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No. 501. Oct. 23. 1853.T THE LEAPEB. 119...
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SERIAL^ . :
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" Comprehensive History of India." (Blac...
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Twice Hound the Clock; or, The Hours oj ...
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A New "Miimoim jtoh thu Maoistuatks. 'Th...
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MUSIC AND THE DRAMA. ¦ A ' -r-
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Princess's Theatre.—The first appearance...
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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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
No. 501. Oct. 23. 1853.T The Leapeb. 119...
No . 501 . Oct . 23 . 1853 . T THE LEAPEB . 1199
Serial^ . :
SERIAL ^ . :
" Comprehensive History Of India." (Blac...
" Comprehensive History of India . " ( Blackie and Son . ) Nos . 19 , 20 , 21 , and 22 . —This serial progresses satisfactorily . It , treats , we may remind the reader , of the civil , military , and social condition of India , from the first landing of the English , & c , to the suppression of the sepoy revolt . The story is exceedingly well told . The present numbers treat ot . the mythology and social state of the . people . f he engravings are numerous and well selected . They are competently executed on vood and steel ; and will in all amount to more than five hundred . ^ " Cassell ' s Illustrated Almanack for 1860 is published . The embellishments are profuse m number , and executed with accuracy and elegance . The wars in Italy make the subject of many of the engravings . __
Twice Hound The Clock; Or, The Hours Oj ...
Twice Hound the Clock ; or , The Hours oj the Day and Night in London . By George Augustus Sala . — Houls ton and Wright . The history of a day and night in London—that is the conception worked out in this work of Mr . Sala , and well worked out , too , with adequate knowledge , spirit , and gusto . Read the description of Billingsgate ; then turn to that of the neighbourhood of the Times office , Printing-house-square and Playhouseyard , and admire the , graphic power of the author , the word-painting , the illustrative witticism , the thousahd-and-one fugitive associations , and all the other etceteras of a full and flowing style . What think we , too , of the picture of . Covent Garden at ?
six oclock in the morning , and those robust arivers of the market carts , with their indomitable energy ? Mr . Sala calls them " vegetable Titans of the rail , railly . " Ere we can answer th . e question , other pictures throng for appreciation , until London , in its entirety , if not in its integrity , stands before us . Among the papers there is a fine one on Theatrical Green-rooms ^ as a type of which the author has evidently taken the Adelphi . Howwell lie discriminates , when , having said that " behind the scenes is common-place , " he corrects himself , and adds— " and so it is ; but it is the common-place of dream-land , the every-day life of the
realms of Prester John , the work-a-day existence of the kingdom of Cockaigne , or of tlxat shadowy land where dAvell the " anthropophagi , and men whose heads do grow beneath their shoulders . " Here Mr . Sala . challenges a sort of authority from a long acquaintance with the stage behind the curtain . Equally from the life , too , is drawn a Late Debate in the House of Commons , introductory to a picture of London at Night , with its bals masques , and its Bow-street night charges . In all these questions of morals are blended with descriptions of manners , and the whole is as full of instruction as it is replete with amusement .
