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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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E " MERCHANT OF VENICE" AT THE PRINCESS'S THEATRE . i revival of The Merchant of Venice at the Puincess ' s Thkatre surpasses , in b respects , all the preceding marvels of Mr . Kean ' s managerial reign : in ety and elegance of scenic illustration , and in the felicitous employment of he resources of mechanical illusion . The conventional framework of a play tified with the traditions of our greatest actors is entirely superseded , and aced by a series of highly finished pictures , ^ vhich even to the eye of a x . Veronese , or a CUNAi-ETrr would present the rare combination of equal ndour and fidelity . This is high praise , but it ia the praise which Mr . deserves It
. n peculiarly . may be easy to sack Wardour-street and to ge every Nathan in the town for "dresses and decorations ; " but result will be a tawdry and incongruous magnificence which only groundlings and the gods applaud , and from which the judicious i with shuddering laughter and disgust . Now , to Mr . Kean be-8 the credit of having redeemed the stage from this conventional rant tawdriness , which ( if an excessive realism be a sign of decadence ) srtainly not an evidence of respect for the poet ' s creation ; and it is in giug to bear upon the representation of dramas , in which every character l eternal type , and not merely a passing sketch , all the capabilities of pic-H and mechanical skill , regulated and controlled by a masterly
discrimination and a rare research , and animated by a fine perception of the picturesque that Mr . Kean has won for himself a lasting reputation in the annals of our national stage . So far from making the poet a mere vehicle for the scenepainter and the machinist , he makes them the poet ' s ministers and interpreters , and we may well believe that Shak . spka . re himself would desire to be represented before a nineteenth century audience with all the means and appliances which the art , learning , and science of the nineteenth century can furnish . If , the speaking actors of his plays are not always worthy of these mute interpreters , if the figures in the foreground are not so true as the " still life" of the scene , surely Messrs . Grieve and Telbin are not to blame , nor is Mr . KbAN to
be censured for permitting those eminent artists to assert their superiority . The difficulty of an adequate personation of Shakspeabe ' b plays lies in the number of characters , ea > ch of a distinct relative importance , each demanding the voice , presence , and manners of an educated gentleman ,-which are unavoidably committed to the tender mercies of such actors as Shak . spea . re ( by the mouth of Hamlet ) has too faithfully described . In a romantic play such as The Merchant of Venice , in which the tone is always that of high-bred elegance and exquisite refinement , the painful incongruity to which we have alluded occasions a continual discord , and obscures the beauty of the poet ' s design . With every disposition to indulgence , we cannot honestly profess that the noble , Venetians who surround Antonio at the Princess ' s Theatre bear even a faint resemblance to
what is called " good company , " and whether they are lounging in practicable gondolas , or chatting in the public square , we are compelled to acknowledge that they look strangely out of place . Not so , however , the ladies : it would be difficult to conceive a nobler womanly grace , a more perfect union of dignity and sweetness , than Mrs . Kean ' s Portia . In the scene of the caskets , her manner is instinct with suppressed emotion and passionate reserve ; in the scene of the trial , in the robes of the young and learned doctor , she mingles with an assumed austerity of demeanour the touching candour and persuasiveness of one accustomed to reason with the heart , and the playful archness and disguised tenderness in the scene of the rings are infinitely charming . She is well seconded by Miss Carlotta . X . eclercq , who , as Nerissa , takes all eyea and hearts b y storm with the bewitching undulations of her attitudes , and the irresistible provocations of voice and eye , while Miss Chapman , notwithstanding the stage-fright of a debutante , veins our sympathy by the timorous gentleness
and caressing melody of a fresh voice and artless air which render Jessica doubly interesting . JShylock is certainly one of Mr . Charlks Kean ' s finest parts ; profoundly studied , elaborately finished , lit up with flashes of his father ' s genius . It is a peculiarity of Mr . Charles Kean ' s Shylock that it has nothing of the sordid violence of a vulgar usurer ; it is the type of a detested and persecuted race , grasping , rapacious , and vindictive , but whose rapacity has something awful and pathetic in its loneliness , and whose vindictiveness has something of the grandeur of a national revenge . When Sfyfiwifcleaves the court discomfited , bereft at once of his ducats and his daughter , we rejoice no doubt at the safety of Antonio , but we revolt at Gratiands insults , and we cannot escape a pang of pity for the Jew . Mr . Keak ' s make-up ( an admirable picture in itself / in which every detail , even to the colours of the ancient kings on the sash , attests the preoccupation of the artist ) contributes perhaps , in some degree , to this impression . . ' ¦
. '•" Of the other characters in the play , Antonio is by far the best personation in the cast at the Princess's . Mr . Gbahajvi looks the merchant well , and his elocution ( but for a little unnecessary vehemence once or twice ) is marked with intelligence and propriety . Mr . . Ryder's JSassanto is a sad mistake ; Mr . WAi .-xe » LiACY ' s Gratiano is indifferently -vivacious ; but Mr . J . F . Cathcabt speaks those beautiful lines in the fifth act , beginning , " Look how the floor of heaven , " far better than we could have expected . As to the scenery , we need only repeat that the Place of St . Mark , the scene of the Canals and Gondolas , the Rialto , and the Council Chamber of the Doge ' s . Palace are almost too real ; they scarcely leave enough to the imagination of the spectator .
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THE OPERAS . There are now three Italian Opera-houses in full activity in this metropolis , besides a corps of Italian comedians , under the direction of Madame Ristort , at St . James ' s Theatre . At the Royal It am an Opera , Fra Diavob , with the inimitable cast of last year , ha * been produced ; and for next week Flotow's Martha is announced . At Her Majesty's Theatre , Mademoiselle Titiens has appeared as Lucrezia Borgia , but her fine presence , energetic declamation .
and brilliant audacity in attacking extraordinary difficulties of vocalization , are not likely to efface the reputation of Grisi , who still remains the only Lucrezia ; nor 5 s Giuglini likely to eclipse the recollection of Mario in the part of Gennara , although his dying scene exceeded our expectations . On the other hand , Alboni's Maffeo Orsini stands alone and unapproachable ; and her singing in the prologue and in the last act recalled the glorious season of 1847 at the Royai , Italian Opera ,-when this transcendant singer all unheralded came , sang , and conquered . Mademoiselle Titiens has only four more nights to sing in England , being summoned to Vienna by the Imperial Theatre , of which she is the ornament .
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. ^ .. London , Friday Evening , Juno jg . Am , our markets aro lower , more particularly tho heavy railway shares . Tho spirit of enterprise soems dead in every market . Money remains at 24 to 3 percont ., but in no Rroat demand . Tho American dllllculty and the silent preparations for war of our sinistor Imperial neighbour makou ono nnxioua . The markets for all ktnda of produce continue very weak , and Hpeoulation so languid that tho
extraordinary heat of fcho weafchor would seom to havu affected our commercinl atmosphere . Consols aro below 00 ox divi - dend , and but few bargains arc recorded . French shares are buoyant ; an improved tone at Paris is strengthening the market for those soeurifcios hore . The fall in all the heavy snares has been most remarkable . Caledonian aro below < U > 1 per share , or 80 per cent ., and a steady decrease of 7002 . nor week does not augur well for a largo dividend ; Those shares have receded So 30 $ , 40 , There has been a slight increased demand for Indian guaranteed shares this week , but tho demand ia languid . In miscellaneous shores —joint-stock banks—thoro is no business doing . Tho death pra very oxtonsivo mining proprietor in the west of England will unlook a good Inumber of shares , it is supposed ; these will bo thus forced on tho market . The general aspect of tho market is not encouraging ; money is still easy at S pprc&nt ., but it is understood a very small domund would absorb nil tho supply . Ulaokburn . Ol . loftiCalodonian . rOi , 80 ; Chester an d Holylioad , S 3 , 35 ; Eastern Counties , ( 10 . 01 ; Groat Northern , 101 , 1 « 2 ; Groat Southern and Western ( Iroliuid > , 103 , 10 5 ; Great Western , 4 . 9 , 491 ; Lancashire and Yorkshire , 8 « . 89 J ; London and IJlaokwall , S | , 0 J ; London , Jirhfhton , and South Const , 107 , 101 ); London and North- " \ Vostoni , 90 , 90 J ; London and South-Western , 92 J , 93 J ; Midland , 91 . 91 J ; North-Euatern ( Hoi-wick ) , 80 i , 901 ; South-Knstori ) , ( l > over ) , 07 , 08 j Antwerp and lloUordam , Bi , 61 ; Dutch llhonish , St . 4 } din . ; Knstorn of Franco ( Paris and Strasbourg- ) . 25 J , 215 } j Groat Central of Franco , j Great Luxembourg , 74 , 7 !; Northern of Franco , a 7 J , 38 ; Parih and Lyons , 801 , 31 ; Itoval DaniHh , ; Jtoya . 1 Swedish ; Smnbro and Alonso , 7 » . 7 | .
