In the First Class of Litera Humaniores. In the First Class of Discip. Mathemat. et Baring, Francis, Christ Church. In the Second Class of Litera Humaniores. et Phys. CAMBRIDGE, Dec. 18.-The Hulseau prize | sonally acquainted with his predecessor, M. for the present year is adjudged to Mr. John de Choiseul Gouffier, the new academician Weller, B. A. of Emmanuel college, for his could not enter into many biographic dedissertation on "The probable causes of the tails. He confined himself principally to apparent neglect with which some celebrated pronouncing an eulogium on the Voyage pitwriters of antiquity treated the Christian toresque de la Grèce, and the negociations religion." carried on at Constantinople by the author The following is the subject of the Hul- of that excellent work, when he was apsean prize dissertation for the ensuing year: pointed ambassador from France to the "The probable influence of Revelation Porte. upon the writings of the Heathen Philosophers and the morals of the Heathen World." The subject of the English poem for the Chancellor's third gold medal for the ensuing year is " Imperial and papal Rome." INSTITUTE OF FRANCE. Public Sitting of the French Academy, held on the 30th of November, for the admission of M M. Laya and Roger. [The curious anecdotes noticed in the Parisian accounts of this sitting, recommend it as unusually interesting to the English reader.] It is impossible to describe the anxiety which was manifested to obtain places at this public sitting, or the violence with which the doors of the Academy were assailed; but the cause may be easily explained. The two canIn the Second Class of Discipl. Mathemat. didates have a vast circle of friends. To their talent, which enables them even to support a comparison with their immediate predecessors, M M. Laya and Roger unite social qualities, of which those who aspire to the literary magistracy are not always possessed, and which render the choice of the Academy a subject of general approbation. Hale, William H. Oriel College. Discip. Mathemat. Crabb, George, Magdalen Hall. The Duke de Levis, in reply to M. Laya, entered into various political considerations, which were perfectly appropriate in the eulogium of a man so nobly faithful to the old monarchy of France as M. de Choiseul. It excited great interest, and afforded much satisfaction. M. Roger, in rising to deliver the eulogium on M. Suard, observed, that he wished to draw the attention of the auditory to the man rather than to the scholar. This mode of treating the subject furnished the ingenious author of the Avocat and the Revanche, with an opportunity of making some sketches of manners, which excited the most lively interest. M. Roger looked back to the youthful days of the Patriarch of literature, and represented him, when at a very early age, giving the most unequivocal proofs of an excellent character. panion of young Suard, had the misfortune 3 A certain law student, the intimate comto kill, in a duel, an officer who was connected with a noble and powerful family. The criminal immediately fled, and the wit ness of the duel was arrested :-this witness proved to be young Suard. He was asked the name of the criminal, and was informed that he must either deliver him up to justice, The two candidates on this occasion had or submit to be imprisoned in his stead. In the honour of speaking in the presence of a this critical moment, our generous student more brilliant assemblage than has for a called to mind the sublime exclamation of long period graced an academic sitting, and Philoxenus "Let me be taken back to the they besides enjoyed the advantage of expatiating on fecund and happy subjects.-intimidate him; he was sent a prisoner to quarries!" No threat, no violence could The eulogium on M. Choiseul, of course the Sainte Marguerite Isles, where he rereceived additional interest from the lustremained thirteen long months. It is said. of his name, the recollection of his great that when the jailor was proceeding to faster qualities, and the celebrity of his works. the irons on his feet, he inquired with a Who would not derive inspiration from con-phlegmatic air, whether his hands were not to templating the ardent soul and the brilliant be ironed likewise....... This early trait o imagination of that painter, who has so elo- character must necessarily have been follow quently described the ruins of Greece, and the tombs of Priam and Achilles? Who could refrain from gathering those variegated and odoriferous flowers, which the sensible and witty traveller has so plentifully scat ed by pure and gracious actions. Thus in all the