SOME MEMOIR OF THE LATE scape, and the latter so well known for his | his tomb-stone, and the too-late lament of Those SAMUEL WOODFORDE, ESQ. R. A. With Critical Remarks on the style of PAUL VERONESE, and other Masters. Many persons, who are delighted by folios in praise of the conquerors and destroyers of mankind, would record the lives of Artists in a very brief compass. They deem it quite sufficient to mark the date and place of a painter's birth, the year of his death, and a few professional anecdotes. These are usually comprehended in a mention of the master under whom be studied; the depart- This determination was followed by his ment of painting in which he excelled; and coming up to London for the purpose of a casual remark on the degree of excel- entering himself as a Student in the Royal lence to which he had attained. We should Academy. A candidate for admission is Woodforde had sufficient firmness to perfeel no inclination to deviate from the brevity bound, by the laws of that Institution, to severe in his first choice; although public of a periodical obituary, or a monumental submit to the judgment of the Council, one circumstances strongly tempt an English inscription, but that we conceive a notice or two of his drawings as specimens of his student, in despite of his academical inof an artist's course of study may afford ability; upon the merits or demerits of structors, to begin painting in oil colours, some profitable hints to Students. By having which, his reception or rejection depends. before he has laid in a sufficient stock of drawthe path pointed out, in which he acquired As the drawings must be executed from ing. For this premature ambition, many his correct expression of truth, or deviated naked figures, and are generally from plaster plead the example of the great Fathers of into the vice of manner, they may learn what casts of antique statues, this task cannot be the English School, Reynolds, Gainsborough, to do and what to forbear; what master performed by a mere beginner. Young and Romney. But the latter, owing to the to follow, or whom to shun. A memoir may Woodforde's performance was approved of; disadvantages under which they came forthus, without being tedious, be made the and he was admitted to the privileges of a ward, had no opportunity of acquiring an basis of general reasoning; and, by showing student in March 1782, being then, accord- academical acquaintance with the human the good or bad tendencies of the prevailing ing to the memorandum, entered on the figure; and their works, amidst all their disstyle, and the influence which injudicious Journal of the Academy, eighteen years play of fine taste and genius, betray a conimitation and corrupt fashions exercise over old. We may infer, from this favourable tinual endeavour to conceal defective forms the Fine Arts, be rendered instrumental in circumstance, that he had a considerable under imposing masses of effect. purifying the public taste. A writer, in ad-share of practice before, and was able to eminent men were conscious of their misverting to the merits of the Dead, may pro- draw with a due degree of taste and correct- fortune, and judiciously toiled to supply, in mote the interests of the Living; and the ness. It is said by contemporary students, the superstructure of their art, what was fame of a British Artist in the grave, become that his application, after his reception, was wanting of solidity in its foundation. But a means of advantage and glory to the earnest and steady; his manners mild what was an unavoidable necessity in them, British School. This, perhaps, may best be and unassuming. He was of a thinking has been too often made a reprehensible effected by avoiding the details of private character, and his habits of reading turned choice by many of their imitators. This was life, in which the public have no interest; his attention to fancy and historical paint-not young Woodforde's case. He resisted and leaving to the fancy of catalogue-writers, ing. This was a bold choice, in his time, the temptation of showing off his powers upon the dry list of pictures and prices, which can with BARRY's age and indigence, as an canvas, before he had acquired a mastery of be of no importance in an estimate of ge- historical painter; and the lucrative practice the port-crayon. With a view to fit himand well-earned fame of REYNOLDS and himself for painting History, he diligently Romney, as portrait painters, before his drew in the academy, and studied the naked It implied either much worldly inexperi- figure; attended public lectures on anatomy; ence, or a noble disinterestedness, and no read, and meditated much upon the structure ordinary share of resolution. In that depart- of the human form. His academy figures, ment of painting, which, by a beautiful in chalks on coloured paper, marked with fiction, owes its origin to Love, and will his initials, and the dates, have fallen occaever be consecrated by the purest energies of sionally under our notice; and are proofs of SAMUEL WOODFORDE was born at Castle domestic