Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

row, returning to her place; if the ball efcapes, without being stopped in its courfe before it touches the ground, they ftrike up the dance and fing, beating time with their hands and feet; this lafts about five minutes, when they prepare to receive the ball from the other party who have ftood ftill: if they catch the ball, they return it again; if it escape them, the other party dance in their turn. After thus amusing themfelves and the fpectators for fome hours, the ball is kicked away, and both parties ftrike up together. It is at this time they ufe the lewd geftures defcribed by fome of our voyagers; but thefe are only practifed by the young and wanton, who (fays the reporter) are no more to be taken for the ftandard of manners than the ladies in the Strand, or the fea-nymphs at Spithead, would be fpecimens of our fair country women,

I

ANECDOTE

OF

JAMES THOMSON,

AUTHOR OF THE SEASONS.

KNOW not whether it was about this time or earlier in his life, that Thomfon lived in the family of Lord Binning, in the quality of tutor to fome of his children. I have heard or read an anecdote of his conduct while he lived in that fituation, which, as it is indeed fomewhat trivial, I should not mention here, did it not ftrikingly befpeak his characteristic fenfibility and indolence. A young lady of the family, who was very amiable, had attracted Thomfon's moft paffionate admiration. He durft not reveal his love, nor had he all the opportunities he defired of gazing on her beauty. It happened, however, that his bed-chamber was immediately above that of the fair lady. The ceiling

was

was flight, and the lover contrived to bore a hole through, which he could, whenever he chofe, enjoy a bird's-eye view of what paffed in his mistress's chamber. As fhe was one evening undreffing herself with her maid's affiftance, they were alarmed by the loud fnore of a perfon afleep. The lady was furprised and frightened. But her maid's penetration having before difcerned the state of the Tutor's heart, the inftantly fufpected the fnore to iffue from his noftrils, A little obfervation difcovered his peeping hole; and the inhuman Abigail, by applying the candle to the orifice, roused the poor lover very abruptly-perhaps from a dream of happiness.

Heron's Life of Thomfon, prefixed to the Perth
Edition of the Seafons.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

STONI

AMONG THE ANCIENT JEWS.

TONING was one of the four capital punish. ments among the Jews, inflicted for the greater and more enormous crimes; efpecially for blafphemy and idolatry.

The malefactor was led out of the confiftory (where he had received fentence) at the door whereof a perfon ftood with a napkin in his hand, and a man on horfeback at fome diftance from him; that, if any one came and faid he had something to offer for the deliverance of the criminal, the horfeman (on the others waving the napkin) might give notice, and caufe the offender to be brought back to a farther hearing.

He had two grave perfons to go along with him to the place of execution, and to exhort him to confeffion

by

by the way. A cryer went before him, proclaiming who he was, what his crime, and who his witnesses. When arrived at the fatal fpot, which was raised two cubits from the ground, he was first stripped, then stoned, and afterwards hanged. He was to continue hanging till fun-fet; and then being taken down, he and his gibbet were buried together.

(See Cave's Life of St. Stephen, Sect. 9.)

THE DRAMA.

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

WEDNESDAY, Auguft 21ft. A new play, en

titled the Red Cross Knights, was brought for ward this evening. It is taken from SCHILLER'S famous tragedy of the Robbers; and is accompanied by fome pleafing mufic, fcenery, and decorations.

The fcene is laid in Spain, where Ferdinand, the only fon of Count Defmond, is fupplanted in his father's affections by the bafe conduct of Roderic, the fon of the Countefs by a former husband. Ferdinand, driven to defpair, enters the army, and displays the utmost valour against the Moors. Returning, however, fometime after to his father's caftle in difguife, he finds his beloved Eugenia on the eve of marriage with Roderic, who is in poffeffion of his inheritance, the Old Count being fuppofed to be dead. Ferdinand, by accident, discovers that he is alive in a dungeon, into which he was thrown by the artifices of Roderic, He is almoft immediately

released

released. Ferdinand is restored to his mistress, and the execrable Roderic is delivered over to an exemplary punishment. Such are the general outlines of the plot; and confidered with refpect to the German original, in which horror predominates, this Alteration, attributed by common report to MR. HOLMAN, may be deemed an improvement.

The characters in this play were not very impreffive, except Eugenia, who had one great fcene for exertion. Ferdinand and Roderic, indeed, appear with advantage in various parts; but the reft are mere fhadows. The language does not poffefs any peculiar energy or beauty, excepting in the last act, where Ferdinand difcovers his father; this is a fcene calculated to roufe all our feelings, and with which, of course, we were much gratified. The mufic is a judicious felection, comprising feveral good marches, and a few exquifite airs, executed by MRS. BLAND with her usual felicity.

The dreffes are splendid, and we were pleafed with the Moorish palace, and a great variety of rural views, which conftitute the fcenery. The Prologue was fpoken by MR. TRUEMAN. It is a compofition in praife of knight errantry, and announces the play as an improved copy, in refpect to the moral, from the German fchool. It was announced for further exhibition with an indifferent approbation.

SEPTEMBER 10. Mifs Campbell made her first appearance here this evening in the character of Julia, in the Surrender of Calais. This lady comes from the theatre of Newcastle. Her perfon is middle-fized, neatly proportioned, and genteel. There was a delicacy in her tone of voice, though too much depreffed by ti midity; and her whole manner was characterised by cafe and refinement. Her talent feems to lie in genteel comedy,

comedy, where we have no doubt the will acquit herfelf with confiderable ability.

14th. This theatre closed for the feafon this evening; the company was brilliant, confifting of the Prince of Wales, Lord Moira, the Dutchess of Devonshire, and other perfons of diftinction. Mr. FAWCETT, at the conclufion, delivered a neat addrefs of thanks, in which he regretted the brevity of their Summer career; and acknowledged, in terms of gratitude, their numerous obligations for the attendance with which they had been honoured. "However his term," faid MR. FAWCETT, may have been reduced-however he may regret that he has fported for fo fhort a period in the fun-fhine of your favour, ftill your beams have cheered him during his brief fummer, and he is fully fenfible of their warmth."

66

COVENT GARDEN.

SEPTEMBER 16. This theatre opened with the comedy of Laugh When You Can, and the opera of Rofina. The performers were greeted upon their appearance by the audience, who renewed their acquaintance with them in tokens of exultation. MATTOCKS, LEWIS, MUNDEN, and INCLEDON, were among the number received with the greatest pleasure A Prefatory Addrefs, delivered by Mr. Pope, contained an eulogium on our recent military exertions, and a modeft claim to the patronage of the public.

The improvements of the house were equal to our expectations. The fronts of the boxes are painted in compartments, of which the pannel is a delicate rofepink, framed in gold, the frames white; and the whole produces a rich and brilliant effect.

SEPTEMBER 18. MRS. DIBDIN made her début here as Aura, in the Farm House. She fuftained the

part

« ПредишнаНапред »