West-end Booksellers are supplied with comparatively little bustle, by Mr. Berger, of Holywell-street, Strand; who, with ready money in his hand (for he is, in every sense of the word, a wonderfully independent body),* can always get his magazines, periodical volumes, &c. delivered to him some hours before the Row is supplied! The Publishers in Paternoster Row are such very great men, that you might wait some hours before they would attend to you. It was a knowledge of this fact, that induced Mr. Berger, (formerly an obscure individual,) some years since, to open his establishment, and he now reaps an abundant harvest from the speculation. But again,—Mr. Grant says "The actual publishers of periodicals, have, properly speaking, nothing to do with the sale of their respective works on Magazine Day, and they seldom have even any idea of the actual number sold of their own publications on that day." This is a positive untruth; a publisher can always tell, within a very few copies, how many of his Magazines are sold, on the very day of publication-all copies ordered by the trade being purchased, and not afterwards returnable. After Magazine-day, the demand is very inconsiderable:-Mr. G. next solemnly adds : "I have known instances in which the proprietors of some new periodical, or the new proprietors of some old one, have been extremely anxious to know the effects of the expenditure of a very large sum of money in advertisements, and yet have not been able to form the least idea on the subject on Magazine Day." is 25 per cent. It is no such thing. The paragraph concludes thus: "The wholesale houses in the Row scarcely ever, by chance, meet with any other customers than the trade; and, consequently, they never get full-price for any magazine or other periodical they vend." So far is this from being the case, that most of the city gentlemen visit the 'Row' to purchase their magazines, for the sake of obtaining a sight of others, without being obliged to pay for them! Another incorrect statement is, that "The business done on Magazine Day is all in ready money. There are no credit transactions whatever. The best customers know, that, without money, they will not be supplied, and consequently no credit is either asked for or expected." Where Mr. Grant obtained this information we know not. Many retail houses pay for their magazines one month under another; and merely have the amount entered in a book at the time of purchase. We thank Mr. G. for the following hint. It is a novelty in the annals of Magazine Day : : "The incessant bustle kept up from morning till night in these houses in the Row, coupled with the crowds of persons, chiefly young men, who are always in them, afford excellent opportunities to those who may be disposed to exercise their light-fingered capabilities. Handkerchiefs often disappear from one's pockets on such occasions; but when it chances to be a rainy day, and umbrellas are in requisition, the possessors of such articles will be required to keep what is called a sharp look out if they mean to retain them for their own use. A few years since, I had occasion, on a rainy Magazine Day, to be in one of the wholesale houses in the Row. If this be true, the parties in question must I laid down an excellent silk umbrella while I paid for a have been greenhorns indeed, and utterly des- magazine; it instantly vanished. I mentioned the cirtitute of a knowledge of business. The whole- cumstance to one of the proprietors of the establishment: his answer was, 66 sale houses always keep an account of what num'Oh, sir, every body must take ber are ordered by their customers, and they at the circumstance, I could not help admiring the recare of himself on Magazine Day." While mortified send for the magazines, to their respective pub-markable dexterity with which the theft had been comlishers, accordingly. A few extra copies are occasionally required for additional orders, but these are not worth calculating. The following assertion by Mr. Grant, "bangs Bannagher": "The plan adopted by the publishers of periodicals, is to send to the various wholesale houses in the Row large quantities of their respective works, either on the evening before or early in the morning of Magazine Day. Different houses receive different quantities, according to the relative amount of business done. These houses all take them on the condition that the unsold copies shall be returned. They have a small commission on the number sold, over and above the regular trade allowance of twenty-five per cent. This enables them to supply the trade on the same terms as if each periodical were purchased direct from its publisher." The above is a false statement throughout. The Magazines are neither sent out on the chance of sale, nor is there any commission (Qy. discount?) allowed on what may