Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

descriptions of character, and many touches of nature "to make the whole world kin," but we do assert that the stage, taken as a whole, is the very last resort for one exclusively bent on studying the customs, the manners, and the objects of the social system in which he moves : and now to our muttons.

[ocr errors]

a

The season is now close at hand when the managers of our metropolitan theatres calculate upon their houses presenting anything but “ beggarly account of empty benches;" as, undoubtedly, when the " great house at Westminster is opened town fast begins to fill; for with your places of public amusement it is the same as with everything else connected with mundane affairs, fashion (that hydra-headed monster) rules the day. We do not mean to infer that the various theatres have been deserted-far from it, as the laughter of the million caused by the Christmas comicalities has not yet subsided.

[ocr errors]

At DRURY LANE the most important feature has been the revival of "Cymbeline," a play which, if not exactly suited to the taste of the multitude, is perfect in all its minutia. Hazlitt, speaking of this piece, observes, "if he (Shakspeare) was equal to the greatest things, he was not above an attention to the smallest. Thus, the gallant sportsmen in Cymbeline' have to encounter the abrupt declivities of hill and valley: Touchstone and Audrey jog along a level path. The deer, in Cymbeline,' are only regarded as objects of prey: The game's a foot,' &c. With Jacques they are fine subjects to moralize upon, at leisure, 'under the shade of melancholy boughs.'" Mr. Macready and Miss Faucit performed in such a manner as to draw down frequent bursts of applause. Mr. Hudson must not be forgotten, as his dulcet notes astonished the audience not a little. The piece was well mounted. The "Eton Boy," continues his boisterous career at this house, much to the imminent danger of many of her most gracious Majesty's subjects, whose sides (not her Majesty's, but her subjects') literally ache with laughter, after witnessing this amusing farce. Bunn has brought forward a new comedy, by Mr. Bell, at COVENT Garden, entitled "Mothers and Daughters." We have not yet witnessed its performance; but report speaks highly of it. Miss Rainforth and Mrs. Shaw continue to delight the lovers of opera: "Gustavus the Third has been revived here in all its pristine glory. The HAYMARKET is closed until Easter Monday, when Webster will open it with (in addition to his present excellent company, comprising Farren, Vestris, Glover, Matthews, Buckstone and Celeste) many stars of the first magnitude, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean being included in this spirited lessee's list of engagements. His past season was remarkable for the success it not only obtained, but commanded. The enterprising Mitchell is catering well for the public, by opening the ST. JAMES'S THEATRE with the French Plays, in which Madame Albert at present takes the lead. This lady is to be succeeded by Déjazet, Plessis, Vernet, Bouffé, and other favourites, from Paris. The PRINCESS'S THEATRE (the prettiest in London), in Oxford-street, is nightly filled with fashionable audiences. The latest novelty produced here is Donnizetti's opera, "Lucia di Lammermoor," in which Madame Garcia and Templeton have literally taken the house by coups de main. Madame Garcia not only deserves all praise for her singing; but her acting, particularly in the third act, was the very reverse of the general

performances of vocalists. The scenery is very beautiful, and every attention has been paid to the manner in which it is put upon the stage by the manager. The musical afterpiece of "The Yellow Dwarf" (in which Öxberry-generally termed the little-enacts the character of an attendant very funnily), nightly contributes to the amusement of the juveniles, and "children of a larger growth."

