arms; young daughters from their early homes; husbands and wives separated. teristics! MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. THE GARDEN, THE GROVE, AND THE FIELD: A GARLAND OF THE MONTHS. By Mary Milner.-(London: Whittaker and Co. Bath: Binns and Goodwin.) Mrs. Smith. Yes, and with less pity than an Englishwoman feels for a dog that has to change its master. And these slaves many of them have obtained education, and moral culture, and are Christians. This is a very agreeable volume on the inex haustible theme-natural history; showing inFanny. And belong to a race whose affec-timate knowledge of the subject, and conveying tionateness is one of their leading charac- it in a very fascinating manner. As the title may suggest, the chapters represent months; and from the snow-drop round again to the mistletoe, we have a description of the flowers and berries which grace the garden, or grow wild in the wood. The habits of birds, beasts, and insects are also carefully noted; and the work may be honestly recommended as an entertaining and instructive production, particu larly suitable as a gift-book for the young. EVERY-DAY ASTRONOMY; OR, PRACTICAL Mrs. Smith. Even so. Every woman should read" Uncle Tom's Cabin," that she may have her knowledge of the subject of slavery enlarged, and her sympathies deepened, so that she may have ready arguments against any possible sophistries from the excusers of the system. As a story of real life, this book is one of absorbing interest; and I have been remarkably struck with the individuality the author has conferred upon each of her sable personages. We white folks are too apt to look upon negroes as all LESSONS ON THE CELESTIAL SPHERE. By alike, as characterless machines made for toil Berenice Gazewell.-(London: Whittaker and and service; but the distinct delineations of Co. Bath: Binns and Goodwin.)-This is a Mrs. Stowe bear internal evidence of their fide- book more likely than any with which we are lity to nature, and dear "Uncle Tom," and acquainted to facilitate the first steps in the Chloe, and Adolph and Dinah, and Topsy, and study of the sublime science of Astronomy. In poor Mammy, and the wretched Prue-whose saying this, we do not mean to class it among life to contemplate is like looking down into a very elementary works, having a shrewd suspi pit of Pandemonium-are all flesh-and-blood cion that a vast number of people who pass in realities, fellow-creatures as real and distinct as the world for well informed, might derive inthe most living characters of Shakspere or Scott.struction from it; but the author begins at the Nor are the slave owners and their families beginning, and her explanations are clear and sketched with a feebler pencil. Marie St. Clare is the type of a vain, unreflecting, self-indulgent woman, who is a curse to her dependants, and life's bitterest misfortune to her husband and children. St. Clare himself, with his generous impulses, indolence, and procrastination, is a too common character. The Shelbys are perfectly real people; and Miss Ophelia-a genuine high-principled old maid, not wax to receive new impressions, but marble to retain all those that are good-is drawn to the life. Fanny. The work has had an enormous sale, I believe. Mrs. Smith. One unprecedented, I should think, something like fifty thousand copies having been sold within two months. This very fact is a proof that anxiety and interest are felt on the subject; and give it but fair play, and there is every hope that, however demoralized slave owners may have become by the long usage of evil habit, the day will arrive when America will arise and shake this great shame from her. Even the fugitive slave bill, which seems, and is, so cruel, may work out a holy purpose, by exhibiting in the free states of the North, in stronger relief than they else might have seen, the agonies and the horrors of the South. distinct. Her teaching is further elucidated with plates, and being thrown into the form of dialogue, affords the opportunity for objections to be offered and answered. We think it a pity, nated by name-as we find in a printed drama however, that the speakers are not either desig the absence of such distinction, though little --or marked by the use of inverted commas; sometimes confuses the sense, and we advise more than a typographical omission, certainly the author to consider our hint when preparing her second edition. A MANUAL OF Universal HISTORY. BY J. B. Wright.-(London: Whittaker and Co. Bath: Binns and Goodwin.) Profound students of history will be the best able to judge how much learning and research are required in the compilation of a volume like this, which of course is chiefly to be considered as a guide to more elaborate works. It appears to us to answer this purpose very admirably, conveying a considerable amount of information in a clear and interesting manner; and with sufficient word-painting and anecdote to lead the youthful reader on less as a task than as recreative reading. An appendix comprises some observations on Layard's recent discoveries at Nineveh. AMUSEMENTS OF THE MONTH. THE OPERAS. The Opera houses are about closing after a season by some degrees less remarkable than any we have seen for several years. It is understood, and indeed announced, that Mr. Lumley withdraws from the management of Her Majesty's Theatre; whether the result of his secession will be some energetic management to rival the Royal