coaches throng his door, as if it had been | Metropolis the first of European cities, we can expect only general and superficial accounts, on whatever other subjects engage his pen.

the playhouse; and the man who kept the
orderly list of applicants, expected a
handsome fee for placing a name earlier
on
the list than its proper place, whereby
Impatience sometimes avoided a delay of
six weeks.

It is not now in the power of a single drapery painter, 'to throw the artists into confasion, by confining his labours to one or two principals: and now, no branch of art can boast, as Seymour boasted, when he mortified the proud duke of Somerset beyond endurance, while painting a portrait of one of his grace's horses, "I am a Seymour, too."

On Architecture, Mr. M. does bestow a few thoughts, but his article is meagre, and unsatisfactory; we do not think he has been familiar with the houses of the great, or that he has done justice to the superior accommodation now introduced into the dwellings of the middle classes. Even the tax on windows has been followed by some advantages which are not noticed by

Mr. M.

We are, nevertheless, disposed to accept Mr. M.'s endeavours favourably: what he has done will be of use to succeeding historians, though he has not done all that we could have desired from him. His first chapter describes the Persons of the Aborigines of London.-He thinks their descendants degenerated, but reco vered their pristine beauty. He gives a history of the treatment of parish children, of the Foundling Hospital-the Welsh charity school, and other charities. We could have wished that the numerous hospitals, which do so much honour to the metropolis, had been, at least, enumerated; and if some account had been added of those half-public institutions which assist greatly in alleviating the miseries of human life, within the extent of their influence, under various names of benevo lent associations and societies, it would not only have thrown additional weight into the scale intended as a counterpoise to the depravity of our city, but it might have afforded valuable suggestions to some fue ture philanthropist, who may wish to enlarge the sphere of their activity. Mr. M.'s second chapter relates anecdotes of depravity; to this succeeds a chapter on folly, then one on eccentricity, lotteries and benefit societies, follow; then tu mults, amusements, dress, architecture, ecclesiastical architecture; sculpture and painting, and the work concludes with a general sketch of the state of society in London.

Mr. M. with sufficient accuracy describes the extremely disgraceful and dangerous state of the streets before the new pavement was introduced, and he mentions the first notice of the commissioners for re-paving the streets of London in March, 1763 but we do not meet with the name of Spranger in his volume, or that of Hanway, although it ought not to be forgotten that the first hint of this longwanted improvement was derived from a work published by the former of those gentlemen in 1754; and that at the close of the same year Mr. Hanway published We should be glad if truth permitted his "First Letter to Mr. Spranger on his to deny the accuracy of Mr. M's de excellent Proposals for paving, cleansing, lineation of the latter subject: but we lighting, &c. the Streets of Westminster." must affirm, that he has seen it in the The first act of parliament was passed in least favourable light. To suppose that 1762, and was hastened by an accident all journeymen are dronken, idle and disthat happened to the Speaker's carriage in obedient, that all tradesmen are careless, passing through a narrow street. After affected and fashionable, that all nobleexperiment had been tried, by Commis- men are extravagant, idle and debauched, sioners, several parishes obtained acts for may suit a satirist; but not an impartial. the same purpose, and managed the busi-writer. We are, happily, acquainted with ness to greater advantage. some of all ranks, who are truly honour This may stand as an instance of ourable in their station; and perfect contrasts author's want of particularity, in the information be communicates. From the writer who could omit honourable mention of the early promoters of an improvement that has contributed to render the

to Mr. M.'s description. We desire to correct the unfavourable sketch, which our author presents, by ayowing our persuasion that it stands in need of being revised by means of a better view of bet

constable of Holborn, that there were in his division 7066 houses of which 1350 licenced | and unlicenced, being about one house in 54. That in St. Giles's there were about 2000 houses and 506 gin shops, being above one house in four; besides about 32 twopenny houses of the greatest infamy, where gin was the principal liqutor drank."

