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among the Furies,"-or, glory to have 'scaped the Stygian Pool!" She has a voice of great depth and richness, and an honest straight-forward nature, of which we heartily wish Mr. Elliston, who must be acquainted with her merit, would allow to gladden his theatre,

Mr. Kean's benefit-always, as it ought to be, an occasion of high interest in the theatrical world—this year, not only filled Drury Lane, but also the rival theatre. He performed Jaffier, which is, we should imagine, one of the most arduous parts for an actor in the whole range of tragedy. It is a long and weary part-with no very prominent passages and no scope for that exertion of energetic will which Mr. Kean is so fitted to embody. In the earlier scenes he was ineffective, for he is a wretched declaimer; but he kindled with the passion, and where it broke into tenderness, melted all hearts by his tremulous tones and little quiverings of anguish. The finest thing in the performance was his way of telling Belvidera that his friend had struck him: his whole nature seemed to recoil at the indignity in extremest agony, and his action of bewildered shame was most true and affecting. Mr. Elliston was the Pierre; but, as he resembles that gay villain in one thing, that "he has done the state some service," we will say nothing of the points in which his dissimilarity was obvious. Belvidera was well performed by Mrs. M'Gibbon, who played the part neither so loudly nor so lusciously as is usual. But the great source of attraction was evidently the farce, in which Mr. Kean had promised his friends to display the accomplishments of the admirable Crichton, and in an introductory address, delivered by Mr. Russell, suffered himself to be nick-named "The admirable Kean." Alas! for human hopes! He discovered great sweetness of voice, and some skill in the art of fencing; but before he had reached the summit of his ambition as Harlequin, he sprained his ancle in a vain attempt to dance with Miss Vallancey, and was afterwards able to exhibit nothing but his powers of mimickry. We are so sorry for the result of his frolic, which has deprived the stage of his real merit ever since, that we shall only express our feeling, that the man who can play Othello as he does, will add little to his reputation, by shewing that he is the best dancer or mimic in the world.

A novelty on the English stage-a traNEW MONTHLY MAG.-No. 78.

gical opera in blank verse-has been produced at this theatre with success. We do not wish to see the experiment often repeated; but this once we shall not complain. The story, which is founded on the murder of Rizzio in the presence of Mary Queen of Scots, seems to us happily selected; because it affords a fit opportunity for the introduction of the refinements of Italian music, and the sweet and plaintive simplicity of the Scotch. The author, in representing hist hero as softening the heart of an assassin who is meditating his death, while he is unconsciously singing, has at once finely complimented the influences of the musician, and has made his song contribute to the action. The language of the piece is of the best order of common-place throughout, and sometimes touches on the fanciful; but we, for the most part, dislike blank verse, except when the representation is sufficiently dignified to become ideal, and the thoughts are such as voluntarily move harmonious numbers." The music is almost entirely good, though in very different styles; for the airs by Braham are among his best; a song and chaunt by Attwood are worthy the pupil of Mozart; and the selection from the old Scotch tunes, which are to our hearts the choicest in the world, is singularly judicious, Mr. Braham, as Rizzio, sings as well, and Miss Carew, as Lady Mary, better than ever. The scenery is superior to that usually exhibited on this stage, but it yet wants the freshness and the glory" of that which contributes so largely to the attractions of the rival theatre.

66

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.

We have said, on some former occasion, that Macready is the most romantic of actors. Since his performance of Macbeth, we may yield him this praise in a higher sense than before. If, in Rob Roy, he embodied a character of prose romance-one into whose manly heart the craggs and lone hills and rolling mists had sent their influenceshere he has pictured to us the hero of the most romantic poetry-one on whose soul the shadows of things not seen by vulgar eyes are resting, one whom the spirits of the earth fascinate, and about whose path airy spells are hovering to enchain and to delude him. Macready, from the time of the appearance of the Weird Sisters, looked and moved bewilderedly, seemed visibly acted on rather than acting, and spoke as in a fearful dream. His mode of delivering the soVOL. XIV. M