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PUBLICATIONS AND REPUBLICATIONS . sbs . Smith and Elder have published a new and cheap edition of that $ t and touching , story , A Lost Love ., by Ashford Owen . It is but an hour ' s ing , but the hour is one of rare and memorable pleasure , roin . Mr . John Chapman we have a curious "book—The Confessions of a wlie Priest . It professes to be an authentic autobiography , and among confessions many are accompanied by apologies . Though there is a t of reality in the tone , the narrative itself is probable enough , considerthat perverted priests and patriots in exile belong to a . vagrant and adurous race . The writer—now dead—had much to say agaiust the order rhich he once belonged , and if we are really to accept this vol ume as a table book of confessions , it certainly contains some remarkable illustra-3 of life and character .
reaching ^ Prosing , and Puseijism : with other Peas of the Pod . By FeTtham ghley . ( Hope . )—This odd book is at least timely . It is the work of a er and , apparently , young man , who has read much , thinks strongly , ivrites with unlimited confidence in'liimself . [ r . TansweH ' s long-announced work , Ite History . an& _ Antiquities of Law-( published by Mr . Pickton ) , lias at length appeared , with numerous trations and a goodly list of subscribers . We reserve it for further ce . :.. . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ' ¦ ¦ . ¦ . ' . ¦ ¦ / ¦ ¦ .... '' ¦ ¦¦
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BIRTHS , MARRIAGES AND DEATHS . BIRTHS . jGRA-VH . —Juno 18 . at tho Rectory , North Kilworth ewiro of tho Rev . C . Bolgravo : a daughter . wortu > WEll . —Juno IB , at ITafbd . Caernarvonshire , tho wife of F . Hiuuor , Esq .: a son and heir . * C ^ N ^« / i i * ' fttSprinB-Krove , Middlesex , tho wife u . J . Ansinytn , E « q . ; a daughter . S iii ;^ Ju " v > nt ] Jowdon Vale , Cheahlro , tho wife of . v . umacn , liaq .: a son . MAIUtlAOES . ^ ES-TIIOMAS—June . 15 , at All Souls ' , Langl .
amplnco , by thoItev . J . H . G » irney , M . Jones , Esq ., of Penylan , Cardiganshire , to Sarali Frances , daughter of R . G . Thomas , Esq ., of Llanon and Iscoed , Caormarthonshire . PARSONS-COMPSON . —Juno 14 , at St . James ' s , Westminster . l ) y tho Rev . J . Beames . C . Parsons , Esq ., of Preateign , Radnorshire , to Sarah , relict of tho late G . JCompson , Esq ., of Cloobnry Mortimer , Salop . DEATHS . BENYON . —Juno 15 , at Sb . Lconard ' s-on-Sea , in her 4 i ) tli year , Sarah , -widow of Henry B . Benyon Eaq ., of Roundliay liodgo . ncar Leeds . BTJNTING .-Juuo 10 , at Myddolton-squaro , tho Rov . J . Bunting , nged 80 . OltOKBR . —Jvrno 14 , atLavenhara lteotory , SufTolk , J . D . Crokor , Esq ., ngod 70 .
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[ gut fob the ( jHAMriONsmp . —An encounter took a on Tuesday , between Thomas Paddock and Thomas ara , for 400 f . A great many persona were present , large sums of money were betted on the issue . mty-ono rounds were fought , occupying one hour and Y minutes , when Paddock was vanquished . Sayers , efore , remains the champion of England . hk Chops . —The magnificent -weather , which has prevailed for some weeks , hns brought on the a very favourably , and it ia universally anticipated ; the harvest this autumn will bo remarkably fine . : es , consequently , have been depressed in the creat i markets .
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* o . 430 / Jtjne 19 , 1858 . ] THE LEIDEB , 597
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NEW NOVELS . he Ladies of Bever Hollow . A Tale of English Country Life . By the hor of " Mary Powell . " 2 vols . ( Bentley . )—The best of the author ' s silent manner is exhibited in this new tale of the ladies of Bever Hollow . a picture of Englist country life , with a quiet romance passing across 3 cene and several portrayals of character altogether pre-Eaphaelite in : warm blending of natural details . Mansions , J ferm-houses , and iges occupy the foreground , landscapes and gardens are in the rear , and b conspicuous among the personages of the story are the ladies of the low—thoroughly human contrasts , and so true to life that we may well sve them to have been studied from models . Scarcely less real and l more fascinating are the younger heroines , in whose fortunes the reader imediately interested . Pleasant is the word that accurately describes last book by the author of " Mary Powell . " he Gilberts and their Guests . A Story of Homely English Life . By a Day . 3 vols . ( Newby . )^—Here we have a book in three volumes ; h is , as it professes to be , a homely story of homely life . It is easily gracefully written , and will amuse many leaders . The author has ently seen much of town and country manners , and turns her knowledge s . cellent purpose . An amiable feeling is prevalent throughout , in spite Dccasional interludes of satire , and Miss Julia Day , after skilfully aging her drama so as to reserve the delightful denouement for the last page , certainly advances her reputation more than a step beyond which she acquired as author of The Engagement .
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Leader (1850-1860), June 19, 1858, page 597, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2247/page/21/
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