'Twas wrecked-wrecked by love's treachery: she pening, some few months since, to be in company

In the reign of Henry V. a law was passed against the perusal of the Scriptures in England. It is enacted, that whatsoever they were that should read the Scriptures in the mother tongue, they should forfeit land, catel, lif, and godes from theyre beyres, for ever; and to be condemned for heretykes to God, enemies to the crowne, and most errant traitors to the lande.' On contrasting the above statute, with the indefatigable exertions that are now making to print and circulate the Bible, what a happy revolution in public sentiment appears to have taken place.

SOMETHING WORSE STILL.

Mr. Moore, the author of many ingenious pieces, being a long time under an expensive prosecution in Doctors' Commons, for marrying two sisters, was called up one morning by his proctor, as he was writing his excellent domestic tragedy of The Gamester. The proctor having a leisure hour, Mr. Moore read him four acts of his piece, which were all that at that time were finished. The proctor was so af

[We must apologize to Mrs. Matadore for any errors which may be detected in the following edition of her letter; for, though we used some care in the revision of it, we were not, in many instances, quite certain of the exact diction of her manuscript. Her hand has lost all traces of its youthful finency, and is cramped to a most illegible stiffness; her ink is of a palish brown or yellow, as

if the glass had frequently been replenished with vinegar; her orthography is a little out of date, and often deviates into the loose, added to which the familiar terms of art are abbreviated in such an extraordinary manner, and expressed by such an unaccountable system of scores, that they appear more like the arbitrary signs in Mathematics and Astronomy, than words written in the general and regular course of a lady's correspondence. We state these difficulties as we have felt them: they do not seem to have proceeded from any radical defect in Mrs. Matadore's abilities, but from a habi tude of carelessness, and indifference to such matters, which old ladies frequently fall into, and several of them, undoubtedly, are remains of the school to which Mrs. Matadore belongs. She will have the goodness to pardon the freedom of our observations: we do not urge them with any design of ridiculing her letter, but as an excuse for the occasional lapses from her meaning, into which our ignorance of the subject, and misapprehension of her manuscript may have led us.]

TO WILLIAM VOLATILE, ESQ.

SIR, At first I thought you could not be in earnest in asking me to send you an account of our tea parties, for I supposed that you must be too clever, and too great a scholar to be pleased with any thing of mine. But as you seem more of a gentleman, than to laugh at an old woman if she does her best, and as perhaps it may be amusing for your readers, I take my pen in hand to write you an account of a party that was at Miss Spadille's last night. I am afraid I shall

not manage it very well, because as nothing of mine was ever put in the newspaper before, (excepting once when I wanted country lodgings for my poor Mary) I feel very awkward and a good deal embarassed about it, as my language and words may not be quite proper and good enough for printing, and I shall be obliged if you will look over my letter and alter it where it wants altering. I wanted Miss Spadille to send you an invitation that you might come and see it yourself, but she said, 'no indeed, do you think I will suffer any of those impudent fellows to come and quiz my company?' but when I have a party of my own I shall be very glad to see you, and if it will be pleasant I will invite some young folks to give you the meeting, but perhaps you wont like to come, as then you would be found out who you are. There is Miss Good in our neighbourhood sometimes comes with her mother, and Jane Arnold too, who is reckoned very pretty among you young gentlemen. and I will ask some more, but you must not fall in love with Jane now, and Miss Good is a very fine young woman. For my part I dont think our parties are near as plea sant since the gentlemen gave over coming to them: but somehow they dropped off one by one, and now we never see any of them, but old Mr. Whisk when he comes for his wife, and young Willman who some

*

hearts, king and queen of clubs, queen of spades, and two little ones, and durst not purchase, stupid woman, but must call'a king, mine as ill luck would have it, and then to mend the matter led off with a little spade : and another time when I was her friend, she had spadille, king, knave, two clubs, queen and two diamonds, and two little hearts,-simpleton not to purchase with such a band as this, and instead of leading with a small trump as any baby might tell she should have done, she played off a heart, I could have boxed her gladly, and then all their strong trumps came in, and her little ones were lost, and twice we were basted off the board all owing to her trumping improperly, and after this I scarce took any good cards at all, for Mrs. Everdeal ran away with every thing, and changing places was to no purpose at all for luck would follow, and the best trumps always came where she was sitting. She would not tell us how much she won, but it must have been a deal.

