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'Tis dangerous treating, when the sword is given unto the enemies hand, and therefore, (her Ladyship added) that not a man should depart her house. That she would keep it, whilst God enabled her, against all the King's enemies, and in brief, without an express of her Lords pleasure, that she would receive no more messages who, she now heard, was returned from the Isle of Mann, and to whom she referred them for the transaction of the whole business, considering that frequent treaties are a discouragement to the souldier besieged, as a yieldance to some want or weakness within, and so the first key that commonly opens the gate to the enemy.

VERSES,

The blue waters dance, in their gladness;

That so lately were warring in madness.

Beholds the green vale of his youth;
Cast away on the coast, no wealth can he boast,
Save a heart, where distress never pleaded in vain,

And Anna, her love and her truth.

And blame not, ye fair, that in pleasure or care
The sailor your favours imploreth;
When the dark bounding waves he undauntedly brave,
O where, when returning, a boon can he share,

Like the smiles of the maid he adoreth.

Whether plowing the seas with the favouring breeze,
Or cradled in storms on the ocean,
In the chill polar snow, or in India's glow,
In his day-dream of fancy fair woman he sees,
The star of his ardent devotion.

killing two or three, and chasing all the rest in flight. Those sallies and frequent Sung by the sole surviver of the Crew of the allarums so diseased the enemy, that their wrecked on the Coast of Wales. works went slowly on, having been three The storm-troubled deep howls no more from the steep, weeks, and yet not cast up one mount for ordnance. But now for their own The soft sunny gale fills the fisherman's sail, cannon, they hasten the business, with Poor Will saved again from the perilous main, security, to keep off our men with their And the elements reap new destruction in sleep, the loss of many men's lives, compelled to do so desperate a service. It moved both wonder and pity to see multitudes of poor people so enslaved by the Reformers' tyranny; they would stand the musquet, and loose their lives, to save nothing! so near are these to the times complained of in the historian (24) Tacitus, when the To secure and confirm her answer, the world no less fears men for their vices, than next day being Tuesday, a 100 Foot, com- once it honoured them for their virtues. manded by Captain Farmer, a Scotchman, 19th. On Tuesday night they brought up a faithfull and gallant souldier, with Lieu- one piece of cannon. 20th. Wednesday tenant Brettergh ready to second him in morning gave us some sport; they then any service, and some 12 Horse, (our plaid their cannon three shoots, the ball whole cavalry) commanded by Lieutenant six pound. The first tryed the wall, which Key, sallyed out upon the enemy; and being found proof without the least yieldbecause the sequell of every business de-ance, or much impression, they afterwards pendeth much upon the beginning, the Cap-shot higher, to beat down pinnacles and tain determined to do something that might turrets, or else to please the women that remember the enemy there were souldiers came to see the spectacle. within, he marched up to their works without a shot, and then firing upon them in their trenches, they quickly left their holds; when Lieutenant Key having wheel'd about, with his horse from another gate, fell upon them in their flight with much execution. They slew about thirty men, took forty arms, one drum, and six prisoners.

The

main retreat was this day made good by
Captain Ogle, a gentleman industrious to
return the courtesie which some of their
party showed unto him when he was taken
prisoner in the battle of Edge-hill.
The other passage was carefully secured by
Captain Rawsthorne. Not one of ours was

The

(To be continued.)

Poetry.

[ORIGINAL.]

A PARAPHRASE

At the chill midnight hour, 'neath the sky's sullen lov't,
When the pitiless blast howls round the tall mast.
When o'er the wide waters careering;
Though drenched on his watch, by the cold briny show',

Still the thought of his Sally is cheering.
And, oh! should he meet the proud enemy's fleet,
For his country he'll do or he'll die;
Should he lose ev'ry spar, the red banner of war

Shall be victory's garb, or his gay wit.ding sheet;
And his death you'll record with a SIGH.
Should the tempest awake and his bark overtake,
When the lightnings dart forth in fierce glare;
When the thunder is loud from the black bursting cloud,
Should o'er him the sea all infuriate break ;

Overwhelmed-then he hopes for your PRAYER.

Joy hung on each lip when our stout gallant ship
Stood for home with the favouring breeze;
Her wings spreading wide, o'er the blue-crested tide;
How gracefully stooping her sides would she dip,
While she trod, like a giant, the seas!

Oh! how brave 'tis to sweep in the bark o'er the deep
Top-gallant sails proudly unfurl'd!