An evil of almost equal magnitude was the multiplicity of quacks. Mr. M. has mentioned several. How the facetious Dr. Rock, who cured one disorder; and the wonderful Dr. Sibley, who cured all disorders, could escape him, we caunot tell: but we can tell, that Dr. Sibley's English style and orthography in his private letters, before he came to town, was altogether sui generis. Mr. M. in a very illiberal paragraph, says he believes that only one hall of those belonging to the city companies is used for public wor ship: we believe we are correct in enumerating, Founder's hall, Salter's hall, Haberdasher's hall, and perhaps Pinner's

hall.

ned, but in general flat, the hoops French, and the petticoats of a moderate length, and little sloped behind. The ladies were exceeding brilliant likewise in jewels, some had them in their necklaces and ear rings, others with diamond solitaires to pearl necklaces of three or four rows; some had necklaces of diamonds and pearls intermixed, but made up very broad; several had their gown sleeves. buttoned with diamonds, others had diamond sprigs in their hair, &c. The ladies' shoes were exceeding rich, being either pink, white, or green silk, with gold or silver lace and braid all over, with low heeels, and low hind quarters, and low flaps, and abundance had large diamond shine buckles.

bag wigs, &c. as usual. White stockings
well as the ladies.
were universally worn by the gentlemen as

The gentlemen's cloths were generally gold stuffs, flowered velvets, embroidered or trimmed with gold, or cloth trimmed, the colours various. Their waistcoats were also exceeding rich silks flowered with gold, of a large pattern, all open sleeves, and longer than formerly, and the cuff broader; the cloths were longer waisted than of late, and the plaits of the coat were made to stick out very much (in imitation of the ladies hoops) and long. The wigs were of various The following demi-official account of sorts; the tyes, higher foretops than formerthe dresses worn on occasion of the marly, and tied behind with a large flat tye; the riage of the Prince of Wales in 1736, is somewhat different from what would be necessary to describe the present costume. The ladies were variously dressed, though with all the richness and grandeur imagin able many of them had their heads dressed English of fine Brussels lace, of exceeding rich patterns, made upon narrow wires, and small round rolls, and the hair pinned to large puff caps, and but a few without powder; some few had their hair curled down on the sides: pink and silver, white and gold, were the general knots wore. There were a vast number in Dutch heads, their hair curled down in short curls on the sides and behind; and some had their hair in large ringlets behind, all very much powdered, disposed, and some had diamonds set on rib-giving vales to servants-what little merit

with ribbands frilled on their heads variously

bands on their heads; laced tippets were pretty general, and some had ribbands between the frills; treble laced ruffles were universally worn, though abundance had them not tacked up. The gowns were gold stuffs, or rich silks with gold or silver flowers, or pink or white silks, with either gold or silver netts, or trimmings; the sleeves to the gowns were middling (not so short as formerly) and wide, and their facings and robings broad; several had founced sleeves and petticoats, and gold or silver fringe set on the flounces; some had stomachers of the same sort as the gown, others had large bunches of made flowers at their breasts; the gowns were variously pin

This hint at white stockings will be understood by but few of our readers: the fact is, that coloured stockings, pink, blue, &c. were worn by ladies of character; while white stockings were one of the marks adopted by ladies who did not pique themselves on being inaccesible. Green stockings, being dyed with verdi. gris, were supposed to occasion the cramp: blue stockings were esteemed salutary against the rheumatism.

If we recollect rightly, the British nation is under obligation to Voltaire for being the cause of abolishing the custom of

that man had, we would not deny him. Mr. M. does not mention his name on this subject, neither does he tell us that the servants constantly locked the door, and took the key into the kitchen, till their own dinner was over; to prevent the guests from escaping.

