The Songs, Duets, and Glees, introduced into Shakspeare's Twelfth Night, selected and composed by H. R. Bishop. The interspersion of music with the scenes of our bard is one of the circumstances which may be taken as symptomatic of the necessity of some change in the preparation of our musical dramas. Last year we had the Comedy of Errors thus dished up, and now a second instance occurs. Storace selected from the Italian Operas. Mr. Bishop has written upwards of forty works for the stage, and now he appears to fly to selection, while entire Operas have yielded to these musical plays. Mr. B. has in both taken a very judicious and not less ingenious part. His own compositions are particularly original, at the same time the music has a quaintness that assorts well with the age of the poetry. With a like regard to chronology, he has adapted the part songs to the music of our old composers, and in this compilation, we find From the fair Lavinian Shore, When first I saw your face, and other such, well arranged to Shakspeare's words. His own compositions are entitled to great praise, particularly the duet, Orpheus with his Lute, which, except that it partakes of the manner of his former production, As it fell upon a day, bears no resemblance to any thing we know; it is also fanciful and expressive. The songs too range well with the rest, and we have seldom seen of late so beautiful an adaptation, (which we suppose it to be) as Bid me Discourse, a truly elegant and beautiful song. Upon the whole this publication has far more to recommend it than the generality of works for the stage. We close our article by a novelty in musical composition, dignified as the list of composers has been by noble authors; namely, by two songs, the production of his Grace the Duke of Marlborough. Oh wear for me this Blooming Rose has the simplicity as well as the peculiar accent which appertains to a national air. It is light and pretty. I love thee dearly is of more pretension. We should be suspected of a courtly disposition were we to class them far above the middle rate of modern ballads. We are, however, in the habit of seeing many worse from the hands of professors, and not so many better from any hands. Indeed, classing Mr. Moore amongst the amateurs, we may fairly say, the profession is greatly outgone in these things by Dilletanti. LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. Royal Academy.-On the 10th of December, being the Anniversary of the founding of this Institution, the formal re-election of the officers took place. Sir Thomas Lawrence was re-elected President; -Mr. Fuseli, keeper;-Mr. Howard, secretary, &c. Medals were distributed as prizes to the successful students, whose names are as follow: tectural Drawing, being the plan and elevation of the College of Surgeons in Lincoln's Inn-square. Mr. Watts, for the best copy of an Ostade in the School of Painting. Mr. Sharp, for the second best copy in that school (the original, the infancy of Bacchus, by Poussin). Mr. A. Morton, for the best Drawing, from the living model. Mr. Pitts, for the best Model, from the living model. Mr. Wood, for the best Model, from an antique figure (one of the dying sons of Niobe). Mr. R. Williams, for the best Model, from the same figure. Mr. George Allen, for the best Archi Sir THOMAS LAWRENCE then addressed the students. After expressing his displeasure at the slow and inefficient progress in certain respects of the Students of the Life Academy, he pointed out the course which he considered most proper for them, as aiming at the grand object of art to pursue. It was with sincere pleasure that the President noticed the continued and decided improvement of the Students of the Antique, and he recommended to them strenuously to endeavour at a progressive improvement, and to remember the uncertain tenure by which all excellence is held. Sir Walter Scott, Bart. has been, upon the resignation of Sir James Hall, unanimously elected President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, at the fullest meeting of that learned body that ever assembled. This honour, which is the highest that Scotland has to bestow on literary or scientific eminence, was, we are informed, entirely unsolicited either by the distinguished personage who has received it, or by any of his friends. Cleopatra's Needle. This celebrated monument of antiquity has been presented to his Majesty George IV. by the Pacha of Egypt, and is expected to arrive shortly from Alexandria. It is intended to be set up in Waterloo-place, opposite Carlton Palace. The weight of the column is about 200 tons, the diameter at the pedestal seven feet. This magnificent column was obtained through the influence of S. Brigges, Esq. the British Resident at Grand Cairo, with the Pacha of Egypt. Moore's Almanack.-The recent death of Henry Andrews, of Royston, the compiler of Moore's Almanack, has been noticed in the Journals :-we extract the following remarks from the Monthly Magazine: "The sale of Moore's Almanack, in his hands, rose to 430,000 copies per annumyet honest Andrews never got above 251. for his labours! This prodigious circulation arose from the astrological predictions with which the worthy calculator was required to fill it, and with which it is allow ed to be filled, though printed for a public company, and revised and sanctioned at Lambeth Palace, by the Archbishop of Canterbury! Andrews himself laughed as much at his own predictions, and their success, as any one of the most enlightened of his readers; but the circulation of the Almanacks depended on their insertion, and he was expected to supply them, or lose his employment. Of course he predicted secundum artem, and followed his books and the stars, with indicated events in various ratios of probability; and if one in ten came true, it satisfied the superstition, folly, and credulity of the dupes of