obliged to have recourse to the Magic Flute, to assist to keep up the deception. The playbills of this theatre for the last two months, certainly display an ingenuity and diversity which amount to the perfection of the art of Humbug. The authors of the morceaux are, we think, fully entitled to call themselves complete masters of the art of puffing in all its branches: they have given to the world the most sublime specimens of the PUFF DIRECT, the PUFF insinuating, the PUFF collateral, the PUFF impudent-and the PUFF desperate; and, conscious of the additional importance with which they have invested paragraphs of this description, they have properly exalted them from their former degraded station at the foot of the playbills, to an additional HALF SHEET! for the benefit of-ham and beef shops. We suspect, however, that the class of persons on whom this species of eloquence operates, are not very accurate judges of any thing. There is one thing certain, that many who have been induced to visit Drury Lane Theatre in consequence of a belief in the truth of these Puffs, have quitted the theatre in disgust. It appears to us that our language is in itself hostile to this species of composition, which, though it may be exceedingly useful to certain persons (we do not very highly apppove of), it would be quite as well if they would unite puffing and grammar in these interesting articles, for not one in ten of them are written in English! POVERTY AND CRIME.-Any one may, if he please, send a round of beef to Newgate, where it will be readily received and promptly devoured; but if the same person were to send a shilling's-worth of bread and cheese to a union work house, it would be refused admittance, and his benevolence stigmatised as improper. DISADVANTAGE OF A LIGHT COMPLEXION.One day last week, a pauper, with a child in her arms, who had failed in endeavoring to obtain relief from the parish authorities, was driven by the police, with more than customary harshness, through the throng of well-dressed persons assembled before Exeter Hall. The poor woman, on hearing the crowd was caused by a meeting for the relief of the negroes, cried to her infant, "6 Ah, my dear, if we had had the good luck to be black, perhaps the gentry would have been good enough to do something for us !” NEWSPAPERS BY POST TO FOREIGN PARTS. As many persons fall into error through ignorance of the regulations of the Post Office with respect to transmission of Newspapers, the following list will show to which places they are sent free of postage, and also those for which a penny post is chargeable. To the following places papers are sent freeAntigua, Bahamas, Barbadoes, Berbice, Bermuda, Bagota, Brazils, Bremen, Buenos Ayres, Canada, Caraccas, Carthagena, Cephalonia, Colombia, Corfu, Cuxhaven, Demerara, Denmark, Dominica, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Granada (New) Halifax, Hamburgh, Heligoland, Honduras, Ionian Isles, Jamaica, Laguira, Malta, Montserrat, Nevis, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Quebec, St. Domingo, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Spain, via Cadiz, Tobago, Tortola, Trinidad, and Zante. To the following places a penny postage is chargeable, and must be paid when the papers are posted, or they will not be forwarded-India, Cape of Good Hope, and New South Wales. To all other places than those above mentioned, the English postage is twopence; to be paid in like manner, on posting the newspapers. A FEW ESSENTIAL REQUISITES FOR A WIFE. A wife should, among other things, be amiable, affectionate, artless, affable, accomplished, beautiful, benign, benevolent, chaste, charming, candid, cheerful, complaisant, charitable, civil, constant, dutiful, dignified, elegant, easy, engaging, entertaining, faithful, fond, faultless, free, good, graceful, generous, governable, goodhumored, handsome, harmless, healthy, heavenly-minded, intelligent, interesting, industrious, ingenuous, just, kind, lively, liberal, modest, merciful, mannerly, neat, notable, obedient, obliging, pretty, pleasing, peaceable, pure, righteous, sociable, submissive, sensible, temperate, When true, virtuous, well-formed, and young. I meet with a woman possessed of all these requisites I will, perhaps, venture to marry! LOVES OF THE ROCK-DOVES. A love-scene among the rocks is really an interesting scene. Concealed in a crevice, or behind a projecting cliff, you see a pigeon alight beside you, and stand quietly for some time, when the whistling of pinions is heard, and the