For the old and the ugly, no matter for these, Mahratta Chief, who was born on the banks of the Garonne. This adventurer, who was distinguished by his courage and ability, But 'twere surely a pity that beauty and youth, whose European name was Deserre, unforFrance during the reign of terror; three By dying at commerce should die in good truth.tunately took it into his head to return to months after his return he was led to the Some smuggling is practised in all sorts of trade, scaffold and perished with Danton. And your's is not perfectly clear, I'm afraid. Fair traders there are, but some people declare There are smugglers amongst, nay e'en that are fair. Leave prudes and old hags, and such quarrel-ropean cut of which, most happily for him, some elves, To squabble, to scold, and to cheat, by them selves OXFORD-During the ensuing Act Term there will be a convocation held for the purpose of granting graces, and conferring degrees, on the 12th, 19th, 27th of June, and 5th of July: and on the 1st of July one will be held solely for the purpose of admitting Inceptors to their regency. In full convocation, a petition has been signed against the Tythe Leasing bill, as Let the stake in the pool be for ever their view, far as regards binding clerical successors. The But wedlock's the stake that should interest you. Chancellor's Prizes have been adjudged-for LATIN VERSES, to J. S. Boone, Christ Church; Regnum Persicum a Cyro fundatum-for ENGLISH ESSAY, to C. A. Ogilvie, B. A. Fellow of Baliol; on the union of Classical with Mathematical studies-for LATIN ESSAY, to T. Arnold B. A. Fellow of Oriel; Quam vim habeat ad informandos juvenum Animos Poetarum Lectio? Mr. Boone, already named, has also gained the Newdigate Prize on the Farnese Hercules. CAMBRIDGE.-Mr. O. Paroissien B. A. is elected Fellow of Clare Hall, and Mr. C. E. Corrie a Foundation Fellow of Catharine Hall. The world's a great pool, where we all of us play, away, And when once we go up all repining is vain- SKETCHES OF SOCIETY. FRENCH MANNERS. THE LOWER PYRENEES. This University has recently received a gift. Bayonne, of 20,0001. from an unknown individual, who is Though our acquaintance had stated to be on the verge of concluding a cen- been of only ten days standing, the Solitary tury, and who has adopted this plan in preference and myself parted with regret. It requires to a testamentary bequest, as the legacy duty time to know to what degree a man may be is thereby saved. The gift is expressly to St. Peter's College; the Master and Fellows of contemptible; a few days suffice to appreA marsh may be conwhich, it is said, intend to expend the interest ciate a worthy man. of the sum in founding some new Scholarships, cealed beneath verdure; fine ears of corn and augmenting the income of some of the poorer announce a good soil. fellowships. SOCIETY OF and with a correctness that surprised us, and we were gratified to find, that the honours which are awarded are so justly merited. I shall never forget, that among the prisoners whom we took from the Ŏtumacas, on the banks of Lake Parima,' there was a savage of Carcassonne, whose dress was nothing more than a Camlet habit, the Euattracted my attention just as the Zangais, who had seized him, were disputing who should take off his scalp. Notwithstanding the horror of such a moment, I could notsuppress a convulsive laugh at the sight of this strange figure, whom terror had inspired with the idea of playing on the galoubet to soften his ferocious enemies; happy was it for the new Orpheus that I came to his aid; his sweet accents would certainly not have got him out of his difficulties. This man, of whose acquaintance and gratitude I have had no great cause to boast, never spoke but with tears of the banks of the Adour, where he was born, and of the paternal roof from which he had been banished; I have since learned for what reason, which has rather cooled the interest I first felt in him. The imagination of the Gascons is easily inflamed, and the art of directing them consists in knowing how to seize on their first emotion. M. N. made me dine in the Landes with an ancient Mayor, who being unable to make the Conscripts of his Commune join their corps, thought of the following expedient; he assembled them all in the market-place and harangued them from a balcony, which served him as a rostrum. Fellows!" (Capdébions) said he, "listen to me: you know the brave L**."-Yes, "Well then he is now Governor of yes.-" depôt. M. N. possesses all the virtues, all the ARTS, &c.