times fetches his mother, and they never think it need-down with her, she'd basto, ponto, king and two
ful to dress themselves, or to spruce up as if they
were coming among ladies, but keep on their boots and
dirty cravats, and young Willman comes in his black
stock, and they never tidy themselves at all, which I
look upon as very ungenteel manners, and not at all
becoming gentlemen in ladies' company, and once I
told Mr. Whisk that if he came in that way to my
house I would order him to be shewn into the kitchen,
like any other servant who comes to take home his
mistress.* But what vexes me most, is that they
cant be content to desert us quietly, and let us have
our way while they've their own, but must abuse both
us and our parties, and call them by all the abomina-
able names they can think of, as if we only met to talk
scandal, and win each others money, and not to enjoy
ourselves rationally and innocently. I've a little bit
of a crow to pluck with you on this score my young
gentleman; what's the meaning of a Tab Rout,' as
you call our parties, and it runs in my head that
Eleusiniau Mysteries is something that it should not
all, but you young Jackanapes must have your say.
be, for my part I dont think there's any sin in them at
To be sure all people have their failings, and there's
Mrs. Everdeal is like as if she was never satisfied with
home, and must always be gadding to card parties,
certainly she has a very large acquaintance, and very
small income, and it may perhaps be convenient for
her to go ont as she does, winning every night, and
her luck is really surprising, only to think she won
the great vole twice at Mrs. Reddymaine's last Friday's
a week, and double mats both times, and at Miss Spa-
dilles she took most wonderful cards.

Do you know I wish you'd been with us to hear the
talk there was about your paper; every body abusing
it; Mrs. Dirtcheap suid her husband called it the most
scurrilous and disgraceful publication, and that it ought
not to be sanctioned by any body; for my part I can
see no harm in it, I think it is very enlivening and
clever and I'm sure they all read it and try to find out
who there is in; they thought that about the concert
was very poor, and all their reason was because nobo-
dy was in it; they say you are going to put the gentle-
men in some week and that there will be a rare, lash
then; they wonder who you are, one said that there
are five of you to it, and another that it is all written
by one, and then Miss Poolit said you were frightened
and only going to send it out once a fortnight, Mrs.
Everdeal was very much offended, because she thought
you meant her for Mrs. Primitive; and one lady said
you had been shewn her at the theatre, and that you
were a tall young man and fresh coloured, and a
dandy. No such thing,' said Miss Poolit, he's a
little pale fat fellow, with curly locks.' I think it
right to tell you what the world says, for perhaps you
are not in the way of hearing it as you say you dont
come to our sort of parties. We mostly hear every
thing that's stirring, I understand that Miss Twidge
bought the New Bonnet,' and that she has returned
it because of your paper, thinking every body would
be staring at it, but we can't find out who the old lady
about Miss Spadille's party. There was me and Mrs. is that went to buy nightcaps, nor to which shop she
Everdeal and Miss Poolit at our table, and Mrs. Rub-crossed over, and we are not quite sure who are Miss
berit was obliged to join us for for they could not make Durnoves; some think they must be Miss
up a whist table for her; she cant abide Cadderhill, § of Oxford Road, but then they went up Mosley-street.
and I wonder at her, I think it far before that stupid My paper is quite full and I don't know that I've
that I can think of, only Mrs. Titterwell's new gown
which was very smart and well looking, a kind of
dove colour trimmed with blue, but perhaps you dont

Do you know Miss Spadille at all? she is very much respected, and will have it in her power to do very handsomely for somebody when she dies. Her drawing room holds five tables conveniently, and six at a push, and very elegantly furnished, quite in the modern fashion, I think I never saw a more beautiful carpet nor such handsome drapery. She had quite new china last night, bought at Ollivants', which must have cost her a pretty penny. Mrs. Frumblish guessed fifteen guineas, I said eighteen or twenty at the least, Mrs. Dirtcheap got a nicish set to be sure for five guineas and a half, but I like to encourage the regular traders, and not ramble about to auctions as some people do, spending foolish money. † Well but you'll think I'm never going to tell you any thing

whist, but she's a good Christian notwithstanding, and
so, poor scal, she's only to be pitied. There was two
more tables and a round game which was pretty quiet,
and so we wer'nt much disturbed. It hurries me

sadly to see how all the young people lose their time
at those silly round games, I can't fancy any amuse-
ment there is in them, it seems to me a shocking per-
version of cards to put 'em to such foolish purposes,
and I'm quite concerned to think what few good
poolers there will be in a few years if they go on in

this

it is so very provoking to have a bad player at Table;
way; I hope, Mr. Volatile, you will learn to pool,
only think of Mrs. Rubberit, dear o` me, I hate to sit

Throughout this letter, we have obeyed Mrs. Matadore's injunctions and have made such alterations as appeared requisite. Here however we were in a little dilemma; we thought quadrille was intended but Cudderhill' was obviously the word and, not liking to yield too much to our own devices, we suffered it to remain.-Ed.

