ΤΟ SONNETS. LADY! If from my young, but clouded, brow, WRITTEN IN INDIA. THE winds are hushed,-but yet the dark clouds lower, SUN-SET. THE summer Sun had set,---the blue mist sailed Along the twilight lake,---no sounds arose, Save such as hallow Nature's sweet repose, And charm the ear of Peace. Young Zephyr hailed The Night's melodious Bard, sweet Philomel, SUN-RISE. How gloriously yon mighty monarch rears His proud resplendent brow-like Fame's first light That breaks oblivion's gloom! His tresses bright Inwreathe the rosy clouds. All Nature wears A bliss-reviving smile.---The glittering tears Shed by the tristful spirits of the night On verdant meadows, vanish from the sight, Like rain-drops on the sea! The warm beam cheers Of early minstrels, whose melodious songs We must not omit to mention, that Mr. Jones's " Diamond Edi<<tion of the British Poets" (among which he has been permitted to incorporate Mr. Richardson's volume) does him infinite credit for its beauty and extreme neatness.-Mr. R.'s volume is adorned with a well executed portrait and a delightful vignette. A System of Popular Geometry; containing, in a few Lessons, so much of the Elements of Euclid, as is necessary and sufficient for a right Understanding of every Art and Science in its leading Truths and general Principles. By George Darley, A. B. London. John Taylor. 1826. The title of this work explains its import and utility; its execution bears out its title; we cannot say any thing more expressive of its merits and importance. The author has supplied a generally felt desideratum in the list of elementary treatises; namely, an introduction to geometry, more comprehensive and scientific than Pinnsek, less elaborate and abstruse than the standard versions of Euclid. The diffusion of knowledge, the growing intelligence of our artists and mechanics, and the acknowledged imperfections of the several "Elements" used in our schools, rendered such a work indispensable; all therefore interested in the sound education of the Public, (and who is not?) are much indebted to our Author. To the selftaught student, more particularly, whose means and leisure do not admit of a voluminous course of reading, this work is invaluable; and to the intelligent mechanic anxious to extend his knowledge of the geometrical principles of his art, it will be an excellent guide. The merit of the work, however, does not consist merely in its precise and lucid arrangement; the improvements in the doctrine of parallels, and of the circle, bear strong testimony to Mr. Darley's high order of mathematical attainments; and will no doubt be duly appreciated by the scientific reader. GAIETIES AND GRAVITIES OF THE MONTH. LITERARY AND POLITICAL CHIT-CHAT. The Death of the Duke of York has occasioned during the present month a suspension of all conversation and interest upon ordinary topics, and must necessarily here occupy the first of our attention; but with a simple expression of our sympathy with the regret which all England seems to have felt on this occasion, we shall remain satisfied. In another part of our pages we have given two interesting notices of the Duke, one by Sir W. Scott, the other by Dr. Southey, and to these little can be added in the way of deserved panegyric, and in the way of censure we have no desire to say a word. We trust the example of his popularity will not be lost in his two successors, the Heir-Apparent to the Crown, and the Commander-in-Chief; but may stimulate them to imitate a little of that amenity of manners and kindness of disposition, which, in spite of grievous errors, made the Duke of York one of the most beloved of princes during his life, and most lamented after his death. PORTUGAL. The news from Portugal is vague, contradictory, and altogether unsatisfactory. We wish it were, indeed, the Spaniards with whom the English had to contend, even if Ferdinand had the assistance of all the Holy Alliance; but there is too much reason to fear that it is against the majority of the Portuguese theinselves, that their aid will be requested. Some time ago we charged the Editor of the Literary Gazette with the occasional want of common honesty in reviewing, and we had little expectation that he would so soon afford a proof of the truth of our charge. In taking notice of "The Letter on the "Affairs of Portugal, from a Dog," the Editor, for the sake of a miserable joke, (he is the witty Mr. J.), accuses the author of being an advocate of the Inquisition, and Despotism. The following quotation will at once show the misrepresentation of the Reviewer! (proh pudor!) and explain the object of "The Dog," with whom we ourselves differ as to the propriety of interference :-- "It is possible that Don Miguel and his adherents may be averse to the liberal prin"ciples of English Government; which, in the advanced state of civilization, are proper " to this country; but, though we may be perfectly convinced of the advantages of our own Constitution, and may naturally wish that all the world should participate in the "benefits of similar institutions; although a nation, whose happiness it is to live under "wise laws, should, on occasion, make it a point of duty to communicate them; and "we may properly feel obliged to promote, as far as lies in our power, the perfection "of others; we are not entitled forcibly to intrude our good offices upon them. The "opinion that one nation could possess such a right over another, would open a door "to all the ravages of enthusiasm and fanaticism. Mahomet and his successors deso"lated and subdued Asia, on no other principle.' (Vattel, b. ii. ch. 1. §§ 6 and 7.)" In the press, and speedily .will be published, TALES OF WELSH SOCIETY and SCENERY, comprising descriptions of several National and Characteristic Customs, hitherto unembodied in narrative. They will consist of 2 vols. post 8vo. and will be published by Messrs. Longman and Co. The following paragraph has gone through the newspapers: "The late Mr. Gifford left one work behind him, which will, probably, be most "acceptable either to his Executor, Dr. Ireland, or to Mr. Heber, viz.