-The successful qualities of his countrymen, without any of candidates for rewards in the polite arts have those defects with which they are reproached. attended to give incontestible proof of their The Gascons, (I mean those whose primitive abilities in painting, drawing, and modelling, character has not been broken by hard daily Grand Cairo (where Jesus Christ was born, from subjects furnished by the society. The labour) are generally brave, sensible, lively, as it is fit you should know), and yet he was variety of talent that was displayed, and the gay, easy in their manners, and interesting only a raggamuffin (chipons) like you. I say emulation that was naturally created by so by their originality: they bear cheerfully no more. Our brave and pious Lannusmany competitors made it a most interesting the burdens of life; proud of their country, quets could not hold out against so much sight. We had the pleasure to see some very they love it perhaps as much from vanity as young persons draw with admirable facility, from sentiment; their roving temper dis-eloquence, and repaired in crowds to the perses them on all points of the globe; and Saint Esprit is properly speaking only the in whatever part of the world a hundred suburb of Bayonne, from which it is sepamen are found assembled together, you may rated by the Adour, the communication lay a wager that you will find a Gascon being by a very beautiful wooden bridge among them: the most productive species over that river. The citadel, built by Vauof industry is always that which they follow ban, from which one can see Bayonne, the in the countries where they abide; and as rivers which bathe it, the summits of the war is of all games that in which the chances Pyrenees, the port, and a vast extent of sea, of rapid success are the greatest, the pro- affords one of the most picturesque views fession of arms is that which they most rea- that I know. It is the subject of one of the dily embrace. finest of Vernet's marine prospects. The Population of St. Esprit, which amounts to about 4000 souls, is chiefly composed of Jewish families. One may see in Basnage, at what period and under what circumstances these Jewish families, who had escaped from the Inquisition, settled in the Southern provinces of France, particularly at Saint Esprit, Bayonne, and Bordeaux. They POETRY. LINES ON THE GAME OF COMMERCE. Ye helles, whom the pleasures of commerce invite Oh listen, for once, to some prudent advice, Ah what can avail all the pools you may win, skin; If at commerce while striving to add to your wealth, You find yourselves bankrupts in beauty and health? I was acquainted at Delhi with a Gascon ployment, he was acquainted, by his own In crossing the Cateck at the bottom of See the 2d volume of the Hennit of Gui ana, p. 86. found first in France that generous hospi- ployment and the management of the | he paid to several learned men, whose works Of all pleasures dancing is that which is "Before the invention of printing, the most eagerly indulged in here: the balls are trade of bookselling was more circumscribed very frequent during the winter, and in sum-without being less important or less honourmer the Bayonnese of all ranks go to Bi-able. The transcription of manuscripts was arrits, a village on the sea coast, to enjoy entrusted to their care by the University, the pleasures of bathing and dancing. It which delegated a committee chosen from is generally en carolet (a kind of basket with among its members to verify and approve a bark placed on a mule and furnished with the copies: the most splendid libraries were pillows) that the parties of Biarrits are thus composed of the Bible, the New Testament, and the Greek and Latin classics. The Jews of Saint Esprit have three synagogues; every Saturday a Spanish Rabbi comes to preach to them in a language which is no longer understood except by some old people, and for which it will soon become necessary to substitute French, which is now in much more general use. A VISIT TO THE BOOKSELLERS OF Les livres gouvernent le monde; c'est dire matter of no small importance; the contract was drawn up and signed before a Notary, with the same formalities as were customary on the purchase of an estate." These reflections were drawn from my friend the Encyclopedist during a conversation which we had together while passing along the Boulevart; they were suggested by the abuses which have of late years crept into the bookselling trade, the only abuses for which, in his opinion, there can be no compensation. "Observe," said he to me, "that swarm of Normandy whose stalls line both sides of the promenade. Those catch-penny dealers are a kind of brokers or hawkers for wretched printers who speculate on the degradation of our most eminent literary works. They calculate with disgraceful precision at what price they may bring out (to use their own language) a Racine, a Moliere, a Boileau, reducing their expences as much as possible by the bad quality of the paper, the use of worn-out types, deficiency of margin, and even the incorrectness of the proofs which they take upon themselves to read: by such practices they succeed in inundating the Quays and Boulevarts with mutilated and dishonored authors, which they sell at a low price to the injury of those good editions, to the completion of which the Didots and Crapelets have devoted their fortunes and their labours. Among the superstitions of the country, the many-headed dragon of Lucia makes too great a figure to be passed over in silence. History, or rather the popular story certifies that this dragon desolated the country; that a certain Belzunce devoted himself