S

any thing else to say, I've told you all about the party

mind about it. So wishing you success, and advising
you to keep your real name close.
I remain, Sir,

Your very obedient

And respectful servant to command,
MARY ANNE MATADORE.

April 30th. 1822.

We suppose this alludes to the horsewhipping.-ED.

NOTICES.

We assure the young lady, who hardly dared purchase' that' sweet thing' at Mrs. Taylor's this morning, that she need not suffer under any alarm of our displeasure, for we admired it exceedingly.

We are wearied out with our long stroll in the haunt of fa-
shion this forenoon; we were sorry to observe the pretty
timidities with which the ladies speak of us.
But more
of this anon-we are tired. Heigh Ho!-Good night!

THE EDITORS of the MUSAEID at the IRTS OFFICE.

THE HISTORY OF SIRACH.

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ment, however, pervaded the whole---that of | sciences-others were luxurious, and reduced
affection and respect for their common parent. themselves to poverty by their excesses; some
This was beautifully expressed when he rose increased their riches by a sordid avarice
to address them--every head was bowed others, from unavoidable misfortunes, fell into
and every hand covered the eyes, in solemn the most abject distress; some where conver-
silence. The following is the tenor of his sant with the interior of palaces--others with
speech :
the interior of prisons; and whilst some died
of luxury and repletion, others died of wretch-
In short, so numerous
edness and of want.

The goodness of Providence had been conspicuously displayed in the prosperity of Sirach. Sirach was a rich merchant at Bassoro; to the extensive trade of which place his own exertions had greatly contributed, by inporting commodities from the different parts 'I am about to leave you my children. A of India, such as gold, brocade, sandal wood, | motive which I cannot resist, calls me from china ware, and spices; sending them in amongst you. To explain it further to you boats up the Tigris, and then transporting would only gratify an idle curiosity, without them by caravans to Tocat, Aleppo, Dam-altering its consequences--at all events, as it ascus, and the western parts of Persia; reregards you, it is only an anticipation, perceiving in return bullion, copper, steel, furs, haps a very short one, of what must one velvets, and otto of roses. By this inter- day happen. Suppose this event about to change, carried on for a number of years, take place, and look for the last time on an Sirach had acquired such an extensive affectionate parent, the most earnest wish of property that he was considered as the richest whose heart has ever been for your unanimity, merchant of the East. The amount already | virtue, and happiness. gained, gave the facility of obtaining more; and thus proceeding in an increased ratio,

the wealth of Sirach seemed to have limits.

concerns.

no

As the laws of his country allowed him a plurality of wives, he had a numerous offspring, to whose welfare and education he devoted a considerable share of his attention; as he was generous and affectionate, and conducted himself with impartiality towards them all, he was naturally the object of their respect, veneration, and love. His halls resounded only with the voice of joy, and his threshold was the limit of peace.

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were the individuals, and so various the fer

tunes of the family of Sirach, that there is scarcely a circumstance of human life but had been the lot of some one or other amongst them.

Many years had thus passed on; the children of Sirach had in their turns been parents, and his descendants had increased in numbers beyond that of any of their contemporaries. But the course of human affairs is always uncertain; this state of prosperity was suddenly interrupted by a dreadful calamity--the plague made its appearance at Bassora, and the family of Sirach fled or fell before its ravages, in common with the rest of the in