[ocr errors]

On entering the LYCEUM AND ENGLISH OPERA HOUSE the other evening, we were truly grieved to find that Jullien, "the mould of form," had vanished; and that on those boards, where he was wont to exhibit his high musical powers and low collared covering of his outward man, other animals were "fretting their hour upon the stage.' "Aslar and Ozines" is the title of the spectacle in which Van Amburgh and Mr. Carter perform their wondrous feats with lions, tigers, and leopards. The power possessed by these artistes over the beasts is truly astonishing. Van Amburgh is seen in the den with them: there is no doubt that, like Captain Macheath, he is a "bold man.' The horsemanship in the arena reminds us of Astley's in its palmiest days. Mademoiselle Camille Leroux dances the cachouca on horseback very gracefully. To those who have not yet seen her performance, a great treat is in store. Rice must "hide his diminished head;" for at this house may be seen and head a Mr. Sweeny, who beats the original nigger to inconceivable atomry. We must not omit to notice Mr. North, the "star rider" of the far West, whose flight of fancy seems to take every one's fancy. Our sporting friends will derive a pleasant evening's entertainment at this house. The very worst pantomime of the season continues to "drag its slow length along" at the ADELPHI. The little parlour in Wych-street is sadly altered since Madame Vestris ceased to preside over its fortunes. In her time crowded houses rewarded her exertions, but the present manager only studies the taste of his gallery patrons, by depicting the manners of St. Giles. The visitors are few, and belong to the class unfastidious. Overflowing houses reward the manager of the SURREY for the ample fare he has provided for the public. This house is certainly the "star" of the minors, and the entertainments provided, both in quality and quantity, are enough to satisfy the gourmand. It is a spacious theatre, well ventilated, and in every respect well adapted for the purposes that cause people to visit theatres-to see and to be seen. The CITY OF LONDON Continues to be nightly filled by the "down easters," and is not behind its contemporaries in providing suitable entertainment for a susceptible auditory. And now, having noticed all that is doing in the theatrical world, we turn to the exhibitions, foremost amongst which is the CHINESE COLLECTION at Knightsbridge. This building sprang up like Aladdin's palace, and, similar to it, it is filled with treasures of every description. Mr. Dunn, the proprietor, never will have done in catering for the public's amusement. The ADELAIDE GALLERY is daily and nightly crowded with visitors, who flock from all parts to witness its natural and unnatural magics-its galleries, in which the arts flourish excellently—and its gases, with their inhalers "imitating humanity most abominably." And here "ends" the present chapter of our "eventful history."

116

HUNTING SCRAPS.

THE ROYAL HOUNDS.

JANUARY 2.-Salthill; field large. Uncarted on the Farnham road; made for Brocas Wood, on to Hedgerley, down to Fulmer, across Gerard's Cross Common, leaving Chalfont to the left, to Mr. Hibbert's, where the hounds were whipped off, the pace thus far having proved too much for all but four or five. In half an hour, off to Denham Marsh, then across the Grand Junction Canal by the copper mill to Harefield; took in Harefield Park. This was one of the best runs of the season.

January 4.-Winkfield Church; thin field. Uncarted on the Brucknall road; made for Winkfield Row, across the heath to Warfield Park, on to Lady Malcolm's; thence to Hawthorn Hill and Brick Bridge; back to Laurence Waltham, leaving Shottesbrook on the right; crossed for Billingham Park, clearing the high park timber famously; across by the mansion to the wood on to some ice; the hounds at a stand-still for twenty minutes. Made for the Warren House, down to Wokingham, crossing the Reading road to Mr. Twycroft's; and the deer finally took refuge in an uninhabited cottage: capital day.

January 10.-Littleton; few present. Deer uncarted near Colonel Wood's, M.P.; went across the Waste to Sunbury Common at a splitting bat; made to Feltham Hill, away for Bedfont, leaving Church Bedfont on the right, and eventually took near Hanwell: a good run.

January 13.-Slough; large field. Uncarted at George Green; going away at a good pace for Upton Wood, along Fulmer Bottom in the direction of Gerard's Cross Common; from thence back for Down Place, at Fulmer; through Duke's Wood, crossing Gerard's Cross Common on to Gold Hill, at a killing pace; from thence made for Chesham Common, by the church, and finished on the green near Chesham a right royal day!

HAMPSHIRE HUNTING.

