RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 203 21.1.1858 (Thur) Entertainment by Mr. George Henri. R: As there appeared no review of Mr. George HENRI's miracles on December 29 there is some doubt as to whether they were indeed performed on that date: perhaps they were postponed to January 21. Then the Herald showed itself “so astonished that had he asked us what we wished him to do next we should have requested him to produce Yeh before our eyes". This alluded to Yeh Ming-ch'en, the Chinese Imperial Commissioner for Foreign Affairs who had played a major role in the second Anglo-Chinese war. He had been captured on January 5 1858 and taken to Calcutta by the British. (NCH 23.1.1858). 9.2.1858 (Tue) T.J. DIBDIN: "The Birthday” (1799) T: Comedy (3 acts) C. DANCE: "The Dustman's Belle" (1846) T: Comedy (2 acts) J. KENNEY: "Raising the Wind" (1803) T: Farce (2 acts) C: Officers of H.M.S. Pique Th: On board ship R: The description of the circumstances under which the Herald's reporter was drawn to the "Pique" (a British frigate with crew of 350) is too vivid for the reader to forgo: Tuesday last was a depressing day for a melancholic tempered man, and even we, not constitutionally sad, felt its influence. The morning dawned through an atmosphere in which rain and mist were struggling to see which should do its worst to make everything look disagreeable. As the day moved on, the rain gained the ascendancy and pelted down most pitilessly; overhead the sky looked dull and murky; underfoot the soil of Shanghai, mingling lovingly with the weeping clouds, produced a mixture as tenacious as the grasp of a miser, and dirty as the soul of a time-serving parasite. The mail, with the usual fatality which crowds one mishap upon another, though overdue, had not arrived. To take the gun was simply to commit a felo de se in a sea of mud; and to hum a snatch of a tune was as great an exertion as to dance an Irish jig in fetters, or laugh at the present Sir R. Peel's facetiousness.* In this desolate mood we were plunged, when suddenly a bright recollection flashed upon us. We rose hastily from our chair and consulted a paper which had been lying neglected in a corner: it was the Pique's playbill. The sight of the 'Birthday', the 'Dustman's Belle' and 'Raising the Wind' acted like a charm upon us, and a few minutes afterwards we had crossed the Bund, escaped the insidious dangers of those man-traps of jetties which the Municipal Council are daily suffering to grow more and more like that bridge with many pitfalls invented in the vision of Mirza (this is a reference to "The Vision of Mirza" by Joseph Addison, first published in "The Spectator" in 1711 and reprinted in 1856 – JH); and committed the safety of our person to a China-boatman and his magnified eggshell. The rain pelted, but we laughed at it; the gusts blew spitefully, but we clutched the tighter and defied them; the darkness did its best to mislead us, but the bright glow from a sailor's pipe guided us with more trustworthiness and safety than a beacon light under certain auspices could have done, and we reached the Pique in safety. Here we found all light, bustle and tiptoe expectation. The main deck had been cleared of its grim everyday tenants - the cold frowning implements of old Mars and their room occupied by the flimsy, but joy-inspiring fripperies of Thespis. We passed along row after row of happy, eager faces and took our seat in front, amongst the guests whom the ship's company of the * Sir Robert Peel (1822-1895), diplomat and politician; popular in social life and gifted with "rare powers of irony, but also "absence of dignity" and a "want of moral fiber in his volatile character" (Dictionary of National Biography, Vol. 44, p. 223-224). ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 204 Pique delighted to honour, Marvellous is the ingenuity of Jack. Difficulties which would appal the ghost of Richardson* — that prince of theatrical improvisers, he makes nothing of it. Whether it be to prepare a great banquet hall or to erect a theatre, it is all the same to him and comes to his hands as readily as the marlin-spike. Huge guns disappear and hatchways vanish from the sight and are replaced by draperies and benches with all the quickness of enchantment. We sat looking around us at the proscenium, the footlights and the drop scene, representing a view on the late of Como, and fell difficult to remain in the belief that we were on board of one of H.M. 'ships of war' and not seated in a neat little theatre". Thus far the impression of the surroundings. About the acting qualities the reviewer was equally in high spirits: in the Birthday, Captain Bertram R.N. proved to be “a gouty, choleric old gentleman, a very positive, perverse individual to boot and more than becomingly addicted to the occasional use of strong language". All these little eccentricities were him forgiven, however, when "we saw him yield to the impulses of nature and even felt a degree of alarm when he well nigh became smothered in the affectionate embrace of his loving and pretty — but somewhat bulky niece. (...) The songs of Dibdin appear to be no longer the prime favorites afloat they were half a century ago; and although we cannot but regret this, we were glad to find, from the specimens we listened to, that they have been superseded by not unworthy successors. The trill of I've heard of foreign countries. That are very fair to see But England! dear old England! Is quite fair enough for me was ringing in our ear, when it was joined in by notes of a different kind — the cheering notes, to wit, of the Dustman's Bell. We are quite converts to the doctrine that believes, for the moment, in the mimic scene which is enacting before us. How could we do otherwise at the sight of such a Dustman and such a Sally! It did one's heart good to look upon such a fresh, comely and good-looking face as Miss Sally's, and to hear the praise of it sung with such evident gusto by her honest lover in the lines: Of all the girls that dress so smart There's none like pretty Sally She is the darling of my heart And she lives in our Alley." Raising the Wind the reporter found not "so brilliantly successful but not without its merit". Summing up, his **still aching sides" testified sufficiently to the "care and trouble which the performers had taken to entertain their numerous audience'' (NCH 13.2.1858) 10.2.1858 (Wedn) PELHAM HARDWICKE (= C. MATHEWS): "A Bachelor of Arts" (1853) T: Comic drama (2 acts) J.M. MORTON: "Done on Both Sides" (1847) T: Farce (1 act) C: Amateurs F: Music by "Messrs Phu & Mor" Th: Theatre Royal (C) + * An allusion to John Richardson (1767?-1837), nicknamed "the penny showman"; in his performance of J.S. Knowles' (?) "Virginius" the ghost was the great effect (Dict. of Nat. Biogr., Vol. 48, p. 230-231). ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 217 2.3.1864 (Wedn) Performance by the amateurs of the Royal Artillery. No plays are mentioned in the announcement (NCH 27.2.1864). 4.3.1864 (Fri) Performance by Mrs. Greig: "dramatic reading and English ballad music” with the cooperation of Mr. Marquis Chisholm, piano, and the Rhenish Band. N.N. (H) R: This was an evening at which the Herald predicted that "ladies may without impropriety be present". Mrs. GREIG had had “a most successful career in India and the colonies" and it was the first time she had come to Shanghai (NCH 27.2.1864). 