for the general safety; that he killed the dragon, but was suffocated by the flame and *. Bayonne, containing 14 or 15,000 in-smoke which the monster poured from his habitants, is situated in the most picturesque jaws. manner; but the town in general is ill built: the air is pure, the wines exquisite, and the women charming; the environs are delicious; but the campaign of 1813, when every thing was destroyed for a league round, has caused the country seats to disappear, and the fine trees with which they "It used to be said, that there existed in were adorned. **. Bayonne is for ever fa- Paris, three entire classes of honest men; mous in the bloody annals of war, for the the Notaries, the Priests, and the Sergeants invention of the bayonet, an arm doubly of the Guards; the Booksellers might likenational, both by its origin and the terrible wise have been added. This corporation use which the French understand to make enjoyed from its origin, many honorable of it. **. I know not from what traditional privileges which were confirined from time prejudice, can have arisen the absurd repu- to time by new ordinances; it formed part tation of false valour, which has been given of the University, and in that quality was to the inhabitants of these provinces, when subject to regulations which maintained a the experience of all times has so well proved severe discipline among its members. The that military courage is, among all classes, booksellers of those days were not only one of their distinguishing qualities, when it honest tradesmen, but the greater part were is a fact that among the many heroes who also men of learning, some of whom have We proceeded towards the Fauxbourgh-St. have filled our armies at different periods of gained great reputation as authors. The Germain and entered, or rather descended our history, Gascony may justly claim the names of Etienne, Robert and Anisson, are not into a cellar lined with dusty volumes, of greater part for its own share.. Patriotism less celebrated in the annals of literature which the vellum bindings à la Jesuite could is one of the characteristic virtues of the than in those of bookselling. not fail to excite a favorable prepossession in Bayonnese; when their city was taken by "The first printing and publishing book-the minds of certain amateurs. An old man the English under Edward III. they reco- sellers, Martin Crantz, and Ulric Gering in a dress which corresponded with the bindvered it from the enemy, and obtained established themselves in the Place Cambrai. ing of his books, was seated before a wormamong other privileges, the right of guard- These men were brought to Paris about the eaten desk, busily occupied in repairing the ing themselves, and of taking for the motto year 1469, by Jean de la Pierre, a prior of outsides of some books, and like a cleaner of the arms which the city has preserved, the Sorbonne, for the purpose of printing of old pictures cautiously endeavouring to nunquam polluta. *. The Bayonnese are the Epistles of Gasparini di Bergamo, an preserve that appearance of age, on which excellent seamen; many officers born in this Italian orator, as celebrated in his own time the whole value of such works sometimes city have done honour to our marine. The as he is unknown in ours. depends. private life of the Bayonnese in the higher "These two printers gained a great repu- We requested to look at some Latin books classes, is almost the same as that of the tation for probity. Ulric Gering, whose which he shewed us, at the same time taking inhabitants of Bordeaux; the education of labours procured him a considerable property, especial care to call our attention to the the women is perhaps more attended to in employed the greater part of it in founding dates, the state of preservation, the margins, respect to the cultivation of their minds, Bursaries for poor scholars of the College of and the attestations; each of these circumand agreeable accomplishments; but they Montaign, and in encouraging literature by stances in his opinion doubled the value of are not the less brought up to domestic em- considerable advances and annuities which the book; had his whole library been esti "You intend," continued my guide, "to compose a small library of good books; you already know where to find bad ones; I will now conduct you to real booksellers, among whom however you may still find it necessary to make distinctions of more than one kind. In this classical temple I made choice of my Penates. I had resolved to select only original authors, and to disdain all compilers, commentators, imitators, and inferior poets; by this means, my library consists only of about six hundred volumes, and yet my Encyclopedist insists that it contains an abundant portion of trash. FINE ARTS. ROYAL ACADEMY EXHIBITION. mated at the same rate it would have been superb Virgil in folio at three thousand served in the prominent parts; and from worth much more than M. de Valiere's. francs, and the modest stereotype Virgil at their having been put in upon a sound basis, We rose to take leave of