dreams, omens, signs, and prophecies, who were his readers, and who, in spite of education and 'philosophy, still constitute a majority of this great nation." Patent Coffins. In the Consistory Court, November 8, Sir W. Scott gave judgment in the cause of the Patent Iron Coffins,-the Church-wardens of the parish of St. Andrew, Holborn, having refused to inter the body of Mrs. Gilbert, of that parish, on due notice being given by her husband, the plea being that the body was deposited in an iron coffin. The case was brought before the court, and Sir William Scott delivered his judgment in an able and impressive speech, in which he recapitulated at length the grounds on which the right of interment rested. On the principle that the parish derived profit from interments, and that iron coffins resisted the operation of decay longer than those of wood, he decided, that the persons who brought them should pay for a longer lease of the ground occupied. Coffins of lead were subject to an extra charge why should not those of iron? He recommended that the body in question should be interred without extra fees, at the same time, without prejudice to the rights of the parish-and he would confirm a table of new fees for future cases, after proper examination. Italy.-Florence.-A literary journal is announced under the title of Antologia, which is intended to give translations of the best and most interesting essays selected from the periodical publications of France, England, and Germany. This undertaking is to be conducted by an association of men of talent qualified to prosecute it with vigour and ability. It will, no doubt, stimulate the Italians to an emulation of those countries in periodical literature, and may open the way towards a more free communication between them, and their more enlightened rivals of the North. Of late many translations from the most classic English poets have been published in Italy by Leoni. The Bonn. M. A. G. Schlegel. This cele brated writer has commenced a periodical work, devoted exclusively to the philological and philosophical treasures of Indian Antiquities, hitherto known in Europe merely by detached and scattered fragments. It is entitled "Die Indiche Bibliothek," and four numbers are to be published in the course of the year, although at no definite period of appearance. first Number contains, 1. A survey of the actual state of Indian Philology. 2. Effusions of Indian Poetry, preceded by three short treatises, viz. on the the Epic rythm of the Indians, on the German Hexameter, and on the Orthography and Pronunciation of Indian words. To these succeeds an imitation, in 425 verses, of a poem, entitled "the Descent of the Goddess Garga," accompanied with explanatory mythological notes. 3. An article on "Nalus carmen Sanscritum e Mahabarati," edit. F. Bopp. Sweden Gas-light.-This admirable method of artificial illumination has been just adopted at Stockholm by a brewer, who has introduced it into his establishment; this is the first time of its being employed in that city. A Course of Lectures, on German Literature, under the immediate patronage of His Serene Highness Prince Esterhazy, is about to be delivered in London, by Andrew Stachele, LLD. The Lectures will be in the German language. The following summary may serve to give a more distinct idea of the nature of the Lectures: Condition of German Poetry towards the middle of the past century.-Klopstock.— Lessing as poet and critic-influence of English Literature.-The Hainbund in Göttingen, and merits of its members, Voss, Miller, Stolberg, &c.-Review of the Lyrical Poets of this period.-Wieland, Schiller, Göthe.-Observations on several plays of Schiller and Göthe, and in particular on Schiller's Wilhelm Tell and Maria Stuart, and Göthe's Faust, Tasso, Iphigenie.-Views and object of the Schle-gel school and their conflict with Kotzebue. -Fouqué and Jean Paul.-The Poets of the War of Liberation.-Körner.-Latest state of Poetry.-Müllner, Grillparzer to Uhland, &c. Prospects in the future. Languages. According to a "View of all Languages and their Dialects," published by Mr. F. Aderburg, Counsellor of State to the Emperor of Russia, their number amounts to 3,064-viz. in all Asia 937-European, 587—African, 276—and African, 1,264. An Island Damaged.-An Island near Java, called Fisherman's Island, is stated to have been rent asunder by the force of storms, which took place early in January, 1820. Giants.-Doctor Titler, in a letter which he has inserted in the Calcutta Mirror, states that he found the joint of a human finger in the bed of a river, near Rossur. This fact, which does not at first seem very extraordinary, will appear in a very different light, when we add that it is twice the size of the joint of an ordinary man-Ergo, the person it belonged to must have been twelve feet high! Apocryphal Scriptures.-A curious Volume has lately been published, entitled the Apocryphal New Testament, which contains the various Gospels, Epistles, and other Holy Books, attributed, during the first three centuries to the Apostles of Jesus Christ, and their companions. Apocryphal, it has been said, does not so properly mean spurious, as secret, hidden, esoteric; and therefore the Apocryphal Scriptures, according to this doctrine, were those communicated only to the priesthood, or to the more informed and gnostic laymen. The Protevangelion is one of the books contained in this Volume, and it is said to be the earliest in chronological order. It is affirmed, that there are proofs, in Matthew's Gospel, of his having recognized it as genuine. Royal Society.