On my own part I shall regard our separation in a similar point of view. Whatever may be the result to myself, to you I shall be as one gone down to the tomb. Whatever Nor was this favorite of fortune less pros-industry, is yours-you are equally the off-habitants. I have acquired by a long course of succesful perous in his domestic, than in his mercantile spring of my loins, and all I possess shall be The effects of this awful visitation might equally divided amongst you. In return, I have been still greater, had it not been for the command you that ye love one another, con- skill of an eminent physician, whose advice sidering that you are the children of one com- seemed to be an antidote, and whose touch a mon parent, who has regarded you with equal remedy for the disease. He was called Ali affection, and provided impartially for you Mohammed, and had resided for a long time all. If your brother be in distress, comfort at the court of Persia, whence he had brought him--if he be in poverty relieve him--if he be the most respectable recommendations. The sick and in prison, visit him. My family is means which he had adopted to stay the indeed numerous, but the wealth I have ac plague, were fully communicated by him to quired is great, and to each of you I leave an his fellow practitioners, and in a little time ample competence. Take care not to dimi- the city was relieved from its terrors and its assured that wealth alone cannot confer hapnish it; but be not anxious to increase it. Be distress. piness; on temperance in the accumulation of selfish principle, depends the happiness of riches, or rather in the due regulation of the the community; where some are enormously rich, many must be lamentably poor. I wish my family to be as nearly on state of human affairs will admit. This end an equality in this respect, as the uncertain can only be accomplished by cultivating the social virtues; wherever your various destinations may lead you, never wholly lose sight

But whilst Sirach was the envy of his rivals, and the admiration of the rest of the world, a sudden alteration in his disposition and views took place, and led to an alteration in his life and conduct, which astonished all who knew him. He resolved to withdraw himself from his merchandise, his country, his family, and his friends, and to retire to some place where he might pass the remainder of his days uninterrupted and unknown. The cause of this rash determination gave rise to great discussion, and every one judged of it according to his own disposition, or the opinion he had formed of the character of the man. Some supposed that he was

It may readily be supposed, that a person who had conferred such a benefit on society was dear to his fellow citizens. If we hold

in veneration the man who is skilled in the art of destruction, what shall we say of him who is qualified to save? His society was courted---his affluence was secured-his statue was erected; and he was hailed as the preserver of the city; in which he professed his intention of taking up his permanent abode.

The leisure which he now enjoyed gave him an opportunity of enquiring into the circumsatiated by a long course of prosperity, and of each other; those who have a superfluity | stances which, so many years before, had atthus the bonds of affection will be strength- Sirach, and the various fortunes of his numay thus provide for those who are in want-tended the singular story of the departure of ened, and my family will become a family of merous descendants--some of them he found in

chose rather to exert himself in voluntary difficulties, than pine away in sickly enjoyment. Others supposed that he meant to devote himself to religious observances; whilst a third party imagined that he had formed some love attachment, to the enjoy

love.'

The assembly then dispersed, and Sirach great prosperity, filling the highest offices of soon afterwards took his departure from Bas-others he found had been executed for their the city, administering justice to the people-ment of which he had determined to sacrifice/ sora, in a vessel which he had prepared for that crimes, or had languished out their days in

every other object.

Which of these, or whether any of these were well founded, cannot be ascertained; as Sirach never could be induced to impart to any one the slightest hint either as to the object of his departure, or the place where he finally meant to take up his abode.

However this may be, he announced to the different branches of his numerous family, his orders that they should assemble together on a certain day, when it was his intention to lay before them some matters which deeply regarded their future destiny. His children accordingly met at the time and place appointed, forming of themselves a considerable assembly, various in age, sex, person, and character, as the children of various mothers | may be supposed to be. One general senti

purpose. On examining into the state of his
affairs, it appeared he had made the most
exact arrangements for the equal distribution
of his wealth, so that each of his children
received his portion without either diminution
or delay.

The surprise occasioned by this determi-
nation of Sirach was soon over. In a few
weeks it appeared as if he were actually dead,
and his descendants entered on the enjoyment
of his property, as if this had in fact been the

hospitals, and penitentiaries--some had distinguished themselves as orators, poets, or literary characters; others were living in peacenumber were indeavouring to obtain a preful insignificance; whilst no inconsiderable family by the most unremitting labour, and carious livelihood, and support a wretched

the most irksome servitude.

These enquiries he continued for a considerable length of time. As he proceeded, additional information poured in on him from all quarters; till at length he became fully acquainted with the causes which had led to these results, and with the conduct and character of most of the individuals whom Sirach had left at the time of his departure from his

native place.