The Hambledon hounds have been showing a succession of excellent sport, from the commencement of the season to the present time. The country abounds with foxes; and the weather being so favourable, and with plenty of strength in the stable, they have been able to take advantage of this unusual season, and have lately been hunting an extra day a week. During the last ten days they have had several more than ordinarily good runs, though they have not killed their foxes so frequently as they did up to that period. They have, however, killed eighteen brace and a half, which is beyond their average considerably. Mr. Long has now had them a sufficient time (this being his third season) to be quite at home in the management, and has succeeded in becoming popular with all parties. On the 19th of January he was invited, by the farmers and others interested in the

well-doing of the Hunt, to a dinner at the Crown Inn, Bishop's Waltham, where a party of about forty, consisting of several members of the Hunt, and many of the most respectable yeomen of the country, assembled to give him a hearty welcome, and to join in the expression of the general satisfaction that is felt at the manner in which everything connected with the Hunt is carried on. The following morning the hounds met in the neighbourhood (at Hill Place, the residence of Mr. Millett), and a good day's sport was the result. The next day they met at Marwell Hall, where they had another very capital run. On the succeeding Monday they met at Thornhill Park, the residence of Barlow Hoy, Esq. (near Southampton), where, after partaking of the hospitality of that gentleman (which was generally and liberally offered), they again had a good day's sport. On the Wednesday after, they met at Westbury House (the seat of the Hon. William Gage), and went to Masscombe, a covert belonging to Mr. Henry Barnard (a good friend to fox-hunting); the hounds had scarcely entered it before a fox was viewed away across the open fields to Bookham; thence to William's Hill, across the Petersfield road, skirted the Hangers, and bore on the left for Privett; headed in Privett Hanger, and went away to Basing Park, where he was again headed, and came back to Privett, and crossed the Petersfield road to Mr. Gage's coverts, at Peak Farm, where they came to a check, and, having lamed my horse, I left them. The pace throughout excellent, and the country deep, with trying hills; time, one hour. Squires continues to give great satisfaction as huntsman; and nothing can go on better than the whole thing does, which is saying a great deal for so young a man as Mr. Long, after following so tried and excellent a sportsman as Mr. King, the late master. W. M.

STANZAS,

WRITTEN ON THE THIRTEENTH OF FEBRUARY.

To

THIS morn I had a dream divine!

Methought, bedight in festal robe,

Like to a spirit from some fairer globe,
Before me stood St. Valentine.

Round his brow was verdure blooming-
Violets breathed amidst his hair-
His coronal the earth perfuming,

For Spring herself was nestling there.

And in a voice, whose cadence soft
Seem'd throats of many birds in one,
By wild winds wafted from aloft,

He bade me greet thee, gentle one.
Oh! had I woman's loveliest form,
As with her fondest soul I'm clad,
With cordial kisses, frank and warm,
I'd greet thee with a greeting glad.

But I, alas! on earth am bound
Only to know a sylphid's pleasure;
Circle another's joys around-

My own, alas! an empty measure.

Yet, hail with me the warm spring-tide,
Its sudden showers, its cleaving winds,
Its flowers that crowd the wild wood side,
Like thronging hopes in ardent minds.
For scarce a joy thou dost inherit-
A human throb, a lofty thought,
A genial hope, a gushing spirit,
But 'tis a gift from nature brought—

To wean us from the worldly leaven,
The poison slow of custom's curse;
To gift, with feelings kin to heaven,
The heart that drinks from her pure source.

And now, adieu! my spirit's light!

I dare no longer claim thine ear;
For tears are gathering o'er my sight,
And voices of the past I hear.

Thoughts of the dead year flit along,
Throwing their sad spells o'er my heart;
Dimly they rise, the misty throng,

Of memories sweet that dwell apart.

So let me kiss thy veiled eyes,

And wish that rosy dreams be thine:
Dear love, adieu! ere the day dies-
This eve of saintly Valentine.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »