Cittadella, aud seating herself in the confessional chair | vant hanging over him, she was all aghast at the spectacle. before her mother, and having replied to the usual ques- She presently discovered from the father, and the servant tions, was married to Romeo, through the grating, who how the catastrophe had happened; was seized immediately with the father, stood on the other side. A few days with the strongest grief, and feeling her spirits extinguished afterwards, by means of an old woman of the house of within her, without uttering a word, fell dead in the Juliet they consummated their marriage in a garden by lap of her Romeo. The next morning the calamity was night, belonging to Juliet, supporting themselves with the speedily propagated through the city, and Signor Bartohope, that Lonardo would be able to persuade their re-lomeo, with the intent of discovering all the circumstances spective families to be satisfied with the match. Easter which led to the unfortunate event, accompanied by many being over, while they were hoping that the father would gentlemen, went to the church of St. Francis, where a great fulfil his promise, it happened that a party of the Capelletti crowd was collected, attracted by the novelty of the ochad a furious encounter with some of the Montecchi, near currence. Here be enquired circumstantially both from the gate of Bensari, towards Castel Vecchio. Among the Louardo and Romeo's servant, into the details of the case, Capelletti was one Tebaldo, a first cousin of Juliet's, a and afterwards gave orders that the bodies of these unforgallant young man, who while he was encouraging his tunate lovers should be honorably buried, which was wilparty, behind Romeo, (who for the sake of Juliet, did lingly agreed to both by the Montecchi and Capelletti. all he could to put an end to the contest), made a blow Splendid obsequies took place; and with the consent of at his head, which was parried by Romeo, who stabbed both parties, the bodies were replaced in the same monuhis adversary in the throat, and killed him on the spot. ment, which was of hewn stone, a little above ground, Romeo upon this fled into banishment, and he who which I have often seen close to the well of the poor disknows what disappointed love is, may judge how bitter ciples of St. Francis, while the building was raising to must have been this expedient. He retired to Mantua, their order. I have conversed on this subject, with Signor for the sake of being as near as possible to his Juliet, of Boldiero, my uncle, by whom I was shewn the scene of whom he often received accounts, through the medium this catastrophe: he shewed me, besides the above menof Lonardo. Juliet was now compelled to marry by her tioned tomb, a hole in the wall towards the monastery of father and mother, and not knowing what part to take, the Capuchins, where, as he said, he had heard that many she had recourse to the father Lonardo for advice, who,years since, this tomb was placed, and that in it were after long consultation, finally agreed to send her a cer- found some ashes and bones."

tain powder, which, mixed with wine or any other liquor, Such is the relation of Girolamo della Corte. Those would lull her to sleep, so as to make her appear dead; who may take the trouble to compare it with the tragedy that then she should be buried, in the sepulchre belonging of Shakspeare, will no doubt remark how little the poet to her family, which was in the church of St. Francis, has deviated from what we have reason to believe are the that he should take her out of the monument by night, circumstances of the true story. Ilis Escalus, Prince of Veand that she should escape in disguise to her Romeo at rona, is evidently Signor Bartolomeo Scali the mayor; MarMantua, whom he would forewarn by faithful messengers curio, whom Juliet first danced with, the Poet giving him of their intentions. Juliet agreed to this plan, who for the rather warmer hands than the historian, is his Paris. The sake of her lover would have run a far greater risk, and name of Marcurio probably suggested, with a slight alterhaving swallowed the potion at the prescribed bour, lost ation of letters, the Mercatio of the poet, who acts howgradually her senses, and finally all motion; so that, ima-ever a very different part from Marcurio in the history. gined dead by all, she was removed for burial to the ce- It is worthy of remark that in Act III. Sc. 1. Mercutio, metery of her family in the church of St. Francis. In the who, with Shakspeare, is the friend of Romeo, uses the mean time, Lonardo sent an account of all that had been words "A la stoccata," the identical words which Della done to Romeo; but he having been previously informed Corte uses in his description of Romeo's encounter with by some one else of the death of his Juliet, came unex- Tybalt: a sufficient proof to my mind that Shakspeare pectedly with one attendant to Verona, and having reached got hold of the original work of Della Corte; if we had the gates of the city on the very evening of the interment not other evidence to make us think so. Montague of Juliet, did not receive the message sent him by the fa- in the Italian is Montecchio; Capulet, Capelletto: Frate ther. The unhappy lover having reached Verona, and Lonardo is the Friar Lawrence of the poet; and the attendnight having set in, without setting his foot in the city, he ant of Romeo in the history, is the Balthasar of the tragedy. went straight to the church of St. Francis, where he knew Friar John appears to be one of the confidential messengers that his beloved Juliet was interred, and having opened sent by Lonardo to Romeo, at Mantua, Of the female the tomb, which was without the church, and got with- persons, Lady Montague is the only one not alluded to in in it, began to shed an abundant and bitter flood of the history.