At this period a notice suddenly appeared

at Bassora, addressed to all the heads of the at my last solemn departure, to love and
families descended from Sirach, acquainting assist each other,' is it possible that such con-
them that if they would attend at a certain sequences could have ensued? or is it not
time, at the place where he took his farewel of evident that all the dreadful calamities that
them, some interesting intelligence would be have befallen my family, are to be attributed
communicated respecting him. This notice solely to the unrestrained and irrational exer-
gave rise to a great variety of feelings in those cise of that selfish principle, which, when
to whom it was addressed. Some were actu- divested of the restraints of virtue, and the
ated by a sincere and natural desire of receiv-guidance of social love, tears asunder the
ing intelligence of the fate of a parent whom bonds of society, and destroys the happiness
they had loved, and to whom they had been so of both public and private life?--If the supe-
deeply indebted; others were apprehensive rior faculties with which the great Creator has
that he perhaps intended to return and reclaim endowed his rational offspring beyond those of
his property whilst others again, entertained his brute creation, be only employed to obtain
hopes that he had accumulated another fortune for their possessor, either by force or fraud,
in some distant part of the world, which by the utmost degree of selfish gratification, and
the generosity or death of its possessor, had to deprive the rest of mankind of that which
devolved on his children. Under these various is necessary not only to their well being but to
impressions, a very general meeting took their very existence; the bounty of the Great
place, when no sooner was silence obtained Author of all is converted into a curse: and
than the physician stood up in the midst of the wolves of the desart, who hunt in troops,
them, and addressed them as follows--
and divide the spoil, without devouring cach
other, have been more fortunate than you.

'Children and descendants of Sirach, look on your father. For a few moments let me intreat you to calm your emotions, and dismiss alike the apprehensions and expectations, the hopes and the terrors by which you are agitated. I am called to the performance of a last and solemn duty. You are the objects of my most anxious cares. It is solely for your advantage that I now once more appear amongst you. If you mak a right use of my advice, my last donation will be greater than my first. In the capacity in which I have for some time past resided in this place, I am intimately known to almost every individual amongst you. You too are also known to me. I have made it my particular object to introduce myself to your acquaintance, to obtain your confidence, to learn your principles and opinions, and to understand the motives of your conduct. What I have thus acquired I have carefully studied, compared, and digested; and I now require your most earnest attention, whilst I communicate to you the result.

MR. SAPIO.

En

It has been often observed, that England has of late years experienced a dearth of great singers; and that we have seldom enjoyed more than one or two really eminent singers in any one branch. Harrison was the sole tenor, Bartleman the reigning bass of our orchestras for a very long period. Incledon and Kelly were the dramatic singers in the same rank as Harrison in the concerts. To the latter succeeded Vaughan, to the former Braham, taking however a far wider range. glish females of extraordinary talent are still more rare; Billington must be esteemed to have been the only woman of pre-eminent qualifications since the days of Miss Linley, and her exact powers were, probably, of a far different elevation and character to those of our highest ornament. Thus it should seem that more than one really superior planet has seldom or never risen above the horizon at the same time. And when we consider the distinctions and attributes, intellectual and physical, which are required to be combined in a singer of the first rank, it does not seem wonderful that so few should reach the point of exaltation.

At length a vocal candidate has appeared in the person of Mr. Sapio, who is gifted with natural powers, which, if sedulously cultivated, will scarcely fail to advance him to a high place among the native orchestra singers---and indeed he has already, at the very onset, seized upon a large portion of general estimation, both in London, and in the provinces, where he has been in much request

But in the conversations I have had with many of you who now stand before me, I have heard it said, that it is on the direct influence of this selfish principle that the prosperity and happiness of human society is founded, and that whilst every person pursues his own interest, the interest of the whole will be best promoted-detestable maxim! which, in the way in which it is understood and acted on, eradicates every magnanimous and generous feeling, steels the heart against the exercise of every social virtue, and absorbs every faculty of mind and body, in the unrelenting pursuit of that which, when obtained, serves only to Mr. Sapio is singularly circumstanced with stimulate the thirst for more. Virtue can only respect to parentage and birth-place. His exist in depriving ourselves of our own enjoy father, we are informed, was an Italian, his ments to promote the happiness of others; mother a French woman, and he was born and but what virtue can there be in the continual passed the first years of his life in England. gratification of a selfish passion, which scru- Hence he early enjoyed the advantage of being ples not to derive its enjoyments from the instructed with almost equal benefit in the possible, would concentre in one that which facility. In the existing state of the demand sorrows and the sufferings of others, and if three languages, which he speaks with equal was intended for all? Fool that I was, to upon the powers of vocalists this is a main When I took my last farewel of you, and suppose that when the laws of our holy reli- advantage, and one to which he will probably bestowed on you all my worldly possessions, gion, enforced by every sanction human and be indebted for the foundation of his reputation, I left you equally provided with the necessaries divine, had failed to influence you, the ex- to whatever height it shall mount up. At preof life; and recommended it to you, as far as hortations of these lips could produce any sent we consider Mr. Sapio as a singer formthe affairs of the world would admit, to con- beneficial effect; but I had hoped that the so-ing, not formed--as one possessed of a certain tinue in that situation. What has been the lemn occasion on which they were delivered, and respectable quality of science, but with result?-The most striking and unfortunate and the striking benefits by which they were natural endowments, that render him capable reverse ;—an inequality not less fatal to those accompanied, might have served to recall their of great elevation, indeed as the only candidate who have obtained too much, than to those remembrance, and give an additional motive to who has any legitimate claim to the succession who possess too little. How many of your the exercise of those social virtues, on which to Vaughan or Braham. brethren have I seen, in the course of my pro- alone the welfare of society is founded. These Mr. Sapio's voice is a tenor of much comfessional practice, fall a prey to repletion, de- expectations have vanished. Instead of find-pass, and he has the faculty of assimilating his bauchery, and indolence--the result of those ing you a family of kindred sentiments and falsette with ease to the natural voice at their temptations which exorbitant riches seldom domestic love, I see you divided into factions, junction, which adds all that he can want to fail to introduce! How many have I heard and openly avowing an implacable hostility to the upper part of his gamut---The quality of of, who during my absence have perished in each other. The advantages in point of his tone is full, and it is rendered brilliant by indigence, or in prison, for want of that sub-worldly prosperity which some of you have the way in which he brings it forth, namely, sistence of which you, their more crafty brevery high in the head--perhaps somewhat highthren, had deprived them, and which in the er indeed than the Italian method prescribes. hour of their utmost need you refused to supWhile therefore it bestows a superior brightply! How many of your sons and daughters, ness, if we may so speak, there is at the same for want of that instruction with which I took time a visible force which we suspect detracts care to supply the years of your youth, have from its sweetness and beauty. It approaches fallen into prostitution, infamy, and crime, to Mr. Braham's grand defect, and though and become the direct objects of your unreconsiderably diminished by the distance and lenting severity!--whilst some have unhappily amplitude of space in large theatres, those been driven to acts of desperation, vengeance, positive contrivances for the destruction of and despair, and have imbued their hands in highly-polished performance, it nevertheless their own or their brethren's blood!. conveys the idea of violence, at the same time that the penetrating effect and volume of the tone is increased, and the power of contrast

obtained, have been pursued with such a relentless perseverance, and carried to such an inordinate extent, as to have generated, even in the bosoms of your own kindred, the most unsocial and dangerous feelings. Ambition, rapacity, pride, extravagance, and an ostentatious indifference to the most important duties of society on the one hand, have given rise to envy, hatred, poverty, crime, and wretchedness, on the other; and I hasten from among you, lest in the blindness of your dissentions, you should plunge your parricidal 'Had you retained in your minds the slight-daggers into the bosom of him who gave you est recollection of the admonitions I gave you | birth.'

and light and shade, in songs of passion, consequently augmented. In every other respect the quality of tone is fine and rich, and the quantity abundant. Force therefore is the less necessary, and force moreover is always fatal, sooner or later, to intonation, the first of all acquired qualifications. At present Mr. Sapio's performance is creditably correct in this particular, but not so invariably accurate as to secure him against the dangers incident to the use of extraordinary exertion. We cannot too often present to the mind of singers, that perfect iutonation is more the consequence of wellconducted practice establishing a habit than of natural perception. Delicacy of organic -structure does indeed minister to the formation of a habit of precision, but dependence is safely given to habit alone. Nor is quantity of tone so much concerned with effect as quality and pure intonation.

Mr. Sapio appears to inherit from nature a quick and lively apprehension. He is a declamatory singer, and his manner is more rhetorical and effective than that of most concert singers, without the strong and generally offensive manner of those accustomed to tread the boards of a theatre, where every thing must of course be as prominent and characteristic as possible. Hence such singers have frequently a coarseness both of style and execution, which carries the colouring too high. What we are most disposed to quarrel with in Mr. Sapio we shall however find here. His method of taking and leaving notes sometimes very abruptly, and his too strong and too frequent use of portamento, is in the faulty and unfinished manner of Mr. Braham's theatrical school, and whether adopted for declamatory effect or used through carelessness, is alike indefensible, and detracts from that polish which is the most admirable and indeed the only proof of taste and high science.

TO " P,"

CORRESPONDENCE.

SIR,-The authenticity of the first five chapters of Genesis, I feel no inclination to defend; but allowing them to be the work of Moses, you seem to invalidate my rendering of the word void, because (according to your last letter) I acknowledge it is impossible to conceive how, in opposition to the laws of gravity, the earth could assume the figure of a hollow sphere; now, I never remember acknowledging the impossibility of our conceiving, though I have done of our being certain, on the subject; indeed, if you will consult the works of Burnet, Whiston, and other eminent writers, you will find several ways assigned, in which the earth might become hollow at the creation, and though these are but "speculative opinions," you must consider that what you advance respecting the solidity of the earth is the same.

However, if the existence of subterranean waters be proved, that of a place to contain them must necessarily follow.

comes of the surplus of river water? and whence do
springs originate?

and well, and has some advantages of person; as to his acting, I always looked upon it as coming tardy off' or an outdoing termagant,' but Dus aliter visum,' and I wont dispute about tastes with them.

But when I reflect on the unanimous approbation which we once bestowed on Mr. Vandenhoff, I am surprised at the present dereliction from a standard avowedly so excellent and correct. We all remember how highly he was thought of, both here and in Liverpool, before he went to London, and I don't see why the prejudiced and capricious judgment of a London audience should cause us to change our opinions ;especially as the very wise gentleman in the stage box the other night told us we were quite as enlightened as they are, which we shall go well nigh to disprove, on our own admission, if we give up our ancient sentiments in compliment to what they have decreed. However Mr. Salter is re-engaged, and I suppose we must suffer him to strut and fret his hour upon the stage,' but you may depend upon it he will soon be heard no more.'

Dr. Withering, you say, found the thermometer stand at 49° in a well 84 feet deep, this is very probable, as a cold stratum or region of earth has to be passed before the hot one is attained. As you seem to doubt an internal fire, I refer you to a tract on the subject; written by Mr. Boyle, where you will find several instances stated, in which it was necessary, before descending into the earth, to put off part of the clothes, the heat being so great, as almost to hinder respiration under the incumbrance of a common suit; but these places were much deeper than 84 feet. Without you can account for this heat in a satisfactory manner, I must certainly consider it as proceeding from a central fire, therefore establishing the existence of one; and, if this be done, I believe you will not ask how a fluid comes to congregate, whose natural disposition is to separate; even Sir Isaac Newton never tells us how the earth gravitates towards the sun; he adduces facts, to explain which gravitation must be supposed, and this by all philosophers has been considered as sufficient proof that such power exists. I hope you will allow me, in a like manner, to prove a central fire, without asking how it exists. "You most ignorantly attribute," non-combustion, at certain depths, solely to the presence of carbonic acid, whereas Mr. Boyle, (to whose opinion I hope you will pay a little deference, this THE fall and detailed Report of the Proceedings certain depths the air was so rarified by heat that it not being a " speculative" matter,) asserts that at

would not support combustion, therefore some other
cause than carbonic acid, will produce in wells, &c.
the effect of non-combustion.
LAPIS.

P. S. The sentence, on which you learnedly in-
troduced the two Latin words, was certainly a non-
sensical one.

To “ A FRIEND,”

DEAR SIR. You will be disappointed to find me
again addressing you upon the subject, which we
have been discussing; but, as my present remarks
will be merely explanatory of my last letter, certain
parts of which have been misunderstood, I trust this
intrusion will be forgiven.

With respect to the term spectrum, I did not mean,
in my last, to call it an unphilosophical term; but
merely to object to your application of it. I objected
to the passage, in which you used the term spontune-
ous, because I have always considered that term to
ideas respecting these terms are correct, I shall not
imply the immediate operation of the will. That my
now endeavour to establish, as you appear desirous
of closing the discussion of the subject.
Regretting that our correspondence terminates thus
unsatisfactorily, I subscribe myself,

Your's most respectfully,

0.