Uncurb'd are our souls, as the billow that rolls,
With adventurous prore every land we explore,

Our dominion-our country-the world.

Bright sparkled each eye when "Land" was the cry;
Every hope was consentred in home:

And, crowded with sail, to the favouring gale

that day slain or wounded. By the prison- ON THE BEGINNING OF THE TWELFTH CHAPTER She rushed, with the speed of the scud o'er the sky,

OF ECCLESIASTES.

"Remember thy Creator in the days” &c.

In youth's gay season ere those moments fly,
That paint thy cheek and sparkle in thine eye;
While health and vigour bless thy morn of life,
While yet unknown pale care and pining grief,
Ere yet the generous glow that fires thy soul,
Maturer age and caution shall controul,

Ere time shall teach the truth of what I sing,

And sad experience give my word a sting,

Think on thy maker in those blooming days,
Nor fail the tribute of thy early praise.

ers we understood the purpose of the enemy
was to starve the house, the commanders
having courage to pine a lady, not to fight
with her. 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th March.
The four days following passed without
much action on either side, saving that
the garrison gave them some night alarums,
which to some ministered an occasion of
running away; to others of belying their
own courage, that they had repulsed the
garrison souldiers, and slain thousands out
of hundreds. 17th. On Sunday night the
commanders under her Ladyship resolved
to try their watches, and therefore at three So when the hour of trial shall draw near,
o'clock in the morning, Captain Chisnall, And round thee gath'ring storms appear,
a man of known courage and resolution, when pain and grief shall rend thy lab'ring breast,
Lieutenant Brettergh, and Lieutenant By every dire calamity opprest,
Heape, with only 30 musketeers, issued Yet even then, when human help is vain,
out of the back gates, to surprise the enemy Thy sinking soul his goodness shall sustain ;
in their new trenches: but they discovering Hahitual piety shall shield thy heart,
some of the light matches, ran faster than And turn aside affliction's venom'd dart :
the Captain or his souldiers could pursue, Thy youth's first choice shall prove thy steady friend,
securing their flight in a wood close by, His care preserve thee, and his power defend.
where, not willing to engage his souldiers
in unnecessary danger, he left 'em, only

Liverpool.

M. S.

And bathed all her sides in the foam.

Each fixed his fond gaze, to descry, through the haze,
The hills he in infancy knew;

And, in fancy's gay flight, pictured scenes of delight:
When the black scowling clouds quenched the sun's

latest rays,

And the gale more infuriate grew.

The birds round the mast screamed wild on the blast:
In the might of the tempest arrayed,
The fiends of the deep, from their treacherous sleep,
Aroused at the sound, fast marshalling round,
The war-dance of destruction displayed.
Now scudding, yet bold, up channel she rolled,
Nor a sail but the foresail unfurled;
When a sea breaking in, with a cataract din,
Rushed over her deck, and-swept from his hold
In the gulph a brave comrade was hurled!
The oar and the coop were launched from the poop:
It was needless what mortal could save.
Tumultuous and dark, no ferm could we mark;
One cry-'twas his last! was heard on the blast,
The next howled o'er his billowy grave.

Now beat the big rain, but it quelled not the main,
And no beacon light could we hail;
Tossed by the rude swell, our mizenmast fell,
And the foresail, to urge her speed o'er the surge,
Was scattered in shreds on the gale.

Then was the dread cry, the breakers are nigh;
Quick, prepare, bring the ship to the wind!
But, alas! a huge sea brought her down by the lee,

L

And she struck the bare rock, with a ruinous shock,
And no land, through the night, could we find.
And the billows arose, like the Alps in their snows,
And burst in wild rage o'er the deck;
Then crashed ever beam, then burst every seam ;

And though Hope, shrieking, fled, not a tear did we shed,
But silently clung to the wreck.

AMERICAN HUMOUR..

We have seldom met with a better specimen of humour in an American work than that which we now present to our readers. If involuntary and irresistible laughter be any criterion of merit in compositions of this description, we may class this dissertation amongst the best we ever remember to have enjoyed, as we were, actually, more than once, in course of its perusal, obliged to lay down And the shriek when she crashed, against the rocks the paper, in order to hold our sides. The first reading dashed,

One wave, skyward whirled, o'er us thundering hurled:
Death rode on the brink of the steep.

0! methinks I still hear the loud rush on my ear,

: And in fragments was strewed o'er the steep.
And hard was the strife with the waters for life;
The death-cry was drowned in the gale;
And my comrades brave struggled long with the wave,
When down, down they sank. One was borne on a plank,
Only one to relate the sad tale.