Italian Opera, or an amalgamation of the two interests, time alone will show. Undoubtedly the public have benefited by the struggles for supremacy between the rival houses; but whether two establishments of this description can be made remunerative, even in the greatest metropolis in the world, remains an undecided question. The latest noticeable event at the Royal Italian Opera has been the appearance of Madame Grisi in Meyerbeer's "Prophète." It is a most hateful system that one particular actress or singer should be considered to appropriate to herself, as if they were real personal property, certain characters because she has embodied them successfully, and the well deserved triumph of Madame Grisi, in the famous role of Fides, has gathered laurels for her own crown, without at all robbing the wreath of its accustomed representative, Ma dame Viardot. THE THEATRES. THE HAYMARKET.-This pretty theatre has closed for a while, after a most prosperous season, concluding with Mr. F. Webster's benefit. Mr. Buckstone's comic drama of "The Foundlings," and "Keeley Worried by Buckstone," were continued to the closing night: a petite comedy by the manager was also played during the greater part of the month, and will doubtless be reproduced: it is entitled "A Novel Expedient.' The story is that of a young couple, Charles Moore (Mr. Howe) and his wife Maria (Mrs. Stirling): the harmony of their early wedded life is marred by the constant presence of the husband's intimate friend, Harry Damon (Mr. Leigh Murray), whose protracted visit robbing the wife of her husband's society, she conceives the most violent aversion for him, and in spite of the earnest entreaties of her husband, his reasoning, caresses, and entreaties, the lady, convinced that the presence of a third person adds nothing to her happiness, resolves to get rid of the friend. By the advice of a maiden-aunt, who refers her to a certain story in " Gil Blas," she hits upon the "novel expedient" of making violent love to the friend, declaring that her peace is ruined if he remains in the house. He is about to depart; and Marie is triumphing in the success of her stratagems, when unfortunately, he stumbles on the letter which has suggested the study of "Gil Blas," and referring to the same chapter, discovers the secret of the scene which has just occurred; and, bent on giving Marie a lesson, makes love to her in return, and despite the horror and astonishment she exhibits at his conduct, declares he will never leave her. He is on his knees before her when the husband rushes in, and the scene that ensues may be imagined better than described. Of course an éclaircissement follows, and the lady ends by with love. How far the ladies may thank Mr. being convinced that friendship is compatible Webster for thus giving their opponents an insight into the secret recesses of their hearts may possibly be a question; nevertheless, we may admit that there is a good deal of moral in the comedy. The acting was excellent. Mrs. Stirtion in the rapid alternations of affected passion ling's versatile powers were exhibited in perfecand triumphal self-gratulation in her temporary Leigh Murray, as the friend, also played their success. Mr. Howe, as the husband, and Mr. parts admirably. On the 17th, a new piece was brought out-apparently an adaptation from the French-entitled 66 Our New Ladies' Maid;" it introduced to the boards of the Haymarket an actress (Mrs. Temple) who made a promising debut at one of the minor theatres. At present she is scarcely sufficiently at home on the stage to do herself justice; but probably, with careful study and the judicious training she is sure to have at this theatre, she may rise into eminence. At the ADELPHI a severe accident which happened to Mrs. Keeley compelled "Jack Sheppard" to be postponed; and the frequenters of this theatre have been entertained with several of the old favourites. "Paul Pry," "The Mother and Child are doing well," and "Mephistopheles," have attracted good houses notwithstanding the heat of the weather; and the promised appearance of Mrs. Keeley, shortly, will doubtless be hailed with delight by hundreds.—M. MUSIC. CAPRICE DU BAL VALSE. By Mrs. Blayney Walsh. (Dublin: Marcus Moses. London: 40, Fleet-street.) This is a pleasing and elegant production, the composition of an accomplished amateur, who, for musical knowledge and natural taste and invention, might fairly enter the lists with many a professional composer. LONDON. Song. The Words by Francis Bennoch, Esq.; composed, and dedicated to Sir Henry Bishop, by James Wild. (Shepherd, Newgate-street; Williams, Cheapside, &c. Mr. Bennoch's fine poem "London" appeared so recently in our pages, that we need do little more than announce to our readers that it is here set to a most appropriate and spirited melody. Mr. Wild's accompaniment is effective and musician-like; and the song deserves the extended popularity we feel sure it will meet. It has already been sung by Mr. Leffler and other professional vocalists. True, the fair votaries of the Mode have all deserted their beloved Paris. Who that wended his weary way through the glare and sun and dust that now render it hardly habitable, and saw the utter absence of fair dames in their fresh and soignée toilets, of well dressed cavaliers, and miniature dandies and élégantes, ranging from three years old upwards, could imagine that from this "deserted | city" emanated all the thousand-and-one