Kiloquy was beautiful and new; instead of starting suddenly as at a ghost, he looked about amazedly, gradually recognized the phantom of the heat-oppressed brain, and awakened from the vision only to a shuddering sense of real and deeper horror. The scarcely mortal tones with which he gave the last lines-the trembling of his hand on the lock of the fatal chamber, and his stealthy gliding into it, left the audience in a hushed expectation. Still finer was his entrance after the deed his delivery of the first speeches in a frightful whisper-his vivid picture of agony when the stupor ceased and his mode of giving the speeches of "I could not say Amen, when they did say God bless us," and the heartbleeding description of" The innocent sleep." No one can give a speech in which, amidst the passion, there is a parenthetical beauty-as in this last like him; his noble voice breaks into the calmly imaginative, and gently gives the placid image, and then rushes on with the passion, as if its course had never been interrupted, with a delicate discrimination and an all-pervading harmony. His performance of the banquetscene, which all his predecessors whom we have seen either slurred over or mangled, was almost perfeet. Instead of bullying the ghost from the room, he trembled from it, sunk exhausted on a chair, and covered his face with his hands, exclaiming, "Hence, horrible shadow-unreal mockery, hence," in the tone not of command, but of agony. In the last act he most powerfully exhibited the fearful struggle with destiny; in which he seemed to bear up so bravely, that we could scarcely believe he was to fall. Terry's Macduff was alternately energetic and affecting. Mrs. Bunn and Mrs. Faucit have played Lady Macbeth in turns, both respectably and more we do not expect, or even desire. We should almost regret a tolerably successful attempt to give some image of this character, lest it should disturb that one sublime remembrance which yet remains "in unapproachable divinity" in the stateliest chambers of the soul.

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to anticipate. The vast religious interest of the original is not, and could not be, transferred to the acted drama; but all the other parts of the story are brought out with a power, and wrought with a skill, which leaves a less chasm than could have been expected. The wrestling-match at the inn between Burley and Bothwell-the scene in the loft, where Burley's remorse so tremendously shakes, yet does not burst the armour of fanaticism with which his soul is girded

the perils of Henry before Claverhouse, and his deliverance-his awful situation in the lone house where the Covenanters are waiting for his blood till the Sabbath shall expire-and the scene in the cave between Burley and Morton-though some of their strange solemnity is gone, have all the life and passion with which they are instinct in the novel. The catastrophe, indeed, is greatly improved from the original, where it is contrived with singular lack of skill. Mr. Huntley's dress and appearance as Balfour-except that he is somewhat too tall-admirably realize our ideas of the outward man of the holy assassin. His acting is no less excellent, and, if propriety suffered him to pour forth the scriptural language of the novel, would be sublime. Mr. Watkins plays Morton in a fine, gallant style, worthy of the character. Fitzwilliam is very clever in Cuddie; but there is too much consciousness in his humour. Mrs. Dibdin performs Lady Margaret with dignity and easeMiss Taylor, Edith with delicacy and pathos and Miss Copeland, Jenny Dennison with as pretty rustic coquetry and genuine naïveté as heart could wish. The whole is very interesting, especially the scene in the cavern, where Morton bursts on Burley in his awful moment of self-conflict to recover the deeds of Lady Margaret's estate, seizes them from the flames, and leaps the tremendous chasm in safety. This wild and fearful scene is set visibly before us. In the battle of Bothwell Brigg, with which the piece concludes, Burley, stricken over the battlements, but clinging to them with his feet, fights with his head downwards till he expires -an improvement in the art of " bravely dying" which we recommend to the serious attention of Mr. Kean.

GREAT BRITAIN.

VARIETIES.

Cambridge, May 26.-The Hebrew University Scholarship for the present year has, after a long investigation, been decided in favour of George Attwood, B. A. of Pembroke Hall; and to John Jowett Stevens, B. A. scholar of Jesus College, the sum of £20 was voted to be presented as a premium for the great knowledge of Hebrew displayed by him in the examination.-The Chancellor's gold medal for the best English poem, for the present year, is adjudged to Mr. G. E. Scott, of Trinity Hall-subject, "Waterloo."

