crowned with the honors that a good man has a right to look forward to. We most strongly recomniend The Nun of Florence to our readers.

the surveillance of the Society for the Suppression of Vice, who, if they wish to guard the morals of the fair sex, would do well to give it a perusal. We throw it aside with disgust.

Those of Eng

MRS. MARKHAM'S HISTORIES. land and France have just come under our notice, and very cleverly compiled they are, and well adapted for scholastic education.

THE STAGE, BOTH BEFORE AND BEHIND THE CURTAIN. Last mouth we gave a cursory glance at this waspish yet clever work, and we will now endeavour to amuse our readers with a few of the most interesting extracts that describe theatrical life as it really is :—

KING WILLIAM AND EMPEROR LISTON.

THE ECCLESIASTICAL AND POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE POPES OF ROME, DURING THE 16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES.-This admirable work is translated from the German of Leopold Ranke, a Professor at the University of Berlin, and is the best history of the Pontifical proceedings that has ever issued from the press. The author is a man of great learning and sound judgment, and his account of the Inquisition when first established at Rome is beyond praise. Caraffa, one of the first commissaries of this horrible institution, made the first index of prohibited books, and in Rome piles of seized copies were publicly burnt. The cruelties exercised by the Inquisition were terrible. In Venice they were sent to the lagoons to the sea in Have I not, reader, already told you that "there two boats, between which a plank was laid, aud is no tyrant like a player king?" I will now prove the accused persons, who had received sentence of it to you. The actual monarch of the British Empire condemnation were placed upon it; the rowers condescendingly commanded the supposed monarch pulled different ways-the infortunes fell into the of the British drama to command His Majesty's rolling waves, and sunk to rise no more. Thank servants," to play the School for Scandal and Simpson Heaven these times are past, never more to return! and Co. at the one house, and The Duenna, My In Rome, in front of the church of Santa Maria Neighbour's Wife, and Turning the Tables, at the alla Minerva, autos da fe took place, with every modern comedy of which the stage is in in possesother. With the view of representing the best outward ceremonial of religion, and men, women, sion, in the best possible manner, all the leading and children were hunted like wild beasts for in-performers of the two theatres were cast in it, and dulging a difference of opinion. In our days we with one exception, they all played in it-that exhave more liberality. Of Leo the 10th, and his ception was-Mr. Macready, whom no argument nor court, the author gives a glowing description. This request could prevail upon to appear in Joseph Surgreat man," had grown up in the elements which face, although he had so often performed the chaformed the world around him, and he possessed racter before. A journal of the morning following sufficient freedom from prejudice and susceptibility the Royal visit, thus alludes to the subject: "We of mind to foster, and to enjoy its glories." He cannot avoid mentioning a point which was the was full of kindness and sympathy, a lover of the general subject of conversation last evening, viz., learned, religious, but nevertheless disposed to enthat Braham volunteered his gratuitous services, and joy all the pleasures and comforts of life. that Macready declined to play Jeseph Surface in the spent the autumn in rural pleasures; he took the School for Scandal before his Sovereign. That is what diversion of hawking at Viterbo, of stag-hunting the mimic, and not on the Monarch. we call sovereign contempt.' But the onus falls on What sad nonat Corneto, and of fishing on the lake of Bolsena, sence this is. With all the respect we can possible after which he passed some time at his favourite have for the art and artist, it is a fact requiring no seat of Malliana, where he was accompanied by comment, that as they both depend on the breath of men of those light and supple talents which en- the King, his very breath should summon them into liven every passing hour, such as improvisatori. action. We do not absolutely think a tragedian In the winter he returned to the city, which was in should be required to dance on the tight rope, or a the highest state of prosperity. Never was the singer to warble with a worsted stocking in his court more lively, more agreeable, more intellec-mouth; but beyond those peculiarities, we think tual; no expenditure was too great to be lavished on religious and secular festivals, on amusements, and theatres, on presents and marks of favour." The lavish expenditure of Leo, we object to, for being drawn from the pockets of the people, their wants ought to have been considered. His court was gay, and it may be questioned if the morality of it was pure, but it was saintly when compared with that of Alexander the 6th. Yet he was one of the best of Pontiffs, if we except his rapacity, that ever filled St. Peter's chair, and was almost free from the prejudices of the age in which he lived. We would recommend this book most warmly.

