The last prediction of the Parisian sooth-sayers was not so fortunate. Early in July, 1816, it was rumoured that the sun would be extinct on the 18th; and on the 15th the placards began to appear in the wax-chandlers' shops of the Palais Royal: As the sun will be eteint on the 18th, il faut faire une provision de bougies.'-Panor.

From the Panorama.

BRITISH EMBASSY TO PEKIN.

31

her, muttering to himself, Si je tombe, je his sword, and declared in a loud tone me releverai. The fall and the recovery of voice he would not stir. The noise both took place, and, as we know, are of his voice disturbed some of his suite, come to pass; for by the royal amnesty, who being overcome with fatigue, had the servants of Napoleon are the servants fallen asleep on a couch. They rallied of Louis XVIII., which no Bourbon about him, and Lord A. seeing Mr. could have believed.' Cook, his aid-de-camp, about to draw his sword, he called to him, saying, "Mr. Cook, do not draw yet." The Duke then pacified him, and left him. He however returned very shortly, saying the Emperor had sent a gracious message, that they must now return to Tong Chew, and that he would see them another day. Consequently, they again set out on their journey, after having been a few hours only at Yuen Min Yuen. They passed through the suburbs of Pekin, but did not enter the city, The following is given as the most au- and arrived at Tong Chew late at night thentic account of the causes which led (I believe) on the second day after they to the failure of the British Embassy, had left it. Every thing now appeared under the conduct of Lord Amherst. settled; and they expected in a few For further particulars we must wait till days to be admitted into the presence of the whole history appears officially. the Emperor; but just before the break Similar circumstances are not new to the of day, they were all disturbed out of Chinese Court; a Russian Embassy, their sleep, with an order to prepare insent over land, some years ago was stop- stantly for their journey to Canton. No ped on the same account; and after sev- kind of solicitation was made by Lord eral fruitless attempts, gave up the inten- A. to remain, though some of the embastion of seeing the Chinese Sovereign, sy say, that the mandarins evidently and returned home. The harmony of wished it. In a little time presents were the two countries continued uninterrupted. brought from the Emperor, and others It appears that discussions, negocia- were taken in return by the Chinese, who tions, and threats, were used at Tong were permitted to make their own selecChew, in order to procure the perform- tion. They then set out on their jourance of the ceremonies. The point ney, and have been treated with every seemed to be given up by the Chinese, mark of attention ever since. The Emand Lord A. proceeded to Yuen Min peror has published a kind of penitentia-. Yuen, the Imperial gardens near Pe ry edict, complaining of having been deKing; and after travelling all night, to ceived by his mandarins, &c. &c.; and his great surprise when he alighted from the Chinese that I have conversed with, his carriage, at six o'clock in the morning, evidently feel themselves disgraced. In he found himself in the Imperial Court, short, it is the general opinion in the Surrounded by the princes, and principal factory, that the spirited manner in which officers of state. An attempt was made Lord A. conducted himself, will be proto usher him unshaved, unwashed, and ductive of as much, if not more good, without his credentials, into the Empe- than had they been received in the hurror's presence. Something like force, ried manner that seemed to be intended. though not actual force, was used. At It has given the Chinese, and particularthis time he had thrown himself, over- ly the court, some insight into our spircome with fatigue, into a chair in a small ited and independent character; and room which was allotted him out of the they have seen, for the first time, an crowd. Finding himself rudely seized by the arm, he sprang from his chair, and shook the person (the Duke as he is called) off; (I believe) he put his hand on

English ambassador acting with calmness and dignity, in a most trying situation, disputing the right of equality for his own sovereign, and despising

menaces of an Emperor, who declares there is but one sun in the heavens, and one emperor on earth.

Sir George Staunton will return home.

VOL. 2.

would make his sonne heir to the crown, though he only meant his own house, having a crown for the signe; more dangerous it is, to wit-wanton it with

with Lord Amherst, whose arrival is the majesty of God. Wherefore, if shortly expected.--Pan. July, 1817.

AN ELEPHANT'S GALLANTRY. Petersburgh, April 2, 1817.