Our scientific readers will hear with plea

sure of the intended establishment of two new Observatories. One of these we have already mentioned; it is to be at the expense of Government, and is to be built at the Cape of Good Hope, with an astronomer, assistants, &c. The other is to be built at Cambridge, partly at the expense of the University, and partly by public subscription. The Plumian professor is to be the observer at this latter place; and this, it appears, is guaranteed by the foundation-deed. Both these observatories are to be furnished with the best instruments our artists can make, and the observations made at the latter place are to be printed annually, and circulated amongst the different Observatories on the Continent.

Foreign Commerce.—An old Asiatic Merchant's Reflections on the present difficulties of the country, and on relieving them by opening new markets to our commerce, has justly attracted the notice both of mercantile men and of statesmen. The author is a member of parliament, and we observe with pleasure that he has been added, by special vote, to the committee now investigating the petitions. He states that the Americans have almost a monopoly of the trade of Continental Europe to China; and this, combined with very great intermediate advantages, viz. the demand for our manufactures in the extensive eastern Archipelago, and the adjacent coasts of the China sea, might be secured to the enterprize of our merchants, by an arrangement with the India Company to permit private ships to trade with China in every thing but tea. He gives the heads of a plan for promoting this Eastern trade, which are so clear, and at the same time so practicable, that we trust the matter will be seriously taken up, and a negociation entered into with the Court of Directors for opening this inexhaustible market for the manufactures and trade of the empire.

Substitute for Cinchona.-Dr. Joseph Pavon lately read to the Academy of Sciences of Madrid, an account of a new-discovered plant of South America, possessing qualities similar to those of Cinchona. It is a shrub of a new genus, and has been called by Dr.

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P. anamula febrifuga, but it is known to the Indians by the name of chininha. It has been administered to several patients with intermittent fevers, in doses of from a scruple to half a dram of the powdered root every three hours, and is said to have removed cases which had resisted the cinchona.

Cheap Mode of preserving Anatomical Preparations.-It has been usual to employ, for this purpose, spirit of wine, somewhat above proof, and which costs about 18s. or 20s. per gallon. It has been ascertained by Mr. Cooke of London, that a saturated solution of muriate of soda (common salt) answers the purpose equally well; and this solution (about three pounds of salt to the gallon) does not cost above 10d. per gallon. Mr. Cooke has received from the Society of Arts, for this discovery, the society's silver medal.

Poetic Festival.-The congress of Bards, which was to have taken place at Wrexham in August, is, in consequence of the coronation, postponed to the second week in September.

Royal Academy.-The King has been graciously pleased to distinguish the Royal Academy by a new mark of his gracious favour, in giving the President for the time being, a gold medal and chain, to be worn by him as President of that Institution. The medal bears a portrait of His Majesty, and is inscribed-" From His Majesty King GEORGE the Fourth to the President of the Royal Academy."

Sherbet. It is not generally known that this beverage, so often mentioned with praise in Arabic poetry, is neither more nor less than a decoction of oatmeal and sugar, seasoned when cold with rose water.

Extraordinary Production.-There grew last year in the garden of Mr. Johnson, at Sunbury, a stálk of wheat in the hollow of an apple-tree, five feet from the ground, which produced, without care, or scarce any notice, 361 straws, 33 ears, and 1092 grains of wheat, besides what was destroyed by birds and insects. The straw is still to be seen in the hollow, where it grew all affixed to one root, and the produce growing upon and covering near two roods of ground.

The Longitude.-A. M. Hoene Wronsky complains in the Gazette de France of the illiberality of the British nation in not granting him the reward of 20,000l. proposed by Parliament for the discovery of the longitude. This person declares, that "he has established a new lunar theory, which gives the solution required." Proud of his discovery, he hastened from Paris to London, where he immediately waited upon Sir Joseph Banks, who referred him to Dr. Young, by whom he says, "every thing is done at the Board of Longitude." In the mean time all his instruments, in spite of his remonstrances, were taken from the Custom

house, and exposed to the Board of Longitude, who, after having minutely examined them, discovered his secret, and then, coolly returning them to him, informed him that his discovery was not new, and that the Board had entertained a similar idea. M. Wronsky complains, that not only was he refused the Parliamentary reward, but even his expenses to London were not paid, which, he says, was the more unjust, as the English unfairly obtained a knowledge of his lunar theory, and his theory of refractions. We should be glad that the Board of Longitude would reply to M. Wronsky's statements.

