TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The Elegiac Stanzas of "Maria" are under consideration. "Sketches in Broadway," are not for us.

A Lawyers's Diablerie would be more at home in some of the courts below. We accept the offer of "A Milanese," with pleasure. We have again to present our best thanks to the gentleman who has so kindly furnished us, a second time, with copies of "Le Corsaire," &c. Although we were mistaken in attributing the former courtesy to a native of "the Land of the Gaul," we are rejoiced to find that urbanity and politeness are equally indigenous to our own soil. Cyllene's communication is received, and shall have deserved attention.

P. S. The music you sent, has been played and pronounced upon. The mantle of Strauss has assuredly fallen from Strauss, (whose waltzes degenerate of late, or repeat each other) and it seems to have fallen on the authoress of the "Flower-waltzes." Ask Hewitt who this "Lady of New York" may chance to be. She will be more heard of yet as a composer.

The resignation of Mr. Biddle, besides giving rise to much coffee-house chat, put Wall-street in commotion for a time, and seriously effected the price of United States Bank Stock. The step seems to have been entirely unexpected, both by friend and foe, and therefore it is that all the wiseacres about town have been uttering marvellously sagacious conjectures as to the cause that really induced it, and with equal wisdom do these sapient gentlemen foretell its effects on stock-on commerce-on the prosperity of the country-on the business "in our street"-on Mrs. Grundy's health, and even on the growth of the children of Mrs. Grundy! Very marvellous that a gentleman of mature age, ample fortune, literary habitudes, and impaired health, should resign a situation of the highest responsibility, and continually demanding the most energetic exercise of the mental powers! Very marvellous!

FRIGHTFUL SEQUEL TO A MASKED BALL.-The late brilliant ball at

The belligerents in Maine, and the equally ferocious and daring subjects men, they arrived to see the child sink for the last time. The three bodies of Her amiable Majesty of England, resident beyond "down east" alto-were taken from the water an hour after, and the wretched mother, in a gether, having been the engrossing topic of conversation for nine days, state of frensied insanity, is now confined in the house of arrest. (legitimate time) have at length become quiescent-and though the note of preparation was most ominous and alarming, we believe the war terminated with as little bloodshed as any since the days of the bald-pated Cæsar. We now await, with some impatience, the echo "of the doings in those diggins" from old England. Fortunately, the two countries are so distant from each other, that England and America cannot "show temper" at the same moment. Twenty days since, every man's anger was at a white heat, and "bullets in the thorax"-Damascus blades and hair triggers, were household words; by the time we hear from England, we shall wonder what the deuce has so ruffled that meek and pliant gentleman rejoicing in the euphonious appellation of John Bull. We, by that time, shall have quite forgotten how coaxingly we indulged in a little self-glorification, and The reaction from across the water will come over to us like a spent wave on a smooth beach, and fall harmless again into the great

the Theatre of the Renaissance at Paris, was followed by a catastrophe which has scarcely a parallel. A young lady, Clotilde V————, (the daughter of an officer whose bravery procured for him the decoration of father, was suddenly apprenticed by him to a seamstress, and for a year had the legion of honor,) after an education which exhausted the means of her she had formed an intimacy with a young man, whose persevering addresses patiently earned her livelihood by her labor. During this time, however, rival. On Sunday, having ascertained that her lover and the object of his won her heart. A month since, she discovered by chance that she had a that had belonged to her mother, and pawned them for a brilliant costume new passion were to go to the ball above mentioned, she took some jewels and mask, attended the ball, and passed the night in watching them. Toward morning, she found an opportunity to approach her faithless deserter The testimonials awarded in each class of Columbia College, were de- know her," was the reply, "tell her I am tired of her." An hour after, and enquired in a disguised voice where he had left Clotilde. "If you. livered by the President on Monday last, in the College Chapel. This is her lover and rival were passing along the Rue Ventadam on their way an event of great interest to the friends of the young gentlemen thus from the theatre, when from the fourth story of one of the loftiest houses, honored, and is the theme of general remark in our city circles. We have the poor girl precipitated herself upon the pavement at their feet. She only room to say now, that the testimonials to the student of the best had taken off her mask, and at the instant of springing from the window general standing in the senior class, was awarded to Arthur Carey, Jr. Rumors are rife that the appointment of Special Minister to Great Bri-hearted youth left her dead in the street, whence she was removed by the cried out her lover's name. Pretending not to recognise her the hard

talked of war.

ocean of events.

tain, has been offered to Governor Everett, and that his recent confidential message had reference to this subject.

