ion would lead them to other establish- | Massaniello in German, for the first time ments. While speaking of native opera, in this country; and the public had then we would suggest to the manager the propriety of reviving such established favourites as the Padlock, Duenna, No Song no Supper, Cabine, Comus, Love in a Village, Quaker, Siege of Belgrade, and a host of English comic operas, rather than resort to Donizetti or M. Ambrose Thomas. The Matrimonial Ladder is a very amusing comic operetta. A new opera by Macfarren, the composer of the Devil's Opera, is in operation.

an opportunity of witnessing how fully these artists are out of their element in either a French or an Italian opera. Madame Schumann was entirely lost as the Dumb Girl. Haitzinger's music was perfect; but in manner and gesture it was evident there was something wanting. Mozart's Titus is to be performed on the 31st inst.

Ulysses and Circe, Romberg; Concerto violin, M. Deloffre, Mayseder; Overture, Joseph, Mehul; Scena, Miss Masson; "Sommo Ciel," and scena, Miss Birch.Ah perfido. The whole of the performances were loudly applauded, particularly Madame Dulcken and Miss Masson's. At the second Concert, Weber's Mermaid music, from Oberon, and Mendelssohn's Lobgesang, were performed in brilliant style. Belioz's overture to Benvenuto Cellini met with a very indifferent recep tion.

PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.-The season commenced with the following selection. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.-The Italian-Sinfonies No. 4, Haydn, and in A, Opera commenced this season some No. 7, Beethoven; Concerto pianoforte, weeks later than usual, with Cimarosa's Madame Dulcken, Weber; Overture, beautiful opera of Orazj e Curiazj, but it was very indifferently performed, owing to the non-arrival of the chosen stars of this theatre. The leading characters were filled by Madame Viardot and Mario, both very excellent performers, but unfitted for this beautiful specimen of the old lyrical tragedy of Italy. It has been followed by Rossini's celebrated opera of Tancredi, reproduced after a lapse of some years. M. Pauline Garcia added another wreath to her already verdant crown, by her beautiful performance of Tancredi. Persiani, in the part of Ainenaide, exhibited her wonted skill and delicacy. Yet the great theatre does not fill from two causes; first, the superiority of the German company in the choruses and concerted pieces, and, secondly, the paucity of talent now on the boards of her Majesty's theatre.

DRURY LANE.-The German company, under the direction of M. Schumann, commenced their season of fifty nights with a numerous company of well-selected performers, including Madame Stockl Heinefetter, Madame Schumann, M. Haitzinger, and Sesselman. To these the bills have announced the engagement of the celebrated Madame Schroeder Devrient, and Meyerbeer: neither of these stars, however, are likely to appear in London; from which the public will perceive the English manager has not left off his puffing propensity. The operas of Der Freischutz, Jessonda and Fridolin have been most effectively produced, and the choruses have excited the greatest enthusiasm ; they are really magnificent.

DRURY LANE THEATRICAL FUND.-The Anniversary Festival will be held on the 31st, when Mr. Harley's speech, respecting the management of the theatre, is looked forward to with interest.

On Wednesday the company performed

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.-Mr. George Perry, the leader of the orchestra of this very excellent society, reproduced his oratorio of The Death of Abel, a few days since at Exeter Hall. The oratorio is unquestionably a work of merit, and reflects great honour on the composer. The music bears all the peculiarities which distinguish the style of Handel, and we have no doubt it will become a standard oratorio, although it has not yet been repeated. The solos were effectively sung by Miss Birch, Mr. Phillips, Leffler and Hobbs.

THE OLYMPIC THEATRE has been taken by Mr. George Wild, from whose experience in stage management the public may confidently anticipate a good selection of novelties. He is one of the best low comedians on the boards, and he deserves every success.

THE PRINCESS's. It is rumored, our old favourite Mr. Willy intends re-opening this theatre shortly, with Promenade Concerts; we know no one more capable of conducting a promenade concert than this celebrated violinist.

