for the present, assigned the annual sum of 12,000 florins. The Catalogue of Easter Fair, at Leipsic, contained upwards of 1700 new works, and 800 translations, works in continuation, and improved editions. ITALY. means of perfecting the mariner's compass. His discovery has been submitted to the investigation of the Italian Institute, which has approved of the invention. DENMARK. A clergyman of Iceland, named Johnston, has recently translated the Paradise Lost of A Venetian engineer has discovered a Milton, into Icelandic verse. ART. 9. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. CATHOLIC MISSIONARIES TO CHINA. Rome, Oct. 1. THE Jesuit Missionaries in China have un than 4000 parishes in France destitute of ministers. The consequences of such a want of religious instruction may be easily con Tdergone Misionaries in China have un-ceived. three Christian converts were put to death, at one time, by cruel tortures. Before this persecution, 60.000 Christians were under the care of this mission. Nov. 8th. The infant son of the Count de Blacas, French Ambassador at Rome, was baptized on the 16th inst. The Cardinal Gonsalvi, who stood proxy for the Pope, as godfather, after the ceremony, put round the neck of the infant a collar of lapis lazuli, to which was attached a medal, set in bril liants, and enclosing a relic of the real cross. Father G., a Jesuit, expresses himself as follows, respecting the treasures of art, &c. which have been brought back from Paris to the monastery of St. Peter, at Erfurt:"Among the relics are many highly valuable, which may be regarded as diamonds of the finest water; as, for example, nine of the sculls of the 11.000 virgins, a piece of a gown of the Virgin Mary, the tuning hammer belonging to David's harp, and many other similar treasures, in comparison with which the French contributions appear as nothing!" [We have heard of a devotee who pretended to be possessed of the identical sword that Balaam wish'd for, to smite his ass withal. It would have assorted admirably with most of the articles in the above collection.] Baptism of Bells. On - last, the principal bell in the Church of Notre Dame, at Versailles, was baptized according to ancient usage; it received the names of the Duke and Dutchess of Angouleme, who were represented by the Prince de Poix, Governor of the Palace of Versailles, and the Dutchess de Damas. GREAT BRITAIN. Tract Societies on the plan of the Religious Tract Society of London, are extensively organized, not only throughout this Kingdom, but over the Continent of Europe. The same system has, likewise, been adopted with success in the United States of America. Mr. Morrison writes from China, that having finished the translation of the book of Genesis, which he has sent to England, he is occupied in translating the Psalms. He is also about to print an edition of the New Testament, 8000 copies duodecimo, and 1500 octavo. The 73d annual conference of the preachers in the connexion of the late Rev. John Wesley, was lately held in London: the following is a recapitulation of the number of members in the Society, and of regular travelling preachers : In Great Britain, At Brussels, 10 In the West Indies, 18,038 241,319 167,978 43,181 452,484 Total, In America, Coloured, Total, G ORIGINAL. TO SOLITUDE. ART. 10. POETRY. 'the dark-brow'd hill, at early dawn, Oyetry day, in woody dell. At shadowy eve, on the moon-light lawn, The soul is then in unison, Whilst silence reigns o'er the sylvan scene, And sadness smiles, with the dew-eyed morn, Or fondly weeps, by the pale moon's sheen. But when in pleasure's gayest mart, 'Mid gairish fashion's giddy crowd, Thou broodest in the lonely heart, How frightful art thou, Solitude! E. JEU D'ESPRIT. On receiving, from a young lady of singular beauty and accomplishments, a blossom of the hop-vine. In eastern climes, I've heard it said, Love's vows are, oft, in flowers convey'd, And that the lover's fate is read, In nosegay cull'd by gentle maid. To scan this fragrant blossom's scope, Must, then, my anxious thought employ ; Ah, might I deem it augur'd hope, 'Twould make me hop, indeed, for joy. Th' ill-omen'd plant, at least, shall lend CHARADE. My first can ne'er forsake the good, My fourth and fifth, you scarce can miss,- THE nec fato, merita nec morte peribat," Sed misera ante diem.' Seduxit miles virginem, receptus in hybernis, Præcipitein quæ laqueo se transtulit avernis Impransus ille restitit, sed acrius potabat : Et conscius facinoris,—per vina clamitabat,— 'Miseram Baliam! infortunatam Baliam, 'Proditam, traditam, miserrimam-que Baliam.' Ardente demum sanguine, dum repsit ad cubile, Ah, belle proditorcule, patrasti fectum vile ! Nocturna candent lampades.-Quid Multa? Imago dira Ante ora stabat militis, dixitque fumans ira, 'Aspice Baliam! infortunatam, &c. Abito!