have been sold. Mr. Grant is also highly blameable in asserting that the trade allowance on Magazines We regret to say, that this independence, though highly commendable to a certain extent, is carried too far; for it has gendered illiberality and meanness in the heart of its possessor-evils too great to exist, at one time, in one and the same person. It is not an amiable trait in any man's character, to endeavor to prejudice the property of another: verbum sat. mitted. I hung the article on the counter, close beside me, and I am sure half a dozen seconds could not have elapsed before I discovered that it was gone." take for grant-ed; but we must tell him that That Mr. Grant has been victimised, we will the Collectors of magazines are by no means practised thieves—and that such an insinuation is a gross libel. Mr. G's optics appear unusually brilliant on the last day of every month : "On a Magazine Day, you see crowds of persons, chiefly young men, flying about in all directions, with bags thrown over their shoulders, either partially or wholly filled with "Mags," as the case chances to be. They could not appear in greater haste though they were running to save their lives." Poor fellows; how agitated they must be ! Magazine Day must cause a number of young men to take cold! We are next further enlightened on the quantity of business done: "I have referred to the quantity of business done in one of the largest houses in the Row on Magazine Day. What the entire number of periodicals which are sold by the booksellers in the Row on that day is, I have no data by which I can arrive at a positive conclusion; but, from calculations I have made, I should think the number of periodicals which issue from the Row, on the last day of every month, cannot be much under fifty thousand; and I should think the entire sum received over the counter for these, is not less than £7000 or £8000." Mr. Grant's thoughts are fugitive, and fly very wide from the mark. The actual money taken over the counter for magazines is much UNDER £3000. The following is the only correct part of Mr. G's statement, and with this, as a bonnebouche, we conclude : "The Row is almost exclusively occupied by booksellers and stationers. The only premises of any note possessed by any other tradesman, are those occupied by a candle-maker. I have often thought it a pity that he could not be induced by some means or other to go and manufacture his rushlights, his sixes, &c., in some other quarter. The association between tallow and literature is quite an odd one." The Candle-maker alluded to by Mr. Grant is a veritable nuisance. Like a fox, he may be traced by his smell; which reaches from one end of Paternoster Row to the other. For seven long years did we consume away under the hateful stench, and right glad were we to escape, at the end of our apprenticeship, from the Treacherous man, whose wicked actions have more than once, since then, been brought to light. If we had the power of dispensing justice, we would extinguish the fellow at once, without caring a rush for the consequences. It might be readily accomplished by dipping him in his own fat. This, in summer time, would make him melt into adieu! REVIEWS OF BOOKS. sideboard, he turned his back upon me, that I mightn't be ashamed to fill as much as I wanted. That was what I call doing the fair thing." The following rencontre, and dialogue, between an irritated politician, and a handsome, manly young stranger, who chances to be standing in his way, is admirably characteristic: 'The irritated politician no sooner saw the stranger against the sign post, whose self-satisfied air was in striking contrast with the excited feelings of the other, than he paused for a moment, and appeared to recognise him; then coming up in a blustering manner, and assuming a threatening attitude, he exclaimed fiercely'You're an infernal scoundrel-do you hear? an infernal scoundrel, sir!' 'I do, but it's news to me,' replied the other, quietly. 'News, you scoundrel! do you call it news?' 'Entirely so." 'You needn't think to carry it off so quietly. I say, you're an infernal scoundrel, and I'll prove it.' 'I beg you will not; I shouldn't like to be proved a scoundrel,' replied the other, smiling with the most provoking indifference. 'No, I dare say you wouldn't. But answer me directly-did you, or did you not say, in presence of certain ladies of my acquaintance, that I was a mere'Calf?-O, no Sir; the truth is not to be spoken at all times.' 'The truth! Do you presume to call me a calf, sir?' 