other circumstances of his life, M Suard pursued, with a firm step, the path o honour and virtue. Yesterday the following gentlemen were tered along his path, whether he describes M. Roger mentioned in high terms o admitted to Degrees : DOCTORS IN DIVINITY. the dance of the modern Ionians, whether praise, the translation of the history o he leads us to the religious solitudes of Charles V., a translation, the brilliant suc Rev. George Augustus Lamb, of Magdalen Patmos, or whether he traverses amidst bar-cess of which was confirmed by the suffrage College. barians those hills on which repose the of the most eminent literary characters i poetic ashes of Ilion, those marshes which have engulphed the palaces of voluptuous Miletus, or those valleys of Rhodes, where the echo of the mountains, and the murmur BACHELORS OF ARTS. Mr. Baden Powell, of Oriel College. Mr. Henry Baker Tristram, of Christ Church. Mr. Cornelius Cooper, of Magdalen Hall. Mr. John Lindsay Young, of Brasennose College. Mr. William Joseph Walker, of Brasennose College. Mr. James Hall, of Wadham College. - Mr. Henry Sissmore, of Wadham College. ing of the rivulets, seem still to repeat the accents of the Doric reed? M. Laya delivered a discourse which was listened to with the warmest interest. Not having enjoyed the advantage of being per England, particularly the philosopher Hum the original work. He likewise gave a spi and the illustrious Robertson, the author rited description of the famous musica war, in which M. Suard took a most consp cuous part; we quote the following passage from the discourse: 2 See our Biographical Sketch of him in th Our readers are aware that the newly-Literary Gazette of November. elected members of the French Institute always pronounce an eulogy on their predecessors. 3 Our account stated that Suard himse killed the officer. that war, so puerile in its object, so astonish- that princes should have such historians!"ing for its duration, that musical war, the Perhaps so," replied the old man," but it grotesque, but faithful image of the melan- would be still more unfortunate if no such choly political divisions by which we have historians existed, to keep bad princes in since been divided." awe." "Two parties were formed; the names of Gluck and Piccini were the rallying cries. The nobleman, the citizen, the soldier, the lawyer, the artist, and the artizan, all participated in the contest; all took up arms and marched to battle. Discord pervaded every mind, and raged in our theatres, our promenades, our cafés, and even in our academies Peace was no-where to be found. Parties of every description, dinners and suppers, so calculated to produce reconciliation, were forsaken. No one thought of inquiring whether a woman was handsome or accomplished; whether a fool was rich; whether a magistrate was an honest man; or whether a physician was skilful;-are you a Gluckist, or a Piccinist? An answer to that question supplied the place of every other; those who are of our opinion, deserve our esteem; those who are not, are either rogues or fools; there must be no intermediate party, to be moderate is to be treacherous." The political character of M. Suard belongs to the history of our discords, and is connected with it in the most honorable way. The persecutions he experienced perhaps constitute his best title to immortality. He braved the revolutionists, resisted the orders of Buonaparte, and when called upon to rectify public opinion on the subject. of the death of the Duke D'Enghien, and the trial of Moreau, he replied by the following courageous letter: "I have now, Sir, attained my 73d year; but my character, like my vigor of constitution, still remains unimpaired by age. I wish to close my career as I have heretofore pursued it. The first subject on which you require me to write, is a stroke of policy which has deeply afflicted me, because it is an act of violence, repugnant to all my ideas of natural equity and political justice. "The second cause of public discontent. arises from the manifest interference of the government, in a case which has been submitted to the decision of a Court of Justice. For my own part, I know of no act of power more naturally calculated to render every citizen apprehensive for his personal safety.