Thursday, March 1. A new comedy, from the pen of Mr. Soane, called the "Trial of Love," was produced for the first time this evening, and met with a most unfavorable reception. Indeed, we should have been much surprised if it had not. There was not either originality in its characters, novelty in its incidents, consistency in its plot, or wit or humor in its dialogue.

The merits of the actors were about on a par with that of the piece in which they performed.

On Friday, March 2, the Oratorios commenced, under the conduct of Mr. Bishop. That glorious composition, "The Messiah," was very judiciously selected for the occasion.

The great fault of these entertainments is, they are too long. For whatever one may feel with respect to the genius of Handel, however we may acknowledge his deep pathos, his calm sublimity, his mighty enthusiasm-yet, without the interest of a story, and the intervention of dialogue, or some other assistance to relieve the ear and amuse the mind, it really is almost impossible to engage the attention of an audience for five successive hours. The performance was extremely well attended.

Saturday, March 10. A new farce was produced this evening, entitled "Comfortable Lodgings." Mr. Peake is said to be the author, but it is by no means equal to his former attempts in this way. The whole support of the piece rested upon Mr. Liston, but even with his powerful aid it went off rather heavily. In fact, there was little or no merit in the dialogue, but some of the situations were exceedingly whimsical. Mr. Harley exerted himself, and made the audience laugh in a character which of itself furnished but slight matter for amusement.

On Monday, March 12, this theatre was dishonored by an exhibition more contemptible than any thing ever witnessed at the booths of Bartholomew Fair. We allude to the first (and last) appearance of a "gentleman" in the part of Othello. His appearance, voice, manner, indeed both performer and performance were so irresistibly ludicrous, that the galleries themselves partook in the general sensation, and interrupted the unfortunate actor with numerous hisses and peals of merriment. In short, a performance so disgraceful to a "national" theatre is probably not to be paralleled. It was treated with the disdain it deserved; the critics exposed it, the audience laughed at it, and the treasury suffered by it.

ENGLISH OPERA HOUSE.

Mr. Mathews commenced his " At Home" at this theatre on Thursday, the 8th of March. It is, as usual, thickly interspersed with puns and jests; some of which are stale, some flimsy, and some good. Nevertheless, the manner in which they are told, renders them all amusing. His portraits of Cooke, Incledon, Kemble, and others, are excellent, and highly finished. The first part of his entertainment, however, is occasionally on the point of waxing tedious, but then it is sure to be rescued from such a peril by a fresh joke, a funny song, or a new imitation; and, upon the whole, he seldom allows the risible faculties of his auditors to have many moments' rest. - -The performance throughout was vehemently applauded.

COVENT GARDEN.

Monday, March 5. Venice Preserved.-First appearance of Warde in Jaffier. This character is well known to be one of the most difficult on the stage, for it is hard to sympathize with the sorrows of a man so despicable. The female mind may, perhaps, in the triumph of its ascendancy, forgive his failings, and pity his misfortunes; but the manly

breast must recoil from the public miscreant, notwithstanding the constancy and devotion of his love.

Mr. Warde's performance was highly creditable to his talents, and was attended throughout with well-merited applause. His rebuke of Renault, his suppressed agony on being charged with cowardice, and his final resolution to save his friend from the hands of the executioner, deserve particular commendation.

Mr. Young's Pierre was a fine effort of the art. His first scenes with Jaffier were well-managed, and his taunting both of the conspirators and the senate, were admirable. He was also very impressive in the reproach of Jaffier's treachery.

Mrs. Sloman performed Belvidera with considerable effect, and was deservedly applauded.

Tuesday, March 6. Dr. Arne's Artaxerxes. This is the only opera in the English language constructed upon the model of the Italian, from which dialogue is totally excluded, and recitative supplies its place. The experiment of producing such an opera was not successful; the English language is not so well adapted to give effect to recitative as the Italian, principally because the final syllables of our words are, for the most part, short and unaccented, and are not purely vowel sounds, the contrary of which is the case in the Italian; neither are English performers much au fait in this branch of the art, and generally fail to impart to recitative the effect of which it is susceptible; moreover, an English audience is not altogether content with an entertainment which they cannot understand.

It is seldom that an attempt is made to produce this opera at any theatre, where it cannot be supported by a powerful body of vocal talent; and the certainty that it will prove a musical treat, imparts to it a certain degree of popularity, notwithstanding the objections we have pointed out.