male bird shoots past like an arrow, and is already beside his mate. Scarcely has he made a rapid survey of the place, when, directing his attention to the only beautiful object which he sees, he approaches her, erecting his head, swelling out his breast by inflating his crop, and spreading his tail-at the same time uttering the well-known coo-roo-coo, the soft and somewhat mournful sounds of which echo among the cliffs. The female, shy and timorous, sits close to the rock, shifting her position a little as the male advances, and sometimes stretching out her neck as if to repel him by blows. The male continues his strutting and cooing, until the female, inadvertently coming upon the edge of the shelf, flies off to the dark recesses of the neighboring cave, where she has scarcely alighted before her lover is again by her side. The IDLER is published every Saturday morning, early; if, therefore, our subscribers do not receive their copies regularly from their newsmen and booksellers, the fault never rests with us. VOL 1, of the IDLER, handsomely bound, is now ready for delivery. Also Part 11, (being the 3rd part of the 2nd Volume.) All letters must be PAID, or they will not be received. ADVERTISEMENTS, also, are requested to be sent early. "See that the Players be well used."-Hamlet. "Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice.'' Othello. There being no novelties at any of the Theatres, just now, we shall devote our space, this week, to more general matters; and await patiently the coming of Easter Monday; when, Bowery Theatre was again totally destroyed by fire; being the third time this event has happened within a few years. The edifice appears to have been one fated to destruction. With such rapidity did the conflagration proceed that, at three o'clock in the morning, the roof fell in, burying every thing not already destroyed beneath its crash. Except the iron safe, nothing was saved. The wardrobe alone, which, from the character of the splendid melo-dramas played here, was very rich and costly, was computed at eight thousand dollars. Much of the silver and gold tinsel, and fragments of banners and other finery, were found strewed the next morning among the stables in Elizabeth-street, immediately in the rear. The whole loss of scenery, properties, &c., and upon which there is no insurance, is estimated at sixty thousand dollars. There is an insurance of thirtyfive thousand dollars on the building, which will not cover half the loss. Very few or none of the actors had any effects in the theatre.-New York Star. Madame VESTRIS has changed her name and been formally espoused to Mr. Charles MATTHEWS. This is as it ought to be; for the parties have long been man and wife in every thing but the solemnization of the marriage rite. The GARRICK THEATRE, under Tom Parry's excellent management, is going on most prosperously. The entertainments are admirably chosen, and the performers established favorites. Tom Parry, is himself a host." Charles KEAN will leave London early next month, to fulfil his engagement in Edinburgh. He will then proceed to Glasgow, and afterwards return to London to renew the "MARCH of HUMBUG." The reports in circulation relative to the St. James's Theatre, are so conflicting that we shall not give insertion to any of them. If it really is to be disposed of, we shall soon see it officially announced. At present, we fear it is a most sorry speculation. Choice of a Newspaper. if report be true, our office will be no sinecure. R. 21, Catherine street, Strand, delivers on the days of Several of our favorites have been taking their benefits during the week,-those of VALE, at the City of London, on Monday, and Mrs. STIRLING at the Garrick, on Wednesday, were tremendous bumpers.. Both these servants of the public received, on the several occasions alluded to, pleasing and substantial proofs of the estimation in which they are held. Of poor Charles KEAN, we shall make no mention here. We have not forgotten either him, or his pretensions, which will be found duly noticed, elsewhere. THEATRICAL CHIT-CHAT WEBSTER, with his usual discrimination, has secured the services of Madame VESTRIS and Charles MATTHEWS for the Haymarket, for a number of nights before they leave England. He has also engaged WRENCH for three years. His judgment in this, perhaps, is questionable; Mr. WRENCH being, we believe, in his sixty-eighth year, and not quite so ac-tive as formerly. DESTRUCTION OF THE BOWERY THEATRE BY FIRE, AND LOSS OF LIFE.