-You see, Sir, that I cannot rectify a general opinion in which I myself participate.' Buonaparte never failed to hold a private tête-à-tête with M. Suard, whenever a deputation from the Institute appeared at the Tuileries, and he usually turned the conversation on the subject of ancient history. On one of these occasions he expressed his astonishment at the hatred attached to the inemory of the tyrants of Rome. "Your Ta citus," said he one day to M. Suard," is a mere declaimer, an impostor, who has ca. lumniated Nero....that he has calumniated him cannot be doubted, for Nero was regretted by the people. How unfortunate 'The readers of the Literary Gazette are already acquainted with some of the particulars of this extraordinary musical war, which beat the Logierian dispute, at present raging in London, all the world to nothing. The sitting closed at half past five. All the academicians in Paris were present; and, among others, Prince Talleyrand, and the Duke de Ragusa. Among the foreigners of distinction was Prince Kourakin. ORIGINAL POETRY. The following circumstance occurred in a Spanish Village, during that period of horrors, the French Invasion. "Let them come-they know us now- "We will not to the mountains go, Rose an aged man, and said, Let desolation meet his view, DRURY LANE. OUTWITTED AT LAST.-After many postponements, we had on Saturday the Opera of Outwitted at Last; we should not have been sorry had it been postponed to the Greck Calends. It is a lamentable piece of work: very long, very dull, very insipid, very inartificial as a vet.icle for music, very improbable as a drama, and, in short, devoid of a single redeeming quality to save it from utter condemnation. It is impossible to imagine what could have induced any managers to bring forward a thing so entirely worthless: disappointed authors accuse them of rejecting a great deal, but we are sure no one can charge them with being hard to please, if they recognise such trash as this as worthy of the stage. In truth it is a strong impeachment of their judgment; and unless it may come to pass through ac "Twas said—and each man straightway bore cident, we can never expect discerning se A faggot to his cottage door; The invaders came-no human sound At length, more dim the flashes came, And sunk by slow degrees the flame.""Tis past, the foe has done his worst”— "For this, be all their host accnrst." With a wild and fearful shout, Then rushed they from the cavern out; And o'er the array which wound below, Hurled prophecy of vengeance-woe. ISABEL. THE BIRD. Behold yon linnet,-silly thing! How hard he labours there ;His notes, which so enliven'd spring, No longer charm the air. What can the warbler now regret, No food has he to seek? Ah! why not there contented yet, With every joy replete ? Why does he pant to soar the skies, Where once he sang so sweet?— His mate, alas! he ever sighs Again in groves to meet. lections to be made by those who could sanction the performance of this tissue of inanity and nonsense. The decline of the British Stage has of late years been but too apparent; yet it has been somewhat gradual, with a ray of brightness occasionally darting through the profound, till now when it seems to have arrived at galloping and hopeless consumption. As for the present opera, though it is not likely to live even to the date of our publication, it may be expected that we should give some account of it to justify the decisive sentence of reprobation which we have pronounced. The characters areSir Staunch Stakeacre, Sir Robert Worldly, Mr. J. Smith. Mr. Pope. Reuben Worldly, (his brother) Mr. H. Johnston. Commodore Danvers, Mr. Dowton. Mr. T. Cooke, Mr. Powell. Mr. Harley. Mr. Oxberry. Mr. Smith. Susan, (Miss Danvers' maid) Choruses of fishermen and colliers are liberally and gratuitously thrown into the bargain; as they have nothing on earth, under earth, or on water to do with the business of the opera. The fishermen however commence the piece very ominously with flounders, and the author flounders on till the end of it, without aim, meaning, or very COVENT GARDEN. Guy Mannering, with Braham's songs, continues to attract good houses alternately with tragedies; and the farce of Husbands and Wives seems to have lost none of its power over the risible muscles. It has been played every night, and we have no novelties to record. entertainment. The story is so foolish that it is not said, and it is not material which. | astonishment": we hope the time is at hand it is scarcely susceptible of detail. Miss A pother ensues when more convenient, and when such raptures at such exhibitions will Danvers is somehow a ward to Sir R. the Commodore orders the country to be be" surprizingly uncommon." Worldly, who, though her father, the Com-scoured, while he recounts his history" even modore, is alive and appears to act in his from his boyish days, to the very moment" own proper person, has so extraordinary an at which he has arrived. During this edi- We are to sorry to