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How are those supported ?-By voluntary subscription; and part of the money is funded.

From all that you have stated, do you apprehend that there is a great want of the means of education in your district?—I think there is: there are as many uneducated as educated: there is a great deal of poverty and distress among those persons now; want of clothing is a very serious objection to their sending their children to school.

Are the schools worse attended in times of distress than at other times?--They are, certainly.

You reckon this a time of great distress. I do, I think I could take the members of this committee, within ten minutes walk of my house, and shew them twenty thousand hands out of employ; there are about seven. housand looms unemployed, and each loom generally employs three hands.

Is there any indisposition on the part of the poor to send their children to those schools?-I never saw any whatever.

Have you observed any anxiety on the part of the parents to have their children educated? A considerable anxiety; two years ago I was employed to take a survey of the poor, to know their distress for want of Bibles, and we went into almost every room,

[Dec. 1,

when we took an opportunity of recommending them to send their children to school; since that we have distributed upwards of fifteen thousand Bibles and Testaments among them.

In the course of that survey, did you find great misery and ignorance prevailing among those orders?-Very great; there were nearly one thousand adults who could not read, besides a great number of children; I presume about two thousand children.

Did they appear to regret the state of ignorance, in which they were?-Many of them did very much. Of the schools which I have mentioned, six have been established within these twelve years.

Could any of the schools which you have mentioned, accommodate a considerably greater number than attend them?—Yes, they could; the parish school, and the parish Sunday school, and the adult school, could all admit more.

What are the poor rates in your neighbourhood?-Five shillings in the pound rack rent, and they are going to raise them next quarter another shilling; we are relieving now about twelve hundred poor every week, besides about five hundred in the workhouse. (To be continued.)

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

ON the 24th of October the Tragedy of Hamlet was succeeded by the new Farce of Each for Himself. As this piece, after three representations, was consigned to deserved oblivion, it would be as superfluous to attempt a delinea tion of its outline as to enlarge upon absurdities.

its

Oct. 28th the Tragedy of Timon of Athens was performed after a long absence from the stage. Whoever has read this piece with attention will coincide in the opinion attributed to the late Mr. Sheridan, that it is calculated for the closet only, and cannot produce a great effect in representation. Mr. Kean of course personated the principal character, upon which almost the whole interest of the play depends. It is certainly one of those parts in which his peculiarity of manner, his rapid transi tion of countenance, and the harshness of his voice, are employed to great advantage; but such is the nature of the piece, that till the conclusion of the third act he had very little opportunity of distinguishing himself. Here his energy, however, compensated, in a great measure, for the flatness of the preceding scenes. When he called on his persecutors to "cut out his heart in sums"-to

was accompanied with the hurried action and horrible tone of fury and despair. In the succeeding scene the determination of Timon to invite his flatterers to a banquet, as deceitful as their promises, was finely rendered. The momentary pause before the idea was matured, the rapidity with which he directed his steward to invite his friends once more, and the exultation with which, in the an ticipation of their disappointment, he exclaimed

I'll once more feast the rascals!

produced an electrical effect upon the audience. We did not think him equally happy in the delivery of the grace in the mock-banquet scene, but the impreca tions which follow were given with ter rifying force. In the three last scenes with Alcibiades, Apemantus and the se nators, which, though differing in words, are nearly similar in effect, Kean ac quitted himself admirably. Bengough's personation of Apemantus was far

1816.]

above mediocrity. Wallack as Alcibiades, and Holland as Flavias, were very successful. The tragedy has been got up in a spendid style; the banquet scene in particular is superb, and the incidental music by Cooke, deserved the warm commendation which it received. These advantages, combined with Kean's extraordinary powers, procured for the piece a most favourable reception and frequent repetitions.