The Bostonians are congratulating themselves in anticipation of a great treat in the Fine Arts this spring. Ample arrangements are making to collect all Mr. Allston's paintings in this country, for the purpose of having a public exhibition. It will be well worth going to Boston to see.

We are all looking anxiously for the return of the Great Western. She will probably come booming up the Bay about the 9th instant, greeting the glad waters of the old Hudson most lovingly, and freighted with the news of another hemisphere. Then will editors rush, with eager stomach, for the rich stores of mental food; then will scissors usurp the prerogative of the pen; then will our "trim built wherry" freight itself with the spicesthe gold, the silks, and, spreading its white sail to the gentle breeze, convey to our generous patrons, far and near, the rich and tasteful cullings from the labors of others, in addition to the results of our own industry.

TO THE BEAUTIFUL.-The conclusion of the story writ for the Beautiful, lies on our table-but was delayed in its journey from the Susquehannah one day too long for this week's paper. The beautiful are forgiving, and it is to the beautiful that we make our appeal to forgive this inevitable breach of editorial promise.

police. He has since, however, become the prey to a delirious fever, and his life is despaired of.

Please Heaven, and fair winds, we'll soon have a pluck at both Frenchman and German. Meantime, for variety, turn out the plunder of the last Yankee we boarded. A trim-looking craft he was, with more in his hold

ITEMS FROM THE DAILY NEWS OF THE GAYEST CAPITAL than appeared in his bill of lading. His lumber and sa'ace covered, I

OF THE WORLD.

fancy, a precious venture of silk and spices. Here they are:

Titania. What spirit have we here, an Ethiop?
He has the brow of one.

Unroll that

THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN.-That a physician kills his patient is com-bale, marked Titania's Banquet! Cut off a slip, and turn it to the sun :mon enough, but what shall we say to the following story of a patient (?) who undertook to kill three of his doctors. M. Bleynic, physician to the Royal hospital at Charenton, retains usually a lodging at Paris, where he receives patients two or three days in the week. On Friday, about noon, he was ascending his staircase in the Rue de Berry, when a man entered his room before him, and turning, discharged a pistol at him with deliberate aim. By an agile movement the doctor avoided the bullet, and seizing the assassin by the arm, he called for assistance. A second pistol was discharged in the struggle, and the double report having brought in the servants of the house, the aggressor was secured. On his trial before the police, he gave as his motive for the attempt, that fifteen years before, Dr. Bleynie had ordered him a cold bath when his disorder required a warm one! He declared also, that having subsequently consulted Doctors Biett and Fievée, they had given the same injurious advice, and that in consequence he had resolved upon the death of these in their turn. An examination of the culprit's lodging, disclosed a drawer-full of pistols and ball, and a sharp poniard! Pleasant for the Doctors!

A SINGULAR MONOMANIAC.-A lady, in the arrondissement of Beaune, who is well known to her friends as the tenderest of mothers, had been for two years haunted by an overpowering temptation to drown her three children. Whenever the idea became stronger than she could bear, the unhappy woman drew her children to her bosom, wept over them, and covered them with kisses. On Sunday last, however, unable longer to resist the demon within her, she took the eldest, a girl of fourteen, to the water-side, and while she pointed to a fish at the bottom, threw her in, and fled immediately. In a few minutes she returned with the second, a girl of ten years, threw her in and fled again to the house. Again she returned with a son aged only two years, and her motions having been seen from a distance, and a tardy curiosity having been aroused in some laboring

Puck. Your Majesty, I found him in a grot
By the Dead Sea. I questioned him of whence
And what he was; whereat he shook his head,
And with his sooty finger pressed his lip.
He makes no answer, but points to the shore;
Arrived at which, I heard a low, strange voice,
As of a sea-nymph singing in her cave;
And looking down, a thousand feet below
The surface of the water, roofs discovered,
Columns and battlements and pavements strewn
With gems and gold and sea-weeds intermixed,
Lit up by subterranean fires and lamps
Of subtle naptha: sitting by which a Sprite,
In likeness of a Nereid, from a book
Chanted strange symbols. I had heard the tale
Of Sodom and Gomorrah,-how they were
Destroyed by fire and in the Dead Sea sunk
With all their treasures,-and, from that and what