'O, no, sir; I call you-nothing,' replied the stranger, just as cool and as pleasant as a morning in spring. me 'It's well you do; for if you had presumed to call 'A man, I should have been grossly mistaken,' 'What circumstances?' demanded the other fiercely. Colonel Crockett's Exploits and Adventures in justice, I should be bound to speak the truth." Texas. London: R. Kennett. To tell the public who the 'Colonel' is, or rather was, would be to insult their understanding; his fame being known to every individual in the habitable globe. We therefore give his own remarks on the popularity of his writingspremising that he is one of the merriest, drollest, and heartiest fellows we ever met with: "It is a true saying" quoth the Colonel, "that no one knows the luck of a lousy calf, for though in a country where, according to the Declaration of Independence, the people are all born free and equal, those who have a propensity to go ahead may aim at the highest honor, and they may ultimately reach them too, though they start at the lowest rowel of the ladder,-still it is a huckleberry above my persimmon to cipher out how it is with six months' schooling, only, I David Crockett, find myself the most popular book-maker of the day; and such is the demand for my works, that I cannot write them half fast enough, no how can I fix it." The volume before us is so full of racy humor, wonderful exploits, hair-breadth 'scapes, and remarkable adventures, that we must refer the reader to the book itself, if he wish to enter fully into the spirit of the fun. One or two short extracts will justify our remarks. The Colonel, speaking of politeness, says,— "I have met with many polite men in my time, but no one who possessed in a greater degree what may be called spontaneous politeness than this Cumanche chief; always excepting Philip Hone, Esq., of New York, whom I look upon as the politest man I ever did see; for when he asked me to take a drink at his own 'And you would say, I was not a man, hey?-Do you see this cowskin?' 'Yes, and I have seen it with surprise ever since you came up,' replied the Stranger, calmly, at the same time handing me his rifle, to take care of. 'With surprise!' exclaimed the politician, who saw that his antagonist had voluntarily disarmed himself;'Why did you suppose I was such a coward, that I dare not use the article when I thought it was demanded?' 'Shall I tell you what I thought?' 'Do-if you dare.' 'I thought to myself, what use has a calf for a cowskin?' He turned to me, and said, 'I had forgot, Colonel-shall I trouble you to take care of this also?" Saying which, he drew a long hunting knife from his belt, and placed it in my hand. He then resumed his careless attitude against the sign post. 'You distinctly call me a calf, then?' 'If you insist upon it, you may.' 'You hear, gentlemen,' said he, speaking to the bystanders-'Do you hear the insult?-What shall I do with the scoundrel?' 'Dress him, dress him!' exclaimed twenty voices, with shouts and laughter. 'That I'll do at once!' Then turning to the stranger, he cried out fiercely, 'Come one step this way, you rascal, and I'll flog you within an inch of your life.' 'I've no occasion.' 'You're a coward.' 'Not on your word.' 'I'll prove it by flogging you out of your skin.' 'I doubt it.' 'I am a liar then-am I?' 'Just as you please.' 'Do you hear that, gentlemen?' Ay, we hear,' was the unanimous response. 'You can't avoid dressing him now.' 'O, heavens! grant me patience! I shall fly out of my skin.' It will be so much the better for your pocket; calfskins are in good demand.' 'I shall burst.' 'Not here in the street, I beg of you. It would be disgusting.' 'Gentlemen, I can no longer avoid flogging him?" "Not if you are able,' was the reply. Go at him." Thus provoked, thus stirred up, and enraged, the fierce politician went like lightning at his provoking antagonist. But before he could strike a blow, he found himself disarmed of his cowskin, and lying on his back under the spout of a neighboring pump, whither the young man had carried him to cool his rage; and before he could recover his astonishment at such unexpected handling, he was as wet as a thrice-drowned rat, from the cataracts of water which his laughing antagonist had liberally pumped upon him. His courage, by this time, had fairly oozed out; and he declared, as he arose and went dripping away from the pump, that he would never again trust to quiet appearances; and that the devil himself might, the next time, undertake to cowskin such a cucumber-blooded scoundrel for him. The bystanders laughed heartily." We cannot close this notice, without thanking Mr. Kennett for the amusement he has afforded us. The volume is neatly printed, and far superior, in every respect, to the editions of the book printed in America. Being the last work that can emanate from the pen of the Colonel-who was killed, together with his friends Thimblerig and the Bee-hunter-it will be eagerly sought after. The Great Metropolis; Second Series. 