"He

THE QUADROONE, or ST. MICHAEL'S DAY, is a novel of a description that we are grieved to see in print. It is extravagant and immoral; it wants delicacy, we are almost inclined to say decency, and we should say deserves to be placed under

6

they are bound to do anything in their power to conlive, and move, and have their being." Beyond tribute to the amusement of the King, by whom they these observations little need, or indeed can be said. In the other instance, the entertainments were announced precisely in the order commanded by his Majesty, by a letter from the Vice-Chamberlain now in my possession; and without directions from the Court, I dared not alter the arranged routine of the performances. With a thorough contempt, it would seem, for either the authority of the real monarch, or the duty of the assumed one, this letter was addressed

to me:

Monday, April 28, 1834.

DEAR SIR,-1 perceive by the advertisements that Turning the Tables is to be performed as the last piece on Thursday next; this I trust will not be persisted in, otherwise I must decline the honour of appearing before his Majesty so late in the evening. Your's &c.,

To A. Bunn, Esq. &c. &c.

J. LISTON.

Now pray who is the King, in all this business? Mr. Liston had 201. for playing in Turning the Tables, commanded by bis Majesty to be the last entertainment of the evening; and Mr. Liston says "if his Majesty (for his letter implies as much) persists in it, I decline the honour of appearing before him so late in the evening." It is not " too late in the evening" for the King of England to sit in his private box, but it is too late for one of his Majesty's servants" to appear on the stage to amuse him! Surely this is carrying out the Wesleyan doctrine of ་་ Ego et rex meus," a little too far. I say nothing about the unhappy wretch of a manager, and his 20.-they are not worth bestowing a thought upon but it is a question whether such monstrous consequence as this should be assumed, in opposition to the pleasure of a crowned head. It is almost needless to observe, that, on stating as delicately as possible the subject to the Lord Chamberlain, the nonsensical alteration was made; but it is as well to let the reader into the secret of the whole business. The letter may convey the idea of its writer not being strong enough in health to be out so late at night, or that he was engaged at home, or elsewhere; but the actual meaning of it is, "Don't you think that I'm coming on the stage at half-past eleven o'clock at night, when his Majesty, who has been so heartily laughing at the two preceding pieces, will not have a titter left for me." Talk for a thousand years, and the latent meaning will be found to be this, and nothing else.

and

Talk of Managers being cross, and severe, dogmatical and pragmatical; why it would seem they are compelled to be so in their own defence. We will now give our readers a specimen of professional incomes belonging to the premier class :In 1814, Mr. Kean, who was putting into the Drury Lane treasury a nightly average of 4841., was content after his success was established, to sign an engagement for three years, at 8., 9., and 101. per

week. He considered the Committee acted with singular liberality in cancelling that article, and substituting one for 20l. per night, as some compensation for his great attraction. On the termination of this agreement, Mr. Kean stipulated for, and received till the close of his career, the sum of 50l. per NIGHT! A case of more inconsistent absurdity than this cannot possibly be cited; inasmuch as at the time he was literally causing the theatre to overflow nightly by his exertions, he was content with 201. per week; but when his attraction subsided, and Drury-lane frequently presented to his performance a beggarly account of empty boxes," nothing less than TEN TIMES THAT SUM (supposing him to play but four times a week) would be accepted. I have before me the treaty he concluded with Mr. Price, dated 31st. December, 1826, on his return from a second engagement in the United States, wherein he stipulated for half a clear benefit, in addition to 501. per night, for twelve successive nights' performance. If, however such a deviation from the long-established regulations of the Loudon theatres could be justified, it would be in this instance; for, except under singular circumstances, there was always some attraction in Mr. Kean; be was a child of genius, a great, an original actor. Young had a weekly salary of 20l. at Covent-garden In 1821-22, Mr. Charles Theatre, and in the following year he had a nightly one of the same amount at Drury-lane; a scale of remuneration according to which he was paid, until his retirement from the stage. of their popularity, Munden, Fawcett, Quick, Edwin, In the very height Irish Johnstone, &c., had 144. a week; Lewis, as

