gratified in being enabled to state that Macready played "King John" with all his wonted discrimination and excellence, being so ably supported by Charles Kemble in the chivalric "Faulconbridge," as to induce us to forgive him for the outrages he had committed on Hamlet" and " Macbeth." Miss Helen Faucit was the representative of" Lady Constance," for which task she was wholly incompetent. The same week W. Farren made his bow in the "School for Scandal," Charles Kemble playing "Charles Surface." The remainder of the characters were sustained by a set of gentlemen, whose equals in point of histrionic talent are only to be found in a barn or a penny theatre.

The next novelty was the appearance of that over-rated tragedian, Vandenhoff, as "Adrastus," in the beautifully written tragedy of "Ion." This gentleman's lungs we think get stronger every season, and from the way in which he uses them, we should not be surprised if he was heard as distinctly outside the walls of the theatre as he is within them. A farce, entitled "Mutual Expense," a feeble translation from the French, supposed, from its extreme badness, to proceed from the pen of the manager, Mr. Osbaldiston, was summarily condemned. When nearly one third of this trumpery had been endured, and the hissing became loud and general, Mr. Osbaldiston consummated his good sense by coming forward and treating the audience with a long rambling story about a party having pledged themselves to damn the piece. This only increased the uproar, during which a policeman attempted with great violence to remove one of the dissentients in the dress boxes, which he did not accomplish. On the next morning the gentleman brought his assailant before Mr. Minshull, at Bow Street, who informed a Mr. Harris, Mr. Osbaldiston's secretary, that parties paying their money had an undoubted right to hiss whatever displeased them, and recommended the policeman to make an apology, which he instantly did, and thus the affair terminated. We take this opportunity of suggesting to Mr. Osbaldiston that if he must keep a secretary, there are plenty of lawyers' clerks out of employ who would write his letters cheap, and enlighten him on subjects like the preceding into the bargain.

DRURY LANE.-After a series of swaggering announcements regarding the decorations of the house and the extraordinary talent to be found in every department of the company, this newly adorned edifice opened on the 8th of October. It certainly has been redecorated in the arabesque style, and there is an abundance of gilding, foliage, cameos, masks, and dancing figures, besides a series of scenes from Shakspeare adorning the pannels of the dress circle. The tout ensemble is gay and lively, but trifling and insignificant; every ornament being unsuited to so large a building as Drury Lane. The style in which every embellishment is conceived and executed is fitted only for a small theatre like the Olympic, or some slight temple of Thespis erected for his own performances by some stage-struck nobleman.

The first novelty of the evening was the debut of Mr. Balfe in "Michael," in his own opera, "The Siege of Rochelle." This gentleman, although new to the English boards, is an old Italian stager, where, by dint of practice, he has acquired confidence and a certain

portion of grace and gaiety. His voice is sweet and flexible, but deficient in power. He sang throughout the night with great taste, and has repeated the part several times since with increased effect. A piece of vulgar balderdash, translated by Mr. Beazley, and called "Every Body's Widow," was remorselessly condemned notwithstanding the exertions of all the performers concerned in it. Then came an incomprehensible mass of mummery, called "The Grand Commemoration of Malibran," consisting of a series of scenes in which that great actress had been concerned, which Mr. Cooper, dressed in a new suit of black, was kind enough to illustrate by reciting a series of doggrel rhymes, and waving at intervals a very fine piece of white cambric, which the manager had supplied him with for the occasion. This gallimaufry was endured for a week, and was then withdrawn.

October 17.-This evening a crowded audience assembled to witness the first appearance of Mr. Forrest, the celebrated American tragedian. He selected for his ordeal the part of "Sparctacus," in which he had been preeminently successful throughout the United States. In this tragedy, called "The Gladiator," proceeding from the pen of a countryman of the actor's, a Dr. Bird, "Sparctacus," who has been made a slave, consents to fightin the arena upon condition that his wife and child, who had also been made slaves, shonld be purchased by his own master, and the revolt of the gladiators is brought about by the prætor trying to compel "Sparctacus" to fight with his own brother. "Sparctacus" then heads an army of revolted slaves, and is at first victorious, but finding his wife and child are slain, he rushes headlong into the fight and falls covered with wounds.

The tragedy, although possessing many scenes of intense interest, is, in point of composition, a very mediocre affair, and is deformed throughout with the coarsest vulgarisms, which the author seems to have mistaken for strength of language. The part of "Sparctacus," however, is a very fine one for the actor, as all the interest centres in him, and he is scarcely off the stage for a single instant. Some of the situations are very skilfully contrived; such as the discovery of his brother in the arena, and his brother's death. But the poverty of diction in which they were arrayed lessened their effects considerably. Mr. Forrest looked the "Gladiator" to perfection. He is one of the most muscular men that ever trod the stage. His attitudes are at times graceful, and always natural and energetic. His voice varies; sometimes it is full and melodious, and occasionally inharmonious and sharp, while his face is strongly marked but not flexible, or capable of conveying the multitudinous passions that agitate the human breast. Throughout his performance he convinced us he was a man of intellect and good taste. His style is decidedly melo-dramatic, but his action being subdued fits it for the embodying of the highest range of characters the legitimate drama can supply. Contemporary critics have compared him to Wallack; but Forrest is a far superior actor, and produces the most powerful effects when standing still and appealing calmly, or, with the energy of true passion, to the feelings of his auditors. Wallack, on the contrary, possessing nothing beyond the attitudinizing starts of melo-drama, would have

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flung his arms out like the sails of a windmill, and dashed about from one end of the stage to the other, as if pursued by a flash of lightning.

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We are glad to perceive by the bills that Forrest is about to play Othello," which will be a fairer standard to try his merits by than the transatlantic tragedy of "Sparctacus." He was most cordially received, and was called for afterwards and vehemently applauded.

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NOTES OF THE MONTH.

During the early part of this month (October), conservative dinners took place at Hereford and Northampton."

Have the tories then at length discovered that toryism is on its last legs, or, that in fact it is dying a natural death and has but a short time to live? if sothey are wisely making the most of it, as long as it shall last. At Northampton about 700-and at Hereford about 600 rallied under the glorious and never to be worn out banner of "The Bible and Crown." It used to be christened "The Church and State;" but the MARCH OF INTELLECT has rendered these phrases obsolete. To record the nonsense uttered on these occasions, is

"A flight beyond the reach of art.”

Suffice it to say, the principle topic descanted on was what one of the speakers chose to call "the tottering state of the present revolutionary government." After this rational proceeding each man took wine sufficient to enable him to "rally round the Altar and the Throne," and all parties reeled home satisfied that the proceedings of that day had secured the safety of "THE BIBLE AND CROWN."

It would seem an ungenerous preference not to mention, that there has been "a display” at Aylesbury, where Mr. Maceworth Praed (the ci-devant M. P.) exhibited himself to peculiar advantage. After spouting forth a most nonsensical panegyric on Lord Chandos, he concluded with the following eloquent peroration, which it would be criminal not to record.-"As the countryman cried to Burke, 'Ditto. Ditto,'-so will I to the noble Marquis say: 'Ditto, Ditto.'

October. 2.—" In the published Lists of Game Certificates for the county of Derby are twenty-two names with Reverend attached to them, and in the Yorkshire list are to be found ninety-one!"

That country clergymen may be much worse employed than in destroying hares and partridges we do not hesitate to admit, and we fear that many of them are so still these are not precisely the recreations we like to see gentlemen of their cloth indulging in. We speak it with due deference; but we think they evince a lamentable deficiency of common sense in these days of sectarianism, in thus furnishing to the opponents of the Established Church any opportunities of animadverting on the consistency of their conduct.Surely they must be aware of the strenuous attempts that are now being made to purify the protestant church in all its departments :—why then are they not more circumspect in exhibiting a good example to the various flocks under their instruction and guidance?

That clergymen need a relief from the monotony of preaching, sermonwriting, and other clerical duties, we do not hesitate to admit; but we would not have them seek it in the sports of the field. Can they not enjoy the beauties of nature without seeking the destruction of the feathered tribe-or pursue a healthful walk without feeling an impetus to slay the first hare that steals timidly across their pathways? This surely is not so very difficult a

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self-sacrifice to require of them. If any one of these Game-Certificated Parsons" would but apply this piece of advice to practice, we predict that he will return to his home better satisfied with himself than when he set out.

Oct. 7.- Louis Philippe reviews a Body of Troops at Compeigne."

THIS hopeful monarch, who at the commencement of his reign could perambulate his good capital of Paris in a plain undress, with a gingham umbrella under his arm, recognised by all his subjects, and perfectly free from every apprehension of assassination ;-by pursuing a career distinguished alike by its treachery and despotism has attained to so enviable a state of unpopularity as to be obliged to take remarkably good care that he shall not be shot at successfully. The Review in question must have been a military pomp, affording his Majesty a great luxury, as, during the whole of the perilous delight of the day, he was so fearful of a stray bullet as to be so closely surrounded that but few of his faithful subjects" could obtain a view of his Royal Person. His Guards were even ordered to keep back all who might attempt to approach him. Such is the retribution laid up in store for tyrannic kings or sovereigns who act with treachery towards their people. The continued apprehensions that Louis Philippe must experience cannot fail to be most agonizing. The curse will pursue him while existence lasts, embittering every moment, and calling down ample vengeance on the victims of his treachery. We hope that ere many numbers of this Magazine may have gone forth, France may no longer be disgraced by the dynasty of the Bourbons.

Oct. 12.-"In the Alterations now making in Whitehall, the Royal Pew will be placed in the very window out of which Charles the First walked to the Scaffold."

