from his benefice for three years, with deprivation of income during that period.

REMARKS.

We are of opinion that this case of clerical bastardy has not been well got over for the defendant; for this we are sorry. Parsons, as well as laymen, are under the dominion of their passions; and we see no reason why a layman should give security, or get off by paying a small sum on such a charge, and a parson be mulcted in three years' pay, amounting to some hundreds of pounds. His counsel's appeal is somewhat singular. He says his client is fit for no other employment than preaching." A negative to this we are sure would be given by Isabella Blackburne and the parish officers; and although parsons ought not to indulge in illicit amours, yet when the "frail flesh" yields to temptation, there is no earthly reason why they should be more severely punished for the weakness of their nature than another who is not ordained, to pay above price or the amusements of his leisure hours.

M.

Theatricals.

THE THEATRES.

DRURY LANE AND COVENT GARDEN

Have been pursuing a system of rivalry, from which the play. going public derive no benefit. At one house a splendid melodramatic exhibition, called "The Cataract of the Ganges,' exhibits all the gaudy tinsel and shew for which the Surrey was famous, when under Elliston's directions. Miss Kelly p performs strikingly, and a man in a dress similar to hers gallops up a cataract of real water, to the admiration of city apprentices and

schoolboys. The other house has pitted against this "The conquest of Mexico," where a Peruvian, after dismounting a Spaniard, vaults into his saddle, gallops across, and up, a cataract, painted on deal boards. Miss Paton has some sweet songs; and Miss Love prevents us from regretting the absence of Miss Tree. King John has been performed with a strict adherence to ancient costume, but it has failed to take, owing to the performers. Young's King John is much inferior to Macready's; and as to Hubert, we won't mention the fellow's name. Mrs. Ogilvie, in Constance, appeared like a moving mile-stone. We recommend both these national managers to place over their doors, “ Entertainment for Man and Horse."

THE SURREY THEATRE

Has attracted, by several novelties; amongst them, 66 Mary, Queen of Scots." Mrs. Clifford has figure, age, and ability, to personify Mary with truth; but she should recollect that decent fortitude and resignation, breathing the aspirations of hope, accompanied Mary to the block, and not hypocritical sobs, with weak exclamations or compassion. However, where truth is slighted by the author, it is hard to expect actors to realize it. Rowbotham made Mortimer's fate to be pitied, but he was too outrageous. Kemble's Earl of Leicester wants dignity, grace, and manly charms, for a hero who had two queens captive to his accomplishments.

“Manfredi;” or, "The Mysterious Hermit;" is an oft told tale. Kemble, as the Hermit, performs well; but there is an eternal sameness his good sense ought to correct, even if he varies for the worse-it would be a relief from insipid monotony. At the opening, Manfredi has an interview with Herring, the ferryman of the castle; and Mr. Kemble reminded us of his brother, when he retires exclaiming,

"Fear not; I swear

When the castle bell tolls

Manfredi will be there."

Miss Tunstall was deservedly encored in a laborious love song; and Miss Kemble looked very pretty and affected. The part

assigned to Herring is serious. He displayed abilities, which makes us regret he has been so much confined to the ludicrous.lt Blanchard's Hugo was a fine specimen of the hypocritical assassin; and the combat betwixt him and Kemble was most admiðs rably managed. Stephano, by Buckingham, merits great com. mendation; he is really as droll as he is ugly. We cannot give him higher praise. The dresses are rather seedy; but on the whole, this is one of the best pieces yet brought forward, and crowded houses bear testimony to its merits.

THE COBOURG

Has successfully brought out a piece, called “Lazaria,” founded on the cause of Greece. Bengough, as the Archon, merits high approbation, and has never appeared to more advantage. Mrs. Pope performed his daughter tolerably; but why was not such a heroic character given to Mrs. Stanley? She once got hissed for usurping Pope's place; and the latter deserved hissing, as retaliation. Mr. Stanley did ample justice to his part, and had his energy partaken less of rant, he would have been more pleasing. The other pieces are old favourites, and continue to hold their places in public esteem.

