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and on the second night of performance | ing you satisfaction, even from one end of
the yawning boxes might have contributed the season to the other;-but how (if this
about five pounds to the yawning treasury. system of curtailment should proceed,)
We must defer our remarks on other they are to make both ends meet, is a matter
black deeds till next Saturday.
of too serious consideration to obtrude upon
your minds at this moment.

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miration.

is already, if report say true, "Schism in
the State;" Stephen sits like the first mar-
tyr in the centre of persecution, protesting
against the abominations that beset him on
every side in the shape of theatrical he-
resies, declaiming against the hopeless vul-
garism of a Company as new to him and to
COVENT GARDEN.-We have not now
each other as they are to acting, giving
lectures in the English language to dialec-space to remark largely on the perform-
ticians amassed from the barns and barba- taken as the direct contrast to those of its
ances of this Theatre, but they may be
rism of the remotest Yorkshire, and long-solitary sister. The principal novelty has
ing obstreperously to close a mission, been a Mr. Farren from the Dublin thea-
which, instead of the primitive Saxea tu-
nica, is likely to be no less fatal to him by Sir Peter Teazles and Lord Oglebys, and
tre, who come as the representative of the
the loss of so many stone fretted away
from his valuable corporeality. But as a
id genus omne." He has already played
the former part, and tolerably well; but
manager he has only shown that he was a
fit coadjutor for his inflated principal.
we are not awakened to any very felicitous
After the warning voice of a Special Com-conceptions in his study of the character,
mittee, reinforced by the thunders of Mr. and we were repelled by some obvious
Robins's accustomed hammer, without hav- quackery. His Sir Peter is too old, too
ing before his eyes the salutary fear of being precise, and too pantomimic for our ad-
knocked down by the hammer which gives
such irrecoverable blows, he had made no
preparation for the " Opening," better than HAYMARKET. The sun did not shine
Romeo and Juliet; and found no better ex-
upon the Haymarket at the beginning of
periment on public patience, even in that the season; Mr. Jamieson's comedy did
Novel Drama, than Mr. H. Kemble's Ro-
not attract, and affairs were dull and cheer-
The son of Croesus burst his dumb-less, when the Green Man, got up on the
ness when he saw his father's life in jeo- spur of the moment, luckily restored the
pardy, and due praise may be given to the house to crowded and applauding audiences.
filial piety that made this extraordinary and Mr. Warde, Mr. J. Russell, Miss E.
inauspicious effort in Mr. H. Kemble. But Blanchard, new actors (the last entirely,
what are we to think of the parental cruelty the second almost, and the first altogether
which could fling forward a slender and
to London) have appeared advantageously;
battle, where hisses both loud and deep have shewn on what sure grounds of merit
amiable youth into the very front of the and Terry, Jones, Liston, Gibbs, Russell,
were sure to wither up his might before he their public appreciation stands, when they
could display any thing beyond "soft suf-
play where every gesture, look, action, tone,
ferance." His performance of Romeo was and turn of expression, can be critically
like his performance of other characters in
seen and examined. A small theatre is
his previous trial of the Metropolitan Stage, the surest test of histrionic abilities.
and we shall therefore say no more on the
topic than referring to the chronicled judg-of Mr. Colman's neat addresses, as neatly
On Saturday the house closed with one
ment of our predecessors, in the misery
of seeing Shakspeare begrimed a la mode
de Newcastle. We say this without any
wish to give pain to the feelings of the
young actor; it is only kindness and gene-
rosity in any man who will tell Mr. H. Kem-
ble that he does not display the powers of
an actor, that a hundred other respectable
ways of making his bread
may be open

meo.

to his acquirements, but that the dis
tinctions of the stage are shut upon him;
that this advice, candidly and compassion-
ately given, cannot be adopted too soon;
and that if his stars now induce him to for-
swear sentiment and silk shoes, poetry and
plumage, for ever and ever, he will have to
thank us for all the comforts that his future
fortunes may wrap round him. Juliet was
played by another experimentalist, we
believe a Miss Moody, now Mrs. Maken-
zie. Her failure was marvellously perfect.
Thus the opening of the Theatre, that
ominous day,
big with the fates" of
Drury, and of a host of proprietors and
creditors, was not left to the chances which
might cloud its destinies, but was obducted
and gloomed by the nebulous industry of
its biform manager.
Before this cloud
compeller" all hope has been obscured,

delivered by Mr. Terry:

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-I have now the honour of addressing you, to offer the acknowledgments of the Proprietors of this Theatre, on the close of their season;— and you may recollect, that they assured you it should be "a short life and a merry

One."

