2

place where he wished to be interred near her The story of The Erile is taken from the remains, and which it was appointed by the being who measures out our days and years, Elizabeth of Mine. Cottin, reviewed in Pano- that he should shortly occupy. The disease rama, Vol. I. p. 990. That it should have which had carried off his eldest daughter, attracted dramatic notice is not a matter of was communicated to his other children; surprize, we wish it had been more rational- he had, however, the happiness to see them ly performed. The Russian history affords recover, but it was for a short time that he variety of interesting subjects fit for the thea-ful and afflicting than the fatigue he under enjoyed it. Paternal solicitude more paintre, and we have frequently wondered that went and the privations he suffered, exhaustno accomplished English author has dra-ed his strength; its decay he endeavoured matized the fate of Prince Menzicoft; par- in vain to conceal. A slow fever brought ticularly as M. de la Harpe not only set him to his end. " How happy should I be," the example by his tragedy of Menzicoff, but said he, at his last hour, if I had only to "render an account to God, of the period of also by his admired Historical Memoir of "my exile." He died in the month of Nothat Prince, which it is our pride to have vember, 1729, in the arms of his children, given at full length, in p. 321, et seq. of exhorting them, while the power of utterance our first volume. How peculiarly affecting is remained to him, to remember his errors and his description of the death of Menzicoff! to avoid them."......... and what a contrast does the following simple recital offer to the pantomimic muinmery of The Exile!

"

1

Religion," says M. de la Harpe, even in the height of his philosophical career, "religion, which is the last asylum of fallen grandeur and a disturbed mind, appeared to be the principal support and occupation of Menzikoff. He had constructed an oratory; and his house, in its religious offices, resembled a cloister. The whole family assembled daily for public worship; in the morning and at noon; in the evening and at midnight. He had not been six months in the desert when his eldest daughter was attacked by the small pox; he was her nurse and her physician, but all his care was in vain; he saw her die as he had seen her mother; and he recited over her lifeless form, the prayers which the Greek ritual prescribes for the dead. She was buried in his oratory, and he marked the

The Princess Menzicoff, smitten as she was by such rapid and multiplied misfortunes, could not support the horrid and fatiguing journey: she had lost her sight from continual weeping, and expired near Casan, in the arms of her husband. She was a woman of pre-eminent merit, distinguished by her birth and by her beauty, and whose virtues never relaxed in the brilliancy of her youth and the height of her fortune. Her memory was long held in veneration at the court of Russia, for the sweetness of her disposition, her sincere piety, and her charity to the poor and wretched. Menzikoff dug the grave with his own hands in which he interred her, and he scarce had time allowed him to shed a few tears over it, when he was obliged to proceed on his journey to the deserts of Siberia, 800 leagues from Petersburgh.

ACTORS VINDICATED.

To the Editor of the Literary Panorama.

Sir;-In your Panorama of October last (Vol. V. pp. 87, 88.) you seem to treat the players rather roughly on account of certain obnoxious performances; now, in justice to them, I hope you will have the candour to ackuowledge that they are not to blame, since the performances are chosen by the managers, unI can inform der whom they act as servants. you that the plays you have so properly noticed have been strongly reprobated by many of the performers-they have condemned as much as you can do, the pertinacity and obstinacy of certain imperious managers, who have had the individual effrontery to oppose at their respective theatres the vox populi of England, when raised either for the Spaniards, or our military defenders. Nor should it, Sir, escape your notice, that all the minor theatres in town and country have been performing pieces entirely in coincidence with the national spirit; while Drury-Lane, CoventGarden, and the suffocating Haymarket,

You have properly distinguished this theatre by the appellation suffocating. Some years ago, a number of unfortunate people were suffocated at this theatre, owing to the pit entrance being so inconvenient; notwithstanding this dreadful example, the inconvenience still continues, and thirteen steep stairs, are obliged to be descended, leading into a cavern, before admission can be obtained. Should not the magistrates be empowered to remedy such evils? are they not bound to refuse a licence for this theatre, until they see the safety of the públic fully provided for?-If a fire were to happen during the performance, scarcely any of the audience could escape; the passages are all so very

to their eternal shame be it spoken, have been, niard seems to recognize an old friend in every the only theatres performing those pieces you Englishman he meets.-Indeed we now see have so decidedly condemned. Nay, so perse-verifying their old proverb, "Con todo el vering has been the self-willed controuler of the mundo guerra, y paz con Ynglattera.second, that Pizarro was again advertised in Peace with England and war with all the the bills for Tuesday the 25th of October; world." and I am confidently told was only withdrawn by the express command of ONE whom the manager dare not offend. Although, Sir, I do not wish to overload my good Lord Chamberlain with the ungracious inanagement of the play-bouses, yet somebody should take care to prevent the ambassadors to our court from being insulted; and I am glad to recognize the authority here used.

