had happened to be white. But to the nice nerves of an American book-keeper, it would appear that this must for ever and for ever be an object of unconquerable terror. Surely there must have been a great resemblance between some of the first settlers in America and their negroes to make the jealousy so enduring and so fierce.-Westminster Review, No. XXX.

THE BUGBEARS OF THE MONTH.-The Bugbears of the day are undoubtedly the Bishops: if they have endangered the House of Lords by throwing out the Bill, they will save it by acting as a paratonnerre, and drawing off the lightning of the people's wrath from the Lay Peers. To mend an old house is proverbially as expensive as building a new one : pull down a few rafters and such a picture of rottenness and decay is exposed, that a proprietor of the slightest spirit is tempted to extend his plans of repair. The rejection of the Reform Bill made apparent the fact, that the House of Lords wanted a reform as much as the House of Commons, and a consideration of the defects of the House of Lords has brought down the indignation of the public in full tide upon the Church, so that there is a great chance that its temporalities and titles will be swept away by a flood of public opinion. Men, whose very long boots and short aprons were, a few weeks ago, looked upon with at least all the marks of external respect, are to-day the objects of scorn and coutempt. When politicians do agree, their unanimity is certainly wonderful; not a voice is lifted up in favour of the Reverend Bench, and persons who a short time ago would have dreaded the appellation of Atheist and Infidel, or at least Socinian, for doubting the propriety of clerical principalities, now declaim against the existence of the union of Church and State, as if it were the belief they had professed from their infancy. The secret of this is, that that which has long been private opinion, may now be openly pronounced, without fear of consequences: men's sentiments have not suddenly changed, but circumstances have. Persons may now run down tithes, and the Bishop Peerage, without the risk of being marked as a black sheep.

It is now absolutely dangerous to be a Bishop: their large incomes must, in future, be paid to them in consideration of the peril of their lives. In the instance of Dr. Murphy at Bristol, he had nearly suffered for being merely the titular Bishop of Cork. This was hard, for he, at least, receives no consideration for obloquy.

On Tuesday last," says the Cork Reporter, "as the Roman Catholic Bishop of Cork was proceeding in the London mail for Bristol, at Bath the coach stopped to change horses. A mob surrounded the coach, and inquired if the Bishop of Cork was a passenger? Perceiving Dr. Murphy, they cried out they had the damned shovel hat, and were proceeding to pull him out, when he assured them they were mistakenthat it was his colleague in the see who had voted against them, and that he was a sincere reformer, and always the people's friend.-Not a word would they believe, and doubtless he would have been most roughly handled had not the coachman whipped up the horses, and brought him off by hard driving."

The se

sermon of a bishop formerly used to be thought better than the curate's, in the ratio of their incomes; the congregations will now not listen to an episcopal harangue. Dr. Blomfield, the other day, was obliged to decline preaching at St. Anne's, Westminster, because the flock declined to listen to him! the congregation had come to the resolution to retire the moment he ascended the pulpit.

BLOODY ISLAND DUEL.-Several duels have taken place this month: some Irishmen have "exchanged a case of pistols," and some Englishmen have repaired to the field, shivered, and fired, and shaken hands, exceedingly glad at having done no mischief. The most remarkable affair is, however, a Canadian duel, fought on a spot of earth in the St. Lawrence, properly called Bloody Island. In this case the parties appear to have practised shooting at a mark by way of preparation for the eventful morning, and both, it seems, made such progress, that by the aid of a short distance each shot his man. It is our opinion, that if men would really try to hit one another, and if all preparation in duelling were

held fair, and the object, viz. slaughter, were endeavoured after by every pos sible means, it would speedily reduce the number of these foolish meetings, in which men stand up against each other, firing and avoiding all aim and deliberate intention to do evil, and yet pretending to be animated by a most deadly purpose of mischief, while they are laying in the way all possible accidents to prevent its occurrence.

The Canadian duel on Bloody Island is rich in every point of absurdity; it is so ridiculous, that the fatal issue scarcely checks the feeling of utter contempt.

