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dam aliis principle. We have, for instance, a chatty kind of review of all the eminent anglers that ever lived, from Solomon down to Christopher North-Isaac Walton, of course, included; though, by the way, he knew little or nothing of fly-fishing, the professed purpose of Mr. Soltau's labours. There are certainly a few plates of flies, with yet more scanty elucidations; considering the author himself disparages his prints, the accompaniments might have been allowed more tone. We defy any man to make up his flies from the descriptions, if he is not to trust to the drawings. The book, in short, has disappointed us; it is neither as instructive nor as amusing as so favoured a district should have furnished. The grand mistake, or defect, has been in the writer brushing up all sorts of used-up intelligence, instead of confining himself to the flag he fights under the freshness and attractions of his own streams. "Local information," he says, "is at all times most valuable to the fisherman; without it, his money is often wasted and his patience sorely taxed." Agreed, it is; but why, then, did he not act up to his text, and make his task and ours far more agreeable? His sin must be on his own head.

THE PEOPLE'S JOURNAL. Saunders, 69, Fleet-street. It is always with gratification that we acknowledge a call upon us-in the capacity of public journalists-to review works of a social and popular character. The philosophy of our life, as well as our literature, is thus written: "Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri." For this reason, whether a volume solicit our notice with an introduction on the title-page from the most distinguished author of the day, or come unpresented, in anonymous humility, we offer it our greeting-our welcome if, as it should seem to us, its purpose be good. This is the case with the work before us: it is essentially a popular work, without being anarchical-properties so continually confounded in modern policy. The design of the "People's Journal" is stated to be " a combination of amusement, general literature, and instruction, with an earnest and business-like inquiry into the best means of satisfying the claims of industry." No doubt here is high ground taken, or at least sought-it is but justice to say by a path likely to lead to the end desired. This journal is a miscellany of original contributions by writers of talent—and an honest spirit. Its taste is sound, and its tone is healthy. All is not gold indeed--but there is little or no tinsel. It is customary to offer extracts to support opinions of literary productions as the merchant sets out samples of his wares. The following is in season-it harmonises with the general matter of our pages, and its policy is wholesome and true.

"There is much going on that must die out as the taste and moral feeling of the masses progress. Vulgarity and low debauch will, with this advance, gradually disappear. Thus that attraction of former days, the Epping Hunt, has sunk to the most perfect burlesque. I went to witness it a year or two ago. But where were the Lord Mayor and aldermen, who used to be there in all their glory? Where were the surrounding thousands upon thousands? On the top of the hill, near the Bald-faced Stag, stood a few carriages with ladies in them, a few gentlemen on horseback, a few venders of oranges and ginger-beer, and a few professors of the game of cock-shy, or will-pegs, ready to afford young men the opportunity of winning a snuff-box by the flinging of a stick.

There might be a couple of hundreds of people assembled. On came the huntsmen with their stag in a covered cart. The chief huntsman blew dismally on a tin horn, the cart stopped, the door was opened, but out did not come the stag. It appeared a tame one hired for the occasion, and quite contented to remain where it was. Six hounds following the cartthe whole splendid pack!-waited with the same nonchalance till the huntsman roused the stag, and compelled it to spring out of the cart. Once out, however, it did not seem at all alarmed at the sight of men or dogs. The dogs were equally quiescent. Neither stag nor dogs seemed desirous of the trouble of a run; but as a hunt there must be, the stag was actually driven off by the huntsman, and hooted off by the crowd. . . . . . . The stag had a large label attached to its neck-I suppose to warn any one against killing it...... in fact, more like a bottle of hartshorn than a hart of grease.' And yet, amidst the numerous customs and games of past times, what should banish the brisk foot-race and the game of foot-ball on the village-green? In the holidays of the future, taste will banish vulgarity--but not hilarity."

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We hope not; we had rather see rural life less genteel, and more jovial. Any worm but Mawworm.

THE METALLIC BETTING-BOOK.-The Messrs. Ackermann, of the Strand, have just published a little manual, in form of a pocket-tablet, under this title. It is well and tastefully got up, and will be found very convenient for all who bet on horse-racing, whether professionally or en amateur. It is particularly portable.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS OF THE METROPOLIS.

"How vain and flitting-how unreal and unsubstantial are popular favour and popular applause! Well and truly were these hollow triumphs called by Lord Mansfield the echo of folly and shadow of renown."-HERALD.