ADELPHI. This theatre will shortly close, after a short but successful season. The only novelty has been Satanus, an adoption from Le Diable Amoreux, which has been so attractive at Paris, at her Ma

jesty's theatre in London as a ballet, and I have done a great deal for the support of the at the Queen's. The plot details how his legitimate drama, and have kept up a taste satanic majesty is represented to have for the plays of our best authors, at a time entrusted to an inferior female demon the when the regular theatre has been dese. task of betraying the soul of a certain crated with the extravagance of meloItalian Count; the female demon is ex- drama, outrageous farce, and pantomimic hibited tumbling headlong in love with spectacle. This is extremely creditable her victim; love is shown to be the great to the Shakspearian Society, and the memreformer even of devils; the bewildered bers of it deserve the unqualified thanks little demoniacal female practises acts of of the community for the attempt, and devotion, in her earthly sojourn, that set also for successfully withstanding the inall her confederates below fairly aghast; flux of a spurious dramatic literature, and when, at the conclusion, her infernal which has almost swept from the English master wishes to pull her back to Tarta- stage the great, sterling, and standard rus, it is found that he has suddenly lost plays of Shakspeare and his followers. all further power over her. So potent is Their leading star (Mr. Barnard Gregory) love. Mrs. Honey is the bewitching de- has been effective as Rienzi, Shylock, Sir mon at this theatre. John Falstaff, and Othello; he is generally considered to resemble Edmund Kean; but in this opinion we cannot concur.

THE QUEEN'S THEATRE.-This rising little theatre has been nightly filled to witness Satanus and other novelties, which the lessee has presented to the public. The scenery at this house is fully equal to that of any minor theatre in London.

The THESPIANS rank second only to the Shakspearians. Messrs. Silver, Harcourt, Wightman, Cowper, Wilson, and Mrs. Fitzgerald, are each excellent in their several styles of acting, and fully prove that genuine acting cannot be taught; that a player must have genjus to appreciate the poet's language, to enable him to enchant an audience by its recital.

The musical world has been a most indefatigable censurer of the Promenade Concerts; and it has repeatedly declared these concerts to be "a foe to the interests of music;" for our parts, we believe this species of entertainment to have been productive of great benefit to the musical The SOCIETY of BRITISH MUSICIANS reprofession with all its defects at Drury cently gave a concert of vocal and instruLane, from the introduction of cannon mental music, consisting chiefly of the and red fire, it has tended very materially productions of the members, and afford. to make the English public acquainted ing the British public an opportunity for with good music. The gratification of evincing its disposition towards prohearing the magnificent symphonies of Beethoven and Haydn, is sufficient to redeem all the follies that have been committed; and we are not disposed to forget the great services rendered to the public by Messrs. Arnold, Laurent, sen., Harper, Platt, Hatton, and G. Cook, for introducing these delightful concerts to the British public.

Mr. John Hullah has afforded efficient aid in cultivating a taste for music, by opening a singing class for schoolmasters at Exeter Hall, on the system of M. Wil. helm of Paris. This method is clear and progressive; but it overcomes all the difficulties that present themselves to the uninitiated, as the system is gradual and sure; three classes have been already formed.

Two societies, having for their object the support and advancement of the legitimate drama, have created considerable sensation among the admirers of good acting.

The first of these, the SHAKSPEARIANS,

moting the interest of native talent. Mr. Willy led a very full band, in his usual able manner; and Sir George Smart, the ornament of the profession, conducted.

One of the five genuine signatures of Shakspeare in existence (three are af fixed to his will,) was recently sold for one hundred guineas; and the fifth is about to be offered by auction; the signature is "WILLM. SHAKSPERE."

"The Free the German Rhine."Mills.-A Popular German Patriotic Song, founded on the recent exposition of the designs of France with respect to the Rhenish Provinces of Germany. The original poem by N. Becker, with the music as composed by Dr. Schumann, of Leipzig, is now singing with the utmost enthusiasm in all parts of Germany. The spirit of the original poem has been preserved in the present translation by J. W. Hudson, and the alterations have been carefully adapted to the English taste.

More than one hundred persons have composed music to this popular poem,

but Dr. Schumann's is admitted to be Slingsby Duncombe, Esq. M P., in gratithe most perfect in originality and expres- tude for his parliamentary services in favour of those theatres which are under

sion.

