NOTICES. We, this week, discontinue our "List of the Performancés of the Week,"-Mr. BUNN's vexatious alteration of the bills after they are printed, and his substitution of one play for another, rendering it impossible for us to furnish an accurate list. ERRATUM.-In our last number, the "List of the Performances of the Week" was headed June 3-9. It should have been June 10-16. PART 2 of THE IDLER, containing the numbers for June, is now ready. Also New Editions of Nos. 1, 2, and 3. THE IDLER is published EVERY FRIDAY AFTERNOON at 3 o'Clock, at the office, 7, TAVISTOCK STREET. 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 THEATRES. "See that the Players be well used."-Hamlet. "Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." Othello. The lamented death of our late beloved sovereign having cast a gloom over the whole theatrical horizon, we shall offer no apology, this week, for being unusually brief in our theatrical remarks. There are however one or two comments we have to make, connected with our recent rambles, les voici : NEW STRAND.-A highly humorous burlesque of The Wife, (by Mr. Sheridan KNOWLES) was produced here on Monday last. It is entitled, The Wife; A Tale of a Mantua Maker. The incidents are very similar to those of the original Wife. Zachariah Jago (Mr. ATKINSON) usurps the public house of his cousin Marmaduke, during the absence of the latter, and having the "Mantua Maker" (Miss DALY) as his ward, he bestows her on Stop 'em, a policeman. Marmaduke returns at the critical moment, and claims his bride. The marriage is completed; but on the very same day, Marmaduke is 'walked off' to Whitecross Street at the suit of his cousin. Jack Peters (Mr. W. J. HAMMOND) is now introduced, an individual who has seen better days, but who dates his ruin from his early association with Zachariah. He encounters his former friend, and after a little persuasion, is induced to assist the latter in making love to the mantua maker, in order to make known the behavior of the latter to the husband. Jack Peters has an interview with the lady, and by means of a lucky six-pence, discovers that she is his sister. This, however, he keeps a secret, and eventually obtains, by threats, from Zachariah, a writing, in which he acknowledges his crime; and the denoument takes place in Whitecross Street Prison.-So much for the plot. The acting was good throughout; the puns tolerably smart; the parodies of popular songs more than passable; and the whole affair went off uncommonly well. It will run smoothly, with the other excellent burlesques produced under the able management of our worthy friend HAMMOND, whose pretty little theatre is deservedly successful. NEW CITY OF LONDON.-Being unable to procure a bill of the performances at this establishment, we dropped in, last Saturday evening, par hazard, to see what was going on. The first piece was the Ancestress, a miserably dull and stupid affair, rendered doubly tedious and annoying by the ranting and bellowing of PERKINS, as Count Barostein. This gentleman should hide himself in a cave, his roaring would then have a picturesque effect-at some few miles distance. Mr. NORMAN, Miss GARRICK, and the blue and white fires, were the only objects worth looking at. To the above succeeded the Married Rake, and the Evil May Day. In the former, Miss DESBOROUGH, Miss GARRICK, and Mr. FORESTER, were seen to great advantage. Indeed we have never seen the Married Rake better performed throughout, each party concerned in it entering fully into the humor of their respective parts. There wants more novelty at this house. They have got good actors, if they would only make good use of them. GARRICK.-This pretty little theatre, which has been newly decorated and beautified during the recess, opened for the summer season on Monday last, with the opera of Guy Mannering; and One o'clock. Mr. FRANKS, the worthy proprietor, has engaged a very respectable company, and seems determined to carry on the war with vigor. He has acted wisely in engaging Miss SHAW, of the Adelphi Theatre, to manage the leading business in opera and genteel comedy. This young lady's reception, as Lucy Bertram, must have been particularly gratifying to her feelings; and the spirit she threw into the part, added to the melody of her syren voice, evinced a desire to please that was fully appreciated. The public will shortly have the pleasure of seeing her as Vespina, in the opera of Clari. Mrs. FRANKS also deserves honorable mention as Julia Mannering; Mr. HIGGIE, as Colonel Mannering; and Mr. FRANKS as Harry Bertram. Both the last named gentlemen were in good voice, and sang with much sweetness. Mrs. FRANKS acts much better than she sings,her voice