Matthews, the most extraordinary actor that ever actor and manager, 201. per week, and in 1812, the lived, says in a letter to Mrs. Matthews, on the subject of a proposed engagement at Covent-garden theatre-"Now to my offer which I think stupen dous and magnificent-171. per week." John Kem36l.; Miss O'Neil's salary, at the beginning of her ble for acting and managing, had a weekly salary of brilliant career, was 15., and never exceeded 251.; Jordan's, in the zenith of her popularity, was 31. George Cooke (greatly attractive) had 207.; Mrs. 10s.; Mr. Charles Kemble, until he became his own had 127. and never more than 201. Up to 1822 (and manager, never had more than 201. per week; Dowton during the greater part of her career to that period she was highly attractive), Miss Stephens (the present Dowager Countess of Essex) had 201., but in the following season at Drury-lane, she was paid at the rate of 60l. per week. In 1822, Mr. Macready week, and in 1839 he had the modesty to demand, had 207.; in 1832, and up to 1837, he had 301. per had 207. per week; he is now, and for some time past and to receive 25l. per night. In 1832, Mr. Power has been, in the receipt of 120l. per week. In 1822 Mr. Farren had 167. per week; in 1832, 30l. per week, and at present receives 401. week. per Liston had 171. per week; he then sprung up to In 1822 Mr. 50l. and 601. per week, and finally had 201. per night. Miss Ellen Tree, when engaged with me to play at both theatres, and eventually only at one, had 15l. per week; she went to America, stayed there two seasons, and returned to stipulate for and to receive, 251. per night.

Alfred Bunn will make many enemies by this publication, but we think he will also do the stage

some service.

A MEMOIR OF THE VERY REV. THEOBALD The inculcating of Temperance among all MATTHEW This memoir of the Irish apostle of Sobriety ought to be in universal circulation. classes of society is the duty of every person, and we think the more the system of Father Matthew becomes known, the more the morality and happiness of the lower classes will increase. He has already neutralized the evil, and he has our best wishes for unbounded success in his

praiseworthy efforts to make men, as they were
intended to be by Providence, happy on earth.

This is really a very clever work, and the author
ON THE NOBILITY OF THE BRITISH GENTRY.-
has evidently taken great pains with his subject.
He says-

It has been asserted by envy or ignorance, that the peers are the only nobility in the British empire. This assertion has been repeated on the Continent, culcate the inutility of the ancient noblesse. This and particularly in France, by those who wish to inassertion, however unfounded, has done injury to individuals, and is derogatory to the honour not only of the gentry, but of the peers themselves; for the peers are usually transplanted, if the peers were to gentry being the nursery-garden from which the date their nobility from the elevation of their ancesLordships appear in the opinion of the pettiest Baron tors to the Upper House, what up-starts would their nobles; Austria, on a late enumeration, 239,000 on the Continent! Russia is said to contain 580,000 nobles; and France, at the revolution, 365,000 noble male nobles; and Spain, in 1785, contained 479,000 families, of which 4,120 families were of ancient

THE TOWER OF LONDON, by Harrison Aiusworth, and MASTER HUMPHREY'S CLOCK, by Boz, are progressing favourably towards completion, and both improve as they proceed.

THE LIBRARY OF AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY,-By Jared Sparks.-We are glad to see this work completed, and a very valuable one it is. The life of Baron Steuben, who figured in the war of 1777, is highly interesting. He was brave, eccentric, and honest, of a most wretched temper, but strictly just, as the following anecdote will evince.

At a review near Morristown, a Lieutenant Gibbons, a brave and good officer, was arrested on the spot, and ordered into the rear, for a fault, which it afterwards appeared another had committed. Ata forward and informed the Baron of Mr. Gibbons's proper moment, the commander of the regiment came innocence, of his worth, and of his acute feelings under this unmerited disgrace. "Desire Lieutenant Gibbons to come to the front, Colonel. Sir," said the Baron to the young gentleman, "the fault which was made by throwing the line into confusion, might, in the presence of an enemy, have been fatal. I arrested you as its supposed author; but I have instance, you were blameless. I ask your pardon; reason to believe that I was mistaken, and that, in this return to your command. I would not deal unjustly by any, much less by one whose character as an offi cer is so respectable." All this passed with the Baron's hat off, the rain pouring on his venerable head.