28.3.1864 (Mon) T. KORNER: "The Governess" (“Die Gouvernante') T: Farce (1 act) A.F.F. Von KOTZEBUE: "The Harvest at Home" N.N.: Bullrick at Kroll" C: Amateurs of His Prussian M.S. Gazelle Th: On board ship(?) N: It is not recorded in which language these pieces were played: titles and authors are those given by the Herald. Of Kotzebue's play I have not been able to find a German equivalent. HED, however, mentions some plays with the same title by British authors: Thomas Parry (1848) and Charles Dibdin (1787), as well as some by unknown playwrights. R: Perhaps in some fear, the Herald noted with a sigh of relief that "the evening passed off without a single contretemps" (NCH 2.4.1864). Curiously enough the only ship in port with the name "Gazelle" was a British merchantman which had arrived there from Hankow on the 22nd. 30.3.1864 (Wedn) M.W.B. JERROLD: "Cool as a Cucumber" (1851) T: Farce (1 act) J. KENNEY: "Raising the Wind" (1803) T: Farce (2 acts) J.S. COYNER: "Duck Hunting” (1862) T: Farce (1 act) C: Amateurs of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps F: Prologue, spoken by Commm. R.C. Antrobus Th: N.N. (H) N: First performance of the season R: After a brief period in which the actual names of resident-amateurs had been published, there was a reversion to the old practice of stage names, at least probably for most actors. A whole list was printed in the Herald (Messrs Talbot, De Jones, Robinson (were these latter two the same as those active in 1858?), Carnegie, Coke, Dolittle, Smith, Blister, Buttons, Bellingham and John; and Mesdemoiselles Olivia, Pipchin, Robinson and Sally), of whom only Mr. Talbot may have been genuine. As usual the female characters of the farces were played by men ("prettier and more graceful amateur ladies than we have ever seen before"), a generally horrid sight for the serious theatregoer. Not so for Shanghailanders for "large numbers of residents who were desirous of obtaining admission were excluded for want of room” (NCH 2.4.1864). A detailed review had appeared in the Daily Shipping News of 31.3.1864, no longer available. Increasingly, instead of full reports, summaries from the daily edition were published until one has to resort entirely to the Daily News; of Survey). ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 237 COYNE, Joseph Stirling (1803-1868) "Binks the Bagman" (13.12.1843). P: 8.10.1857 "Duck Hunting" (29.9.1862). P: 30.3.1864; 4.4.1865 "The Infanticidal Farce or Did you ever Send your Wife to Camberwell?" (16.3.1846). P: 21.2.1856 **Urgent Private Affairs** (7.1.1856). P: 5.5.1858 CROSS, John C (d 1810?) The Golden Farmer or Harlequin Ploughboy (28.6.1802). P: 8.10.1857 DANCE, Charles (1794-1863) **Delicate Ground or Paris in 1793** (27.11.1849). P: 13.2.1864 "The Dustman's Belle" (1.6.1846). P: 9.2.1858 DANVERS, Henry (??) **A Conjugal Lesson** (3.7.1856). P: 26.3.1857 DIBDIN, Thomas John (1771-1841) **The Birthday** (16.3.1799). P: 9.2.1858 DUMAS, Alexandre fils (1824-1895) "Camille" (English adaptation of 'La Dame aux Camélias') (1852; London: 1858). P: 27.3.1865 EDWARDS, Henry Sutherland (1828-1906) **The Goose with the Golden Eggs** (with A. Mayhew) (1.9.1859). P: 13.2.1863 FITZBALL, Edward (1792-1873) "The Daughter of the Regiment" (30.11.1843). P: 15.4.1865 GILL, W.B. **Aurora Floyd Burlesqued**. P: 19.4.1865 "Which is Which?". P: 27.3.1865 GORE, Catherine Grace Frances (1799-1861) **A Good Night's Rest or Two in the Morning** (19.8.1839). P: 21.2.1856 HALLIDAY, Andrew (1830-1877) "The Area Belle" (with W. Brough) (7.3.1864). P: 30.9.1865 HARDWICKE, Pelham: See C. Mathews HARRIS, Augustus Glossop (1826-1873) "The Rose of Castille" (Music by M.W. BALFE) (29.10.1857). P: 8.10.-14.10.1864 HAZLEWOOD, Colin Henry (1823-1875) ? "Aurora Floyd or the First and Second Marriage" (21.4.1863). P: 26.11.1864; 17.4.1865 ? "Lady Audley's Secret" (25.6.1863). 142 P: 28.12.1864 "Rob Roy" (19.6.1864). P: 28.3.