practice which he inculcates in his doctrine-it cannot surely be, that he should become at once a public false accuser, and should support his calumnies by a tissue of deliberate and gross misrepresentation. No, sir, I will struggle to repel the supposition, however it may be countenanced by concurring circumstances, or be sanctioned by the opinion of others. It is not possible, that you, sir, can have taken any part in those calumnious articles, or have lent to them any countenance.

“And, indeed, I am glad to observe, that the folly, also, and ignorance betrayed in these articles, are such as forbid the supposition of their having come from your pen. You, sir, could not, for instance, have been so foolish as to represent it as a grand discovery of yours- the result of much laborious and learned research'-that the prophets lived either before---or during-or after the Babylonish captivity: you could not be so shamelessly impudent and ridiculously vain, as to claim property in a chronological arrangement so obvious, and which had been explicitly laid down by a writer of eminence before you. Nor is it possible---excuse me for saying it—that you should have unblushingly described your own work as the most important of uninspired productions, with which the world has been blest. No, sir; you could not thus make yourself the laughing-stock of every well-informed reader. Another must have done it; either some secret enemy of yours, under the mask of friendship, or some most ignorant and ill-advised admirer, to whom, perhaps, the information conveyed by your book was all new and marvellous. But you, sir, know full well, that your work, as well as mine, is a mere compilation, and does not contain a tittle of any importance, which had not been long before the public in other forms. However useful, also, either compilation may be--and there is room enough in the world for us both-the modesty which always accompanies merit such as yours, would certainly have restrained you from such ludicrously extravagant panegyric of your own production."

GAIETIES AND GRAVITIES OF THE MONTH.
CHIT-CHAT, &c.

Our correspondent who discoursed in our last number upon the most efficacious and allowable methods of making proposals of marriage, altogether overlooked a method at present very common, and much on the increase-we mean by advertisement. We always considered, until very lately, that these applications were the mere repetition of a stale and threadbare jest; but they now so frequently attract our attention, that we cannot any longer credit that blockheads pay for an advertisement for the sake of such a ragged joke. No; there are people who think gravely upon the subject of a matrimonial advertisement; and as curious specimens of the kind, take the following.

66

.་

'Matrimony. A young gentleman is desirous of meeting with a young lady "whose fortune will yield sufficient to enable them to move in the first circles of good and fashionable society, and whose generous and free mind can overcome the prudish form of family introduction." Morning Herald. Ingenui vultûs puer, ingenuique pudoris.

"

"A lady of respectable family, but no fortune, is desirous of being united to a "gentleman of liberal independent property, who may wish for the comforts of a "home." Sunday Paper.

The last is the most unequivocal specimen of disinterested greatness of mind on record. A lady of no fortune wishing to be married to a man of property! Ah! lovely woman, what sacrifices will you not make for love, free and generous love! But what we wish to recommend is this. Every body knows that advertisements are the most successful when the class of readers to whom they are addressed is peculiarly interested in the matter propounded. Now we wish to inform the ladies, that our readers are known to be chiefly handsome, unmarried men; all with good fortunes,

and better sense. Matrimonial advertisements in the Inspector, we honestly believe to be the best chance that desperate maidens can have on this side the grave. We wish to be liberal and gallant! we, therefore, beg to notify, that advertisements from ladies for husbands, shall be received for our wrappers at twenty-five per cent. discount. Our publisher shall have orders not to be careful for five per cent. under that---lower we cannot go. The notices from gentlemen we will not abate a sixpence upon, if a thousand were offered at once!

We have, in our notice of the Periodical Literature of Germany, stated an opinion, that the politics of all the journals which we mentioned, were so tame, and so exemplary for their loyalty, that even the most apprehensive governments of the continent could not have any thing to dread from them. In fact, we had an idea, from what we had seen of them, that they were much as harmless as the opinions of a still-born babe. We now stand corrected by high authority. His Majesty, the Emperor of Russia, has lately issued an Order of Council, by which the importation in the Russian states of the Morgen Blatt, the Abend Zeitung, and even of the Gazette for the Elegant World, is prohibited. What are the people of Petersburgh to read? They were in a great measure dependant on the German; and it is feared they will remain so, unless Mr. Bowring will undertake to point out to them the beauties of their own authors.

GRAMMAR OF CONTEMPORARIES" Our reading has served to convince us, "that every one of those who railed at other systems, have always failed in establish"ing their own."

We recommend the above specimen of the slip slop style in which one of our contemporaries (Ed. Lit. Gaz. 17th March, 1827) occasionally writes English, to the notice of our good friend, Mr. Balaam, of Clapham. Any of the tyros of his 8th class would be ashamed of writing a sentence so grammatically incorrect. The "John Bull" of the 18th March exhibits two almost equal atrocities.---" He inquired "whom the Orator was"---" asked whom that was." John never pretended to be correct or elegant in his style; but the Editor of the "LITERARY Gazette!!! to make such a lapsus! Fie! Mr. Jerdan!

