66 Remembering that the author is a Roman Catholic, and in this work reasons stoutly for the liquefaction of the blood of St. Januárius being a real miracle, his account of Rome, on his return to it from Naples during the jubilee year (Anno Santo), is a remarkable confession of superstition and corruption. sal panegyric. The murder of an English ship of the flaxen-wigged Townsend, and the bestia-I am an ass. Duke, who was tleman and his lady on a pleasure party extreme vigilance of Lavender and Limbrick playing with him, made a mistake soon after, ir Naples, the author tells us, was not be oblivious; then will the Hue and Cry, and said, Anch'io sono più bestia della S. M. ntioned in the Neapolitan journal until four that most libellous and least seen of all periodi- and I am a greater ass than your majesty:" nths afterwards, when it gave an imperfect cals, sink under prosecutions from aggrieved the king never played with him again. At a ount of the trial and execution of three of thieves; then will the law-ridden people of ball at court, a lady having no seat, a gentle· perpetrators of the murder. The silence happy old England be in the most Christian-like man brought her a chair: the king accosted served by this paper had in it nothing state of blessed ignorance, not only inasmuch him, saying, ' Tu fai gli onori?—are you raordinary. In the month of September as their right hand shall not know what is done doing the honours? At a masked ball, he t, an English baronet, living at Naples, by their left, but their left eye shall not know and some of his party had their hats on: ding his creditors troublesome, cut his throat. what is seen by their right, nor their right Prince came into the room, and seeing though such an event is probably not very ear know what is heard by their left, nor their Duke with his hat on, put on his own; nmon amongst English baronets residing at single mouth utter what their mind knoweth the king, in the most violent rage, immediately ples, yet the Giornale delle due Sicilie' to be true. But we resume our author. flew at him, caught hold of his whiskers, which ver made the least allusion to it. This "On the night of the 3d inst. [1825] I was were unfortunately very large, shook him most Hiornale' is the only one published at Naples: at a ball given by the Accademia de' Nobili. outrageously, demanding how he dared, withthe municipalities are obliged to subscribe This establishment is the same as that known out leave, put his hat on in his presence ?" it, whether they choose to receive it or not: in the rest of Italy by the name of Casino. columns are, like other manuscripts, revised This, like all other Neapolitan societies, had ore publication; and the style in which they greatly fallen off since the Constitution; but written is truly irreprehensible,-so much this winter it was beginning to reflourish, and indeed, that the perusal of the articles gave balls every week. That of the 3d was ich speak of the Adorato nostro Sovrano,' attended by the Prince of Salerno, the second alone sufficient to disgust any mind, that son of the king, who was in high spirits. At pects itself, with the object held up to adora- six o'clock on the next morning, Ferdinand the "This is (says he) the Anno Santo-the year n. Thus, to record so simple a circumstance First was found dead in his bed. On the of the jubilee; I wish to give you an orthodox that of the fifth son of the hereditary prince evening before he had been perfectly well, and explanation of the word. Greater privileges ng named Count of Aquila, it has a long had determined to go a hunting on the next are, however, attached to the indulgence of the icle, of which I transcribe to you the begin- morning: he died of an apoplectic fit. On the jubilee, than to an ordinary plenary indulgence. ig and the end: Hymns of gratitude on 11th I went to the palace to see the body lying There are some particular sins, some reserved lips of mortals, said a poet of paganism, in state. It was placed on a bed raised on a cases, of which a priest is unable to absolve the the accents the most agreeable to the ears lofty flight of steps: the crown, sceptre, and penitent, without a particular permission from the gods. And certainly nothing can more other attributes of loyalty, were displayed the pope: during the holy year,' this permis. eetly soothe the souls of the kings of the earth, beside it: it was drest in the robes of the sion is given to all priests; and by performing in the expression of the gratefulness of their knights of S. Gennaro, the first order of the certain good works, the indulgence, as exnefited people: the contest of love which, state until the creation, by the late king, of plained above, is gained. Thus, at Rome, it that case, is kindled between the sovereign that of S. Ferdinando, which, it is now ex-is necessary to visit-after confessing and comd his subjects, is looked upon with an eye of pected, will rank after the former. Two municating-four particular churches, and to mplacency by Heaven itself. His majesty statues, representing Religion and Justice, recite in them certain appointed prayers. These e king our lord, by an edict, &c. In short, stood one on each side of the bed: at the