WEST LONDON THEATRE,

Supported by Miss A. Kelly, R. Beverley, and Lewis, is gene rally well attended. Frankenstein, by Lewis, is (next to Wallack's) the best portrait of that gloomy character; and Mortimer's Mo Monster does him infinite credit. Beverley's benefit was proof how much he is esteemed by the town; and we feel confi dent, while the present system is pursued, he and his house will

Confusion is here the disorder of the night.

Every week prod

duces a new stage manager. Power, we hear, was driven from anoti ei le soilew on: yd wome

now the

the throne by the intrigues of Bennett and Tayleure. West sick very mal apropos, and now both have returned again into action. Mrs. Baker has retired, and Power vanni. Of the pieces, mangled as they have been by changes, we can say nothing creditable. Mrs. Tayleure, Mis. Watkinson, West, Bennett, and some others, have kept the house open by their united ability; but we fear that a house divided again.t itself cannot stand long.'

Miscellanies.

To the Editor of the Rambler's Magazine.

BOBBERY CAUSED BY THE VICE SOCIETY, AND THEIR AGENT.

"The truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me Justice."

Suffering sword of

worse than the

the

es ald For some time the Vice Society and their agents have been tolerably quiet, but they are like the mole, which works under ground, and digs a pit unseen, into whose dark abyss the unwary or unsususpecting are sure to fall. It were well if every tradesman, booksellers in particular, would be on their guard against these serpents. € The writer has suffered severely by their vile practices, a and he is still in a course of protracted pangs inflicted by the rack, or Damocles, suspended by a single hair over tyranny can break at pleasure; it is fit the world should know the honourable manner in which ch these m men proceed to entrap their prey. The writer was tried for publishing a work, and in consequence of his giving up all remaining copies, judgment was suspended, which means, according to the French mode, now adopted in England, to place a man under the surveillance of the police. As the writer was a printer, he was was a marked man, and

a

victim's head, which

the whole host of informers swarmed about his windows like bees round ripe fruit, intending to destroy it for their own sup. port-he discovered, that during his absence in prison, and elswhere, when he was driven about by the malice of the Vicious

Society, robberies of books, in sheets, had been committed on his premises to a large amount, he, therefore discharged all his workmen, having ascertained that a fellow named D who hawks books, had been the agent to receive and seil the stolen goods but refused to tell names. No sooner were those fellows dis charged than they flew to the agents of the Vicious Society, and proffered to swear that the writer had in his possession some hunmeh dreds of the books he was pledged to give up when judgment upon him was suspended. To this the Society eagerly attended, and a fellow named Jones issued the following circular to the wretches discarded.

THE KING V. BENBOW.

SIR, I shall be glad to see you at half-past six precisely in the parlour of the Hope, Blackmoor-street, Clare Market.

Pray does the Hon. Philip Pusey, or Mr. Wilberforce, or Mr. Bosanquet, sanction this public-house tribunal, of which Jones and Pritchard are judges; if so, they are worse than the miscreants, who, for a pot of porter, would, I was going to say, swear that their employers, the Vicious Society, were all honourable men, a thing as far from truth, as the Divine Being is from approving of the methods by which they dishonour his name.

1

These fellows were promised to be rewarded for hard swearing, and Justice Jones even warned men at work with othe writer to receive their wages and come and swear against their master, for which service they should be well paid." Talk of the espionage in France, or revert back to the days of Nero, when he boasted of having a spy in every house in Rome-it is nothing to this. Virgil says, that'

2

play y Heaven forms each on other to depend, solid medi quila A master, or a servant, or a friend."

And these monsters strike at the very basis of domestic comfort, they make one look with an eye of suspicion on the social board, and the smiling faces at our

on all round

we fancy are