2 vols. Saunders and Otley. Our opinion of Mr. Grant's random assertions will be found in another part of our paper. A perusal of this work only strengthens that opinion, and causes us to regret that a man, evidently possessing some talent, should be so overcome by the furor scribendi. A single extract must suffice. The reader will observe the lines we have marked in Italics : "I have heard of some, who, with nothing of the spirit of the bravado in them, have felt and acted up to the last moment of their existence, as if on the morning of their execution they were only going to attend their usual avocations. This was not, with the persons to whom I refer, the effect of any miscalled philosophical notion it arose from an easiness of mind which not even the immediate prospect of death itself could affect. A young man being brought out for execution, a good many years ago, at Newgate, he discovered, on his way to the scaffold, that one of the laces of his half-boots was loose, and having got the permission of the officers, he bestowed nearly a minute in adjusting it. In the course of doing so, he found that he had missed one of the holes of the boot through which he should have put the cord, on which he immediately undid the whole and put the string quite right. The young man had always been remarkable for his attention to "tidiness," as he called it. The least disarrangement of any part of his dress, though that dress, from his circumstances in life, was always homely enough, made him quite unhappy: it seemed to be the only thing which ever disturbed the equanimity of his mind. What a singular illustration this affords, of the ruling passion being strong in death!" When relating the above authentic anecdote, Mr. Grant might as well have added the one of the same gentleman's brother. An hour before it was "time to be hanged," he was in a high fever, and calling for the jailor, he requested to be furnished with a Seidlitz powder and a lump, of sugar," for then," added he, loosening his cravat, "I shall die as cool as a cucumber."Furnished with this, in addition to his other stores of useful information, Mr. Grant might have passed himself off for a second Baron Munchausen. The Guide. No. 4. H. Hooper. The conductors of this paper set out with a mistake. The two first numbers were abortions; and, we believe, disappeared soon after they were ushered into the world. A new birth, however, was effected during the third week, and a wholesome offspring born; with whose nativity, important events are, if we mistake not, closely connected. We hesitate not to affirm, that the "Guide" will be the very first of the weekly papers-not only in sale, but in the quantity and quality of its matter; variety of its information; and the admirable arrangement of its materiel. Every department of the paper is well attended to by its respective Editors ;there are few, if any, typographical errors-it is beautifully printed-contains the latest news up to Saturday night and does not pander grossly to the vitiated taste of the public for blood, murder, infanticides and suicides. Its politics, moreover, are so sound, and its intelligence so intellectual and correct, that it well deserves the title it has assumed,-"The People's Newspaper." While papers like this can be had for 3 d., the public have no excuse for remaining in ignorance of what all ought to be acquainted with. NOTICES. THE IDLER is published EVERY SATURDAY MORNING at 8 o'Clock, at the office, 7, TAVISTOCK STREET. CLITUS, who aspires to figure among the contributors to THE IDLER, must first carefully study "Watts' Logic." He labors hard to prove what no sane person ever doubted; and loses himself in a labyrinth of bare assertions. His premises are good,-his reasoning absurd,-his grammar and orthography awful. We trust he has preserved a copy of his MS., as that which he sent us, is now on its way to Calcutta. THERE it will be reckoned a curiosity. A notice of the DIORAMA will appear in our next. Our COUNTRY CORRESPONDENTS will greatly oblige us by forwarding their LOCAL NEWSPAPERS,-intelligence of Country Theatricals being always acceptable to our London Readers. All Books, &c. intended for EARLY Review, should be sent in, not later than WEDNESDAY. ADVERTISEMENTS will be received till TWELVE O'Clock on Thursday, and only a LIMITED number taken. the audience-part of a theatre, instead of from the stage. These remarks will account for our not using much gravity in the ensuing notices. | Jokenonsense-red-fire-sound and fury-are | more congenial than the finest sentiment, to the idiosyncracies of those sons of labor who, on occasions like Whitsuntide, turn out rather to unbend, than exalt their intellects. It would, therefore, be absurd to find any serious fault with the bright tinkling play-things provided for their amusement; or to enter a diatribe against productions which must, in time, be condemned by the spectators themselves, as soon as