affection, England had risen to the the advantages which he reaped from this Cary, in the county of Somerset, in the highest pitch of glory in modern times. judicious course of practice. His progress, His parents were descended In truth and dignity of expression, simple however, was gradual, and not marked by from a respectable family long settled in grace, the charms of unborrowed elegance, any extraordinary indications. Ile continuthat county; and two of his brothers have and whatever pertains to richness of colour, ed to profit by the advantages which the survived him the one was Lieutenant- and vigour of effect, the British Portrait Academy afforded him for some years: but Colonel of a fine regiment of Volunteers Painters, although then mainly deficient as it is certain that he did not obtain any of its during the late war; and the other is a Phy-draughtsmen, and negligent in detail, far exsician, in high practice, and now resident in celled their rivals on the Continent. Beside Castle Cary. He received a good school the enchanting power and harmony of his education, and early displayed a passion for tone, in living resemblance and speaking drawing. The merits of his untaught essays character, Reynolds, with all the infirmity attracted the notice of HENRY HOARE, Esq. of his outline, was not surpassed by any old who was an admirer and patron of the Fine master. But, thirty years ago, an artist of Arts, as may be seen by those who visit the genius, who devoted his pencil to historical place of his former residence, Stour head, in painting, in the hope of cultivating the the county of Wilts, now the seat of his highest powers of his mind, voluntarily pre- Anxious to form his mind upon the works grandson, SIR RICHARD COLT HOARE, Bart. ferred a prospect of struggle and poverty to of the ancient masters, Woodforde, after a At that period, C. W. BAMPFYLDE, Esq. of one of ease and affluence. No profession few years, determined to visit Italy. As Hestercombe, in the county of Somerset, and could be more precarious. He had to en- none but those who obtain prizes are sent WILLIAM HOARE, Esq. of Bath; the former dure neglect and poverty, with little other abroad by the Academy, he would have had conspicuous, as a Gentleman Artist, for his consolation, but the chance of a group of to defray his own expenses, or, if unable skill and taste in painting and etching land- noble pall-bearers, a proud inscription on to do that, must have remained at home. nius. But, as it is much easier to plan than to execute, we very much doubt our power to effect even any small part of this good. We may, however, hope to be pardoned for the attempt; and offering our preface as an apology, shall proceed with the subject of our present notice. year 1764. eyes. annual prizes. We do not know whether this circumstance was occasioned by the superiority of competitors, or his having forborne to exhibit as a candidate for academical honours. In this, at least, he resembled Domenichino, who obtained no prizes when a scholar; but afterwards successfully contested for celebrity with the CARACCI, his masters. But, without having any risk to encounter, in colouring, chiaro-scuro, and fluency of latter, our readers will not be disappointed he was freed from all anxiety, and enabled execution. This has been the case of many if they expect from the Literary Gazette to go abroad, by a liberal annuity settled celebrated painters. Draughtsmen and de- even greater attention to "the mimic world" upon him by HENRY HOARE, Esq. and con- signers are as apt to overlook those beauties than it has hitherto obtained in its pages, tinued by his heir SIR RICHARD HOARE. which float upon the surface and first attract though they have been more devoted to We record this princely instance of public the eye, as great Colourists are to neglect the theatrical matters than is usual with the periodical press. We think the Drama important; and it is spirit, as an example to others, with more deeper requisites. But that Mr. Woodforde was not insenpleasure, because that spirit has descended to our time, as an inheritance of glory in the sible to the value of colouring, is proved by our wish to treat it with the consideration it same family. The young aspirant landed his stay in Venice, after he had finished his deserves:-we think the Drama amusing; upon the Continent some time in the year studies at Rome. To a superficial mind this and we hope to impart the same quality to 1785 or 6; and his first residence was at course might have been dangerous. But many of the essays springing out of that Between its higher and lower Rome. He there studied the most celebrated to an Artist who has acquired à correct and fountain. pictures; but chiefly the works of Michael severe habit of design; whose colouring wants attributes, its pretensions and performances, Angelo and Raphael, and devoted himself glow and juice; or whose pencil and spirit its theory and practice, it would decide the to drawing from the antique sculptures. require to be freed from the trammels of barrenness of any publication, did