-Early on Sunday morning, the MEARS, NEWS and ADVERTISING AGENT, Publication the following, at the prices printed on the papers, viz: 1. The GUIDE, the most complete first-class Liberal Newspaper in the kingdom. Price 5d. stamped, for the purpose of sending post-free to the country. 2. The GARDENERS' GAZETTE, the only Horticultural Newspaper published. Price 6d. Published on Saturdays, and sent, postage free, to any part of the continents of Europe and America, the British Colonies, &c. 3. The FARMERS' JOURNAL, the only Agricultura Paper published in London. Price 6d., stamped. 4. The LONDON DISPATCH, price 4d. Edited by Dr. BEAUMONT, whose literary and scientific attainments are well known. Mes New Shooting-Gallery, &c. SAVILLE PALACE, LEICESTER SQUARE. essrs. GREEN and KNAPP beg leave most respectfully to inform the Nobility and Gentry, they have taken the above extensive Premises, and fitted them up in a style superior to any thing of the kind in London, for PISTOL and RIFLE SHOOTING, ARCHERY, &c. Length of the Shooting Gallery 120 feet, width 50 feet, Height 20 feet. Tea, Coffee, Chops, Steaks, and Refreshments of all kinds. Wines and Cigars of superior quality. The Gallery will be brilliantly illuminated with Gas, for Evening Practice. Open from 11 a.m. till 10 p.m. 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 W.M.Clark, 19, Warwick Lane; Strange, 21, & Steill, 2), Paternoster Row; G. Mann, 39, Cornhill; J. Norris, 58, Fetter Lane, Holborn; and James Pattie, 4, Brydges Street, Covent Garden. OF LITERATURE, FINE ARTS, MUSIC, AMUSEMENT, EXHIBITIONS, VARIETIES, SATIRE, AND THE STAGE. 'THE OBJECT OF OUR WORK IS TO MAKE MEN WISER, WITHOUT OBLIGING THEM TO TURN OVER FOLIOS AND QUARTOS, TO FURNISH MATTER FOR THINKING, AS WELL AS READING."- -EVELYN. SPRING FASHIONS. [PRICE TWO PENCE. since the winter. The ruffian coats, with large wooden The approach of spring, renders necessary a notice of the prevailing fashions of the season-that is to say, a resume of the current remarks of the bulk of society, on the existing modes of costume. We are sorry to find it is a fact of general admittance, that some ladies are not yet convinced of the propriety of counteracting the defects adherent to the human figure, as it is set forth by the barbarous stone-cutters and painters of the day. The bussell-the invention of which rescued the falling reputation of our Magazines, has latterly been much reduced. From Bloomsbury-square, north-eastward, to the Mendicity Society's office, in Red Lion-square, this immortal backer-up of our ladies has suffered materially in its proportions. Half a peck of sound bran is now considered sufficient for this indispensable article; notwithstanding, more than double that quantity was in requisition during the whole of last season, and Madame Duvernay invariably carried about with her, in the ballet, more than a bushel. However, true taste has not been altogether lost sight of by our belles. In the promenade, the Capauchin, and a thousand nameless cloaks are worn, which, in their ample folds, and duplicate capes, sufficiently conceal from the spectator all difference existing between the corporal superficies of sixteen and sixty. Eye glasses, it may be observed, are not now limited to eyes bearing affinity in color to those of dead mackerel-it is thought brightnounced, and the adoption of the old peaked point, has eyes are best seen through an artificial medium, and, therefore, double or single artificial optics must be suspended by ribbon or chain to the neck of all who would be a la mode. Young ladies visiting the Museums, and those who are remarkable for light complexions, and a perfect knowledge of Haynes Bayly's poetry, are expected to sport glasses of a light blue or green tinge. Brass jewellery is still patronised-bracelets, pendants for the ears, &c., maintain their accustomed shapes and sizes the former are preferred of the breadth of an ordinary dog collar, and the latter are not less than five inches and a third in length. Amongst the beaux, there have been few changes given new life and comfort to all the fashionable chiropodists.