observe that the New authority over her as to endeavour to force fying discourse, the chaises break down as Tragedy is postponed sine die, on account of her into a hateful marriage with Stakeacre, in duty bound, the fugitives sing solos, and the continued illness of Mr. Charles Kemble. and separate her from her favoured lover duets, and trios; and then all come back On Monday, Romeo and Juliet was substitutHarcourt. To avoid this ill-contrived di- again to grace the finalè, every one satisfied ed for the Orphan, which had been advertizlemma, she consents to clope with the lat-with the impositions practised upon them, ed, and Mr. Abbott performed Romeo, in ter; and this design being discovered by the and the villainy of their respective asso- consequence of the indisposition of Mr. guardian, he counter-plots most absurdly to ciates. We had forgot to say that the ser- Macready. In this part, he acquitted himSubstitute his protégé for the Captain in the vants are frequently discharged and not dis- self very ably, and regretting the cause, we dark. This counter-plot again being found charged, ordered not to speak to and then rejoiced in the opportunity afforded to so out by the opposite party, they dig a mine to instruct each other, found worthless and deserving an actor, of appearing advantagedeeper, and contrive to palm Eugenia upon then made confidants; of course they cut a ously before the public. Miss O'Neill's Stakeacre, instead of Rosanthe. All this conspicuous figure in the intrigues of the Juliet was exquisitely fine. night scene takes place accordingly, some- opera, and the males caricature Bobby where in the second act, and to crown its Acres' duel in the most effective way to shew imbecility, Sir Robert plays at bo-peep with how a good thing may be rendered worse the runaways from a balcony. From this than no-thing. part the opera takes its title of Outwitted at Such is this opera; guiltless of one partiLast; but our readers must not suppose from cle of humour, of one stroke of wit, of one the cheering sounds of the two last words tolerable song, of one amusing incident, of that the audience were by many miles near one passable scene, of one grain of consist- On Wednesday King John was played, the termination of their misfortunes. By ency;-a matchless example of prosing stu-King John, Mr. Young, Constance, Miss no means! only one half of their sufferings pidity and insufferable dullness. None of O'Neill, and Falconbridge, Mr. Charles had yet been endured; and the patience with the performers had a chance or opportunity Kemble. With all Mr. Young's merit it is, which they underwent the remainder, re- of distinguishing themselves. The we think, impossible for any actor to fill up minded us of the stoical Indian, who after clap-traps, of which there was no scarcity, the idea of this character which we have rebeing pinched, parboiled, flead, roasted, and were so vapid, they fell like dead weights. ceived from his predecessor. Miss O'Neill's scarified for two hours, phlegmatically ob- The music is by Mr. G. Lanza, and re- Constance has not the deep tone of maternal served to his tormentors, "I wish you would markable for a sameness which destroys its despair; she is always affecting, but there change the tearing with red hot pincers, I only merit, simplicity. A slow, followed by is a preternatural sternness and solemnity am tired of that kind of torture." To relieve a quick, movement is the variety invariable. about the afflictions of Constance, which do the tædium of what we have described, we The Opera itself is the production of Mr. not fall within her powers. The public will are now introduced to a ruined and disin- Earle, jun. a bookseller. He had better stick rejoice with us in the return to his profesherited brother of Sir R. Worldly, who sues to "The Row"-the same word in the broader sional duties of Mr. C. Kemble, this evenin the most melancholy manner, but in vain, theatrical style of pronunciation is not pleasing's Falconbridge, and particularly as it for relief from his obdurate relative. Siring, and cannot be advantageous. is one of his best parts, and not surpassed by Robert flings away from him, but kindly leaves half a dozen gross bags full of money we were surprized that the adventure of Witnessing the reception of the first night any of its kind upon the stage. on his table, almost saying "Come Sir, repetition should be tried. But as the Play help yourself." Mr. Reuben, however, Bills declare (these are not True Bills found after a terrible tirade, resists the invitation. by the Grand Jury, the Public) that it was He rates the money-bags very