it not Among the young English artists who were diffident practice, the fearless brush and find, in treating the subject, much to inthere, he associated particularly with Mr. sensual hues of the Venetian style must be struct and entertain. The Quarterly ReDEARE and Mr. ROBINSON. The former was of service. In that school of colouring, he view, just published, questions the efficacy a student in Sculpture, and a pupil of the had an opportunity of copying the works of of theatrical representation as a moral and ROYAL ACADEMY in LONDON, who had been the best masters. But whether he did not political engine, and declares," the truth sent to Italy, by that Institution, for im- remain a sufficient length of time there to is, that the Drama is not a cause, but provement, with an annual allowance from discover their true principles; or that Nature an effect of the state of society." Our limits its funds for his support. He was a man of had not bestowed upon his eye all the fine do not permit us now to discuss this opinion, genius; and Woodforde and he derived sensibilities of a rich Colourist, or that he to which we cannot entirely subscribe, though mutual benefit from their amicable rivalry in dreaded to drink too deep of the Circean cup we are ready to go a great way towards its drawing together from the marbles. Soon before him; it is certain that he did not add inferences. In our judgment the effects of after their meeting, HOWARD, another pupil to what he had acquired of Roman elegance theatrical representation cannot be bent to of the ROYAL ACADEMY in LONDON, visited in design, as much of the Venetian hues and the support of any general proposition: they Rome. By classical studies, and emulative tone as might have been expected from his are felt individually and particularly, and association, this Artist enriched his mind, good taste and classical feeling. We have though it is true enough that men do not go and unfolded his feeling and elegant fancy. seen within these few days, his easel copy avowedly to the play "to be improved nor His conceptions possessed more ideal loveli- of a celebrated painting by PAUL VERONESE, depraved, to learn nor unlearn the precepts ness and lyrical beauty, than gravity of his- the Family of Darius before Alexander. The of morality, or the rules of life," it surely torical pretension. He there laid in those original was in the Pisani palace, and is cannot be denied, that they may be, and are materials for subjects from ancient mytho- known to collectors by a coarse print en-likely greatly to be, either improved or delogy, allegory and poetry, in which, since graved after it, by NATALIS COCHIN, in the praved by the vivid illusions of the scenie the decease of Cipriani, with Parmesan grace, 17th century; and by Cosimo Mogalli's more school. In youth this is notorious;-a child and a Bolognian simplicity of colouring, modern engraving. The composition in- does not escape from Punch's Opera without of true taste, cludes two great groups of figures, and a a strong, and too often a wrong, impression; has charmed all men and established a distinguished reputation. grand architectural back-ground. The copy nor maturer age from the theatre without DEARE'S drawings formed a considerable possesses much merit; but it is executed the sap or the implantation of principles collection. They were finished with an in- with more careful attention than vivacity. which are calculated to operate powerfully tention of having a series of engravings pub- In whatever belongs to the style of drawing in the realities of life. Possibly there are lished from them; but that promising Artist and character of the heads, it exhibits a just few persons of observation who do not know died early; and his works are, at this day, following of the original; and may be fairly many instances which would establish this spoken of with high commendation. Ro- pronounced a pleasing and valuable speci- fact beyond controversy: we could illustrate BINSON was, also, a man of ability. His men of Mr. Woodforde's studies. But in it by very remarkable anecdotes. But it talents lay in Portrait-painting; in which, much of that which constitutes the fascina- needs no demonstration, unless, indeed, but for his premature death, he had a fair tion of Paolo's surface, it is unequal. It has it is meant to be contended, that merely benot altogether caught that movement, at cause it is given where people go for amuseprospect of arriving at eminence. With a strong attachment to painting, once so impetuous and tender, so bold and ment, and not for instruction, there is no WOODFORDE was not naturally subject to over-sweet, so full of masterly negligence and difference between a licentious and a moral violent impulses. His ardour in study, was sparkling illumination. Many have lost lesson, inculcated with all the aids of perIn our No. 32, we stated the various alternot accompanied by a presumption in his sight of more valuable essentials, in the sonal imitation, and semblance of reality. powers. But, in the capital of the ancient attempt to follow