this original, twenty sous are equally correct-equally they unite in a striking degree that charm, when one of his friends entered the shop. estimable. which we have already noticed, an unaffectThis man had been commissioned to comed facility, with the precision of truth, and plete a collection of Aldus editions for an vigour of execution. The hands are drawn English Nobleman who had resolved on in a masterly style. The back of the one, on procuring them at any price, in order to the table, is a lesson of firmness in outline complete a library at his castle in Westmoreand colour. The bright hues of the flesh land. This noble Briton, the most remarkare here invigorated by cool, pearly middleable for Bibliomania in the three kingdoms, tints and touches of ruddy shadow. The had ordered the books to be forwarded to his expression is excellent. The head is a threeresidence in London, where he expected to quarter view, a little elevated; and the eye find them on his return from India, whither pregnant with meaning; as if the brilliant he was on the eve of departing in order to imagination of the poet was just then accept a command. I was somewhat warmed by one of the happiest visions of his amused at his Lordship's expence; the idea Lalla Rookh. The painter has contrived to of purchasing books to furnish a castle dur- No. 189. Portrait of THOMAS MOORE, Esq. unite the striking resemblance and vivacity ing his absence was indeed rather singu-(the translator of Anacreon, and author of of the man, with the fire of the poet. We lar. We departed and left the venerable Lalla Rookh) by M. A. SHEE, R. A. This is a have been so sickened by imitations of the bookseller to lament selling at twice its half figure, seated in a crimson-coloured | imitators of Reynolds, that the mere surface of value, a collection of Aldi, the completion chair, in a chamber. With one hand across that great master has become disgusting at of which he declared had cost him fifteen his breast, he holds the glass, pendant by a second and third hand in our public Rooms. years' labour. black riband from his neck; the other arm When a number of artists form themselves We next entered a shop richly furnished and hand rest upon a sheet of paper, on a upon one model, however excellent, nature with library book-cases of mahogany, the table covered with a cloth of a mellow pur-gives place to manner. But, in this picture, glazed doors of which were covered with plish colour. Some books are laid beside there is no manner; no imitation of others. gilt wire. Here almost every book was him. A curtain of shadowy yellow hangs It is an eloquent, original truth; and the printed on vellum paper, hot pressed; and the on one side. The carnations of the face are admirable accord between the execution, finest morocco and calf were employed in clear and florid; and their sanguine hues are character and expression, place it among the binding them in a hundred different forms. sustained and mellowed by the crimson first class of portraits in the present exhibiThese magnificent bibliographic curiosities cover of the chair, a bit of red morocco-lea- tion. are however seldom touched, for the purcha-ther on one of the books, and the flesh-tints Mr. Shec has also, No. 25, a head of T. ser as well as the bookseller is frequently of the hands. The cool colours, which are Tooke, Esq.; 69, of E. Ellis, Esq.; 119, of afraid to open them, lest he should soil the only sufficient in quantity, without any di- Lady Vivian; 181, of Mrs. W. H. Hariot; gilding on the edges of the leaves. rect opposition, to give richness and force to 305, of Mr. Commissary Wood; and 330, We quitted this typographical toy-man, the warm masses, are composed of the dark of Mr. Sharon Turner. Of these, 25 and 181 (who for a La Fontaine in two volumes, asked hair, dark slate-coloured small-clothes, the are clear and firmly painted, without being me rather more money than I intended to lay bit of blue watch-riband and of blue silk very rich in tone or fluency: 69 is one of his out in the purchase of my whole library), book-tape. The principal light is composed capital heads, finely drawn and coloured; and we proceeded to a Marchand de Nouv-by the vivid carnations of the face, the neck-the crimson curtain is balanced and autés in the Palais-Royal. My friend hav-linen and top of the buff waistcoat. These sobered by the dark mass of drapery; 305 ing acquainted him with my intention of altogether form a bold mass of spirited gra-is a prepossessing manly countenance, forming a library, he immediately proposed dations; and the head is relieved with very holdly penciled, and in a deep mellow tone. that I should take a complete collection of brilliant effect by the force of light, and by In 119, the head is pleasingly designed, but modern novels, Tules to my Son, to my Daugh-the dark hair and shadows of the features. the back ground is sullen, and not in suffiter, to my Son-in-law, Memoirs, Private The background is a clear, tender half tint, cient union with the face: it communicates Lives and Rhapsodies either actually pro- of