and instead of sterling actors exhibiting the characters "that Shakspeare drew" before rank, fashion, and an audience capable of appreciating their beauties or defects, a pent-up row of benches, occupied by the unemployed odds and ends of society, are eagerly and enthusiastically courted. From this laxity of principle incalculable mischief is done to the managers of the large houses; and from this cause, notwithstanding what may be stated elsewhere, may be deduced the perniciously exorbitant demands made by the "stars of the profession, and the consequently compulsory accordance with them. The public expect to find talent in a patent house, and the manager, in his anxiety to please, endeavours to secure the greatest he can meet with, and makes his offer of remuneration in liberal terms; but no, says the actor, "Unless you give me twenty pounds a night I will accept of no engagement." The manager expostulates on the unreasonableness of the demands. "Oh! well, never mind; if you do not choose to accept my terms I can get an engagement at a dozen other theatres, each of whom will be glad to take me at any sum I name. I will not play for one penny less!" And so the manager is either compelled to accede to terms ruinously high, or hazard another no less malignant evilto stand the fire of the press, and see his house empty. Look we next to the east, and we there find the establishment boasting the acquisition of an actor of the highest rank in his profession, which, if it even commands a full audience, can never pay its expences, unless every other individual in it is screwed down to terms that will hardly support existence. Othello at thirty pounds a night, and Iago at less than half as many shillings! And yet this is the system which is to be upheld and encouraged! We are quite satisfied that the want of support of the patent theatres is attributable to very different causes than any thing like want of expenditure on the part of the lessees. We rather attribute it to the various causes we have above adverted to, coupled with the disrepute into which the highest walk of the drama falls, by being constantly murdered and caricatured in every hole and corner of the metropolis. We hope that legislative interference will be given for the wholesome health and nourishment of all, since, at present, both large and small are but contending for one common ruin. At the time when patents were granted, the popu

lation having been so much less, it may be contended, now, that an extension of privi lege is needful. In that case let the two next in size and respectability participate in it. The Surrey and Cobourg for instance, which, for capability and locality, are best qualified; but we trust the present height of injustice to managers, and destruction to the best interests of the legitimate drama, will not be permitted. As regards the conducting of the Drury Lane establishment this season, it must be admitted that the managers have been unsparing in their zeal to please. We subjoin a list of pieces produced, by which the statement with which we set out as to novelties will be fully borne out, and with regard to what has been done with the stock plays, it will be in the remembrance of all that the public has been favoured constantly with very many of their old favourites. We believe if we have cause to censure at all, it will be for the want of judgment displayed by Mr. Lee in the engagement of many individuals rarely called upon to actual service; in other words, for encumbering the treasury with the payment of comparatively high salaries to those with whom he had too many in the same line to employ. He has now taken his leave, and we understand that arrangements are already concluded for the next season, with liberality, but a greater regard to prudence. The names of several individuals, deservedly favourites, are mentioned as engaged, but we will withhold them for the present, till our list is more complete. We admire the histrionic art, we are amongst its best friends; we wish for proper encouragement to all engaged in the support of it, and the realiza. tion of each walk and department with the greatest possible perfection. It is, more. over, with feelings of no small pride, that we take our seat in either of the national theatres. We admire the structure of the interior, the elegance of its fittings-up, the splendour of the scenery, the taste displayed in the dresses, the harmony of the music, the judgment and natural skill of the actors, the beauty of the company, and the gratification experienced by all, from the fashionable assembly in the dress circle, to the humble individuals who pay their shilling in the gallery.-The following is a list of the novelties produced at Drury Lane during the season:--

November 11th, 1830. Turning the Tables, a Farce, 1 act: Poole, 35 nights.

Nov. 17. Conscript, or the Veteran and his Dog, a Melodrame, 2 acts: Raymond and Barrymore. 3 nights.

Dec 9th. The Jenkinses, a Farce, 2 acts: Planché. 14 nights.

