No---but an undefined presage of ill, That haunts us like the baseless thoughts that course 'Tis Conscience whispering still ETERNITY! and with resistless force Darkening hope's flickering beam!" This is well expressed, and although the thoughts are not very novel, there is a force and beauty in the manner in which they are brought before us, that render them very impressive. The volume is most ridiculously printed. It might have been comprised in less than half the space; page 28 contains nineteen words, and page 29, thirty-five! This is book-making with a vengeance. Commentaire Littéraire, et elite de Faits memorables et d'Anecdotes instructives, par M. D'Emden. London: Dulau and Co. 1826. THIS book is after the manner of Mr. Wanostrocht's Fables Choisies; but the great difference is, that the difficult words which occur in the selected passages, are not translated for the learner into English, as in Mr. Wanostrocht's book, but are explained by synonymous French words. For our part, we prefer M. D'Emden's mode, it conduces to a more perfect knowledge of the language, and does not encourage idleness. The selection appears to have been made judiciously. Honor O'Hara, a Novel, by Miss A. M. Porter. London: THIS is not a good novel. There is throughout a want of interest, a want of nature, and a want of incident. It might have succeeded fifty years ago, but the Author of Waverley has revolutionized the realm of novel writers, has effected an alteration in public taste, and beggared half the Matildas, Lauras, and Claras, who used to be tolerated. In the three volumes of Honor O'Hara, there is very little story. The heroine, after flirting with two lovers, has an offer from one of them, whom she refuses, because she is poor. She afterwards becomes wiser, repents, and saves the unhappy gentleman from a broken heart, by the acceptance of his hand. This is the outline of the principal story. But Miss Porter is a friend to matrimony: the whole talk and object, end and aim, of almost all the persons who are introduced, is nothing but matrimony; and instead of being satisfied with linking a hero and a heroine after the common fashion, she winds up her story with, we are not sure, either five or six weddings. The only character at all approaching to nature is Hetty Macready, an Irish servant, and we see very little of her; but in our judgment, the little Hetty speaks, more nearly approaches to truth than all the fine speeches of the fine lords and ladies, who bestow all their tediousness upon Miss Porter's readers. The preface informs us, that this is an attempt in a style hitherto untried by the authoress; we would honestly advise her not to make such another trial. The Forget Me Not. The Literary Souvenir. The Amulet. THESE beautiful little volumes support the high character they ob- "Hark! the hunters' shouts declare They have found the red deer's lair: Shout and horn rung through the wood--- Still the stag held on his way, Down deep in the tangled dell, Or o'er the steep rock's pinnacle; Seems to seek somewhere to die; 'Come! but your triumph shall be vain !' L. E. L. The graphic illustrations in all of them are most admirable. The Dungeons of Chillon, and the Cliffs of Dover, in the Forget Me Not; the meeting of Alexander and Diogenes, which is in the Literary Souvenir, and also in Friendship's Offering; the precipice in Friendship's Offering, the Florentine Girl and Auld Robin Gray, in the Literary Souvenir, are all extremely beautiful, and do the very highest credit to the engravers. MONTHLY REGISTER. THE DRAMA. -No. II. "Be just to all, nor give, with partial hand, To favor that which merit should command." PHOCYLIDES. COVENT GARDEN. On Thursday, October 26.-Mr. G. Penson made his first appearance here in the character of Figaro; and justice compels the admission, that a more successful debut we never witnessed. His performance was lively, bustling, neat, and indeed every way excellent. His figure is good, his singing admirable, and his manner perfectly easy and confident. Tuesday, October 31.---A new farce, called Returned Killed, by Mr. Planché, was produced this evening, and met with unqualified success. It is taken from a French piece, entitled, Le Mort dans l'Embarras. Incident after incident succeeds with great rapidity; and laughter and curiosity are at once kept alive, even till the very termination. Mr. Farren's Baron Von Lindorf merits high encomium. A more spirited and effective portraiture of character has rarely gratified an audience. Mr. Blanchard, with a very indifferent opportunity, was highly amusing. His talent is the true philosopher's stone, and lead itself becomes gold beneath his touch. There is much arch drollery in his manner, but untinetured with that buffoonery which actors sometimes mistake for humor. Saturday, November 4.---First time of Miss Mitford's Foscari. The passions are the legitimate subject of tragedy; they soar high, and they plunge deep; irregular in their motions, they whirl us where they will, and we can no more calculate to what end they may lead, than we can measure the unfathomable deep. In all our tragic writers, at least of modern days, we have had no display of such passion. Affected sentiment, or feverish rage, unbounded violence, or spurious feeling, holds undivided sway. Modern dramatists write too much for actors; and with them, works written expressly to suit their peculiar powers must of course decline; but the practice ensures immediate profit and popularity, and these are considered more valuable than the applause of posterity. A better dawn, however, has we hope just arisen on theatrical composition. The fair authoress of Foscari has caught a light from the times gone by, and has infused into her production more genuine passion, more high-toned virtue, more of the lofty grandeur in which suffering should be clothed to make a levelling world respect and not revile it, than are to be found in any tragedy produced within our recollection. Miss Mitford seems to have been aware how little the "beauties" of poetry are relished upon the stage, and has accordingly been sparing in the use of them, but the play is nevertheless powerfully written, well conducted, and deeply affecting. The part of the Doge was admirably sustained by Mr. Young. Little extent or variety of powers can be called forth in the performance of this character. It requires, however, much delicacy of feeling, and the rare faculty of expressing simple pathos. Mr. Young's acting was the perfection of truth and nature. There were no tricks, no sudden flourishes of the hand, no ups and downs of the voice, to cheat a few "barren spectators" into plaudits; the whole effect was produced by quiet action, and the most perfect intonations ever heard on the stage. Mr. Kemble's Francesco Foscari was a master-piece of excellence. Seldom have we seen acting so correct, and at the same time so full of fire: the spirit of ancient chivalry seems in him to have awakened from the grave of centuries. Mr. Serle's Cosmo was, on the whole, a respectable performance; but by no means what it ought to be. His recitation is in parts effective, but it wants the finer intonations, the delicate light and shade of expression, which relieve declamation from inexorable monotony. Mr. Warde's Count Erizzo was correct and forcible. This gentleman seems to study carefully whatever he plays; and though he may not astonish his audience with the powers of great genius, yet is always sensible and strong. Mrs. Sloman was a most efficient representative of the fond and faithful Camilla. The powers of this lady may be summed up in the words sensibility and taste: she has no pedantry, no unnatural effort, no mock majesty. In the expression of joy and sorrow, of unbounded confidence and patient endurance, of tender fondness and cheerful selfdevotion, she is decidedly superior to any actress now on the stage. DRURY LANE. Tuesday, October 31.---A new comic opera, entitled The Two Houses of Grenada, was performed for the first time this evening. Its chief defect is want of plot, uncompensated by any novelty of character, effect of incident, or interest of situation. The music, however, bore it triumphantly through the depressing tendency of a good deal of vapid, tedious, and flippant writing. It may claim the merit of introducing to the public a very accomplished singer in the person of Mrs. Geesin, late Miss R. Corri. Her voice is rich, mellow, and powerful; and her execution chaste, brilliant, and unaffected. As an actress, she is by no means entitled to an equal share of panegyric.--Miss Graddon did most ample justice to the music assigned to Donna Maria. She sang a lively little ballad, not inaptly styled by a brother critic, the Three Ages of Cupid, with so much archness and simplicity that it was rapturously called for a third time. Friday, November 10.---A production more disgraceful to a great theatre than the Trip to Wales, performed for the first time this evening, is probably not to be paralleled in all the annals of the stage. The actors, having no materials to work upon, were dismally dull; and, after two nights of degradation, they were released from their fatigues, by the extinction of this farrago of folly. Saturday, November 18.---Amphitryon, altered and abridged from Dryden and Moliere, was revived this evening for the purpose of introducing to the English public Mon. La Porte, in the character of Sosia. M. La Porte is a comedian of the very first talents. His performance was irresistibly droll, natural, and easy-undisfigured by either grimace or mummery. In his under-acting, in which the knowledge of a character is perhaps as decidedly expressed as in the direct performance, M. La Porte is peculiarly happy. The play itself is a dull, tedious, and not very chaste production; and will, after a few nights, relapse into the oblivion from which we think it has been so injudiciously dragged forth. It has some scenes that may be omitted, and some that may be advantageously curtailed. It was this evening nearly one hour too long. When we say that it bearly escaped damnation, we say as much as truth will allow. LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. W. Dramatic Memoirs and Reminiscences are all the fashion: amongst them, Thomas Dibdin's Memoirs are announced. Considerable expectation has been raised by the preliminary puffing of a novel called "Almack's," said to be from the pen of a lady of high rank. The author of "The English in Italy," has a work in the press to be called "Tales of Continental Life," The "Chronicles of London Bridge," which have been so long in preparation, are now announced to be published in the course of next month. DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. The present month has been distinguished by the opening of a new Parliament, which took place on the 14th inst., the Speech being delivered by His Majesty. The Commons had previously chosen for their Speaker, Mr. Manners Sutton, who filled that office in three preceding Parliaments. The King's Speech was as follows: "My Lords, and Gentlemen,---I have called you together at this time for the special purpose of communicating to you the measure which I judged it necessary to take, in the month of September, for admission into the Ports of the United Kingdom of certain sorts of Foreign Grain, not then admissible by law. "I have directed a Copy of the Order in Council issued on that occasion to be laid before you, and I confidently trust that you will see sufficient reason for giving your sanction to the provisions of that order, and for carrying them into effectual execution. "I have great satisfaction in being able to inform you, that the hopes entertained at the close of the last Session of Parliament, respecting the termination of the War in the Burmese Territories, have been fulfilled, and that a peace has been concluded in that quarter, highly honorable to the British Arms, and to the Councils of the British Government in India. "I continue to receive from all Foreign Powers assurances of their earnest desire to cultivate the relations of peace and friendly understanding with me. "I am exerting myself with unremitting anxiety, either singly or in conjunction with my Allies, as well to arrest the progress of existing hostilities, as to prevent the interruption of peace in different part of the world. "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,---I have directed the estimates for the ensuing year to be prepared, and they will in due time be laid before you. "I will take care that they shall be formed with as much attention to economy as the exigencies of the public service will permit. "The distress which has pervaded the commercial and manufacturing classes of my subjects, during the last twelve months, has affected some important branches of the Revenue; but I have the satisfaction of informing you, that there has been no such diminution in the internal consumption of the country, as to excite any apprehensions that the great sources of our wealth and prosperity have been impaired. "My Lords, and Gentlemen,---I have deeply sympathized with the sufferings which have been for some time past so severely felt in the manufacturing districts of this country; and I have contemplated with great satisfaction the exemplary patience with which those sufferings have been generally borne. "The depression under which the trade and manufactures of the country have been labouring, has abated more slowly than I had thought myself warranted in anticipating; but I retain a firm expectation that this abatement will be progressive, and that the time is not distant when, under the blessing of Divine Providence, the commerce and industry of the United Kingdom will have resumed their wonted activity." His Majesty appeared in good health. We rejoice also to announce, that H. R. H. the Duke of York has almost entirely recovered from his late severe illness. BIRTHS. Oct. 22 at the Chateau de l'Inqueterie, near Bologne, the lady of T. C. Grattan, of a daughter; at Cheltenham, the lady of the Rev. P. E. Boissier, of a son; at Clay Hill Lodge, Enfield, Mrs. Short, of a daughter; at his seat, Stanley Hall, Shropshire, the lady of Sir Tyrwhitt Jones, Bart. of a son; at the Rectory, Weldon, Northamptonshire, the Lady Louisa Finch Hatton, of a son; at Hampstead, the lady of Chas. Holford, Esq. of a daughter.---23: at Sandgate, Kent, the lady of the Rev. Henry Pepys, of a son.---24: at Brighton, the lady of G. C. Holroyd, Esq. of the Hon. East India Company's Service, of a still born child; the lady of James R. Maude, Esq. of a son.---25: at the Rectory, Stanstead, Suffolk, the lady of the Rev. S. Sheen, of a son and heir---26: at Brounslade, Pembrokeshire, the lady of John Mirehouse, Esq. of a son; at Dundee, the lady of Lieut. Col. Wm. Chalmer, of Glenrieht, of a son.---28: the lady of William Kerril Amherst, Esq. of a daughter.---29: at Upper Seymour-street, the lady of Capt. the Hon. R. Fulke Greville of a son and heir; the lady of S. T. Kekewick, Esq. M.P. of a daughter.---31; Mrs. G. A. Brown, of York-gate, Regent's Park, of a daughter; The lady of Sir Charles Sullivan, Bart. of a son, at Woodbines, Kingston; at Fulham, Mrs. Barker, wife of J. Barker, Esq. of a daughter; the lady of Sir Christopher Smith, Bart. of a son. Nov. 2: Mrs. Henry Dance, of Fenterden-street, of a daughter.---4: at Sheffield, the lady of Rev. Steven H. Langton of a son.---5: in Montague-street, Portman-square, the lady of H. Currie, Esq. of a daughter; at Clapham Common, Mrs. J. A. Irving of a son; at Lee, Blackheath, the lady of Hon. W. Cust, of a daughter.---6; at Denne Park, the lady of Edward Bligh, Esq. of a daughter.---7: Mrs. W. J. Ready of a son.---9: in York-street, Portman-square, the lady of Chevalier Brennot, of a daughter.---10; in Tavistock-square Mrs. John Jones of a son.---12: at Chiswick, the lady of Lieut. Col. Cavendish of a daughter.---13: Mrs. Fitzwilliam of a daughter; in Bedford-place, the lady of J. A. F. Simpkinson Esq. of a daughter. MARRIAGES. Oct. 19: at Beverly, Yorkshire, Fredric Mainwaring, Nephew, and Aid-de-camp to Major-General Mainwaring, Governor of St. Lucia, to Catherine, second daughter of the late Colonel S. T. Popham.---23: at Alderly, Cheshire, Captain William Edward Parry, R. N. to Isabella Louisa, fourth daughter of Sir Thomas Stanley, Bart.---24: at Deptford, Wm. Wright Landell, Esq. of St. John's, Southwark, to Charlotte, third daughter of Nicholas Cheminant, Esq.---24: John Lloyd. Esq. of Alltye Odin, Cardiganshire, to Dorothy Alicia, second daughter of the late George Seymer, Esq. of the County of Dorset.---28: William Elliot Oliver, Esq. of Tudor-street, New Bridgestreet, to Elizabeth, second daughter of Thos. Gadell, Esq. of Upper Charlotte-street, Fitzroy-square; Mr. H. Dixon, of Carey-street, to Frances, youngest daughter of George Mansell, Esq. of Cumming-street, Pentonville.---30: at Camberwell, Thomas Griffith, Esq. to Jemima Sarah, second daughter of the late George Thompson, Esq. of Rye, Sussex. Nov. 2 at Eltham, John Henry Latham, Esq. second son of Samuel Latham, Esq. of Dover, to Mary Sophia, youngest daughter of the late Philip Dauncey, Esq.; the Rev. W. I. S. Casborne, of Pakenham, Suffolk, to Anne, daughter of the late Capel Lofft, |