Mr. M. hints at the mischiefs arising from the number of fairs, formerly held in and near London. He mentions Horn fair at Charlton; and Edmonton fair: he might have added Bow Fair, Peckham fair, and others still subsisting; besides Southwark fair, May fair, and several

ther hangings were substituted, which usually adorned, that part of the theatre at Ridottos, Many of the songs in the Opera were new; that which preceded the chorus was composed by Farinelli, and so vehemently applauded, that he sung it a second time at the request of the audience, though the chorus was over, and the musicians had retired from the or chestra.

now abolished. Bartholomew fair is hap-more, Lord Burlington, and the Duke of pily reduced from three weeks to three Richmond, £50 each; Colonel Paget, £30; days were it totally suppressed the city and Lady Rich, £20, &c. &c. The pit was would lose nothing of its respectability. filled at four o'clock; and as the stage was crowded with beauty and fashion, no scenes By means of the abstract of his indict-were used during the performance; gilt lea ment Mr. M. has made a passable article of Jonathan Wild. It is probable that, he did not know, that a succeeding tenant of his house on Ludgate hill, being engaged in repairing it, happened to be on the spot, overlooking the workmen when they were taking down the cieling of the privy. Suddenly he observed something fall, which proved to be a gold watch :He instantly sent the workmen to their dinner;--and when they returned, the cieling was completely demolished. This tenant afterwards found his trade very profitable, and left off with a fortune. Dawks's News letter of April 2, 1713, has the following article: Yesterday a trial of skill was fought at the Bear garden between Henry Clements and Parks of Coventry, where there was good sport, hacking and hewing. It is thought they got £50 apiece, the French ambassador being there, and giv-ly ing them money very literally." Soon after three bouts "at threshing flail" were announced; and a flourish of "no cut no bout."

The proprietors of the Boarded House Soho advertised a savage entertainment for the 21st of May, 1717. They had, during the period between the baiting of the leopard and May 21, refined upon cruelty to the very acme, and were ready to exhibit an African tiger on a stage four feet high, worried by six bull and bear dogs, for £100; a mad bull, and a bear, both covered with fire works; and, lest those pleasant spectacles should fail to amuse, six young men were to play at blunts; in other words he that broke

most heads obtained a hat.

One of the foilies of 1728, was the performance of the Beggar's Opera at the theatre in Lincoln's-inn-fields by children, and that the childish exhibition might be supported in all its branches, the managers contrived to send a book of the songs across the stage by a flying cupid to Frederic Prince of Wales.

Farinelli engaged to perform fifty nights during the season of 1734-5, for a salary of 1,500 guineas and a benefit. At this benefit the theatre was so contrived as to accommodate 2,000 spectators, whose admission money, added to the following sums giving by the nobility, amounted to more than £2,000. The Prince of Wales, 200 guineas; the Spanish Ambassador, 100; the Imperial, so; the Duke of Leeds, the Countess of Port

this favourite singer, with a richly wrought The Prince of Wales soon after presented gold snuff box set with rubies and diamonds, containing a pair of diamond knee buckles, and a purse of 100 guineas.

The ridiculous custom of placing two cen tinels on the stage, during the performance of plays, was not discontinued in the above year, as a soldier employed for that purpose highly entertained an audience in October by laughing at the character of Sir Andrew Ague-cheek in Twelfth Night, till he actualfell convulsed upon the floor.

Mr. M. might have added that in a prologue spoken by her, in the character of a soldier, Mrs. Woffington, had octhe hand, to the infinite amusement of casion to shake one of the centinels by the loyal audience.