"The first part of this promise they gave with the utmost confidence, being morally certain that their old friends and guarantees, of Covent Garden or of Drury Lane (if not of both,) would be anxious to redeem this house's pledge of BREVITY, before it was in any danger of being forfeited.

"As to the second part of their obligation,-that of producing mirth,-y -You have exonerated them. If they have not furnished mirth themselves, you, certainly, have brought it with you; for (bating those representations, or parts of representation, when we courted your graver attention,) never was a merrier set of kind souls than our audiences of this summer.

"They depute me, Ladies and Gentlemen, to entreat your acceptance of their warmest gratitude; to which allow me to of the Performers: We wish you all, Ladies add, most respectfully, the farewell tribute and Gentlemen—A long life and a merry

one!"

VARIETIES.

HENRY CAREY, THE POET.

(From a Correspondent.) Henry Carey was one of our most popular poets; he indeed has unluckily met with only dictionary critics, or, what is as fatal to genius, the cold, undistinguishing commendation of grave men, on subjects of humour, wit, and the lighter poetry. The works of Carey do not appear in any of our great collec tions, where the works of Walsh, Duke, and Yalden, slumber on their thrones.

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Yet Carey was a true son of the Muses, and one of the most successful writers in our language. He is the author of several little national poems. In early life, he successfully burlesqued the affected versification of Ambrose Phillips, in his baby poems, of " to which he gave the fortunate appellation Namby Pamby, a panegyric on the new versification; a term descriptive in sound of these chiming follies, and now adopted in the style of criticism. Carey's Namby Pamby was at first considered by Swift as the satirical effusion of Pope, and by Pope as the humorous ridicule of Swift. His ballad of " Sally in our Alley," was more than once cominended for its nature by Addison, and is sung to this day. Of the national air, "God save the King," he was the author, both of the words and of the music. He was very successful on the stage, and wrote admirable burlesques of the Italian opera, in the Dragon of Wantley," and "the Dragoness;" and the mock tragedy of "Chrononhotonthologos' is not forgotten. Among his poems, lie still concealed several original pieces: those which have a political turn are particularly good, for the politics of Carey were those of a poet and a patriot.

66

At the time that this poet could neither walk the streets, nor be seated at the convivial board, without listening to his own songs and his own music-for in truth the whole nation was echoing his verse, and crowded theatres were clapping to his wit and humour-while this very man himself, urged by his strong humanity, had founded a fund for " decayed musicians”—at this moment was Carey himself so brokenhearted, and his own common comforts so utterly neglected, that in despair, not waiting "In short, for every thing at present for nature to relieve him from the burthen must be short here,-the Proprietors seem of existence, he laid violent hands on himto have accomplished their ends of afford-self; and when found dead, had only one

halfpenny in his pocket! Such was the fate
of the author of some of the most popular"
pieces in our language! He left a son,
who inherited his misery, and a gleam of
his genius.

EXPEDITION TO THE N. POLE.-The official dispatches from the ships employed on the discovery of the North-west passage have been received. They are dated July 28th, at which time the Isabella and the Alexander were in latitude 75 deg. 30 min. N., longitude 60 deg. 30 min. W., well over to the American coast, the weather serene and perfectly clear. The variation of the compass, by accurate observations repeatedly made on board both ships, was 89 deg., and the dip 84 deg.30 min., which led them to conclude that they were approaching very nearly to the magnetic pole. It had been perfectly calm the sea was as smooth as glass for three or four days, and the current drifted them to the South-eastward, which raised their hopes of an open passage round the point of America, from which quarter it appeared to proceed. All the way up the middle of Davis's Straits they skirted an unbroken field of ice on the left, but as

The following anecdote is to be found in Bredow's Chronicle of the 19th century, for 1807." As this interesting but voluminous German work is doubtless unknown to the greater part of our readers, we hope to do them a pleasure by extracting it for their entertainment.

