with the description, plans, designs, and models relating thereto; and the Conservatoire was authorized to have them printed, engraved, and published.

In 1817, the repository was completely reorganized, and a council of amelioration, consisting of five members, was established. By a royal ordinance, dated November 25, 1819, three courses of lectures were founded, two of which relate to mechanics and chemistry applied to the arts, and the third to manufacturing pro

cesses.

The Conservatoire has a well-selected library, consisting for the most part of books which relate to the arts and sciences taught there.

Few museums are more interesting, instructive, or valuable than this repository. It is a collection peculiar to the metropolis of France, and cannot fail of producing the most beneficial effects. Undoubtedly it has diffused an extensive knowledge of

mechanics, and a skilful adaptation of the simplest instruments to the most complicated purposes; but the peculiar character of the nation has confined this to trifling objects, while those higher branches of

the arts which are connected with the

sup

port and comfort of human life have been comparatively neglected.

GAMING-HOUSES.

Gaming-houses, in Paris, were first licensed in 1775, by the lieutenant of police Sartines, who, to diminish the odium of such establishments, decreed, that the profit resulting from them should be applied to the foundation of hospitals. Their number soon amounted to twelve, and women were permitted to resort to them two days in the week. Besides the licensed establishments, several illegal ones were tolerated, and were styled enfer.

Gaming having been found prolific in misfortunes and crimes, was prohibited in 1778; but it was still practised at the court, and in the hotels of the ambassadors, where police-officers could not enter. By degrees the public establishments resumed their wonted activity, and extended their pernicious effects. The numerous suicides and bankruptcies which they occasioned attracted the attention of the Parlement, who drew up regulations for their observance; and threatened those who should violate them with the pillory and whipping. The licensed houses, as well as those not recognised, however, still continued their former practices, and breaches of the regulations were merely visited with trivial punishment. At length, the passion for gambling prevailing in the societies established in the Palais Royal,

under the title of clubs, or salons, a police ordinance was issued in March, 1785, prohibiting them from gaming.

In 1786, fresh disorders having arisen in the unlicensed establishments, additional prohibitory measures were enforced.

During the revolution, the gaminghouses were frequently prosecuted, and licenses withheld; but, notwithsanding the rigour of the laws, and the vigilance of the police, they still contrived to exist. They are now regularly licensed, and under the immediate inspection of the police.

ATHENEE.

This institution was founded in 1781, by Pilatre du Rosiers, under the special protection of MONSIEUR, (Louis XVIII.,) Rosiers. Its object was the cultivation of the arts and sciences connected with com

and took the title of Musée de Pilutre du

merce.

On the 15th of June, 1785, Pilatre du

Rosiers, accompanied by M. Romain, atin a balloon, in which both the Montgolfier tempted to cross the channel to England and hydrogen-gas balloon were united. A contrary wind drove the balloon back upon the French coast, when it unfortunately took fire, and the two aëronauts perished within about a league of Boulogne. The death of its founder caused the Museum to languish. Some time afterwards it was reorganized under the name of Lycée, which it bore till 1803, when it took the

title of Athénée.

It is chiefly to Louis XIV. that Paris is indebted for the improvement of the streets and public roads. At the beginning of his reign the ladies seldom went out except on mules, and the gentlemen wore buskins. A Spaniard, on the day of his arrival at Paris, seeing them thus equipped, inquired, "si toute la ville partait en poste ?" This monarch opened many new streets, and enlarged and paved those in which carriages could not pass. Dulaure relates, that in each of the streets the bust of the king, wearing an enormous court wig, was placed in a conspicuous situation.

The earliest record of the streets of Paris being lighted at night is of the year 1465, when Louis XI. issued an ordinance, enjoining a lantern to be placed before every house by its occupier. In the reign of Francis I., Paris being infested by thieves and assassins, whose crimes kept the inhabitants in constant dread of the approach of night, that monarch issued an

ordinance in 1524, commanding every householder "to place at nine o'clock in the evening, at the window of the first story, a lantern containing a lighted candle, as a preservative against the attacks des mauvais garçons." At this period no one walked in the streets after sunset without a lantern.