Ham.-Do the boys carry it away?
Ros.-Ay, that they do, my lord; Hercules and his load too.
Hum.-Is it not very strange; for my uncle is King of Den-

mark; and those, that would make months at him
while my father lived, give twenty, forty, fifty, an
hundred ducats a-piece, for his picture in little.

TO THE EDITOR,

SIR, The proposal in your last paper, for engraving and publishing by subscription the portrait of Salter, by Minasi, appears to me exceedingly absurd.

The friends of Mr. Selter have undoubtedly a right to act any foolish part they may think proper, and I By your speaking of credulity, you seem to disbe- have no wish to throw any obstacle in the way of their lieve that such a phenomenon as the deluge ever follies, or of the emolument which that gentleman is took place; if it be so, or if you believe in a super-expected to derive from them. I must, however, natural destruction of the waters causing it, no proofs can be gathered in support of my opinion from that

event.

I think you will allow that more water runs into the ocean, (by rivers, &c.) than can be held in solution, or supported by the air; and as the sea by these additions, does not sensibly increase, the waters must have some subterranean place where they accuntulate, and from whence they again visit the surface of the earth by means of springs; else, what be

protest against this act of private admiration and
partiality being imputed to the discrimination and
feelings of the whole community.

For my own part I cannot understand how it has
been deserved by Mr. Salter, who certainly was
never so marvellously accounted of, until a garbled |
statement of his ill usage imposed on the pity and
credulity of our simple hearted town. I have seen
him very often, and have certainly been pleased in
seeing him, for he generally dresses appropriately

DING DONG.

This Day is Published,
Price 10s. 6d.

And sold by ROBINSON and ELLIS,
No. 7, St. Ann's Place, Manchester,

on the Trial at Lancaster, in the cause REDFORD V. BIRLEY and OTHERS, taken from the Short-hand Notes of MR. FARQUHARSON, with a Plan of St. Peter's Field. May 18, 1822.

FINE ARTS.

THE Admirers of the Fine Arts will be happy to
learn, that the first number of a very interesting pab-
lication, entitled the VIENNA GALLERY, comprising a
Series of finely executed ENGRAVINGS, from the rich
collection of Paintings in the BELVEDERE at VIENNA,
are at length arrived in this country. A Prospectus and
Specimens may be seen at Messrs. ROBINSON and
ELLIS's, No. 7, ST. ANN'S PLACE, who are appointeri
AGENTS for the sale of the Work in Manchester and its
Vicinity.
7, St. Ann's Place, May 18, 1822.

THEATRE ROYAL, MANCHESTER.

MISS M. HAMMERSLEY, with feelings of the
most lively gratitude for the indulgence and encourage-
ment she has received, during the Four Seasons she has bad
the honour of appearing before a Manchester audience, and
relying solely upon the patronage of a generous and liberal
Public, begs to announce that her Benefit is fixed for
Monday the 20th instant, when she ventures to solicit that
countenance and support which it will ever be her pride to
acknowledge, and her study to deserve. On MONDAY,
MAY 20th, 1822, will be performed, (by particular
desire) Morton's admired Musical Play of the SLAVE.
In the course of the Play, the favourite songs of "Pity the
Slave," "The Mocking Bird," and "The Soldier tired
of War's Alarms," by, Miss M. HAMMERSLEY.
"Oh,
Mary turn those Eyes Away," "My Native Highland
Home," and " The Birth of Liberty," by MR. LARKIN.
To which will be added the Comic Interlude of SYLVES-
TER DAGGERWOOD. To conclude with the favourite
Burletta (not acted these four years) called MIDAS; in the
course of which will be introduced the Songs of "Lovely
Nymph," "Lo'e among the Roses," and "Pray
Goody," by MR. LARKIN; and " Charlie is my Darling,"
by Miss M. HAMMERSLEY.

Tickets to be had of Miss M. HAMMERSLEY, No. 41,
George street; and of Mr. ELAND, at the Theatre, where
Places for the Boxes may be taken.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

J.'s communication has been received, and shall have our earliest attention.-Will the author favour us with an interview?

We have to acknowledge communications from Jnvenus L.-T V.-R. S.-Poor Richard J. G. --Antoninus.--An Old Man.--Juliet.-Q - Mercury, and Antiquarius.

Manchester: Printed, Published, and Sold, by the Proprietors, HENRY SMITH AND BROTHERS, St. Ann's Square, to whom all Communications (post paid) must be addressed. Sold also by all the Bookseilers in Manchester and the neighbouring towns.