roundly, and, received by a crowded audience with every have been barren of news. The foreign journals since our last dashing one of these unoffending innocents mark of the highest approbation, the mana-Paris are filled with the discussions of Those of cruelly upon the floor, goes home to his wife, gers are no doubt wise, in continuing a per the Chamber of Deputies, on the projét who, the children being most fortunately in formance, which draws such Crowds, and bed (a miraculous escape for the audience), mects with such high applause !!! relating to the liberty of the press. As sings him a song-very arrant nonsense, but exceedingly calming to his perturbed spirits. Better luck soon follows; near the end, there comes in Mr. Entail, whose name and appearance at the close is the single piece of wit in the opera; and he produces the strangest will that ever was thought of even in a farce, for it either is made two years after the testator is dead and buried, or is to all intents and purposes as good,-for it reLILLIPUT. Much as we disapprove of this vokes old Worldly's original' testament, entertainment which has been frequently takes all his property back from his son Ro-repeated, it is evident that the town does not bert, who had enjoyed it two years, and con- dislike it; and one good effect will flow from veys it cleanly and legally to his son Reu- the experiment: while it demonstrates a ben! The author with singular felicity vitiated taste in a great mass of the public, it avoids a Chancery suit (which might have will contribute largely to the funds of the been as tedious as the opera), on this occa- theatre;-a circumstance in which every sion; and brings on Commodore Danvers lover of the drama must rejoice, however and Mainstay, a wretched imitation of Sir ardent the wish that the benefit flowed from George Thunder and John Dory. They a more reputable source. In the elegant reach Sir Robert's at midnight, just after the style of the Drury Lane Literati, the uncomflight of the young folks, and therefore in monly surprizing talents of the children, excite the next scene sit down to tea or breakfast, not only the most rapturous cheers, but DIGEST OF POLITICS AND the first time since his indisposition, as the subject, and there remain about forty has had recourse to another loan to the contractors are nearly the same as on a amount of eight millions sterling; the former occasion, Barings, Rothschild, &c. M. The minister De Caze has accepted another place in the royal household, without relinquishing the police. Laine has resigned, and is succeeded in the interior by Count Mole, a celebrated Buonapartist. The intelligence from South America continues to be contradictory and fallacious. We are glad to hear a rumour that the mediation of the European Sove-tance from cabal and conspiracy. As brilliant in atmospheres in which the flame reigns has been offered between Spain we take no part in politics, but have of the safety lamp is extinguished, and which and the colonies; and trust it will be been, we know not on what grounds, acburns in every mixture of carburetted hydroeffectual in restoring tranquillity on terms cused of party feelings, we beg here to gen gas that is respirable. It consists of a slender metallic tissue of platinum, which is honourable and advantageous to both. say that our only party is our country, hung in the top of the interior of the comThe King of Spain has issued a decree not its divisions, and that we are only mon lamp of wire gauze, or in that of the granting immunities to settlers in Cuba. opposed to her enemies. Considering twilled lamp. It costs from 6d. to 1s., and It has strangely enough been taken up Buonaparte as the bitterest of those, we is imperishable. This tissue, when the comfiercely as an English party question; cannot conceive that any Briton can at mon lamp is introduced into an explosive though we can conceive nothing less the same time love him and his native atmosphere, becomes red hot, and continues connected with British feelings or in-land, or desire at the same time his libe- to burn the gas in contact with it as long as the air is respirable; when the atmosphere terests. With not only the Americas, but ration and England's prosperity. again becomes explosive, the flame is rethe Ionian islands, the Cape of Good The United States Minister to the lighted. I can now burn any inflammable Hope, &c. &c., inviting our emigrants to Court of Great Britain has arrived in this vapour either with or without flame, at colonize them, it is surely altogether im-country. He came in the Franklin, the pleasure, and make the wire consume it