long ago,

That, by Pa's strict command, I no longer employ

That enchanting couturière, Madame LE Roi,

But am forc'd, dear, to have VICTORINE, who-deuce take her!

It seems is, at present, the King's mantuamaker

I mean of his party-and, though much the smartest,

LE ROI is condemn'd as a rank Bonapartist, Think, DOLL, how confounded I look'dso well knowing

The Colonel's opinions-my cheeks were quite glowing;

I stammer'd out something-nay even half nam'd

The legitimate sempstress, when, loud, he exclaim'd,

Yes, yes, by the stitching 'tis plain to be

For the sequel of this adventure, we refer the reader to the original, from which we can promise him abundant entertainment-indeed, we know not whether we should not recommend Miss Dolly's correspondence as a sovereign remedy for those vapours and blue devils, for which the aerial car is prescribed by the physicians of Paris.

An Excursion to Windsor, in July, 1810, through Ballersey, Putney, Kew, Richmond, Twickenham, Strawberry-Hill, and Hampten-Court : Interspersed with Historical and Biographical Anecdotes, for the Improvement of the Rising Generation: Also a Sail down the River Medway, by John Evans, A.M. Master of a Seminary for a limited Number of Pupils, Pullin's-row, Islington. To which is annexed, a Journal of a Trip to Paris, in the Autumn of 1816, by Way of Ostend, Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Brussels, and Waterloo, embellished with Wood-Cuts. By John Evans, Jun. A.M. 12mo. pp. 558.

In our number for October, 1817, we had the pleasure of briefly noticing the above work; but, from a redundancy of matter, was restricted to a very slight comment, and prevented from entering fully into its merits, a task which we cheerfully resume, because we are of opinion, that the laudable efforts of Mr. Evans, in striving to impress the rising generation with rational and liberal ideas, should be encouraged by every friend to virtue and religion.

To approach the youthful mind with any degree of efficacy under the garb of an instructor, is by no means an easy task, as an author must possess a considerable degree of talent to engage the attention of his juvenile readers without enervating the mind by a trifling and careless treatment of his subject, or deter it by continual exhortations. Mr. Evans has chosen the happy medium, and without fatiguing the attention, carries us through a delightful excursion, interspersed with an abundant variety of anecdotes, extracts, and observations on many illustrious persous, and seasoned with some excellent moral reflections on the vanity of human its perusal to our juvenile readers, congrandeur. We earnestly recommend vinced that in no other route of equal extent, will they be able to collect such a mass of entertaining and instructive

matter.

To select any extracts would be almost to transcribe the whole work, as we scarcely know where to begin-it abounds so much with anecdote; this reason, conjointly with the narrowness of our limits, obliges us to restrict ourselves solely to the account of one of the latest walks of our venerable KING, on the Terrace, at Windsor; with which we take our leave of this part of this interesting work.

66 MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND, "We entered Windsor about six o'clock,and having refreshed ourselvesat the inn with a cup of tea, hastened to the Terrace, where we found a considerable portion of genteel company. Intent on the gratification of a laudable curiosity, we felt peculiarly happy in joining them on this occasion. It was seven o'clock, and the good old King soon made his appearance with his accustomed punctuality. A little door in the castle was thrown open, when two attendants were seen leading this venerable personage with great care down a flight of steps till he safely alighted upon the Terrace. Then the Princesses Elizabeth and Augusta, who were present, accompanied him, one on each side, or rather took hold of his arm; they paced backwards and forwards for an hour, two bands of music playing alternately; the fine tones of the several instruments being heightened by the stillness of closing day. The King was dressed neatly, blue coat with gilt but tons and star, white waistcoat and small clothes, white stockings, and gold buckles in his shoes. His hat somewhat resembled that worn by the clergy, with the addition of a gold button and loop, mounted by a black cockade, which marks him out conspicuously from the rest of the company. His Majesty looked ruddy and full, his voice sono rous, and he converses with cheerful ness, though, when he attempts to speak rather hastily, it is with hesitation. His want of sight is very apparent, for his hat is drawn over the upper part of his face, and he feels about with his cane, especially ascending or descending a step. It is affecting to see him, though he appears cheerful when he speaks, and seems as if nothing were the matter with him. He now and then stops to converse either with the officers, or with the nobility and gentry. We saw him several times on the Terrace; but on this first evening there was a more than