---his copy of The "Quarterly Review, with the names of the authors, and the price paid for each article, in "the margin." We could name many gentlemen to whom this copy would be most acceptable, among others the Editor of the Inspector. If the Executors will so dispose of it, we will accept it, and give in return a work still more valuable, viz. a copy of the Inspector, with the names of the Authors, and the price paid to each Author, in the margin. There can be no doubt among reasonable men as to the advantages in generosity on our side. In the course of February will be published, Vagaries, in quest of the Wild and the Whimsical. We have seen some of the contents of this work, which, the poetical ones in particular, are very excellent. There is an elegance of versification, and a variety and novelty of imagery in the poetry, which are scarcely, if at all, inferior to those of the Irish Melodies. Can we say more? The length of our extracts and review of the second volume of Dr. Southey's History, has prevented our noticing in the proper place many works of amusement, interest, and importance. One of the most useful works which has been lately published, is "A View of the World," &c. with "An Art of Memory, on an entirely new System," which is by far the best that we have ever seen. We shall certainly recur to the subject at a future opportunity, as one of no inconsiderable importance in education; and many a person, who now complains of a bad memory, might have been spared his cause of complaint by having met earlier with a work so useful as that which we have above alluded to. It is reported among other literary on dits, that a Satire, very extensive in its range, and caustic in its execution, is on the eve of publication. There never were times when the appearance of a Modern Juvenal would be more desirable. If the author, “ardet, instat, and aperte jugulat," only the enemies of virtue, freedom, literature, and true religion, we shall hail his appearance. *Printed for Goodluck, 80, Cornhill. THE DRAMA. KING'S THEATRE-The Opera season having not yet quite orthodoxly commenced, and the performance having been in some degree suspended since the decease of the Duke of York, but little has been done here since the production of Spontini's La Vestale. We will therefore defer to our next number our notice in detail of Opera proceedings, now merely observing, that the theatre, considering the earliness of the season, has been very well attended, and that the orchestral department of the music is still very defective. But that the truth is a libel, and, as the Best of Judges has decided, a very expensive one, we would attribute this "defect effective" entirely to Mr. Bochsa's mismanagement. DRURY LANE. Cant and vengeful hypocrisy having exhausted themselves, and the irritation of John Bull's high toned moral feelings having been allayed, Kean has resumed the tragic sceptre of the British stage on the boards of Old Drury. We are admirers of the genius of this highly gifted actor; but we are not apologists of the crimes and errors of the man. As lovers of the drama, we are deeply interested in the one; we know very little, and care less about, the other. His friends and associates may, if they please, scrutinise his conduct in private life; our concern, as members of the dramatic public, is only with his abilities as an actor; regardless, when the curtain is down, whether he be convivial at the Gordon, or is doing penance and sentimental speechification among the Canada Indians; and well knowing that the severity of criticism is but a type of the severity of the laws to which, as a member of the community, he is and must be amenable. We have seen Mr. Kean in his four master-pieces, Shylock, Othello, Richard III., and Sir Giles Overreach, since his return; and, with our recollection of his former personations of these arduous characters fresh in our minds, we were never more truly gratified. The first and last of these are, in our minds, the most perfect histrionic illusions within the reach of a living audience; as his Othello and Glo'ster are unquestionably the finest pieces of acting on the British stage. We have here made a distinction with a difference. In Othello and Richard he excels all his contemporaries; in Shylock and Sir Giles Overreach, he excels himself. The former may therefore be esteemed the perfection of modern acting; the latter is more than acting-as nature-as perfect illusion. John Kemble was the head of the former school; Kean is the only pupil we have had in the latter since the days of Garrick. Judgment and selection distinguish the one: passion and imagination characterise the other. The one is acting-the other reality. To the former is owing the rant, inequality of execution, mannerism, and sacrifice of good taste, to the obtaining a stormy dominion over the eyes, ears, and sensations of his audience that disfigure his Richard and even his Othello; to the latter, the admirable conception, and even constraining developement, that delight us in his Shylock and Sir Giles Overreach. His general performance-as compared with his former efforts, (our only standard) is characterised by a more subdued, and, we will add, a more chastened outline. The tints and lightning of genius are present, but diffused with more temperate prodigality: so that his present representations may be likened to the picture of a Rafael or Michael Angelo-the coloring of which has been mellowed and subdued by the hand of time. In personal appearance, Mr. Kean is thinner and apparently more delicate than when we last saw him. His delicacy is particularly evident in his legs and voice; the former being almost wasted away, and the latter possessing less echo and volume. Between him and the pantomime the treasurer at Drury Lane has no sinecure. La Porte has at length arrested public gratification in the character of a Bailiff in a lively French one act piece, "My Best Friend, or £277. 