a pencil, which may be world, surrounded by the most sublime said to have scattered graces and seductions ations making in Drury-Lane Theatre:models, and impelled by the generous en- and enchantments, wherever it fell. But these were completed on Friday, on the thusiasm of a crowd of rivals from all parts of few have successfully copied those broad night of which we saw them displayed, in Europe, he moved in a circle of excitement. disdainful dashes and touches, with which company with a strange medley of several The study of those precious monuments of this extraordinary master decided the cha- hundred persons admitted on the occasion. human genius, the antique statues and bas-racter of his heads, hands, and feet; the most There were the critics of the periodical press, reliefs, and the daily contemplation of the difficult muscular details and most daring (we put them first out of esprit du corps); play-managers, play-mongers, play-actors, pictures in the churches and palaces, not novelties of fore-shortening. play-writers, play-wrights; committee-men, we had almost called them "fifth comonly furnish the purest conceptions of form and expression; but the most powerful mittee-men," but they are only fourth; permotives for emulation. If Woodforde did sons of some consequence, and more who not provoke envy by an affectation of suThe opening of the Winter Theatres en-wished to be thought so; gentlemen liberal periority, he maintained his rank of respectability and obtained many permanent larges our field for Dramatic Criticism; and, of advice, and sparing of encouragement; advantages. But, while he anxiously en-intimately as the Stage is connected with great detectors of small defects, and acute deavoured to acquire firmness as a draughts the morals, manners, and literature of the discoverers of obvious imperfections; seman, and a classic taste of design, from the age, so as to be perhaps the best index to ancient sculptures, he inade less advances the two former, and no mean criterion of the (To be concluded in our next.) THE DRAMA. Quarterly Review. Past Ten o'Clock was the afterpiece, and exceedingly humorous in its farcical phases. It introduced Mrs. Alsop and Messrs. Oxberry and Gattie for the season, who, as well as the performers in the comedy, were greeted with the kind recognising plaudits of the audience. COVENT GARDEN. veral performers, who appeared on the stage | quaintance, superior to her; but to our judg- commencing at 7 does not necessarily imply for the first time in their real characters, ment she has not one whit more of the the procrastination of the entertainments to and several real characters, who seemed to hoyden, than may well be supposed to a very late period. be performing assumed parts (we cannot remain of her rustic education, not yet say that either were seen to their advantage); polished down by six months' conversation A Mr. Stanley, from Bath, made a very suc scientific discoursers on gas, mechanical ge- with the gay world. Mr. Rae's Charles is a cessful debut on Thursday. In figure and niuses not concealing their illumination, good deal marred by the impediment in his face he is not pre-eminently happy, and a citizens, fashionables, the vulgar, genteel, enunciation; Dowton, in uncle Noll, Mrs. provincial coarseness of manner sometimes informed, ignorant, more talkers than ob- Orger, in Mrs. Candour, Mrs. Harlow, in provokes censure. His voice, however, is servers, more impertinent than unassum- Lady Sneerwell, Mr. Powell, in the honest good; he possesses great vivacity and some ing;-in fine, a curious assemblage, a com- Rowley, and Mr. Harley as Sir Benjamin humour, and frequently reminded us of plete microcosm of London was here got Backbite, with his chin dancing an everlast-Elliston. The part selected for his first together, and furnished us with as much ing jig with his neckloth, were all efficient appearance, was that of Rover, in "Wild food for entertaining speculation as we ever to the tasks assigned them, and contributed Oats." He did not display all the variety before encountered, even in a Theatre. Here their full share to what we have mentioned which the character requires; but the aniwas an actor grimacing to a friend in the as the chief merit of the performances, viz. mnation and pleasantry which distinguished audience part, to ascertain if his contortions the singular attention to stage effect, so as to his performance, ensured him a most fawere distinct under the new lights. There render many of the scenes quite dramatic vourable reception, and he closed his labours was a philosopher demonstrating that flame pictures in grouping and expression. amidst shouts of unanimous applause. would flicker-if it was blown about by currents of air. Lo, a traveller, who had seen Brussels, if not Paris, describing how the Theatres were contrived which he had seen "upon the Continent."-Anon, an officious fellow whispering some grand secret into the ear of a manager, whose eye was wandering over galleries, pit, boxes, lamps, lustres, side-scenes, and even the floor, with a distressing vacuity of inattention.