Popular applause is ever variable. One day the Radcliffe school of literature reigns paramount; another day the fiction of Sir Walter Scott takes precedence of every other class of composition in public estimation. Then Bulwer und James lead for a period, to be succeeded by Dickens. So with things theatric. Tragedy, comedy, opera succeed one another. The performer that drew crowded houses yesterday, to-day performs to empty benches. Mrs. Butler's late engagement verifies our position. Some few years back this actress was the sole means of the vast area of Covent Garden being nightly filled. But a few weeks ago the same artist appeared on the boards of one of the metropolitan minors without creating the least sensation.

The high state of excitement anent Jenny Lind begins to abate: whereat we are not greatly astonished; for however deliciously enchanting may be-and that it is enchanting no one can gainsay

the warbling of this gifted child of nature, it is hardly reasonable for people, in such times as these, to mortgage a moiety of their estates for the few hours' tenancy of an opera-box.

A grand coup has been achieved by the management of THE ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA producing "Don Giovanni." It is generally admitted by the first musical critics of the day, that Mozart's chef d'oeuvre never received such justice at the hands of the performers in this country as it now indisputably meets with at the new theatre. This opera is put upon the stage with great splendour, boasting of a triple orchestra and a double chorus. Here it is that the vast superiority of the new Italian Opera over the old house becomes remarkably apparent. Such a band of instrumentalists, and such an effective chorus, as are collected together at Covent Garden, never shone in the Haymarket hemisphere. Grisi as Donna Anna; Persiani, Zerlina; Corbari, Donna Elvira; Mario, Ottavio; Rovere, Leporello; Taglifico, Mäzetto; and Tamburini the Giovanni, form a most powerful and attractive cast. Grisi's recitative in the first scene is a perfect gem of itself. Persiani is perfection in the gentle and delicate morceaux, which she renders with unexampled purity of style. Mademoiselle Corbari is an excellent Elvira in every respect. Mario's chest-voice tells in this opera most electrically. The Giovanni of Tamburini is great beyond comparison, both for singing and acting. The ballet department at this establishment is considerably augmented, and thereby greatly improved. First among the agile disciples of choregraphy stands, or rather flies, Fanny Ellsler, the universal favourite. Her graceful boundings positively startle you, from the extraordinary agility evinced by one that is popularly imagined to be human, although generally spoken of as divine. The ballet of "Salamandrine" continues to attract.

Report speaks highly of Mr. Bell's new comedy of" Temper" at the HAYMARKET. The cast includes Farren, Webster, Tilbury, Hudson, Mrs. Glover, Miss Fortescue, Miss P. Horton, Mrs. Seymour, and Mrs. Humby. Surely as his "Temper" is pronounced to be good, the lessee will continue to keep it-on the stage. The four Hungarian instrumental vocalists completely astonish the audiences of this house in the development of their extraordinary powers. Mr. Webster, although his present bill attracts good houses, is determined to deserve public patronage, by producing several novelties, the first of which will be an original farce.

The ST. JAMES'S continues to be the resort of the haut ton. The fairest and noblest of the land attend the clever representations of the French Plays, and attest the very superior manner Mr. Mitchell caters for his subscribers. "Un Coup de Lansquenet" has been admirably performed. Regnier as Desrousseaux, and Mademoiselle Denain as La Marquise de Puzy, could not have succeeded better in their impersonations. The former convulsed the house, while the Denain charmed the audience by her easy, winning, arch, and vivacious manner. May she be induced to visit us next season; for not only is she a clever actress, but she is a very pretty woman.

The ETHIOPIANS are about to take their departure. We therefore, in a spirit of philanthropy that we feel fully confident will be properly appreciated, earnestly exhort our country friends to attend the

final performances of these sable serenaders without delay. It is perhaps christianlike on our part to caution our fellow-kind, on the occasion of their visit, to carefully eschew tight vests. This humane suggestion will be gratefully treasured by the listener of the droll instrumental and vocal eccentricities of Messrs. Pell, Harrington, Stanwood, White, and Germon.