I saw, inferred their ruins were the haunts
Of spirits, powers that sway the elements
Of fire and water, and that she I heard
Muttered some charm of virtue to withhold
Their submarine dominions from the grasp
Of hostile demons, that might else invade
Them for their riches. With a pearl, I found
Upon the sands of the Arabian sea,

I bribed this fairy, as I deem he is,
To join my troop; not doubting but he might
Be tempted, by the pleasures of our court,
To exchange for them the sullen life he led
In sultry waters and the oozy halls
Of sunken cities, and in time disclose
The secret of the charm that guards their treasures.
They call him Asphalt.

Boz.-We find in the last number of Bentley's Miscellany, a character-
istic letter from the versatile pen of Mr. Charles Dickens, announcing his
secession from that periodical The loss is evidently Bentley's, and will
not be felt by the public, as we cannot for a moment doubt the intention of He wiped the razor-
the popular author of the Pickwick Papers, to establish a magazine on his

own account. We grieve not for Mr. Bentley, whose propensity to screw he stropped the razor-
poor authors down to the lowest denier, is well known, and we do not

think he will derive much advantage from the selection of “Turpin" Ains- he shaved on,—
worth, as the successor of the unrivalled Boz. Mr. A. is good at narrative,
but lacks wit, spirit and genius; he can describe the inside of Newgate
and the "Ken" of a gang of highwaymen, but there is no fun in him, no
broad humor, no jests that, like Yorick's, would "set the table in a roar."
Mr. Bentley has good reason to lament, but he may as well dry his tears,
and sip consolation from the fountain of hope. He advertises a new tale,
founded on the history of Guy Fawkes, of gunpowder memory, from the
pen of his editor, which may, without doubt, be made very interesting to
those who have not been fortunate enough to meet with it in their school
days.
"Little Pedlington" Poole would have been a better man for the
Miscellany, but probably he would not work under price.

WOOING OF A BASHFUL LORD.-The desperate struggles and flounder-
ings by which some endeavor to get out of their embarrassments are amus-
ing enough. We remember to have been much delighted the first time we

He lathered on. I concluded, but still continued my attitude, expecting prodigious praise; when, to my eternal mortification, he turned quick upon me, brandishing the razor, and, thrusting his half-shaved face close to mine, he made such horrible mouths at me that I thought he was seized with insanity, and I was more frightened at him than my father's ghost. He exclaimed in a tone of ridicule,

Angels and ministers of grace, defend us!" and looked more like a clown than the grave-digger. He finished shaving, "Yaw, waw, waw, waw!" The abashed Prince Hamlet became sheepish, put on his wig, and, with a smile of good nature took me by the hand, and said, "Come, young gentleman,-eh! let's see now what we can do." He

spoke the speech; and how he spoke it, those who have heard him never
can forget.
Bannister at length made his debut, and was successful. In a sort of
midway character, uniting the pathos of tragedy with the hilarity of comedy,
he was peculiarly great, indeed unrivalled.

Tragedy, however, was his first aim, and in that he was encouraged by the best critics and the most admired performer of the day. But soon after Bannister's appearance, the tone and mode of tragic exhibition were totally changed. The unforced, natural, and almost comic manner of delivering the mere cursory dialogue, was changed for one in which it seemed to be assumed that no sentence, however ordinary, or even unimportant, could have been written without an occult meaning; no phrase could have been penned without a concealed point. "Will you play upon this instrument?" was delivered as if it had been a declaration of hostility, or the announcement of a detected conspiracy; and the very little which Cibber has left of the rich sportive sarcasm with which Shakspeare endued the character of Richard, is so suppressed, that when the tyrant banters his mother, he may almost be expected to aim his dagger at her heart.

Garrick's agile movement and elegant levity, in which Bannister might have been a valuable follower, were utterly superseded—a dignified and super-majestic manner was thrown around every character, from Shakspeare's murderous Thane to Rowe's gay rake. This taste descended through all the performers in tragedy, and he who had to deliver a message of no more importance than "Cæsar sends health to Cato," would well have earned Quin's indignant reproof, "I wish he'd sent it by some other messenger."