-But if we mount our speculative hobby, we shall never see the School for Scandal, with which, all the experiments over, this House opened on Saturday. This admirable Comedy was well acted as a whole, though we have seen most of the characters cast in a style more congenial to the talents of the different performers; or possibly this feeling may arise from their being more admirable in other parts. For example; Munden's Old Dozey, in the Farce of Past Ten o'clock, was infinitely superior to his Sir Peter Teazle, and merely because it is more in his peculiar line. His natural twist was only once let forth in the play, about the little French Milliner. The same observation applies to Knight's Crab-tree, who ought to have the manners of fashionable life, though a member of the Scandalous Coterie. Mr. Wallack, an improving and good actor, is not fit for a Joseph: he is severe instead of being specious; and, alas, Poor Wewitzer, while we approve the benevolence which retains an old and favourite servant on the establishment, we cannot but deprecate the painful exhibition upon the stage of decayed powers, dotage, and imbecility. It brings before us too forcibly that approach to the "Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history." It is a curious circumstance, but there is something in the contemplation of an actor declining towards the grave, more affecting than the same condition in another man. Does this arise from never having seen him under the visitations of humanity, but always under false colours; from the contrasted view of a melancholy reality in the midst of a pleasing fiction; or from both? The alteration at this fine Theatre consists entirely in a new method of lighting by Gas, and ventilating it so as to correct any unpleasant effect from the introduction of this luminous agent. The old lights have The curtain rose at 7 precisely, and the disappeared, and five lustres, two upon the play proceeded so rapidly that we do not wings of the stage, and three equidistant think the proscenium was down two minutes round the dress circle of boxes, with a magaltogether between the acts. This sharpness nificent chandelier dropping from the roof, of action produced great discord in the or- constitute the whole of the process for illuchestra; the prompter's bell often inter-minating the audience part. The chandelier rupting the bow midway as it swept the is the most beautiful and brilliant thing of strings in its first ascent, and dividing the the kind ever seen. It descends from the notes of the instruments in the most novel centre over the pit like a water spout, the and odd manner imaginable. Of so little lower part studded with an hundred stars. use were the fiddles that we became appre- From this a shower of the brightest and the hensive, holding them would be declared a softest splendour falls over the space, persinecure office, and struck off among other vades the circumference, and drops in liquid reforms. The farce is a long one, and, not-light upon ornamented column and human withstanding the expedition employed, it was countenance. The effect surpasses imaginapast 12 before "Past Ten" finished. The au- tion. The mechanical part of this design is dience applauded the little loss of time; but also richly and skilfully executed. A fine for our parts we should be glad of some mo- reflector above the flames contributes to ments more of repose between the acts. throw their radiance downward, and at the Not only does the mind require it; but not same time to carry off by a tube their heat unfrequently the drama itself, for the sake and smoke. A deep fringe of cut glass surof illusion. rounds the whole, and a multitude of pieces Of the alterations in the theatre, we gave of the same material, variously combined an ample description a fortnight ago. On into the form of a hemisphere, serve as the completion, we find the Chinese Temple, frame in which these stars are set to emit with its nondescripts, dragons and lanterns, their streams of silver radiance. The lustre, rather heavier than we expected. It makes on the stage and dress circle are worthy of the saloon, and does not ornament it. Cer- the superior constellation. Handsome droops tainly the taste of these structures cannot be ing branches convey the gas to bell glassescomplimented; but as a novelty this will which are ground white towards the boxes to have its day of attraction; and, though we save the eye, and are bright only on the outer hear the grumblers lament the disfiguration side. The only improvement we can sugof the antecedent noble simplicity, we ima-gest in these, would be to gild the black gine the treasury will be the better for the alteration. We rejoice to be assured that there was not the slightest foundation for the report, that an attempt was to be made to dramatize the recent trial of Morrison and Hall, at this theatre. tubes which carry off the smoke. Two semicircular mirrors, one at each end of the lower box circle, produce a magical appearance, and prolong the company in reflected