A

without thine intention, and against thy will, by chance-medly thou bitest scripture in ordinary discourse, yet fly to the city of refuge, and pray to God to forgive

wooden house has been built for the ele- thee.--Scoff not at the naturall defects phants with which the Emperor has been of any which are not in their power to presented by the Shah of Persia: the mend. Oh, 'tis crueltie to beat a cripmale is seventeen feet high, and is the ple with his own crutches!--Neither same upon which the Persian monarch scorn any for his profession if honest, used to ride under an awning. Some though poor and painfull. He that rePersians have remained here to attend lates another man's wicked jest with dethese animals. A very curious circum- light, adopts it for his own. He that stance occurred a few days since. A will lose his friend for a jest, deserves to lady who often came to see the elephant, die a beggar by the bargain.-We read was accustomed to bring him bread, apples, &c. One day the animal, by way of shewing his gratitude, seized the lady with his trunk, and put her upon his back, on the place where the driver usally sits. The poor woman, terrified by this unexpected piece of gallantry, shrieked violently, and begged to be taken down; but the Persians assured her that it was far more prudent to remain where she was. She was, therefore, obliged to wait till the elephant laid hold of her again, and set her down as gently as he had before lifted her up.-[Panor.

These "Selections" from the Works of Fuller and South are well calculated to instruct by sound precept, and convince by powerful argument at the same time that they amuse and delight by continual sallies of humour and wit.

Jesting-Harmless mirth is the best cordial against the consumption of the spirits; wherefore, jesting is not unlawfull, if it trespasseth not in quantity, quality, or season. Jest not with the two-edged sword of God's word. Will nothing please thee to wash thy hands in, but the font? or to drink healths in, but the church chalice? And know, the whole art is learnt at the first admission, and profane jests will come without calling. If in the troublesome days of King Edward the Fourth, a citizen in Cheapside was executed as a traitour, for saying he

that all those who were born in England the year after the beginning of the great mortality in 1349, wanted their foure cheek teeth. Such let thy jests be, that they may not grinde the credit of thy friend, and make not jests so long till thou becomest one."-Fuller.

NATURAL HISTORY. BEES.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIR-As I was lately walking in a garden, I noticed some bees busily employed upon the blossoms of some scarlet runner kidney beans; I was surprised to find that, instead of burying themselves within the blossom, as is their us ual manner with other flowers, they alighted on the outside,and thrust their proboscis into an opening, which appeared to be formed by nature for that purpose, and which was found only in those flowers whose petals were fully expanded. I examined the blossoms of some dwarf beans, but could find none of them perforated in a similar manner. As I have never met with a notice of this fact, I hope you will favour it with a place.

INTERIOR HEAT OF THE EARTII.

Y.

It is well known that the deeper we penetrate into the earth the greater is the warmth. At Frerberg, they pretend to have calculated, that this increase of warmth amounts to one degree of the thermometer for 150 feet from which it is inferred, that at the depth of 50 German (225 English) miles, iron must melt, and the interior of the earth be a sea of liquid fire.

VOL. 2.]

Memoir of M. Talma.

MEMOIRS OF EMINENT PERSONS.

33

MEMOIR OF M. Talma, the freNCH GARRICK. (Extracted principally from Lady MORGAN's" France," a new novel.)

From the London Literary Gazette.

TALMA, who is now in his fif- French critics have been divided in tieth year, was born in France, opinion concerning the merits of Talma, and remained there till he attained his who is the creator of a new style of deceighth year, when he was sent to receive lamation on the French stage. Some a part of his education in England. It have accused him of heaviness in his is a remarkable circumstance in this early delivery, a hollowness of tone, and a part of his life, that he was selected to voice which is almost always confined, perform a principal character in a play, and which never developes itself except that was got up and performed before by sudden bursts. Others declare him to their Royal Highnesses the Prince Re- be a model of the beau idéal, and an gent and Duke of York, by the proprie- artist who has arrived at a degree of pertors of the academy where he was placed; fection which none ever before attained, and that, tho' he acquitted himself very and which none can in future hope to well, he was so much agitated by his acquire. emotions in this his first essay, as not to Impartial amateurs agree that no one recover from its effects for some time after equals Talma in the character of a tyrant the performance was over. He returned or a conspisator, such as Nero, Manlius, to France in his fifteenth year to finish &c.; but in those which require spirit, his education, remained at college a few nobleness, and dignity, like Tancred, years, and revisited England in 1783. Orosmanes, Achilles, &c. they prefer It was at this period that he first felt an La Fond, who at this moment shares inclination for that profession, of which with him the tragic sceptre of the Theatre he was destined to become so distinguish- Français. ed an ornament. On seeing Mr.Kemble The French almost despair of finding and Mrs. Siddons in tragedy, he return his equal---his superior they think imposed to France in 1786, and began to ap- sible. It was not to be expected that ply himself to surgery as his future pro- such a man as Talma, considering the fession; but his predominant passion still times in which he lived,could have avoidcarrying him to the stage, M. Molé, a ed the imputation of party principles. He celebrated comic actor with whom he accordingly has been put down as of the became acquainted, took him under his revolutionary party; but this is an error, care, and, from the high opinion he en- or rather a calumny, of his enemies, for tertained of his talents, introduced him to he was, during the whole course of the the committee of the Theatre Français, moderate party, and, whatever his eneby whom he was engaged in 1787 he mies may say to the contrary, he never made his first appearance in the character made himself conspicuous. His comof Seid in Voltaire's Mahomet. He was manding talents---his general acquirethen about 20. ments---and, above all, the excellence of his private character, so distinguished for liberality and hospitality, cannot fail to ensure him a favourable reception in this country. He speaks English fluently, but does not intend to perform any character in an English play, nor indeed is it certain that he will in a French one,as he came here merely for his amusement.