This must be a somewhat unpleasant communication to make to His Majesty, if ever he is informed of it, and there is a possibility of its occasioning him a few extraordinary sensations while in the exercise of his devotions. The convulsions that shake empires have latterly been of such frequent occurrence, that the people of this country—and indeed every other are apt to look upon such a coincidence as the above in the light of an ominous event."We defy augury" and have no foreboding :-still we think that better taste might have been exhibited in the selection of a spot for the Royal Pew.— There certainly was no necessity for making the temporary resting-place of our respected and popular Monarch in the very pathway one of his Regal Predecessors was obliged to tread when doomed to decapitation.

Oct. 16.-DRAMATIC EMIGRATION.-The Contemporary Prints of this day furnish us with a tolerable lengthy list of English Actors and Actresses of every description who are exercising their callings in the United States of America. If Emigration is to be taken as the standard proof of a superfluity of population, what a huge surplus must there be of the Children of Thespis!-Theatres increase in this country; but they are still incapable of supplying with food those, whose existence depends upon them;-hence they ship themselves off to America-the New World being still in its infancy in regard to the breeding of Performers sufficient to supply the wants of the community.

Oct. 21.-A Great Meeting of the Tories takes place at the MansionHouse to enter into Subscriptions to erect a Statue in honour of the Duke of Wellington.

We have read over the Speeches made by these "Wise Men in the East;" and for the life of us we cannot discover what deeds the Duke of Wellington has recently achieved to entitle him to this distinction.-The chief ground of his Grace's distinction that we can discover from the bourgeois panegyrists, is, that he forwarded the Bill in the House of Lords for the re-building of London Bridge; and if this proceeding entitles a Nobleman to a Statue, every Peer who voted on the same side is entitled to a similar distinction. It is rather too late in the day to get up and talk about the Duke of

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Wellington's military glory; which, by the way, the wealthy contractors who composed this meeting understood most about,-they having made colossal fortunes by the contracts given them by the Ministers who carried forward the wars in which Wellington was concerned with true Tory recklessness of blood and treasure. So far as regards the part which Wellington played in this great game of sanguinary contest and pillage, he has been most lavishly remunerated by his country. For some years past the military Duke's parliamentary career has been a continued warfare against the liberties of his countrymen. His hostility to the reformation of every abuse, however glaring and monstrous, has never for one instant slept; and it has been allowed by all parties, that his bigoted attachment to political corruption brought ou the passing of the Reform Bill, and opened the door of those beneficial measures that have so pre-eminently distinguished the present Administrationwe allude principally to the Poor Law-Corporation-and Commutation of Tithes Bills.

Should this Wellington Testimonial ever be erected, let the substance of these latter paragraphs be legibly sculptured on its base. Then future ages will be able to appreciate correctly which the inestimable blessings the Duke of Wellington has been the means of conferring upon his country.

Oct. 22.-"The King of the Belgians is at present at Paris. The ostensible motive for his visit is to talk over the marriage of the Princess Mary with Louis Philippe."

There is an atmosphere in France that we suppose is particularly favourable to the germinating of political intrigue. It is very probable that the ostensible and real motives that actuated the visit of this pensioner monarch were widely different from each other. It must however be confessed that he is very well matched when pitted against Louis Philippe. The king of the barricades is we suspect au fait at every dirty trick of French diplomacy, and if the king of the Belgians really does out-manœuvre him, it will be something worth boasting of.

Oct 24.-"The students of Glasgow University talk of electing Lord Lyndhurst to be their next Lord Rector."

"Oh what a falling off was there"-what a contrast do the memorable names of those great predecessors who so worthily occupied the Lord Rector's chair, afford in comparison with that of the leader of the Tory lords? Can the Glasgow students have forgotten Lord Brougham and Thomas Campbell, on whom they conferred this honour, and can they for one moment dream of profaning a spot rendered sacred by the solid learning and erudition of the one, and the exalted genius of the other, by the election of such a man as Lord Lyndhurst? Why his very name is synonymous with bigotry and oppression, his diminutive mind still reverences those ancient trammels and obsolete prejudices, which the more enlightened have long since cast aside with contempt and disgust. He does not even possess one redeeming trait in his public character, to warrant such a distinction; and as to his private virtues, the most brazen of our ultra-tory scribes has never had the hardihood to accuse him of possessing any.

GREAT DEGREE OF COLD BORNE BY THE HUMAN BODY.-In the winter of 1833-4, Captain Back and his party while residing at Fort Reliance on the Great Slave Lake were exposed to an average temperature of 33° (65° below the freezing point,) during the whole month of January, and on the 17th the thermometer was as low as 70°, (102° fr. pt.) On the 25th of January, the thermometer was at 18° (50° fr. pt.), and on the 26th it had risen to +22° (10° fr. pt.), while on the day following it fell again to 49° (81o fr. pt.): thus in the course of twenty-four hours an inequality of temperature of 71° had been experienced.

"On the 4th of February, (continues Captain Back,) the temperature was 60° (92° fr. pt.), and there being at the same time a fresh breeze it was nearly insupportable.-On one occasion after washing my face within three feet of the fire, my hair was clotted with ice, before I had time to dry it.