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The point of honour has been deemed of use,
your To teach good manners, and to curb abuse;
Admit it true, the consequence is clear,
Our polish'd manners are a mask we wear.
And at the bottoni barbarous still and rude.
We are restrained indeed, but not subdued.
The very remedy, however sure,
Springs from the mischief it intends to cure,
And savage in its principle appears,
Tried, as it should be, by the fruit it bears.
"Tis hard indeed, if nothing will defend
"Mankind from quarrels but their fatal end;
That now and then a hero must decease,
That the surviving world may live in peace.
Perhaps at last close scrutiny may show
The practice dastardly, and mean, and low;
That men engage in it compelled by force,
And fear, not courage, is its proper source.
The fear of tyrant custom, and the fear

e:

Lest fops should censure us, and fools should sneer.
At least to trample on our Maker's laws,
And hazard life for any or no cause,
To rush into a fixt eternal state,
Out of the very flames of rage and hate,
Or send another shivering to the bar
With all the guilt of such unnatural war,
Whatever use may urge, or honour plead,
On reason's verdict is a madman's deed.
Am I to set my life upon a throw,
Because a bear is rude and surly? No-
A moral, sensible, and well-bred man,
Will not afront me, and no other can.
Were I empowered to regulate the lists,
They should encounter with well-loaded fists:
A Trojan combat would be something new,
Let DARES beat ENTELLUS black and blue;
Then each might show to his admiring friends,
In honourable bumps his rich amends,
And carry in contusions of his scull,
A satisfactory receipt in full."

was a sort of literary game of " Laugh and lay down."

ON SHAKING HANDS.
[From the Boston Daily Advertiser.]

Mr. Editor,-There are few things of more common
occurrence than shaking hands; and yet I do not recol-
lect that much has been speculated upon the subject. I
confess that when I consider to what unimportant and
futile concerns the attention of writers and readers have
been directed, I am surprised that no one has been found
to handle so important a subject as this; and attempt to
give the public a rational view of the doctrine and dis-
cipline of shaking hands. It is a subject on which I
have myself theorised a good deal, and I beg leave to
offer you a few remarks on the origin of the practice,
and the various forms in which it is exercised.

I have been unable to find in the ancient writers, any distinct mention of shaking hands. They followed the heartier practice of hugging or embracing, which has not wholly disappeared among grown persons in Europe, and children in our country, and has unqestionably the advantage on the score of cordiality.

When the ancients trusted the business of salutation

On

motion. They were neither of them feeble men. endeavoured to pump, and the other to paddle; their of the doctrine of the composition of forces, to see their faces reddened; and it was at last a pleasing illustration hands slanting diagonally; in which line they ever after shook: but it was plain to see there was no cordiality in it; and as usually the case with compromises, both parties were discontented.

3. The tourniquet is the next in importance. It derives its name from the instrument made use of by surgeons, to stop the circulation of blood in a limb about to your friend as far as you can in your own, and then conbe amputated. It is performed by clasping the hand of tracting the muscles of your thumb, fingers and palm, till you have induced any degree of compression you may propose in the hand of your friend. Particular care ought to be taken, if your own hand is as hard and as big as a frying-pan, and that of your friend as small and soft as a young maiden's, not to make use of the tourniquet shake to the degree that will force the small bones of the wrist out of place. It is also seldom safe to apply it to gouty persons. A hearty friend of mine, who had pursued the study of geology, and acquired an unusual hardness and strength of hand and wrist, by the use of the hammer, on returning from a scientifie excursion, gave his gouty uncle the tourniquet shake. with such severity, as reduced the old gentleman's fingers to powder; for which my friend had the pleasure of being disinherited, as soon as his uncle's fingers got well enough to hold a pen.

4. The cordial grapple is a shake of some interest. It is a hearty boisterous agitation of your friend's hand, accompanied with moderate pressure, and loud cheerful exclamations of welcome. It is an excellent travelling shake, and well adapted to make friends. It is indiscriminately performed.