Variation of the Magnetic Needle.-From the mean of daily observations on the mag⚫netic needle this year, it has been found to decrease about 2' in its Western course, compared with observations made last year; but whether this recession will be progressive is a question of considerable importance, and which must be decided by further observations; if so, the magnetic needle may be said to have arrived at its maximum variation Westward. The mean variation of the magnetic needle at the close of 1819, was 24° 36′ W.

Precious Stones.-A diamond said to be worth 20,000l. and consequently one of the largest in the world, was among the spoils of the Peishwa, and is now in the East India Company's treasury, to be sold for the benefit of the captors. It was brought to England by the ship York. A block of amethyst, or rather a mass of amethysts, has been sent from Brazil to Calcutta. This extraordinary specimen is four feet in circumference, and weighs 98 pounds. It is in its rough state, and consists of more than 50 irregular columns, smooth, transparent, purple and white, shooting up like crystals from a common matrix.

British Antiquities.-A subterraneous cemetery of very remote antiquity, was lately discovered by a farmer on the Carmichael estate, near Hyndford Bridge, between Douglas and Lanark. Several stone coffins have been found.

Coffee. Substitutes for this useful berry have grown so much into use on the Continent, that the importation of that article into Europe is reduced from seventy millions of pounds annnally to below thirty millions. Arakatscha.-Europe owes infinite gratitude to the memory of Sir Francis Drake, who first introduced from America the potatoe. It has been lately stated, that there grows in Santa Fe de Bagota, a root even more nourishing and as prolific as this plant. It is called Arakatscha, and resembles the Spanish chesnut in taste and firmness. It is indigenous to the Cordilleros, a climate as temperate as that of Europe, and might be cultivated here with the same facility as the potatoe.

Counteraction of Infidel Principles.-The Christian Knowledge Society has published

34 new tracts, calculated to counteract blasphemous and infidel publications; and, of these and other publications of the Society, upwards of 400,000 have been issued in the last three months. More than 5,000l. has been subscribed in aid of this particular object. It has been ascertained that the manufacturing districts in the North of England, and the Western parts of Scotland, are deeply and awfully imbued with irreligious principles.

Universities.-There are at present 1634 students on the books of Trinity College, Dublin-an unprecedented number. Oxford has 4102, and Cambridge 3958 members; also quite beyond former example.

Champagne. This celebrated wine is indebted for its characteristic properties to the presence of carbonic acid. It produces rapid intoxication, in consequence of the alcohol, which is suspended in, or combined with, this gas, being thus applied in a sudden and very divided state to a larger extent of nervous surface: for the same reason its effects are as transitory as it is sudden *.

Philosophic Girl.-The Italian Journals mention that a young lady, only 13 years of age, named Maria Catherina Gherardi, a native of Serola, has maintained in public a series of philosophic theses, in the Latin language.

A Free Monarchy.-In the work of James I. entitled, "True Law of Free Monarchies,” it is laid down, that a free monarchy is one in which the monarch is perfectly free to do as he pleases!

Administration of the Law.-The nation ought no longer to be insulted with that public scandal of hired bail. As the judges go to their chambers in Serjeant's Inn, they have to pass through a host of shabby illlooking fellows, who wait to become bail for any body, and to any amount, for the consideration of half a crown. If the plaintiff, on receiving notice, objects to such bail, other persons are afterwards procured to justify, by swearing themselves worth double the debt. It is well known that many are hired for this latter purpose also, who commit perjury on very moderate terms. All this

Dr. Haknemann, may be relied upon in all * The following simple test invented by

cases when an adulteration of lead is sus

pected.-Expose equal parts of sulphur and powdered oyster-shells to a white heat for fifteen minutes, and, when cold, add an equal quantity of cream of tartar: these are to be put into a strong bottle with common water, to boil for an hour; and the solution is afterwards to be decanted into ounce phials, adding twenty drops of muriatic acid to each. This liquor will precipitate the least possible quantity of lead in the most rapid manner; the muriatic acid being added to prevent a precipitation of iron, which is innoxious, and might accidentally be contained in the wine.

might be very easily altered. Previous notice should, in all cases, be given of the persons who are to become bail, and they should be made to justify at the same time.