In the French and Latin Dictionary by Boiste, page 750 of the 2d edition published in 1803, is the following article, printed thus:

Spoliateur, s. m. Spoliator, qui dépouille, qui vole.

G. C. Spoliatrice, s. f. Buonaparte.

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of pleasing is boundless, whose industry is matchless, and whose neatness is unparalleled.

A machine has been invented at Rome for dragging the Tiber, from the Ponte Molle to San Pietro, for the valuable objects of antiquity which it is believed lie buried under the waters. Many are of opinion that the gold candlesticks of the Temple of Jerusalem will be recovered; but though these articles should not be found, there is reason to expect that many valuable antiquities will be drawn from the bed of the river.

There is in the neighbourhood of Bamberg an apple-tree which excites the astonishment of the curious. It bears 268 different kinds of apples; it will bear 300, but the grafts have not yet all taken. The proprietor of this tree, which is perhaps the most singular in the world, has affixed a

ticket to each branch, to indicate the quality of its fruit. The Russians bivouacked near this king of apple-trees in 1815, and they entertained a most religious respect for it.

In the year 1804, after many hundred copies of the dictionary had been sold, this article was noticed. The author, the printer, and the publisher, were arrested, all the copies of the dictionary seized, and the presses put under seal. Boiste is questioned; he boldly complains of this proceeding, and demands what it all means? Did you," he is asked, "write this dictionary?" Yes.' "Did you write this Yes.' sheet, this page, this article?" "And you still ask what it means?-What, Sir, has the name of Buonaparte to do in your dictionary ?"It is to justify myself; they proceeded, it became thinner, and ap-have not met with the word Spoliatrice any is writing a grand historical drama, init was my duty to name my authorities. I M. Biergang, notary at Aix-la-Chapelle, parently rotten, and they were sanguine that the moment the breeze sprung up, the where except in an article of the Moniteur tended to be represented for the entertainice to the westward would open to them of such a day, month, and year, which runs passage, and allow them to reach the thus, "La nation Angloise, cette nationment of the allied Sovereigns. Charlenorthern shores of America. The utmost Spoliatrice? "But why is the name printed magne is the hero of the piece; the other characters are, his wife Gersinde, his harmony prevailed among the officers and in such remarkably large letters ?" every part of the ships' companies, and all of respect, because it is that of the First daughter Emma, Pope Leo II., Wittikind, Roland, the Persian Âmbassador, and Satan : were in perfect health. the latter appears disguised as an architect. The scene is laid at Aix-la-Chapelle in the year 804.

a

The following is an extract of a private letter which has appeared in the Morning Post:

"His Majesty's Ship Isabella, at Sea,Lat. 75.25.

Long. 60. 7. variation 88. 48.-July 25. "DEAR D-, This is our last opportunity this year, therefore I could not let it pass without writing, although nothing has passed since my last. We are now to the Northward of all the ships that are fishing: we see some a long way astern: the boat with dispatches is going immediately to one of them: they have followed a great way this year, and have been very kind in giving us every assistance when in the ice; I sincerely wish them all safe back; they have a long way to go through the ice. The coast begins to look more and more miserable: as we get North, it has more the appearance of a chain of ice mountains than land; the sea is one solid field of ice as far as the eye can reach. When the wind blows from the North, we find narrow passages in it, and through them we pass on: sometimes the whole of our men are on the ice, dragging the ship along the edge of the flaws. From the very great variation, we cannot be a great way from the magnetic pole: you will see the variation by our last observation on the ice at the head of the

letter.

"P.S. I cannot yet say any thing about the success of our voyage; the season I think is favourable. Young R and I had a long hunt after a very large bear the other day, but he got away from us.

Consul,'

# Out

The Moniteur was consulted; the case was found to be as Boiste had represented it; all the persons arrested were set at liberty, but the publisher was ordered to have the leaf reprinted, and to leave out the name of Buonaparte. In the new copies there is a cancel, and after Spoliatrice, s. f. only the letter B. But there are many copies in circulation which have the name at full length.

An eminent French optician has received an order for a kaleidoscope which it is supposed will cost about 20,000 francs. This price will not appear exorbitant when it is considered that topazes, rubies, emeralds, brilliants, and other precious stones, will be substituted for pieces of glass, which are usually employed in making these instruments. This kaleidoscope is intended as: a present from the French government to a foreign court.

