--open to the air, and approachable by two hewn stone steps of descent. It was suggested by the landlord, that in all probability this well, which was carefully kept open during the severe frost for daily purposes, might, if it could once be reached, afford the needful for a parting bowl. But who was to bell the cat? The night was dark, the road was slippery, and, if the truth must be told, their step was not quite so steady as when they paced the ice, and footed the tee. A single adventurer might "fa' aff the drift," and be with difficulty recovered into light and safety; so it was agreed, that as the drinking was to be a common good, in like manner the procuring of the materiel should be a common task. Hand, therefore, linked in hand, with the landlord ahead, they slowly and cautiously (for there is nothing more bewildering than stepping at once out of intense light into deep darkness) shot and stretched away along the footpath which led to the well. Sometimes their line of march lengthened into its utmost stretch, and again fell upon its rear or centre with a sudden and somewhat waving recoil, very much in the manner which is exhibited by the earthworm or crab in their progressive movements; and, in order that the ear might regulate what the eye could not, frequent appeals of enquiry were sent forward from the rear to the van; "Are ye at it yet ?"—" Na, I'm no at it yet." A pause and a progressive movement led to another and another enquiry of similar import; to which the same discouraging response was as regularly returned. At last a sudden and voluntary ejaculation was heard, "I'm at it now!"-" And how d'ye ken, man ?"—" I'm LYING IN THE MIDDLE O'T!"

We are particularly

the finished hand of a master.
pleased with the following heads :-Sir John Sinclair,
the late Mr Huskisson, Mr Gibson Craig, the Duke and
Duchess of Athole, Charles and Fanny Kemble, the late
Dr Duncan, Dr Monro, Lady Walker Drummond, Mr
and Mrs Balfour of Fernie, Miss Pringle of Stitchell,
Mrs Brougham of Brougham Hall, mother of the Lord
Chancellor, Sir David Baird, Mr Combe, and others.
Mr Macdonald is at present engaged on a bust of Profes-
sor Wilson, which will be added to the exhibition in a
week or two, and from which we expect to receive much
gratification.

In the other rooms we find Macdonald's more imagi-
native productions-conceptions executed in the very
highest spirit of the art. We had lately an opportunity
of visiting the whole of Chantrey's extensive establishment
in London; and, much as we were pleased with the beau-
tiful and gentlemanly portraits which he produces in
marble, we must say we felt a decided want of the ideal.
We came away with the impression strong upon us that
Chantrey is a very accurate and happy copyist of life, but
that he is deficient in the power of spiritualizing it, and
of giving us the poetry as well as the prose of marble.
Macdonald possesses what Chantrey wants.
No one can
walk through these rooms, and study the fine groups of
Ajax and Patroclus, or Thetis and Achilles, or gaze on
the separate figures of the Fallen Warrior, or the Boy
Slinging, or the Girl Dispatching a Dove, or, above all,
the artist's last and loveliest work, the Supplicating Vir-
gin, without feeling that he is among the creations of a
poet,-of one who sees humanity not as others see it,
but who pants after those more glorious forms and com-
binations which are fabled to have existed when the
"world was in its prime," or which may, perchance, yet
exist in a nobler and better state of being. The great
test of any work of genius is this:-does it make an im-
pression on a well-cultivated mind? Do you carry it
away with you? Does its remembrance haunt you?
Do you feel that, having seen it once, you can again call
it up before you whenever you please? A mawkish
poem is forgot as soon as read; a commonplace tune
passes out of the heart as soon as it ceases to engage the
ear; an unsuccessful picture fades from the mind like a
light cloud from the sky; and a rude bust, or imperfect
attempt at form, comes in a moment to be reckoned with
the things that never were. But poem, melody, paint-
ing, or piece of sculpture, over which genius has breathed
its spell, becomes an essential essence-a part of the uni-
verse and of ourselves-and cannot die. Macdonald has
produced works which are of this class, and if he receives
the support to which he is entitled from his country, he
will produce many more of the same class.

