vated by Castelli in Raphael, and by Oclenschlaeger in Correggio, to the higher class of Drama, nay even to a kind of tragedy. It was reserved for the Dresden stage to execute a piece of this description so intrinsically excellent, and so admirably got up, that the representation may, without hesitation, be considered as one of the most perfect that we have seen for a long time upon our stage. This was really the case with Vandyke's Life in the Country (Vandyks Land Leben) which was recently performed at the Court Theatre in Dresden. and the characters of the principal actors, in leading the affectionate young woman to give up Vandyke, and the latter to depart for the great Temple of the Arts beyond the Alps; so that necessity seems to have dissolved the knot which was arbitrarily tied. This is the necessary and proper dénonment, every body will confess, who weighs all the circumstances, and carefully follows the poet, in the delicate thread of his artificial web. It is doubtless no ordinary praise, when it can be proved, Frederick Vint has adapted to the stage an Anecdote of that in a piece where twenty-eight persons are named in the the early years of Vandyke, thus related in the Lives of Cele-Dramatis Personæ, hardly a single one can be wholly disbrated Painters. Vandyke having been invited to Savelthem, pensed with; and that the appearance of the most of them is a village in the neighbourhood of Brussels, to paint a holy absolutely necessary to the progress of the play. family, as an altar-piece for the church of that place, fell in love with a handsome country girl, and introduced her portrait in the picture. At the same time he painted also the Patron Saint of the Village, the Bishop Martin, as a warrior riding on a grey horse. This was the horse which Vandyke himself rode, and had been given him by his master Rubens, at Antwerp, in return for some pictures painted by Vandyke, among which The Spanish Inn, is shortly to be brought out at that theatre. A new Farce (written by a gentleman of Edinburgh) called was the portrait of Helena Formans, the second wife of Rubens. Upon this simple foundation, the rich fancy of the poet has, inductions, preparatory to the Somerset House exhibition. INTELLIGENCE, LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC. The Pictorial world are now giving the last tint to their pro The Musical world look forward with expectation to the ensuing lectures of Doctor Crotch. nomical Sketches from Mr. Millington's Lectures, at the Surrey We shall from time to time present our readers with Astro institution. the season; on Chemistry, Mechanics, Ancient Architecture, in a few days. of Flax will shortly be laid before the public, by which great IN THE PRESS. Apicius Redivivus; or the Cook's Oracle. A New French Grammar; by C. P. Whitaker. The Club; in a Dialogue between Father and Son. Reprint, &c. by James Puckle. a masterly manner, constructed his plot. His object was nothing less than to represent the Roman school in continued contrast with the Flemish, and thus interweaving the dramatic interest with the pictorial (if we may so express ourselves) to furnish a Double Exhibition for the friends of Art,-(so he himself desires his piece to be called) with all the charms of an exuberant fancy. Truly a difficult task. The object of the for publication in England, a New Translation into Latin, of LEOPOLDO SEBASTIANI, a Roman priest, is bringing forward poet being such as the majority of the audience, even in Dres-the Greek Testament, in which he professes not only to correct den, cannot be supposed able to comprehend; the author is as all editions, not allowed by the Church of Rome, but even the it were compelled to inform his audience. The first act is thereVulgate itself. fore only preparative-a kind of prologue, by which the poet really succeeds in exciting general interest in favor of this new species of drama. On the rising of the curtain we find ourselves in the painting room of the great Rubens. The Raphael of Flanders is standing at his ease. Soon after enters Helena Formans his second wife, when we learn that Vandyke, the favorite of both, has indeed set off for Italy on his master's highly-praised grey horse, but has loitered for some months at Savelthem, charmed by the beauty of a country girl. A Roman knight, named Nanni, with his beautiful niece Paola, who is to take the vow as a nun, have been informed, on their journey to Brussels to visit Rubens, of Vandyke's adventure, and resolve now to dissolve the charm, and by arousing a better spirit in Vandyke, to reconcile him with Rubens, who is filled with anger at the fault of his favorite. The Romans write these circumstances to him from Brussels. Helena soothes the angry lion, and appeases his anger by flattery and putting him in mind of his mother. Paul and Albert, Rubens' two sons, enter, giving a living representation of the celebrated picture of the sons of Rubens in our gallery; a pleasing family Scene