tears. Having wept for some time over his beloved, he This fine tragedy, which the celebrated Schlegel elodetermined to die, and swallowed poison, which for this quently styles the "funeral and apotheosis of love," will purpose he carried with him; laying himself by her side, always be deemed by the best critics, one of the choicest he died, just at the moment that Lonardo reached the of our poet's productions. Perhaps it is to be regretspot, to remove Juliet from the tomb. Finding the ser- ted, that he deviated from the true history, in making vant stretched on the ground, and Romeo dead in the Juliet stab herself. He need not have had recourse to tomb, motionless and horror-struck, he stood wondering this; for there is nothing more tragic than that poignant how the event had occurred, when Juliet, whose soporific grief which, as soon as it seizes, kills; and which, accordpowder had exhausted its efficacy, came to herself, and ing to Della Corte, threw Juliet dead in the lap of her seeing Romeo, dead by her side, and Lonardo and the ser- lover. Her manner of dying in the tragedy is rather too

much "after the high Roman fashion" for a delicate girlness, by the aid of all the documents, or other sources not fifteen years. public and private, to which he could gain access. He laid Verona has been so fully described by Maffei, that it before the sovereigns and princes and other distinguishshall not attempt to touch on its antiquities. But the ge-ed personages then assembled here at the congress. This nius of Shakspeare adds such an interest to every spot map, on a very large scale, without any regard to the poliover which it hovered, that your readers will not accuse me tical division of the countries, represents merely the exterof being romantic, if I attempt to describe the tomb of nal features, the physiognomy of our European continent. Juliet. I left the inn Le Due Torre at six in the morning, We see by this representation, that on our continent the accompanied by the Cicerone, who, in the way, pointed out visible system of the mountains may be aptly compared some small houses built in the time of the Capelletti: with an animal skeleton, of which the spine or longest crossing the Brà, a square so called, and marked by the chain of mountain, not broken through by any stream, grand remains of the Roman amphitheatre, we soon reached and therefore very properly called a natural dam, proceedthe church of San Francesco in Cittadella, where Romeo ing from the Werchoturian mountains in Russia, extends and Juliet were married. The church is modern, built through all Europe, in an oblique direction, as far as about a century ago, on the site of the old one, which was Gibraltar. That, from this spine of our continent, other destroyed by fire. chains of mountains branch out like ribs to the right and left; and in the vallies, according to their direction, the main rivers flow towards the seas; so that each of these main rivers, with the streams which it receives, forms a system of its own, bounded on both sides by chains of mountains. The varying heights of the natural dams are every where visible by the sections marked upon the map through the mountainous and plain parts of Europe, as well as by heights of the principal mountains marked in a tabular form.

Contiguous is a small garden, formerly attached to the Franciscan monastery, but now in private hands in the midst of it, is an old sarcophagus, which, time immemorial, has been shewn as the tomb of Juliet. It is much eaten by age, and has sunk considerably into the earth. It is exactly six feet long, and is just wide enough to contain two bodies. Close to it, is the well mentioned by Della Corte, which to me is a sufficient proof that the sar cophagus is the same as what he saw with his uncle. The serenity of the morning, and affecting catastrophe, suggested the following lines, which have no other merit than that of being composed on the spot.

Let Affectation droop her head, and mourn
Disastrous love o'er tender Juliet's urn.
Coquettes avaunt! away each simpering belle!
Envy the lot of her who loved so well;

Who would not have exchanged her heart-felt woes
For your ephemeral loves, and midnight shows.
Hail, Juliet, hail! whose pure and virgin heart
Dared act so painful, yet so true a part!
O'er whose requited love, and early hearse,
Great Shakspeare sheds the glory of his verse.