SCULPTURE-MR MACDONALD'S EXHIBITION. THIS exhibition, which opened on Wednesday, may be regarded as one of the proudest triumphs which any individual artist has yet achieved in Scotland. We hesitate not to say, that Mr Macdonald is the first native of this country who has taught us what sculpture is, or ought to be. Till very recently, Sculpture merely glimmered among us; that most elevated and ennobling species of art had fallen into complete neglect, and, with the exception of the occasional production of a few busts, often coarsely enough executed, all that is high and ideal in this department of intellectual exertion was to us a dead letter. Macdonald is destined to be our Canova, and to wipe away the stain of ignorance from our land. Deeply imbued with all the beautiful creations of Italian masters, a portion of the sunshine of the south has passed into his own mind, and he has brought it home with him to pour forth again its enlightening influence on the unsatisfactory twilight in which we have hitherto moved. We talk enthusiastically, and we may be supposed to be influenced by private and personal feelings. To a certain extent perhaps we are, but our feelings are only such as we entertain in common with all those who have had opportunities of observing how completely Mr Macdonald carries into all the relations of private life that pure and lofty mind, that warm and enthusiastic imagination, by which alone he has been enabled to raise himself to the eminence he has already acquired, and by the rapidly in-nouncement of the "Chancery Suit" wholly failed in creasing powers of which he will ere long obtain a still greater celebrity. He is as yet, comparatively speaking, only at the commencement of his career; he has overcome its difficulties, and its rewards are all before him. But certainly now, if ever, is the time to cheer him on with the voice of praise; now, if ever, ought his fellow-countrymen to prove to him the interest they take in his labours, and encourage him to proceed as he has begun.

Mr Macdonald's works are at present exhibiting in a suite of apartments in Prince's street. One of the rooms is appropriated for the reception of the Busts. Of these there are twenty-six, twelve or fourteen of which are in marble. Many of them are full of life and spirit, and others are sculptured with a delicate beauty, which marks

THE LONDON DRAMA.

Regent's Park, London, Monday, December 6, 1830. THOUGH in these degenerate times of theatrical authorship, a new five-act comedy is any thing but an everyday, or rather an every-night occurrence, yet the an

attracting a crowded audience at Govent Garden on Tuesday last; the public wisely waiting, we presume, until it was pronounced to be worth seeing. Notwithstanding all the obstacles-and they have been neither few nor trifling-which have crossed the path of this play from our friend Richard Brinsley Peake's study to our friend Charles Kemble's stage, and even afterwards, yet we are most happy to bear this incontrovertible public testimony, that from the rising of the curtain until its fall, it was accompanied by the loudest applause and laughter, and its announcement hailed with shouts of unmingled approbation. During the dynasty of Mr Price, this comedy, then in three acts, was accepted for representation at Drury Lane, though how, or by whom,

the two leading parts could have been played there, is a
mystery far too obscure for our solution. Happily, how-
ever, the experiment was not tried, and after some diffi-
culty in obtaining the manuscript back again, it was
transferred to the other theatre. At the request of the
managers, it was then extended by the addition of two
new acts, was announced and re-announced, and on St
Andrew's day, 1830, was at length ready for perform-
ance; when, within two hours from the time of its
commencement, Mr Abbott, who had a principal cha-
racter, and attended the rehearsal in the morning, sprained
the sinews of his leg, and was unable to leave his bed-
room! This unlucky contretemps," with bated breath and
whispering humbleness," Mr Bartley officially commu-
nicated to the audience, and entreated their indulgence
for Mr G. Bennett, who, at little more than half an
hour's notice, had consented to read the part of Frederick
Blazencourt, which-excepting that, from the novelty of
his situation, we suppose, he at first spoke so extremely
inaudibly that it appeared very like a confidential con-
versation between him and Mr Egerton-he did much
better than could have been expected. The play was,
indeed, very excellently performed throughout, and the
leading characters of Guy Thistlebloom, Jeremy Thistle-
bloom, alias Courtington, and Murphy O'Doggrelly, by
Bartley, Warde, and Power, most excellently. The
whole piece is in the highest degree both interesting and
amusing; and if the only charge that has been brought
against it, were to be generally allowed, namely, that
it is too farcical, we must also lose some of the best and
On the second
most popular comedies on the stage.
evening, Mr Parry played Abbott's part, and on the third,
in consequence of a very severe domestic affliction, which
compelled Mr Warde's absence from London, it was un-
avoidably withdrawn for the present; and thus the
"Chancery Suit" of Covent Garden has had to contend

with fully as many delays and obstacles as most "Chan

cery suits" in Westminster Hall.