M. Schlegel, who has been recently apand who may be regarded as one of the pointed to the philosophic chair at Berlin, most distinguished chiefs of the School of Romance, has lately made a romantic union, by marrying a beautiful and very young lady, the daughter of Professor Paulus of Heidelberg.

An individual who wanted a person to take care of children, advertised in an American paper-for one whose patience is inexhaustible, whose temper is tireless, whose vigilance is unwinking, whose power

An Antwerp Journal contains a description of Aix-la-Chapelle, the place appointed for the meeting of the allied Sovereigns. As every one cannot go there to inspect the relics which contribute so much to render that city famous, our readers will perhaps be gratified to know in what they consist.

Below the altar is a gold shrine, containing what are called the great relics, which are exhibited only once in seven years. They are as follows: 1st. A white robe which was worn by the Virgin Mary; 2d, The clothes of our Saviour; 3d, The sheet in which he was wrapped while on the cross; 4th, The cloth in which the body of St. John was wrapped after his decapitation. The other relics are no less sacred. They are twenty-eight in number. We shall mention only the head of Charlemagne, and his hunting horn, cut out of an elephant's tooth.

There are also to be seen the palls or funeral cloths which the Kings of France were accustomed to send on the day after their coronation to be placed upon the tomb of Charlemagne. The last was brought from Louis XVI. by M. Papillon de la Ferte, the Intendant des menus-plaisirs du Roi. The choice of this ambassador for such a mission appears somewhat singular. It would lead to the supposition that the King ranked acts of devotion among his menusplaisirs,

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LITERARY INTELLIGENCE,

M. Raoul Rochette has been appointed Keeper of the Cabinet of Medals in the King's Library, Paris.

The celebrated Swedish chemist Berzelius is now on a visit to Paris. He is esteemed one of the most enlightened professors of this delightful science now living.

METEOROLOGICAL JOURNAL.

SEPTEMBER.

Thursday, 10-Thermometer from 43 to 58.

Barometer from 29, 91 to 29, 97. Wind NbE. and NW. -Clear.-A heavy thunderstorm in the SE. on Tuesday afternoon about five. Several partial showers yesterday afternoon; very little rain here. Friday, 11-Thermometer from 39 to 60.

Barometer from 30, 01 to 30, 09. Wind W. and NW.§.—Generally clear. Saturday, 12-Thermometer from 41 to 65.

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This Edition is printed in one Vol. for use in Churches and Chapels, as well as the Library.-Also, In 3 vols. 8vo. 21. 12s. 6d. bds. large paper, 41. The Greek Testament; a new Edition, with copious Notes from Hardy, Raphel, Kypke, Schleusner, Rosenmuller, &c. in familiar Latin: together with parallel passages from the Classics, &c. &c. By the Rev. E. VALPY, B.D.

Printed by A. J. Valpy, and sold by Messrs. Law and Whittaker; Longman and Co.; Baldwin and Co. Paternoster-row; and all other Booksellers.

Price 3s.

OSSIANO; Or, The BATTLE-FIELDS of FINGAL, in ULSTER, ascertained by the Analogy of Names

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

The Late Elections.

Messrs. PINNOCK and MAUNDER beg leave to inform the Public, and particularly the lately elected

Members of the House of Commons, and the Gentlemen of the Law, that they have now in the press, and will publish early in October, "A very interesting Work on the LATE ELECTIONS. Besides an impartial statement of the various contests, well selected Speeches and Addresses, it will contain a List (accurately examined at the Crown Office) of all the present Members, with such Biographical Notices as are consistent with the nature of the Work. Literary Gazette Office, 267, Strand.

The Buonaparte Family.

Just published by Henry Colburn, Conduit Street, MEMOIRS of LUCIEN BUONAPARTE,

.PRINCE OF CANINO,

Drawn up from his Private Correspondence and other authentic Documents, translated from the French, in 2 vols. 8vo. with a fine Portrait, 188.

2. Anecdotes of the Court and Family of Napoleon Buonaparte, translated from the French. 8vo.

10s. 6d, Barometer from 30, 15 to 30, 22.

Wind NW. and N. §.-Clear.
Sunday, 13-Thermometer from 47 to 65.

Barometer from 30, 31 to 30, 42.
Wind NbW. and NыE. .-Morning cloudy:
afternoon and evening clear.
Monday, 14-Thermometer from 39 to 66.