-5.4.1865 JERROLD, Douglas William (1803-1857) "Black-eyed Susan or All in the Downs" (8.6.1829). P: 28.3-5.4.1865 JERROLD, M. William Blanchard (1826-1884) ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 241 Aurora Floyd Burlesqued: W.B. Gill; 19.4.1865. The Babes in the Wood: J.H. Byron; 17.4.1865. A Bachelor of Arts: P. Hardwicke; 10.2.1858, 8.5.1865. Betsey Baker; J.M. Morton; 23.3.1853. Binks the Bagman: J.S. Coyne; 8.10.1857. The Birthday: T.J. Dibdin; 9.2.1858. Black-eyed Susan: D.W. Jerrold; 28.3-5.4.1865. Bombastes Furioso: W.B. Rhodes; 28.1.1851, 5.5.1858. The Boots at the Swan: C. Selby; 14.12.1865. Box and Cox: J.M. Morton; 15.5.1854, 18.2.1857. The Bride of Abydos: H.J. Byron; 22.10.-28.10.1864. Bullrick at Kroll: N.N.; 28.3.1864. Camille: A. Dumas Jr; 27.3.1865. A Capital Match: J.M. Morton; 23.4.1857, 3.12.1864. Charles the Second: J.H. Payne; 16.3.1858. Cinderella: H.J. Byron? T. Taylor?; 12.11.-18.11.1864, 28.4.1865. The Colleen Bawn: D. Boucicault; 25.4.1865. A Conjugal Lesson: H. Danvers; 26.3.1857. Conrad and Medora: W. Brough; 12.E.-18.E.1864. Cool as a Cucumber: M.W.B. Jerrold; 26.3.1857, 30.3.1864, 4.4.1864. Crinoline: R.B. Brough; March 1863; 16.3.1863, 1.4.1864. The Daughter of the Regiment: E. Fitzball? 15.4.1865. A Dead Shot: J.B. Buckstone; 11.4.1865. The Debut: N.N.; 1.4.1864. Delicate Ground: C. Dance; 13.2.1864. Diamond cut Diamond: W.H. Murray; 12.12.1850. Done on both sides: J.M. Morton; 10.2.1858. The Dragon of Wantley: H. Carey & J.F. Lampe; 26.1.1852. Duck Hunting: J.S. Coyne; 30.3.1864, 4.4.1864, The Dustman's Belle: C. Dance; 9.2.1858. Faint Heart never won Fair Lady: J.R. Planché; 8.10.-14.10.1864, 14.12.1865. A Fast Train! High Pressure!! Express!!!: J.M. Maddox; 8.3.1854. A Fearful Tragedy in the Seven Dials: C. Selby; 15.2.1860. Fitzsmythe of Fitzsmythe Hall: J.M. Morton; 26.3.1863. The Flowers of the Forest: J.B. Buckstone; 28.3.-5.4.1865. Fra Diavolo: H.J. Byron; 15.10.-21.10.1864. The Frantic Husband: N.N.; 26.4.1865. The Golden Farmer: J.C. Cross? B. Webster? 8.10.1857, A Good Night's Rest: C.G.F. Gore; 21.2.1856. The Goose with the Golden Eggs: A. Mayhew & H. Sutherland; 13.2.1863, 17.2.1863, 26.4.1865 The Governess (Die Gouvernante): T. Körner; 28.3.1864. Grimshaw, Bagshaw and Bradshaw: J.M. Morton: 2.6.1859. The 'Green' Bushes: H.J Byron: 30.9.1865. A Hard Struggle: J.W. Marston; 12.11.-18.11.1864. The Harvest Home: A.F.F. von Kotzebue; 28.3.1864. The Haunted Inn: R.B. Peake; 6.5.1852. The Heir at Law: G. Colman the Younger; 21.4.1851. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2003 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/2v242g390 Malatesta, Edward J. and Gao Zhiyu Departed, yet present: Zhalan, the oldest Christian cemetery in Beijing. Macau: Instituto Cultural de Macau, c1995. Musavi Lari, Mujtabá God and his attributes: lessons on Islamic doctrine. Potomac, Md.: Islamic Education Center, c1989. Musavi Lari, Mujtabá. Resurrection judgement and the hereafter: lessons on Islamic Doctrine (book three). Qum, Iran: Foundation of Islamic Culture Propagation in the World, [1992]. Musavi Lari, Mujtabá The Seal of the Prophets and his message: lessons on Islamic doctrine. Potomac, MD: Islamic Education Center, [1989?]. Nahjul balagha: sermons, letters, and sayings of Imam Ali. Qom, I.R. Iran: Sayyed Mojtaba Musavi Lari Foundation of Islamic C.P.W. [n.d.]. (2 vols) Peacock, B.A.V. Hong Kong archaeological survey: subsurface investigation reports. [Hong Kong: Antiquities & Monuments Office, Municipal Services Branch, c1988]. The Psalms of Islam. Imam Zayn al-'Abidin ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn ; translated with an introduction and annotation by William C. Chittick; with a foreword by S.H.M. Jafri. Qum, Iran: Foundation of Islamic Cultural Propagation in the World, 1980-1989? Second International Conference of Institutes & Libraries for Chinese overseas studies. Conference handbook. Xianggang: c2003, Steinberg, David I. Stone mirror: reflections on contemporary Korea. Norwalk, CT: EastBridge, 2002. xliv ================================================================================