gentility. A French author has asserted there are | sarcophagus is inscribed-" John Hampden, twentyonly about 300 nobles in Great Britain. Had he fourth hereditary Lord of Great Hampden?" said there are only 600 peers, he might have been tolerably correct; but there are, according to the statement produced in 1798, when the subject of armorial bearings was before Parliament, in England 9,458 families entitled to bear arms; in Scotland, 4000; now all these families are noble. Nobility means notability; noble is worthy of notice, or of being known. Any individual, who distinguishes himself, may be said to ennoble himself. A Prince, judging an individual worthy of notice, gave him letters patent of nobility. In these letters were blazoned the arms that were to distinguish his shield. By this shield he was to be known, or nobilis. A plebeian had no blazonry on his shield, because he was ignobilis, or unworthy of notice. In an age when a warrior was cased in armour from head to foot, he could only be known by his shield. The plebeian, who had no pretentions to be known, was clypeo ignobilis albo. Hence arms are the criterion of nobility. Whoever has a shield of arms is a noble. man. In every country in Europe, a grant of arms or letters of nobility is conferred on all the descendants. In the northern countries, Germany, Hungary, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, the titles also of Baron or Count descend to all the male posterity, and to all the unmarried females of the family; but in the southern countries, France, Spain, Portugal, and Great Britain, the titles descend only according to the rules of primogeniture. In Italy the titles descend in the German fashion, to all the branches of the family; those conferred by the Pope, and the Kings of Naples and Sardinia, descend only to the eldest sons in succession; but the cadets of all these houses, though they possess neither the same titles nor privileges, are not less noble than the heads of their respective houses. The British gentry have not only been distinguished by coats of arms, but have given liveries to their retainers from time immemorial. When Henry the Fowler wished to polish the Germans, he sent Commissioners to England to observe the regularity and order with which the tournaments there were conducted; and they brought back with them the rules of the tournaments, almost word for word, translated into German. Every German or English gentleman, who, without being able to prove his descent from four grand parents of coat armour, or, as the Germans express it, to prove four quarters, should offer himself as a combatant, was obliged to ride the barriers among the hisses of the populace, as the punishment of his presumption. The English gentry were Knights Templars, and, till Henry VIII. abolished the English tongue, every English gentleman of four quarters was admissible in the order of Malta or of Saint

John of Jerusalem. In Portugal and Italy also only four quarters were requisite; though in Germany sixteen quarters were required. The English Knights of Malta were chosen among the gentry; the prior of England had a seat in the House of Lords. In Germany the knights were chosen among the Barons, and the prior of Germany had a seat in the Diet of the Empire. In the reign of Queen Mary, Sir Richard Shelly was the last grand prior of England. In later times the British gentry have produced Admirals, Generals, Governors. They have held noble posts at the Court of St. James, and have, as Ambassadors, represented their Sovereign at foreign Courts. They, however, even if they had never been styled nobility, possess all the essential qualities of nobility. The landed proprietors are in every country the natural nobility. Could any title of the peera e add to the nobility of Hampden, upon whose

This is as it should be, and we would have made every allowance for the Baron's temper, in consequence of the noble honesty of his heart.

THE HONEYMOON, a Poem by John Fisher, A M.-This is a very delightful poem by a septua genarian, and we regret that Mr. Fisher should It dehave so long withheld it from the public. serves to be generally read.

LETTERS FROM ITALY TO A YOUNGER SISTER, By Catharine Taylor, will be found useful as a class-book for schools. It is lively and well writ

ten.

LA REVUE MUSICALE.

No. 1. "The smile of the morrow;" duet; the words and music by the Honourable Sir Francis Stanhope. Lonsdale, Old Bond-street.

2. "

La Terpsicore;" a new set of quadrilles, and a waltz for the pianoforte; composed by E. A. L. Jeffery and Nelson, Soho-square.

3. "Child of song;" words by H. R. Edgar, Esq.; music by J. P. Barratt. Chappell, New Bond-street.

4. "Idol of Love;" Lorma. Chappell, New Bond-street.

5. "The Inundation;" music by J. P. Barratt; words by A. L. Campbell, Esq. Ditto. 6. Mary;" music by Frederick Ries, Bat

ratt.

No. 1. A very elegant duet that will add to the musical fame of its talented composer.

2. A sweet set of quadrilles, the composition, we believe, of a lady amateur. The regular professionals must be on the alert, or the amateurs

will bear away all the laurels from Apollo's shrine. 3. A pleasing ballad without any pretensions to novelty.