On the 5th of November was produced a new Comedy entitled The Guardians, from the pen of the late Mr. John Tobin. If any doubt remained that the author of The Honey Moon and The Curfew, was not a man of strong original genius, it would be completely removed by this comedy, which possesses still less claim to the praise of originality than those imitations of Jonson, Beaumont and Fletcher, Massinger and Shakspeare. The characters in The Guardians are all borrowed; we perceive not even an attempt at novelty. We are incessantly reminded of The Jealous Wife and The School for Scandal. Lady Nightshade (Mrs. Harlowe), Lord Filligree (S. Penley), and Julia (Mrs. Horn), correspond precisely with the Lady Freelove, Lord Trinket, and Sophia of the former; and Barton (Dowton) and Waverly (Rae) are the Sir Oliver and Charles Surface of the latter. The character of Hint (Harley) is partly taken from Sheridan's Sir Benjamin Backbite and partly from Mrs. Centlivre's Marplot. Neither is the similarity confined to the mere outline of the characters, for many of the incidents are almost exactly the same. The style however is polished and elegant, the dialogue easy and spirited. If brilliant wit does not often sparkle in the scenes, and they are not frequently enriched with mellow humour, still a pleasing vivacity pervades them throughout. The performers supported their respective parts with great effect; Harley's Hint in particular was extremely amusing. The comedy was received with the most flattering testimonies of applause. The prologue, written by Mr. Peacock, and alluding to the untimely death of the author of The Guardians, was feelingly delivered by Wallack; and the sprightly epilogue with appropriate spirit by Mrs. Davison.

The fourth representation of The Guardians on the 9th was succeeded by a new ballet, intitled The Bridal of Flora. It is the composition of Mr. Oscar Byrne, and bespeaks a lively fancy and correct taste. Mr. Byrne and Miss

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Smith, as Zephyr and Flora, displayed their accustomed ease, spirit and elegance, and Miss Gledhill made an interesting Cupid.

Nov. 20th the serious opera of Artaxerres was performed for the purpose of introducing on these boards, in the character of Mandane, Miss Merry, whose appearance at the New English Opera House we noticed a few months since. The fervent applause with which she was received, was fully justified by the excellence of her singing; and it was evident, that during her late temporary retirement from the stage, occasioned by indisposition, she had not neglected the means of professional improvement. In "The Soldier Tir'd," which she executed with admirable effect, and in several other songs, she was rapturously encored. Mr. Horne, after an absence of four years from this theatre, came forward as Arbaces. He acquitted himself with ability; but it must be admitted that the more confined area of the Lyceum is better adapted to his powers than the extensive circle of Drury-lane. Pyne appeared for the first time as Artaxerxes; his performance would not have suffered by the infusion of a little more delicacy into it. Bellamy supported the part of Artabanes in the most excellent style. The performance of Miss Horribow, in the subordinate character of Semira was, we will not say with a punning critic who sat near us, horrible, but by no means to

our taste.

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.

It was announced during the last season that Mr. John Kemble would go through the whole range of his principal characters once more previous to his final retirement from the stage. This engagement he began to fulfil on the 25th of October, with the part of Cato, which he presented in its strongest, and at the same time, its most amiable colours. Mr. Connor, personated Marcus with a good sense and spirit which we have seldom sɛen displayed in that character.

Oct. 28th, Mr. Kemble appeared as Coriolanus in the tragedy of that name. With an inconsistency which we have often admired in our dramatic caterers the part of Volumnia, the mother of Coriolanus-that is to say the mother of Mr. John Kemble--was assigned to Miss O'Neill. Though in matters of this kind we are disposed to allow a latitude which circumstances very often imperiously require, yet such a violation of probability as this is too flagrant for any professional excellence to atone for. 3 M

VOL. VI.