-November 30th being the usual day for the election of officers for the ensuing year, Sir Humphry Davy was appointed President, in the room of the late much respected Sir Joseph Banks. On the 7th December, Sir Humphry Davy, on taking the chair, in a short address, adverted to the objects of the Royal Society; he adverted also to those Philoso→ phical Associations whose objects were similar, but confined to particular branches of science. The present state of the Sciences, and the great share which the Royal Society had in their improvement, were next pointed out; and as connected with chemistry, he recommended the subjects of fluorine, and the amalgamation of ammonia and mercury. MONTHLY REGISTER. SUMMARY OF INTELLIGENCE. FOREIGN NEWS. France. Chateaubriand is appointed Minister to the Court of Prussia: the ultra sentiments of this man of talent, and the appointment of the Count Blacas, who is an ultra without talent, may excite suspicion that the politics of the Thuilleries have lately taken a bias to that side. The Duchess de Berri having interceded with the King of France for the lives of the criminals Gravier and Bouton, convicted of making the attempts upon her life and that of her infant, by exploding powder under her window, his Majesty has commuted the VOL. III. sentence of death to one of perpetual imprisonment and hard labour. "Merciful change!"-adds a poor time-serving print, pretending to the character of liberality. Yet this print is one of those which maintain the propriety of substituting for the punishment of death that of imprisonment. If life is not to be forfeited, liberty ought to be in certain cases, and there never was one of more unmanly atrocity than this. Germany and Naples. The accounts respecting the intentions of the Allied Powers with regard to Naples are, as usual, I contradictory. Most of them, however, agree, that some proposition or overture has been made on the part of the Allied Courts to the King of Naples, requiring some changes to be made in the Neapolitan Constitution for the purpose of rendering it more monarchical. The French papers add that the King of Naples has been invited to a personal interview with the Sovereigns; and that this summons has been coupled with an intimation that his non-acceptance of the invitation would be considered a proof of his being under personal restraint, and held therefore to justify hostilities. Nothing of this is certain. The government of Naples is preparing assiduously for the worst. The troops are said to be on a respectable footing. Spain.-Fears as to the stability of the new constitution in Spain have been entertained;-rumours of a counter-revolution, and doubts of the King's sincerity, have agitated the Spanish people, whose inquietude was increased by his Majesty's absence from the capital. Remonstrances were made to him on the latter point, and he returned to Madrid. The public feeling has been since a good deal tranquillized, -but a groom of the king's bed-chamber, with a colonel and a priest, have been examined touching their share in anti-constitutional plots. The municipality of Madrid has delivered a spirited address on the subject. The United States.-The message of the President of the United States, to Congress, is a document that has always been regarded in this country with considerable interest; the nature of the American constitution being such as to lead its chief magistrate farther into discussion than the heads of governments usually venture in addressing their subjects. The message of November 14th, 1820, has been received since our last Number was published. It is a document of rather a deprecatory nature. The President sees "much cause to rejoice, taking all circumstances into consideration."- "Pressures on certain interests, it is admitted, have been felt ;" these are traced to the transition of Europe from a state of war to one of peace, and to the fluctuations in the amount of the circulating medium. The permanent blessings of the constitution are held out as a sufficient consolation for temporary difficulties. The American public debt is stated to amount to about ninety-two millions of dollars, having been reduced nearly sixtyseven millions since 1815. The income of the state is given at 16,700,000 dollars; its expenditure 16,800,000; making an excess of the latter of 100,000 dollars,to which must be added a loan of three millions, included in the above amount of income. Here, therefore, is a deficiency of income of rather more than three millions of dollars. The American President describes the question pending with Spain as still unsettled:-he alludes to the contest of the latter with her colonies as going on very favourably for the Independents, and anticipates their success, in a manner, to show that the wishes of the American government are strongly on their side. A question between the two powers on the construction of the first article of the treaty of Ghent, has been mutually referred by Great Britain and the United States to the decision of the Emperor of Russia. Saint Domingo.-Christophe, the black tyrant of Hayti, has put himself to death, in consequence of a military revolution; and considering the activity of the other chieftain of the island, president Boyer, and the universal horror of despotism which the savage reign of the late emperor produced, there is every probability that the whole island will be united into one republic. Turkey.