multitudes. These are lighted by indifferent candles: gas would be much better. Upon the whole we find language inadequate to convey a perfect idea of this splendid spectacle, which does equal The other performers in the School for There is too much similarity between this credit to the science and arts of the country, Scandal require only a brief notice. Mrs. play and farce to admit of their being repre- and to the management of the theatre. The Davison is an excellent Lady Teazle; we sented on the same Evening, without ma-reward of such magnificence, belongs to the have heard that some of her predecessors nifest injury to the latter, and a severe attack public, and endeavours like these to merit were more of the lady, and consequently, upon its originality. The curtain dropped its countenance, will never, we trust, in this say the more ancient critics of our ac- at about 25 minutes past 11 o'clock, so that great country be made in vain. On Tuesday the Double Gallant, with FRENCH DRAMA. THEATRE DE LA GAIETE. ALPHONSE ET INES, OU LES DEVOIRS D'UN Roi, a melo-drama in three acts. ODEON. VAUGLAS, OU LES ANCIENS AMIS. On Monday this Theatre opened with Ham-loping the story, which we have no doubt let, a tribute due to our immortal Shake- was circumstantially told by the feet of Nospeare. God save the King was sung as ble, Luppino, and the Dennetts. usual, and the various performers were on ENGLISH OPERA HOUSE. their entrances welcomed with the warmth This piece, produced on the 26th, is spoken of long divided friends. Messrs. Young, On Monday, this Theatre, fertile in Blanchard, Abbott, and Farley, were parti- Operettas, alias little Operas, produced favourably of by the Parisian critics. King cularly distinguished in these salutes, as another, entitled Disguises. It is a lively Alphonso of Spain, being a minor, his uncle and guardian Fernando oppresses the people were Miss Booth and Liston in the melo- and entertaining trifle, from the French as drame of the Miller and his men. The re- we imagine, but ascribed to Mr. S. Beazley. by the cruellest tyranny, and even forms a presentation of Hamlet is so familiar to the Frederica, Miss Kelly, to obtain from her plot to assassinate the young monarch and public, that nothing new can be said of the cousin the widow Panache, Mrs. Pincott, a usurp the throne. The beautiful Ines, a play, and little of the players. Mr. Young will which unjustly deprives her of a fortune supposed peasant, and daughter of Pedro; but in fact Leonora, the daughter of Alvarez, is sententious, and in our opinion, rather of 50,000 ducats, assumes the garb of a wins the affections of a minister disgraced by the intrigues of Fercoldly correct. He imparted peculiar force young Hussar, to but few of the many passages, which even the Lady, and gets her to surrender the nando, discovers this plot, and warns the The conspirator is in the philosophical Prince, ought to be document in favour of Frederica, whom the King of his danger. thrown out with the emphasis of passion. she trooper pretends to abandon for her finally obliged to fly, and Ines is married to Hamlet moralizes, but he also feels. His more attractive relation. But the latter Alphonso, with the approbation of all partemperament is mild and his purposes irre- having previously given a bond of marriage ties except a rustic lover, Toninos, disapsolute; but dreadful are the circumstances to an old foolish Count Hildebrand (Chat- pointed of his mistress. The author was which excite him, and the horror of human terley), under a heavy penalty, it is necessary called for, and announced as M. Ferrierecrime and stimulus of supernatural agency to get back this document also. This Fre-Leblanc. conspire to drive him to the verge of mad-derica accomplishes in her own person, ness. Too much of calm is therefore out of allowing the Count to fancy himself a succharacter, and in this respect, almost uni-cessful suitor. The disguises she assumes, versal on the English stage in the part of and those of Captain Muller (Wrench) her of M. Picard, is at present performing with Hamlet, we think Mr. Young goes as far as favoured lover, and her servant, give the any of the leading performers whom we name to the piece, which is, as we have have seen in it. Horatio was assigned to a noticed, light, bustling, and amusing. The Mr. Bonnell Thornton, who appeared at the sexual jokes of the Hussar are not quite so other house last year, we believe, for the excellent as those of Rosalind, whose imibenefit of Mrs. Bartley. This debutant is, tator at a humble distance she is; but this we are informed, the grandson of the gentle- actress is so lively and captivating, that she of the same name, and of some bore the little Opera through on her should-guilty of the real fault of quitting his post literary celebrity as joint Editor of the Con-ers in triumph. without permission, in order to proceed clannoisseur, and joint Translator of Plautus. We took an opportunity of witnessing destinely to Paris, to avert the storm which As far as we can judge from one essay, we Midas, on Wednesday. Miss