Barometer from 30, 41 to 30, 27. Wind SDW. 1.-Generally cloudy. Tuesday, 15-Thermometer from 50 to 68.

Barometer from 30, 02 to 29, 84 Wind SW. 2.-Cloudy morning: wet after

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TO CORRESPONDENTS. The Editor cannot give the information requested by J. Grant of Edinburgh.

A Correspondent asks, "Is it not Thorwalsden who is engaged on a statue of Washington, and not Canova?" We may have writtem the latter name in a mistake for the former, but we have not the means at present of referring to our authority in order to rectify the error, if it be one.-ED. Many notices are sent to us for insertion, which are advertisements, and chargeable with duty: as we cannot oblige all in this way at a less aggregate expense to our individual concern than from 2001. to 3 or 4001. a year, we beg it may not be taken ill if we advise a partition of the amount among the parties interested, whose advertisements we shall be happy to insert in the regular

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and Places mentioned in Ossian's Poems.

By HUGH CAMPBELL, Esq.

Printed for James Ridgway, Piccadilly; and F. Pillans, Edinburgh. Also

* These works deserve in every respect to be distinguished from the mass of writings that have hitherto appeared respecting the Buonaparte Family.

The Memoirs of Lucien are written by one who has followed the steps and witnessed the actions of Lucien

1. The Botanical Register for September, for four and twenty years, and who has obtained access

No. 43, to be continued Monthly, price 4s. Containing eight coloured Figures of Exotic Flowers, drawn by Sydenham Edwards, Esq. F. L. S. from living Plants.These Specimens will Le found beautiful Lessons for Pupils in drawing.

2. Hortus Suburbanus Londinensis; or a Catalogue of Plants cultivated in the Neighbourhood of London, with their Names in Latin and English. By Robert Sweet, F. L. S.

And Practical Gardener, 18s. in bds.

New Picture of London.

In a few Days will be published, with numerous Views, Map and Plan, price 9s. bd. an improved Edition of LEIGH'S NEW PICTURE of LONDON; or, A View of the Political, Religious, Medical, Literary, Municipal, Commercial, and Moral State of the British Metropolis: presenting a brief and luminous Guide to the Stranger, on all Subjects connected with general Information, Business, or Amusement.

Printed for Samuel Leigh, 18, Strand.

This work possesses a decided superiority over every similar attempt. The most recent and correct information is arranged in systematic order, the plates are engraved in the best manner, and the whole exhibits a faithful picture of the British Metropolis. It is almost incredible that so great a mass of information should be brought into so small a compass; and in this respect it back with redoubled force the base insinuations, which

will not only defeat the arrogant pretensions, but hurl

have been obtruded on the public by the knight-errantry and quackery of an impudent editor.

Literature.

Pinnock's Improved Editions of Valuable Class Books.

PINNOCK'S Improved Editions of Dr. GOLD

SMITH'S Histories of England, Greece, and Rome, with

Questions for Examination. Price 5s. 6d. each.

Parents and Teachers are respectfully invited to peruse and compare Pinnock's Editions of the above standard Historical Works, which are submitted to the

Public as being decidedly preferable to any others. Independent of being edited on a very superior plan, they combine many important advantages; as all vulgarities of style have been carefully corrected, every indelicate allusion sedulously obliterated, and the most valuable

and interesting matter added, consisting of Introductory

Chapters descriptive of the Manners and Customs of the

Ancient Britons, Greeks, and Romans, and numerous

Mythological, Biographical, and Geographical Notes.

to his private correspondence and other authentic documents. The Comte de La B- and other distinguished persons, formerly on terms of the closest intimacy with Lucien, have acknowledged the veracity of the extraor dinary facts now for the first time recorded to the world, and which will be read with the highest possible interest. The Lady to whom we are chiefly indebted for the Anecdotes of the Court of Napoleon resided in the Palace, accompanied the Court on its journies, and when the Emperor was in France, a day never elapsed on which she did not maintain habitual intercourse with him; thus she was necessarily the witness of a great part of his private and domestic life. Attached to the interior and private service of the Empress Maria Louisa, she never for a moment quitted the young Princess from the period of her arrival in France, until her departure for Germany. The various facts which she now submits to the public, and of the chief part of which she was herself an eye witness, are therefore drawn from the most unquestionable source; besides her situation, by placing her on an intimate footing with the individuals of the Court, enabled her to collect information which lay beyond the public reach. Her veracity may be the more firmly relied on, since she has nothing either to hope for or to fear, and no motive either to flatter or calumniate. Her chief object is to present to the Historian, who may hereafter wish to trace an impartial picture of the reign of Napoleon, some traits, the correctness of which cannot be called in question.-Preface.