Until the reign of Louis XVI., Paris was lighted during only nine months of the year, and then never except in the absence of moonlight. Lighting by gas, first used at the theatre of the Odéon, was introduced upon the public road in 1821, on the night when the new Opera-house was opened. Eight lamps on the boulevard, at the extremities of the streets leading to that theatre, were then lighted by this process, which has since been extended to a great number of cafés and shops, but is not generally adopted for the

streets.

DOG OF MONTARGIS.

It was upon the site of the street Rue Saint Louis, that the combat is said to have taken place, in the reign of Charles V., between the chevalier de Macaire and the celebrated Dog of Montargis, of which the following details are related by several authors:-Aubry de Montdidier, in passing alone through the forest of Bondy, was murdered, and buried at the foot of a tree. His dog remained several days at the spot, and only quitted it on being compelled by hunger, when he went to the house of a friend of Aubry, and set up a mournful howling. After allaying his hunger, he renewed the howling, and pulled his master's friend by the coat, as if to induce him to follow. The singularity of the dog's behaviour, and the circumstance of Aubry being missing, excited suspicion that the latter had been murdered. Several persons followed the dog, who, when he came to a certain tree, redoubled his howling, and commenced scratching the ground. Upon digging they found the body of the unfortunate man. Some time after, the dog seized an individual named the chevalier de Macaire, who was extricated from him with great difficulty. This occurring several times to the same person, suspicions were excited that he was the murderer of Aubry, particularly as it was known that he had cherished a hatred towards him. The king, having heard of this circumstance, sent on one of his leveedays for the dog, who, upon seeing the chevalier de Macaire enter, instantly seized him. At this period it was usual, when a crime was not fully proved, to institute the Trial by Battle, called Jugement de Dieu. The king ordered the affair to be decided by that mode of trial, and lists (champ-clos) were formed in the isle Saint

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Beef. Mutton Veal. Pork.

LIST OF WORKS PUBLISHED. Chambers, on Civil Architecture, by Gwilt, 2 vols. imp. 8vo. 4l. 14s. 6d. Goldsmith's Wonders of the United Kingdom, 3 vols. 12mo. 1. 1s. half bound.-Bland's Key to Algebraic Problems, 8vo. 9s.-Hough and Long's Practice of Court Martial, 8vo. 11. 6s.

-Lambeth and the Vatican, 3 vols. 12mo. 11. 1s.-Memorials of James Oswald, 8vo. 16s.

Nicholson's Operative Mechanic, 8vo.

11. 16s.-Death-Bed Scenes, roy. 18mo. 7s.Thomson's First Principles of Chemistry,

2 vols. 8vo. 1. 10s.-Turner's History of

-

England, 5 vols. 8vo. 31.-Accum, on Brewing, roy. 18mo. 9s. Harrison, on the Arteries, 21. 5s. Woodley's Tragedies, crown 8vo. 6s.-Campbell's Mary and ElizaRuperti's Juvenal and beth, 8vo. 12s. Koenig's Persius, 2 vols. 8vo. 11. 16s.-Duncan, on Prosecution for Religious Opinions, 8vo. ss.

KING'S THEATRE.

CONSIDERING the multiplied disadvantages under which this establishment has lately been struggling, its present season may be said not to have commenced till Tuesday last; when under its own splendid roof it exhibited, for the first time this winter, its twofold charm of song and dance. The recent repairs have rendered the house both more safe and more beautiful. The whole of the wall which backs the gallery and the box and pit saloons, has been rebuilt, and the general freshness of the interior indicates that some attention has been paid to the brightening and reviving the decorations, the effect of the renovation of which is not a little heightened by the improved brilliancy of the light, which is more copiously distributed through the whole of the area before the curtain.