LIONISM IN LONDON.-Great men are very soon forgotten, even though they happen to be members of Parliament. The world would, in a very short time, have obliterated from the tablet of its memory all trace of a philanthropist, and M.P., exceedingly renowned in his day, and distinguished from other prodigies by the title of Mr. Cruelty-to-Animals Martin, (just as we may speak of Mr. General-Fast Perceval, or Colonel Spare-the-Constitution Sibthorpe,) if it had not been reminded of him by the timely arrival at Drury-Lane Theatre of a sort of French edition of that individual, designated, or to be designated, Monsieur Kindness-to-Animals Martin. This gentleman, who seems to have brought with him from Paris one half of the living wonders of the Jardin des Plantes, and who is followed by almost as many leaping and creeping things as Noah of old, has floated his ark upon the Dead Sea of the drama with some éclat, but with little chance of keeping it long above water. In fact the Society for the Encouragement of Lionism, in the Regent's Park, have rendered the most surprising animal curiosities exceedingly common-place. Lions are not lions now-a-days. People pant for "rarer monsters." Nothing short of a camelopard or a hippopotamus stands the least chance, or is worthy of a great national theatre like Drury. A phoenix, to be sure, would be something, or a mermaid,—only they are understood to be shy, and difficult to catch. Prometheus's vulture, living or stuffed, might have attracted for a night or two; but, instead of these, we find only a couple of tame elephants, of which we think as little as Lord Ellenborough does; a pelican, evidently introduced for no other end than to furnish the weekly wits with some novel jokes about "the bill;" a pair of boas, no bigger than they should be, engaged because Mrs. Orger, who speaks the prologue, wears one very gracefully; a few monkeys, that cannot possibly be any novelty to the box-lobby loungers; and, lastly, the lions themselves, that, after all, are far less formidable in their roaring than several of their fellow tragedians at both houses. The present manager is young in his art, or he would have known that all these put together would not weigh for an instant in the scale of attraction with such an object as the Rev. Mr. Irving, whose skill in "unknown tongues" transcends that of any brute in the collection. Mr. Hunt, it seems, is making proficiency in the same way, and might have been announced for a Latin quotation between the pieces. But no; the manager has thought proper to interpret the public demand for "lions" literally; and rejects with disdain the wonders within his reach. Besides, the animals we recommend have the advantage of being genuine, and quite in a natural state-warranted wild; now the new accessions at Drury-Lane are most disappointingly tame. Not an actress has been eatennot a single dancer has been dined upon; the figurantes begin to feel themselves neglected, and to regard the lion's tenderness as bad taste. There are always fifty Viscounts behind the scenes ready to eat them up; yet the lions exhibit an unnatural abstinence towards them. It perplexes them in the extreme.

Are we among those who so pathetically bewail these menagerie-matters on our national stage, and regard them as the death-blow of what is commonly called drama? Quite the reverse; we are rejoiced to see them. The old dramatic system, like the political, is rapidly breaking up and nothing will better tend to demolish and trample down the mouldering walls of its monopoly, than a tiger-hunt or a troop of elephants. We hope, therefore, that managers will succeed in all their attempts to rend from the minor houses their legitimate supports, and in driving all thefirst-rate comedians (where most of them are already driven) to houses where they can be seen and heard without the aid of ear-trumpets and telescopes. Meanwhile we cannot possibly perceive a reason

why the statue of Shakspeare should longer continue in the rotunda of DruryLane, Buffon or Cuvier would be an appropriate substitute for it.