visits are to be repeated, by the inhabitants of e impression produced by so happy an event foot of the steps priests were reciting prayers, Rome, thirty times during the year: fifteen those inhabitants will be indelible; and this for the repose of the deceased. The size of visits only are required from strangers,-who t of honourable distinction from his majesty the room, hung with black, gave an imposing might find it inconvenient to stay the time dell be ever placed in the fasts of the kingdom, appearance to the whole. The body was em-manded for thirty. But particular privileged one of the infinite proofs of the munificence baimed, that is to say, the flesh was every processions are made by the pope, by confrath which Ferdinand knows how to reward where taken off from the bones, which were ternities, &c., and each of these processions is e first virtue of subjects, faithfulness towards then covered with stuffing, over which the skin allowed to be in the place of ten, fifteen-more eir sovereign.' This passage is too far be- was again drawn. The eyes and tongue were or less of the visits to be otherwise paid by w the level of the usual eloquence of the cut out of the head; the rest of the flesh of those who follow them. As we intended to per to be able to give an adequate idea of it: the face was left; but as the features did not remain at Rome but two or three days, it would it, as I have not preserved my numbers of well withstand the operation, a waxen mask, have been impossible for us to comply with e Giornale,' I have been obliged to quote moulded into an exact likeness, was placed over either of these ways of gaining the indulgence m a stray débris. The paper is, in fact, but them!" And this was the last scene, except of the jubilee; but, in consideration of the exact journal of all the movements of all the funeral procession, of a reign of sixty-five shortness of our stay, and the particulars of our rereigns; besides occasionally inserting cu-years! situation, we were empowered, by the Cardinal Dus occurrences,' which it recounts in a curious Among other anecdotes, it is added: "A pro- Penitenziere Maggiore, to gain it by visiting anner. For example: it related that an pos of shooting. Ferdinand had a cabinet once the four churches of St. Peter, St. M. in nglish surgeon had killed his wife, with a painter in his service: this artist's paintings Trastevere, St. John Lateran, and St. M. Magkero; and added in a note, non sappiamo are not much admired, but he is a capital giore; and by repeating, on the fourteen subquesto pokero sia uno 'strumento domestico o shot. It is astonishing that, with his known sequent days, some particular prayers, in lieu irurgico we do not know if this pokero be a character, the late king should have been so of the remaining visits we ought otherwise to mestic or surgical instrument.'' very tenacious of etiquette as appeared on have made to the churches. You smile!...... many occasions. Thus, his great friend, find- Do so. I continue as we drove from one ing him one day in a good easy humour, asked church to the other, the tour was ended in two for a little place in the administration for or three hours. I had always supposed it neceshis brother: the king immediately drew up, saying that such demands must come to him through his ministers. Playing once at cards, he exclaimed, on making a fault, Sono una That the newspapers of our too free country ay speedily be brought to the practice of as rfect good manners, is a consummation dently to be wished: then may swindlers cheat sary to make this tour on foot; such is not the ithout having their feelings harassed by cruel case. We found few people at the doors of the 'marks; then may pickpockets thrive without Basilica: these passed through the porte sante ing injured by ungentlemanlike exposures; on their knees; this position is voluntary, and en may worthies be hanged in peace and chosen from devotion. At each of the holy lietness, and not need that their ashes should be instituted against the London newspapers for an injurious • We have heard that many actions are about to be doors is a large box to receive offerings for the rotected by actions against a defamatory press and defamatory paragraph which has run its course re-building of St. Paul's church; I regret haventioning their crimes, counting their strug-through them all. This paragraph asserted as a fact that ing contributed half a paul towards this work, there were only two butchers' shops on the north sides of les, and printing their last dying speeches ;-- the streets from Tyburn Turnpike to Whitechapel, taking which I have already given you my reason for en will the voice of Bow Street be as mute as if the line of Oxford Street, Holborn, Newgate Street, disapproving of, ut which, fortunately, my bow-string were round the neck of Sir Richard Cheapside, &c. For this libel, the two butchers alluded to gift will not very materially advance. This intend to prosecute, the slanderous words imputing to irnie; and the voices of Queen Square, Hatton them that they could not live in harmony with their siècle de lumières is not the siècle of pilgrimiarden, Whitechapel, Lambeth Street, Worship fellow-cut-throats, and the southern inhabitants prosecute ages: there are, nevertheless, more pilgrims because it is slandering them to say that the bloody treet, and Marlborough Street, be heard no business is all transacted on their side. Both parties look at Rome than I had expected to find. The sore; then will the royally polite guardian- for heavy damages, and will no doubt get them. greater number are from Naples, Tuscany, and : not very numerous. da un quadro tanto sorprendente ne canto la bestowing season, it is a work which nic Thick as autumnal scaves that strow che brooks, And to the Paradise sost' one must refer for the Duty of Piquets. By Lieut.-Col. Fitz-Clarun the Roman states; as most other secular governments discourage the taking of the staff and cockle shells. Apartments are prepared for them at Rome; and all, except those from within a circle of sixty miles from the town, are there fed and kept for three, four, or six days, according to the distance from whence they come on arriving, their feet are washed, and they are served at supper by cardinals. The spirit of the times is, however, best shewn At Alexandria: "In a cool shady bower, we by the fact that scarcely any pilgrims travel and live here unassisted, and at their own expense. with wine and syrups, and a plate of small military readers to this little manual were agreeably surprised to find a table covered WE are anxious to direct the attenti I was yesterday on the Piazza of St. Peter's, to receive the pope's benediction. Owing pro-where it melted into a cooler mixture than years, and at a moment when British lumps of ice, which we put into our glasses, as possible; because, after a peace of zew. bably to the frequency of the ceremony, the people assembled were cominon water could have produced: this is are again in motion for the Peninsula, After high mass had been celebrated in the wine. The following anecdote will prove to you essential public benefit, by pointing the ex way in which the Italians weaken their consider it to be well calculated to under Sistine chapel, the bells of the church rang, how common is their use of ice, or, in the more sideration, especially of young officers, t and the bands of the troops drawn up in the southern parts, of snow. After an insurrection very important branch of their duty, a per place played. The cardinals arrived in succession at the window in the centre of the among the Neapolitan galley-slaves-forcats knowledge of which can be acquired no whee one of them had been condemned to death: on but in actual service in the field. T façade the pope afterwards appeared, and was carried through their ranks to the front of the approaching the place of execution, he said that small volume, which would not encumber a balcony: the music and bells ceased. After he was thirsty, and demanded a glass of water: lady's reticule or a Hussar's waistcoat pockur. sitting for some time, apparently in prayer, he it was brought him; after sipping at it he contains a cyclopædia of useful information a rose from his throne; the people in the square sole him, and, with a pitiful air, complained, great responsibility of piquets are expl looked up at the priest, who attended to con- the subject of which it treats:-the nature a below kneeled. The pope then stretched out Padre, non è nevata-Father, it is not iced.' the unambiguous and clear style neressy his arms, joined his hands in prayer, and-Figlio, replied the comforting priest, ecco all reports is demonstrated; the different m while the bells and music suddenly recommenced-made the sign of the cross, moving gli angioli che ti preparono sorbetti ad ogni of performing the various duties which ci his whole arm in the most dignified manner. frutta-Son, behold the angels who are pre-stances may require, are laid down; the Having again seated himself, he retired after a paring you ices made of every sort of fruit." duct of posts, patroles, &c., by day and few minutes. The people, the music, the bells, consolations, which make every criminal who instruction thus offered, is completed be This rather beats our own style of Old Bailey night, is illustrated; and the mass of va the architecture around, the elevated situation of the pope, and his solemn and dignified bear- executed a saint, instead of an Adonis, as in the ingenious and well-constructed map, ing, made the scene and ceremony particularly It is well to be right at last, somehow or other. which the position of an army is protected more pagan times of Macheath and Abershaw. rivers, forests, ravines, high roads, &c. 3 striking. I am at a difficulty to account for At Tyburn, the end was gay and reckless, and these out. lying and in-lying piquets as it my sentiments at this my second visit to Rome; the ambition to die handsomely:* in our more to be. for my little curiosity to see again its monuments; for the little alteration that a twelve. refined days it is to be shriven into piety, and suffer as a martyr! month has made in my opinions on those subjects I have revisited; and for my impatience. to quit the town. I am but I will not try to explain what I scarcely understand myself." I shall never have quitted any town with greater pleasure than that with which I shall to-morrow take leave of the eternal city, the capital of the Christian world !” * is The Modern Traveller. Greece. Parts I., II., The production is highly honourable to ( · Fitz-Clarence's abilities and talents as un cer; and must be very acceptable to the a soldiers who have heretofore had no op at large, and particularly to the many les of adding experience to their gallantry. ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. Paris, 22 Demir, 18 Near Terni, the following anecdote recalls a subject once, and not long ago, though now OUR good neighbours, the French, hat so much forgotten, of tremendous interest:— high an opinion of themselves, that they "We traversed a fine wood, watered by by quizzing every thing that is not fra the same streams, and, at the end of an The Parts now before us, and relating to and finish by imitating it. As foreign a alley of orange trees that perfumed the air with Greece, possess a temporary as well as a perma- bonnets, and dresses, have long followed their delicate, full-blown blossoms, we found nent interest; and it will not be the less felt, routine, and it is now the turn of the the Palazzino a neat country house-be- if we take this opportunity of repeating+ our house, dainty and family make-shift, bif-k longing to the Conte My guide informed little political dictum (as yet virgin from the pommes-de-lerre, the plom poding will da. me that in this house the Princess of Wales columns of the daily newspapers), that with- follow the beef-steak, and figure on the and Bergamt had passed a fortnight in each in two months these descriptions of Greece of the French fashionables. By way of other's company. He testified as to their hav- will (we have grounds to believe) acquire a interchange, the bouilli is banished in ing been always seen walking together, and to their having retired at sight of strangers; but he said that no one from Terni had been called, as witness, to England." With two other brief but characteristic extracts, we conclude. At Vallombrosa, the writer relates "I had with me an Italian guide-book, from which I transcribe to you the following truly admirable passage: 'Il celebre Millon colpito *There is a still more extraordinary statement in another part of the book, where, speaking of some abuses in the music of his church, the author exclaims, "Would not the pursing the Catholic worship of these abuses, which it itself condemns, but which render it ridiculous in the eyes of the undistinguishing and nerve-minded phtophers of the are, a class in which, unless the clergy look better to it, the whole Christian people will, before long, be comprehended,-would not, I demand, this be as efectual a means of inspiring respect for the religion, as the forbidding of certain books?---and the goes on to notice other mal-practices). strong additional importance from the fact of elegant dinners in France, and seems to w No easy matter, either, when we call to mind that in lips: all look to him for the restorat** ne person whom he treats still worse, and that s his quondam colleague Villèle. To counteract M. de C.'s fougue, the Abbé le Pradt has a new work on the stocks, in jusification of Mr. Canning's system. The approach of Christmas has created coniderable bustle in the literary world, but prinipally in works destined for presents,-almaacks, &c. &c. Two volumes of a very important work have appeared, viz. a History of France, from 1789 o 1825, by the Abbé de Montgaillard. The celebrated geographer M. Malte Brun lied of a fit of apoplexy while writing at his lesk. From the paper on which he was writing, it would appear that he even continued o write after the fit came on, there being several strokes as a child would make with a pen. M. M. B. was a man of considerable talent and profound research, and it is much to be lamented that the seventh and last volume of his Geography, promised these twelve years, is not terminated. He had begun an abridgement of his Geography, for the use of schools: it is stated to be in considerable forwardness. M. M. B. was one of the very few foreigners who wrote the French language with the elegance and purity of a native, though he never could speak it well. at Christmas: we have seen one devour a diameter would be the same at all times of the satellites on the eastern side. 31st day. The a 14th day, 12h. 15 m. Uranus in conjunction with the sun. J. T. B. Deptford. PROGRESS OF THE ARTS IN FRANCE. The oval form of the earth's orbit, and the sun's place in it, is the cause of its being seven days longer in passing through the northern than through the southern signs, the earth having WITHIN these twelve years France has made larger curve to describe from the vernal to immense progress in almost every branch of the autumnal equinox, which is 186 days, manufacture. Pins are now made at a single than from the autumnal to the vernal, which operation, the heads and tails" being of a is therefore only 179 days. The inhabitants piece; so that the proverb, " As useless as a near the North Pole have consequently more light in the course of a year than any other pin without a head," is likely to be soon lost, on the surface of the globe. The Moon will be conjunction with— Mars Tauri.. Geminorum. 