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during their hours of rest to be kept entirely apart from each other. The convicts to be kept at work every day in the year except Sundays, Christmas Day, Good Friday, Ascension Day, Fast or Thanksgiving Days, unless prevented by ill health: eight hours a day in November, December, and January; nine hours in February and October; and ten and a half in the rest of the year, excluIsive of the time allowed for meals. The

committee may allow any convict to labour voluntarily for a longer time upon certain conditions, and is authorized to grant to the convicts a certain part of the profits of their labour as a reward or encouragement. The convicts to be divided into two classes; the confinement of the first to be more strict, and that of the second more moderate: those who shew extraordinary diligence or merit may be removed from the first to the second, and on the like grounds convicts of the second class may be reported by the committee to the principal secretary of state for the home department, to be recommended by him as fit objects of the royal mercy. No convict during the time of confinement to be permitted to have any other food, drink, or clothing, than that appointed by the committee. None but officers to enter any of the apartments. The governor may employ convicts as servants. The chaplain to read prayers and preach morning and evening in the chapel every Sunday and holiday in the year; and all convicts not disabled by illness, and such of the resident officers as can be spared to attend. The chaplain shall also visit convicts for the purpose of moral and religious instruction. Convicts to be allowed to walk and air themselves; when sick to be visited by the surgeon, and if necessary sent to the infirmary. The governor authorized to confine convicts guilty of enormous offences in a dark cell; and the committee may order the close confinement of such offenders, on bread and water, for any time time not exceeding one month, or by removing them from the second, if ranked in that class, to the first.

LXIV. To repeal several Acts relating to the Militia of Great Britain, and to amend other Acts relating thereto. June 22.-1.

The regulation of 55 Geo. 3, c. 65, which altered the standard as to height of men from 5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 2 inches repealed. His Majesty may dispense with calling out the militia for the present year.

LXV. To explain and amend the Acts for granting Duties on the Profits arising from Property, Professions, Trades, and Offices, so far as extend to the due Assessment and Collection of the Duties for past years; for confirming certain Abatements already made of the said Duties, and exempting Collectors' Bonds from the Stamp Duties. June 22.-2.

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The horses upon which the duties are reduced by this act are chiefly those employed in husbandry in a rate proportioned to the annual value of farms or estates. It exempts hackney coaches, licensed as stage coaches, from the duty of assessed taxes for the curthe assessed taxes granted by former acts in rent year, and repeals the allowances from respect of children.

LXVII. To enable such Officers, Mariners, and Soldiers, as have been in the Land or Sea Service, or in the Marines, or in the Militia, or any Corps of Fencible Men, since the 42d year of his present Majesty's Reign, to exercise Trades. June 22.-1.

Officers, mariners, soldiers, and marines, who have been employed in the King's service since June, 1902, and have not since deserted, and also their wives and children, may set up and exercise trades in any part of this kingdom (reserving the privileges of the universities of Cambridge and Oxford), and shall not be liable to be removed from thence to their last legal place of settlement until they become actually chargeable to the parish. This act extends to militia men and fencibles who have served five years.

LXVIII. To provide for a New Silver Coinage, and to regulate the Currency of the Gold and Silver Coin of this Realm. June 22.-2.

The pound troy of standard silver, 11 oz. 2 dwt. fine, may be coined into 66 shillings. Old silver coin of the realm brought to the mint after such time as shall be named in any proclamation, may be exchanged for its full nominal value in new silver coin, by persons appointed by the treasury at any places throughout the kingdom. After the expiration of the period appointed for receiving old coin of the realm at the mint, all old coin deficient in value may be cut by the person to whom it shall be tendered. Provision for the loss arising from the deficiency and recoinage of silver to be made to the amount of not more than 500,000 out of

the supplies for the present year. After a day to be appointed by proclamation, any kind of silver coin or bullion may be brought to the mint to be coined at the rate of 663.

per lb. troy of the standard of 11 oz. 2 dwt.; of which 625. shall be paid to the persons bringing the bullion, and 4s. retained for assaying and loss, to be applied to the expense of the coinage. By this act gold coin is declared the only legal tender without limitation of amount; but no tender of silver coin beyond 45. is legal. Current gold