5. The Peter Grievous touch is in opposition to the cordial grapple. It is a pensive, tranquil junction, a cast down look, and an inarticulate enquiry after your friend's health.

to the hands alone, they joined, but did not shake them;
and although I find frequently such phrases as jungere
dextras hospitio, I do not recollect of having met with
that of agitare dextras. I am inclined to think that the
6. The prude major and prude minor are monopolized
practice grew up in the ages of chivalry, when the cum- by ladies. They cannot be accurately described, but
brous iron mail in which the knights were cased, pre- are constantly to be noticed in practice. They never
vented their embracing; and when, with fingers clothed extend beyond the fingers; and the prude major allows
in steel, the simple touch, or joining of the hands would you to touch them only down to the second joint. The
but have been cold welcome; so that a prolonged junc-prude minor gives you the whole of the fore finger. Con-
tion was a natural resort, to express eordiality; and as siderable skill may be shown in performing these, with
it would have been aukward to keep the hands unem- nice variations, such as extending the left hand, instead
ployed in this position, a gentle agitation or shaking of the right, or stretching a new glossy kid glove over
might naturally have been introduced. How long the the finger you extend.
practice may have remained in this incipient stage, it is
impossible, in the silence of history, to say; nor is
there any thing in the Chronicles de Philip de Comines,
or the Byzantine historians, which enables us to trace
the progress of the art into the forms in which it now
exists among us.

Without therefore availing myself of the theorists, to supply, by conjecture, the absence of history or tradition, I shall pass immediately to the enumeration of

these forms:

1. The pump-handle shake is the first which deserves notice. It is executed by taking your friend's hand, and working it up and down, through an arc of fifty degrees, for about a minute and a half. To have its name, force and character, this shake should be performed with a steady motion. No attempts should be made to give it grace, and still less, vivacity; as the few in. stances in which the latter has been tried, have uniformly resulted in dislocating the shoulder of the person, on whom it has been attempted. On the contrary, persons who are partial to the pump-handle shake, should be at some pains to give an equable, tranquil movement to the operation, which should on no account be continued, after perspiration on the part of your friend has commenced.

I might go through a long list, Sir, of the gripe royal the saw-mill shake, and the shake with malice prepense, but these are only factitious combinations of the three fundamental forms already described, as the pump handle the pendulum and the tourniquet; the loving pat, the reach romantic, and the sentimental clasp, may be reduced in their main movements to their various combinations and modifications of the cordial grapple, Peter Grievous touch, and the prude major and minor. I should trouble you with a few remarks, in conclusion, on the modes of shaking hands, as an indication of characters, but as I see a friend coming up the avenue, who is addicted to the pump handle, I dare not tire my wris by further writing. Your humble servant,

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The Ravenna Gazette is full of a triumph of Signora ROSA MORANDI, a celebrated singer, which she herself announces. She says, "she has received permission

2. The pendulum shake may be mentioned next, as being somewhat similar in character; but moving, as to be publicly crowned; that she will sing with her the name indicates, in a horizontal, instead of a perpen-usual perfection, particularly the magnificent rondo, dicular direction. It is executed by sweeping your which has always been received with such rapturous aphand horizontally towards your friend's, and after the plause. That, according to usual custom, a golden junction is effected, according to the pleasure of the shower will fall with innumerable sonnets, paregyrics, parties. The only caution in its use, which needs par- &c. in which admiration will be expressed in the most ticularly be given, is not to insist on performing it in a beautiful verses: and after this, several cupids will deplane, strictly parallel to the horizon, when you meet scend, with garlands of flowers, doves and other birds; with a person who has been educated to the pump-handle and in the midst of this opera-paradise, the crown is to shake. It is well known that people cling to forms be placed on the head of the artist. After this exhibiin which they have been educated, even when the sub- tion, this incomparable singer will be drawn home in a stance is sacrificed in adhering to them. I had two splendid carriage with six horses, accompanied with uncles, both estimable men, one of whom had been beautiful music: all the streets will be illuminated, ar d brought up in the pump.handle shake, and the other had fire-works displayed in her honour; and she will retire brought home the pendulum, from a foreign voyage.- amidst a discharge of granades, serpents, and sky. They met, joined hands, and attempted to put them in rockets."

Miscellanies.

GANDER VERSUS PIKE.

[graphic]

A is an oak plank, nine or ten feet long, two or three inches thick, and six or eight inches broad. If a deal plank, it would be adviseable to bind some iron or lead with cordage to the bottom of the plank, near the ends, or bags of silver or gold, or any other valuable heavy articles, which would act as bailast, and keep the men upright, say 40 or 50 pounds weight each barrel; but long bags made with sail-cloth, and filled with sand or coals, would be less liable to shift, or get loose. BB are two empty barrels, or water-casks, such as would contain about 36 gallons each; if larger the better. Two wine pipes or butts, would do well on 12 or 14 feet plank, and would carry all the men that could sit on it; these barrels, pipes or butts, should not have any article put into them that is heavy, but only very light articles, as papers, &c. for the more buoyant the casks are, so much the better. These barrels must be water-proof, closely bunged up. CCCC is a small rope, bound two or three

Bixley, near Norwich.