-cur me corporis paliore exanimasti? •Perfidius munusculum mi vir administrasti, Pererro ripas Stygias, recusat justa Pontifex, 'Suicidam Quæstor nuncupat, sed tua culpa carnifex. Tua culpa carnifex, qui violasti Baliam 'Proditam, &c.' Sunt mi bis deni Solidi, quam nitidi, quam pulchri ! Hos accipe et honores cauponabere sepulchri.' Tum lemuris non facies, ut antea, iracundior Argentum videns numerat fit ipsa vox jucundior 'Salve mihi corculum, lusisti satis Baliam, 'Vale mihi Corculum.-Nunc lude si vis aliam.' ART 11. THESPIAN REGISTER. HERE is no species of entertainment so universally enjoyed as theatrical exhibitions. The drama is among the proudest efforts of genius in every language; and one which is eminently calculated, when the moral of the piece is in accordance with the moral sense of mankind, to produce salutary impressions on the heart. Scenic representation is, in fact, embodying sentiment, and personifying precept. Such is the obvious dignity and utility of composition of this cast, that the most distinguished writers and moralists, have been content to inculcate lessons of wisdom through this medium. There have not been wanting commentators who have fancied that they found, in the sacred eclogue of Job, the rudiments of a drama. In Greece and Rome, at the periods of their greatest refinement, the theatre was the pride and the ornament of the republic; it was supported, as a common benefit, at the public expense; it was resorted to by the old for amusement, and by the young for instruction; in short, it formed a part of the system of national education, and was close- moral, or rather its want of it, may be ly allied to the national religion. learned from the review of it on our 16th In more modern times, a Shakspeare, a judiciously, curtailed in the representation. page. It was very much, and not always Milton, an Addison. a Young, a Thomson, Mr. Cooper, in the character of Bertram, a Johnson, and a Goldsmith, have not thought played some scenes with spirit, but on the it naworthy either of their talents, or their whole fell below himself. Mrs. Barnes, in virtues, to contribute to the fascinations of qual in her performance. She has many of Imogine, was touching in passages, but une the stage. the requisites of an actress, but fails to produce all the effect that she is calculated which seems to be affected; but which, if it to give, from an intonation of her voice, be natural, is still unpleasant. Mrs. Groshon's voice is evidently a forced one; but one which we can never be forced to Nor need the profession of an actor stamp a stigma on the character; though, unfortu nately, the characters of actors have, too often, brought disgrace upon the profession. The death of Roscius was deplored by Ci- like. cero, and lamented as a calamity to Rome; In the afterpiece, Mr. Hilson made some and Moliere and Garrick, in later days, en- fun in Numpo, which admits of nothing bet joyed the intimacy and possessed the esteem ter; and Messrs. Jones & Pritchard did justice to their parts. of the most illustrious of their cotemporaries. We have thought it necessary to say thus much in vindication of theatrical entertainments, because we are aware that many good people indulge a prejudice against them. We areinduced to notice the performances on the New-York boards, in the hope of purging our stage from those impurities which have given too strong grounds for that prejudice. Our remarks, except in reference to those indelicacies and improprieties which are generally offensive, are seldom tinctured with severity. We have observed many inaccuracies, particularly in pronunciation, of which we have, here, taken no note. We have not wished to appear hypercritical in the outset, but we shall be more strict, hereafter, in marking transgressions, especially against orthoëpy. : Wednesday Evening, April 2. Richard III.-Paul and Virginia. Mr. Cooper, in Richard, exhibited a fine specimen of able acting his suit to lady his interview with his mother and Elizabeth, Ann, his subsequent cruelty towards her, his dream and dread, and his dying scene, whilst they gave scope to his powers, were their extent and variety. executed in a manner, that evinced at once thing to reprehend, it was his giving, at If we saw any times, to the cold, heartless sarcasms of the hypocritical tyrant, too much the semblance Lady Ann. Mr. Pritchard acquitted himself of waggery. Mrs. Barnes was interesting in handsomely in Buckingham, as did Mr. Simpson in Richmond. In fact, the performance of the piece was generally creditable to the ticularly clever in the Duke of York. company. Little Miss Brundige was par There was some good singing in the afterpiece, and as much good acting as the namore grief, in seeing the pathetic story of ture of it would allow. But we experienced Paul and Virginia turned into a farce, than we derived mirth from its merriment. It is but fair, however, to acknowledge that our theatre possesses many attractions. The company is respectable, the scenery well executed, and the dresses remarkably rich and appropriate. Mr. Hilson is, perhaps, Friday Evening, April 4. the first comedian on the continent; Mr. King Lear-Lock and Key. Robertson and Mr. Pritchard are able actors; arduous in the whole range of the drama. The