Causes of Irregularity of the Permanent Teeth : their Mechanical Treatment considered . By James Robinson , D . D . S ., Senior Dentist , Royal Free Hospital , & c , & c . 8 vo . —Webster and Co . This very important branch of dental surgery could not be in belter hands than that of the celebrated dentist who has contributed these able papers to the " Dental Review , " and now collected them into this more permanent form . Mr . Robinson s" thorough knowledge of dental science in all its branches , and his deservedly high reputation would guarantee the sufficiency of the work , but we are also informed by surgeons of great experience that these papers form an admirable treatise on the peculiar form of disease they treat of . Irregularities of the second denture are much moro common than is
generally supposed , and the advice of an experienced practitioner is absolutely necessary at the earliest possible period of their , appearance . We can only call attention to this very clever treatise , which must bo welcomo to all those who are desirous to possess and socuro that greatest of all comforts and ornaments , a fine set of teeth . Inspiration : How is it related to . Revelation and the Reason ¦ ( With a few remarks suggested by recent criticisms on Mongol's " Bamnton Lectures . "Triibner & Co . „ That , our theology is growing moro rational is proved by recent ptibllcationB . The writer boforo us aims at bringing into the argument , affecting
senting to himself the true and real ideas of the reason which give meaning to every phenomenal and formal idea . " Inspiration , considered as a spiritual communication from a superior to an inferior" mind , enlarges the ideas of the recipient , and thus increases the relations of thoughts to words;—hence the volume of inspiration has an expanding meaning corresponding with the gifts possessed by successive interpreters , Readers are misled by the term spirit inScripture , which is improperly sometimes distinguished by a capital letter , in cases where it means only the human individual spirit , and not a Divine personality . The infallibility of the Scriptures , in his opinion , does not mean much , infal
unless we are permitted to-include in it the - libility of the readers of Scripture . " On comparing the views and theories which men have formed of the meanings which are contained in the Bible during the successive centuries , both before and since the Christian era , we meet with the fact that widely varying conceptions have been entertained ; one age will have seen both larger and very different truths in them from another age ; the Scriptures will have spoken in various language to the human mind of the year 858 from that in which they address it in 1858 ; yet the real words of Scripture unquestionably remain the same , and it is reasonable to conclude that the men in a . d . 3 , 000 will discern much more truth than we of 1858 in these same
words . " These few remarks , we believe , give a clear-enough view of the scope of the meritorious pamphlet that now commands our attention . For the details of his argument and its illustrations we must , of course , refer to the work itself . The reader , to whom the subject is of interest and importance , will do well- to possess himself of this little work . It is anonymous , but evidently px-oeeeds from a clerical pen , and may be accepted as a proof that philosophy has at length made its way among our divines , and is gradually purifying theological dogmas of some accretions which have served as stumbling-blocks to rational inquirers .
The Convert of Massachusetts . —John Henry Parker " The Convert of Massachusetts" is the eighth volume of a series , of historical tales designed to popularise a knowledge of church history , and instil into the minds of juvenile' readers a love of church principles . But the writer ' s design will be best shown by quoting the Preface to "Vol . I . : — " Care has been taken to secure strict accuracy in respect of dates , events , and geographical and topographical descriptions , as well as a truthful picture of the manners of the country and period treated of ,
and a correct reproduction of the phraseology then employed . A narrative to be consistent must employ the terms and represent the usages most generally adopted in the period to which the tale refers ; thus if the story lelong to a rude age , there will be in it a predominance of the ruder elements of social life ; if to the middle ages , the corruptions of the Roman Church will be conspicuous ; or if the scene be laid in the East ,. the rites of the Greek Church will be more prominent . But the object of these tales is to give a faithful representation of the condition of the church in past ages . " view der
A writer having such a good object in - serves to bo successful . We have rend the sketches through , and flail that the writer has worked out the plan very creditably . As few children are partial to dry history we can recommend this scries of tales as being admirably adapted for the young . Stilic 7 io ; or , the Impendinq Fall of Home : An Historical Tragedy . By George Mallam . —Smith , . Elder * and Co . The celebrated Stilichp is the hero of this dramathe warrior on whom Claudius expended so much fine poetry ; and Mr . Mallam , though not jacjual to the subject , hna treated it with meritorious care . His versification is as yet c * udo s and before he undertakes another tragedy he should make himself more familiar with the vehicle through which his dialogue must bo expressed .
creeds and miracles , the evidences to bo procured from our own mental condition . Ho might have relieved his discussion of somo toilsome ambages by accepting at once the' scriptural text ,, that the understanding of man is in itself an inspiration . However , lie perceives that ideas can only be imparted by " inspiration from the Dl-vinc , " and thus starts with an assumption which is all but the highest . Verbal inspiration ho carefully guards against , because they aro oapablo of being misunderstood . Words aro man ' s mode of representing to others the product of his active mental facultlos , in like manner as " the forms of tho imagination and the , intellect are given him for tho purpose of repre-
A New "Miimoim Jtoh Thu Maoistuatks. 'Th...