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The Drama.

TO THE Editor,

about, "like a Mandarin in a tea-shop," when eh is singing. It is a pity we had no song from him; his voice does not suit glees, his falcetto is not sufficiently round for the alto, in a four part glee. "Blow, blow, thou mighty Wind," and " Under the SIR,-The favourable opinion which you were Greenwood Tree," (particular the latter,) are very pleased to express upon my last communication, good glees.-Mr. Brown's acting in the scene besupersedes an apology for handing you the follow-tween the sisters was good: the witchery of Miss ag remarks upon a performance which took place Stephens's singing would sometimes force a glance at our Theatre on Saturday last. On that evening, of attention, predisposed as fancy seemed to be to Shakspeare's Comedy of Errors introduced to our worship" the Goddess of his idolatry," be, however, bards the justly celebrated Miss Stephens, in the sometimes repulsed the lady somewhat roughly. character of Adriana. The house was full, and This revival of the "Comedy of Errors,"" by adapparently much gratified with the novelty of the ding to the stock of those barmless pleasures that entertainment. Here, I cannot help noticing the gladden life," is bighly creditable to the taste and arious speculations of the persons that surrounded philanthropy of the persons who have revived it; e, respecting the fitness of this play for public re- and the poetical embellishments are exceedingly presentation, on account of the difficulty of obtain proper. The poetry of Shakspeare is alone worthy zag persons so much alike as to personate the two of being used, as illustrative of the great bard's Antipholes and Dromios as to give probability to plays. the incidents: I will just observe, that no person The moral is not very apparent; but then there is In his perfect senses ever sat in a theatre and be nothing immoral in the piece; and surely there is Izeved he was a spectator of scenes in real life, how-something in laughing at the conceits that could <ver excellent the acting. delight the mind of a Shakspeare. At this reHe, whose eyes are suffused with tears at the well presentation I was insensibly led to compare the preepicted tenderness and sorrow of the Mrs. Beverly sent temples devoted to the histrionic art, and the and Miss O'Neill, or whose mind is intensely inte- excellent apparatus and paraphernalia which are rested by Kean's artful portraiture of the villany of used as auxiliaries, with the mean edifices and alPichard, or Sir Giles, in the same instant awards to most total want of all kind of scenic illustrations tae actor the tribute of his applause.-This would which existed when the immortal poet lived; and a t occur on the contemplation of scenes in real life; half-formed wish rose in my mind, that he could be either deep sorrow nor madly-cruel ambition are present at such a representation, and receive the inmatter for admiration.-Again, I think, in this par-cense due to his merit.-That his works may long icular instance, if it were possible to have the cha-continue to instruct, reform, and delight mankind, acters represented by persons so much alike as to and that no impious bigot or 66 scurvy politician" render the mistakes a matter of course, the audience may abridge one sentence in his hallowed volume, would be as much perplexed as the dramatis per- are the wishes of, Sir, SOR, and thereby loose half the mirth occasioned Your obedient servant, by the equivoque. Manchester, Oct. 24, 1820.

This was Miss Stepheus's first appearance in the drama, in Manchester. She stoops much more than she did two or three years ago; but perhaps she appears to a disadvantage in comparison with Miss Hammersley-She has a singular custom of approaching and retiring, or rather shuffling backwards

MR. VANDENHOFF'S VIRGINIUS.

pidity, truth, and energy equal to Mr. Vandenhoff, on this memorable occasion. I say memorable; for, although the two first acts of Vandenhoff's Virginius nay, safely for his fame, be buried in oblivion, the three last can never be forgotten.

In the second scene, act fourth, Mr. Macready
placing his daughter's head on his bosom, and encir-
cling her in his arms, appears a complete picture of
pusilanimity; and in this mauner we are to suppose
be parades the streets of Rome; for it is thus he
euters in the next scene which places him before the
judgment-seat of Appius. This is one of those un-
happy conceptions I alluded to in my notice of his
performance of this character. Mr. Macready cer-
tainly appeared the affectionate father: Mr. Vanden-
hoff was also the affectionate father, but he did not
forget he was likewise the intrepid Roman, whose
rights and liberties were secured by the protecting
laws of his country. Mr. Macready comforted his
daughter; Mr. Vandenhoff animated her. Rejecting,
therefore, the effeminate style of playing this scene
adopted by Mr. Macready, and nobly holding his
Virginia by the hand, he gave ineffable dignity and
vigour to the speech,
"Come on!