fantasies of taste and elegance that render it, from time immemorial, the temple especially selected by the capricious and absolute goddess of Fashion to place her throne? And yet, though all her subjects have, for the time, fled her court, she does not resent their desertion; she occupies herself as busily as ever in their behalf, and as her genius is essentially creative, she employs herself in inventing—or rather modifying that she has already invented, according to the nature of the retreats they have selected, and the changes of temperature that an unusually capricious season render it highly necessary to study. For the country, proprement dit, there are three styles; the morning déshabillé, the toilette de visite, and the Amazone. To begin at the beginning: there is the déshabillé à la Montpensier and the déshabillé à la Pompadour; the first is in the style Louis XIII.; it is composed generally of piqué, blanc, embroidered or braided, of jaconas sprigged, or white jaconas trimmed with broderie Anglaise. In the first named material it consists of a skirt, veste à basquines, and gilet, without other trimming than the embroidery or soutache; in the second, the skirt and veste are flounced. The déshabillé à la Pompadour is in jaconas à ramages; on the skirt is one deep flounce, bordered at the bottom with four little volants tuyantés, and surmounted by a full ruche of the material. The caraco, long in the waist, terminates in a similar trimming, resembling a second flounce. With both these dresses are worn galathées, or capellines, that is to say, round hats, in fancy straw, or straw mixed with crin or aloes, trimmed simply with a broad ribbon and nœud à bouts flattans, or a wreath or half-wreath of wild flowers. The afternoon, or visiting dress, differs but little in style from that worn in Paris previous to the transmigration of the beau monde, except of course that the immense difference of temperature causes a corresponding change of materials. Silks are almost entirely abandoned in behalf of gazes popelines and cristallisées, tarlatanes, écossaises, transparent and India muslins, organdis imprimé, and baréges. The corsages are almost all cut straight, montant and froncé, the waist round and à ceinture, the skirts flounced, but the flounces having little fuiness: the general rule is, that where the skirt has five breadths, six are allowed for the flounces. It is needless to say that with these dresses, bonnets the most light, the most vaporeux that can be put together by mortal hands are worn; wonderful things of tulle, of gauze, of lace, of straw and erin, light and transparent as guipure, with soft, downy plumes or parsemés with flowers, sit like butterflies on the heads of their wearers, while mantelets of lace, tulle, or embroidered muslin, or guipure d'aujourd'hui complete the costume. I had forgotten to state in its proper place that with the déshabillés before described, the mantelet is always in taffetas, with a ruche or volants of the same material, or a broad velvet; it is montant, and has a capuchon froncé, which may be put over the head and drawn round the face in a very pretty and becoming manner. The Amazone is, I think in general, too fantastic for English taste: I maintain that the proper riding costume, while modified to a certain degree by the reigning style, ought to preserve a strict simplicity and exquisite neatness to be in good taste, and that light colours, showy cuts, laces, and embroideries, are quite out of place, embarrassing to the rider, and contrary to the rules of true elegance, The toilettes for the sea-side differ a little from those of the country in the colours and materials. Generally speaking, the coast towns principally visited by the haute societé, Dieppe, Boulogne, Havre, &c., are rather hot in the day time, but towards evening a fresh breeze springs up, and as this is the moment commonly selected for the promenade, silk dresses of not too light or counte colours are in the best taste. Chapeaux de paille d'Italie accompany this style of dress remarkably well, and though no novelty, nothing is more ele gant, more grande dame, or better suited to any gown than a bonnet of this description, trimmed with white feathers. It is one of those things which from its intrinsic good taste, and simple elegance, can never be out of fashion, and is always M portée; and what a world of meaning does that phrase convey to French ears! Let a dress be ever so fantastically pretty, ever so becoming, ever so coquettishly attractive-if it be not bien porté, that is to say, not worn, not adopted, not acknowledged by a certain class, whose position, whose task, whose authority in such matters, gives them a right to dictate, it is discarded without mercy, and falls to the lot of a widely different class-a class whose style is the very antipodes of being bien porté. Berthes are beginning to make their re-appearance a little; they are rather narrow, and very fournis with bouillonnés, lace, ribbons, &c., and generally terminate with two full volants of lace, and a large nœud in front. The flowers mos t in favour are simple-pervendus, marguerites &c.; branches of laburnum for bonnets are extremely elegant and graceful; a charming trimming consists of farfadets of flowers, that is to say, small blossoms closely mounted on a wire, so as to form, as it were, a ruche of flowers; these dividing bouillonnés of tulle on a capote have a beautiful effect. |