LITERARY NOTICES.In the press, 1 vol. 8vo., THE Life, Voyages, AND ADVENTURES OF "NAUFRAGUS:" being a faithful Narrative of the Author's real Life, and containing a series of remarkable Adventures of no ordinary kind. The scene of this work lies in Asia, of which interesting part of the globe this volume will contain many lively sketches: together with a variety of information connected with the state of Society, and the Manners, Customs, and Opinions of the Hindoos (particularly of the Brahmans). The whole related with precision, and such a strict regard to truth, as will, it is presumed, render the work one of utility, as well as of interest. In the press, 8vo. THE AGE REVIEWED. A Satire, in two parts.

Fungar vice cotis, acutum

Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.

EXCEPTA FROM THE DIARY OF A P. M.

8. Heard a good thing of Colonel Berkeley at Long's. Lord Deerhurst was speaking to him about the late law affair, in which Scarlett very poetically compared him to Comus, and his castle to the enchanted palace. "Its the opinion in town, colonel,” said his lordship," that Scarlett gave you and Hammond a severe dressing." "Why," replied the gallant gay Lothario, "be certainly intended to Comb-us."

11. Stepped into Colburn's, and heard some literary chit-chat. Smith at his forge again, hammering out of brass and brass metal, another old thing called a novel. Heard Hood's tales mentioned---great change in his style: before, he was comically funny; and now, he is seriously funny. Rogers remarked, "That man has two faces under a "Hood." Elia observed, Tom Dibdin intended publishing some tales and facetiæ in

Hood's style. "Yes," replied Rogers, "but this will be their distinction---one is "Thomas Hood, and the other will be Robbing Hood."

14. His Majesty back from Brighton. Cobbett said he went there to Brighten, and he came back Wind-sore. An impudent vulgarian that Cobbett ---pity he doesn't commit felony, to get hanged out of the way. Asked Tom what gave rise to libels--the liberty or the licentiousness of the press? "O the lie sense," he replied.

17. Penetrated the Arcade at 4 Sir Jonah Barrington going to publish some reminiscent twaddle about dreams on the bench, and anti-laughable anecdotes. The major enquired if Sir Jonah was any relation to a certain man of ancient times, who took a voyage to Ninnyvey in the belly of a whale? I replied, that he might be, for I had heard he mentioned, among other particulars in his book, the Prince of Whales. Wellington getting tired of farming at Strathfieldsay, and political economy. Told one of his tenants, that if he couldn't get a better return for his capital, he would rase his barns. "Your Grace is mortal kind," replied the farmer, "the roof of my barn has "been lying on the ground this twelvemonth, and I should like to have it raised very much."

66

20. Heard an anecdote of Mr. Humanity Martin at Brookes's. He was observing his name-sake's painting of Belshazzar's Feast, when some one asked him his opinion upon it. He replied, "My dear crater, I've been looking this half hour at the hanging 66 gardens, but for the soul of me I can't perceive the gibbetts."

THE DRAMA.

ITALIAN OPERA.-We are, it would appear, a very inconsistent people, with tastes as changeable as the climate, or as the shapes of the ladies' bonnets. Now nothing goes down with us but Mozart and the Germans; soon we return to the soft blue sky of Italy, and Rossini acquires the ascendant. The weathercock of fashion changes, and Rossini is considered fade-it blows round to the same point, we again shake hands with him. But twelve months since it was a musical heresy to doubt that he excelled in the lighter or comic style of composition; now we declare that Rossini redivivus is only himself in serious opera. Fortunately we make amends for our recantations and backslidings in the long run; and seldom fail ultimately to hit the right point in the bull's eye of criticism, and in adjudging to each their just share of praise or censure. We now acknowledge Rossini to be an elegant composer, to have successfully cultivated a naturally good taste; and if not a Mozart, to have a musical genius of the highest order, whose defect is owing to a want of power, and a preference of refinement to energy. Two of his serious operas have been revived at this theatre, for the purpose of introducing the Signora Giacinta Toso (from the Conservatorio at Milan) to an English audience: namely, the "Pietro l'Ene.. mita," and the "Ricciardo e Zoraide," in which the débutanté sustained the difficult parts of Agia and Zoraide. Signora Toso will never attain the rank of prima donna; she will nevertheless be a first rate soprano voice in concert. She wants passion, she wants delicacy of perception, she wants feminineness of tone and feeling, and consequently, that power of throwing herself into her part, which would enable her to depict, as it were, involuntarily, the rapid transitions from hope to despair, from desperate woman's love to the more desperate woman's hatred, which render the characters of Agia and Zoraide so interesting, and at the same time so difficult. We now leave out of account the defects of her voice and science, because we are convinced they are not incurable by practice. Her intonation is excellent, a great point in a young singer; and her style, generally speaking, chaste. Her middle notes are particularly fine; and though her high notes are sharp and wiry even to harshness, and her low indistinct and muffled, yet the extent and volume of her voice are such as warrant us to declare that she has the voice of a prima donna. Would that she had the soul, the feeling, the Pasta genius of conception. In duos and trios, in fact wherever she sung in concert, she was most successful; in passionate recitative, and in solo, paintings of emotion (so to speak) most deficient. Her person is Patagonian, but symmetrical, not wanting in ease, though perhaps in dignity and grace of gesture. We would recommend her two years study and subaltern practice before she again aspires to the prima donnaship. A Signor Giubelei debuted in Pietro on the first occasion with considerable success; and Madame Brizzi sustained Madame Vestris's part of Zomera (also a first appearance) in the Recciardo e Zoraide with we fear but a hypothetical chance of fame. Curioni and the rest, as usual. We must still complain of the orchestral and ballet departments; they are lamentably imperfect.