Fear not. It is your father's grasp you feel.
Come on, Virginia;

We trust our cause to Rome and to the Gods!"
The next scene marked his critical attention to the
text of his author and to the feelings and situation
of the man he represented.

He had not forgotten his fixed purpose
I shall walk along
Slowly and calmly with my daughter, thus
In my hand:
I say

I'll walk along thus in the eyes of Rome,
and his entrance was in the genuine spirit of one
J. T. deeply sensible of his injuries, but also proudly
erect in his own superiority. His appearance thus
before the tribunal of Appius was very highly effec-
tive and imposing, and gave great point to the speech
of Appius,

This performauce was in the two first acts inferior and forwards, which it is a pity she will not correct; to Mr. Macready's. It had neither the playfulness for I cannot bring myself to imagine, with Mister nor the vigour which that gentleman threw into the Clio, poor geatleman! that such specimens of art-part. In the third act, however, Mr. Vaudenhoff lessness as those he mentious in your last publication are beauty-spots rather than blemishes. A whole week's extatic warbling seems to have bereaved Mr. Clio of his wits, or he surely would not have adduced such an incident as her incapability of suppressing filtering as a consideration. These are, however, trifling defects, and a thousand such would have been forgotten when the syren commenced warbling her native wood-notes wild!" "Twas then the irresistible potency of her skill was implicitly admitted in the breathless silence of her audience. The full, clear stream of melody, which in the lower notes of ber voice she pours upon the car, and the exquisitely touching sweetness of the upper tones, added to the brilliancy of the cadences, which, with a charin soft stwilight, she then threw around the whole, might, f beard accidentally, and in a situation similarly romantic, have called forth the exclamation of Comus, that such strains

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You had better,

Virginius, wear another kind of carriage.

This is not the fashion that will serve you.
The reply to this was energetic and affecting in the
highest conceivable degree. The strong feeling
which bursts forth in the indignant exclamation,
The fashion, Appius!" painted in vivid colours
contempt for the lustful hypocrite, the undaunted
pride and nobleness of conscious rectitude, and
astonishment that a thing so vile eveu as Appius
Claudius could speak or think of the fashion it
"became a man to speak in

Whose property in his own child, the offspring
Of his own body, near to him as is

began to rise proudly pre-eminent above his able
predecessor. And it is in this precise part where
the character rises in tragic importance. In the fine
scene, where Virginius is informed of the dreadful
situation of his daughter, Mr. Vandenhoff's exer-
tions were truly grand, and his talents shown to
wonderful advantage. His bursting impatience to
hear the terrifying truth which so tardily escaped
the unwilling lips of Lucius; his amazement, on
being told that Claudius had claimed his daughter;
his fiery indignation at the fact of his beloved child
having been disgracefully dragged as a slave through
the public streets of Rome; and his dreadful pur-
The keen and appalling severity of Mr. Vanden-
poses of vengeance, so fearfully depicted on his fea-hoff's manner, at the commencement of the speech
fures, and in the energetic grandeur of his action; from which this quotation is made; the powerful
were all conceived in the most lofty and impassioned workings of paternal affection as he proceeded, and
style.
the cuting irony with which he pronounced the last
line,

66

Mr. Vandenhoff's greatest efforts were, however, in the scene before Appius Claudius, where his property in his own child is disputed." A more splendid piece of acting was never witnessed. I am utterly at a loss for terms to express the admiration excited by the superlative genius and powers displayed in this arduous part of the tragedy. The usual phrases, great, original, discriminating, &c. inadequately describe the paralizing truth and vigour with which he depicted the various and contending passions; which, raising to a godlike eminence the agonized subject of them, seemed to wither and almost annibilate by their electrifying influence the base and licentious invaders of his domestic peace and honour. Many actors would exhibit with equal force some of the dreadful passions which tore in pieces the lacerated soul of Virginius: few could have depicted the whole of them with a ra

His hand, his arm-yea nearer-closer far"Was called in question.

"I pray you, tutor me," laid open the very soul of Virginius, and excited one of those spontaneous and rapturous bursts of applaus, which are said to be of such rare occurrence at Li rpool, that the first tragedians of the day have been scouraged by the absence of this exhilarating stimulut to exertion.