Mr. Duncombe, M. P., has been pre- the jurisdiction of the Lord Chambersented with a beautifully chased silver lain; and which his labours have relieved cup, cover, and salver, with the Dun- from certain painful restrictions. This combe arms on one side, and the follow- cup is presented, &c." ing inscription on the other, "To Thomas

MISCELLANEOUS LITERARY NOTICES:

FRANCE.

An Academy of the Art of Poetry was estab lished at Toulouse in 1323, under the direction THE want of public schools for young children of seven poets of rank. Artists who contended is almost as great in France as in England. In for the prize, which consisted of a flower of gold 321 communes or parishes there are 575 infant or silver, were sometimes subject to an oral exschools, which instruct 50,000 children, but amination as to their acquaintance with the there are ten of the departments which have no principles of the art, and their capacity to feel infant schools whatever; for although accom- and estimate the merits of the passion which modation has been afforded for the instruction formed the general theme of poetry. The proof five millions of children, yet only three mil-blems proposed were often difficult of solution. lions attended during the last winter, and but The following is an example: Imagine two 1,800,000 during the summer. The number of lovers, one of whom is constantly harassed by normal schools in France is also far too limited, being only 74, which are enabled to perfect 900 schoolmasters annually, while the annual number required is full 1500. In the department of the Upper Rhine there are 767 schools, partly parochial and partly private, for the poorer and middle classes; these are attended in winter by 67,000 children, and in summer by 30,000. In addition to these, there are 15 private schools for the higher classes, and 16 schools for Jewish children in this department.

The third part of E. Burnouf's Collection Orientale, entitled Le Bhagavata purana, ou Histoire poétique de Krichna, has just been published at Paris. The first portion of this work, published in 1837, was Raschid Elden, Histoire des Mongols de la Perse, and the first volume of the second part was published the following year, entitled Abou'lkasim Firdousi, Le Livre des Rois.

According to a recent calculation made by M. Villeneuve-Bargemont, the number of mendicants in France amounts to 178,000 persons; of these 40,000 are aged, 32,000 sickly and ill, 76,000 are children, and 30,000 healthy men and women. This calculation shows there is one mendicant in every 166 inhabitants.

Adam Michiwicz, the celebrated professor of the ancient languages of eastern Europe, has been appointed professor of the Sclavonic language at the University of Paris.

jealousy, and the other, on the contrary, enjoys calmly and without suspicion the affections of his mistress; which of the two loves most? To judge of the correctness of the answer, A Court of Love was summoned, consisting of a jury of ladies, whose decisions were registered and respected as decrees.

The Libraire d'Education, published under the auspices of Victor Boreau and L. F. Hivert, is proceeding rapidly towards completion. The History of France, in 2 vols., by Boreau; the History of England, by Boreau and Lafon; the History of Russia, by Duchiron; the History of Poland, by Cynski; the History of Italy, by Boreau and Duchiron; and the History of Germany, by Boreau, have severally appeared. The two next volumes of this work are Littérature cours méthodique and Siècles Littéraires de la France, and will shortly be published.

du

A very entertaining work, Le Compagnon Tour de France, has just appeared from the pen of the talented authoress, who writes under the title of George Sand. The work has not been published in any of the French magazines, as is usually the case with this writer's productions.

Ferdinand Dugué, a youthful poet of great promise, whose verses are distinguished for tenderness and sentimentality, has just published a collection of Sonnets, which he entitles Les gouttes de Rosée; and he justifies himself for

the title in the following concluding lines of a sonnet, dedicated to Marie :

"Votre amour est la fleur, mes vers sont la rosée Dont les gouttes souvent ressemblent à des pleurs !"

that realm, and two kreutzers if printed abroad and not exceeding one sheet; the stamping will take place at the post-offices on the frontier.

The duty on books and music entering the Austrian dominions is 10s. per cwt. A reduction has been made on all plates, maps, plans and illustrations belonging to and accompanying the works. The duty on plates, engravings and drawings on paper is reduced from 67. to 1l. per cwt., paintings pay 10s. The export duty on all the above-mentioned articles is 17. 5s. per cwt.