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AND

Journal of Belles Lettres, Arts, Sciences, etc.

This Journal is supplied Weekly, or Monthly, by the principal Booksellers ard Newsmen throughout the Kingdom; but to those who may desire
its immediate transmission, by post, we beg to recommend the LITERARY GAZETTE, printed on stamped paper, price One Shilling.

No. 88.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1818.

REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS.

An Authentic Statement of Facts connected with the Interior Management of Drury Lane Theatre for the last three Seasons; together with an Appendix of Documents. London 1818. pp. 85. This is an anonymous pamphlet in vindication of Mr. Peter Moore and his coadjutors in the Sub-Committee, and in accusation of Mr. Douglas Kinnaird and Mr. George Lamb, and, incidentally, of Mr. Kean, Mr. Raymond, Mr. H. Johnston, and Mr. George Robins. We do not say but that the better part of valour, discretion, was shewn by the author in not putting his name upon the title page,

but we should have been more satisfied

with his Statement,' had he, by honestly describing himself, proved his competency, from situation or circumstances, to publish that which might be relied on as

are.

but

authentic and derived from the fountain head-muddy and troubled as its waters That many of his facts are well founded is not unknown to us; there are many which stagger our belief, while they, at the same time, serve as the foundations for very fallacious and inconclusive arguments. There is moreover a want of particularity, which would not only have stamped truth' upon several of the assertions, but would have greatly enhanced their value as data upon which to reason respecting the mismanagement of the theatre.

66

6

PRICE 8d.

ing the lavish expenditure of chalk for character of the Company, and destroy
dancers, and white paper for snow- the public opinion of the judgment which
storms, &c.: that Mr. Lamb did every superintended the performances. No, Mr.
thing of his own authority, appointed Moore was at least co-efficient in the
managers, selected pieces for represen- business of degrading the drama. His
tation, ordered their mode of being got plodding capacity seized all the little
up, and wasted more at one sic volo sic points which the grand monarque's more
jubeo than the starvelings of the Commit-enlarged mind left untouched; and be-
tee could save in a season: that when tween the classical and the commercial,
thwarted he always threatened to resign, the poetical and the calculating as-
which invariably brought the incipient sailants, the foul deed was most tho-
rebels to (their senses, we were going to roughly perpetrated. Never did the
say, but that would be a mistake, and world see such bad plays as they brought
Kean would not submit to the stage- lents which really belonged to a com-
we must write to) subjection: that Mr. out; never did London behold the ta-
management of Mr. H. Johnston (this pany so misemployed and bedevilled
monstrous imperium in imperio, and its (though even in the composition of the
ruinous effects, were originally noticed and Company there were great original ab-
condemned in the Literary Gazette ;) but surdity and error;) never were the ex-
in all the plays in which he performed had ternal concerns of a Theatre so exactly
the supreme direction, the consequence squared with the internal in misconduct;
of which was many acts of most scanda- and rarely has the entire want of success
lous tyranny, and an expenditure of in- so perfectly corresponded with the entire
credible sums upon dresses " to adorn want of desert.
Mr. Lamb resigned early in the last
his body:" and, finally, we think, though
the subject is twice alluded to with be- season; but the author asserts that he
coming delicacy, that Mr. Lamb en-had entailed all the subsequent evils of
gaged a great number of ladies, whose the year upon the House. This is evi-
maintenance "became encumbrances on dently not the fact, and Mr. Lamb, in
the Treasury."-We do not like to enter his letter of resignation (Nov. 10th,)
too minutely into parish business, and distinctly assigns, as causes for his retir-
therefore we give this latter affirmation as ing, and reprobates several of those pro-
we find it, and shall add the author's ceedings, which, then in embryo, were

caveat thereto, viz.

It is in my power to substantiate this proposition also, by an enumeration of facts; but I am restrained from so doing by feelings of delicacy.