being far from harmonious; - but this is a natural defect. Mr. WYMAN's Dominie Sampson was a 'prodigious' failure, unrelieved by a single morsel of genuine humor. It was a gross libel on the worthy Dominie, to provide him with such a substitute. The only thing we can say in Mr. WYMAN's praise was the result of accident. When he took up the musket to fire it in the air, and the two young ladies were waiting to scream at the report, the said musket hung fire; on which Mr. W. ejaculated-"It would have gone off, but it hath changed its mind." This was hailed by three rounds of applause! Two other pistols missed fire in the course of the evening, the consequence of which was, that Meg Merrilies was butchered instead of shot; and the audience laughed at her calamity! We There is no place where the Goddess of Knavery (if ever there was such a being,) could hold her principal temple with more propriety than at NEWMARKET, where habits of betting, indulged in for about two centuries, have made cheating the only commerce of the place. Stables are there broken open, and horses maimed or poisoned, and grooms hired to ride unfairly, as a scoundrel-man or master-is in danger of losing his bets! James, third Duke of March, afterwards fourth Duke of Queensbury, of whose eccentric character many anecdotes are known among both Scotch and English gentry, always related with great glee a counter stratagem which he played off successfully upon one of these cheating racing occasions. It was this: He was musing by himself upon the odds in a race, in which his then favorite horse was concerned, when the boy, who was to ride him, came and told him that he had been offered one hundred guineas to lose the race, and that he was sure if he refused it, the horse would be amusing himself, one day, on the same race course, when he heard the Duke of Grafton say to Sir Charles Manbury,-"That is a foolish bet we made two years back, on the produce of my mare Bella against the produce of your mare Charles refused with indignation; then, after a Sultana. Have you a mind to be off?" Sir while, would assent to half forfeit on the part of the Duke; and after long feeling the ground on both sides, and riding away and returning to each other more than once, it was finally agreed to be a void match. "I think, my lord Duke, said Sir Charles, "I have rather taken you in ; for my horse is so lame, he can scarcely hobble over the course." "Not quite so much as you may imagine, answered the Duke; "for my horse has been dead these six months!" VARIETIES. EPIGRAMS FROM THE ANTHOLOGY. With such a nose and face, you dare not look You purchase paint, and teeth, and hair, AMATORY ANGLING. MARRIED.At St. George's, Hanover Square, Some folks, whom Hymen sends a-fishing, The bait of love, and hook'd—a maid! The Highest Ground about London is Hampstead Heath, which is 445 feet above the level of the Thames. poisoned before the day. "I should be sorry to lose my horse, " said Lord March, "so you had better take the money." But then, you know, my lord, replied the lad, honestly enough, " you must lose the race." "That is my CAUSES OF AMERICAN DISTRESS. - In a concern added his master, "obey my orders; New York paper of the 6th ult. we find the folbut insist upon payment before you mount, and lowing paragraph: The present evils which give me a hint when you have it in your pocket." afflict the country are the joint productions of The rider obeyed; and in less than twenty four all parties and all classes. They have been hours after, all the principal blacklegs in New-produced by over banking, over trading, overmarket became aware that he had agreed to their terms; and the bets rose, accordingly, five and ten to one against Lord March; who, with an infatuation that delighted them, took every bet that was offered. The day arrived; and, all the usual preliminaries being settled, the jockey made a sign to his master that he had got the money, and was just stepping into the weighing machine, when his lordship threw off his great coat, discovered himself in full riding costume, and, to the surprise of all the spectators, and the dismay of many, said he meant to ride the race himself. He did so; and won it easy; clearing thereby many thousands of pounds! From this mutual knowledge of each other's tricks, the secrecy of a Newmarket stable is like that of a prime minister's cabinet; and no one can be guided in his bets by the state of health of his rival's horses.