Mrs. Siddons and Kemble, by the lofty grace of their persons, and the refined dignity of their manner, put to flight, for their day at least, all hopes that could be entertained by those who, without all the perfections of Garrick, struggled against the disadvantages which result from the want of a stately elevation of form. When Mrs. Siddons appeared and acted, the effect was similar to that which might have been expected if one of the sublimest conceptions of Michael Angelo had been animated and inspired for the occasion, and Kemble gave us every thing which could have been achieved if the same miracle had been performed on the most perfect production of the chisel or the pencil employed in the representation of Roman or Grecian life, person and manners. In them these perfections were gifts of nature, improved to their highest pitch by art and study; in them they were becoming and captivating; but they who attempted to form themselves, by imitating those incomparable models, would soon become monotonous mannerists, mere plaster casts, humbly representing the noble statues-tame, clumsy wood-cuts, engraved after the inimitable picture.

The Theatre.

When we had planted ourselves in our elbow chair last week, to write a review of the Theatre, we confessed in sadness that there had been no novelty deserving criticism or notice. We have resumed our seat once more for the same object, but bleak and dismal is the prospect around us; yet in the distance there are gleams of sunshine, and hope mounts up like a bird, when we venture to anticipate success for the forthcoming novelties, both at the National and the Park.

THE NATIONAL.

During the present week there has been produced a Drama founded on Dr. Bird's novel of "Nick of the Woods," of which the friends of the National seemed determined to withhold an opinion, by the simple process of declining to listen to its merits or demerits. A few solitary stragglers found their way into the house, and here and there might be seen some ambitious critic darting from box to box, to gather the prevailing opinions of each little cluster, and then bolt out of the house to pen in glowing terms the capabilities of the piece, and its modicum of success. We accidentally arrived too late even to hear the closing scene, but the ominous quietude that pervaded the house made inquiry unnecessary.

The operatic company left town early in the week to fulfil an engagement in Philadelphia; and we doubt not that the lovers of music of that refined city will hasten to reward the gifted vocalists with their attendance and their smiles of approbation.

With the accustomed liberality of the manager, the whole force of scene painters, property-men, and carpeuters, have been put in requisition to bring out with effect on Monday next, the new play of the USURER MATCHED, written expressly for Mr. Wallack, by Mr. Willis. The principal character will be in the hands of Mr. Wallack, and as this is the first time for many months, his many admirers will have had an opportunity to see him on his own boards, we cannot doubt he will be greeted in this new part by the cheering welcome of his friends. As it may not become us to offer at present any remarks on the merits of the play, we cheerfully leave it in the hands of the public, and of our contemporaries of the press.

he will shortly appear at this theatre. This gentleman is well known to our citizens as a delightful singer of Scotch and English ballads, and his success will much depend upon the effect time may have had upon his voice. We hope Mr. Sinclair is an avant courier of other artists, and that the opera may again be revived at the Park. Rumor says that engagements have been effected with a company of distinguished vocalists, but whether they are to appear this season or the next, we have not learned. The beautiful Mrs. Shaw has returned to the Park, after a tolerable engagement at Albany, and if fittingly supported, will doubtless meet with her accustomed success. This lady has never enjoyed in this city a fair opportunity to exhibit, to the full extent, her histrionic powers. Some casualty appears to have forced her hitherto to sustain almost alone whatever she has attempted. It would have been a gratifying circumstance to see her once on the stage with those capable of affording her scope and verge enough by their own acting, to elicit all the talent we believe her to COMPLIMENTARY BENEFIT TO MR. WALLACK.

possess.

It is quite too late in the day to discuss the propriety of giving complimentary benefits to successful managers; we shall therefore simply remark that if any individual ever came within the range of deserving some testimony of public consideration, Mr. Wallack is the man. A committee has been appointed to superintend the arrangements, and as the spirited and enterprising Lessee sails for Europe in the Great Western on her next outward trip, we hope and trust that the liberality of our citizens will cheer him on his way, and thereby impart additional energy to his promised exertions for the ensuing season. We have good reasons for saying that the friends of the drama may safely anticipate a whole firmament of stars, who wait but the personal orders of the Great Magician to start from their orbits and shoot across the Atlantic, to dazzle us with a resplendent galaxy of beauty and talent.