J. Stevenson is preparing for him. He is accompanied by must lament that he has been induced to seek looked very handsome in Daphne, and bids his friend, M. Villeneuve, who is so importhe stage as a profession. His enunciation fair to be transplanted to a winter theatre. tant a personage that Vauglas constantly seems defective, his action is stiff and un-Mr. Pearman's Apollo was an agreeable per-expresses the deepest concern at the idea" of graceful, his countenance destitute of expres-formance; he sung the songs with much sion, and his entire performance of a kind to taste. damp the hopes of future excellence. Blanchard's Polonius is one of the best upon the stage; and Abbot makes as much of Laertes as can be expected. Miss Matthews sustained the sorrows of the sweet Ophelia. It is not her This theatre has also been lighted with Being informed of the situation of Saintforte, yet there were parts very commenda- gas, in a circle of bell lights round the boxes. Phar, Vauglas offers to conceal him in his ble. There is an inclination to smirking in No better principle can be applied to the own house, and his proposal is readily accepther pretty face, which all the griefs of the purpose; the illumination is equally dif- ed. He then proceeds to the Minister, and tragic muse cannot controul; and if the mad fused, and of a nature to please the eye, vainly endeavours to overcome the resentscenes had required that very common de- though exceedingly bright and effulgent.ment of the ignoble tyrant. On his return, monstration of madness, laughter, we are The festoons of glass drops from lamp to he expresses his detestation of the Minister's sure she would have acquitted herself admir-lamp have, however, a paltry appearance. ably. As it was, she was really very pleasing and pathetic in the higher-wrought passages. man The curtain rose at seven, and, though not a moment was lost between the acts, did not drop till past twelve. The theatre was kept of a most agreeable temperature through the evening, by the forced ventilation, and may well be held up as the most magnificent place of public entertainment in the The Chinese shrubbery has been superseded by an Italian terrace! The flowers look to be blooming by candle-light, and many of the trees have green leaves. VAUXHALL GARDENS. We have received a smart letter on the great success at the Theatre de l'Odeon. The forfeiting his good opinion." Consequently, of all the old friends with whom Vauglas had dined, at the house of M. Mongravier, his banker, Villeneuve is the only one whom he receives with distinction on the following day. conduct, in terms so violent, that Mongravier trembles whilst he acknowledges that the "good Abbé Dubois is a public calamity." But what is the indignation of Vauglas, subject of the remarks in our last Number, when he receives a message from the Minisupon these beautiful gardens. It is between ter, who, in his high confidence, commissions a remonstrance and an attempt, at least, at wit; but it would be unjust to insert it with-him to draw up a fulminating report to the out illustrative notes, even had it reached us before our pages were too much preoccupied to allow us to print it baldly as it came to hand. We can assure the writer, On Wednesday, Guy Mannering, a new that so far from meaning injury or injustice pastoral dance, and Aladdin, were the per- to this place of amusement, we think it emiformances. Miss Stephens, Mr. Sinclair, nently entitled to public patronage; but, at and, though last, not least, Mr. Grimaldi, the same time, the truth" is our motto; were warmly welcomed. As for the new and though we wish to tell it kindly, we will and nameless Divertisement, we confess our never promulgate an error if we can avoid ignorance of the language of toes, and there-it. The letter shall appear in our next, with fore our readers must excuse us for not deve- corrections and annotations. world. Privy Council, against the friend whose cause he had just defended. What confidence! or rather what refinement of oppression! Vau glas is on the point of yielding to the inspirations of his good genius, and breaking the unworthy chain which binds him to the tyrant; but his wife, who is an amiable and interesting woman, though a slave to vanity, urges him to fulfil the orders of the Minister, though she is indeed ignorant of their nature. Vauglas knows not how to proceed; he even hopes to prove serviceable to SaintPhar, by assuming the odious character of his accuser; may he not mitigate the faults ordered to be formed near Breslau, in | Sierra Leone, on hearing of Captain ble of the report. VARIETIES. FRENCH CARICATURES. The rage for When we have not evils, we generally Caricatures in Paris may be conceived by the make them for ourselves. An American 86-gun ship (the Wash-following list of those directed to a single subject within the last fortnight, viz. to the ington), and a frigate of 44 guns, are in row of the shopmen at the Théâtre de Variétés the Bay of Naples. The United States against their representative M. Calicot. seem anxious to obtain their