-Ali Pacha still holds out in his blockaded fortress; and the reports vary as to the probability of his speedy reduction. DOMESTIC NEWS. His Majesty is stated in the Times to have been recently seriously indisposed: so much so as to have had sixty ounces of blood taken from him at two operations. The Court Circular affirms that the indisposition was only the effect of a trifling cold. The Duchess of Clarence was safely delivered of a female child, at five minutes past five o'clock on the afternoon of Dec. 10th. The infant was prematurely born, but, with the mother, is likely to do well. The young Princess is presumptive heir to the throne, after the Duke of York. The child has been christened Elizabeth, in obedience to the commands of his Majesty. A singular diplomatic fracas is said to have taken place at Vienna: not only words, but blows also, are mentioned to have occurred. Lord Stewart, (brother of Lord Castlereagh), our Ambassador at the Austrian Court, is represented to have had a squabble with Prince Metternich,-and a challenge and a slap on the face, both inflicted by the Englishman, are stated to have been the consequences. The altercation had reference to the discussions agitated by the Congress at Troppau; and the Sovereigns there assembled, we hear, took the part of the Austrian Minister. It has been requested that Lord Stewart should be recalled: and it is said Sir Charles Stuart, Ambassador at Paris, is to take his place. The letters from St. Helena reach down to the recent date of the 7th November, at which period Buonaparte enjoyed good health, although it has been reported for several weeks (on the authority of advices, both direct and indirect), that he was seriously indisposed: he is, however, frequently subject to fits of despondency, which last for some days together, when he remains secluded as well from his friends as from visitors. The circuit to which the ex-Emperor was formerly limited has recently been extended, and he is permitted to ride and walk in a space of not less than fourteen miles. M. Naldi, the celebrated buffo-performer at the Opera, lately met an untimely death at Paris, by the bursting of a selfacting cooking apparatus. M. Naldi was invited to dine with his colleague M. Garcia, who, agreeably to his wish, showed him this novel operation of cooking, when the former imprudently stopped the heatregulator: an explosion instantly took place, and the lid severed the skull of M. Naldi, and laid him dead on the spot. M. Garcia received a wound on the head, but it is hoped that it is not dangerous. The Queen-The addresses to the Queen go on with unabated vigour; they are adopted at public meetings with all the show of oratory and crowded assemblage. On the other hand, addresses to his Majesty, professing a loyal attachment to his person, are got up in privacy, with closed doors, and under precautions to guard against the intrusion of strangers, similar to those of Free Masons. It being understood that hostile measures of some sort are still in contemplation against her Majesty, Mr. George Canning has resigned his place in the Administration, and has thus gained some credit for consistency. This gentleman, our readers know, continued abroad during the late investigation before the House of Lords. An address to the King has been carried in the Common Council of London, praying his Majesty to dismiss his Ministers: the following was the royal reply: "It has been with the most painful feeling that I have heard the sentiments contained in the address and petition now presented to me by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of the city of London. "Whatever may be the motives of those by whom it is brought forward, its evident tendency is to inflame the passions and mislead the judgment of the unwary and less enlightened part of my subjects, and to aggravate the difficulties with which we have had to contend." Subscriptions have been raised to support individuals who have fallen under the displeasure of the powerful, for displaying an attachment to the Queen's cause; and in several instances prayers have been put up for her in the churches. At Grinshill church, near Shrewsbury, after the clergyman had repeated that part of the Litany, "That it may please thee to bless and preserve all the Royal Family," the clerk, instead of saying "We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord," repeated with a loud and distinct voice, and most solemn countenance, "Not exempting our most re gious, gracious, and ever-revered Queen Caroline!" The congregation were, of course, astonished at this deviation from the service: the man was reprimanded by the minister, and, we believe, afterwards pardoned. On several occasions the pri vate meetings for addresses to his Majesty have been converted into public ones, and addresses carried very different in sentiment to the desires of the original authors of the assemblage. The Duchess of Bedford, the Countess Fitzwilliam, the Marchioness of Tavistock, and Lady Ossulstone, have been mentioned among the visitors at Brandenburgh House. A meeting of the county of Durham went off with great eclat: petitions were carried to both Houses of Parliament, praying the restoration of her Majesty's name to the Liturgy. Earl Grey spoke at this meeting. It is said that the king had lately some conversation with the two poor Owyhee chiefs who were kidnapped by the Americans, and who were exposed to so much distress in this country. The Literary Gazette says, "The King was amused with their conversation, through an interpreter, and asked a good many questions. Among other things, the elder chief told him he had six wives; upon which his Majesty goodhumouredly observed—' Notwithstanding which you left your country! well, I have but one, and I find that enough to ma nage!!" We hope this anecdote is unitrue. His Majesty has never attempted to manage his wife: and the subject does not seem one for jesting when we reflect on the shock that has been given to the feelings of allegiance, and the sense of decency, by the most injudicious system of attack adopted against the Queen Consort. Sentiments, such as these, do not neces sarily involve an opinion in favour of her Majesty's conduct; they merely expres what all dispassionate persons think i regard to the proceedings of her enemies. Executions.-Much attention has been recently excited to the subject of capital punishment; and the putting to death of fourteen persons within the short space of one week, in the course of last month, has given an additional impetus to public feeling on this subject. The fact is certain, |