The fifth act, wherein Virginius appears bereft of reason, was played with great feeling and judgment, The abstractedness necessarily attendant on this aberration was finely depicted and ably supported throughout the whole of these painful and arduous scenes.

To have quoted particular passages from a performance, the whole of which displayed the nicest discrimination and the purest taste, may appear unnecessary; but I should have done violence to my

feelings, had I not adverted to those that I have par- the globe on the shoulders of Atlas. Thus, although the corsage is cut low round the bust; it fastens behind, ticularly noticed. It is to be lamented that the play-spire was intended, as others are, to point towards heaven, and the back is full; the bust is ornamented with going part of our population cannot be indulged with are these two huge bodies piled upon it, as if to say, a fulness of white satin, and tastefully intermixed "thus far shalt thou aspire, and no further." At the with pearls; the shape of the front is formed by a a repetition of this performance before the final secession of this distinguished actor from our theatrical top is a large cross, after the fashion of the arms of white satin' stomacher, cressed with bands of gro windmill, all sides alike. The propriety of a cross I will company. Had Virginius been brought forward at not dispute, although I prefer the usual costume of the de Naples wreathed with pearl; a pearl button is an earlier part of the season, as the tragedy of Brutus weathercock, not only from its lighter appearance on a placed in the middle of each band, and it termi was last year, the merits of the actor, and the dis- delicate spire, but that, by assuming a variety of posi-nates with a double scollop at the bottom of the cernment and spirit of the town would have secured tions, a sort of novelty of appearance is given to the waist. A broad white satin sash is disposed in folds to the managers their best reward. whole: besides, it lets the good folks know "which round the waist, and tied in a bow and long ends G. N. way the wind blows." As I have already paid a consi- behind; the sleeve is a mixture of white satin and derable sum towards the erection of this church, al: gros de Naples, the first disposed in irregular puffs, though it will to me only be as an ornament, I call the last forming bands of a very novel and pretty upon some of our spirited townsmen to solicit the removal of both these prominent defects, and the sub. form; they are intermixed with pearl; the sleeve stitution of something more accordant with the lightness is the usual length.-Hair dressed in light lose and proportions of the building. ringlets, and much divided on the forehead; the hind hair dressed low.-Head-dress, a full garhınd of damask roses, placed rather far back on the crown of the bead. White satin shoes, and white kid gloves.

Correspondence.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR, A French gentleman, who is said to have received a liberal education, and who is a professor of his native language in this town, contends that the following phrase is correct:

"Mes tres chers père et mère.”

Natural History.

W.

Interesting Vegetable Phenomenon.-The ash tree, which is this year unusually full of fruit or seeds, commonly called keys, will be found worthy the attention of those who are fond of the curiosities of nature. The

To Correspondents.

But as such a mode of expression, violates every pod of the fruit is in shape like a bird's tongue, having P-N's story, which we thought we had before acknow

rule of concord, I have hitherto seen, I cannot perceive its propriety; and therefore I request that some one of your correspondents who is a critic in that language, will inform me if it be warranted either by the decisions of the French Academy; or by the authority of any acknowledged French Classic.

November 4th, 1820.

TO THE EDITOR.

W.

only one cell that coutains a seed of the same shape.
By opening the pod carefully with a penknife, the um-
bilical cord will be found running from the stalk to the
upper end of the fruit, where it enters to convey the
nourishment to the germ, in which (on opening from the
reverse end,) will be found the future tree, so formed
both in trunk and leaves, as not even to require the as-
sistance of magnifiers to see the perfect plant. I am not
aware of any other kernel that affords so distinct a re-
semblance of its parent; or that this circumstance has
been noticed to the public in any work.-Phillips on
Botany

Fashions for November.

ledged, is too long for the scanty incidents it contains; neither can we conceive that his hero possesses the claims to immortality with which P. invests him: cannot surely be for his penchant for drinking and bull-baiting, which is recorded in the tenth verse.

LATHOM HOUSE. The interesting details of the m

morable siege of Lathom House, (the commenc ment of which will be found in our present number will probably occupy a portion of our two succeeding numbers, and will temporally interfere with some other communications already noticed, and intended for our columns.

The story of the " Devil Outwitted," although it might gratify some of our readers, would displease many

more.