DRURY LANE.---The chief dramatic novelties last month at this theatre, were the just damnation of a most villainous "comedy" of a Mr. Soone, called the "Trial of Love," after a most patient hearing of three hours, which was not only a trial of love upon the good temper of the audience, but a trial of patience upon their indignation; and the cruel and bloody murder of the part of Othello by a Mr. Smith (a Yankee amateur), for which he was fined 1501. by Mr. Manager Price, who, by the way, ought to be indicted by the public under Mr. Peel's new act---as an accessary before" as well as "after" an act committed with a most "felonious intent." An old tale of fact has been dished up as a farce with the title of Comfortable Lodgings, or Paris in 1750, for the purpose of showing off Mr. Liston in a new coat. The dress fits Liston; we, therefore, need not say the audience laughed sufficiently to ensure the success of the piece.

COVENT GARDEN.---Mr. Poole has performed the part of Mr. Bowdler on one of Shirley's lusty comedies---the Gamester, which under the name of the Wife's Stratagem, or More Frightened than Hurt, has been played a few nights at this theatre. The spirit, the masculine vigour of Shirley have evaporated by the operation; and the Wife's Stratagem is only tolerated from the excellent acting of Jones, Keeley, Madame Vestris, and Mrs. Chatterley. Keeley's was an admirable performance, a timid little rustic buck, wishing to be thought a man of gallantry, courage, and of the world. Winter's opera of the Oracle, as played at Mr. Arnold's theatre last summer, was also performed a few nights here. It is a heavy performance, with some high beauties, but glaring defects. It wants decision of tone, it wants novelty and variety of melody, has too much placid 61 gummy flesh" in its general composition; in addition, the contrivance of the concerted pieces is unskilful. It would require great amendments to ensure its popularity.

LENT ORATORIOS.---Mozart's edition of Handel's Messiah opened the Oratorios of this season, at Drury Lane Theatre. To offer an opinion on this well-known sublime composition would be needless impertinence; we shall, therefore, merely say that its sublime beauty prevailed over a very unsmooth performance, particularly on the part of the wind instruments, which were in any thing but harmonious keeping with the vocalists. Miss Paton appeared to great advantage; Miss Stephens was neither in voice or spirits. Braham sang in his usual gallery style; this great vocalist seems incurable of his acquired vulgar, unchaste vehemence. 'Tis a pity: Braham is worthy of a higher sphere. Miss Paton has introduced a long neglected air, from Gluck's (one of Rousseau's antipathies) Orfeo, "Che furo," with the happiest effect. It is a delightful melody---most delightfully executed. The great novelty of the Oratorios is a sacred Cantata of Weber. It crowns his genius, while it proves its versatility. The adherence to rule and uniformity ---what precedes and what follows---in a word, the oneness of design so necessary to the successful management of a vocal score in church music, was thought incompatible with Weber's eccentric and various genius. This solemn series of Motetts is inferior only to Mozart's devotional music. The opening and final chorus are masterpieces. The fugue contrivance of the latter was a treat to the lover of music. 'Twere well if it ended the chorus. At the Covent Garden Oratorio of the 21st, the coup de grace was given to Signora Toso's prima donnaship, by Miss Paton, whose "Tu che accendi" surpassed even herself. We don't know whether most to admire the chaste discretion, or the soul breathing energy of the delightful singer's performance.

Mr. Mathews, and his satellite Mr. Yates, have anticipated the Chancellor of the Exchequer this session in bringing forward their budgets. We take it for granted, that our readers would not suffice with even our description of any of these three "supplies " for the year, and therefore will be very brief with our notice of The Home Circuit; or, Cockney Gleaning, Mr. Mathews; and Portraits and Sketches in Town and Country, the title of Yates's Miscellany. Mr. Yates's is an improvement on his last year's entertainment, and Mr. Mathews's is not a falling off. The catering is Moncrieff's; that is, a stew of all the puns he ever heard or inflicted, with all the jokes he could scrape together. There is, and ever will be, more character---more comedy---in Mathews; more quickness of transition, and greater cleverness of imitation, in Yates. Joe Hatch, a new and excellent sketch of Mathews, is worth all Yates's together, and a large balance to boot; while the latter, mimicking Young and Macready, is better than Mathews's whole Monopolylogue. They are both well worth an evening's sitting.

END OF VOL. II.

D. Cartwright, Printer, 91, Bartholomew Close.