One thing, we are desirous of saying to our friend Mr. Wallack; and that is to urge upon him the stern and imperative necessity of attaching permanently to his company some young lady as Prima Donna in the regular drama, who can, with credit to herself, with satisfation to the audience, and with advantage to the manager, sustain the higher walk of tragedy and comedy. For instance, we wish occasionally to see the School for Scandal, but there is no Lady Teazle to be found. Sometimes a representation of Romeo and Juliet would pass an agreeable evening, but as that play cannot well be enacted without a Juliet, we are obliged to dispense with it from the same cause. The Hunchback and the Wife would draw good houses once a month, with Mr. Wallack as Master Walter and St. Pierre; but, alas! for a Julia or a Marianne. In consequence of this deficiency and it is just as bad, if not worse, at the sister establishmentmany steady old play-goers stay at home and mourn over the decline of the acting drama. It is well known that the salary of many of the London "smaller stars," does not exceed eight pounds sterling per week, here they can be assured of a greater amount, and when by their talents and unremitting diligence, they have established themselves in public favor, a good benefit may be always relied on with confidence. Besides, we are quite aware that in the British Provincial theatres, as Bath, Edinburgh, and Dublin, there are many gifted actresses who have not the courage to brave a London audience, or perhaps not interest enough with a London manager to be allowed a first appearance. From either source may be procured the essential addition to our stock companies, and with judicious training and encouragement on our boards, success would be inevitable.

It is by no means a thing of course, that every Histrion should bear the London stamp to ensure approbation here, for it must not be forgotten that an American audience first appreciated and rewarded the talents of Malibran, and at a later period did the same for Charles Kean, when he was neglected by his own countrymen. Poor Malibran, upon whose grave bloom the flowers of sorrowful reminiscence, returned to Europe to receive the grateful confirmation by applauding millions of our judgment of her powers, and soon arose beyond the reach of all competition. So, the younger Kean, after a year's residence among us, and after we had pronounced him sterling ore, returned to his native land and became the object of universal admiration to his countrymen, who had before failed to appreciate his unquestionable talents.

MR. MACREADY AND COVENT GARDEN THEATRE. A play, to an intelligent child, has always been the supremest of pleasures: but, with growing manhood, the illusion loses its illusiveness; and, unless things can be accomplished as they now are at Covent Garden Theatre, we feel that a play, and particularly a play of Shakspeare's, is a matter rather endured than truly enjoyed by matured judgments. We have, before now, been frequently at the theatre for the sake of Kean, Young, Kemble, Macready, and O'Neill: but when, until now, for the sake of Shakspeare? When, until now, has Shakspeare been the end, and not the means? When, until now, has the TEXT OF SHAKSPEARE been the great "lion" of the playbill-the VAN AMBURGH of the attraction? When, until We gladly announce the arrival of Mr. Sinclair, the vocalist, and that now, has a reverential regard for the great poet's full intent and meaning

THE PARK.

to

e

1

Ebenezer and

(even to the minutest particulars to be only induced from THE TEXT) been advantage of their sensibilities to push his own fortunes.
allowed to supersede all other regards? When, before, has fortune been Dabble, who begin to see that they have carried the joke too far, acquaint
risked, health sacrificed, domestic comfort forfeited, and all for the honor Dawkins with what they have done, and the discovery is made just in
of a national drama, hitherto too highly honored in having Shakspeare at time to prevent the elopement of the tallow-chandler's sister with the
its head? When, until now, has a theatrical manager, in spite of the
"black prince." Letty, who is exasperated at his perfidy, calls in a police-
"whips and scorns of time," the insolence of opponent ignorance, and man, and the real Mrs. Crow arrives in time, with four young Jim Crows,
"the spurns of the unworthy," maintained the "native hue of his resolu-to prevent her husband from committing bigamy and robbery. The chief
tion, un-sicklied by the pale cast of thought," and preserved in the strong support of the piece rested with Mr. Rice and Mrs. Keely, both of whom
"current" of determined "action," an "enterprise" of such "great pith sustained their characters with great humor. Mr. Rice was encored in all
his songs, and was loudly applauded throughout the piece. The farce is
The acting of
very smartly written, and abounds with excellent puns.
Mrs. Keely was admirable.

and moment?"

