San Juan and the Lake of Nicaragua, and to the isthmus of Tehuantepec. The celerity of the operations would enable us to form a just estimate of the advantages which each of the proposed points presents; and the company of the first survey, after having selected the most eligible spot for the work, might make an appeal to the public for the purpose of increasing their funds, and erecting themselves into a company of execution, either, as it may be hoped, for an oceanic navigable canal, or for small canals of limited extent.'

In the notes to the chapter, which treats of Venezuela, M. de Humboldt has collected an immense store of geological information concerning the country, for which we must refer to the volume itself. He then resumes the narrative of his travels, which, in truth, seems to be lengthened out by the introduction of many circumstances, that, however interesting they might have been twenty years ago, have now lost in a considerable degree their attraction. From Venezuela he proceeded to Cuba, where the termination of this volume leaves him. We find, however, in this part of the narrative, some calculations as to the state of the 'black' population of the two Americas, which are worth attention. It appears that, in the American Antilles, the number of Negroes is 1,090,000; in the United States, 1,650,000; in the Brazils, 1,800,000; in the Spanish continental colonies, 307,000; in the English, Dutch, and French Guyanas, 200,000, -making a total of 5,047,000. The number of free Negroes is estimated as follows: In Hayti and the other Antilles, 870,000; in the United States, 270,000; in the Brazils, about 160,000; in the Spanish continental colonies, 80,000; in the English, Dutch, and French Guyanas 6000,-making a total of 1,386,000 of free Negroes in the New World.

M. de Humboldt has given the following highly interesting table of the distribution of the whole population of the Americas, according to the difference of their religions:

1. Roman Catholics,

22,486,000

It is to be understood that this table exhibits, under the two first heads, only the great divisions of the Christian communities. M. de Humboldt thinks that the number of Protestants in the whole of continental and insular America, from the southern extremity of Chili to Greenland, is to that of Catholics as one to two. There exist in the western coast of North America several thousand individuals who follow the Greek worship.

The English language is spoken in the New World by 11,647,000 out of the whole population; the Spanish, by 10,504,000; the Indian, by 7,593,000; the Portuguese, by 3,740,000; the French, by 1,242,000; the Dutch, Danish, and Swedish, by 216,000.

The greater portion of this volume consists of notes and tables, which are unquestionably of great value, and exhibit an extent of study and observation unrivalled by any traveller, ancient or modern. It were however to be desired, that M. de Humboldt had arranged his vast stores in a more concise and digested form; for in their present shape, few persons will consult his volumes unless for the purposes of learned research. The general reader will prefer those more modern works, which, without fatiguing his mind, will enable him to form sufficiently accurate ideas of the most interesting regions of Spanish America.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Ignotus is requested to send his name and address to the Publishers, under cover for the Editor.

THE

MONTHLY REVIEW,

For NOVEMBER, 1825.

ART. I. Reminiscences of Michael Kelly, of the King's Theatre, and Theatre Royal Drury Lane, including a Period of nearly Half a Century; with original Anecdotes of many distinguished Persons, Political, Literary, and Musical. 2 Vols. 8vo. London. Colburn. 1825.

those who feel any interest in dramatic adventures and anecdotes, these volumes will furnish an abundant supply of entertainment. As to the political and literary sketches which Mr. Kelly has scattered through his work, they are so few that they scarcely deserved to be indicated in the titlepage. They are, moreover, so highly coloured by the flattering pencil of the author, that they retain little, if any, resemblance to their originals. He frequently reminds us that, whatever his defects might be, ingratitude to his benefactors was never justly imputed to him. His Reminiscences' leave no doubt on this point; for almost every individual of whom he speaks was his best of friends,' the kindest,'' pleasantest,' noblest,'' most excellent' person that ever breathed. He seems to have been courted by all the world, and, in return, to have loved every body, high and low, with whom, in the course of his long and merry life, he formed any acquaintance. He is a perfect counterpart. of that celebrated recorder of a country borough-town, who, on being asked how he liked the mayor, answered that his worship was a most agreeable, gentlemanlike magistrate. And the aldermen? the wittiest, the most hospitable, the most jovial fellows he ever met. And the grand jurors? they were all fit to be members of Parliament: their wisdom and their knowledge of the laws were unequalled. The constables? the politest of officers, the most elegant of peace-keepers:- they were models of constables. The witnesses? there never were such witnesses: they would every man of them die sooner than tell a falsehood. The prisoners? the honestest prisoners, and the most respectable men, that ever entered a jail. The hangman? it was a pleasure

VOL. CVIII.