Miss Paton, as Mandane, gave all the airs with that perfect execution which can only result from the combined influence of nature and art. "The Soldier tir'd," which was rapturously encored, is one of the most delightful musical treats which the stage affords.

The character of Artaxerxes does not call for the exertion of powers of the first order, but the delicacy and feeling of Madame Vestris's manner, invest it with an importance which it never before sustained.

Of Sapio's Arbaces, we cannot speak in terms of commendation; and the blustering vulgarity of Mr. Isaac's manner, was ill suited to the character of Artabanes.

Tuesday, March 13. A comedy in 3 acts, altered from Shirley by Mr. Poole, and called the "Wife's Stratagem; or, More Frightened than Hurt," was performed for the first time, and met with a very flattering reception. The incidents are not very artfully constructed, and the dialogue sometimes rambles in a very careless manner, yet, on the whole, it is a very agreeable play.

Of the performers, our limits will not authorize an extensive notice, nor our candour permit unconditional praise.Wilding is not a character adapted to Mr. Warde; but as he never does any thing badly, there were many points in his performance which entitle him to praise.- -We have seldom seen little Keeley to more, or Farren to less, advantage. Mr. Jones was very spirited in the part assigned to him, though it did not abound in much point.

Madame Vestris performed with an arch vivacity that was highly entertaining, and Mrs. Chatterley is also entitled to praise, for the taste and feeling with which she personated Mrs. Wilding.

There was a good deal of applause on the announcement of the piece for repetition; but, we confess, our expectations are not very sanguine as to the run which it is likely to enjoy. W.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

A Foreign Quarterly Review is about to be established in London, under the management of several gentlemen with whose abilities the public are already acquainted. If well conducted, we should imagine it may be highly interesting.

A forthcoming Satire is announced in the newspapers. There is certainly greas room for a writer of excellence to display himself in this walk of literature.

About a dozen new novels are proclaimed from Burlington-street. It is really sickening to see to what an extent the nonsense that issues from this manufactory is puffed they have puffs for every gradation and intermediate stage, from the first idea of a work, down to the time when its discovered nonsense sinks it into irretrievable obscurity

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

E. G. Wakefield, W. Wakefield, and Mrs. F. Wakefield, have been found guilty of the abduction of Miss Turner. They will be brought up to the Court of King's Bench for judgment.

Lord Liverpool continues to improve in health, but it is not thought that he will ever be able to resume his official duties. A new Prime Minister will be appointed immediately after Easter.

The Marquis of Hertford is appointed by His Majesty to proceed on a Special Embassy to the Emperor of Russia, for the purpose of investing his Imperial Majesty with the insignia of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

NORTH-WEST PASSAGE.---A letter from Mr. Douglas, the botanist, to Dr. Hooker, recently received, dated from the Great Falls, on the Colombia River, contains the following paragraph :---" There is here a Mr. Macleod, who spent the last five years at Fort Good Hope, on the Mackenzie River. He informs me, that if the natives, with whom he is perfectly acquainted, are worthy of credit, there is a North-west Passage. They describe a very large river, that runs parallel with the Mackenzie, and falls into the sea near Icy Cape, at the mouth of which there is an establishment on an island, where ships come to trade. They assert that the people are very wicked, having hanged several of the natives to the rigging. They wear their beards long. Some reliance, I should think, may be laid on their statement, as Mr. Macleod showed us some Russian coins, combs, and several articles of hardware, very different from those furnished by the British Company. Mr. Macleod caused the natives to assemble last summer, for the purpose of accompanying him in his departure for Hudson's Bay. The sea is said to be open after July.

His Majesty's ship Hecla, Capt. Parry, bound on a voyage of discovery to West Spitzbergen and the North Pole, lying opposite the King's Yard, at Deptford, has been inspected by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. The Hecla will take her final departure from the Nore in the first week in next month. The Hecla sails on the present occasion alone, unaccompanied by any transport or ship of war. Her burden is about 400 tons, and though a post ship, she only carries 2 6-pounders, and a complement of 64 men, consisting of 20 officers and warrant officers, 7 marines, and a fine crew of

seamen.

BIRTHS.

1826.-Oct. 23, at Sydney, the Lady of Lieut. General Darling, Governor of New South Wales, of a son.