A New " Miimoim jtoh thu Maoistuatks . 'Tho French Minister of Justice ^ has sont a circular " to tho various judges , law officers , nnd magistrates , which strongly reminds one of the sumptuary edicts ¦ of tho middle ages . They aro invited to abstain from appearing In public in coloured clothes ; they must restrict themselves to a black suit and white cravat . Cigar smoking in the streets is also prohibited , and they are also told that they must uofc have country houses , as sleeping out of town is considered detrimental to the " ( service . " Wlion thoso who aro entrusted with the administration of tho law are exposed to suoh official impertinence about their " mufti , " can it foe wondered at that doubts aro thrown out ; as to tlio authorities tampering with the discharge of their duties ? Fancy a Lord Chancollor issuing a letter to the bench and bar , condemning their wearing of check trousers , and having a . villa at Barnes or Putney 1
Music And The Drama. ¦ A ' -R-
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA . ¦ A ' -r-
Princess's Theatre.—The First Appearance...
Princess ' s Theatre . —The first appearance a , t this theatre of Mr . George Melville—an actor well esteemed in the provinces—a "& Hamlet , drew a large audience on Wednesday last , and we are glad to record that the general impression of those best qualified to judge was , on the whole , much in his favour So thoroughly have the critics riddled the tragedj and the principal character , and so familiar are the play-going public with both , that anything like q really new sensation is hardly to be got out of them We should not belfar wrong were we to say that eac ' r adult spectator of Hamlet has some acquaintance
with both , and some notions of his own as to the gesture and emp hasis , or , in brief , the reading . This he would have compulsory upon the actor , and ( so liberal is the world ) any deviation from it he is apt to esteem heresy br proof of unfitness . On Monday he hears the player deliver certain lines in the first act after his own heart , and , vanity-led , applauds him to the echo ; he condemns him in the second act as an incapable and degraded " muff ; " if chance or preference lead him to lay accent in a different ; place ; start , slide , shudder , or gesticulate , in a different manner ; shout or whisper in another key
than that of his ingrained predilection . Balancing at theplay ' s end , without reflection that Tuesday ' s reading- may vary each point of coincidence or diflerenctj our comfortable and self-confident spectator goes straightway to his home or elsewhere , and too often proceeds to condemn the actor , taking either his own private reading or that of some byegone member of the craft as a standard . But the adoption of the former may be both thoughtless and selfish ; of the latter , vulgar . The judicious actor of Hamlet is he who , avoiding extravagance ,
suggests or evokes the Hamlet that is in each spectator ' s breast , rather than depicts one that a few umy quietly accept and a majority will always noisily condemn . Of such is Mr . Melville , who , gifted with youth , a comely presence , a fine eye , an agreeable voice , some stage practice , a generally sound elocution , and considerable taste , contrived on Wednesday to disappoint the novelty hunters , and highly to gratify the intellectual portion of the auditory . The bes t parts of his performance were decidedly those in which he least strained his physical and mental
energies . His defects appeared to be a certain uneasiness of action and an occasional want of repose ; but these may have been partly due to the difficulties of his position as a debutant on the Kennhauntecl stage without the spectacular and melodramatic accessories of the Kean management , and in presence ) of as potent an array of judges as tho importance and interest of the occasion could call together . It is impossible to say at present that Mr . Molville will prove a great or eminent tragedian . To predicate tho contrary were presumptuous , considering his youth and many advantages . Wo shall at all events 1 > o safe in saying that in many Shakespearian and other romantic c haracters , lie will—if open to adviceprove an acquisition to tho London boards .
During the week a minor sensation has boon created by tho production hero of a dramatic folly emkS 'Vuss , " in which Miss Louise Keeley ' eshib ts mmonso talent . This young actress , , who Sours o inherit all tho dramatic excellencies ut her father and mother , as well as an amusing poriominitoneafl to the former , is the heroine of tho £ which we nocd hardy hero hash up-tho flinlsv Plot . It ishow . ovor well calculated to display So lady ' s talent as an actress of tho ingenue order and as ft vocalist , and on tho whole makes a most pleasing interlude . ' ,
« t James ' s Theatre . — Wo aro glad to report that this oxilod place of amusomont lias not alone coiUrlvU to survive tho difficulty of getting reoogrnlsod b y tho public , but is even on tho verge of «« nnlnrftv This is due to the quaint heresies of E Le efter Buckingham ' s burlesque" Virgtalw , " tho pretty postures of Miss Lydia Thompson , the vocal talents of Mlssea St . Oasso and Arden , and last , not least , tho admirable acting of Mra . ITmak Matthews and Mr . Leigh Murray , in Poole ' a w « U
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 29, 1859, page 11, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_29101859/page/11/
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