completes the conquest of the painter's anger, and leads him to the determination to go himself to Savelthem. We now know the object in view. It is to disenchant Vandyke, and gain him for the sublimer walk of Italian art. With the second act begins the action itself. A Flemish church festival presents to us its motley scene of busy life. We recognise in the most diversified groupes the two finest Teniers of our gallery. The lively circling dance which Vandyke leads off with his mistress, Lenchin' Humprecht, the Justice's daughter, is interrupted by the entrance of the Chevalier Nanni and his richly-dressed niece, who, at the request of the Justice, fills a goblet of wine and presents it to Vandyke, to whom the whole village wishes to show its respect on this St. Martin's Day, the anniversary of the Patron Saint. An ironical doubt of the Chevalier's now first plants a thorn in the breast of Vandyke. It cannot be our object here to develope the progress of the action, scene by scene. We content ourselves with the assurance that the poet has completely succeeded by ingeniously-gular delivery of the First Number of the Literary Gazette; but contrived motives, yet rightly deduced from the given situation ! Lenchin is used by the country people for Helena. NEW BOOKS. Two Sketches of France, Belgium, and Spa: during the Summers of 1771, and 1814. a Transactions of the Horticultural Society. Part IV. Vol. II. Favorites, Beauties, and Amours, of Henry of Windsor. By Thoresby's Ducatus Leodiensis, 2 vols. folio; 2nd edition, with Notes and Additions, by Dr. Whitaker, 14 guineas. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Should Contemporary Journals glean from the pages of the Literary Gazette, we trust that they will have the kindness to QUOTE the source from whence such extracts are derived. All intelligence of a Literary Nature will be grutefully received, especially from Official Gentlemen connected with learned Socicties and Institutions; as well as from Booksellers, Publishers, &c. We have been favored with an elegant poetic translation from the German of Schiller; but have to regret that the pressure of matter obliges us to defer it until our next publication. We are sorry to have received complaints respecting the irré request our Friends and Subscribers, should their own Newsmen disappoint them, to direct their orders to WESTLEY and PARISH, at the Office, 159, Strand. Volney never dreamt. We have reason to fear, however, that there is but little room to entertain any hopes of this kind. The other lady I mean, is the amiable and accomplished Mrs. Rich, wife of the learned English Resident Sir, SHERIDAN'S RIVALS. To the Editor of the Literary Gazette. H. L. To the Editor of the Literary Gazette. YOUR mention of the Travels of Her Royal at Bagdad, Claudius Rich, Esq. whose valuable collection Highness the Princess of Wales, in the first Number of of Oriental MSS. is so justly celebrated. She is the your promising publication, calls to my recollection two daughter of Sir James Mackintosh, and the true heiress of English Ladies, whose travels in Asiatic Turkey would the spirit and learning of her father. From Bombay, afford the highest gratification, if they shall ever be whither she went with her father from England, she followpublished. The first is, Lady Hester Stanhope, daughter ed her husband to Bagdad. In 1814 she travelled from of the late Earl Stanhope, and niece to the illustrious Pitt, Bagdad by land, by way of Anadoli and Constantinople whose daily companion she was, and to whom she was not to England; and in October 1815, returned by way of more united by the ties of blood, than by her intellectual Constantinople and Asia Minor, back to Bagdad. She qualities. An article respecting her ladyship was publish- travelled almost the whole of the land journey on horseed some time ago, from the Paris papers, in one of the back, and made the most interesting observations. What daily prints; but as many of your readers never saw it, an exquisite enjoyment would it afford to the whole Euroand as it contains, I believe, some inaccuracies, it may pean public, if only the letters were published which she perhaps be agreeable to mention further particulars here. wrote to her father in England during this journey! After the death of her great uncle, she retired for some I am, Sir, Your's, time into the mountains of North Wales to recover her health, which had suffered extremely. She afterwards resolved to travel; and the Continent of Europe being at that time inaccessible to the English, she embarked with Sir, IN reading over the Life of Mr. Sheridan, reseveral servants, and a young physician in whose skill she cently published by Dr. Watkins, I was forcibly struck placed great confidence, for Malta: thence she went to with an idea which, as a literary speculation, may perhaps Constantinople, where she resided for some time in a not be irrelevant to the purpose of your publication. Menpleasant