Dec. 15. Werner, a Tragedy, 5 acts: altered by Macready from Lord Byron. 17 nights.

Dec. 17. King's Fireside, Historical Anecdote, 1 act: Morton. 6 nights.

Dec. 27th. Davy Jones, Christmas Pantomime Barrymore. 45 nights. Feb. 1st, 1831. Devil's Brother, an Opera, 2 acts: Shannon. 8 nights.

March 5th. Decorum, a Farce, 2 acts: T. H. Bayly. Withdrawn.

March 15th. Highways and Byways, a Farce, 2 acts: Webster.

April 4th. Ice Witch, Easter Spectacle, 2 acts: Buckstone. 14 nights.

April 7th. Nettlewig Hall, a Farce, 2 acts C. M. Westmacott. 6 nights.

April 8th. The Pledge, or Castilian Honour, a Tragedy, 5 acts: Kenney. 8 nights.

April 16th. Legion of Honour, Operatic Drama, 2 acts: Planché. 18 nights. April 28th. Alfred the Great, Historical Play, 5 acts: S. Knowles. 15 nights. May 13th. The Emissary, an Opera, 3 acts: Barham Livius. 3 nights. May 30th. The Little Corporal, Petite Historical Drama, 1 act: Buckstone. 3 nights.

COVENT GARDEN.

A novelty has been produced here since our last, from the pen of the Hon. Mrs. Norton, authoress of "The Undying One." It bears the title of The Gipsey Father, is entirely domestic in plot and incident, and has many interesting points about it. We have but little room for an outline of the plot. A young soldier, Richard Barwell by name, returns to his native village, and learns that his father has been unfortunate, and that his early love, Rose Franklin, a deserted child, who had been protected by his father, had been claimed by a wealthy man as his daughter, and had quitted England. This intelligence is communicated to him by a pert and ignorant apothecary. Richard goes in search of his father, who, driven by his miseries from his former companions, has become the mate of a tribe of gipsies. The children of the elder Barwell are famishing for food, and he, having obtained a scanty supply, hurries to the wretched hovel, just as his son enters and learns the state of degradation and suffering to which his father is reduced. The next scene shows the family of Barwell waiting in anxiety for the

food. Upon his entrance the miserable morsels are divided among the starving group. The elder boy withdraws from the wretched repast, which is eagerly devoured by others. Barwell perceives that an old blind man, his wife's father, has eaten the share which the child has relinquished, and in desperation and rage, insists upon his quitting his hut. The wife remonstrates, Barwell grows more furious, seizes the father, a struggle ensues, in which his wife stabs him with a knife she has taken accidentally from the table. Barwell falls, and his son enters in time to behold the fatal catastrophe. The second act discovers Richard by the side of the pallet on which his father lies. The apothecary pronounces his wound to be hopeless, and Richard then forms the determination, in order to save his mother, of denouncing himself as the author of his father's death. For this purpose he hurries to the neighbouring town, and finds in the daughter of the Judge his own Rose Franklin. The meeting between the long-separated lovers is very affecting, their first transports of joy checked by the dreadful news that Richard is about to undergo the self-invoked penalty of death for the dreadful crime he avows. Rose urges him to escape, furnishes him with money, and, to confirm her persuasions, offers to accompany him in his flight, and to sacrifice all her happiness and her hopes to her affection for him. At this moment the Judge enters, Richard is arrested, and dragged to his trial. The last scene is before the Court-house in which the trial has taken place. The evidence of the apothecary that the elder Barwell, when he saw him in the cottage, was at the point of death, and Richard's pertinacious avowal that his was the hand by which the wound was inflicted, leave no doubt of his guilt, although the body of Barwell is not to be found. The Judge descends, accompanied by his daughter, and the convict Richard follows, in the hands of the officers of justice. They are about to separate for ever, when Barwell, who has been preserved from the death to which Dolittle had doomed him, by some of his gipsey associates, rushes in. His son's innocence is un. questionable, and the piece terminates, leaving the imagination of the spectators to supply the picture of the happiness which must follow. The piece was well received by the audience, and seemed on the whole very successful, there were some characters, however, which, to our minds, might have been better played. The part of Rose was that which had the most attraction in in it, and this was performed by Miss Ellen Tree in a manner which does her the

highest credit. We do not know that we ever saw her to so much advantage.