character of Lear is, perhaps, the most Mr. Simpson has talents for light comedy; It requires the ntinost exertions of the most Mr. Barnes personates old men wonderfully consummate actor to come up to the expecwell. Mrs. Barnes and Mrs. Darley are de- tation of the part; to say that Mr. Cooper did servedly favourites, and Mrs. Baldwin is a We were, on the whole, not dissatisfied with not fall below it, would be his highest praise. capital duenna. his performance; and this is no negative encomium. Mr. Simpson conceived Edgar justly, and played it with effect. Mr. Hilson, in Kent, acquitted himself well. Mr. Darley over-did Oswald. Monday Evening, March 31. Mrs. Barnes, in the interesting character of Saturday Evening, April 5. Macbeth-Prisoner at Large. Mr. Woodhull, for whose benefit the piece was announced, played the part of Macbeth, which, taking into consideration that it was his third appearance on the stage, he executed in a manner that warrants a hope of future excellence. He did great justice to some scenes; and if he appeared to fail in others, we were inclined to attribute it, rather to diffidence arising from a want of familiarity with the boards, and augmented by the discouraging aspect of a thin house, than to any defect of capacity: his voice, however, is not sufficiently tutored, and though his attitudes are not ungraceful, the management of his arms is awkward, and the mismanagement of his fingers is distressing. Mr. Simpson was very well in Macduff, and Duncan, Banquo, Malcolm, and Lenos, were respectably filled by Messrs. Anderson, Pritchard, Carpender, and Darley. author of the Honey-Moon, &c. It is a very indifferent play, though the author has pilfered plot, incident, character, and language, from most of the popular dramatists, from Shakspeare downwards. Patchwork is always an indication of poverty, and of whatever materials composed, produces but a mean effect. Mr. Tobin's audacity, in his plagiarisms, is much more conspicuous than his ingenuity in the management of bis plunder. He has, in truth, been guilty of only petty larceny, for he has stolen nothing of value in all bis thefts. But throwing novelty, probability, and morality, out of the question, as the author seems to have done, we may find some amusement in the Guardians. The whole strength of the company was brought out in aid of the piece, and we were gratified with much good acting. Mr Hilson personated Hint to admiration. Mr. Robertson, in Charles Sedgemore, gave evidence of his acquaintance with the character of a gentleman. He played off no airs, exhibited no swaggering, affected no bustle. Mr. Pritchard played Barton with his accustomed propriety. Mrs. Darley exhibited great ease in the character of the vivacious lady Welgrove. The other parts were, generally, well supported. Friday Evening, April 11. The Guardians, or the Faro Table.-Woodman's Hut. Mrs. Groshon very agreeably disappointed us in lady Macbeth from her performance of The afterpiece derived all its interest which wecannot withhold our commendation. from the splendour with which it was got The afterpiece is a broad farce, at which up. we could not help smiling, though we smiled at ourselves for so doing. There are some equivocal expressions put into the mouths of the characters, which convey a meaning of unequivocal indelicacy. We protest against this practice. When wit is purchased at the price of decency, its value is diminished in proportion to the sacrifice. At any rate, al lusions of the kind we are condemning, should not be permitted in public. Modesty should not be compelled to hear, what it would blush to repeat. Monday Evening, April 7. Battle of New Orleans-The ApprenticeThe Blazing Sun. This being a holiday, (Easter Monday) the entertainments were calculated for the audience that usually attend on such occasions, and were well suited to their taste. The play does not merit criticisin. We presume, the writer's intentions were good, but his piece will never give any additional eclat to the exploit it is designed to celebrate fortunately, it is not in the power of either folly, or malice, to render it ridiculous,though the representation of it was truly so. Wednesday Evening. April 9. The Guardians, or the Faro Table.-Ninth Statue. The performers, generally in the Guardian, showed proficiency in their parts. The Melo-drama of the Woodman's hut, is interesting, as well in its incident, as its scenery. Mrs. Barnes's Amelia is charming; Mr. Jones deserved and received applause in the Woodman. Saturday Evening, April 12. The Robbers-Aladdin. This is a German tragedy. in the worst style of German taste, and German morality. It is distressing throughout; but the catastrophe is shocking. It is a penance to witness the representation of a piece. the performance of which is painful in proportion as it is perfect; and which leaves on the mind an impression as difficult to be effaced, as it is dreadful to contemplate. The tendency of this play, is, in every respect, pernicious; its blasphemy is horrible; we wish it were altogether