The opening piece, at what may almost

be styled the New Opera-house, was Dan Giovanni. The spirit with which this old favourite was performed, consorted with, and reflected credit on, the new order of things. MADAME VESTRIS, in Zerlina, (her first appearance in that character,) was as animated and vivacious as the coquettish paysanne was intended to be by the poet and the composer. The chaste simplicity of her vociferation, produced a happy contrast to the over-wrought flourish and elaborate broderie,with which GARCIA contrives to subvert the cast and character of the melodies allotted to the hero of the piece. His serenading song was absolutely disguised by redundant and ill-judged ornament; and but for the strong features given it by the peculiar beauty of the accompaniments, we should scarcely have known for our old favourite the melody that had so often delighted us. His manner of giving "Vive la Liberta" had in it, however, so much truth and spirit as nearly to atone for all his defects, and so far transported the audience as not only to extort from them an enthusiastic encore, but to seem to make them forget that Giovanni's" Liberta" is that of licentiousness, not of patriotism. MADAME CASTELLI'S Elvira was rather the performance of a concert vocalist, than of a dramatic singer; yet, on the whole, was above mediocrity, and more than endurable, in an opera debutante. Experience, and a more intimate acquaintance with the little artifices of stage business, will probably render her acting more easy and natural, and her intonation more scenic and characteristic. DE BEGNIS, though, perhaps, scarcely busy and intriguing enough in Leporello,exhibited,speaking generally, a judgment and a tact which proved that, had he been more disposed to exert himself, he would have known how to mark the distinguishing traits of the accommodating valet. MADAME DE BEGNIS, in Anna, and PORTO in Massetto, were truly excellent. At the close of the opera "God save the King was sung. The ballet was that of L'Offrande aux

Graces.

On Saturday the public were presented with Adelina, reduced to one act, succeeded by a similar compression of L'Italiana in Algeri. Of the first of these pieces the fable is tolerably well preserved; but that of the second is injudiciously mutilated, if not destroyed. The interesting story of Turkish brutality subdued by beauty and intelligence, is nearly lost sight of in the ill-conducted curtailment; and those musical managers, who think that dramatic melody, however sweet it may be, is capable of compensating for deficiency of a dramatic plot, even in an

Italian opera, mainly deceive themselves. The performers, in both pieces, threw out all their powers, and were successful; but the favourable reception of their efforts must not be mistaken for the public approbation of imperfect and desultory entertainments, to the exclusion of the genuine musical drama; nor ought it to be overlooked, that such frittering and operatic productions tend to deteriorate the dignity of the King's theatre.

The above abridgements were followed by the ballet of Cleopatra, in three acts, the first scene of which is laid in Tarsus. The story, on the whole, is skilfully conducted, notwithstanding some occasional deviations from the truth of history. The subject, as treated by M. AUMER, is prolific, and rendered the vehicle of much graceful attitude and action, as well as of a considerable variety of episodic interest and scenic splendour. The grandeur of the general effect well accords with the importance and notoriety of the story; and while the history of the royal heroine is strongly depicted, every possible effect is thrown into the series of scenes by the clearness and intelligibility with which they succeed each other. The scenery is executed in a highly masterly style, the dresses are uncommonly superb, and the various groupings are tastefully and judiciously conceived, and executed with a precision and a spirit which give new evidences of the talents of C. VESTRIS, MADAME LE GROS, and RONZI VESTRIS.

Regarded in the aggregate, the performances of Tuesday and Saturday deserved the applauses they received from elegant if not crowded auditories, and augured well for the success of the remainder of the season. This observation we make with much pleasure; for, of all the various invitations offered to the admirers of melodious excellence and superior saltation, none are so refined as those of the Italian opera and while, by the earnestness of its exertions, it continues to evince its respect for its own elevated character, it will never fail to attract and to delight all who are qualified to judge of its inherent beauty, grace, and dignity, and who are sensible of its national importance as a refiner of our musical taste.

Diary of Occurrences.