Miss F. Kemble's next character is to be Calista, in

Rowe's "Fair Penitent," on Wednesday next, and her Jane Shore is postponed sine die; though the rumour of its performance has, we presume, induced that play's revival at Drury Lane this evening, with Misses Philip and Huddart as the heroine and Alicia, and Macready, Wallack, and Cooper, as Hastings, Glo'ster, and Dumont. This, we think, if also a failure, ought to be Miss Hud

sented as improving so very slowly, that the period of his
father's public appearance is, therefore, extremely uncer-
The Tottenham Street theatre lessees have per-
tain.
mission to remain there until Saturday next, when it
passes into entirely new hands, who are said to intend
adopting the very novel plan of acting original pieces,
This sounds marvellous
written for themselves only.
enough in theory; in practice we at present think it im-
SOMERSET.
possible.

dart's last trial, since her Lady Constance, in "King Not even the glance that flashes from a dark and lustrous

Nor

eye,

hearts not speak ?—

There is no voice to tell their chords-all-all is tame

and weak!

Alas! and must our feelings deep-the noblest and the
Be

best

chain'd-and ne'er to burst their bonds—within the aching breast?

John," last week, was, to speak tenderly, very bad, to a very bad house; and we had the usual anachronisms of scenery and costume, and, to crown all, the armorial bear-Not even the soft and wordless flow of ancient melody, ings of England in 1830, worn by a herald of 1216, smiles, nor tears, can aught avail-Ab! why can just as usual! Miss Huddart is, indeed, perfectly unfit for the leading business at a Theatre Royal here, and her injudicious friends having previously puffed her talents in a way which few talents could sustain, she now pays the double penalty of her own inability and their imprudence. To announce "her first appearance in London" also, when it is notorious that she has long since played at most of our minor theatres, is a misrepresentation disgraceful to all parties, as the nightly disapprobation must have now, we think, taught both the managers and the actress. Bruce, who has formerly sung at concerts and oratorios, has recently appeared here in "Der Freischutz" and the "Duenna;" but the lady is remarkable only from being far too embonpoint for a vocal heroine, and the latter opera, for the introduction of nearly a score of modern inapplicable songs, in lieu of the originals. This is, indeed, an evil which "has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished," and discovers a sad lack of taste in all managers who either adopt or permit it.

A Miss

In consequence of anxiety arising from his son's long and dangerous illness at Naples, Mr Mathews has been for some time indisposed at Brighton; but Mr Mathews, jun., being at length sufficiently recovered to travel, is expected in England this week, though his health is repre

Oh!

surely thus proud man is taught how vain to judge a brother,

Since 'tis denied us to reveal our souls to one another.

SONG.

By Alexander Maclaggan.

GERTRUDE.

I MET my ain love like the mirth o' May morn,
When kindly it blinks on the brow o' the brae,
Fair, fragrant, and sweet, as the bloom on the thorn,
And blithe as the lark on a blue summer day;
And oh! when I saw her locks waving sae bright,
Like clouds o' fine gold floating o'er her soft ee,
And the modest emotion that lay in their light,
I thought there was something no cannie in me.

Orkney. We have had Mr Love the ventriloquist with us, and were both delighted and astonished at his performances-they form at present the principal ingredients in our tea-table chit-chat, and, wonderful to relate, have superseded the usual and legitimate accompaniments of that elegant repast. The learned, however, in these matters, seem to think that this cessation will be merely temporary, and that very shortly will be resumed those piquant dissertations on morals and character, which have obtained for this Oriental beverage the vulgar, but appropriate appellation of scandal broth.