Mr. M.'s article on dress is amusing: but it is not all it might have been. He does not insert any explanation of the names of dresses, or of their parts, most of which were derived from the French. Should a future Strutt, desire to know the meaning of Negligée, Pet en l'air, Brunswick, or Teresa, he will derive no assistance from this volume. What an English Night gown, as a full dress was, Mr. M does not say we doubt whether he knows the distinction between a Sacque and a Mantua: at least his prints do not mark his knowledge. He does not even hint at row over row of gold lace, worn by the ladies on their petticoats, the under one being the longest. Chignons and Toupées he passes over, also, unnoticed. Had he described the Head Dress à la Tête de Mouton, or that en Papillon; had he explained what was intended by hair in crape (Crepée)—en Avocat, &c. he might have laid readers for ages to come under obligations to him. Had he stated the conflict of the Carlo Khan colours and cut of the clothes, versus the Windsor

listens to his tale of woe, sooths his suffer

Uniform, he might have edified deep Politicians, and deeper Maccaronies, as yetings by commiseration, calms his irritated unborn. Had he availed himself of some feelings by religious considerations, and of those indisputable representations to give a greater weight to his exhortations, which every tolerable collection, of prints discovers to the wonder-struck hero, that published during the last century, would his liberator is Gelimer, king of the Vanfurnish, we should have been better pleas- dals, formerly dethroned and led in chains ed with his industry. A few outlines by Belisarius himself, but now his pro from subjects to be depended on, will at tector and his guide. It being admitted all times impart to a connoisseur greater that Belisarius is deeply impressed with satisfaction, than non-authentic labours of the divine doctrine of returning good for the graver. evil, every deed of heroism becomes credible in him, and we are not astonished at seeing the Christian hero, led by his holy guide, forgiving his enemies, and again delivering his ungrateful country.

But, though we do not find in Mr. M. that precision of description, and that intimate acquaintance with the parts of his subject, which we think necessary to form a perfect whole, yet we know no > volume for which the present may be exchanged with advantage: and as the author has presented it under the modest title of "Anecdotes," it is unjust to expect from him more than such a title is understood to include.

Such was not the character of the dogmatizing Belisarius of Marmontel: for who can believe, or who will trust in the forgiveness of a philosopher? Bet, as Madame de Genlis observes, in the histo"Relirical notice affixed to this novel, gious sentiments are an inexhaustible source of the pathetic and sublime. Religious belief being once admitted, the beautiful in morals ceases to be ideal; the most exalted, the most heroic conceptions of imagination have already been realized, beyond the possibility of doubt. Virtue knows no bounds, and perfection is no longer a chimera." (p. 168, vol. II.)

NOVELS, like fleeting meteors, generally cross our Panoramic horizon unnoticed, but the name of Madame de Genlis, at It is but justice to the writer, to observe, least, may be allowed to attract attention. that notwithstanding her errors, she has We own, at the same time, that we open-constantly professed those doctrines, and ed these volumes with no highly favour-zealously defended the cause of religion able impression: we recollected Marmontel's philosophical rhapsody, on the same subject, written for the purpose of incul. cating those baneful political doctrines, so terribly illustrated by the devastation of Europe. We recollected too, some of this lady's former productions, in which sanctified effusions of visionary romantic devotion were blended by main force with disgusting scenes of profligacy and vice.

against the unbelieving party of her countrymen. In this she has been powerfully assisted by the best French writers of the present day: such as Bonnald, Chateaubriand, Fiévée, &c. This kind of warfare has been carrying on for some time, attended with much personal rancour; and the French tyrant, so suspicious in politics, kept, at first, the balance pretty even between the two parties, as might be expected from his total indifference to religion. But, on his return from Poland, he affected to fear, that those disputes would occasion dangerous animosities. In fact, he was conscious that many applications, not very favourable to his blood-thirsty. ambition, might be made, and really had been made, from the publications of the

Our apprehensions, however, as to the moral tendency of this publication were soon happily relieved. Belisarius, the famous general, the saviour of the empire, reduced, by the ingratitude of a capricious sovereign, to the last degree of human wretchedness, bereft of sight, is exposed, chained on a rock, in the wilds of the Thebaid: in this situation he is reliev-religious party. All Christians were, in ed by a hermit of the desert; at first, he vents his rage in bitter imprecations against an insensate court, his haughty soul breathes nothing but revenge; the hermit

consequence, turned out of their employments, whether profitable or honourable, in the various literary departments, to make room for unbelievers, whose compli