Sea Water. The practice of many who frequent sea-bathing places, of descending to the beach, and there swallowing, periodically, copious draughts of sea-water, is extremely detrimental to the health, from the excessive and permanent irritation of the stomach and bowels produced by this potion, in its state of mechanical mixture with selenite, floating particles of algae and fuci, and its integral combination of muriate of soda. New Coinage. It is earnestly hoped that the coinage to be issued on the Coronation, will evince a more national and enlightened taste than we have lately been accustomed to. We hope to see no devices belonging to

FRANCE.

particular orders of knighthood, no laurels, no allegorical personifications. Even mottoes should be avoided, for what sovereign cannot command the most flattering panegyrics of this kind?

RURAL ECONOMY,

To destroy Caterpillars.-A gardener at Glasgow practises a mode of destroying caterpillars, which he discovered by accident. A piece of woollen rag had been blown by the wind into a currant-bush, and when taken out was found covered by these leaf-devouring insects. He immediately placed pieces of woollen cloth in every bush in his garden, and found next day that the caterpillars had universally taken to them for shelter. In this way he destroys many thousands every morning.

FOREIGN VARIETIES.

French Dramas, extensive Collection of.It may be interesting to our amateurs of national, and especially of theatrical, antiquities, to be informed that a bookseller of Paris, M. Royer, a collector of literary curiosities, unpublished MSS. and other invaluables, possesses a series of old French plays, from the time of the Mysteries to that of Rocrou, in one hundred and sixty-two vols. quarto. It is well known what use has been made of similar collections by Mr. Douce and other commentators on Shakespeare, by the late Mr. Beloe, in his "Anecdotes of Literature;" and how far they contribute to illustrate the manners of a nation, and of the times to which they belong.

Classical Hermes suspended.-M. Pottier has been obliged, by particular circumstances, to suspend the publication of his Classical Hermes; but intends to embody in a separate work the materials he had prepared for its continuation.

ITALY.

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Copernican System of Astronomy proscribed. That the immortal, but unfortu nate, Galileo was imprisoned for insisting on the motion of the earth round the sun, as its primary-if that were the true cause of his imprisonment-is well known also, that since that time, by a rescript of Benedict XIV. the Copernican System has been allowed to be taught among Catholics hypothetically only, not positively. The pretence for this rejection of science and truth is a veneration for Scripture, or rather for a version, that in the Romish church holds the place of Scripture, wherein it is said, the sun stayed at the command of Joshua; and elsewhere," the sun rises, and the sun sets, but the earth abideth ever;" or, as they render it, the earth standeth still, or reposeth, ever. Whether this prohibition will be persisted in is likely to be brought to the test before long. Sig. Settele, Professor at the Archi

Gymnasio della Sapienza, proposed, on the invitation of his superiors, to print his course of Astronomy, in which the circulation of the earth as a planet was taught positively, not hypothetically. The inspector of books previous to publication, has withheld his permission for printing this work; consequently has prevented its publication, under the authority of the decision and rescript above referred to. It is said, that the author has determined to obtain a definitive determination on this point from the Congregations of the Holy Office, and of the Index Expurgatorius.

SWITZERLAND.

Plantain Root, a Febrifuge.-Dr. Perrin has lately read to the Society of Natural Sciences, of which he is a member, observations he has made on the febrifugal virtues of the roots of the plantain (plantago major, minor et latifolia, Linn.) He is of opinion that it may be employed with advantage in intermittents. The question may easily be brought to the test of experiment, as the plant is common in all parts; and the leaves are known to every school-boy as a vulnerary.

DENMARK.

Powerful Rockets, Luminaries.-It may be within the recollection of our readers, that "wicked Will. Whiston," as Swift called him, proposed to ascertain the longitude by means of great fires kindled in places distant from each other. Something not very unlike his notion seems to be in the way for being realized by a late invention of M. Schumacher, captain of Artillery, at Copenhagen. He fabricates a new species of rocket, which is much larger than a Congreve rocket, and rises to a prodigious height; when arrived at the extreme point of elevation, it bursts, and spreads a light so lively that it may be seen at the distance of thirty leagues. The inventor discharged several of these rockets from the little island of Hielm

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