ordinary degree of conversation. He was full of inquiries respecting the installation of Lord Grenville, as Chan. cellor of the University of Oxford, which had taken place during the week. He inquired also about the balloon in which Mr. Sadler had ascended on the occasion, and was particularly anxious to know how long it continued in the air, and where it had alighted. Harrow, on the hill, was mentioned, though the spot had not then been ascertained. He conversed at all times on a variety of topicks with the utmost freedom, and even hilarity. This daily prome nade must benefit both his mind and body, while the presence, as well as the attention, of so many of his subjects, some coming from distant parts, must yield him no inconsiderable gratification. The countenances of the Prin cesses are replete with good nature, and most exemplary is their attention to their aged parent. This, indeed, is their best praise, their noblest recommendation. Filial piety is the characteristic attribute of humanity. lustre upon all the other virtues which enrich and adorn the Great Family of mankind. It should be mentioned that the King, in returning back to his apartments in the Castle, passing by the band of musicians on the steps, always touched his hat, and said in an audible voice, "Gentlemen, Good night, I thank you." Indeed, his Majesty, during the whole time, seemed in perfect good humour with all the company.

It sheds a

"The only etiquette observed on the Terrace is, that when the King passes, the ladies and gentlemen withdraw on either side, the latter merely uncover ing the head, bows and curtsies being dispensed with on the occasion.

"A police officer is in attendance, who, with a little switch, keeps individuals from pressing too much on the King when he stops to converse; but this is done with the greatest urbanity.

"When the King returned into the Castle, the company soon dispersed; the setting sun also was rapidly withdrawing its rays, and the face of nature, so cheerful throughout the course of the whole of this delightful day, was about to be enveloped in the shades of darkness, but even this constant alternation of day and night may be converted into a source of moral improvement.

"Owing to a slight indisposition, the ' Queen did not make her appearance on

the Terrace; but we saw her on other occasions. His Majesty was regular in his attendance at chapel every morning, and seemed seriously engaged in his devotions. About ten o'clock, when the weather is fine, (Sunday excepted) the King rides out on horseback; and, considering his age, he mounted his horse with wonderful agility. He is, in his ride, accompanied by two of the Princesses, who have some of their maids of honour, following in a landau or phaeton. The King has several attendants, two of whom are close by him, and one has a little stick, the crooked end of which catches that part of the bridle nearest the curb, so that should the animal on which his Majesty rides, stumble, instant assistance might be given. Indeed it is gratifying to the benevolent mind to observe, that every attention is paid to the good old Monarch, which may alleviate his infirmities or smooth his descent towards the tomb. One day we met his Majesty in the long walk, together with his retinue, returning from their morning's excursion. It had a singular appearance. The King himself made a conspicuous figure, whilst the number of attendauts on horseback, or in the carriages, reminded me of the Eastern Caravan, where every provision is made for a social and comfortable journey.

"Into the character of our venerable Monarch, I entered, in my Jubilee Sermon, preached and published on that memorable occasion. Permit me, however, just to remark, that the Brunswick family, under whose dynasty we have the happiness to live, have uniformly held sacred the dictates of conscience in the worship of the Supreme Being, and are, on this account, entitled to the gratitude of every subject of these realms. And the reign of George the Third, emblazoned as it recently hath been by military and naval exploits, which we have now happily terminated, (in conjunction with the efforts of foreign powers) by giving peace to a harassed and exhausted world, will, in the eye of Heaven, derive a still purer and more vivid lustre from its spread of the Holy Scriptures, from its diffusion of knowledge among the poor, and from its accelerated augmentation of Religious Liberty."

An excursion on the Medway from Rochester to Sheerness and the Nore, is added, and affords a picturesque representation of the opening of the oyster beds-but this, and Mr. J. Evans, junior's Trip to Paris, we must pass over, recommending them however as no unfit companions to the Windsor excursion.

THE present busy time in the political world is very unfavourable for the interests of the Theatres, as the public mind is too much occupied, and divided, to have any taste for such amusements. The Proprietors and Committee of Drury-lane may receive this as an argument of consolation. The kingdom is too busy to occupy itself with the fictitious concerns of the stage. The evenings are too fine and warm to leave any inducement to seek for confinement within the walls of a Theatre. Add to this, that Mr. Hunt acts gratis, whilst Mr. Matthews is not at Home without being paid for it. The General Election, in short, will carry off their audiences against the most popular farce which the two houses can produce; they must not pretend to rival better actors. Lord Castlereagh is now pitted against Europ. Mag. Vol. LXXIII. June 1818.