April 13.- THE WEATHER.-A slight sprinkling of rain this morning, the first which has fallen for thirty-one days. The dryness of the weather compensates, in a beneficial manner, for the humidity of the last and beginning of the present year. People, however, begin to complain of

drought: when two persons meet, the common interchange of phrase is "A very fine day !”—“ Yes," is the reply, "but we want a little rain to lay the dust." The spring is backward, certainly; there is very little grass in the vicinity of London, though the hedge rows are getting nicely into leaf, and the almond-trees look beautiful.

The Manager is likely to lose his suit -reported that Mrs. Coutts is about to marry a young nobleman of rather dilapidated finances. The wedding portion of the lady Cornwallis, married the other day, was 70,000l.-Nearly one-third of all the wine made in France costs to the maker about three-tenths of a penny per quart.There is now in France 1,800 nunneries, though the law of 1817 authorizes only 1,300.-A bachelor gentleman, who died lately at New York, has directed property, little short of 20,000 dollars, to be equally divided between ten of the oldest maids resident within ten miles of his native abode in England. The pawnbrokers of the metropolis annually issue 20,000,000 of duplicates. Berenger, whom France justly considers as its best national song-writer, has received 20,000 francs for his second collection of songs: the edition of this collection is of 10,000 copies. The bookseller has likewise bound himself to pay him an annuity of 3,000 francs, for which Berenger has only to compose six new songs annually.-A fine regular rigged sloop of war is now fitting out at Blackwall. Her destiny is to cruise against the Mahratta pirates, who infest the coast of Batavia. This extraordinary ship, the first of the kind made in Europe, unites the powers of sailing or steaming, separate or connected, at pleasure. The paddles fold up like a lady's fan, with great facility.

16. Poor Fuseli died this morning, at the countess of Guildford's, Putney-hill. He has for upwards of twenty years held the offices of Professor of Painting and Keeper of the Royal Academy. Fuseli was a native of Zurich, and came to England at an early age, more with a view of making literature his study than art. While yet undetermined and speculating, as he said, on the great resolve of life, he took some of his drawings to sir Joshua Reynolds, and asked his candid opinion whether he thought he had any chance of success as an artist. The president was so struck with the conception and power displayed in them, that, after viewing them attentively, he said, "Young man, were I the author of these drawings, and offered ten thousand a year not to practise as an artist, I would reject the offer with contempt;"_this decided him, but it was not

271

until the opening of his Milton gallery, about the year 1798, that the extent of his intellectual acquirements, his lofty imagination and unequalled fancy, were fully appreciated. His Ghost of Hamlet, in the Shakspeare Gallery, is unquestionably the grandest work in the collection. Mr. Fuseli enjoyed the friendship of many of the most distinguished literati of the age. The high opinion entertained of him, even in youth, by his celebrated townsman Lavater, was shown by his putting into his hand, at parting, a small piece of paper, beautifully framed and glazed, on which he found written in German-" Do but the tenth part of what you can do.”

Hang that up in your bed-room, my friend,' said Lavater," and I know what will be the result." The result did not disappoint him; their friendship ended only with life, and on the part of the artist, was continued to Lavater's son, with unabated fervour. Mr. Fuseli enjoyed excellent health, probably the result of his habitual temperance. He was also a very early riser, and, whether in the country or in town, in summer or winter, was seldom in bed after five o'clock. He attained the great age of eighty-seven, without the least falling off in his intellectual powers.

GLASGOW, UNIVERSITY. The candi dates for the office of lord Rector of the university of Glasgow were sir Walter Scott and Mr. Brougham. The votes being equal, the casting vote devolved upon the present lord Rector, sir James Mackintosh, who voted for Mr. Brougham. On his installation, Mr. Brougham, in the presence of a numerous assemblage of professors and students, delivered an admirable address, distinguished by simplicity of language, classical allusion, and appropriate selection of topics.

CUSTOMS. In the old plays, an allusion is made to an ancient custom among people of fashion, of wearing blue coats on St. George's day, probably because blue was the national colour of Britain, over which St. George presides, and not in imitation of the clothing of the fields in blue-by the flowering of blue-bells, as some have supposed.