In pure justice to other theatrical managers I beg leave to inform your readers that Mr. Wroughton is manager of Drury-Lane theatre; Mr. John Philip Kemble, of CoventGarden, (and not Don Philip, or Don John, as ill-naturedly said in a morning print, who certainly did not mean to compliment the Spaniards thereby).

I am truly pleased at the attention you pay to the theatre, and hope you will not relax in your laudable observations; for it is disgusting to read the fulsome panegyricks of our diurnal prints; scarcely any of them have had the hardihood to condemn the thrusting forward Pizarro at the present crisis; none of them in the manly manner you have so ardently expressed yourself.

En passant, Mr. Editor, allow me to remark how very different the noble Spaniards were treating us at the time the Covent-Garden manager, by the aid of Kotzebue-Sheridan's Pizar o, was consigning them to execration. The following is an extract of a letter from Corunna, dated October 16th.

Generals Sir D. Baird, Manningham, Warde and Cranford went last night to the theatre; a new entertainment was repeated, entitled THE PARLIAMENT OF PLUTUS, OR FERNANDO AND GEORGE TRIUMPHANT; in which Kings Ferdinand VII. and George III. embraced each other several times; this was received with enthusiastic applause, as also GOD SAVE THE KING, which was introduced frequently, and performed with the whole house standing. The British officers were invited into the private boxes, and every Spa

narrow as to preclude every possibility of even a chance of preservation —Your observations very justly tend to censure the proprietors for not having (since that melancholy event at which 1-was present) rendered that theatre inore commodious and convenient; it is still a disgrace to them, and to the metropolis, so far as concerns egress and regress, and should be speedily remedied.-In fact, every theatre ought to be completely insulated.

Now, Mr. Editor, if our London managers continue so intent in performing pieces whose history is against the spirit of patriotism, why not at once dramatize the Norman Conquest, à la Corse? They may find one ready for them at Paris, entited Guillaume le Conquérant, in which « Harold is represented as a great coward, in order that he may be like the English;" for though it must be acknowledged they allow us some bravery on the sea, yet the soldiers and the people are taught to believe that we cannot possibly encounter them on land. As this piece was written by order of Buonaparte, at the time of his so much boasted of invasion, I have no doubt it would be soon noticed in the Moniteur as a proof of the English people's returning to reason through those virtuous organs the play-houses of the capital!—It would delight the Thuilleries more than the spectacle of Caractacus, though that is written by an Englishman, and set off by the splendid decorations of the genius of a French dancer-it would please our enemy perhaps as much as the representation of the Mayor of Garrat, which is now exhibiting at Drury. Lane theatre, to ridicule our militia. I am, Sir, yours, &c. November, 1808,

DRAMATICUS,

COVENT-GARDEN NEW THEATRE.

A new theatre will be erected with all pos sible expedition, by Robert Smirk, jun. esq. architect, on the site of the late theatre-royal, Covent-garden, and that of the houses adjoining. In order to defray, in part, the great expence attached to this undertaking, the sum of 50,000l. we are informed has been already subscribed for, in shares of 5001. each, under the immediate patronage of bis majesty. Each of the subscribers to receive, clear of the property tax, and all other charges and uotgoings whatsoever, ́ an an nuity of 251. to commence from the opening of the said new theatre, and to continue for the term of eighty-five years (being the remaining term of the lease, and of all the premises), with the addition of an annual transferrable free admission to any part of the theatre before the curtain, (private boxes excepted), for which the subscribers will be secured by the patent, and the new theatre, with the scenery, machinery, and all other property therein contained. The subscription to be paid by instalments.-The amount of the insurance money is 44,000l.

The Camara is also the council which issues all acts or patents of royal favour. All places in the magistracy, and all consistorial benefices are conferred by its means. It recommends to his majesty, through the medium of his minister of favour and justice, three persons to fill them, and the king chuses one of the three.