19 1 30 24 3 52 25 15 37 1st day, 17 hrs. Mercury in conjunction with a star of the fourth magnitude, in the right leg of Ophiuchus. 4th day. At his greatest elongation, and visible a short time before sun-rise. 29th day, 21 hrs. In conjunction with Uramus. seen. 66 from the thing not being possible. A new discovery has been made in printing, by which classical works used in every country need only be set up once: thus, if an edition of the classics be printed at Paris, editions may be published in England, Germany, Holland, &c. without being at the expense of a new composition. Besides the advantages of cheapness, the text, once established, can never vary, and the type is always new. We have seen three volumes in 8vo, printed upon the new principle; they are beautifully got up, and sold to the public at less than 3s. the volume. In the article of plated goods, the French seem even to surpass the manufacture of Birmingham. We have seen plated candlesticks pair, and they are sold at twenty pence in of which the making only cost five sous the retail. The same manufacturer has discovered the method of making coffee-pots, tea-pots, &c. of one piece of metal, without soldering, and that too at a cheaper rate than by the old method: we have seen several articles of this kind, of very elegant forms. Christmas generally produces shoals of new publications for etrennes; but on looking over the whole that has appeared, we never found so great a dearth of excellent or even passable works. There is not a single publication in any way remarkable: but the confectioners atone for it amply; they have published an abundance of sweet works, and amongst others several on natural history. Frogs, toads, serpents, hedge-hogs, rats, cats, and mice, are all, by their care, rendered delectable; in fact they tinue to rise each morning earlier through the Venus is the morning star, and will conare as sweet as sugar. The rose is no longer month, with an increased illumination of her confined to the senses of seeing and smelling,it may be eaten, even with the thorns. These disc, and a diminished angle under which it is artistes are the real authors of reading made 8th day, 23 hrs. Mars in conjunction with easy: a child will devour in a few minutes the whole history of France and the Almanach desa star of the fourth magnitude on the ecliptic, Muses. The feats of the bottle conjurer are in Fluvius Aquarii.-16th day, 16 hrs. With The gilding of metals is now carried to a nothing compared with that of a French child another star of the same magnitude in the same perfection unknown in England; and as the sign. mounted dragoon, horse, sabre, boots, and 4th day. Jupiter, in quadrature in Virgo, duty on importation amounts to a prohibition, spurs; but even this is nothing: a little girl commences the brilliant ornament of the mid- one of the best French gilders is going to estaactually swallowed the cathedral of Rheims, night sky, presenting an incessant variety of blish himself in London. Our dessert services with the king and all the congregation; and interesting phenomena. Its system may be may thus rival the French in elegance and there is no doubt but the church of St. Peter's termed an exemplification, on a small scale, of cheapness; and it is to be hoped that we shall would have gone the way of all flesh if she all those peculiarities which are observable soon be delivered from the heavy tribute paid could have got at it. among the primary planets which regard the to France for all objects in or molu: it is a sun as their centre. The first satellite moves branch of industry which would be most lucrawith great swiftness as the Mercury of the tive, and which it would cost a mere trifle to system, and performs its course in 1 day, 18 hrs. create: whoever does it is certain to realise 27 min. 33 sec., while the fourth moves with a an immense fortune. - French Correspondent, tardy pace, analogous to the distant Uranus, and completes its revolution in 16 days, 16 hrs. 32 min. 8 sec., the distance of the former from the primary being 269,672 miles, and that of the latter 1,201,719 miles. Jupiter, as seen from the nearest satellite, appears a thousand times as large as our moon does to us, exhibiting every phase, from a delicate crescent to a full orb, every 424 hours. At this season, in England licentiousness runs riot, at Paris it is put down; for a fortnight before and after New-year's Day, the police is strict upon those who may roam the streets at all other periods. ARTS AND SCIENCES. CELESTIAL PHENOMENA FOR JAN. 1827. DURING the past month the nocturnal sky has been as a desert, with scarcely an interval for observing the configurations of the planetary bodies, and the progressive advance of the splendid constellations of the winter's canopy. The evening of the 21st, at 11 hrs., was an exception, when the stars shone forth with an unusual brilliancy, and Saturn exhibited an exceedingly beautiful appearance, 4 min. 50 sec. south of Geminorum. Eclipses of the First Satellite. Immersions D. H. M. 8. L. G. FINE ARTS. THE past week has been prolific of new publications, in the fine arts, of considerable beauty; the following have come under our 1st day. The earth will be in its perihelion, Configurations of the Satellites at five hours in notice. and 3,202,104 miles nearer the sun, than at the Morning. the opposite point of its elliptical orbit, in the 4th day. All the satellites to the west of lower focus of which is the sun's place. If the the primary. 