We have received some very pleasing poetical contributions, which we have been obliged to postpone till our next Number, on account of articles for the Poetical department having been previously sent. A pressure of new Publications will also, we hope, excuse us for putting off, till next Month, the review of the interesting selections from "South and Fuller," and the "Auxiliary to Practical Geography," which we beg to acknowledge the receipt of.

The excellent Essay on "Old Maids," from our Worcester Correspondent, arrived too late to be inserted this Month; it will appear in our next Number.—“ Edward's Urn,” shall appear in our

next.

The beautiful lines signed A. G. entitled the "Maid of Scotia," to the air of the "Maid of Lodi," shall meet with prompt insertion; we regret their arriving too late for this Number.

London: Printed by and for JOHN BELL, Proprietor of this Magazine, and of the Weekly Messenger, Clare-Court, Drury-Lane.

MAY 1, 1817.

of

Published by John Bell, May 1817.

LA BELLE ASSEMBLEE;

For APRIL, 1817.

A New and Improved Series.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ILLUSTRIOUS AND

DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS.

The Ninety-sixth Number.

MISS MANGEON.

THE interesting young lady whose portrait embellishes our present Number, and whose claims to Operatic excellence must be allowed by all who have listened to the harmonious sweetness of her voice, is the daughter of the late Mr. William Mangeon, of Clifton, near Bristol. Early evincing a talent for the histrionic art, with an ear attuned to harmony, she became the pupil of Mrs. Mountain, and made her first debût at Drury-Lane Theatre on the 6th of December, 1816.

Miss Mangeon does credit to an instructress, whose absence from the stage, and whose retirement from it when her powers as an actress and a singer were in their full prime, will long be regretted by a public with whom she was an universal favourite. The style of her pupil's singing frequently reminds us of her; and to her vocal skill Miss Mangeon unites not only musical science, but a beautiful countenance, and a form truly soft and feminine: to this she adds a complete understanding of her author in the characters that she undertakes;

and enacts the parts of genteel comedy with that natural ease and elegant simplicity which only true good breeding can inspire, and which plainly discovers the gentlewoman in the actress.

In musical pieces Miss Mangeon is a real acquisition to this theatre, and we only regret that there are no Operas brought forward, which might keep in play her vocal talents, and cause them to appear to more advantage.

The striking likeness that accompanies the above sketch, is engraved from a painting in crayons, by Miss DRUMMOND. The skill and taste of this youthful artist merit our warmest encomiums: the air of her heads, and the expression of that striking feature the eye, so generally indicative of strong likeness, are admirable. Graceful, in a peculiar style, without being a mannerist, this young lady gives very fair promise of excellence in her profession as a portrait painter; indeed, in some instances, "she seems already to have attained it.

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS.

NEW SYSTEM OF MYTHOLOGY.

GENIUS, (CONTINUED.)

THE third is destined for suicides, for those who, courageous through courageons weakness, have dared to desert life for fear of suffering. Sadness, with her funeral veil, covers the place of their habitation; continually tormented with the desire of being restored to life, with what satisfaction would they have borne the troubles that besiege us during our short passage, once more to be allowed seeing the light of || day! But divine justice deprives them of that expectation; they were unable to support the burden of life; the burden of || thought accordingly must be their eternal punishment.

that the wicked endure the punishment of the crimes which have not been effaced by repentance. Their sufferings are proportioned to their offences; for justice keeps pace with the vengeance of the Gods.

Near the enclosure inhabited by the doleful shades of Infants, is a spot called the Field of Truth, which at one extremity reaches Tartarus, and at the other the Elysian Fields; there, upon their arrival in hell, mortals come to give an account of their deeds, and to receive judgment. The formidable tribunal before which they are brought is composed of | three judges: Minos, who reigned in Crete, Rhadamanthus his brother, both sons of A forest of myrtle-trees covers the fourth | Jupiter and Europe; and Æacus, the son division, which is the Field of Tears, the of Jupiter and Ægina. Minos is supreme abode of disappointed or perjured lovers. || judge; he holds in his hand the fatal uru Still a prey to the cares that embittered that contains the name and fate of every their days, they wander solitary through the one; acus reports even their most secret shady walks of the forest. actions; and Rhadamanthus causes the judgment to be executed by delivering up the offenders to the Furies. Neither flat

The fifth is inhabited by such warriors as possessed no other virtue besides their courage: they proudly count their honour-tery nor calumny can approach these inable wounds; arms, chariots, and horses, flexible judges: stripped of whatever might still engage their attention; that bubble, have deceived us in this world, and reglory, is still flattering to their imagina-duced to appear his real self, every man tion, but there, at least, the emulation which || appears before them such as he has been it creates occasions neither tears nor blood- during his life-time in the eyes of the im shed. mortal Gods.

Leaving the habitation of the warriors, two roads are seen, that on the right leads to the palace of Pluto and to the Elysian Fields; that on the left to Tartarus, where villains and the wicked suffer for their crimes. A triple enclosure of walls, fortified with iron towers, encircles the vast and dreadful prison, whose depth is double the distance that divides the heavens from the earth; the gates surpass adamant in solidity; neither could human strength or the powers of the Gods force them open: Phlegethon rolls its flaming waters at the foot of those gloomy walls, whose bellowings mingle with the clanking of chains and iron rods, to the hissing of serpents, to the eries of the unfortunate, and to the roaring of the Furies. It is in this frightful abode

The Furies, sprung from the blood of Uranus, execute the sentences pronounced by the Infernal Judges: they are three sisters, Tysiphone, Megæra, and Alecto. Terror, Rage, Paleness, and Death, are their attendants, and are led by Tysiphone. She is the first who seizes the coudemned offender, beats him without intermission, reproaches him with his crimes, and calls aloud her cruel sisters. These obey her summons, armed in the same manner with a burning torch, and whips made of snakes: they sport wings like those of bats, the dreadful serpents that bristle their heads add to the terror which their threatening countenance inspires: their gloomy garments are stained with blood: and through refined cruelty, they often present to the