freedom of Foote's, for fear of giving offence; and from this cause has probably often repressed those coruscations of fancy, which would otherwise have shone with great lustre. In fact Garrick's chief excellence did not lie in the reciprocity of conversation; but in the narration of lively and agreeable anecdotes, humorous stories, &c. drawing his knowledge, as it were, rather from an intellectural reservoir than a spring. Yet in these respects he was often so pleasing, so fanciful, and so characteristic, that it would be difficult to find a man who could make and leave a more favourable impression on his company.

Foote's conversation was of such a description, that "nought but itself could be its parallel." Teeming with fancy and various knowledge, fearless of consequences, and privileged in the character of a wit, he took his stand with confidence, and threw his shafts around him with the dexterity of a master, the first and the last of his own school. He was rapid, lucid, and exuberant; and his image of ridicule, and portraits of characters, were so strong, novel, and whimsical, that he carried the imagination of his hearers insensibly along with him. In short, Garrick's conversation was like a gentle heat, that cheered and warmed; Foote's, a meteor that delighted by the splendour of its blaze.

Being (as is above remarked) a better scholar too than Garrick, he had a greater command of topics. He could turn from gay to grave, from lively to severe," with facility, and discuss whatever subject occurred with much precision and classical authority, while upon all such matters Garrick seemed to argue rather cautiously, and took care never to go beyond his depth; sometimes contenting himself with the character of an humble listener, and at other times playing an under-part to Foote. But these condescensions did not always conciliate the esteem of our hero; who, perhaps, envying the great fortune, and still greater professional abilities of his rival, availed himself of the only superiority which he retained, and seldom failed to exercise this with an unsparing keenness, whenever an opportunity offered.

Upon the whole, it would be difficult to pair two such masters of conversation; and they were always considered in the circles of those who ennobled rank and adorned literature. For though Foote had evidently the advantage in the bright and luminous parts, and raised the admiration of a louder laugh; Garrick gained a steadier approbation, and always excited a pleasing degree of mirth and inoffensive cheerfulness.

POETRY.

To Mrs. BILLINGTON,

ON HEARING HER LATELY SING SOME FAVOURITE SONGS.

By Mr. Pratt.

METHOUGHT a veice, distinct and clear

As ever mov'd attention's ear;

As ever won affection's heart,

Its magic would no more impart.

But since that well-known voice again
Resumes the still unrivall'd strain,
Unrivall'd where the melting sound,
Should spread the thrill of passion round-
Why should we give the palm to Rome,
When genius claims the wreath at home;
A bright Cecilia of our own,

Why should she abdicate her throne!

The warbler of our native plains

Shall sooth us with more dulcet strains,
With softer charm the bosom sway,

And the sweet harmonist obey,

Than loudest notes that only prove

The force of wONDER, not of LOVE.

June 6th, 1807.

SONNET.

THE MOTHER.

Translated from the Italian of Filicaje.
SEE the fond mother with her offspring round,
How melts her soul with pious tenderness !
As she surveys them, all her looks express
Maternal love, and happiness profound.
One to her breast, where the calm joys abound,
She eager clasps; another strives to bless
With words of sweet import; a third no less
Sooths; while another sports upon the ground.

By all their little ways their wants she knows ;

To each dispenses what its wants demand,

Or, feigning, frowns: the Almighty so, who throws
His glance from high, to Man each need supplies;
And if a prayer rejects, his bounteous hand,

Withholding, but to bless the more denies.

THE LONDON THEATRES.

JUNE.

HAY-MARKET.

29. John Bull. Peregrine, Mr. Chapman ; Sir Simon Roc dale, Mr. Mathews; Frank Rochdale, Mr. Palmer, jun; Hon. Tom Shuffleton, Mr. De Camp; Job Thornberry, Mr. Fawcett ; Dennis Brulgruddery, Mr. Waddy; Dan, Mr. Liston. Lady Caroline Braymore, Mrs. Litchfield; Mrs. Brulgruddery, Mrs. Powell; Mary, Mrs. Gibbs.-Village Lawyer. Scout, Mr. Fawcett; Snarl, Mr. Waddy; Sheepface, Mr. Liston; Mrs. Scout, Mrs. Powell.

30. Seeing is believing-Dramatist-Paul and Virginia. Paul, Mr. Bennet, from the Theatre Royal, Bath, his first appearance in London, and seventh on any stage; Alhambra, Mrs. Taylor; Tropic, Mr. Taylor; Dominique, Mr. Mathews; Virginia, Mrs Mathews; Jacintha, Mrs. Liston.

JULY.

1. Wonder--Don Felix (1st. time) Mr. Young; Don Pedro, Mr. Mathews; Don Lopez, Mr. Grove; Colonel Briton, Mr. De Camp; Frederick, Mr. Carles; Gibby, Mr. Waddy; Lissardo, Mr. Fawcett. Violante (1st. time) Mrs. Litchfield; Isabella, Mrs. Mathews; Inis, Mrs. Taylor; Flora, Mrs. Gibbs-Catch him

who can.