-A friend of our's was spending, over dashing, over driving, over reaching, over cheating, over borrowing, over eating, over drinking, over praying, over sinning, overthinking, over playing, over riding, over tippling, over fiddling, and over acting, of every kind and description-except over ploughing, which alone is the foundation of society, and the corner stone of civilisation. In such a country as this, with millions of acres of fine rich land, and plenty of room to move in, we cannot over plough, and by a very natural consequence, we cannot overmarry, unless a man is mad enough to take two wives, and in that case the crime always carries its own punishment with it. Neither can we over love the beauteous sex, if we educate them properly-dress them up elegantly and simply-teach them piety and love- and make them fit companions for immortal beings, either in this world or that which is to come. SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. The proprietors of this establishment have added to its many beauties, a striking view of Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples; which, standing on the very edge of the lake, and throwing all the shadows by mountain, fortress, tower, and steep, into the water, has a beautiful and novel effect. As the scenery is also fixed, the distances are strongly thrown back by means of the machinery underneath, which gives to the ledges and shaggy points of the precipices a truly savage appearance. When the water is calm, and the sun shining, the whole scene has a very beautiful and magnificent effect; while one or two small vessels, anchored in the lake, add greatly to the maritime delusion. It is really a splendid accession to the place: whoever the artist may be, he has brought a masterly mind to the task, and executed it in a manner very superior to any similar scenes we have witnessed. THE HIPPODROME, BAYSWATER. The ENGLISH HIPPODROME, or Race-course, is situate in a park of singular beauty, near to Bayswater, within a few minutes' ride from Hyde Park. The public entrance is near Ken. sington Gravel-pits, in Portobello Lane; the entrance for race-horses is at the extremity of Ladbrook Place. The park is of considerable extent, being upwards of two miles in circumference; it is surrounded by a strong paling, and contains two courses for races. The first of these is in a rough state, intersected by brooks and fencing of a varied description, adapted to runs like steeple-chases. The second is a regular course, preserved in the best order, suited to first-class races, and of such a width as to permit the exercising of horses and the training of racers. Near the centre of the park is an eminence railed in, from which, without any interruption, a capital view of the sports can be enjoyed by pedestrians; ample room being afforded, in the remaining ground, for equestrians. Stables are in course of erection for the reception of horses sent to the Hippodrome for breaking, training, and hunting. The ground is admirably suited to these purposes; and for ladies and children enjoying horse exercise, without the danger incidental to riding in the parks or public ways. It may be quite unnecessary to state, that at an establishment of this select description all gambling booths are prohibited, and the sale of spirits is not permitted. There is one regulation of this establishment worthy of particular notice—it is, that any servant employed in the park, known to accept money, will be forthwith discharged. It is suggested to the subscribers not to offer money, as the rule is a sound one. There are ponies and donkeys for invalids and children. The beauty of the scenery, and the famed salubrity of the Bayswater air, must conduce greatly, in these exercises, to the restoration and improvement of health,-indeed we know of no spot in the neighborhood of London so admirably situate for an establishment of this description. CHIT-CHAT. A FACT.-LISTON, after having pocketed upwards of £1800 by his late engagement at the Olympic, positively refused to play for Madame Vestris' benefit last Monday. This requires no comment. HUMBUG. "The lessee of Drury Lane Theatre, last week presented Miss Romer, who was to play Amina in La Sonnambula, with a diamond ring, as a slight token for a series of professional actions."-Courier. [We understand the diamond was so brilliant, that it shone like an old woman's eyes! It has since been returned to its original owner,-it being, as John Reeve has it, "no go."] VAUXHALL GARDENS.-The anniversary of the "Battle of Waterloo " was celebrated on Monday last, by a magnificent gala at these gardens. The company were particularly select and numerous, and the entertainments of the most brilliant description;-the fireworks especially. The weather appears now to be settled; the worthy proprietors may therefore calculate Royal on a host of visitors. A walk round the ' Property,' on a fine evening, is a great treat. MOZART'S WIDOW.