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pleasure to be submitted to his care: he tied the noose so mildly, and sent a man to the other world with such "tender assiduity !"

To the King, in truth, honest Michael seems to be not a little indebted, and the expression of his gratitude is certainly not scanty. Considering the condescension with which that illustrious person seems to have treated him, he may, perhaps, be excused for the sort of menial eulogies which escape so often from his pen, whenever he makes the slightest allusion to his royal master. But the laudatory strain becomes tiresome, when we see that it is indiscriminately sounded on every occasion. Indeed, to such an extent is this carried, that he sings his own praises with as much complacency as those of any other person. This high opinion of his own merits, however, is not the least amusing characteristic of his volumes, particularly as it is conveyed in a tone of gaiety and humour perfectly Hibernian. The wit and drollery of his country peep out laughing through almost every incident which he relates. His love of conviviality, his social temper, his devotion to the god of wine, and particularly to the Bacchus of his native hills, seem to have led him into many scenes of pleasure, which were purchased, with the usual imprudence of Irishmen, at an expense greatly beyond his means. He does not at all conceal the errors of his life; and, to do him justice, they were not a few. He was an universal favourite with the women; a delightful companion over a bowl of punch of his own making; and he certainly appears to have benefitted of his various qualifications, in order to drain the cup of life of all the intoxicating liquor which it contained. He has also had his share of the lees, though they seem not to have, in any degree, affected the genial current of his mind.

Mr. Kelly informs us that he was born in Dublin, the year he forgets to mention. His taste for musical pursuits was infused into him at a very early age, in a manner quite worthy of his after-life.

Trifling occurrences during childhood often influence our future lives, I recollect once, when returning from a visit to a relation of my mother's, I saw Signor St. Giorgio enter a fruitshop; he proceeded to eat peaches and nectarines, and at last took a pine-apple, and deliberately sliced and ate that. This completed my longing, and while my mouth watered, I asked myself why, if I assiduously studied music, I should not be able to earn money enough to lounge about in fruit-shops, and eat peaches and pine-apples as well as Signor St. Giorgio. I answered myself by promising that I would study hard; and I really did so ; and, trifling as this little anecdote may appear, I firmly believe it was

the

the chief cause of my serious resolution to follow up music as a profession; for my father had other views for me.'

At a very early age he was sent to Naples, in order to enjoy the advantage of the best masters. After a short period of study, he seems to have set up in the world for himself, and to have found admission into the best circles of that gay city, through the patronage of Sir William Hamil His observations on the theatres and societies which he frequented, differ little from those of other travellers. From Naples he made a short visit to Rome, to see the Carnival, which, he says, threw him into a delirium of pleasure.' His account of the Roman critics is highly amusing,

ton.

The Romans assume that they are the most sapient critics in the world; they are certainly the most severe ones:- they have no medium, all is delight or disgust. If asked whether a performance or a piece has been successful, the answer, if favourable, is, è andato al settimo cielo," "it has ascended to the seventh heaven." If it has failed, they say, "è andato al abbisso del inferno," "it has sunk to the abyss of hell." The severest critics are the abbes, who sit in the first row of the pit, each armed with a lighted wax-taper in one hand, and a book of the opera in the other, and should any poor devil of a singer miss a word, they call out, 66 Bravo, bestia!"—" Bravo, you beast!"

.!

It is customary for the composer of an opera to preside at the piano-forte the first three nights of its performance, and a precious time he has of it in Rome. Should any passage in the music strike the audience as similar to one of another composer, they Bravo, il ladro!" cry, 66 "Bravo, you thief!" or, Bravo, Paesiello! Bravo, Sacchini !" if they suppose the passage stolen from them, "The curse of God light on him who first put a pen into your hand to write music!" This I heard said, in the Teatro del Åltiberti, to the celebrated composer Gazzaniga, who was obliged to sit patiently at the piano-forte to hear the flattering commendation.

Cimarosa, who was their idol as a composer, was once so unfortunate as to make use of a movement in a comic opera, at the Teatro del La Valle, which reminded them of one of his own, in an opera composed by him for the preceding carnival. An abbé started up, and said, "Bravo, Cimarosa! you are welcome from Naples; by your music of to-night, it is clear you have neither left your trunk behind you, nor your old music; you are an excellent cook in hashing up old dishes!"

Poggi, the most celebrated buffo singer of his day, always dreaded appearing before these stony-hearted critics; however, tempted by a large sum, he accepted an engagement at the Teatro del La Valle. He arrived in Rome some weeks previous to his engagement, hoping to make friends, and form a party in his favour; he procured introductions to the most severe and scurri

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lous,