Hail, Juliet, hail! whose name is intertwined

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.
(Article dated Vienna, 25 January.)

This ingenious view, and faithful representation of our continent, which fills up a much-felt desideratum of our geography, not only in a physical, but in a military and political view, and which is highly important to mining, hydraulics, road-making, fortification, and tactics,-as it would have become too extensive and too expensive upon the scale of the first design, has been reduced by the author to one third of the original scale, in order to render it as useful as possible, and a basis of geographical instruction in schools. It has now been, under the eye of the author, most beautifully engraved by the well-known M. Joseph List, in four sheets, and published.

The ingenuity of the idea, the difficulty of the execution, the variety of the points of view which it offers, the extensive utility, combined with the excellencies of the drawing and engraving, do honor to the literature and art of our country, and entitle Major-General Baron Von Sorriot to the highest praise.

He had the honor to present his work, on the 23rd inst. pleased to express his approbation in the most flattering,

CHEMISTRY.

The history of our earth, involved in far greater obscu-in a special audience, to His Imperial Majesty, who was rity than the history of mankind, is founded merely on traditions and conjectures. Its documents and monuments terms. are the petrifactions found in the bowels of the earth, the position of the strata, the direction of the mountains, the currents of the rivers, and the gradual changes of the seas. While Cuvier, as it were, gives words to the hieroglyphics of the discovered petrifactions, and while the geology of all states and parts of the world is diligently investigated, in order that from individual observations, inferences may be drawn with some certainty respecting the whole of the history of the earth, one of our most esteemed fellow citizens, Major-General Baron Von Sorriot de L'Host, has executed an equally great idea on this subject.

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.-M. Pallas, an apothecary, attached to the Royal Military Hospital of Montaign, some time ago observed, that a sudden conflagration had broken out amongst a heap of charcoal. Assistance was quickly provided, and this accident which might have proved extremely dangerous, occasioned no ill consequences. It is remarkable, that this combustion was not occasioned by any foreign cause; since no inflammable body could possibly have come in contact with this depot. The ignition was consequently spontaneous, and the This author has, if we may so express ourselves, exa- phenomenon may be accounted for. M. Pailas explains mined, discovered, and represented, the skeleton of our it in the following manner:-The charcoal, which he said quarter of the globe. In the year 1815, he announced his had not been exposed to .he air after the carbonisation of great Orographic and Hydrographic Map of Europe, which the wood, retained in a greater or less degree, a phosphorihe had completed after many years labor, with great exact-cal principle, susceptible of inflammation by contact with

REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS.

MELINCOURT; by the Author of Headlong Hall.

damp air. Now the charcoal, which is at present the subject of consideration, was kept in a place in which there were casks and vases filled with water and other liquids. These liquids diffused through the atmosphere 3 Vols. 12mo. of the apartment a great degree of humidity, which abTHOUGH with the most inveterate Novel-name that we have sorbed the phosphorus; hence there arose a disengage- latterly found in a title-page, this work cannot well be denoment of caloric, which produced the ignition. Thus aminated a Novel. It contains little love, less incident, and, if natural consequence presents itself, which is that charcoal we remember right, not even the coinmon etiquette of a single in the process of preparation, should be sufficiently exThe whole plot consists in a visit paid by some matchposed to a dry air, and that it should afterwards be pre-making ladies and speculating gentlemen, to Anthelia Melinserved with the same attention. Neither this phenomenon, abortive schemes for forcing her into matrimony. All the rest court, a young heiress of Westmoreland; and in one or two nor the observations to which it gives rise, are related as is conversation and character. having occurred for the first time: Chemists have long been familiar with accidents of this kind. However, the one which has just taken place, affords an opportunity for reminding those persons who, for various purposes, keep large depots of charcoal, of the nature of the dangers which this combustion may occasion.

PROGRESS OF THE ARTS.

NAVIGATION.