CHIT-CHAT FROM DUNFERMLINE.-Like our neighbours, we have had a meeting to petition for reform, and are going to send up our wishes to Parliament with plenty of signatures to them.-In our Mechanics' Institution, a course of lectures on Chemistry, by the Rev. Mr Robertson, jun., of Inverkeithing, and a class for Mathematics, by Mr Roger, A.M., have commenced; and, from the wellknown abilities of these gentlemen, are likely to be of much service.

be a very handsome edifice, and a great ornament to that part of the town. The front elevation is nearly finished, and looks classical and elegant. The alterations in front of the Theatre Royal appear to be completed, but we cannot say that they give us entire satisfaction. The portico is neat enough, but the face of the theatre above it is bare and meagre. The national arms, though cleverly carved by Mr John Steel, look too much like patchwork, and the general effect is somewhat vulgar.-We observe that the Professional Society announces, that unless the subscription list be filled up before Christmas, no Concerts will be given this winter. We trust our fellowcitizens will not so far neglect the interests of musical science as to deprive themselves of the exertions of this Society.-The following list of the Edinburgh Newspapers, with the names of their respective Editors, may not be uninteresting to our provincial readers :-The Courant, published Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, edited by Mr Buchanan; The Caledonian Mercury, published Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, edited by Mr Cochrane; The Observer, published-The Temperance Society here has opened a Coffee-house and Tuesday and Friday, edited by Mr Sutherland; The Advertiser, published Tuesday and Friday, edited by Mr Robert Chambers; The Weekly Journal, published on Wednesday, edited by Mr James Ballantyne; The Scotsman, published on Wednesday and Saturday, edited by Messrs M'Laren and Ritchie; The North Briton, published on Wednesday and Saturday, edited by Mr Crichton; The Weekly Chronicle, published on Wednesday, edited by Mr Johnston ; The Evening Post, published on Saturday, edited by Mr M'Callan and Mr Torrop; The North British Advertiser, published on Saturday, edited by Messrs Gray.-Mr Sheridan Knowles is to deliver one of his interesting lectures next Monday evening, in the Hopetoun Rooms, accompanied with Readings and Recitations. The subject of the Lecture is to be Contrast, especially in music, poetry, and the drama.

CHIT-CHAT FROM THURSO.-Our venerable parish church, after having withstood the blasts, and tear and wear, of six centuries, and having witnessed in succession the devout exercises and votive offerings of Catholic, Episcopalian, and Presbyterian, has at length yielded to the all-subduing hand of time, and, as a necessary consequence, has been regularly and formally condemned. A new church is in progress, which, for beauty and strength of structure, bids fair to rival, if not surpass, any edifice of the kind to be found in the northern counties of Scotland.-In filling up the important situation of parish minister, vacant by the death of the late Mr Mackintosh, Mr George Sinclair, who, by permission of his father, exercised the right of presentation, has well sustained those principles which he has so often avowed as vice-president of the anti-patronage society; -the choice was freely and unreservedly given to the people; and there is every reason to conclude, that this privilege was on this occasion exercised with judgment and discretion, and that the gentleman they have selected will find himself happily and comfortably situated with his parishioners in general.-Sanguine hopes are entertained that the herring-fishery to the westward from this place to Cape Wrath, will next season be prosecuted with a vigour and enterprise commensurate with its importance. The favourable season of the year in which the herrings approach the coast, their superior quality, and the high prices which an early market generally affords, are advantages which are very rarely found combined in speculations of this kind.-At a special meeting of the Council, it was unanimously resolved, on the motion of the Dean of Guild, that their thanks, together with the freedom of the town, be tendered to Charles Kemble, Esq., for the well-merited thrashing he has recently bestowed on the editor of the Age newspaper,-he, the said editor, in noticing a dinner given some weeks ago to Sir John Sinclair, by the principal inhabitants of this town and neighbourhood, having described the entertainers as a meeting of shopkeepers, tailors, and shoemakers. The castigation applied on this occasion, is the more appreciated, from the circumstance, that although many of the gentlemen present (to whom the useful avocations just quoted were for the first time assigned) would most willingly have taken upon themselves this labour of love, yet the journey from John o' Groat's to London offered a serious obstacle to carrying their kind intentions into effect. At the dinner alluded to, Sir John took an opportunity of reading a letter he had received some time before, from his present Majesty, then Duke of Clarence. In publishing the "Sayings and Doings" of the evening, a typographical error gave June, in place of January, as the date of the letter, and this gave our cudgelled editor an opportunity of drawing many ingenious inferences, which are certainly not the less amusing, that they do not contain one word of truth;-even this adventitious circumstance, this simple foundation, was altogether superfluous for the purposes of a man who has long since convinced the admiring public, that he can furnish the most plausible statements without any foundation at all. -An anti-slavery petition, numerously signed, has been got up. This county is at present suffering under that state of forlorn widowhood, and dissolution of tie with the "collective wisdom," to which it is doomed every alternate parliament, by a system, which our late premier lost his place for declaring to be the best and most perfect of all possible modes of representation. Under these circumstances of political bereavement, the petition in question has been forwarded for presentation to Mr Traill, the very respectable member for