Now this is being really very cruel towards the whole body of female performers at Drury Lane Theatre;-it shews the writer to be a male Mrs. Candour, and his pamphlet a School for Scandal.

The gist of this performance may be roughly summed up to be a charge that Mr. Kinnaird and Mr. Lamb, like the two Kings of Brentford smelling at one nosegay, domineered over Drury Lane for the season following Mr. Whitbread's death: that the other Subs being then determined to be sub two of their own body no more, "the blood of Douglas" We have thus enumerated the chief could no longer protect itself;" and allegations and insinuations of this proafter an ineffectual attempt at coalition duction, and however it may obtain aswith Mr. Lamb, the latter consented to sent to the dictum of Mr. Lamb's misbe sole manager, and accepted his drama- management, we think it impossible to tic seat, as Sir Francis Burdett did his agree to its position respecting the entire political seat for Westminster, abandon-passiveness of Mr. Moore and his coing his original colleague: that Mr. labourers during all the period of alleged Lamb now reigned for nearly two sea- misrule. The ousting of Mr. Kinnaird, sons, alone, as despotic in single as he a strong measure, and a multitude of had been in duumviral power: that the letters and documents of public norest of the Committee, all this while, toriety, demonstrate that Mr. Moore occupied their innocent lives with pid- by no means confined his exertions to dling over the accounts, looking to the the finance department, and left Mr. farthings in tradesmen's bills, and check-Lamb at full liberty to annihilate the VOL. II.

afterwards carried into execution to the indelible disgrace of the Theatre. Mr. Earle's Opera was one of these precious farragoes, for the sin of representing which Mr. Lamb is at least not responsible, since he says it" has been ordered into rehearsal without my knowledge;" and this very act, independent of a multitude of others, as well as the passing of Resolutions, Py-laws, &c. clearly establishes the fact that Mr. Lamb was not the single despotic ruiner of the concern which the writer endeavours to represent him. So far from it, there was even 66 a new plan of management set on foot by two members of the Committee during his absence from town, and without the least previous intimation to him, or, as

he believed, to his two other colleagues.

What then must inevitably have been, and what really was the result of all this scrambling for managerial superiority; and of all the changes, caprices, undermining and counter-plotting, to which such a variety of views, and interests, and projects of patronage, led? It is

lective care, assuredly such a resolution on their part was not only justifiable but immencement of Mr. Lamb's third season of perative. They saw that this was the commanagement, and that it promised to be as prolific of disaster as either of the two preceding seasons.

almost unnecessary to answer the ques- need not dwell upon it. Mr. Raymond | future arrangements under their own coltion-public disappointment, and the had more of the sound tact and knowdownfall of Drury Lane Theatre; a con-ledge of management about him, than viction of the utter incapacity of those all the members of all the Committees who regulated its literary and dramatic put together-he understood the public movements, of the extravagance, taste- trim, and we question whether even the lessness, arrogance, obstinacy, and in- extravagance of the Chinese saloon did consistency, of its whole government. not put money into the treasury. MonIt required not to add to this the pre- sters are fully as much run after as nocipitating influence of Mr. Kean's per- velties of purer kinds, and a woman with versities, his broils with the stage ma- two heads would attract more persons to nager, and all the feuds and bick- see her than a living Venus de Medicis. erings among the other performers, We certainly disliked that folly, as we which rose out of such a system. In the do many connected with the stage, end there were more managers than which yet draw crowds of admirers, or obedient dischargers of their duty; and, contemners-the same thing in the acas was at the time frequently stated in count books of a theatre, for they pay this paper, and now repeated in the pub-alike who come to gratify their curiosity lication before us, the strangest aggre- or shew their taste by disapproving gate of Committee-men, busy-bodies We do not know of ourselves, whether from without, actors, printers, carpen- Mr. H. Johnston was a sufficient or inters, and clowns, was formed into a dis-sufficient manager, but we do not think cordant mass to determine on the merits the writer's objection to his appointor demerits of presented pieces, and di- ment, viz. his not being an actor of the rect the other affairs of our National first class, valid. It is seldom that the Theatre. Confusion became worse con- best actor of a corps makes the best founded-plays were ordered to be re- manager, with whose duties acting hearsed, and soon after thrown aside has nothing to do, unless, he being without ostensible motive-parts were a first-rate performer, may sacrifice, cast and recast, and generally ended in as Mr. Kean appears to have done, being ill cast-in fine, the silliest possi- every other thing and person to himself. ble things were done in the worst pos- For a good manager is wanted an active, sible manner, till this once favourite re-shrewd, intelligent, conciliatory, and yet sort of amusement was literally deserted -people in the streets would not accept, gratis, tickets of admission.