With such slender materials, it would require no small portion of wit, knowledge, and acumen, to rouse and to sustain interest, through three thick volumes: and, indeed, we most cheerfully confess, that the writer has not shown himself dewith humour and learning, and though his Antisaccharine fête ficient in any of these qualifications. His dialogue abounds has become obsolete by the abolition of the Slave-Trade, and though the election of an ape to the Borough of Onevote, is rather an outrageous improbability, yet still the poignant burlesque of both, compelled us to laugh most heartily. In A party of the elder brethren of the Trinity-House, at truth, this ape, originally introduced to our acquaintance as an estated baronet, Sir Oran Haut-ton by name, is the most conHull, went down the Humber, on the 18th ult. in a spicuous character in the work, and we should almost say, the pilot cutter, to make experiments on a new marine log, hero of it. He was caught young in the woods of Angola, and invented by Mr. Robert Raines, of Hull; and for which purchased by the Captain of a frigate, who had him dressed he has procured a patent. This invention consists of and educated in all the external accomplishments of a gentlemachinery, which shows the speed the ship runs, and man. Amidst "the fashionable world, he seemed to be partimarks the distance, and the rate, by an index in the cabin.cularly comfortable, and to feel himself completely at home." The experiments were highly satisfactory, and the invention appears likely to be of the utmost utility.

We understand that John Christian Curwen, Esq. one of the representatives for the city of Carlisle, has in progress a gas light for the harbour of Workington, which, it is calculated, will emit such a lumination as to render it distinguishable so far southward as St. Bee's Head. Should this undertaking answer the laudable expectations of Mr. Curwen, (of which no doubt is entertained), it will be of general use to navigators in the Channel, as affording a more accurate beacon, by which the coast of Cumberland, and the harbour of Workington in particular, may be recognised.

MEDICINE.

Such a personage, brought forward and passed off as a human being, must needs startle the reader, who has seen only our own sketch of him; but in the work itself, due pains are taken to reconcile probabilities; and there are abundant extracts from Lord Monboddo, Buffon, and Bontius, for the purpose of proving his pretensions to humanity; still, we must think, that the case is not sufficiently made out, and that a pair of gloves, at least, and paint, or perhaps a mask, might have assisted the deception. But, with all our critical fastidiousness, we would not, for a doubtful violation of probability, consent to expunge this honorable Baronet from the red-book, inasmuch as he has proved the source of much exquisite sarcasm, both on those brainless fops, who would degrade men into monkies by their example, and on those over-brained philosophers, who would exalt monkies into men by force of theory.

There is, likewise, in some other characters, rather more of fancy than of reality. They are a species without a genus; quire, who mix with the world; and, therefore, are not such as or at least their peculiarities do not appear such as men acoften' fall under common observation. This is always a disadvantage in the delineation of particular character; for it is here as with portrait painting; we cannot enjoy the imitation, unless we have already seen the original. On the contrary, narratives of fact, like historical pieces, tell their own stories themselves, and are not dependant upon our personal acquaintance with their prototypes.

The following article is extracted from au Italian Paper: "At Udina a poor man was bitten by a mad dog, and vinegar was given to him inadvertently instead of a potion ordered by a Physician. The man recovered from his frightful malady. A Physician of Padua being apprised of the circumstance, tried the remedy upon a person affected with the hydrophobia, who was in the hospital of the town, by making him swallow a pound of vinegar in the morning, another at noon, and a similar dose at night. The sick man recovered rapidly and perfectly. We invite our Physicians to make trial of a remedy Whoever the author of Melincourt may be, (for he has not which appears to have the power of vanquishing one of the most dreadful maladies." (Giornale del regno delle Due Sicilie.) thought proper to affix his name, though he might surely have done so, without fear of its suffering by the announcement), PARIS, 26th Feb.-In the last sitting of the Academy we think we may venture to congratulate him, by anticipation, of Sciences, Messrs. Magendie and Pelletier presented a on the success of his singular, and we may add, original work. memoir, announcing an interesting discovery respecting We should not even be surprised if it led the way to a new speIpecacuanha. They have succeeded in separating in this cies of humourous writing; which, taking the novel for its drug, the principle to which it owes its medical efficacy, foundation, and the drama for its superstructure, should sufrom that which produces the disagreeable smell and taste peradd to both, the learning and enquiry of the Essay. Fortuwhich many persons cannot bear. They have named the nately, the sheer, downright novel is growing out of repute first principle, (or element,) which has all the utility of the every day. Miss Edgeworth was the first who moralized it, Miss Porter endowed it with historical strength, the author of Ipecacuanha, without its inconveniences, Hemetine. Nu-Waverley gave it national interest, and the author of Melinmerous experiments and observations have confirmed the court may fairly be said to have advanced it another degree discovery. higher, in the moral and intellectual scale of literature.