-The Guide. THE MOSS ROSE. Of the thousand allegories upon this favorite flower, the best may be traced to one of the celebrated "Parables of Krummacher." But though so frequently paraphrased in prose and verse, no ornament that the ingenuity of the translator has superadded, can com pare with the exquisite simplicity of the original, which is here given immediately from the German : "The angel who takes care of the flowers, and sprinkles upon them the dew in the still night, slumbered on a spring day in the shade of a rosebush. And when he awoke, he said, with a smiling countenance,-Most beautiful of my children, I thank thee for thy refreshing odor and cooling shade. Could'st thou now ask any favor, how willingly would I grant it! "Adorn me with a new charm," said the spirit of the rose-bush, in a beseeching tone. "And the angel adorned the loveliest of flowers with simple moss. "Sweetly it stood then in modest attire, the Moss ROSE, the most beautiful of its kind. "Lovely Lina-lay aside the splendid ornament and the glittering jewel, and listen to the instruction of maternal nature." Mrs. Wilberforce; or, The Widow and her Orphans. 2 vols. Saunders and Otley. This work is put forth by the publishers in the form of a novel,-it would, however, have been much better relished by the public, had it been produced in a duodecimo volume. It is, in fact, a tale: in which the author's object is to combine instruction with amusement, and to ridicule, by the satirical powers of his pen, the follies and weaknesses inherent in human nature. Although we do not agree with the writer in all his views-which, in many cases, are most peculiar and original,-still, we are his debtor for many a hearty laugh, and for many an idea which, but for a perusal of these volumes, would never have entered our heads. As we always incline to the side of mercy, we conceal the blemishes, and offer three amusing extracts. The following is a sly rap at the canting hypocrisy, peculiar to at least one-third of our fellow-beings: "Mrs. Molesworth was a pretty young woman, who, at the period of her marriage, professed to entertain strong religious impressions; and Septimus, having combed his hair straight, dismissed his shirt-collar, mounted a pair of gold spectacles, and permitted only just as much of his whiskers to remain as would prevent his appearing too barefaced, had little difficulty in taking captive the heart of Mary Watkins. Weak and silly as Mary was, she still half doubted the sincerity of Molesworth's professions; but he added to these such long stories about orthodox principles, the social compact, and other fine things, that it was impossible for Mary to do otherwise than yield to Septimus' importunity. "Mr. and Mrs. Molesworth were now looked upon as "somebodies," and considered by all as very "serious people." They went to church twice a day; and sometimes, in the evening, slipped in, when the old leaven of Septimus slipped out, to hear some eloquent seceder. No Bible, Missionary, or other religious society, existed in the neighborhood of Sidmouth, or for many miles around, but had the names of Mr. and Mrs. Molesworth "Dick chanced to be one of a party that went by water to Richmond: they carried with them their own provisions, for the purpose of dining in the open air, and fixed upon a delightful spot, beneath the canopy of a fine beech tree, in a meadow, for the place of their repast. It seemed to have been planned by nature for such a purpose; but, to their great mortification, they observed a public notice affixed, in legible characters, to a tree near the water side, prohibiting persons from dining in any part of the grounds. The prohibition was thus expressed-All persons landing and dining here will be prosecuted according to law.' This was too plain a hint to be misunderstood, and the party were about to turn their boat in search of some other nook, where they could spread their cloth without committing a trespass, when Dick assured them that if they proceeded a few yards lower down, and then landed, their case could not come within the letter of the notice. 'All penal laws,' reasoned Dick, 'are to be construed strictly. A notice prohibiting persons from sitting down to enjoy their dinner, is in the nature of a penal law. We are forbidden to land and dine here; but if we land elsewhere, we may dine there, for the word and has a copulative, not a disjunctive sense.' This ingenious construction was instantly adopted; and Dick's astute commentary strongly recommended him to Lord Chedworth as a person likely to be of great use to him in the arrangement of his property, which turned out to be a very productive employment during the peer's life, and terminated, as we have seen, in the magnificent bequest, which remunerated Dick's zeal and activity, at the close of it. It is true,' concluded our host, that the sanity of the testator was doubted, an issue was moved to try it, but the application was refused.". 