the prurience of which we speak has been allayed. At all times and all seasons, however, the sensible and thinking part of the community must be catered for; and amid those who have undertaken that task, the first and brightest has been DRURY LANE,-But ere entering upon its merits, we must complain that this is the only theatre now open, which has not furnished us with the usual complimentary card of admission. The omission, we have ascertained, rests solely with Mr. BUNN himself: whether to impute it to oversight, inattention, or discourtesy, we know not; but next week we shall be better informed. Meanwhile, Mr. Bunn should remember, that he has already raised some powerful enemies amongst the press; and that to the vindictiveness of those who, unlike ourselves, become prejudiced by neglect, he may ascribe much of the ill-success which has this season attended him. For ourselves-whether we con tinue to pay, or are admitted free, we shall As to WILSON, in the husband of the devoted Leonora, he was the veriest stick we ever beheld. Where is TEMPLETON, that he does net resume his part? We must also deprecate the negligent execution of the Prisoner's Chorus; but that may have been owing to the orchestra, which was in a worse state of discipline than ever we remember it. We expected to have been able to give our readers a treat this week, by a lengthened notice of the incomparable PASTA in Romeo è Giulietta, on Wednesday evening last; but the Lord Chamberlain, having in his wisdom,(!) prohibited the performance of that opera, she only sung a few of her favorite songs in a "miscellaneous selection;" and commenced and concluded her engagement on the same evening. She was several times encored, and, in Di Tanti Palpiti was truly great. it was COVENT GARDEN.-Awed, perhaps, by the attractions at the other house, this theatre did not make any extraordinary exertions on WhitMonday. The play was a repetition of Henry VIII., in which MACREADY again shone a master-spirit in the wily and ambitious Cardinal Wolsey. A Modern Orpheus followed; and what will be supposed was the farce? A new spectacle, some will guess, ora pantomime. No; -George Barnwell. Only think of a fiveact tragedy coming after a play of SHAKSPEARE'S! It was like calf's-foot jelly after a cream-ice. Thus much for the piece itself ; but with regard to the acting we have better things to say. Mr. PRITCHARD, as the mis-led hero, was exceedingly energetic and impressive; frequently eliciting tears, in spite of the noise occasionally kicked up by the gods, in furtherance of their own private amusements. We would have him subdue the expression of firmness, which occasionally marks his delineation of the character; as, with that exception, it was faultless. J. WEBSTER was announced to play the part; but we were more than gratified with the alteration. MR. PRITCHARD has far more sterling qualities as an actor, than the other; "Then Mary Milwood did persuade him, To go down in the country And let loose his uncle's tripes!" FITZBALL'S tragedy of Walter Tyrrel was on Tuesday evening quite a hit; it is fairly written, and abounds in good situations. We need not say that its leading feature is the death of William Rufus, who having murdered the father of Tyrrel, becomes a victim to the vengeance of the son. ELTON, who made his first appearance at Covent Garden, on this occasion, was by no means bad as the hero of the piece; but he should enter with a little more animus into the part. Elocution without feeling yields no interest; and this is the reason why Mr. ELTON has not been so successful in his dramatic career, as he deserves to be from his private worth. There are one or two Radicalisms which we should like to see expunged; the play would then be entirely worthy of public patronage. ST. JAMES'.-The dramatization of Hook's Jack Brag is not, we think, a very happy one; | by visiting either, or all of them. The productions at each, are just the sort of thing for holiday folks, and we would advise them to "make hay while the sun shines;"-verbum sat. WEEKLY LIST OF PERFORMANCES. May 13-19. DRURY LANE. SAT.-Whitsun-Eve. No performance. TUES.-Turning the Tables. La Sylphide. The Hy WED.