demands upon the late, from the present Government. Russia, it is said, is mediating between these parties. A rumour of insurrections in the South of France has obtained currency, and sunk into oblivion, within the last seven days. The friends of Saint-Phar are indefatigable in their exertions to save him from disgrace. They address the Duke de Saint-Simon, who, being assured of his innocence, obliges the Regent to take under his protection him on whose destruction Dubois had shown himself so intent. The Prime Minister is under the necessity of revoking the orders he had issued; but he attaches all the blame to Vauglas, of whose conduct he communicates a report to Saint-Simon. Unmasked to the The conspirators Desbans and Chayoux eyes of his old friends, Vauglas is deprived were shot to death on the plain of Greof his places, and the good Abbe Dubois kindly nelle on Saturday last, pursuant to their advises him to quit Paris. The generous sentence. The French papers, as usual, commandant, in his turn, offers him an asy- have romantic details of the vain heroism lum. But Vauglas prefers retiring to the residence of a young advocate and his wife: displayed by these ruffians at their execu-he has contributed to bring about the tion;-union of this happy couple, and in their be- "A Rope so charming a Zone is!" nedictions he finds an alleviation of his tor- The seditious persons in confinement ment. In the bosom of this amiable family at Lancaster, who were apprehended in he hopes to regain that tranquillity of heart the midst of their mad scheme to march which is banished from the sphere of a cor- to London in a body, have been disrupt government and a licentious court. Our Continental neighbours are very religious-upon the Stage! The Maccabees and the Tournois are announced as forthcoming at the Ambigu: the Passage of the Red Sea, at La Gaiete: the Faithless Wives, at the Porte St. Martin: and Atala, (dramatized from the episode in the "Génie du Christianisme") at the Cirque de Franconi. DIGEST OF POLITICS AND charged without being brought to trial. The Marchioness of Sligo died on the Mr. Huskisson, we are sorry to state, has met with an accident which fractured his arm, as he was pursuing his beneficial Not long since the Daily Press was inquiries into the state of the national wont to introduce, what is called the woods and forests, near Havant, last leaded article, with an apology for being week. barren, if the News of the Day did not We are truly sorry to see from the Newsoffer some striking facts for illustration papers that the attempt to explore the and comment. We must do the same interior of Africa by the expedition sent with the News of the Week. There is to the windward coast has proved equally literally nothing to record, and we enter abortive with that which was sent up the not into discussions which belong to Congo (of which the only narrative which party views. has yet been given, appears periodically "M. Calicot returning from the Combat of the Mountains falls expiring into the arms of Madame Muslinet, (Perkaline.)" "M. Calicot fatigued with toil." have not made the curtain drop." "The return of Calicot, or the Calicots "Double Calicot; the first in time of the Mountains; his half-ell broken." 1817." "The Calicots in Vedettes, or the investment of an Author's House." "The despair of Jocrisse-Calicot." "Calicot's departure for the combat." "The combat of the Russian Mountains, or the Folly Beaujon." "Calicot armed Chevalier." "We swear the fall of the curtain!" "Calicot enraged." "Calicot's exploit in exercising his functions." "Reception of a Knight of the Half-ell, and his entry upon the field of honour." "The Magazin de Calicots in good order." "M. Calicot in actual service." "The Modern Gladiator." "M. Calicot reforming." "Toilette of M. Calicot. I want mustachios too, Papa." "Miss Muslin cuirassing M. Calicot." Mountains of the Variétés." "Packing up of Calicots." "Miss Muslin taking off the (paper) cui- "The Calicots at the Bois de Boulogne." by the Correctional Police, for the riot at the The weather still continues favourable in the Literary Gazette). A letter from to the Harvest, and the crops of the Sierra Leone, of June 30, states, that in-what is still worse for them, three of these southern part of the kingdom are now telligence of the failure had arrived at unfortunate Calicots have been condemned safely housed in the barns of the farmer. that place a few days before. Captain A little longer continuance of this bless-CAMPBELL was reported to have died ing will, we trust, secure the produce of of a broken heart, and the expedition Scotland. The price of grain has fallen was expected to return. The second very considerably. The Typhus fever Naval Officer in command, who had been in Ireland still rages, but we rejoice to left at Sierra Leone on account of ill add with decreased violence. health, but was recovered and on his A corps of 10,000 men have been way to join the expedition, returned to Population of Denmark, Births in 1816 32,125 Deaths. Increase of the population 22,740 9,385 |