66 these odious creatures, known by the name of We take our leave with a glance at one of known many. If we had our will, they should gossips;" of whom, in our time, we have all be strangled without mercy : "At dinner, Lord Elmbridge was inflicted with the company of Mrs. Dartlie, the wife of the parish curate, whose delight was to disseminate scandal, to exult in the detraction of virtue, and accumulate false evidence, to triumph in its disgrace and ruin. Her face was of the grimalkin kind, eyes as fiery, a little, old-shapen nose, with about a dozen pock-marks scattered up and down her features, to add more keenness to her malice. Nature in this, to a nice observer of physiognomy, is wondrous bountiful; she generally gives some striking indication of the party we have to cope with. "Mr. and Mr. Molesworth were present, but the former was obliged to leave immediately after dinner to attend a dying neighbor, who wished the good man to prepare his will. When the ladies retired to the drawing-room, Mrs. Dartlie requested, in an under tone, to have a few moments' conversation with Mrs. Molesworth in her own apartment, and they withdrew. "My dear Mrs. Molesworth, you have always found me sincere in my friendship, and I hope I am now going to give you a strong proof of the regard I have for you. I am particularly distressed about that affair between you and Mr. Wilberforce.' "Between me and Mr. Wilberforce! What, in Heaven's name, do you mean?' "Be calm, dear-be calm; it has made more noise than you can possibly be aware of. I have been running about, for days past, from house to house, to get full particulars of the story, for it is my delight to assist any friend in distress. Now there's that Mrs. Plumsteadshe is your avowed enemy. I made a point of calling on her, and telling her why you did not visit, because I was determined she should not place it to a wrong account. She has reported it everywhere that Mr. Wilberforce and you were always seen walking together, and that you and he have been known to spend a whole morning hugging each other in the garden. Your character, dear, is entirely ruined-whether innocent, whether imprudent, I do not inquire: and then look at Mr. Wilberforce's disappearance. I say nothing; but hear all. You know it's all very well to talk about my Lord's property in the West Indies; but what does he want with a young fellow to look after it who knows nothing about the business? No, no, don't mistake me; I always keep up the tale that he is at Jamaica. Yes, yes, that's all right enough; but now, in confidence, you must not even name it to Molesworth. I do assure you, dear, your conduct with Mr. Wilberforce has been looked on by all the neighborhood in the light of an intrigue, which, you must confess, the sudden leave he took of us gave no small reason for believing; and what has rendered the matter with these chattering people beyond a doubt, is the duel that took place the other day, in London, between him and Mr. Molesworth.' "Duel!' cried Mrs. Molesworth. "Yes, dear,-duel; didn't you know of it, then?' "Know of it! Are you mad?' "No, no, dear-be quiet; as an old friend, I will tell you; but as Molesworth has not named it, pray don't you. I am not surprised that our sex has such little resolution to withstand the charms of so fine a fellow; but, however, the fact is, they fired twice, and Wilberforce is wounded.' "Wounded! poor, unoffending Wilberforce !' "Yes, yes; now it's no matter of mine, but I repeat, as an old friend, I will out with every thing. Now, all this emotion betrays you. Was'nt Molesworth away some time ago?' "Yes, my good Mrs. Dartlie, he certainly was; and when he returned he undoubtedly did appear ill, and there was a coolness and absence about his manner. Crawley was with him, and he looked very oddly at me afterwards, several times." "Right, right; it was Crawley, or Coxley, or Cosley, or Casley, or some such name-who was your husband's second. Oh, I know it's true enough. As for myself, dear, I have no motive but to comfort you and offer you every service in my power, and to help you out of the dilemma; do, dearest heart, now command me freely. "But surely my husband would have named his suspicions to me, he would have said something or other about them, or he would have shewn it by some marked difference in his conduct, or in his domestic arrangements.' "Not at all, not at all, poor dear man-he does not believe it, and wished to spare you any pain. Wilberforce would not give the least explanation, and