proscribed by the public. We augur well from the thinness of the house, which we willingly attribute to the general disapprobation of this unnatural drama, Mr. Robertson's Charles de Moor was impressive. Mr. Pritchard performed Francis de This is a new comedy, by J. Tobin, Esq. Moor, in a very superior style. He is an ac tor of great talent, and may aspire to excel- sing. Miss JOHNSON, in Albina Mandeville, lence in the highest walks of his profession. transcended the high expectations we had Mr. Carpender acquitted himself remarkably formed. We were delighted with her vivawell in Herman. He divested himself of much of that stiffness which renders him usually so ungraceful and monotonous. Mr. Baldwin played Speigelburg in a very lame manner. Mr. Anderson did Rolla better. Mr. Jones's Count de Moor was a very respectable performance. Mrs. Darley did great justice to the interesting character of Amelia. Aladdin is a magnificent spectacle: the story of which is taken from the Arabian Nights. Mrs. Barnes played Aladdin with great spirit and naïveté, and was deservedly applauded. Mr. Pritchard played with his usual judgment in Abenazac. Mrs Baldwin performed Mustapha very well. Her forte is in characters of this cast. Monday Evening, April 14. The World in a Village.—Who's Who. The performances of this evening went off rather heavily. There was nothing in them worthy of special notice. Wednesday Evening, April 16. As you Like It-The Children in the Wood. The part of Rosalind was played by Miss Johnson, a young lady of great beauty. and very extraordinary talents, who performed for a few nights, in the early part of the sea son. She was greeted by the audience with the most cheering plaudits. She is quite a novice. but we have every thing to hope from the maturity of her powers. Her countenance is highly animated, and susceptible of every variety of expression. The tones of her voice are exquisitely fine, though she is not always full in her cadence. Without being affected, she is too studied, and too emphatic. She sings enchantingly. Mr. Hilson was very great in Touchstone; he possesses equal discrimination and versatility, Mr. Pritchard was tolerable in Jaques; Mr. Robertson indifferent in Adam, and Mr. Simpson worse than indifferent in Orlando. We were disgusted by a great deal of ribald ry, which is unnecessarily retained in the representation of this comedy. In the afterpiece, Mr. Hilson played Walter. with his usual justness Little Miss Brundige, in the female child, showed great quickness of apprehension. Friday Evening, April 18. The Will, or School for Daughters.-Adopted Child. The playing of this evening was such, as we have seldom the gratification of witnes city and childishness. She introduced, with singular propriety, the wild and charming song of the Cossack, which she accompanied with her harp, and to which she gave equal effect with her voice and her instrument. The audience attested their satisfaction by no equivocal evidences. Mr. Barnes did great justice to Sir Solomon Cynic Mr. Simpson was unusually happy in Howard. Mr. Pritchard, in Mandeville, did not play with his wonted animation. Mrs. Baldwin hit off Mrs. Rigid to the life. In the afterpiece, Mr. Hilson, in Michael, showed that his talents are not confined to that cast of characters, in which levity predominates. Such entertainments as have closed the performances of this, and the preceding evening, are infinitely preferable to the tawdry pageant of a melo drama. Saturday Evening, April 19. The Child of Nature.-Rosina, or the Reapers. Miss JOHNSON performed in both these pieces. As Amanthis, she was sufficiently uusophisticated, and lent an interest to the part by her youth, her beauty, and her ingenuousness. We do not, however, admire the play itself, as much as many others profess to do. Its title is a misnomer:-It is any thing but a delineation of traits of nature. Mr. Pritchard, Mr. Robertson, and Mr. Simpson, gave strength to the piece in the prominent characters. Mrs. Baldwin played spiritedly and with gout in the Marchioness. Rosina was well supported by Miss Johnson; who was, herself, supported by nobody. Mr. Darley was, indeed, indifferent, in Mr. Belyille. He sings well, except that his articulation is se indistinct, that the whole force of the sentiment of his songs is lost. Mr. Darley has not made the slightest progress for years, in the walk of his profession. Is it because he is deficient in talent or in ambition? Mr. Banker's performance of capt. Belville was contemptible. This young man is not, however, so wanting in capacity, as he is redundant in complacency. If he did not think he had already attained to perfection he might arrive at mediocrity. Miss Dellinger is much such another fixture as Mr. Darley. She has not made the least improvement in three or four years; yet there is ample room for it. Should she seriously set about amendment, we would advise her, as the first step towards it, to leave off a distressing habit she has of catching her breath, after every word she utters. |