The Maid of Judah was played here for Mr. Wilson's benefit, and served to introduce him and Miss Inverarity, for the first time, to the parts of Ivanhoe and Rebecca. The result was most favourable. They were both enthusiastically applauded. On a subsequent evening this lady made her first appearance in the part of Rosetta, in Love in a Village, for her own benefit. She sang the music with great sweetness, and proved herself quite as capable of lending expression to the most expressive melody, as she had previously shown her power of giving effect to the most elaborate composition. This young lady has improved wonderfully since her first appearance; her voice has become stronger and more flexible. As an actress, Miss Inverarity has always been pleasing, and her style is gradually acquiring spirit and point.

A Mr. Mason has made his first appearance as Romeo. He appears to be sadly deficient in physical power, and of the many qualities of a superior order-as person, voice, deportment, &c. which the just personation of Romeo, as delineated by Shakspeare, requires. The selection of such a part for a debut we regard as unfortunate; and if he were not a relative, we should suspect that it was on this, as it has been on other occasions, the sole condition on which an appearance would be granted. Though inadequate to this, Mr. Mason, we doubt not, may be found useful in other parts of the drama.-The house has closed for the season, but at a period in the month too late for us to make a particular statement as to its success. There is, however, too much cause to fear that it has fared no better than its rival in this respect. Mr. Bartley, the stage manager, delivered the following concise address on Monday, the 27th ult. :

"Ladies and Gentlemen-Our theatrical season terminates this evening, and I am instructed by the proprietors to offer their best acknowledgments for the support they have received, and to assure you that the ensuing recess shall be employed by them in unremitting efforts to merit an increase of your patronage.

On Monday, the 3d of October, ladies and gentlemen, this theatre will re-open; until then, in the name of the proprietors and all the performers, I again beg leave to

offer our united thanks, and most respectfully to bid you farewell."

HAYMARKET.

The doors of this attractive little theatre have been thrown open since our last, and several new students of the histrionic art have made their debut successfully. The company for the season is a strong one. Farren, Vining, Harley, and Mrs. Glover, being amongst the list of the performers. The only novelty hitherto produced has been a trifle in one act, entitled The Widow Bewitched, which was neither novel in plot or incident; but the audience seemed to be very well pleased with it. Miss Sydney, from the Olympic, performed a part in it with great spirit. A Miss Land has also made a very successful first appearance in The Marriage of Figaro, and evinced a talent which is likely to be matured to her own and the house's benefit. There was a considerable degree of diffidence exhibited on her first appearance, but that has subse quently become far less striking. We have no doubt of her ultimate success.

THE SURREY.

This theatre continues to be conducted in the most admirable manner, and really puts forth very strong claims for our praise. The performances are always good, and exhibit great judgment in their selection. In addition to several of what may be termed stock pieces, several new ones have been produced. Amongst others, a strikingly amusing operetta entitled Sharps, Flats, and Naturals, has met with great success. The principal characters were sustained by Vale (who introduced little Burke's extemporaneous overture), Williams, C. Hill, Miss Nicoll, and Miss Somerville. The acting of the gentlemen was in their usual style of excellence, and Miss Nicoll, as an old woman, very respectable; but the principal character, sustained by Miss Somerville, was beyond praise. Taste, feeling, good humour, force, and energy, alike find at this lady's hands the most efficient developement; and in the present instance, her singing was brilliant and sweet in the extreme. We understand Horn is engaged at this house, and we rejoice at the circuinstance, if only on account of the improved support that she will in consequence experience. It has pained us much to find her standing alone, or nearly so, in

tasteful.

dinner, at Apsley House; upon which occasion his Majesty, in a very flattering manner, presented a most magnificent sword to the hero of the day. Thus the noble Duke received, perhaps, the only additional honour which remained to be offered to him, namely, the seeing a King of England seated at his table on the anniversary of that day, when, at the head of the English army, he achieved a victory, the memory of which "will never die, and cannot be destroyed." All the surviving general officers, who shared in that great triumph, participated on this occasion in its proud remembrance at the board of their chief, and in the presence of their king;

"So should desert in arms be crowned."