Mr. Kean; and Miss Stephens must outsing the marrow-bones and cleavers of the hustings in the adjoining garden. The houses, however, have not been wanting to themselves. Mr. Kean has appeared in the part of King John, and performed it with as much ability, variety, and energy, as belong to his best manner, and to the capabilities of the character. Many of these plays of Shakespeare are rather historical histories, than acting dramas; the writer has apparently amused himself with putting the bistory and characters into action, but has kept too close to the history, and too exactly to the character for dramatic vivacity and effect. King John is one of these plays. It is admirably and beautifully written; with a full conception of the true character of John, and with the most faithful paint-,

3 X

ing of what is nature, in such a character and situation. But the poet has seldom stepped out of his way for effective scenes and situations. Hence this is one of those plays which read better than they act. Kean, however, made every thing of the character of which it could admit. The two scenes with Hubert were admirably performed; they are the best in the play, and were the most effectively represented. Kean is sometimes too elaborate, too evidently artificial for nature; he gives us time to recollect ourselves, and therein to remember that all we see is but acting. This is an error in taste and judgment. In the dying scene, Kean was so much the more excellent because he did not over act. He did not destroy the reality by the exhibition of more violence than belongs to the exhausted powers of a dying man; he did not caricature and posturize in the representation of this awful close of human life.

Miss Macanley performed the part of Constance with much force and effect, and Wallack was not a very indifferent Falconbridge. We have seen better, but it was many years since. The play was upon the whole very well acted, and deserved a larger audience.

The

Mr. Elliston has likewise appeared in the character of Archer, in the Beaux Stratagem. This is one of those plays which, however well acted, will scarcely interest a modern audience; and this for two reasons,—in the first place, it is a picture of antient manners, modes, and characters, instead of general and ordinary life; and as all these mauuers, modes, and characters, have not only now ceased, but as every thing has be come directly contrary, so the picture not only wants a known original, but, as compared with present practices, appears absurd, and unnatural. plot itself could in no respect he now practised; and Foigard, Gibbet, &c. are characters of other times. No lady talks as Mrs. Sullen talks; and Archer and Aimwell, in modern language, would be nothing better than gross cheats. Another reason is, that the inferior characters of the comedy, though well and spiritedly drawn by the writer, are most abominably performed by the actors, and therefore the unlikeness to life and nature, and the practice of life, are made still more manifest and repugnant. These are the reasons why this excellent play is generally very indifferently received by the house; for

though many will make the due allow ances for the difference between antient and modern manners, and will remember that the picture was drawn for the former, the greater portion of the house will refer it at once to present manners, and hoot it for its want of truth and nature.

Elliston performed his character with great life and spirit.

A Meeting of the Proprietors of this Theatre was held on Tuesday, June 9th, in the Saloon, Sir T. Turton, Bart. in the Chair, when the Report of the Committee appointed to investigate the concerns of the Theatre was read.The Committee found the debt of the Theatre to amount to 80,0801. 13s. 5d. but of this sum, 3000l. of old claims had not, and probably never would be called for, and a considerable part of the remainder would be payable at intervals. They did not find circumstances so bad as they apprehended. The accounts were most correctly kept, and they thought that if retrenchments were made, and that the creditors would agree to suspend their payments for a time (to which it was thought they had no objection), the Theatre might be opened next season, by the advance of a loan of only 6000l. which might be secured to them by a nightly sum as cash receipt at the doors. They all concurred in opinion, that the manage ment of the theatrical branch of the concern would be better in the hands of one person, with ample authority, than in the bands of a Committee. The Bill passing in Parliament had been with drawn, and five resolutions growing out of the Report were read.

After some observations from Mr. Palmer. Lord Kinnaird, and Mr. Robias, Mr. Fallowfield addressed the meeting, and said he saw no ground for despondency, and thought that the debts of the Theatre ought to be consolidated, and that it should have but one creditor: unless this were the case, they would be exposed to constant vexations, and nothing effectual would be accomplished. With regard to the debt as it existed, of 80,000l. he did not conceive it at all enormous; and the more espe cially, when it was recollected that they opened with a debt of 31 7607. and had since incurred additional expenses in the alteration of the Proscenium and the erection of two new scene rooms, amounting to 56,000l. It had been said that the house frequently opened to 201.