The debut of Talma excited no enthusiasm. The part of Charles IX. in the tragedy of that name, by Chenier, was the only one which afforded him an opportunity of commencing and establishing his reputation. Among other things, it was observed that he devoted such minute attention to his costume and head-dress, and gave so peculiar an ex- The celebrated critic Geoffroy, per

pression to his features, that he presented a striking resemblance to the portraits which are preserved of that monarch.

haps a little too much imbued with the principles of the old school, frequently

F Vol. 2. ATHENEUM.

34 Extracts from Lady Morgan's" France"-Talma, the Tragedian. [vol. 2.

attacked the acting and declamation of childish solicitude and curiosity, I soon Talma in the Journal des Debats. The perceived that I was cold, languid, and latter, who was intoxicated with the inanimate to the genuine French audience applauses lavished upon him, could not that surrounded me. The house was an endure the pointed censures with which overflow at an early hour: the orchestra, the old critic daily stung him. One cleared of all its instruments, was filled evening, whilst Geoffroy was at the to suffocation; and the parterre, as usual, Theatre Français, accompanied by his crowded with men (chiefly from the wife, and a lady and gentleman their public schools and lycées, whose critifriends, the door of his box suddenly cisms not unfrequently decide the fate of opened while the performers were on the new pieces, and give weight to the repustage. A man appeared, and said in a tation of old ones,) exhibited hundreds loud voice, "Is M. Geoffroy here?" of anxious faces, marked countenances, Without waiting for a reply, he entered and figures and costumes which might the box, and seizing Geoffroy by the answer alike for the bands of brigandage, hand, "Come out, villain!" continued or the classes of philosophy. Some were he." Heavens, 'tis M. Talma!" ex- reading over the tragedy; others were claimed Madame Geoffroy. The friend commenting particular passages; a low of the critic then repelling the tragic murmur of agitation crept through the monarch, whose nails were already im- house like the rustling of leaves to a genprinted in characters of blood upon the tle wind, until the rising of the curtain hand of his censor, succeeded in forcing stilled every voice, composed every him out of the box and closing the door muscle, and riveted the very existence of upon him. The door was however, the audience (if I may use the expression) opened a second time; the siege of the upon the scene. box again commenced, but the occupants "The theatres of other countries had the advantage, and remained masters assemble spectators, but an audience is of the field of battle. Had such an only to be found in a French theatre. affair as this occurred in England, the Through the whole five acts attention actor would have been tried for an never flagged for a moment; not an eye assault. In France, however, he was was averted, not an ear unattending; dismissed with a slight reproof, which every one seemed to have the play by Savary, who was then minister of police, heart, and every one attended, as if they delivered to him with a smile. On the had never seen it before. following day Geoffroy gave a description of this scene in the Journal des Debats, and was expert enough to turn the joke against his adversary.

Napoleon was exceedingly attached to Talma, and appointed him his reader.

We are happy in being able on the present occasion to subjoin an extract from Lady Morgan's forth-coming work, further illustrative of the peculiar talents of this distinguished actor.

"In the famous scene of Britannicus where Agrippina is left tête-à-tête with her son, to enter on her defence, Mademoiselle. Georges, as the Roman empress, went through a long speech of a hundred and ten lines, with great clearness, elegance of enunciation, and graceful calmness of action.