-Ways and Means. A Concert. Valentine & Orson. although the exquisite impersonation of its impudent hero by HARLEY renders the piece any thing but tedious. Our best praise must also attach itself to Miss P. HORTON, who played Mrs. Dallington in her usual style of excellence; nor can we resist giving Mr. SIDNEY the benefit of our notice, which, however, will, no doubt, differ from his own ideas concerning himself.He played Lord Tom; but in a manner proving that he had never so much as seen a nobleman in high life; for however weak the head, or vile the heart, of some men of title, they all possess a degree of polish, which the drawing-room could not fail to impart even to an Ourang-Outang, if it frequented the upper circles. Now Mr. SIDNEY'S enactment of a sprig of aristocracy, is a sort of hybrid, betwixt a mercer's apprentice and a lawyer's clerk; sprinkled with a dash of the horse-jockey. How the fashionable individuals who thronged the theatre must have laughed in their sleeves-The Eagle's Haunt still towers successfully. The peculiar style of its music has created a sensation not likely soon to subside; for to this, and not to its plot King Henry VIII. Walter Tyrrel. Mod.Orpheus. (which is singularly simple) must be ascribed its being so great a hit. The scenery, also, deserves honorable mention,-it is exceedingly beautiful. Mr. BRAHAM, at the close of his season, will carry with him the good wishes of a numerous host of patrons-ourselves, of course, among the number. OLYMPIC.-The entertainments at this theatre are as recherché as ever; but as little or no alteration has taken place in the bills since last week, we have no new remark to offer. LISTON takes his leave of the stage on the 31st; on which night the theatre closes. This will be a sad bereavement to the votaries of MOMUS. NEW STRAND.-DOUGLAS JERROLD'S capital comedy of Nell Gwynne has led the van during the week; followed by the Irish Tutor; after which marched the Tiger at Large; while Romeo and Juliet (as the law directs) brought up the rear. The acting throughout all these pieces, was of first-rate quality; and we shall take an early opportunity of expatiating upon the Nell Gwynne of Mrs. STIRLING; the King Charles of J. LEE; the Cad and Romeo of HAMMOND; the Juliet of Miss DALY; and the Nurse of Mrs. MELVILLE; all of which are perfection in their way. En passant, the manner in which ELIZA HAMILTON nightly sings LANCASTER'S popular ballad of "There, love, there I'll meet thee," deserves honorable mention ; for she quite enchants her hearers. NEW CITY OF LONDON.-A new drama was successfully produced here on Monday, entitled Red Peter. There was plenty of fire, and saltpetre introduced in it; and we suspect that the applause with which it was received, was the hoisting of the blue peter as a signal for the sailing of a new argosy of success. This theatre really does amazingly well; and deserves the liberal patronage it receives. THE QUEEN'S, ASTLEY'S, VICTORIA, and the SURREY, must all stand over until next week; in the mean time our readers cannot do wrong MON.-King Henry VIII. Modern Orpheus. George COVENT GARDEN. Barnwell. TUES.-Walter Tyrrel. Modern Orpheus. Brian Boroihme. WED.-Walter Tyrrel. George Barnwell. Modern Orpheus. THURS.-Cymbeline. A Day after the Wedding. Tam o'Shanter. A SECRET WORTH KNOWING. glove' with his Majesty's worthy Commissioners We are, fortunately for ourselves, ' hand and of Stamps. We shall, therefore, be forgiven by those philanthropic individuals for inserting the following interesting piece of" News: her. "A civil bill process has lately been tried betore Mr. Murphy, assistant-barrister of Cavan, wherein a gentleman named Creichton was the plaintiff, and a farmer named Reilly, was the defendant. The amount sued for, was five pounds. The circumstances were these.Reilly was many years married to a young woman by whom he had no children, and Mrs. Creichton being reputed for giving a cure, that in most cases produced the pledges of connubial bliss, Reilly sent his wife to The agreement between the parties, as Mrs. Creichton alleged, was, that Mrs. Reilly was to pay her five pounds on the birth of her first child. Now it did so happen that Mrs. Reilly gave birth to a fine boy, at the proper time; but instead of five pounds she sent only thirty shillings to Mrs. Creichton, who refused to take less than five pounds. Upon a full hearing of the case, the barrister granted a decree for the FIVE POUNDS. The witnesses who came up, were ably and for the defendant; and the Court, which was crowded humorously cross-examined by Mr. Armstrong, attorney to excess, was convulsed with laughter. This decision has added considerably to the fame of Mrs. Creichton, and some thousands of ladies have been enquiring her place of residence, which is between Cavan and Granard, Register. We understand the excitement caused among the Ladies by this announcement immediately on its appearance, was such, that every place was booked for Cavan three months in advance, in all the coaches within the circuit of 100 miles. usually dull for the season, the ladies having It has also been remarked that LONDON is unsatisfactorily explained.-Apropos: we undergone nobody knows whither. The cause is now stand Miss Harriet Martineau has seen Mrs. Creichton's 'prospectus,' and that she has been thrown into a quinsey, in consequence. She vows, however, that she will do her utmost to lessen the growing evil, the moment she becomes convalescent. |