By Schricci, the most celebrated Improvisatore of Italy. To the Editor of the Literary Gazette. Dear Sir,-The following extract of a letter from Rome appears to me interesting. Though dated some time back, you may perhaps find something in it suitable to your paper. Your's, &c.

ROME. "You have often heard of our Improvisatori. These Improvisatori are peculiar to Italy, and are regarded as a favor granted by Apollo to no other civilized nation. For centuries past, both men and women have pursued this career, which is difficult enough for him who will earn real laurels. Those who have most distinguished themselves among the crowd of these inspired poets, were indisputably those, who without standing in need of the attractions of music or singing, declaimed in the style of masters upon the subjects laid before them. The Abbé Lorenzi was pre-eminent in this manner, and excited surprise by the graces of his language, by the depth of his knowledge, and the admirable mechanism of his verses. Till now however the Improviso had not extended its dominion beyond the boundaries of lyric composition: ottave, anacreontic verses without rhyme, sonnets, &c. were the pinions of these extemporising swans.

I have now to entertain you with a phenomenon of far works, precision, attention to essential details, delicacy of touch, greater importance. Signor Schrieci, a young man of four and transparency of effect, and brilliancy of color, superseded the twenty, from Arezzo, has entered the lists with a new and bold washy productions of the mannerists. We advert here, only, attempt, an improvisated Tragedy. On his first public appear- to pictures of rustic figures and familiar landscape. The counance, the learned flocked to hear him; but the assembly was try owes Mr. Wilkie a lasting debt of honor, as the first cause far more inclined to incredulity and rigour than to indulgence. of this improvement in the British school. The eye of the Novelty is generally hazardous for him who brings it forward.amateur circles is on his performances. They are consulted for Rome besides is full of extemporising dilettanti, who initiated lessons of instruction. His beauties are copied; and if he were in the mysteries of the art were ready to proclaim deceit. The to fall into either extreme, ora too curious elaboration or sketchattempt begins. I pass over a sublime Pindaric Ode, and many iness, his defects would become objects of immediate imitation. Ottave, Terzini, &c. which were delivered with rapidity with- An artist placed on so distinguished an eminence has a double out singing, and without hesitation, in majestic verse and dig-duty to perform. His works cannot assume a negative characnified language. The impassioned sentiments, the just ter. They must be a good or evil to his age. These remarks thoughts, the exalted ideas, and the Homeric descriptions began will be read by another artist, whose rise and declension may to disarm the critics, who now however waited for the Tragedy, be a salutary warning to all. A few years ago, this gentleman, which was properly the touch-stone. With a loud voice the beloved for his private worth and admired for his genius, stood subjects are given, which are written down and put into an between Fame and Fortune, sharing their gifts, and idly uru. A much respected man draws by chance the Death of offended both. He adopted an expeditious method; painted Hercules. But this subject had been given by a person who to make money; became a confirmed mannerist; and is now from analogy of talent and from friendship might appear sus- slowly toiling up-hill to regain his place in public estimation. picious. No! no! exclaim the spectators from all sides, and Mr. Wilkie, unlike this last mentioned example, has never this terrible veto is admitted. The urn is carried round a se- slackened in the pursuit of excellence. In the picture before cond time, and the Death of Polyrena is drawn. The opposite us, he evinces the same love of nature, in an out-door prospect, party applaud, for this subject had been given by them. The which conferred a charm upon his interiors. The scene compoet advances, and desires to know the names of the dramatis prises, a small farm-house, a mill, the pond behind the house, persona. Polyxena, Ulysses, Hecuba and Calchas were given the contiguous grounds enclosed by tall trees or pales, the him. To these he adds a chorus of Trojan women. Profound sheep-pens and Bock. A horse and cart are in the middle silence prevails, and the tragic action begins. With greater ground; and the level distance fades upon the horizon in faint rapidity than even on the stage, the dialogues, monologues, blueish tints, through which the scattered cottages of a remote and chorus succeed each other for the space of about an hour, hamlet, diminished to specks, are indistinctly discoverable. all invented and declaimed by a single person, and amidst the The farmer's servants have begun to plunge the sheep in the admiration, the astonishment, the emotion, and enthusiastic water, aud a peasaut, with his dog near the foreground, is applause of the audience. The poet hastens to the catastrophe. a loitering spectator of their labor. The whole presents an The character of Hecuba, &c. were delineated in a great style, image of happy tranquillity. Whatever relates to the selection and the situations were extremely pathetic and affecting. The of objects is in a pure taste; and the appearance of locality is character of Ulysses might perhaps have been better managed. so strong, that we feel the force of our early prepossessions in But far exalted above all blame were, a scene between Polyxena favor of a country life, revive at the view. After the selection, and Ulysses, the soliloquy of Hecuba during the sacrifice, the which fully maintains this eminent artist's reputation, we notice description which Ulysses gave to Hecuba of the death of Po- the execution; and there is no attempt here, to hide his inexlyxena, then the answer of the old Queen, her imprecations perience in landscape-painting, by bravura. The picture is, in upon the Greeks and upon Ulysses, as well as her denuncia- this respect, a good example of anxious study to young painters. tion of the sufferings which the latter would experience in his It is painted on the same sound principle of fidelity which conwanderings. Lastly, among the choruses, that which pro-stitutes the excellence of the Dutch and Flemish schools, alduced the greatest effect was the one which during the sacrifice though Mr. Wilkie has not as yet acquired sufficient fluency in lamented over Hecuba, who had fainted, and waked her before the approach of Ulysses, that he might not witness her grief. What do you say? I was one of the incredulous, but was forced to change my opinion. Schricci either is a sorcerer, or he takes an honorable place with the ancient and modern classics. His modesty and youth gain him general esteem, while the purity of his expression, the animated colouring of his images, and his delineations of the passions acquire him deserved admiration. In short, the novelty and difficulty of the undertaking excite astonishment.