4. A very pretty love canzonet, but not too loving for a young lady's ear.

to you; some novelties however, have appeared, which I shall speak of by and by.

the Spring, are excessively simple. English straw Our early morning toilets, for we are early at chapeaux, or, as you would term them, bonnets, are greatly in vogue, they are for the most part trimmed with velvet; the most novel style is to have it arranged at the bottom of the crown so as to have very much the appearance of a turban, the brim is bordered with a broad flat band; a knot on 6. There is love without ceasing in this song. trimming. Capotes of straw coloured poussière, or one side, and brides to correspond, complete the Of a verity, Mary must be a very loveable per-white pou de Soie drawn in flat close casings both sonage, and by all accounts a sad jilt also, if her lover's lines fail to make an impression once more on her heart.

5. We like this far less than its predecessors. Scenas in general are less pleasing than songs of a simpler description.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS.

Little or nothing is going on in the theatrical world; indeed the weather is too hot to sit out a performance.

At the Haymarket, Mr. David Rees is making the audiences laugh at his Paul Pry, but though clever it is not the Paul Pry of Liston.

LA TABLE DES MARECHAUX. We were much gratified with this exhibition. which is a table composed of a single slab of Sevres China, on which are fourteen miniature portraits from the pencil of the celebrated Isabey, consisting of Napoleon, Murat, Soult, Augereau, Mortier, Davoust, Duroc, Caulaincourt, Marmont, Ney, Bessieres, Lannes, Bernadotte, and Berthier. It was painted by command of the Emperor, and is stated to have cost him twelve thousand pounds; and Isabey five years' labour. It was first presented to the city of Paris, placed by the munici pal body in the Louvre, removed from thence by order of Louis 18th, then privately sold by the municipality of Paris, and is now to be raffled for, if there be fools enough in England to find five thousand pounds to obtain so desirable a finale for the benefit of the present proprietor.

FASHIONS FOR SEPTEMBER.

TO THE EDITRESS OF LA BELLE ASSEMBLEE.

Baden-Baden, Aug. 24. MY DEAR FRIEND,-You will be surprised at the date of this, for I think I told you in my last that I should not leave Paris, but Mamma's health really required the waters, and as Monsieur de M- knew that we should be miserable if we were separated, he escorted us here; a proof of conjugal devotion which I value highly, because I know it has cost him great inconvenience. Baden is at present thronged with the élite both of the French and English beau monde, but I think the former preponderates. I need not assure you that the costumes are perfectly French, and consequently have changed but little since I last wrote

on the crown and brim, are also adopted for the early morning walk; the trimming generally consists of ruches of the same material, without any other ribbon than that employed for the brides. In some instances the brim only is bordered with a ruche, and a torsade of ribbon encircles the bottom of the crown. A black or quiet coloured silk mantelet, and a cambric peignoir or a berege robe, or redingote, complete our first toilet; that for the pro

menade after breakfast is much more tasteful and

diversified, though it does not afford much novelty, indeed the season is too far advanced to expect it.

Chapeaux of Italian straw are in as much vogue as ever, but they exhibit no change either in form or trimming. I have seen lately a good many fancy straw chapeaux, and some of paille de Loraine trimmed in a novel style, the first with violet, green, or dark blue velvet torsades, and buvolets, the torsade encircled the bottom of the crown, and a superb ostrich feather, always white, but shaded in the colour of the velvet issued from one side, and partially rising on the crown drooped on the brim; the interior of the chapeau is either decorated with wild flowers mingled with moss or with marguerites of the colour of the velvet. I may cite the paille de Loraine as an actual novelty, the brims are smaller than those adopted at present, but very open, the trimming consists of a torsade of the same and two similar torsades supply the place of a curtain at the back. Capotes formed of gauze ribbon of various patterns and hues, united by narrow bands of open worked fancy straw, have just appeared, and are much admired; the brims are oval, descending low at the sides, and rather close. The trimming may be either a light wreath of flowers of one or more of the colours of the ribbon, laid on the brim at the bottom of the crown and descending in a full tuft to the extremity of it on each side, or else a torsade of the ribbon that forms the bonnet, and a bouquet of shaded marabouts; I think the latter style the prettiest. Chapeaux of paille de riz are trimmed with an intermixture of roses and white grapes, the effect is really novel and striking. Roses, indeed, continue their vogue for trimming chapeaux of all kinds, particularly roses royal. Chapeaux of crape, and gauze bouillonée, are very little seen, but those of crape, with the material laid on plain, keep their ground, particularly those trimmed with lace. A very novel trimming of this kind is composed of a kind of wreath of point d'Angleterre, placed partly on the brim, and partly on the crown; it issues from the left side, turns twice round the bonnet, and terminates on the right side, forming a third round. A single torsade and brides of white ribbon