The music of "The King and the Piper," at the PRINCESS's, is light, unpretending, and pleasing withal. The piece itself is, without question, one of the most foolish, insipid, and common-place affairs it has ever been our unhappy lot to take cognizance of. It is generally believed that the air of the black-hole of Calcutta is the most pestiferous in the world: henceforth we shall take this to be a proverbial fallacy feelingly, from bitter experience, we will positively aver, without the slightest fear of contradiction from any pitiable specimen. of humanity who has breathed the pestilential air of this house, that it is perfectly impossible for an atmosphere to be more deteriorating, more foul, or more deadly in its effects upon the human frame, than than that of the Princess's Theatre.

Mr. Batty has provided attractive novelties of a high order, both on the stage and in the circle, for the especial delight of the Whitsuntide folks, who have mustered pretty strongly at ASTLEY'S. The spectacle of "The Golden-footed Steed; or, The Charmed Horse of the Black Valley," is just now enjoying the full-flowing springtide of popularity; and it must be observed that the hearty reception accorded it is richly deserved, and the getting up of the piece speaks much for the abilities and taste of Mr. Broadfoot, the stage-manager.

The dynasty of the Keeleys, at the LYCEUM, will in another week be at an end. The last burlesque produced under the present management certainly does not boast of the same pretensions to success as many of its class which have preceded it. "The Wood Demon," albeit possessing some of the attic, is not the more attractive from the extreme antiquity of many of the allusions. Ideas that have been worked out in more than one periodical or weekly paper are here pressed into service. The jokes anent the Gibus hat, and the balletgirl shirts, form only two examples: the former is worn out, and the latter has long since danced the dance of death. Take it altogether, it may be safely asserted that "The Wood Demon" does not possess the lignum vitæ.

The WALHALLA is numerously and fashionably attended. The energetic proprietor diligently graduates in the Addisonian school by achieving, more than commanding, success-by deserving it. The care, attention, and great exertions bestowed upon the general arrangements of this exhibition fail not to insure the results being as satisfactory to the visitors as they are pleasing to the director. The Royal Academician Cooper's Joan of Arc is well and faithfully pourtrayed by Madame Warton; whose Innocence, by the way, should not be entirely lost sight of by any ardent admirer of the really rare, and certainly classic. Extensive preparations are being made for a grand morning performance of the "Marble Statues."

CREMORNE just now is in full feather, what with Mr. Ellis to superintend general arrangements, Mr. Laurent, jun., to preside over the musical portion of the entertainments, Mr. Daws as the head of the pecking department, and Mr. Green to be continually winging his

flight in balloons of all sizes, makes, and names. What more would you desire?

Last, but not least, in our catalogue raisonnée we arrive at VAUXHALL GARDENS: and arrivals out of number there cannot fail of being, with such enticing weather for al-fresco amusements as we are now enjoying. The arrangements made by the never-failing-toprovide-liberally-for-the-public lessee, Mr. Wardell, are really gigantic. The Grand Square of St. Mark's, Venice, is the subject of this year's model in the Waterloo Ground; and when the names of the Messrs. Adams are mentioned as the artists, memory will recall their former efforts as a guarantee of the subject being well treated. The vocal corps has been considerably added to; and we are afraid to declare how many thousand "extra lamps" will "throw a light" upon the gay and festive scene, from the fear of understating the number by some 8,000's. In addition, there is a whisper that negociations have been pending that the whole surface of Ice bounding Wenham Lake may be reserved exclusively for these Gardens. Visions round us steal of fair dames and gallant cavaliers luxuriating to a degree perfectly unprecedented in mint-juleps and sherry-cobblers.

THE FINE ARTS.

In the sporting department of the fine arts the Messrs. Fores, of Piccadilly, rank first among the London publishers. They have, during the last two or three years, given us a gallery of such subjects. Their "Coaching Recollections," their "Stable Scenes," their "Racing Scenes," their "British Stud," and other works of the kind, are a credit as well to the matters of which they treat as to those to whom we are indebted for the manner of their execution.

They have recently brought out a print of the celebrated Irish steeplechase mare, Brunette, by Harris, after a painting by Herring, senior. The name of the artist is guarantee of the truth and excellence of the portrait. Its production is worthy a place in Messrs. Fores' Gallery-we could not pay it a higher compliment.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

YACHTING.

At the monthly meeting of the members of the Royal Yacht Squadron, fifty guineas were voted for a monument, to be placed over the remains of the late Commodore, Mr. W. H. Harrison.

A Royal Welsh Yacht Club has been established at Caernarvon, under the patronage of her Majesty the Queen Dowager. The Lords of the Admiralty have granted the Club the blue ensign of her Majesty's

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