Now it is impossible to lay all this imbecility and blundering on the shoulders of Mr. Lamb-He ceased to direct early in November, and able successors would have found some opportunity or

other to let out the secret of their com

petency during the six busy succeeding months. But no such matter; that secret is still kept by the Sub-Committee with masonic inviolability. It is a light which shines only on the initiated few, and is altogether hid from the public at large.

It is not our intention to enter minutely into any part of this pamphlet, which, if it succeeds in blackening the domination of Messrs. Kinnaird and Lamb, obviously fails in its secondary object of white-washing the other member of the Committee. Its attack on the memory of Mr. Raymond must revolt all good feelings; but as it has been triumphantly repelled by his son,* we

We may notice en passant the exposure of the publication of an altered and garbled letter

as part of the correspondence between Messrs. Moore and Raymond, and meant to throw odium on the latter. Surely, if this arose from accident, it ought to be so explained; for, if it sprung from

What was justifiable and imperative on these legal guardians of the property and funds of Drury Lane in 1817, was equally justifiable and imperative in 1816 and 1815. If then they only did their duty at last, it is a confession that they neglected it for the two preceding seasons 'prolific in disaster,' when they are painted as allowing full swoop to the mad expenditure and managerial insanity of Mr. Lamb. Mr. Moore even lent him shares to qualify him for this official devastation. Their defender has placed the Committee in this dilemma, and they must get out of it how they can. One anecdote may enable the public to judge of the petty tyranny exercised in all the minor concerns of the Theatre. It is usual for even the second and third rate performers to have certain privileges to admit their friends occasionally, when it is foreseen that the house will not be crowded. The use of or abstinence from this privilege was wont to be announced by a board hung up during the forenoon s rehearsals, with the words " Orders admitted," or "No orders admitted," as the box-book and other circumstances indicated a numerous or scanty audience in the evening. The author has told us of Mr. Lamb's despotism; now for his own favourite, Mr. Peter Moore's. One day, during rehearsal, that gentleman came upon the stage, and called for a ladder, a large nail, and a hammer. These self. He is the Thor of the opposite being brought, he placed the ladder party, and fearful with his hammer. up to the board we have described, Being accustomed to knock things down turned its outside round to the inscripirrecoverably, it seems to be quite a new tion of No Orders admitted, and without fancy in him to try to recover a thing considering the habits, the feelings, or the which others have so completely knock-prescriptive rights of the underlings who ed down. Perhaps it is all envy;-he gazed at him, and in their secret souls did not like Messrs. Lamb or Moore' en-wished the ladder had another sort of croaching on his professional habits. termination, he deliberately, of his own Having delivered our sentiments freely authority, nailed it to the wall. Such an of the present Directors and of Mr. Kean, act needs no comment; and we turn to it is but justice to state our grounds of Mr. Kean, whose conduct we reprecondemnation. With regard to the Sub-hended at the period, being then inCommittee we are weekly compelled, by formed of the anecdotes now made pubtheir absurd measures, to place their un-lic in the "Statement of Facts." fitness upon record; but even their adA very few years ago, Mr. Kean was a vocate, whose work we are examining, poor stroller playing in a barn, and subconfirms the sentence. When the non-ject to all the moving accidents of that interfering Committee, he tells us, consi-grotesque and melancholy life. He has dering Mr. Lamb's ruinous engagements, since been raised to the pinnacle of fame

firm man, possessed not only of great
information on dramatic affairs, but great
knowledge of the real world-in short,
a man not very unlike Mr. Fawcett, at
the other house, whose excellent comic
and pathetic powers are the least of his
recommendations to the station he has
there so long and advantageously filled.

-Mr. Robins we leave to defend him

Had formed the resolution to take the

design, we have no language to characterise so
ungenerous an artifice.

+ We mention this out of no disrespect: we honour men who raise themselves from obscurity by the force of talent.

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