A former season, and several other successful revivals, had paved the way for the triumph which I had the pleasure of first beholding, in the production of the play of the TEMPEST. Shakspeare's TEMPEST was indeed a theatrical novelty; and the playbill promised no more. But, oh! how rich the consummation! There was but one thing wanting: Shakspeare should have been there himself. When Macready was called for at the end of the performance, our imagination saw the poet's ghost crowning him with laurels. Perhaps it would be as well, if critics were more frequently to speak through the medium of a mere report as to the feelings and conduct exhibited by an audience.

First, then, the curtain rose to a pit literally crammed, and boxes overflowing; but this is a fact chiefly creditable to the audience itself. The manifestation of a willingness on the part of the public to appreciate the exertions of such a man as Macready, is simply a duty which it were culpable to neglect; and as it is a duty now amply fulfilled, we will not reflect upon its having been, until now, barely rendered. For the same reason, the remarkable attention and the intelligent respect paid to the entire performance, were no more than the evidences we should expect of the highly reputable character of Shakspeare's countrymen.

FRENCH THEATRICALS.

"La Gypsy," (the great Ballet) is telling a fortune to the managers of the Academic Royale de Musique. At the Francais, the difficulties between Miss Rachel's papa and the Directeur have been arranged to the satisfaction of one party certainly; since the old gentleman has liberally consented to receive twelve thousand dollars for his daughter's services during one season, besides "little fixings." A Parisian wag has calculated that this salary would defray the expense of a Marechal de France, or two Generals, or ten Colonels, or twenty-five Captains, or fifty Lieutenants, or twelve hundred private soldiers. The old man considers the world indebted to him for resuscitating the beauties of Racine and Corneille, and struts about the capital in all the pride of bloated tom-foolery. A new comedy has been produced at the same theatre, called "Les Sermens,” (The Oaths) from the pen of Mr. Viennet, a gentleman of literary attainments. who mingled much in politics previous to the last revolution, and we believe voted for the ordinances that sent "Charley Dix" on his travels. The author takes the bold ground that the oaths of drunkards, lovers, and persons of wild ambition, go for nothing. He attempts to prove it by associating a Peer of recent creation with an old rich widow, an old trooper with a cask of Burgundy, and an officer of the old Royal Guard, with the tri-colored flag; they all swear eternal fidelity, and all in course, violate their oaths. The piece was well received; much praise is bestowed on Perrier, but as to Geoffrey, they say he answered to his name, (J'ai Froid)

A new dance called "the Cracovienne," by Fanny Elssler, set all the light heels of Paris capering in emulation of the exquisite danseuse. Monsieur de Balzac has written two new comedies: "L'ecole des Maneges," and "Le Commerce."

There was, however, much more than this negative testimony to the merits of the entertainment. There was the proof a critical acumen on the part of the audience of a rational enthusiasm, which would have scorned the snare of claptrap as impotent and insulting; but which greeted the exhibition of truthful beauty, as the richest compliment which could be paid to a refined and susceptible public. There was a reciprocity between the stage and the auditory, such as latter days have rarely mani-and was cold as an icicle. fested. There was no "starring" on the boards, no partisanship in the pit. The artist, the actors, and the machinist, co-operated to produce a perfect whole,-acknowledged as such by the spectators. We narrowly watched, not only Prospero and his "tricksy spirit" in the person of Miss P. Horton, but also the due developement of the characters apportioned to Messrs. Ward, Phelps, Diddear, Bartley, Harley, Miss Helen Faucit, and Mr. G. Bennett; nor was there one of them on whom eulogy might not be bestowed. Mr. Phelps brought out one or two features of the part entrusted to him with great feeling and skill; and Bennett's Caliban was monstrously good. The aim, however, of each, was exactly to fill his appointed place, with a scrupulous regard to the effect of the whole; and the efforts of each were appreciated. Then there was the singing of Miss P. Horton (who gave "Where the bee sucks" more like a spirit than a singer.) And, in legitimate connexion with all this, was the music of a most efficient orchestra, and a display of scenery, more magical in its illusion than was ever before exhibited. To represent the first scene of the Tempest, as Shakspeare gives it, is an effort which even Macready has not yet dared; but, seeing what he has done, we scarcely know how to limit our estimate of his abilities. Meantime, we are well content with the view of "a ship at sea," instead of "on a ship at sea." We have seen the wreck of a ship: and can truly say, the fresh memory of the real horror was only the more favorable to the truthful semblance of the fearful "mockery" before us. We positively "suffered with those whom we saw suffer." We shuddered as the "noble vessel" struck, and was "dashed to pieces" on the rock! It was necessary that the knowledge of its being illusion should "step between us and our frighted souls."