18th day. The second on the -earth's path were a circle, the sun's apparent disc, the others to the west, 28th day. The Mr. Mathews. Painted by J. Lonsdale; engraved by C. Turner. Colnaghi and Son. AND is it not a shame, like though it be, to reduce this man of many faces to one? Here is Park every day, offer much finer studies, and Mathews dressed like any other gent; with | seem to think it requisite to idealise upon this | Lord Amherst. Painted by Lawrence; in mez zotint by C. Turner. Colnaghi and Son. A GRACEFUL and dignified whole-length of the Governor-general of India in his robes. The flowing outline of the President is excellently preserved; and a bird's-eye view of the A PRETTY little piece, and interesting from its Factory at Canton, on the left, explains for subject. Lord Byron's House at Missolonghi. Lady G. Agar Ellis. Painted by Jackson." Mrs. W. Stuart, drawn by Mrs. J. Robertson. Both engraved by W. Brett. Colnaghi and Co. THESE two portraits of lovely women form (we believe) ornaments to a Fashionable Monthly, La Belle Assemblée; but are also, from the artist-like style in which they are done, published separately, in proofs, for the lovers of the arts who may happen to care very little for the fashions. As this is one of our misfortunes, we can only say that these portraits are very sweetly done, and must be very acceptable ornaments to any work of the class of that which they adorn. The first has much of the chapeau de paille: the last a touch of il penseroso. The King, George IV. In Lithography by J. Minasi, Artist to the King of Naples; printed by Engelmann and Co. Limbird. Decidedly bad. M. Von Weber, by the same: hardly, if at all, better. Lord Byron, from W. E. West's Portrait. En graved by C. Turner, and dedicated to J. Cam Hobhouse, Esq. Colnaghi and Son. WHETHER We consider the character of the head, or its admirable execution in mezzotinto, we must esteem this to be by much the finest portrait of Lord Byron which has yet been published. It certainly not only differs from, but excels in merit, the line engraving by Wedgewood, noticed in our No. 515; and as both purport to be taken from the same origin, it is rather extraordinary to observe how dissimilar they are. There has been, it appears, a dispute among the artists (to which we refused to become a party-see L. G. Dec. 2.); but it is only justice to state, that the present work has been engraved under Mr. West's immediate inspection, and is thus the most faithful as well as the best-finished transcript from his painting. It is also a remarkably fine speci. men of Mr. Turner's skill. whom this able work was painted. There are ORIGINAL POETRY. SKETCHES OF SOCIETY. Traditions of the Western Highlands." NO. V. SOMERLED. SOMERLED was King of the Isles and Lami 1 Kintyre, and appears to have been contemporan with Alexander I., King of Scotland. E territories were indeed very extensive. had under his sway Argyleshire and the weste coasts of the counties of Ross and Inverte THE steed is passing along his way, leap; The plated helm is upon his head, And howling of sinners below! When she sees her boy From the bosom of slaughter come. bed, And I shall see all the tears they shed! My lady is weeping in hall and bower, And her oath is above, But she'll break it in less than an hour; And I shall be there in her hour of prayer, Faster and faster, brave Conner, fly; Lord Combermere. Painted by Heaphy; en- But I wot not how thou hast blood on thy Olaus, the swarthy King of Mann, was stowed on him in marriage. Tradition says, that Godred, King of Mann having deprived many of the nobles of ther lands in the Western Islands, Thorfin, our s the most potent of them, sued for the poss tion of Somerled, and this be most cheeril granted. Godred was then in Ireland; 200 in a very short time Somerled conquered me of the islands. Godred, on his return fr Ireland, equipped a powerful fleet, and pre ceeded to Scotland, to reclaim his dominat Off the coast of Kintyre, he was encount by Somerled, and a very bloody action fought on the night of the Epiphany. After the battle, a treaty was concluded, Somerled compelled the King of Mann to e and several others which he had coa to him for ever, not only the Island of M before, but all the islands north and south the point of Ardnamurchan, as far as the Mof Kintyre. Godred was not content under loss of so much land, and used many s to foment divisions among the subjects vassals of Somerled, who was forced to inva * We are not very exigeant about the use ma productions by contemporaries, who are quite to take what they fancy from the Literary Gam deed, we rather consider it as a compliment, a tainly an extension of our usefulness, when writings so generally copied and so universally In the case of these TRADITIONS, however, is t affect the value of future copyright to the author. researches into long-forgotten national storia a curious and original, we beg to request that burgh Courant, and such other Journals as please them from us, will have the goodness to addr whence they are taken.