so out they went and your husband above all, to fight a duel !" "What, kind Mrs. Dartlie, shall I do?' "I'll tell you. I have the ear, you know, of all our friends, and can give any turn to this affair which you think proper; but mind, don't you mention it to any one; confide in no one but me. Dear heart, you know not the risk you expose yourself to.' "But believe me,' asseverated Mrs. Molesworth, I know Mr. Wilberforce is abroad. His wife has had several letters from him, and she always writes to me once a week, so that I am sure she would have mentioned that he was in England if it had been true.' "I don't know, I don't know, my dear soul; this is. an odd sort of a world; but never mind, I can give a totally different turn to the whole affair if you will let it rest in my hands; it will be my delight to save your character from this cruel stroke. It's always necessary, dear, to have a kind friend or two to defend one against the calumnies of this wicked world. For God's sake, only look at the consequences. Should Mr. Molesworth take more violent measures, on these dreadful reports reaching him, how horrible it will be ! whilst if the thing is properly managed, it may turn to your benefit, dearest.' "How can that be ?' asked Mrs. Molesworth. "Why, dear soul, if your husband is not convinced, but only alarmed, it will make him more attentive to you those who love their wives have no small share of jealousy; besides, the world will pity you for having been the victim of such vile reports, all thismay, therefore, as I say, turn out to your advantage. Leave it, then, all to me; let nobody interfere; it will be blown all over the country if you do. Dear heart! it is inconceivable how many enemies every one has. Well, what do you say now, come, tell me all about it. You remember, dear, that trash about Mrs. Plumstead's daughter and her father's carpenter. Yes, I was the very one who conducted the whole of it,-all the merits were entrusted to me, and I brought it to an end. Then, when those anonymous letters, you know, dear, were about, which that Mr. Bowdry sent, I was the person to go round to all the neighborhood, and shew one of them, that I had received, and explain how untrue it all was. It isn't the first time I have been in those sort of perplexities, I assure you." If this romantic tale be the author's first production, much allowance should be made for him. Several of the characters he has introduced, are well drawn, and the incidents are numerous. Continued practice, however, and a more extensive knowledge of the world, are absolutely necessary to shield a work like this from the arrows of the critics, who are now more than ever bent on showing their acumen in the dissection of our modern novels. The great art in writing well, consists in keeping as close to Nature as possible,-not in creating a number of ideal and outrageous characters, who never could exist save in imagination. But, as we have already hinted, it is not our wont to be over critical; we therefore commend "Mrs. Wilberforce" (a most amiable lady)" and her Orphan Family," to the kind consideration of our readers. The work is dedicated, by permission, to her Majesty, Queen Adelaide; and in honor of such high patronage, it is printed in a handsome type, and on a beautiful paper,-the former luxuriating in a sea of margin that must have filled the mind (and pockets) of the printer with infinite delight, and added not a little to the revenue of the stationer. Characters of Shakspeare's Plays. By William Hazlitt. Third Edition, edited by his Son, J. Templeman. The publisher of this admirable standard work has conferred a lasting service on the public, by, presenting it to them in a portable shape, beautifully printed, and on a very superior paper. As the book is already well known to the reading portion of mankind, we shall content ourselves with extracting a portion of Hazlitt's judicious remarks on Cibber's version of Richard III., now in course of being caricatured by Mr. Charles KEAN: "The manner in which Shakspeare's plays have been generally altered, or rather mangled, by modern mechanists, is a disgrace to the English stage. The patch work RICHARD III, which is acted under the sanction of his name, and which was manufactured by Cibber, is a striking example of this remark. The play itself is undoubtedly a very powerful effusion of Shakspeare's genius. The groundwork of the character of Richard, that mixture of intellectual vigor with moral depravity in which Shakspeare delighted to |