The good people of Britanny have some curious legends connected with the story of the famed Eloisa and Abelard. They believe Eloisa to have been a witch; and de la Villemarqué has an interesting poem, in his collection of Poetry of Britanny, giving a description of the various charms and spells used by Eloisa. Pope, at the head of his poem, states: "Eloisa and The government of Saxony has instituted a Abelard flourished in the twelfth century. They pension fund for the widows and orphans of were two of the most distinguished persons of schoolmasters of evangelical schools. their age in learning and beauty; but for noth- At a meeting of German naturalists at Erlaning more famous than for their unfortunate pas-gen, Dr. Coch, of Jena, presented his new map sion. After a long course of calamities, they of the Caucasian provinces, the result of three retired each to a several convent, and conse-years' residence in those provinces. Professor crated the remainder of their days to religion." Olympios, from Athens, attended the meeting, Professor Boutriche, the author of several and furnished the society with some most interchronological works, has just published his esting details respecting the natural history of Tableau comparatif et historique des Religions anciennes et modernes, des principales Sectes Religieuses et des Ecoles Philosophiques. This comprehensive work is represented to be welldigested, and as exhibiting great talent and research.

Greece.

Kronberger, the spirited publisher at Prague, has just issued the first part of Franz Palacky's This interesting work Böhmisches Archivs. will consist of twelve parts, forming four volumes; the first part contains the writings of the Emperor Sigismund from 1414 to 1437; King Wenzel and the Herrenverein from 1394 to 1401; and the writings of Wilhelm von Pernstein in 1520.

The Zoll-Verein has been renewed for the space of eight years longer by several of the minor German states. On the other hand Holland has withdrawn from the conditions of the treaty of commerce with Prussia.

The line of railway from Magdeburg to LeipZig has been exceedingly flourishing. "From its opening on the 18th August to the end of the year (1840), 200,000 persons, paying 20,000., have travelled along the line, and the receipts for goods have exceeded 5,000.

M. de Lamartine has just issued his report to the Chamber of Deputies on the state of literary property in France; it is exceedingly well written. He justly observes, "While we make a code for the protection of literary property in France, the necessity of an international code everywhere discovers itself in the complaints of our writers, the losses of our publishers, and by the unanimous cry all over Europe against the scandalous pillage of public and private property, which, doubtless, the silence of the law of public right sanctions, but which is, nevertheless, a disgrace to civilisation. Hardly is a book printed in London, Vienna or Paris, than the foreign printers seize it, and without submitting to the regulations of the public revenue or Death of Carl von Rotteck.-This melancholy of national labour, without advancing the inte- event, which occurred on the 26th December, rests of the publisher or author, they print it in has deprived the literary world of Germany of every form, and inundate Europe and America one of its most popular historians, and the conwith their piratical literature, which always stitutional cause of one of its most uncompro proves the most profitable speculation, because mising and strenuous advocates. As a proof of the traders in this disgraceful traffic never reprint books of which the success has not been already established, and the profit consequently certain."

the estimation in which the Weltgeschichte was held, a bookseller in Brunswick gave the large sum of 1,500l. for the right of publishing it a short time since. The town in which he lived has actually, it may be said, gone into mourning for his loss.

A recent official statement of the number of students in the several Universities of Prussia at different periods exhibits a surprising reduction in the return for the last few years. The total number of students in 1829 was 6097, but in 1839 it was only 4582; a falling off of one half has taken place in the theological and juridical faculties, while medicine and philosophy have received additional attention.

A professorship of modern Greek literature has been attached to the University of Berlin, and Dr. J. Franz has received the appointment; he has promised his assistance in the continuation of Professor Böckh's Corpus Inscriptionum Græcorum.

Dr. Breitenstein, who taught His Royal Highness Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg musical composition, has received a handsome gold snuffbox from His Royal Highness.

after truth. We trust that no injudicious at tempts of prohibition will raise his popularity; and we have then little doubt, that as the works of this writer become more numerous, they will bring their own antidote with them. Meanwhile, the friends of the Church should not be idle.