SIR, I was extremely glad to see a letter in your last sigued I. P. respecting an amateur play; and WALKING DRESS.—A round dress, composed of The anagrams of COLLECTOR, together with several some of the youths of Liverpool will not suffer this poplin: the bottom of the skirt is finished with a season to pass away as they have the last two, with full rouleau of satin to correspond; over this is a similar bagatelles, are in reserve for the Christm out a renewal of this truly laudable undertaking. trimming composed of plaitings of double gauze cut holidays. There is not an Institution in town which is not out bias, and disposed in a scroll pattern; the plaited of funds, particularly the Dispensary, and although they cannot all be aided by our endeavours, still it edge is covered with satin piping; a rouleau of will assist some Institution or other and be credita-satin, somewhat smaller than that at the bottom, is ble to the town. Through your medium I shall be glad to hear from any your correspondents, and in the mean time am yours truly,

TO THE EDITOR.

J. H. P.

placed above this trimming. The corsage is made high, with a small collar, which sits rather close to the neck. Epaulette, composed of satin in the form of a wing; there are two double folds, one a little smaller than the other. The bottom of the long sleeve is finished with three narrow satin rouleaus, disposed to form points in front of the arm. The pelissee worn over this dress is composed of gros de SIR-In admiration of the beautiful Spire of St. Naples, of a singular but very beautiful colour, Michael's Church, I had determined to suppress some something between a lilac and a purple; it is observations on what I considered to be blemishes in other wadded, and the skirt is made pretty full; the body parts of that magnificent and well-built structure; is tight to the shape; the waist, which is of a mowhich I proudly hailed as the finest architectural orna- derate length, is ornamented at bottom by a knot ment of our town. I had determined not to notice the heavy entablature over the pillars at the east end, with- of ribbon. The pelerine is of the same material out an urn or ornament to relieve its sombre massiness as the pelisse; it is rounded behind, comes only to -having the appearance of a stone coffin, and raised the point of the shoulder, and tapers down in front higher than the other part of the wall, on purpose, ap- in a manuer very advantageous to the shape. The parently, to introduce into the descent two miserably long sleeve is rather tight to the arm; it is finishHat scrolls or figures of S, which bear no affinity what-ed at the wrist with a very full trimming of gros de ever to any other part of the building; and the whole Naples to correspond. The half-sleeve is very full, forming a striking contrast to the airy and elegant front. and of a novel and pretty form, and is extremely I anticipate in answer to this, an overwhelming account novel and striking; it goes round the bottom and of masonic proportions and orders, clouded in all the obscure technicality of the ancient art.-But I claim the privilege of judging, by an untutored perception of beauty; and I contend, that if in dearth of invention we assume the style of the great masters, whose works are now mouldering amidst the fallen grandeur of Greece and of Rome, we ought at least, whilst we imitate their beauties, to abandon their defects. These would have passed unnoticed; but the finishing of the spire, otherwise a finely proportioned structure, has elicited these few remarks. We have, Sir, a crown stone, or capital, of prodigious size; and which, placed upon what seems the slenderest part of the spire, without any intervening flowerwork or tracery, as at the top of St. Thomas's, appears as if perched upon a pivet. So close to this stone, that it almost appears resting upon it, we have a ball, like

up the fronts of the pelisse, and also encloses the
pelerine-Head-dress, a bonnet composed of the
same material as the pelisse, and lined with white
satin. The brim is very large; it is finished at the
edge with gauze to correspond; the crown is mode-
rately high, and is ornamented with a full bouquet
of flowers made of feathers, whtch corresponds with
the bonnet.-Limerick gloves, and boots the colour
of the pelisse.

round dress, ornamented at the bottom of the
EVENING DRESS.-A white gros de Naples
skirt by a broad band of bias white satin, disposed
in deep plaits; this is surmounted by three white
satin rouleaus, which are wreathed with pearl. The

ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH.-Without assuming f
knowledge of architecture, or making any pres
to taste in the fine arts, we had anticipated W. the
judgment he has passed upon the clumsy effect of the
bulky ball and cross by which this beautiful edifice
has been recently surmounted. Our correspondent,
whose letter was sent to us early last week, will
ceive that some change appears to be in contemplation;
from which we are led to conclude that the heavy
pearance of those intended ornaments has occured
those whose reputation is more immediately conce
in the completion of this noble pile.
D's lines to ELLEN in our next.

We have to notice also M. T.-SARAH-A. L.—R. §.—

HENRICUS.

THEATRICAL CRITIQUES.-Our CONSTANT READ ER is informed, that the theatrical season being now near the close, he will have a long respite from the critiques for which he seems to have so little relish.

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