PAINTING.

this class of subjects, to execute them, in every part, with all the firmness and brilliancy of touch visible in his interiors. He has aimed at the same sweetness and high finishing, and has so far succeeded, that there can be no doubt but he will soon unite freedom, lightness, and delicacy, with the fine feeling of this tasteful selection. Even where his pencil falls somewhat short of its accustomed sprightliness, his effort, like Sir Joshua Reynolds, to leave nothing undone and perform his best, is apparent. The clouds, trees, foreground, and water, show traces of frequent repainting, and he has preferred the hazard of some tameness in detail, to leaving any part undefined or neglected. It is the strenuous pursuit of truth, which we here recommend to notice. The design, the sentiment, and BRITISH INSTITUTION.-Sheep-Washing, by DAVID WILKIE, chaste repose, furnish rich materials for study, without a schoR. A. This is an excursion from his usual line of prac-lar's mistaking for intention, or a merit in which the artist prides, tice, by an artist who was the first to rescue us from the those slight tendencies to a tame and wirey penciling, in some slovenly imitators of the worst defects, which marked the of the trees, clouds, and herbage. sketchy trade-pictures of Morland, Gainsborough, and Wilson. The Artist has studiously aimed at chastity of tone and reThe most hasty productions of these artists, had something of pose of effect; but perhaps he might have ventured some the taste and pencil of a master. Their copyists, without un- more sharp touches of light in his clouds, and painted his water derstanding their principles or sharing in their genius, for many with more clearness, without disturbing the breadth of his years deluged the exhibition rooms with flimsy thefts equally masses. The reflection of the man in the white frock, with a destitute of truth and fancy. Wilkie, in Edinburgh, happily re- sheep struggling in the water; of the small bank behind him; moved from the contagion, forined his style upon his own view and of the low gleaming half lights on the trees and other of nature, and gave to his domestic subjects the genuine feeling objects immediately above him, are not expressed; which cir and playful simplicity of village life. About the same period, cumstance may be accounted for by their struggles having Mulready, the Jan Steen of the British school, rose into notice, muddied the water. The red waistcoat of the man in the by painting a similar choice of subjects, in London. In their sheep-pen is reflected, and his white shirt-sleeves are not.