The various plans and estimates ordered by the King of Prussia relative to the building of the superb cathedral of Cologne have been laid before his Prussian Majesty, who has determin- Henry Heine, the celebrated author of the ed on proceeding with the work, and at least to" Buch der Leider," has, in his last production, connect the façade with the magnificent choir." Heiue über Borne," shown how deeply a man PRUSSIA. Schelling has been appointed to an can sink, who wanders without fixed principles. office in the department of Justice in Berlin, with Glaring self-conceit, arrogance, and a want of liberty to give what lectures he pleases. The sincerity, are throughout apparent. Even in his atmosphere of Munich does not seem favourable best productions, there was always much leaven, to the study of science; for this celebrated pro- yet even his worst enemies could hardly have fessor has announced a course of lectures on the prophesied that he would have sunk so low. Philosophy of Mythology, with the humiliating addition, "if a sufficient number of hearers could be found." On this occasion, however, the lecture room was crowded; and the students received him with enthusiastic applause. Schelling is not the only loss which the capital of Bavaria will suffer; Cornelius goes to Berlin, and Kaulbach will most probably follow.

Prince Puckler Muskau, whose "Letters on England" excited so great a sensation some years ago, loses ground in the opinion of his countrymen, notwithstanding his frequent attempts to attract their attention. Immermann's satirical sketch of the Prince, in his "Munchhausen," seems not far from the truth.

The censorship on the publication of works Bavaria was so severe under the Prince Theodore in 1798, that a work on Cookery was prohibited, because it contained a recipe by which fish might be prepared so as to resemble meat dishes.

Dr. Pertz of Hanover, the editor of the "Monu-in menta Germanica," has, it is said, been offered the place of librarian at Berlin. It is not certain whether he will accept it.

In Berlin, 13,000 children are educated wholly or partly at the expense of the city. In 1819, the public funds only contributed 4301. yearly for the poor and for the purposes of gratuitous instruction; at present 43,000l. are voted annually for this purpose. The prison discipline, we believe, did not produce a favourable impression on Mrs. Fry, on her recent visit to that city. All children of a certain age are required by law to attend some places of instruction. The following statement is from a recent German paper:-Of 100 children of the age required, 91 attended the public schools in Prussian Saxony; in Silesia, 86; in Brandenburg, 84; in Westphalia, 83; in the Rhine provinces, 80; in Pomerania, 76; in Prussia proper, 74; and in Posen, 61. In the city of Berlin, only 59 children in every 100 visited the public schools. It is much to be regretted, that the list does not likewise give the proportions of those who attend private schools.

Brockhaus of Leipsic has published a work by Talvj, on the unauthenticity of Ossian's Poems, more particularly Macpherson's collection.

The first circulating or lending library in Europe was established at Wetzlar by Winkler, the bookseller and printer, towards the termination of the seventeenth century.

ITALY.

The first part of an architectural work of great promise has been published at Florence, entitled Opere Architettoniche di Raffaello Sanzio. The illustrations and remarks are by Carlo Pontani, who appears to have a most perfect acquaintance with the history and progress of Grecian architecture.

A very comprehensive work, descriptive of all the galleries of paintings in Rome, is in course of publication in that city.

Literature in Italy has sustained a great loss by the death of Dr. Gage, who had scarcely completed the third volume of his Carteggio inedito d'Artisti dei Secola XIV. XV. XVI. publicato ad illustrato con documenti pure inediti, when he died at Florence, at the age of 37, universally regretted. The Carteggio is published by Molini of Florence, and is a work of great value, exhibiting great historical research.

According to the new law for the protection of literary property, the duration of the copyright was extended ten years; it expired previously after thirty years from the death of the author. A question has arisen whether the new law should be retrospective. The booksellers of Berlin have sent in a memorandum, but we believe that no decision has yet been published. Strauss's new work, "The Christian Dogma in its Contest with Science," has appeared, and excited a great sensation. The hopes that were entertained that the author of the "Life of Je- | sus Christ" would, in his theological studies, soon see reason to abandon the negative position which he had taken, are little likely to be fulfilled. Notwithstanding the enthusiastic admiration of a numerous party, we cannot think that this new work will add to his reputation. It resembles more the work of an advocate of pre- Periodical literature continues to revive, both conceived opinions, than the work of a man, in Madrid and Cadiz. The best conducted jourwho with courage and boldness sincerely seeks nals are El Piloto, El Correo Nacional, and El

A new romance, Gina novella Italiana, by L. Romani, has appeared at Milan, and is attracting considerable attention. This novel possesses the great novelty of drowning all the characters introduced in the story, by which a termination to the romance is easily effected.

SPAIN.