1827.-Jan. 30, at Copenhagen, the lady of the Right Hon. Henry Williams Wynn, his Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, of a daughter. Feb. 22, at Geneva, the lady of Sir John Powlett Orde, Bart. of a son.

March 7, at Barham-court, Kent, Lady Barham, of a daughter. 9, at Camden-hill, the Hon. Lady Colville, of a son. 10, at Hansley Manor House, Hants, the lady of Wentworth Bayly, Esq. of a son. 11, Willesden-green, the lady of Osborn Chambers, Esq. Solicitor, of a daughter; at Sufton-court, Herefordshire, the lady of Thomas Charles Bridges, Esq. of a daughter; in Great James-street, the lady of George Hume, Esq. of a 16, at Puttenham Priory, Surrey, the lady of Richard Sumner, Esq. of a daughter. 19, the lady of Robert P. Tyrrwhitt, Esq. of a son; at Hexworthy, Cornwall, the lady of Francis Glanville, jun. Esq. of a son; in Hertford-street, Mayfair, the lady of Sir G. F. Hampson, Bart. of a daughter. 21, at Trinity-square, Mrs. Tenant, of a son.

son.

MARRIAGES.

Feb. 24, at Millbrook, Hants, Joseph Hayne, Esq. of Haddon, in the Island of Jamaica, to Frances Jane, daughter of William Carter, Esq. of Millbrook. Immediately after the ceremony the bride and bridegroom left for the Continent.-At Warwick, George Morgan, Esq. of Clarence-terrace, Regent's Park, to Ann, second daughter of the late W. Anderson, Esq. of Udoll, N. B. and of Highwood Hill, Middlesex; 27, Major R. C. Pollock, 90th Light Infantry, to Margaret A. Sheridan, youngest daughter of the late Mrs. Sheridan, of Percy-street, Bedford-square.

March 13, at Abingtou, Northamptonshire, John Dauncey, Esq. to Lucy, third

daughter of John Harvey Thursby, Esq. of Abington Abbey; at Chatham, R. W. Croker, Lieut. 13th Reg. second son of Major Croker, Quartertown House, Ireland, to Caroline Elizabeth, fourth daughter of J. N. Devenshire, of Kilshanick House, County Cork; Lieut. H. Ogle, R. N. to H. A. Bracebridge, of Eastbourne, Sussex, only daughter of the late W. Bracebridge, Esq. of Warwick; Mr. J. E. Fisher, of Lower Eaton-street, Grosvenor-square, surgeon, to Miss Tanner, late of Sutton, Surrey. 14, at Hammersmith, W. Allen, Esq. of Stoke Newington, to Mrs. Berkbeck, of the same place. 16, J. Hesketh, eldest son of Sir T. B. Lethbridge, of Sandhill Park, Somersetshire, Bart. to Julia, daughter of H. H. Hoare, Esq. of Wavendon House, Bucks. 20, at Dagenham, in Essex, Henry Shaw Lefevre, Esq. to Helen, fourth daughter of the late General Le Marchant. 22, at Kensington Church, by the Rev. B. V. Layard, Rector of Uffington, Col. Sir Edward Miles, C. B. to Mary, only child of the late Richard Hopkins, Esq. of Kensington; Griffith Jones, Esq. to Maria Josephine, only daughter of Alexander White, Esq. of Kingsland Crescent.

DEATHS.

1826.—Aug. 24, at Arcot, Lieut. C, Thwaites, youngest son of A. Thwaites, Esq. Euston-square.

1827.-After a few days illness, the lady of Col. Brown, of Amwell Bury, Herts, aged 68; lately at Bath, Robert Williams, Esq. Rear-Admiral of the Blue; at Lyndhurst, the Countess of Effingham; at Sidmouth, Lady Maria Caulfield, eldest daughter of Lord Charlemont, in her 21st year; at Mettra, aged 27, Francis Dibdin, senior Lieut. of the 3rd Light Cavalry, Bengal Establishment, and only surviving son of the Rev. T. F. Dibdin, D. D. Rector of St. Mary's, Mary-le-bone, and Vicar of Exing, Suffolk; at Woolwich, Lieut. Hutchins, of the Royal Artillery; Mary, the wife of Richard Arkwright, Esq. of Willersley, in the County of Derby; in Connaught-square, Lieut. Col. Radclyffe, Major of Brigade to the Cavalry in Great Britain, aged 53.