All the members of the Camara are ancient counsellors of Castile; these seldom obtain their places without having been presidents of a chancery or an audience, or at least ancient counsellors of one of these tribunals, or Alcade de Corte.

We confess, that we had dreaded the effect of Spanish pride and inflexibility on the question of precedence in the arrangement of the powers destined to exercise authority; but, it affords us infinite pleasure to learn that an uniformity of action is likely to be established, and we shall not think the worse of Ferdinand, or his advisers, if measures appear to have been taken by his suggestion, or at his instance, for this purpose.

For the present, the government of Spain is in the Supreme Junta of the kingdom; and as the members which compose it perform no common part on the theatre of events, but are destined either to an enviable immortality, if successful, or to a pitiful distinction among the unfortunate, if unsuccessful, we shall record their installation into office and their names, and close the subject with our best wishes in behalf of their honest and patriotic endeavours to save and serve their country.

List of the Members assembled, or the Junta

Under the circumstances that have lately happened in Spain, the council of Castile was placed in a very delicate and difficult situation. Ferdinand had appointed his uncle Antonio, president of a junta for governing the state. The old council naturally continued to be the channel of communication between the government and the nation, as before. While the French troops were in Madrid the council was under French powers, and was obliged to yield obedience to the peof Aranjuez, Sept. 23, 1808. remptory tone of Murat, in his demand for President, ad interim; The most ex the delivery of the Prince of Peace from his cellent Senor the Conde Florida Blanca.prison. The council however interfered with Arragon; Don Francisco Palafox, Don Lo. some effect in saving several of the Spaniards renzo Caloe.-Asturias; The Most Excelwho were taken by the French in the affair of lent Senor Don Melchor de Jovellanos, the the second of May; and it received verbal Marquis de Campo Segrado.-Old Castile; and confidential communications from Fer- Don Lorenzo Bonifaes de Quintan.-Valdinand by means of Don J. J. Navarros. Indes, absent.-Catalonia; The Marquis de consequence of these, it debated on the propriety of ordering a general increase of the Spanish military, throughout the provinces; but, this, on account of the augmented risque to which it would subject their Princes taken in the toils at Bayonne, was abandoned, as a formal act, or act of the council, and the measure wasentrusted to the president the Infant Antonio, who "transmitted instructions privately to the captains general of the provinces, to take every measure consistent with prudence to increase their military force." In the meanwhile the council publicly commanded the most cordial inter-Toledo: course to be maintained with the French troops, and was under the necessity of appearing to countenance the acts of Murat, and the assumption of Joseph Buonaparte, who, when he arrived at Madrid, lost no time in canvassing this council for its good opinion, and inducing it to lend a sanction by its authority and weight in the state to his ulterior projects. When that usurper quitted Madrid, the whole weight of government rested for a time, on the council of Castile: but the institution of a SUPREME Junta of the Kingdom deprived it of the precedence which it had enjoyed, and it has publicly professed obedience, in the present extraordinary circumstances to this new depository of the sovereign power.

Villel, the Marquis de Sabazona.-Cordova;
The Marquis de la Puebla, Don Juan de
Dios Raber.-Estremadura; Don Martin de
Garoy. Don Felix de Ovalle. Grenada ;-
Don Rodrigo Requeliude, Don Luis Gines de
Gines y Salido.-Jaen; Don Sebastian de
Tocano, Don Francisco Paula Castanedo.-
For Majorca, and the adjacent Islands; Don
Thomas de Vizi, Don Josef Sanglada de
Tajores.-Murcia; The Most Excellent
Senor the President, ad interim, the Senor
Marquis de Villar.-Seville; The Senor
Archbishop of Laodicea, the Conde de Tilli.

Don Pedro de Ribero, Don
Josef Garcia de la Torre.-Valencia; The
Conde de Contamina, El Principe de Pio.

In consequence of the agreement of yester day, the 24th inst. made in a preparatory conference, and by which it was resolved, that at half past nine o'clock this morning, the Supreme Central Junta of government of the kingdom should be installed, to which effect all the most serene deputies, present in this royal residence, amounting to more than two-thirds of the number which should ccm. pose the junta of government, who are mentioned alphabetically in the margin, were summoned, the ceremony was observed in the following manner:-The said most serene deputies assembled in the sacristy of the chapel belonging to the palace of the