a mellow yellowish grey, well-calculated a degree of opacity to some of the flesh tints. hibited, or on the point of being so; he to throw up the bright colours and dark There is a certain grace in the character, but gave me the titles of several books which he touches of the face. The main light is spread a constraint is perceptible in the expression had in the press, and offered me copies before in front, by the hands, the sheet of paper and drawing of the mouth, which, unless their publication at a discount of thirty and sharp touches of white on the linen of these peculiarities are in the original, may per cent. He left us to speak to an author the wrist-bands. The subordinate light sub-require some re-touching. There is also who came to propose his acceptance of a sides in a gentle tone, on a pillar in the back- some want of light, loose handling in the translation of Florus, with a commentary. ground. The dark purple chocolate-coloured accessaries. As the vanity of taste in pen"I already have a novel entitled Flora." "I coat and slate-coloured small-clothes, united ciling often leads other artists into a flimsido not allude to any character in a novel, I with the shadows of the curtain, form a broad ness in fleshy forms, which ought to be demean Florus the historian."-" Oh! on the bold mass with which the deep shadows on fined with precision; so a commendable subject of history De Pradt is the man; De the chair and round the table are connected. affection for truth, and firmness of execuPudt is the name for an historian.-Only The middle tints between the most pow-tion, sometimes restrains the hand of write something in De Pradt's style, and I erful darkness and brightest light, are amply this painter in the finishing of his will pay you a hundred frames per sheet." distributed and in felicitous transition. The hair, light ornamental draperies and back I felt no inclination to hear more. We general effect is at once solid and brilliant.\grounds, which might be treated, in the last took our leave of this dealer in waste paper, Every part is in due subordination, yet we touches, with more sportive grace and airy and having again crossed the bridge, my com- are struck in all the principal passages by a negligence. Mr. Shee has also a capital panion conducted me to the shop of the cele- sparkle of touch, or colour; of light or sha- whole length portrait of William Roscoe, Esq. brated Didot. This excellent library con-dow. This is one of the most capital speci- painted for the manuscript library of T. W. tained the ancient classics in every language, mens of penciling, which we have seen from COKE, Esq. at Holkham; which is certainly of which both splendid and common edi- the hand of this artist. Without any osten- the finest likeness ever painted of this celctions presented an equal degree of purity, tation of freedom, it combines the fluency of brated man; and altogether, in colouring, Here the rich amateur, the modest man of dispatch with the decision of science. The disposition, and character, does honor to learning, and the studious scholar might fur-features are cleverly drawn and full of life; the the artist's pencil. We are prevented by nish their libraries with books which differ forms defined with unerring certainty. The our restricted limits only, from a detailed in price without differing in merit. The sharpness of the last touches, is finely pre- notice of this important picture. "323. A South West view of Armidel, the seat of Lord Macdonald, Isle of Sky, by W. DANIELL, A." This view is judiciously selected. The castle is on a rising ground, in the middle distance, enriched with clumps of trees and near the edge of the sea. The water, with boats and figures, occupies the near space of the picture. It is executed in a noble style. The touch is at once broad, firm, and sweet; generously full of colour, but not over loaded. The penciling is in some parts more near the chastest handling of Wilson than any thing we have seen for some time. The colouring is juicy, vivid, and of a delicious tone. The declension from the warm hues of the near scenery, to the cool air-tints of the distance, is conducted drawn; there is a fanciful elegance in the paint scratched off again: this happy un No. 144. "Thetis and Peleus," by Mrs. with admirable truth of nature. The treat- ANSLEY," is designed and coloured in a good ment of the objects is in a simple and fine taste. What we can distinguish of it, extaste; and the sense of local identity very cites a wish to see more; but it is placed at vigorous. This is " a second Daniell," and, the top of the room, much too high for a due in our poor judgment, if he does not desert inspection of its merits. this style, he bids fair to be an honor to the No. 241. "Don Quixotte haranguing British school. 345. South East view of Rocque Guinart's Banditti," by J. WATSON, Armidel, is by the same artist, and in a si-a Scotch artist, whose name and works we milar style of excellence. now meet for the first time. This is a clear little picture; but placed so low that we were prevented by the crowd from obtaining a satisfactory view of it. The figures are spiritedly grouped, designed with a lively sense of humour, agreeably coloured, and evidently the work of a man of genius. No. 120. THE DRAMA. KING'S THEATRE.