The Baron returns thanks to the publisher, W. HEINEMANN, for sending a volume of DE QUINCEY's _Posthumorous Works_. A small dose of them, taken occasionally the last thing at night, may be confidently recommended to admirers of _The Opium Eater_, and will probably be found of considerable value to some who hitherto may have been the victims of _insomnia_. Highly recommended by the Faculty.
At the Court Theatre, _Le Feu Toupinel_, adapted for the English stage as _The Late Lamented_, is decidedly funny, that is, if you can once get over the idea that all its humour depends upon the immoral vagaries of an elderly scoundrel, an habitual criminal, who has departed this life in the odour of respectability, without his immoralities ever having been discovered. Had he been found out during his lifetime, he would have been tried for bigamy, convicted, and punished accordingly. This piece has been adapted from the French for the English stage; but, query, is it adapted to an English audience? That's the point. The run must decide. If the best possible acting can carry it along, then that it has got; for, though Mrs. JOHN WOOD has frequently had better chances, yet she has never worked harder, and never has she more deserved the laughter she excites. The same may be said of Mr. STANDING and Miss FILLIPPI, and also of Mr. ARTHUR CECIL, whose make-up is perfect, especially the dressing and colouring of his hair, which is an artistic triumph. Mr. GILBERT FARQUHAR's _Mr. Fawcett_, the Solicitor, contributes much to the fun of the scenes in which he appears with Mrs. JOHN WOOD; and Mr. CAPE, as _Parker_, the Confidential Servant, is excellent. There's plenty of "go" in it, but will it "stay"?
Great attraction at the Lyceum! _The Corsican Brothers_ and _Nance Oldfield_! ELLEN TERRY as _Nance_ is delightful. Chorus, Gentlemen, if you please, "_For_--all our fancy, Dwells upon Nancy!" Our ELLEN is charming in this, so natural and so theatrical: herself as _Nance_, and then as _Mrs. Oldfield_, the actress, in the characters that _Nance_ assumes. For 'tis ELLEN playing _Nancy_, and _Nancy_ again playing Tragedy and Comedy. It is an old piece revived: there never was so old a piece, for there are only four characters in it, and they're all Old. There are two _Oldfields_ and two _Oldworthys_. Mr. WENMAN as _Oldfield Senior_, or the Old Obadiah, is a trifle too blusterous, but on the other hand, I am not prepared to say that a country attorney of that period wouldn't be uncouth and blusterous. His son _Alexander_, the Young Obadiah, is prettily played by Mr. GORDON CRAIG, who is a trifle too windmilly with his hands and arms; but in the whole play nothing becomes him so well as the pathos of his broken-hearted exit. He was touching and going. Henceforth, this young actor may justly describe himself as of the "Touch-and-go" school, and be, like "the livin' skeleton" mentioned by _Sam Weller_, "proud o' the title." Miss KATE PHILLIPS as _Anne's_ sister--though, as Mr. J.L. T-LE observed, as she is younger than _Anne_, she cannot well be her Anne-sister--is as bright and lively as need be, considering her menial position, which is rather odd in her sister's house. Visit Mistress NANCE TERRY; you'll find her very much "at home" in the part. After which _The Corsican Brothers_ revived, Ghost and all.