"During the first seventy lines of this speech, Talma, as Nero, sat a patient and tranquil auditor. No abrupt inter"Britannicus," says Lady Morgan, ruption of haughty impatience, disdain"so long the fashion, from the inimitable ing the curb ofa long-neglected authority, performance of Talma in Nero, awaken- was furnished by the genius of the author, ed my most anxious expectations; and or gave play to the talents of the admirait was not without emotion that I saw ble actor; and the little by-play allowed myself, for the first time, in the great him, or rather that he allowed himself, national theatre of France, and in a box was not risked, until towards the close of chosen and procured for me by M. Talma the speech: it was then, however, exhimself. Still, however great my expec- quisite---it was nature. The constraint tation, however lively my impatience for of forced and half-given attention, the the rising of the curtain, which recalled languor of exhaustion, the restlessness of the long-blunted vivacity of feelings of tedium, and the struggle between some

VOL. 2.]

Talma the Tragedian.-Life of Wm. Hutton.

35

little remains of filial deference and hab- esprit de systéme, which the French itual respect, blended with the haughty have banished from every other art, and impatience of all dictation, were depicted, which keeps its last hold on their stage. not in strong symptoms and broad touches But he said, "If I attempt the least inof grimace and action, but with a keep- novation; if I frown a shade deeper toing, a tact, a fidelity to nature, inde- night than I frowned last night, in the scribably fine. His transition of attitude; same character, the parterre are sure to his playing with the embroidered scarf call me to order.' round his neck, and which made a part "The dignity and tragic powers of of his most classical costume, his almost Talma, on the stage, are curiously but appearing to count its threads, in the charmingly contrasted with the simplicity, inanity of his profound ennui, were all playfulness, and gaiety of his most untraits of the highest order of acting. In assuming, unpretending manners off the London, this acting would have pro- stage. I (who had never seen Coriolanus duced a thunder of applause; in Paris it was coldly received, because it was innovation; and many a black head in the parterre was searching its classical recesses, for some example from some traditional authority, from Baron, or Le Kain, of an emperor being restless on his chair, or of the incident of playing with the handkerchief being at all conformable to the necessity "de représenter noblement," in all kings, since the time of Louis le Grand.

in the drawing-room, but as I had seen Coriolanus in the Forum,) expected to meet this great tragedian in private life, in all the pomp and solemnity of his profession; the cold address, the measured phrase; in a word, I expected to meet the actor: but in the simple, unaffected manners of this celebrated person, I found only the well-bred and accomplished gentleman.

Talma had, in bis

early life, been intimate with Buonaparte ; and the ex-emperor (who never forgot "Whether on the stage at the Thé- the friends of the young engineer officer,) atre Français, or in the Thuilleries, accorded the petites-entrées of the place Talma is eminently superior to the school to the sovereign of the Theatre Français. whose rules he is obliged to obey. His Talma saw him constantly; not, howgreat genius always appeared to me to ever, to give him lessons (an invention be struggling against the methodical ob- at which Buonaparte and Talma both stacles presented to its exertions. He is laughed ;) but to discuss his favourite the Gulliver of the French stage tied topic, tragedy, of which he was passiondown by Lilliputian threads. Before ately fond. On this subject, however, talents like his can exert their full force, the actor frequently differed with the and take their utmost scope, a new emperor; while the emperor as frequently order of drama must succeed to the dictated to the actor, greeting him with, declamatory and rhyming school which Eh bien! Talma, vous n'avez pas usé now occupies the French stage. Talma de vos moyens hier au soir.' Napoleon is a passionate admirer of the English drama, and of Shakspeare. He speaks English fluently, and told me that he had a great desire to play in one of Shakspeare's tragedies. He did not complain, but he hinted at the restraint under which his talents laboured, from that

always disputed the merits of comedy, and observed to a gentleman, from whom I had the anecdote, Si vous préferez la comédie, c'est parceque vous vieillissez.' -Et vous, Sire,' replied Monsieur— vous aimez la tragédie, parceque vous êtes trop jeune.'”

THE LIFE OF WILLIAM HUTTON.

[It has been observed by some writers of emineuce, that if every person would fairly put down all his daily occurrences, and the movements of his mind, without any attempt to set himse if off as superior to other people, he would reader an acceptable service to the world. We are quite certain that no more

Continued.

convincing illustration of this remark nor a better example to be adopted, is to be found than in the present very instructive and entertaing volume, the actor of which was the creator of his own fortune. As a model of biographical composition in the form of a jo urnal, it is not exceeded even by the de