probable that five British subjects should first American seventy-four which has with either red or white heat. I was led to think of choosing Cuba. entered an English port. this result by discovering slow combustions without flame; and at last I found a metal which made these harmless combustions visible." The long persecuted queen of Etruria Several more persons detained under took possession of the principality of the Habeas Corpus Suspension, have Lucca on the 24th ult. been liberated. The Princess of Wales has received the tidings of her daughter's death, and was deeply affected by this fatal blow. A la paix de l'Europe Et au retour du Roi legitime, Fait hommage de ses victoires. Very recent accounts have been re- FRENCH VERSATILITY. The celebrated ceived from India. The Madras army Column, in the Place Vendome, at Paris, is about to be put in motion; but on the which Buonaparte erected, on the model of It is with great concern we have to re- other side of the Peninsula, tranquillity Austerlitz, which were cast into a grand Trajan's pillar, with the cannon taken at cord the occurrence of one of those tre- is restored. We have been favoured with series of spiral relief, commemorative of his mendous visitations, a hurricane, in the the following original communication victories, and a Colossal Statue of the ConWest Indies. The accounts have been relative to the Peishwa, from one of the queror to surmount the whole, is well known received via America, and are we sin principal staff officers in the Indian army. to the British public. The allies, on capcerely trust exaggerated; but still there It is dated in June. turing Paris, were about to destroy this is enough of misery to afflict every heart. SUBSIDIARY TREATIES. By the monument, but at last were satisfied with The storm took place on the 21st of Oc- latest accounts from India we understand removing the statue, and the column still stands, a record of the warlike achievements tober, and swept the whole region for that Poonah, the capital of his Highness of Napoleon and his armies. It might be two hundred miles, ravaging in its course the Peishwa, was invested on the 8th of thought puzzling to mould such stubborn Antigua, Barbadoes, St. Vincent, St. Lu- May last, by the troops of his Highness's materials into a compliment to the other cie, Martinique, Dominique and Guada- subsidiary force, under the direction of powers of Europe, and to the restored moloupe. The scene of greatest horror the British resident, who required the narch; but a Frenchman's ingenuity is equal however seems to have been St. Lucie, immediate surrender of three of the to any thing in this way. One of the sides where the Government house and the strongest and most important Hill forts, low proposes that it should be filled up as is without an inscription; and a clever fel barracks were overthrown. In the former, which was immediately complied with; follows: governor lieutenant-general Seymour, his and it was surmised, that the Mahratta wife, family, and household, to the num-territory would suffer a partial dismember of fifty souls, perished: in the latter berment, to atone for his Highness's 200 military were destroyed. Where recent acts of treachery and ingratitude. such consequences ensued the situation William Hone was on Thursday tried of the whole island must have been for the publication of blasphemous Underwald, in Switzerland, preaching against dreadful. The shipping has suffered to political libels on the Creed, Lord's female extravagance in dress, exclaimed:-an unknown and appalling exteut; but Prayer, &c. in the Court of King's Bench." I declare to you, proud and frivolous woas the particulars are not ascertained it He conducted his own defence, and was men, that I abhor, that I detest you; that would be barbarity to guess at the pro- pronounced by the Jury, not Guilty, in I would prefer seeing before my eyes hell bable desolation. opposition to the summing up of the itself open, and all its population of horrid In our own seas and on our own Judge, Abbot. A more innocent publisher demons, rather than gaze for one moment on coasts, we lament to add, the disasters of Gosport is now in Winchester gaol during the last week from heavy gales for twelve-months, being condemned for and tempests, have been numerous and the same offence in an infinitely less distressing. Many gallant vessels with degree. their unfortunate crews have been lost. Buonaparte's partizan Las Cases has published a garbled letter purporting to be addressed to him by his ci-devant master before he was transported from St. Helena. It is a sort of vindication of the publisher, and worthless enough both in that point of view, and as aspersing the policy which has consigned the Corsican to perpetual banishment at a dis VARIETIES. IMPROVEMENT IN SIR HI. DAVY'S SAFETY LAMP.