In this, as in every act of his Majesty's, since his accession, we see the kindest and most benevolent feeling exercised in the most delicate and considerate manner

"A royal kindness royally bestowed," is the true designation of every gracious act of our beloved Sovereign; and, with respect to his Grace of Wellington, we may say that all parties cordially concur in doing him every honour as the hero of Waterloo. Let political squabbles run high as they will, still, when alluding to him as a warrior, his most inveterate opponents must be fain to exclaim

"Oh there is not

One dishonouring blot On the wreath that encircles our Wellington's name!"

We understand that a magnificent establishment, in the nature of a bazaar, called the Pantechnicon, has been recently opened in the neighbourhood of Belgrave Square.

Our fair readers will be concerned to hear of the lamented death of that unrivalled actress, Mrs. Siddons. Her mortal remains were interred at Paddington, and were attended to the grave by a numerons train of relatives and histrionic friends.

The coronation, we understand, is to take place some time in the autumn. This will keep the fashionable world in town till a very late period of the year, and appears to negative the prevalent opinion that Parliament is again to be dissolved immediately after the harvest.

The Cholera Morbus appears to be fast approaching our shores; indeed, we have heard that the black flag with white spots is flying on no less than five vessels now lying under quarantine, in Stangate Creek. Should it once get a footing in the country, its ravages will soon silence all complaints of over-population, and open preferment in all professions to the fortunate survivors. Many learned and eminent members of the medical world have been for some time

47

anxiously watching its progress from the East, and, we fear too surely, predict its speedy arrival in this hitherto fortunate country. The suddenness of the attack, which proves fatal in a few hours, behoves every one to be acquainted with the means of arresting its progress. Some physicians recommend a powerful dose of brandy, with a large addition (according to the strength of the patient) of laudanum; others again, as much warm water as the patient can swallow, in repeated doses, to be taken fasting, with a hot bath, and every other means of encouraging perspiration. This is thought to be the most effectual mode of eradicating the disorder; but if the pain is very intense, a strong fomentation should be applied in the region of the liver.

HERNE BAY PIER.-We have been much gratified by an inspection of the plan of a splendid pier, which has been projected by a number of capitalists, for the purpose of removing the only drawback upon the beauties of Herne Bay. The proposed structure will in itself form a fine promenade of 3000 feet, and will enable steam boats to land passengers at all states of the tide. The design will be carried on under the sanction of an act of Parliament; and when we consider the immense number of passengers who visit the adjacent country during the season, we cannot doubt that it will prove an eminently profitable undertaking. The first pile of this great work will be driven on the 4th of July, and the event will be celebrated with great splendour. All the steam boats, we believe, are engaged to visit the spot on that day, and it is the intention of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen to do honour to the occasion by their presence. Preparations are making at the various hotels at Herne Bay on a very extensive scale.

A Foreign Gentleman, now resident in London, who has visited the East, and is only lately returned from the seat of war in the North of Europe, is in possession of a root, which is declared to be an entire preventative of the cholera morbus. He intends to afford the knowledge of it to the public after having made his communications with the Board of Health.

THE GREAT NOVELIST.-At the periodical exhibition of objects of Art, in Paris, there are pictures to the number of forty that have subjects taken from the works of Sir Walter Scott-an ocular demonstration of the currency which genius acquires for itself beyond the country that has given birth to, and fostered it.

IMPORTANT TO DILETTANTI.-The cidevant Mademoiselle Sontag, now Madame de Rossi, is, we are informed, about to ap