-This lady has recently sent a letter to his Royal Highness, the Grand Duke of Hesse, in which the aged Constantia expresses her affectionate and grateful satisfaction at the interest which that illustrious friend and protector of the musical profession has taken in the celebration of the "Mozart's Feier" (festival), and requests his royal highness to accept, as a proof of her gratitude, and in token of remembrance, six minuets written by Mozart's own hand, which, till now, she has faithfully preserved as part of the inheritance of her husband, and which are consequently entirely unknown to the world. The minuets were enclosed in the letter. BALLOONING.-INTENDED DESCENT IN A PARACHUTE.-It is nearly 35 years since the celebrated aeronaut, M. Garnerin, made his never-to-be-forgotten (by those who witnessed it) intrepid descent in his parachute, which took place on the 21st of September, 1802. This perilous experiment has not been attempted since, by any other person; but we have it from good authority that M. Norman (under whose able direction the evening entertainments were conducted last summer at the Colosseum) is in treaty with the proprietors of Vauxhall, to descend from the great balloon in a parachute similar to that of Garnerin's, but with what, it is presumed, will be found a considerable improvement thereon, viz. in the method of quitting the balloon, and regulating the oscillation in the descent. M. N. will leave the balloon when at the height of 10,000 feet from the earth. HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY has been pleased, (at the earnest solicitation of her confidential advisers), to confine the closing of the various theatres to four evenings altogether; viz. the day of his late Majesty's death, the two days of his lying in state, and the day of his funeral. Not satisfied with this most gracious act of liberality, ALFRED BUNN closed Drury Lane till Friday; being determined to escape the payment of salaries under any, the most pitiful, pretences! Norma is announced (for the ninth time), to be played THIS EVENING,-we shall believe it when we see it, not before! BUNN cannot make dupes of us, again. FROM A "SUCKLING" TO HIS MISTRESS. I prithee send me back my heart, For thou'st a thief in either eye Why should two hearts in one breast lie, Oh! love, where is thy sympathy, But love is such a mystery I cannot find it out: For when I think I'm best resolv'd, I then am in most doubt. Then farewell care, and farewell woe, I will no longer pine: For I'll believe I have her heart, SIR J. SUCKLING. COLLECTIVE WISDOM. MISTAKES.-Exemption from mistakes is not the privilege of mortals; but when our mistakes are involuntary, we owe each other every candid consideration; and the man who, on discovering his errors, acknowledges and corrects them, is scarcely less entitled to our esteem than if he had not erred. THE IMMUTABILITY OF NATURE.-There are no vicissitudes for the eternal beauties of nature; and while, amidst blood-stained revolutions, palaces, marble columns, statues of bronze, and even cities themselves disappear,-the simple flower of the fields, regardless of the storm, grows into beauty, and multiplies for ever. WORTHY OF NOTICE.-He who boldly interposes between a merciless censor and his prey, is a man of vigor; and he who, mildly wise, without wounding, convinces him of his error, commands our veneration. DEVOTION is the last of our amours. Books for the Whole World. SAYINGS WORTH HEARING, and SECRETS WORTH KNOWING; A New Book for the Million, beautifully illustrated. In Two Parts, 1s.6d. each. "A book of wisdom, as original as it is clever. It combines the grave and the gay with the happiest effect."-Observer. "A charming little work, whose very title will cause it to find its way into all parts of her Majesty's dominions. Are there any persons who would have Wit, Wisdom, and Genuine Humor at their fingers' ends, and who would qualify themselves for shining in company, at home or abroad?-If so, let them, without delay, procure Sayings worth Hearing, and Secrets worth Knowing.""-Sun. A CENTURY of THOUGHTS on a MULTITUDE of SUBJECTS. By the Author of Sayings worth Hearing, &c. &c. In Two Parts, price ls. 6d. each, beautifully illustrated. "Anything_new from the pen of the Author of 'Sayings worth Hearing, and Secrets worth Knowing,' is sure to meet with a hearty welcome. * * * * We are of opinion, that the work before us-being quite as instructive as it is entertaining, and moreover of a highly original character-will find its way into every corner of the globe."