-Sir H. Davy has made a farther discovery in regard to combustion, which will prove a very great improvement to his safety lamp. He thus describes it in a letter to the Rev. J. Hodgson, of Heworth: "I have succeeded in producing a light perfectly safe and economical, which is most TOLERATION!-The Vicar of Saxler, Haut a fashionable woman. You will be damned you will go to hell. We shall then enjoy laugh for ever at the eternal torments which your sufferings; and the saints and we will you are experiencing." This zealous apostle was interdicted. GERMAN BON MOT.-In a German city, where it is the custom when any body is dead to cover the bell-handle with black cloth, a celebrated physician one day was going to ring at the door of a house where the bell was so covered, either to visit the relations of the deceased or another patient: somebody passing by, called to him, "Stop, Doctor, you are wrong; you have been there before!" weight, we are more at our ease in galloping with him over Italy, enjoying his anecdotes, being amused with his pictures, and laughing at his follies. Through the first pages we imagined that he was a mere chattering coxcomb, never two minutes in the same mind, and in short what is called hair-brained, who had run a few hundred miles to see two or three theatres. But he improves on acquaintance, and though the ruling passion is still strongly developed, we have a taste of other matters, which are curious in themselves, and rendered more so by the vivacity with which they are touched. A minor place of amusement is thus we have seen him display at Paris in Figaro. He never makes us feel that he uses exerI was very early at the Theatre Valle; all tion, he grows by degrees more and more the places in the pit are numbered; each animated till he comes at last to the highmust take his seat in the order in which he est transports of the passion he would reprecomes, so that if he is not there early he sent; this is the utmost degree of expression can hear nothing. I amused myself with of which his art is susceptible. Vestris, reading the regulations of the police; the Taglioni, and indeed most dancers, cannot government understands what sort of people conceal the efforts they are making, nor is it has to deal with; the laws are most hor- their dancing progressive; thus they never rible. A hundred strokes with a stick, ad- arrive at what may be called the volupté of ministered the same instant, on a scaffold the art; women in general dance better than kept constantly for the purpose, on the Place men.' Navonne, lighted by a torch, and guarded by a centinel, to any one who shall attempt ideal," the “ After a great deal more of “the beauvolupté," and such a one's to take the place of another; while a person physiognomy in dancing," we are indaring to remonstrate with the porter at the formed that San Carlo is very favourable door, who distributes the places, is sentenced to ballets, as a squadron of forty-eight horses manoeuvre with the greatest ease This is no place for an O. P. row, and upon the stage in Duport's Cinderella,― not daring to stay much longer, we hasten they are rode by Germans, and charge to take a peep at the new and magnifi-at full speed. Oh! Covent Garden, cent theatre of San Carlo, at Naples, hide your diminished head. We shall which was opened on the 12th of last conclude our theatricals with one notice January. more. "The theatre of Parma is so constructed that a piece of paper torn at the very back of the stage is heard all over The Salle (audience part) is dazzling; at the first moment of entering, I thought myself transported into the palace of some emperor of the east. Nothing can be more showy, but at the same time more majestic; two things which are not often combined On this evening I resigned myself wholly to delight. the house." Our traveller in his peregrinations met with multitudes of English, and as his sketches respecting them are diverting, we shall copy out a few of them in this place. We may preface these extracts The author is such a hop-skip-and-to the gallies for five years. jump fellow, that it is not easy to follow his motions; and we are sure it would take us infinitely more time than we are willing to bestow on his lucubrations, to endeavour to set them forth in any thing like regular form. Apologising, therefore, for want of arrangement, we shall proceed to make a cento of extracts, which will show (as we