country-house on the Bosphorus. There she was tion is there made of a finished Comedy, called A Trip to seized with an irresistible inclination to visit Palestine, Bath, left by Mrs. Sheridan, mother to the subject of which she immediately gratified. Off the Isle of Rhodes the biography, at her death. Mrs. Sheridan is well known she suffered shipwreck, and escaped with great difficulty, to the world as a literary character, from the Memoirs of in a boat which the Captain hoisted out, upon a barren Sidney Biddulph, from her tale of Nourjaliad, and from rock, where she seemed exposed to perish by famine. The two Comedies, The Discovery and The Dupe, acted following day, however, an English ship appeared, which during her life-time. In a letter written by Mr. Sheridan, took her on board, and conveyed her in safety to Syria. her husband, from Blois, in October, 1764, he saysHere she made excursions in all directions, partly in com- "Mrs. Sheridan has finished a Comedy, which I think an pany with Mr. Bruce, who was concerned in the escape excellent one, spick and span new throughout."-Again, of Lavalette. For many years she wandered about among in a subsequent letter he "Mrs. Sheridan has written the ruins of Palmyra and Balbec, and in the Vallies of a Comedy, called A Trip to Bath, in which some good Lebanon. As she lived for months together on nothing judges in England find a great deal of merit."-And in rebut rice and water, and entirely accustomed herself to the lating the death of this excellent and amiable woman, we frugal way of life of the Eastern nations, she became, from find the biographer speaking thus: "Of the Comedy being one of the most delicate of her sex, one of the most which she left in a finished state, we have no other acrobust. According to the latest accounts which she has count than that given by her husband; nor has it been written to her family in England, she is now at the head once mentioned by the industrious and sagacious compiler of three tribes of Bedouin Arabs, who pay her the most of the Biographia Dramatica, though he was apprised perfect homage, as to a being of a superior order; and as that such a piece had been completed, and with the title she is elegantly formed, and an admirable horsewoman, of it he was made acquainted. It is known to have obthey often tell her she deserves to be Sultana. She ur- tained the sanction of Garrick and Murphy, and through gently invites some favorite friends of her former acquaint- them, I believe, Dr. Johnson was prevailed upon to give ance in England to join her in the Vallies of Lebanon, and it a perusal, with his judgment upon its merits, which was declares that she will never leave the pure skies of those decidedly in its favour. Notwithstanding the stamp which southern climes to return to the smoky and cloudy atmos- this manuscript received from such high authorities, it phere of England. If she would write, or if she only had somebody with her who could record the results of her researches and her observations, we should learn particulars respecting Syria and Arabia, of which Cassas and says: never made its appearance before the public; this is the more unaccountable, considering the peculiar circumstances and professional pursuits of Mr. Sheridan, who caused the two remaining volumes of Sidney Biddulph to be printed, but totally neglected the other literary remains | turn cobler, nor am I quite so mean as to permit an of the author. Into whose hands her papers afterwards insult." "Shew the lady down," said she; and thus fell is not clearly known, though it is probable that by the ended our pithy interview. recent death of her youngest son, some information may be obtained upon the subject." I returned home, and told my hostess all. "The lady did not intend any insult," said she, "for shoemaking now Now, Mr. Editor, considering all these points together, forms a most important branch of female education. does it not appear extremely probable that we have here You are nobody if you cannot heel-tap; and to shew the foundation at least, though perhaps not the entire any degree of information, you must be an amateur in kidsuperstructure, of that excellent Comedy The Rivals, which leather. A lady can purchase a pair of shoes for a few has always passed as the sole undivided production of the shillings, but it costs her some guineas and several weeks late Richard Brinsley Sheridan? It is remarkable, that a to make them; at the end of which time, they shall be Comedy which had been approved by such men as Gar-found, like batched eggs, quite fit for bursting. rick, Murphy, and Dr. Johnson, should have remained "As for me," she continued, "I am only a poor hosier's for ever in obscurity, if particular reasons had not sub-wife, so I promise you, my daughters sha'nt take any fine sisted in some quarter, why it should be consigned to shoe-making airs upon themselves. No, they must earn such a fate; and what more probable than that Mr. their own bread, poor things; and, I protest, 'tis as much Sheridan, who certainly has been esteemed not scrupulously as I can do to get them merely taught waltzing and nice respecting such subjects, should take advantage of a Italian." "Italian!" cried I," then you mean they manuscript of this description existing in the family, to should carn their bread by teaching that language.' ** Not raise himself a reputation as a dramatic writer, without at all," she replied, "but by marrying themselves off, the labour and anxiety of being one? This conjecture is poor things. No girl now, above a green grocer, can powerfully strengthened from the scene of The Rivals get decently settled in life, without the languages. There being laid at Bath; and it is well worthy of remark, that is the fishmonger's daughter, next door- she reads in the play-bills of Country Theatres, where an or is com- Italian over the turbots; and I warrant, in spite of her monly found for every piece announced, this play is very check apron, looks to a barouche and four." generally called The Rivals, or A Trip to Bath. That Thus she ran on, and in fine, fully convinced me, that Mr. Sheridan has added many strokes of wit and humour I am an unfit governess for any condition of life. The in the dialogue, appears extremely probable; perhaps it young lady, who stands behind the counter, differs from was in a considerable degree new-modelled by him but her who stands before it, only in being taught by cheaper it seems much more consonant with his well-known indo-masters; for her accomplishments are precisely the same. lent habits to suppose him only the embellisher, not the Now, as well as I can collect, a fashionable girl is educatoriginal author, of the piece. We see that his claims to ed much in this manner. Before her fingers are long the whole merit of the School for Scandal rest upon very enough to reach an octave, she performs concertantes at dubious grounds; we know that for his Duenna he is the piano; and is taught to write sentimental essays very much indebted to Wycherly's Country Wife;-The before she has got out of her spider-legs and pot-hooks. Critic is but The Rehearsal adapted to other days and She may not, perhaps, know much of the bible, but then other manners;-and it is notorious, that though there is she has half Ariosto by heart. The next great considerascarcely a single idea of his own in Pizarro, he seemed to tion is waltzing-a dreadful amusement, my friend, which pride himself as much upon it, and consider it as much you may see fully set forth in an indecent publication his own production, as if there had not been a stroke called "The Treasures of Terpsichore." throughout, except from his pen. Mr. Sheridan was undoubtedly a man of great wit and brilliant fancy, and it is not his capacity to have written the works ascribed to him that we doubt; but we must doubt whether at any period of his life he had application enough to have produced them. I am, Sir, &c. LETTERS FROM LONDON. LETTER III. Then a great portion of her time is occupied in reading certain books about love. I have dipped into one of them, and found it contained only an account of a remarkably sickly orphan, who used to cry and faint, chapter about, had nervous starts, two consumptions, and, from her manner of walking, I shrewdly suspect, was ricketty. However, a young gentleman, no way disgusted by these infirmities, proposes, charitably enough, to marry her, and take all her apothecaries' bills upon himself. But just then there comes a great mischief-maker, who whips her I WRITE to you in the greatest despair. It is certain off to a castle, fit for any thing but to live in. Here she that I have no qualifications whatever as a governess. grows quite hypochondriac, and fancies she sees figures This morning I waited on a lady who had advertized fitting in the dusky perspective. But all on a sudden her for one. I found her reading on a sofa. "So," said she, real character breaks out. She plans and accomplishes a you have called in consequence of my advertisement." desperate escape. She shows the intrepidity of a buffalo "I have, Madam." "You are aware that there is no and the constitution of a horse. She rummages out her task so important as the education of young women." lover. Her heart and her mouth are his without a strugCertainly, Madam." "It determines the tenor of their gle. The one no longer heaves with grief, the other no future lives." "It does, Madam." "It enlarges their longer smells of hartshorn. So all obstacles are removed, understandings and improves their morals." "Most true, and nothing can equal her felicity, but her bridal dress. Madam." "Can you dress hair?" "No, indeed, Ma- Books such as these, and a whole host of modern poetry, "Can you make shoes?" "Thank heaven, form the young lady's understanding; and as for her conMadam, I am not quite so reduced in the world as to versation, she has happily acquired the art of talking dam." |