-Ed. L. 6 ann with a powerful army, and he succeeded | of them :-we cannot but think it derogatory and they manifest the utmost enthusiasm. conquering the whole island. Godred was to the uniform of a British officer to be worn on pelled; and Somerled placed on that petty extra duty, attending such a ruffian rabble as rone Reginald, the brother of the late generally congregate on such occasions; and we are astonished at its being allowed. ng. "Somerled's power was much increased by all ese conquests, and Malcolm IV., then King Scotland, having attempted to injure the thts of the sons of the Earl of Moray, Soerled protected these young men, who were s own sister's offspring, and fully secured to hem their possessions. He afterwards assisted e earls of Galloway and Moray, and, joined ith Donald Mac Beith, grandson of the surper, spread such alarm in the kingdom, sat Walter, the High Steward of Scotland, as glad to compromise the dispute, and conude a peace, without risking an action. In nsequence of various differences, Somerled clared war against King Malcolm many years ter this; and it is said that this king sent him message, offering him peace, on condition at he should yield up his whole possessions 1 the mainland of Scotland, content himself ith the islands, and become subject to the ing. This message exasperated the haughty Somerd; and, drawing his sword in presence of the essenger, he swore that alone should decide eir dispute. He immediately prepared a fleet 160 sail, and made direct for the river Clyde. Some rhymes are still extant, describing the otley appearance of this tumultuary force, at they do not admit of translation, the terms eing obsolete in both languages; indeed, in the nglish we never had terms for the objects lluded to. This army was landed near Renew, where the king's troops lay under the ommand of the High Steward of Scotland, nd Somerled offered battle to his enemies, but e was treacherously slain by his own nephew, Laurice Mac Neale, of Taynish, who had been ribed by the High Steward to accomplish this DRAMA. The King's Theatre; Foreign Artistes, &c. “Oh! how delightfully she touches the piano!” is the general exclamation; " what pretty music! come along; let us go to the shops, and get a complete collection of Madame Szymanowska's cotillons." Ask a young lady in the best society, who studies singing, to let you hear a specimen of her acquirements; but do not expect that she will confine herself to some little piece of music proportioned to her powers. I COULD not attack the vices of the theatrical No; she wants to shew off the grand, the bril management without previously exposing the liant; and she tortures you by squalling root of the evil. It is for that reason that I most desperately Madame Pasta's airs, or the dwelt on the details respecting the four classes vaulting notes of Velluti. Her mercenary of which I have just been speaking. But, be- masters, however, persuade her that she sings fore I broach my subject, allow me to ask one delightfully! Are these proofs of taste? It is question. How happens it that imposture rears in vain to say that tastes must not be disputed, its audacious head in France and England, and that whatever pleases or amuses ought to while it bites the dust in Italy, Spain, and even be respected. I will always maintain, that Germany? The reason is, that in the last- whatever is founded on false principles can mentioned nations, people do not inquire what never belong to the class of the true and the an artist has been, but solely what he is; while beautiful. Otherwise, every absurdity becomes in France and England, the past constitutes the an infallible maxim; every ridiculous usage a value of the present. In Italy, Spain, and model to follow; every erroneous doctrine an Germany, the people are not afraid of judging incontestable axiom. If tastes must not be from their own feelings; in France and Eng- disputed, who can complain of the negroes of land, self-love prevents them from pronouncing, Saldanha bay, who, according to Downton, lest they should expose themselves. Italy, Spain, decorate themselves with the stinking entrails and Germany, have each a national style of of animals; or of the inhabitants of another music, distinctly characterised, and founded on part of Africa, who live upon putrid fish, and, and England have only an amphibious style; on the banks of their rivers to the burning rays the acknowledged principles of the art; France in order that it may soon become so, expose it unless, indeed, they are pleased to call the bal. of the sun? To maintain the principle of the lads of England, and the romances of France, expediency of a false taste, would be to imitate national. Such a denomination, however, I the conduct of that nation of hump-backs, in am not afraid of saying, would not lead to any which a well-formed man was derided by every conclusion favourable to the musical taste of body. Can it be agreeable to a young lady either people. The French romance is but a travelling in a foreign country, to find herself miserable and limited abridgment of the grand, frequently compelled to blush at an exhibition majestic, and