King George IV. was born on the 12th of August; but his birth-day is kept on St. George's day, being his name-day,

in imitation of the custom in catholic

countries.

It is customary on the king's birth-day for the mails, and postmen, and postboys, with new harness and liveries, to go to Milbank, and return in procession through the Strand, Ludgate-hill, and Cheapside, to Lombard-street. The procession returns about six o'clock.

CHRONOLOGY.-1616. It is a singular fact, that on this day, in the same year, the two most admirable writers of modern Europe-Shakspeare and Cervantes, died. It is also the anniversary of the natal day of our great dramatist. Cervantes is chiefly known in this country by his admirable satire against knight-errantry,, and romance, "Don Quixote."

Queen Anne was crowned at Westminster on St. George's day.

1824. Died Richard Payne Knight, one of the most eminent Greek scholars of his day, and deeply conversant in all matters of literary antiquity, and of virtu. He bequeathed his matchless collection of medals, drawings, and bronzes, worth at least 30,000., to the British Museum. They include a single volume of drawings, by the inimitable Blonde, which was purchased for 1,6007., from a private individual, who a short time previously had given

31. for the same volume.

April XXIV.-Sunday.

High Water, Morn. V. 53 m.-Even. VI.20'm.? Sunday Lessons: Morn. Deut. 4, Acts 21. Even. Deut. 5, 2 Peter 3.

April XXV.-Monday-St.Mark.

High Water, Morn. VI. 48 m.-Ev. VII. 16 m.

CUSTOMS.-According to Mr. Brande, it is customary in Yorkshire for people to sit and watch in the church porch on St. Mark's eve, from eleven o'clock at night till one in the morning. The third year, (for it must be done thrice,) they are supposed to see the ghosts of all those who are to die the next year pass by into the church. When any one sickens, that is thought to have been seen in this manner: it is presently whispered about that he will not recover, for such an one, who has watched on St. Mark's eve, says so. This superstition is in such force, that if the patients themselves hear of it, they almost despair of recovery, and, no doubt, many have actually died of their imaginary

fears.

CHRONOLOGY.-1599. Was born, at Huntingdon, the celebrated Oliver Cromwell.

1800.-Expired, at East Dereham, near

Norwich, the chaste and elegant poet, William Cowper.

April XXVI.-Tuesday.

High Water, Morn. VII.48 m.-Even. VIII.20m.

On this day, 1521, Ferdinand Magellan, a celebrated Portuguese navigator, in the service of the emperor Charles V., was, as is generally supposed, either assassinated, or poisoned by one of his own people, in the isle of Maran, one of the Ladrones. One of his ships circumnavigated the globe, and arrived at Seville. Magellan discovered and passed the Straits, at the extremity of South America, which still bear

his name.

April XXVII.-Wednesday.

High Water, Morn. VIII. 54 in.-Even. IX.28 m. CHRONOLOGY.-1794. Died, at the age of forty-eight, sir William Jones, one of the English judges in the supreme court less distinguished by his zeal for science of judicature at Calcutta ; a gentlemen not in general, than by his own great preeminence in many important branches of it.

James Bruce, a celebrated traveller into On the same day, and year, expired Abyssinia; who, after having encountered innumerable perils in distant regions, in search of the source of the river Nile, met a premature death by a fall down a staircase, at his seat at Kinnaird, near Falkirk, in Scotland.

April XXVIII.-Thursday. High Water, Morn. X. 2 m.-Even. X. 36 m. Day 14 h. 36 m. long.

April XXIX.-Friday. High Water, Morn. XI. 10m.-Even. XI. 44 m.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We hope to give 7. N. a place shortly. We must beg to decline Elphidus, though the subject matter seems good.

Juvenal, we think, is not Juvenal the Roman satirist.

I. B. S., Henry, and S. are received.
Answers to Queries next week.

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