Reading-room, where they get the most popular newspapers and best periodicals of the day, including, of course, the Literary Journal. The theatrical folks here did little good, and have now closed their establishment.

Theatrical Gossip. -Madame Vestris and Miss Foote have taken the Olympic Theatre-a house which was never considered fashionable, and has never hitherto succeeded, but in which they will probably prosper, both being great favourites with the Cockneys. They talk of altering the name of the house to the "Theatre of La Belle Alliance." A very pretty alliance indeed! We should like to know whether modest actresses will accept of engagements in this establishment, or whether the female portion of the company will consist entirely of fair frail ones?-Polhill and Lee are said to have taken a lease of the Tottenham, which they mean to open as a summer theatre. The affairs of Covent Garden, it is said, are going fast into confusion again, Fanny Kemble having ceased to draw crowded houses, and there being nobody else to draw any thing at all.-Drury Lane is barely keeping its head above water, but hopes to derive benefit from the Christmas pantomime.-Michael Boai, the chinchopper, has left Liverpool and gone to Dublin.-Seymour has left Glasgow and gone to Belfast.-Bass has been playing the Stranger in Dundee.-Ryder is about to open in Aberdeen.-The only novelty at the Theatre Royal here, since our last, has been "The White Phantom," as pleasant a phantom as one could wish to see on a winter night. It has visited the glimpses of the lamps most successfully, and with great eclat. As Mr Murray occasionally pleads that he does not know where to look for novelties that will please, we beg to recommend to him the three following pieces:-1st, "The Wreck Ashore," which has been brought out this season at the Adelphi, and has made nearly as great a sensation as the "Freischutz," or "Masaniello," though it is not a musical piece, which is all the better for Mr Murray, as his operatic strength is not much to be boasted of ;2d, "Turning the Tables," a spirited new farce, which has been drawing good second-price houses at Drury Lane ;-and, 3d, "The Dead Shot," an excellent trifle to introduce by way of interlude, and save us from the eternal repetition of "No!" " Is He Jealous?" or "The Day after the Wedding."-Ducrow continues to draw capital houses, which he deserves, because he avoids any monotony in his performances, by changing their leading features twice a-week. WEEKLY LIST OF PERFORMANCES. DECEMBER 4-10.

TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS.

WE are making preparations for our CHRISTMAS NUMBER, which as usual will be a double one, and, as usual, full of the most delightful contributions by writers well known in the literary world. The Number will be published on Saturday the 25th, Christmas Day.

The article on the Scottish Academy is in types, but is unavoidably postponed till our next. Several articles, which we need not at present particularize, lie over for our next SLIPPERS.-We have written to London on the subject mentioned to us by our friend "X."— "A Legend of the Pyrenees" shall have an early place.-A Song by the Ettrick Shepherd in our next.

There is somebody who sends us unpaid letters from Peterhead, and who signs himself "Sigma;" his letters are invariably burned. "The Lomond Shepherd," and the Lines by " A. W. L." a "mi. nor of eighteen years of age," will not suit us.-The Stanzas "To a Young Lady," of which the last couplet is,

"So, I'll boldly advance, and declare it in rhyme,
That you, my Cecilia, are my valentine,"

do not come up to our standard.

Several interesting papers are unavoidably postponed.