hawthorne ( Mr . Falconer ) shall , in failure of their innrringe within six months , lapse absolutely to whichever of them shall have assented to , or not declined , the said alliance . This legney 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 be now indifferent , now actuated by mercenary motives . Their difficulties are of course enhanced by
worldly Mrs . Vavasour , and by suitors of Btagofashionublo appearance and principles , who nre nttractcd by the honey-pot of the inheritance , and in the Inat scene only , and at the eleventh hour and thirtieth minute , according to the preciao attorney ' s watch , are those difficulties clenrod off . All the dramatis peraonte are again met , according to the provisions of the will , at tho six months' , to hour tho determination of the parties , which is legally insisted upon by tho executors of the testator . Hawthorne grimly anatomises and demonstrates to tho wing * the struggle he believes lie seea between
Fine Art In The Crystal Palaop If Ever H...
avarice 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 Buhreresque 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 be 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 the dialogue is so good and so dramatically Chough 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 Wildbriars , a Lancashire 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 and complete ah impersonation of this line ¦ of part , avoiding withal the imminent and tempting Seylla 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 2 \ fr . James ( or Jeames ) Dodsicortk , a fashionable foot man , with a banker ' s account of " three -naughts and a wery tidy figure before ' , " who pops the question to his young . lady mistress . Mr . Ifitzjames , as Sir Lionel tforman , and Mr . 'Charles , ' as the V Swell , " Mr . Adolpints , Contributed actively to the ensemble : and the small part of Mr . CihimnaJiam , the country solicitor ,
eminently correct , eminently punctual , precise , yet fussy , and awfully respectable , was made a feature by its representative , Air . Garden ; Theacting ' . Mrs . Charles Young , sis the heroine , was really finished , and therefore highly pleasing . Well suited in figure for the representation of the genteel heroine of the Pauline Deschnpelles school , she Svas . 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 force to a working company , of which we hope to see more . The part of the hero , which is adapted
for him , was steadily played by Mr . Falconer , "to whom , of course , short notice may be supposed almost immaterial . As author , artist , and manager , this gentleman is considerably indebted to his company who , collected as they were from all quarters , worked better together than might have been expected after ¦ u limited nnmbcT of rehearsals ; and to an appreciative audience , who gave more than usual encouragement to his efforts . In conclusion , we look upon Extremes as a decided addition , and if properly trimmed of its exuberances , as a valuable addition to the repertory of acting plavs .
Pitunr Lank Theatue . Mn . Anderson ' s FAniswetx PEnFOKMANCKS . —On the point of his departure for a theatrical journey round the globe , Mr . Anderson has during the last week taken a short senson of farewell benefits on tho scene of his early successes . The first character ho selected wns that of Ingovinr . This part he has long made , so to speak , his own ; hid renown in the provinces and at the east-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 delineaand
tion of the barbaric hero was no loss successful , ns attractive as elsewhere to a-numerous , audience . Mr , Anderson was fairly supported by the'dramatic company in general , and very ably so by Miss Elsworthy , who , as Parlhenltt , seemed to justify the anticipations of her aptitude we ventured upon after seeing her earlier efforts in more * prominent characters . The same artists gave the Lady of Lyons on Tuesday night , nnd Macbeth on Wednesday ; and Air . John l ) ouglns * , the popular Kast London manager and actor , has appeared as Ben the Boatswain , in the " tar and trousers" piece of that name .
. Ko. 440, August 28,1858.] The Leade R»...
. Ko . 440 , August 28 , 1858 . ] THE LEADE R » 877
In I>I A.
IN I > I A .
Notes On The Evidence Given Before Mr. E...
NOTES ON THE EVIDENCE GIVEN BEFORE MR . EWART'S COMMITTEE . Among tlie witnesses examined before Mr . Ewarfc ' s Committee was Mr . John . Warden , a gentleman , veil known in Anglo-Indian , 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 Litest offices filled by this gentleman were those of Chief Judge of . the Suddec Court ( the highest court of appeal in
Bombay ) , President of the Board of Education , and Senior . Member--of . Council , and in earlier life he was associated in assistant capacities with many eminent men , among others Mr . Mountstuart 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 an abstract of some of his evidence . The subjects on which Mr . Warden ..- was examined / were numerous , and have a very miscellaneous appearance , and for the convenience of our
readers we will prefix headings to our selections . \ . The security of our poicer in India . —It rests ' on the " . opinion ' which 1 he natives entertain of our power and justice . ' Their opinion of our power was sliaken by tlie disasters we suffered in . Affghamstan . The natives saw that European regiments could be- destroyed . Those disasters were ¦ the first pro . of of the kiud , that 1 he natives had . The natives also had given us great credit for justice and generosity , and their opinion of us in . this respect is -. ' . ' changed . Tlie change has taken place during the last fifteen years , in consequence of the ¦ altered , character of the measures taken by Government . Tlie measures referred to relate to the
enanis and jughires in tlie South "Mahratta country which \ vc took from the Peshwah in 1818 . An enam is an interest in land very like what in 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 ; and a jughire is a grant of land on condition of military service ,, cither for life or inheritance , according to the terms of the grant . When the British Government acquired ..-the ; territory ,, these euams were ¦ '¦ virtually secured to the holders by
proclamation . About eight years afterwards a new law was passetl ^ 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 futuve enjoyment a title . Eight years out of the twelve had expired when the lav was passed , anil an immediate investigation into these titles was intended , but nothing was done up to 1 S 52 ; and then , under Lord Dalhousie's administration , a new law of prescription was
passed , -which altered tlie period from thirty to sixty years , abolished the title by an enjoyment for twelve years before the British rule , ana required sixty years' enjoyment before the territory became British . The effect was that every proprietor of this class had to make out a title ot ninety-five years ; and a commission called the 32 nam Commission was cstaislied to overhaul these titles . "Under this law upwards of 100 , 000 titles were questioned , and only > 00 luul heo . u decided on when the rebellion broke
out . The holders of jughircs , or lands under a military tenure , were also ignored . Mr . "Warden re «\ d a . ' letter from a . native respecting these , in which the following passage occurs : —" The Company is , as I have said , fast taking possession , under one pretence or another , of hums which people have , in various wa \ s , held from their former govcvnmcnta , and as it does not give nor sell laud to tho people , it is clear that very soon will disuppear from India all who once held ' land and could call it their own . An Ennm Commission is now appointed
by Government to investigate into the rights of people who hold lands iu Surub Zillah , mul an act of the Logisliitivc Council is , it appears , proposed that there should bo no appeal against the decision of the commissioners . The people whoseliutcrcsts aro affect oil by it arc much dissatisfied , and threaten not to appear before the commission , and no wonder . Tho liuropwm inquisition was nothing to this . 1 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 nt Messrs . Williams and Norgate , Henrietta-street , it seenciB to ho felt by thoso gentlemen that they aro included in tlie remarks wo mmlc in a disadvantageous manner . We thought that an explicit declaration "that Messrs . Williams and Norguto are merely the consignees , and have nothing to do with tho extraordinary circular about tho picture , " would have been suttiuientto prevent any idou that they wore in any way connected with tho misnomer of tho picture ; us , however , wo have received a communication from that highly respectable flrirr to tho contrary , we enn only reprint and reiterate tho statement above made . —Ki > . l
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 28, 1858, page 877, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/ldr_28081858/page/21/
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