2. Mogul Tale-Five Miles off-Tom Thumb.

3. The Stranger-Stranger (1st. time) Mr. Young; Solomon, Mr. Mathews; Peter, Mr. Liston; Steinfort, Mr. Palmer, jun. ; Wintersen, Mr. Carles; Tobias, Mr. Chapman. Charlotte, Mrs. Gibbs; the Countess, Miss Mortimer (ber first appearance on this stage) Mrs. Haller, Mrs. Litchfield-Lock and Key.

4. Mountaineers-Paul and Virginia.

6. Hamlet-Waterman.

7. Sighs Mrs. Wiggins-Review..

8. Wonder Agreeable Surprize.

9. Castle Spectre. Osmond (1st. time) Mr. Young; Father Philip, Mr. Waddy; Motley, Mr. Liston. Evelina, Mrs. Taylor; Angela, Mrs. Litchfield-Prisoner at large.

10. Sylvester Daggerwood-Five Miles off Tom Thumb. 11. Stranger. Countess, Miss Taylor-Waterman.

13. Henry IV. Part I. Hotspur, Mr. Young; Falstaff, Mr. Fawcett-Poor Soldier. Patrick, Mr. Bennett; Dermot, Mr. Taylor; Bagatelle, Mr. De Camp; Darby, Mr. Mathews, Kath. lane, Mrs. Liston; Norah, Mrs. Mathews.

14. Poor Gentleman-Frederick, Mr. Young.-Tom Thumb.

15.

Hamlet-Fortune's Frolic.

16. Waterman-FORTRESS (1st. time)Mock Doctor. 17. Poor Soldier-Fortress.

18. Fortress-Lying Valet-Peeping Tom..

20. Fortress-Agreeable Surprize-Tom Thumb.

21.

Padlock. Leander, Mr. Bennett; Diego, Mr. Taylor; Mungo, Mr. Mathews. Ursula, Mrs Powell; Leonora, Mrs. Ma thews Fortress-Catherine and Petruchio. Petruchio, Mr. Young,

Grumio, Mr. Mathews; Biondello, Mr. Grove; Tailor, Mr. Liston. Catherine, Mrs. Gibbs.

22.

Catch him who can-Fortress-Tom Thumb.

23. Prisoner at Large-Fortress-We fly by Night.

21. (Mr. Bennett's night, and the last of his engagement) Battle of Hexham. Gondibert, Queen Margaret, and Adeline, (first time) Mr, Young. Mrs Litchfield, and Mrs. Taylor. Purse-Padlock.

The FORTRESS is a Melo drama by Mr. Theodore Hook, the successful author of Tekeli, aud is borrowed from the same French author; whose piece bears the title of Les événemens d'un jour. It is the old story of escapes, which always interest, however often repeated, and in the present instance, there is not much novelty in the incidents, nor ingenuity in the contrivance. One situation there is both interesting and dramatic. A young man who has the care of the Fortress, is induced to connive at his prisoner's escape, and even points out the means of effecting it, but on learning immediately afterwards, that such an event will affect the Jife of his commandant, he instantly gives the alarm, and the prisoner is brought back to his confinement. The outline of the plot is this: Count Everard, an Austrian nobleman (Mr. Young) is thrown into prison upon false accusations. Alice (Mrs. Gibbs) a faithful attendant, persuades Lieutenant Oliver (Mr. De Camp) to assist his escape. Accordingly upon relieving guard, he informs the count of a secret passage, by which he might gain the banks of the Danube. Whilst the count is supposed to be in the very act of this escape, the lieutenant is informed by the governor (Mr. Chapman) that the life both of himself and of the lieutenant, must answer for the safe custody of the prisoner. An interesting situation is here produced. The lieutenant gives the alarm, and stops the flight. The count at length escapes by means of his daughter Celestina (Mrs. Taylor).-Alice and Oliver, in a generous contest, each take upon themselves the crime of having aided in this purpose. The lieutenant is condemned to death :the count discovers himself to save his friend. The field marshal (Mr. Carles) then opens a sealed dispatch, which, instead of containing, as supposed, his sentence of execution, incloses a pardon.

The other characters are Vincent, a drunken gardener, (Mr. Mathews), Philip, a one-eyed soldier, (Mr. Liston), Thomas, an Austrian serjeant (Mr.Taylor), and Pauline, his wife (Mrs. Liston.)

The count, the hero of the piece, is not drawn with any force, and he is placed at times in very awkward situations; his second escape is clumsily contrived; he sneaks out at the gate like a thief with his booty; and the concealment afterwards in the green. house has a low and ludicrous effect. The denouement is feeble and unsatisfactory. But it must be confessed, that Mr. Hook has made the most of the materials with which his French original sup plied him. For the barrenness of the incidents, he has made some amends by the pleasantry of his dialogue, and the humour of his comic characters; and as an after-piece, to which it is now very properly reduced, the Fortress will no doubt hold out for the remainder of the season.

The Music is by Mr. Hook, the father. The overture is one of the best we have lately heard, and a duett, between Taylor and Mrs. Liston was much applauded,