-True Sun. STREAMS of KNOWLEDGE from the FOUNTAINS of WISDOM; consisting, chiefly, of Piquant Extracts, selected from the Works of the Immortal Shakspeare; and interspersed with the most valuable Sayings of the Wisest Men since the days of King Solomon. In Two Parts, price 1s. 6d. each, beautifully illustrated. By the same Author. "An excellently chosen title, to a very clever book. It will interest persons of every age, class and condition in life. As a selection, it is, perhaps, unrivalled; nor could a more appropriate gift be conferred on youth."-Standard. "A book that will become as popular as any on record. So cheap and valuable a collection of solid wit and wisdom, is very rarely to be met with, at one and the same time."-Bell's Messenger. GOLDEN RECORDS; a Book of Choice Miscellaneous Extracts, carefully selected from the Works of the most celebrated Writers of every Age and Country. Two Parts, price 1s. 6d. each, beautifully illustrated. By the Author of "Sayings worth Hearing," &c. &c. In "This book would positively not be dear at three times the price charged for it. It contains the wisdom of the last four centuries, arranged under heads, in the convenient form of a pocket dictionary."-Sunday Times. N. B.-The four preceding publications, though apparently belonging to the same class, are, nevertheless, altogether distinct; and form, when bound together, two of the most interesting volumes ever produced. Price only 6s. each volume. London: W. Kidd, 7, Tavistock Street, Covent Printed by J. Eames, 7, Tavistock St., Covent Garden. Published for the Proprietor by GEORGE DENNEY, at the Office, 7, Tavistock St. Covent Garden: sold also by Hetherington, 126, Strand; Strange, 21, and Steill, 20, Paternoster Row; Purkiss, Compton Street; and Clements, Pulteney Street. A NEW AND FASHIONABLE WEEKLY JOURNAL OF LITERATURE, FINE ARTS, MUSIC, EXHIBITIONS, VARIETIES, SATIRE, AND THE STAGE. VOL. I.-No. 8.] "QUALITY,-NOT QUANTITY."-Common Sense. SATURDAY, JULY 1, 1837. A NIGHT AT AN INN, OR, THE DELIGHTS OF TRAVELLING "PER COACH." Doubtless, the world is full of good inns, and many inns are full of good things;-you may occasionally be lodged therein in better style than may fall to your lot at home-but then you must not travel in a stage-coach; for, so travelling, you may seek the good things in vain. You are as much labelled "Passenger," as your luggage, and treated accordingly -with this difference, that your luggage is insensible to its ignominious treatment-you, the sentient being, perhaps the sensitive, feel it down to your finger's ends. The play begins by ushering you from the common vehicle into the common room! Your foot recoils from the threshold, and you demand a "private room." Very well: "now in glimmer, now in gloom," you follow the waiter up stairs, down passages, across landings, and are shown at last into a parlor parallel with the kitchen, and owning consanguinity with the bar: the table is stained -the carpet is rusty-the chairs have seen better days-and in the grate The brands are white and dying. Amid their own white ashes lying. Presuming on your habits and tastes, you require a better apartment-"one to the front": you might as well ask to be crowned queen;a lady and gentleman have engaged this"a party are dining in the other," &c. There 46 [PRICE TWO-PENCE. is nothing for it but to submit with good humor -order in your servant-hope for a better fate, as regards bed and refreshment-and hope in vain. You are offered your choice of a singlebedded room with a sky-light, or a doublebedded one looking over the pig-styes and stable-yard. You demand tea and a cold chicken: you are served with a multifarious assemblage of Staffordshire and queen's ware(alas for royalty!);-the tea-caddy is a custardcup; and your fowl, if forthcoming, appears the saddest-looking biped that ever was disjointed. You descend to your parallelogram of a parlor, to "spend the evening and wish for morning, The said room either looks into a back street, and you hear and see more of human nature than pleases you, even admitting you to be a professed student thereof;-or your room looks into a court filled with the departed spirits of sun-flowers and marigolds, intersected by a passage leading from no one knows whence, to no one knows where-a thoroughfare, so close to your one window, that you hear all said, and see all done: mothers scolding their children, and the pinafored gentry crying out against their mothers. You see the girls going by for water, the post-boys for orders; and you drink your tea and eat your leathern lady (the chicken), or your any thing you can get, with what zest you may. The meal ended, you look about for amusement. Your own thoughts are miserable comforters-they have flown to the comforts that await you, or those you have left. Your mind is flooded with refined and musical remem |