THE OLYMPIC" GAMES.-We are half disposed to agree with Sir Fretful, that "the women are the best judges after all.' While the heads of one winter house were in Paris, hunting after Bonaparte burlesques, and negotiating for the identical hat or boots that the emperor did not wear, and while the authorities of the other were occupied in ensnaring the prodigies above described, Madame Vestris was wisely spending her time in forming plans for the improvement of her little theatre, in finding out the most tasteful designers and decorators, in projecting all kinds of graces and ornaments, and in seducing Mr. Liston (if we may use such terms) to add himself-more irresistible than all of them-to the number. But Liston, though almost all-sufficient in himself-a substantive that requires not another actor to be joined with him-is not the only magnet and marvel; Mrs. Glover is playing here, in a style that unites the advantages of a ripened and matured knowledge, to the buoyant vivacities of a spirit as active and as young as ever. Then there is the piquant proprietor herself, with a set of smiles and glances, which it is of course very wicked to take notice of, and a voice that renders one indifferent as to what she is to sing, so that she sings frequently, and sulks when she is encored. The company is scarcely numerous enough for the performance of comedies; but all who love little light farcettas, that make one forget the Board of Health and the House of Lords, should inquire their way to Wych-Street, where they play them in perfection. Either of the names we have mentioned ought to be enough; combined, they are not to be resisted. We never glance at the bill but it costs us four shillings. MR. MACAULAY AT LEEDS.-The requisition to Mr. Macaulay from the citizens of Leeds received 1304 signatures. His return, and that of Mr. Marshall, may be considered secure. Had they searched all England, the townsmen of Leeds could not have found a man to do greater honour to their choice than the present Member for Calne. No one reading Mr. Macaulay's speeches can be aware of the effect they produce-an effect which we have heard the oldest Members of the House, even political opponents, assert never to have been surpassed, and very rarely equalled, in the whole course of their experience. His knowledge is equal to his eloquence. We congratulate Leeds most heartily on its choice. It is among the young men of the present Parliament that electors should look out for their future representatives. It is to young England, as to young France, that the destinies of a new order of things should be entrusted, Men born with the time alone suit the time.

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THE STAGE AND THE PULPIT.-We greatly regret that our favourite Richard Jones the elder, the true Jones, the fine gentleman of actors, and the actor of fine gentlemen, refuses an engagement at either theatre. It is very absurd, the confusion produced by similar names: there are two Bayleys, lyric poets; two Joneses, comic actors, and teachers of elocution. The true Richard Jones is not the gentleman who advertises as a teacher; we believe he professes to be more secret in his instructions on oratory, than to affiché them publicly. It is said, we think, in some newspaper or other, that this Mr. Jones is so singularly suc cessful in his clerical pupils, that the Bishop of London always sends his most cherished protegés of the pulpit to complete their professional education under his instructions. This is excellent-the stage teaching the pulpit! and the parson catching all that he knows, perhaps, of humility, fervour, religious warmth, and unaffected piety, from the arts of the actor! By the way, Croker was an old foe and satirist of Richard Jones's-Croker is now, all of a sudden, become a very accomplished deliverer of long speeches. His action smacks marvellously of the stage. Has he been making up matters with the elocutionist, and learning at once to be the fine gentleman and the adroit performer ?

POSTCRIPT ON THE ELECTIONS.

Pembrokeshire and Dorsetshire have returned Anti-Reform candidates, say the Anti-Reform journals. In the first place this is not quite true; Sir John Owen inveighs most bitterly against the charge of being an Anti-Reformer.