1s." Though an excellent actor and the life and soul of the piece, we fear he is not effectively at home out of Tottenham Court Theatre (of which a full account in our next). COVENT GARDEN.-A new comedy, the "SCHOOL FOR GROWN CHILDREN," has been played here (25th) ten nights with the prospect of a comparatively successful run. It is the production of the author of SPEED THE PLOUGH, and the SCHOOL OF REFORM, &c. and like every thing else from the pen of Mr. Morton, is amusing, absurd, inconsistent, ephemeral, full of sickening sentimental claptraps, now and then sprightly in the dialogue and farcically humorous in incident, and deficient in the spirit of true comedy; and mainly dependant for its success upon the efforts of the actors. Mr. Morton never did, and never will, write a comedy (his best attempts are but laughable five acts interludes); and for this plain reason he has neither the conception, taste, or peculiar faculties of a successful comic writer. He invariably confounds the risible with the ridiculous, and eccentricity with humour; and for the latter attribute almost as invariably substitutes what, we are sure, he intends and believes, is very witty, forgetting that even were it so, in comedy Humour is all. Wit should be only brought To turn agreeably some proper thought. The plot, which is as ill constructed and intricate as it need be, is founded chiefly on one of Hook's "sayings and doings," and turns upon the efforts of an old Nabob (admirably represented by Mr. Farren) with the usual yellow appurtenances of bile and money, of penuriousness and extravagance, to reclaim his rake-helly, spendthrift son, REVEL (Mr. Jones), and to cure a young uxorious baronet relative (Mr. C. Kemble), of his unjust suspicions of his wife (Miss Chester), who is very successful in her efforts to make her husband miserable. Of course at the end of the play they all become sages and moralists; and are free from the leaven of earthly infirmities. The means of attaining this happy result are droll and improbable enough. The old miserly father beats the son hollow in devilment and extravagance. In doing this, Farren displayed great versatility of talent; he is the nabob, and a sailor, and a dandy by turns; sings, dances, makes love, and attempts suicide; and says all manner of droll and bitter things in all manner of humorous ways. Next to Mr. Farren the author is most indebted to the ladies. Mrs. Glover's farmer's wife was like every thing she plays-excellent; Miss Chester and Mrs. Chatterley made the most of their parts, and rivalled each other in smiles and beauty. Mr. C. Kemble was seen to great advantage. His forte, and he ought to keep to it, is genteel comedy. Mr. Jones's Revel, and Mr. Power's DEXTER, were more than respectable. The only pathetic character in the piece fell to the judicious hands of Mr. Serle, whose conceptions of FRANK RYLAND was tasteful and elegant. He is a most intelligent and promising actor. MISS HARGRAVE, from the Exeter theatre, has made rather an amphibious debut in the difficult character of LADY CONSTANCE. She is not wanting in person or manner; but seems deficient in energy of execution. We will wait, however, her appearance in another character, lest we decide upon her pretensions. Lady Constance has not been played since Mrs. Siddons electrified us; to fail in it, is therefore no criterion of useful ability. THE BRITISH INSTITUTION. The British Institution has this month opened a few days before the usual time. The Directors have managed the rooms in such a way as to have excited the severest and most deserved censure. The south room is half blocked up, and the few pictures which are hung up in it, are placed in such lights that it is impossible for them to be properly seen. We do not impute any worse fault to the Directors than want of judgment, but they ought immediately to abate the nuisance if they wish the public to be as lenient as ourselves. As usual, many of the pictures are old acquaintances, some that we can hardly see too often, and some that we certainly ought to be paid for looking at. Medora by Pickersgill, is one of the former class, a picture of great taste in design and harmony of colouring. Among the new ones, The Pugilists stands eminently conspicuous. The idea is excellent, and the execution equal to it; there could be no alteration for the better in the attitude or expression of one of the combatants; let those who can, restrain their risible marks of admiration on approaching this picture. The Marys at the Sepulchre is an example of the good effect produced by allowing as it were breathing space for the figures; were painters more aware than they generally seen to be of the advantage of this, we should not so often as we do see pictures that remind us of the giant in Otranto: that we just named has faults, but there is something in its general effect approaches to the sublime. 150, The Sultana, has great characteristic beauty. Some of the pictures are placed so ill that it is next to impossible to decide on their merits, among others in this predicament The Radish State deserves a far better fate. There are some charming landscapes by well known artists; and there is a Virgin and Child by Drummond of pink and slate color notoriety. Among the sculpture, 473 and 474 are exquisite little pieces of perfection. |