When such things are brought to aid, and not to supersede, the real theme when, in fact, the fine arts and the arts mechanical are honorably engaged as allies in fealty to the poet of the drama, they become as important in themselves, as were the battalions who wrought out the fame of the hero of Waterloo; and, in that same spirit of admiration with which we gratefully hail any other one who benefits his country, we exclaim, "Hail, and farewell!" to the manager of Covent Garden Theatre.

JIM CROW IN LONDON.-An amusing extravaganza was lately produced at the Adelphi, and met with well-deserved success. It is entitled The Foreign Prince; the plot is as follows:-Dick Dabble meets Jim Crow (Rice) in St. James's Park, and induces him to assume the disguise of an African prince, in order to aid his own projects to obtain the hand of Emily Dawkins, daughter of Old Dawkins, a wealthy tallow-chandler. Letty (Mrs. Keely,) the servant of Dawkins, is courted by Barney, the footman, and every thing bears a promising appearance for the lovers. The foreign prince is introduced, and all three ladies fall in love with him, and he takes

THE TALKING CANARY BIRD.-When the town is flocking to see a man fondling lions and tigers on account of the wonder of his not being torn to pieces, surely a canary bird that speaks as distinctly as any parrot, magpie, or starling, that ever mimicked human utterance, is a legitimate object for popular curiosity; and such a marvel is now exhibiting at the Cosmorama Rooms in Regent street. The loquacious canary articulates with singular neatless and fluency, and with as much ease and volubility as of a snatch of song, you hear him pronounce the words, "Sweet pretty he warbles-though his vocabulary is very limited, of course. In the midst little Dicky"" Pretty Queen"-"Dicky dear," and other fond appellations bestowed upon him by his mistress: he also makes a chirping imitation of a bell ringing, and calls " "Mary." He really seems to take delight in exercising his powers of mimicry; he requires little encouragement, and the presence of strangers rather excites his loquacity than otherwise; during our short visit the feathered darling was very lavish of his accomplishments both of song and speech. His note is full and loud, and the vocal sounds are guttural. The only peculiarity we noticed in the little creature, except that he appeared remarkably lively, and in a manner ruffled by constant action of the muscles of the larynx. The talking prointelligent, was a fulness at the throat, where the feathers are very much pensity is said to have been developed spontaneously at six months old, and matured by voluntary practice with only the incitement of frequent repetition of the sounds: the bird is now three years old, was taken early from the nest and reared by hand; and from the first he was made a pet of, and allowed the range of a drawing-room, being only caged at night. His food is the same as that which his fellows in captivity generally eat, and he is very fond of his bath. It is a curious phenomenon certainly,-interesting to the naturalist, and entertaining to all.

A RAILROAD, BY A NOVICIATE.

When we arrived by the Blue-Bottle coach at the Basingstoke station, forty or fifty miles from the metropolis, there was an intuitive sense of being already at our journey's end. We felt that we had virtually arrived in London, and that all remaining to do was simply to get into an omnibus, and give up the time of an ordinary hackney coach fare, in proceeding to Piccadilly.

The influence of the scene upon a novitiate observer is ferociously impressive. First, a string of horseless coaches, like the line of kings in Macbeth's vision, glided with phantom smoothness by me, propelled by the magic touch of a material imp of Vulcan, to take their places in the train; meanwhile, under a shed at a short distance, were certain other imps, harThen forth the monster came! a hideous thing, with a double body like a nessing, or otherwise preparing the fiery dragon that was to carry us off. wasp! with a whistle as loud as the screech of a tormented elephant spitting fire and spouting smoke, and looking more like an enraged demou of Vesuvius vomiting destruction, than a docile devil, subdued to the ser