Feb. 21, at Rome, Miss de Montmorency, the only daughter of Colonel de Montmorency, h. p. Royal York Hussars. 23, at Kinnerton Lodge, Flintshire, Mrs. Richards, sister of the late Lord Chief Baron. 24, at Rome, Col. T. Dalton, of Parrocks, Kent, 26, at Comb Hay House, near Bath, in her 26th year, Jescinthia, wife of Wm. Gore Langton, Esq. jun. 27, Chas. Law, Esq. of Staple Grove Lodge, near Taunton, and formerly of the house of Law and Whittaker, of Ave Maria-lane, in his 63rd year; at his house in Warren-street, William Kitchiner, Esq. M. D. in the 51st year of his age.

March 5, at Beechmount, County Tipperary, at the advanced age of 83 years, John Godfrey, Esq. Deputy Lieut. and one of the oldest Magistrates of the County. 6, at the residence of her son-in-law, John Blennerhassett, Esq. of Mount-street, Merrion-square, Dublin, Mrs. Georges, relict of the late Dean Georges, sister-in-law to Lady Charleville, and Aunt to the Marchioness of Thomond. 10, at her house in Henrietta-street, Bath, after a lingering illness, in her 81st year, Mrs. Hunn, mother of the Right Hon. George Canning. 11, T. Todd, Esq. of Lanchester, Durham, and late of the General Post Office; at Creedy, Devon, Frances, youngest sister of Sir Humphrey P. Davie, Bart.; John Usher, Esq. of St. John's Wood-road; at Windsor, Lady Dundas, widow of the late Sir David Dundas, Bart.; the Rev. B. C. Barnard, Rector of Withersfield, Suffolk, in his 69th year; in her 94th year, Mrs. C. Holt, the last branch of the family of Lord Chief Justice Holt; at the Rectory House, Sproughton, near Ipswich, Mrs. Rogers, the wife of the Rev. George Rogers, Rector of that parish. 12, at Brighton, Frederick, son of the Hon. J. Stewart, aged 13 months. 13, at St. James's-square, Bath, in the 27th year of his age, George, fifth son of the late William Harkness, Esq. of Dublin. 15, the Rev. Alex. Thistlethwayte, youngest son of the Rev. Alex. Thistlethwayte, of Norman-court, near Salisbury. 17, at the Rectory House, Bower's Gifford, the Rev. T. Thirlwall, one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for Essex; at Cheltenham, aged 79, Mr. T. Easthope, father of J. Easthope, Esq. M. P. for St. Alban's; at Fairfield Lodge, Croydon, Elizabeth, relict of the late Samuel Robinson, Esq. aged 85. 19, at the Hon. T, Windsor's, Gore-house, Jane, relict of the late Hon. and Rev. Bromley Cadogan, in her 75th year; in his 59th year, Edward Dewing, Esq. of Guist, in Norfolk, and one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for that County. At East Moulsey Park, aged 61, the Dowager Lady Crewe, relict of the late Sir Henry Harpur Crewe, Bart. of Calke Abbey, Derbyshire; in Torrington-square, in the 24th year of his age, Mr. Ralph Henry Dunkin, Surgeon, only son of J. W. Dunkin, Esq. late of Demerara. 22, at the Grange, Bermondsey, Joshua Butterworth, Esq. in his 76th year.

NATIONAL MAGAZINE,

AND

GENERAL REVIEW.

VOL. I. No. VII.-MAY 1, 1827.

CONTENTS.

I. THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, with Remarks upon the Conduct
of the Retiring Ministers

385

H. Old English Dramatists, No. IV.---The Broken Heart

393

III.

A Letter from the City to the West End of the Town, upon the New
Improvements

399

IV. The Literature of England, No. VI.

401

406

VI. Literary Sketches. By Miss Pardoe. No. III.---On Separation
VII. The Golden Opportunity

408

410

VIII. The Confessions of an Ugly Gentleman.

IX. Collectanea, No. VI.

X. The Spirit's Song

XI. May Musings

XII.

XIII. The Bride

411

414

419

420

Recollections of London

423

426

427

435

435

XVII. REVIEW---Crockford House; Falkland; Vivian Grey; De Vere; Personal Narrative of a Journey from India to England, by Bussorah, &c.; The Military Sketch Book; National Tales; The Confessions of an Old Batchelor; Two Hundred and Nine Days ......

XIX. Monthly Register---Literary and Domestic Intelligence, &c. &c.

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