-ITALIAN OPERA. The last week has not produced any novelty at this Theatre. Il Don Giovanni is been the means of introducing the Libertine still the favorite, and its success here has on several other London Theatres. Of the imperfect imitation of the Opera, at Covent Garden Theatre, we have spoken in our preceding Number; at the Circus a laughable Parody of the piece has appeared, and an other Minor Theatre finds its account in the representation of the well known panto inime of Don Juan. 118. By J. J. CHALON. This is a fanciful scene from THOMSON'S Summer. DRURY LANE.-Mr. KEAN performed Ach"Nor undelightful is the ceaseless hum, met, in the tragedy of Barbarossa on Monday To him, who muses thro' the woods at noon : last for his own benefit. There was so great Or drowsy shepherd, as he lies reclined, an overflow that we may truly say, if the With half-shut eyes, beneath the floating shade house had been twice as large it would have Of willows grey, close crowding o'er the brook." This artist, with all his taste and science, SHARP. This is a representation of a fa- does not afford sufficient room for his fine "The finishing Touch," by M. been crowded. Although this character. in the detail of some of his landscapes, is, at shionable female at her toilette, laying on discrimination, yet he performed it with times, too sudden in his oppositions of co- the last roses, for the conquests of the day. powerful effect; and in those scenes, which lour; too cold in his blue tints and wanting There is a certain gentility in this fair war-roused his energies, drew forth repeated tuin union. But, in this delicious picture, with rior, which seldom deserts Mr. Sharp in the mults of applause. his own fine feeling, he has all the warmth invention of his figures. But the picture Paul and Virginia, he played the part of In the afterpiece of and vigor of the younger Reinagle's style, suffers by a comparison with his "Anti-Paul with many affecting strokes of nature, without any tendency to purplish shadows. quary,"-" Pinch of Snuff,"-and other de- and sung with much pleasing taste and judg Every object, here, is in delicious harmony.lightful performances. The execution is ment. On Tuesday, this admirable painter, The bowery shade, in which the musing free; but not so sparkling as in his former of the passions, performed Achmet with inwanderer reclines, is luxuriant beyond our works. The light is too much confined to a creased spirit. After the play, Mrs. Alsop power of description; and the effect of spark-spot; and there is an appearance of trick or acted the part of Priscilla Tomboy in the ling light, seen in the distance through the false effect in the breadth of some of the Romp, with a sprightliness and pleasantry dark trees, is full of enchantment. There shadows.-120. A small Portrait of a Gen- which delighted the audience: she was much is also a tasteful negligence in the disposi- tleman, is delicately painted by the same applauded. tion of the figure; the penciling is sprightly; artist. The comic power of this actress is genuine, free from constraint and and the general effect full of fascination.coarseness. It is the freakish, laughing, 208. Morning, by the same artist, is a clever archness of gay animal spirits. Her flow of hu picture; but not so interesting a scene, or so mour, and Knight's Wally Cockney, kept the rich in harmony. house in continued laughter. No. 212. Purtridges from Nature," by T. WILLIS," exhibit great truth of nature; with a sweet spirited touch, and much brilliant harmony. In high finishing, this picture may vie with the admired works of many of the celebrated Flemish painters. W.C. a a 118. A small whole length portrait, in oil, of MISS FOOTE, sitting in her chamber, with her music-stand, harp and other picturesque accessaries. It is painted by J. PARTRIDGE, is in a good taste; its chief excellence is No. 100." A Landscape," by W. TRAIES, and this is the first time we have met the breadth and feeling of colour, which afford name or seen any picture by this artist. The fair promise, if this artist adheres to the likeness is agreeable and sufficiently strong principle of this picture. to be at once discoverable. The attitude is easy; the head, clear and delicately colour- ROME, 18th APRIL.-One of the first cares ed; the penciling sharp and mellow. The of Count Mac-Aulay, the minister of State, accompaniments are tastefully composed; when public affairs have left him leisure, has and the details entered into with a Flemish been to give orders for restoring the beautiful fidelity, which produces an enamel surface, fresco paintings of Caracci, in the apartwithout losing the appearance of facility. ments of the Farnese palace, which one of The whole is cleverly thrown into light and our Dukes, about 50 years ago, caused to be shade. The colouring is silvery, and in ex-covered with a thick layer of white paint, cellent union; the effect very agreeable, and because the subjects of them were in his there is a pleasing truth and feeling, in the opinion immoral. It had been hitherto beinvention and treatment, which reflect much lieved that these masterpieces no longer excredit on the painter. isted; but some signs having led Count No. 269. "Portrait of a Lady of Quality," Mac-Aulay to suppose that this opinion by J. A. OLIVER, A.-This head is well might be false, he has resolved to have the COVENT GARDEN.-Mr. KEMBLE, after havlast week; consented to gratify the public, ing performed Penruddock, Hamlet, Zanga, and Coriolanus, on four successive nights, by performing four nights this week, also. The complete restoration of his health enabled him to go through these exertions with out the smallest appearance of fatigue. The memory of the oldest lovers of the drama furnishes no instance of so deep and general a sensation, as that which has been produced by these fine performances, on the eve of his farewell to the stage. We only record a memorable fact, that this sensation, so honorable to the public taste and the powers of this great tragedian, increases hourly. On last Tuesday night, he performed CARDINAL WOLSEY. The haughty pride and grandeur of this aspiring ecclesiastic in his prosperity; his unbending dignity in his fall; and the Christian resignation of his advance THEATRE DU VAUDEVILLE. to mortality, require the very highest class | truth. The scene is in the hall of a minisand variety of powers. His character is ter's hotel, guarded on one side by a porter, First representation of Wallace, or the Barrier composed of warring elements. His learn- on the other by a clerk, and in the back of Mount Parnassus. ing, his patronage of learned men, his ground by an usher, (huissier). These vigi- The second title of this Vaudeville inditaste and encouragement of the polite arts, lant sentinels do not embarrass the Solici- cates the allegory on which it is founded raised him to an exalted rank in the public tor, M. L'Esperance, who contrives to get in The authors have placed at the barrier of opinion. His religious vows bound him to the first, though he has number 399. He is Mount Parnassus à literary and dramatic an abjuration of worldly vanity: yet all driven out, he returns without his hat, with a custom-house, commissioned to inspect his views were for worldly greatness; and pen in his mouth, and papers in his hand, books, novels, actors, actresses, and new his passions, though naturally strong, sub- crying, "I belong to the house." He would pieces, and to let nothing but what is good servient to his inordinate thirst for ag- deceive the eyes of Argus himself: he easily enter Paris. Notwithstanding the vigilance grandisement. In the love of pomp and escapes those of a Swiss porter who is short- of four officers, a great deal of smuggling stately profusion; in the number of his fol-sighted. But this is only one step towards goes on. One of them has even suffered a lowers; the magnificence of his furniture; getting to the head of the office: he tries to German drama to pass. The inspector is and splendor of his palaces; he outried the gain the clerk by fair speeches; to bribe angry at this piece of negligence, and preking. His profound and active policy, which with a cutlet a supernumerary who is fast-tends that a German drama is heavy enough had, for so many years, influenced the court ing; nothing succeeds: chance serves him and thick enough to be seen. He is resolved intrigues of Europe, and his towering ambi- better than prudence. The neighbouring for the future to depend only on himself and tion, which had, so long, aspired to the Pa- restaurateur (Table d'hôte keeper) brings the places himself at the barrier. He does not pacy, and to awe the Sovereigns of Christen-breakfast of the Secretary General, and sets want for employment. The pretty Fandom by the thunders of the Vatican; were it down on a table to run after one of his chette of Les Deux Jalour is the first who the leading features of his mind. Thus his debtors who has just received his salary. presents herself; she comes with Thibault nature and his duties were in constant op- M. L'Esperance does not let slip so fair an to beg the inspector to suffer a minstrel to position; and the necessity of concealment opportunity; he disguises himself as a pass, who is just arrived from Scotland, and produced in his lofty exterior an appearance waiter, and seizes the breakfast; with this who is much wanted at the theatre Feydau, of pious tranquillity. His vehement spirit passport he penetrates into the Minister's to attract an audience. This scene, full of and all its impetuous movements, lurked cabinet, and presents to him one of the nume-jokes on the Opera Comique, sparkles with under the brow of an affected meekness: his rous petitions which fill his pockets. The roguish pleasantry. Several other characters vast projects were covered by a garb of Minister answers immediately, L'Esperance successively arrive: at last the minstrel arproud humility. It was the silent and scorn- triumphs, but his triumph is of short dura-rives, armed with a great piece of music in ful fires of his eye; his over-shadowing port tion. score, the charm of which hinders him from to his equals; his appalling reserve to his At the beginning of the piece, he has met, falling. He demands an entrance, but his inferiors; his immense possessions, and the among the persons who were come to solicit, melo-dramatic figure, is an indifferent reinfluence of his name upon the Continent, a young lady who is very pretty, and on commendation. He then gets his music which revealed the high tone of his mind whom he has tried to force himself as a Cice- performed by all the musicians of the neighand immeasurable pretensions. In the per-rone in the labyrinth of the office. The young bourhood, the Cerberi who defend the barformance of this extraordinary character, a lady has refused his services; but she has rier fall asleep, and he passes happily display of impassioned energies would be had the imprudence to show him the peti-through it. extravagant and false; and the closest fol- tion which she intends to present, the object The last part of the piece produced less lowing of every-day nature, tame and little. of which is to ask a place for a young officer effect than the first. This must be attributed It is a dramatic unique; and none but Kem- her friend, who has faithfully served his to some rather tedious passages, which may ble, could perform it. The grandeur of his country. L'Esperance, persuaded that in the be easily curtailed on a second representaperson and visage, his knowledge of nature bureau of a minister, as elsewhere, nothing tion. and Shakespeare, the noble pride, with is refused to a pair of fine eyes, adroitly subwhich he has, through life, thrown a dignity stitutes one of his own petitions for that of round his profession; the elevation of his the lady, who does not obtain an audience; habits and his thinking; all the requisites of but unhappily, in the confusion occasioned this high-minded actor have made Wolsey his by his joy at having got into the minister's Parliamentary proceedings having closown. We may justly say that his repre- presence, he delivers to him the petition ed for the holidays, the attention of our sentation on last Tuesday night, like his which he has surreptitiously obtained: and party politicians has been principally diCoriolanus, was one of the most finished per- when the nomination arrives, he perceives rected to the issue of the Norfolk election; formances which ever appeared upon the that all his pains have ended in obtaining where the success of the ministerial canBritish stage. Mrs. Weston from the Bath for the young officer the place which he de POLITICS. Theatre, and formerly on the London stage, sired for himself. This denouement which didate is considered as a complete trimade her appearance in the part of Queen is very conformable to morality, is perhaps umph, and has been celebrated as such Catherine. This lady possesses certain re- not wholly so to our manners. It is uncom- at the Pitt anniversary dinners. Our quisites; she delivered several passages mon in the real world to see merit get the with spirit and feeling, was frequently ap-better of intrigue. shores have been again insulted by a Tuplauded, and altogether well received.-On This little comedy is conducted with art; has been taken by two revenue cruizers, nisian pirate making captures; but he Thursday night Mr. Kemble performed Oc- the dialogue is lovely and piquant; it has tavian in the Mountaineers, to a crowded also the merit of giving much scope for reand both his prizes recaptured. Those and fashionable audience, in a style of excel-flection. From what passes in the anticham-retaken, as noticed in our last, have been lence, which he has never surpassed. He ber, one divines a part of what must pass in restored to the owners, upon the princiwas greeted on his entrance, and in the the audience chamber. One feels how much ples of honesty, and the law of nations, course of the play, with long and enthusiastic amusement and instruction would be afforded confirmed by stipulations in the St. Gerbursts of applause. by the sight of what passes there, if one mains, Bredab, and other treaties with could obtain a passport to enter it. Potier acts the part of L'Esperance with European powers. The pirate has also his usual ability. He perfectly seizes the been released; for though by treaty with spirit of his part which is wholly comprised Algiers, none of their cruizers shall even in this motto:" with boldness and supple- enter the British channel, yet in our treaness one can penetrate everywhere." To ties with Tunis, ships of war are mutually enter through the keyhole. FRENCH DRAMA. THEATRE DES VARIETES. W.C. First representation of Le Solliciteur. der the name of L'Aspirant, seemed to pro-look at him, one would fancy he is going to admitted to repair and refresh. As, howmise only a caricature; but it is a little picture of manners, drawn with equal point and ever, it had been stipulated in former |