infinitely varied rythmical song on her own part, which every one about her of other nations, and is very far from possessing feels to be ridiculous? It seems to me, that distinctive character; and the Scotch ballad the glory of belonging to a nation which pos is merely the tradition of an ancient melody, sesses real knowledge (even in the fine arts) is devoid of harmony and rhythm, the offspring worth something, and is preferable to the epheSomerled was, without any doubt, the father of the nature and simplicity with which a sober meral brilliance of the ostentation of the mof Reginald and Dugald, from whom descended and brave people painted the pleasures or the ment. he great clans of Macdonald and Macdougall. torments of love. Let an accordance with the Neither the French nor the English have Which of these brothers was the eldest, is not principles of these songs of "the olden time" any musical school of their own. They never erfectly ascertained, and the offspring of each be taught at the present day, and we should see create; they imitate. So true is this, that they laim that honour. The power of the Mac- the kind of scholars that would be produced! still worship the productions of two centuries onalds was universally known; and the Mac- As for the French, we have only to listen to ago, (most frequently transmitted to them by ougalls were, at one time, little, if at all, the pupils of their most celebrated masters, to foreign masters,) and find infinite difficulty in nferior; but their connexion with the Cum- perceive that their romance forms the funda- accustoming themselves to modern works. Let nings induced them to support that party in mental principle of their method of singing. a new piece be performed in France or in he contest for the crown of Scotland, in opThese pupils do not sing: they squall, espe- England, without naming the composer, and osition to Bruce, and the issue became fatal cially the women, with their mouths half shut, without prepossessing any one about it; be it o their greatness, although they continued to with a slender guttural voice, a forced lisp, ever so beautiful, every body remains silent.. retain a vast extent of territory for many censharp notes piercing the ear, with ornaments Let the same be done in Italy, in Germany, or uries. They were, indeed, singularly unfor- badly united, badly placed, in which the qua- in Spain, the bravos and the plaudits will shake unate in their politics, their party having been vering is interminable. This is all their talent. the roof. Try to convince the French or the lmost uniformly unsuccessful. If it be a tenor, you do not hear four notes di English, that one of their composers of reputa petto, in a long piece. Faithful to the laws of tion, who formerly published a fine work, has squalling, they employ only that voice from the nevertheless just produced a rhapsody, they will head which the Italians call falsetto, and pro- call your declaration a blasphemy, and will proOx Wednesday, another of these disgusting spe- scribe in their school. The French, also, have nounce the thing impossible. Their servile ulations was perpetrated at the Argyle Rooms. no notion of the voice of contralto, so much respect even leads to the formation of parties, Though not a royal theatre, we believe that esteemed in Italy. It is sufficient for them, and a subject of taste is converted into a subThe Guards, the companions of those gallant that it is a female who sings, to believe that, ject of quarrel. Such were, in France, the ellows who have been sent to uphold our whether one will or not, she must go to the Glückistes and the Piccinistes; such are now national character, and vindicate our national very top of her voice. But what shall we say the Rossinistes and the Bertonistes, or Cheru faith in Portugal, were prostituted and dis- of the bad taste which prevails universally in binistes; for they are the same. Let a composer graced by being employed on duty, as at the England; a few professors and a few enlightened in Italy take it into his head to produce a bad Opera-house. As for the rest, his Majesty's persons excepted? Only observe the success of Chamberlain, who licenses, and his Majesty's certain airs; the composition of certain public worthy subjects who sell their wares there, have concerts, of the lyric stage, and of the priit between them, their consciences, their purses, vate musical parties! It is a fact, for instance, and the public. It is a bad thing, of which no that when Madame Szymanowska plays a fine good can be said; and this is all we shall say sonata in the midst of a circle of ladies, they about these masquerades, in addition to what scarcely honour it with the slightest token of was suggested by witnessing the filth of one approbation; but let her strike up a cotillon, afamous deed. MASQUERADE. *t a work after having produced a good one, he will be soundly hissed in the same theatre in which, the day before, he was overwhelmed with ap plause. The celebrated Mr. Rossini knows something about this! When a young composer, or a new composer (I mean a foreigner), • Partisans of Berton and Cherubini, the chiefs of the French school, or rather of the Teutonico-Gallic school. |