But grant it, and What theu?-Where is the wonder that Old Sarum should return Mr. Alexander, or Pembrokeshire return Sir John Owen ?— the one at present is scarcely more a close borough than the other. A mighty triumph, indeed! The Anti-Reformers go about knocking off thistle heads, and calling the world to admire their prowess;-innocent little dears! And Dorsetshire!-Why, really we have taken some pains to learn the facts of that election, and all we wonder at is, that it was so near a race. No Reformer in the last Parliament, save only Mr. Calcraft, could have obtained Mr. Calcraft's success; it was the person that triumphed rather than the Reformer. And here Mr. Ponsonby, not possessed of much property in the county, closely connected with Catholics-voting against Lord Chandos's amendment, and therefore considered against the agricultural interest,-goes down into the hot-bed of parsons and squires, hypochondriacs about the Corn Laws, and croakers about the churchthe very focus of all prejudice, aristocratic and political-to contend against one of the most popular young noblemen in England, who had, besides, the most unlimited command of money, and, after all, he is beat only by a handful of doubtful votes, and more than probably, from the grounds of his intended petition, may not be beat at all! Is this a victory for the Anti-Reformers to crow over? The Roman Emperor who picked up a cargo of shells and sent home, demanding a triumph for the feat, had scarcely a better notion of glory. But let us, cries the Times, a journal whose great activity, power, and talent on this subject England will not lightly forget,-let us strain every nerve for the election in Cambridgeshire. We ought to do so-let us do so; but if the Reformers are beaten in Cambridgeshire it will be no proof of reaction about Reform. The agricultural districts in general are not those in which we are to seek for the free and unbiassed current of opinions. It is where men are drawn close together; it is where men are independent of each other—that is to say, it is in large towns that we are to look for the expression of popular opinion, often discussed, and not unfairly influenced. But, above all, who could call Cambridgeshire (the Hardwicke and Rutland interest united against Reform!) a fair field for Reformers? Why, the Rutland interest alone is sufficient, in common times, to return its creature. Talk of this election being a just criterion of public opinion-Pshaw! But for the Reformers it will be a noble battle; the less the disgrace in defeat, the greater the glory in victory. There is one caution we must give the people. Nothing on earth is so common a characteristic of human nature as over confidence in strength. A party very powerful in numbers, and certain of obtaining its object, never fights with the same determined and desperate zeal as one that feels that the most energetic efforts only can save it from annihilation. The Tories are extinct if the bill is passed; their efforts, therefore, are incredible; they spare no money and no labour. What must be that state of despair which wrings gold from Eldon, and activity from Newcastle? But do not let the people despise isolated skirmishes, under the notion that the grand battle is safe; let them give their enemy no plea and no quarter; let them give the practical lie to the cant of reaction. It was from too great a confidence in their numbers that the French army were beaten by the handful of "English scarecrows" at Agincourt. It would be too absurd and too disgraceful if the Tories made an Agincourt of Reform!

THE TIMES.

We shall not give the reader much of direct and immediate politics n this number. For neither to the past, nor to the present is the deep and anxious interest of the Public now directed;-all political feeling is absorbed in one subject and one conjecture-the Reform Bill and its fate; and when men are eager and hot with anticipation, it is in vain to demand from them that patient temper of discussion and inquiry without which political writing is above all other composition wearisome and tedious. But we are happy at least that we can speak with the most sanguine and cheerful conviction upon that one point-on which so keen an anxiety, so harassing a fear, and so fluctuating a hope, are entertained. Our readers may depend upon this--the Reform Bill is safe. The King is staunch-the Ministers. firm-and the aspect of the Time has-we have cause to know--made several converts among the Peers. Let us give them credit for the motives of that conversion-do not let us join that crowd of politicians who think that a man must be dishonest because he is a Lord, and who would deny to educated and honourable men all views but those of ignorance, and all motives but those of dishonour. The Time," that great innovator," may well be sufficient to convert some of the enemies to a measure which so long as it is agitated annihilates all tranquillity and paralyses all trade-every delay to the accomplishment of which feeds not excitement alone, but what is far worse-what in a commercial country, in a country supported by an artificial system of credit, must, if not speedily checked, ultimately terminate in a National Bankruptcy,—which introduces into the constitution the habit of unconstitutional excitement. The stoutest supporter of Aristocratic institutions must now feel that by opposing the measure he is encouraging,—he is nerving, he is hurrying on the rapid and irresistible progress of democracy. Men, whom personal considerations might not intimidate, may well be appalled by considerations for their country. But the converts among the Peers, though more numerous than are imagined, are not sufficient. The Ministry must make creations-let the country believe they are prepared to do so-they must do so if they wish to retain office, and to retain the chamber of Peers; for as, in another part of this num ber (viz. the Dialogue between a Tory Peer and a Reforming Commoner) it is more especially insisted upon-the converts to the Bill are not converts to the Ministry-if they, the Ministry, wish to prevent eternal collisions between the two Houses of Parliament, which must end in the destruction of the weaker and less popular -they will seize the present occasion to infuse into the one that general sympathy with the other, and through the other with the people, which will become at once its purifier and its safeguard. Talk of the blow to the Peers that a large creation will inflict!-the

Dec. 1831.-VOL. XXXII. NO. CXXXII.

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