think) that this medley, with all its fantasticalness, is one of the most agreeable, for light reading, which has recently issued from the press. The Theatre of La Scala, at Milan, fills our enthusiast with raptures. There is nothing in Europe, I will not say If I were to see nothing else, my journey approaching to it, but which can give even is well paid; my exhausted organs were de-a distant idea of it. This theatre, construct-y stating that with his characteristic lighted till they were no longer susceptible ed in three hundred days, is a stroke of state inconsistency M. de Stendhal sometimes of pleasure. I saw, this evening, all that the policy; it attaches the people to their king admires and at other times denies every most luxurious eastern imagination could more than the best code of laws that could good quality to the English; that he is conceive,—the richest, the most striking, Naples with patriotism. As soon as the anti-Buonapartist, and as the fits seize have been framed; it has intoxicated all generally a liberal in his politics, but the most singular in architectural beauty ;— every thing that fancy could paint to itself name of Ferdinand is mentioned, He has him, a royalist, monarchist, revolutionist, in brilliancy of draperies.rebuilt San Carlo, they say; so easy is it admirable science in blending colours har- for a monarch to gain the affections of the &c,-in fine, the Cynthius of the minute. He protests that we have no taste moniously, is displayed in the disposition of people. the dresses; it equals the finest pictures of The boxes are painted a deep blue, with a for music, and truly, cannot distinguish Paul Veronese. profusion of gold and silver ornaments in the fine from the execrable. At a grand La Scala is the general saloon of the city;rious ways, intermingled with large bunches Rome, he says, "One thing astonished relief; chiefly golden torches grouped in va- Church service in the Jesuit's Church at there is no society excepting at this theatre, of fleurs de lis: these ornaments have a great me, that I saw two or three Englishmen not a private house is ever opened to receive air of magnificence, and produce a very rich effect; they are intersected at intervals by who really seemed to feel the music." bas-reliefs in silver; I counted twenty-six Our national feeling for painting is equally divisions. The boxes are very large, and depreciated. What company. We shall meet at La Scala, is the appointment for business of every kind. The first sight of it is quite intoxicating; I am in transports as I write this account. have no curtains; every one will hold five As I quitted the museum of ancient picThough a hundred singers or dancers or six persons in front. A superb chande-tures at Portici, I met three English navy are often seen at once on these boards, lier, blazing with light, which is suspended Captains who were going in. There are twowe shall not quote all the Count's trans- in the centre, gives amazing resplendency ports respecting this really fine theatre, to the gold and silver ornaments. which has no light in the audience part, The other parts of this Theatre corand is entirely illuminated by the lights respond with the splendour here de-I from the stage, but, by way of keeping scribed, but we have no space for further his subjects as much together as we can, details. We cannot however resist one turn to his notices of other Italian thea- other extract relative to the perform tres. At Florence, ances; who would think that dancing was the subject of criticism? Every thing is poor in the theatre; dresses, decorations, singers; they are not better than we find in a third rate town in France. There are no ballets except during the Carnival. and-twenty apartments. I went almost in a gallop the whole way to Naples, but before arrived at the bridge of the Magdalena, was joined by these three gentlemen, who said that the collection of paintings was admirable, one of the most curious sights in the universe. They must have been there about three or four minutes.' But his anecdotes of the English are more picquant than his opinions ;-we The public were lavish to excess in their applause, the King setting the example. I The author is equally conversant with our heard his Majesty's voice up in my box; literature: he tells us that "the Martinus the transports were carried almost to mad- Scriblerus of Arbuthnot is forgotten in England At Rome, the theatre Argentina is re-ness. The ballet lasted three quarters of an as a satire, the wit of which has become obsopresented as miserable in every respect. hour. Dupont danced with all the agility lete." |