ter, by the vibration of bodies, &c. &c. He finally ar- A few days after the landing of the wounded, the ranged all sounds into four classes, each being determined squadrons received pratique-that is to say, were released by the manner in which the sound was produced. He de- from the observance of quarantine-on which occasion clined entering into the question how sound, thus gene- the troops in garrison were out on the lines, and fired a rated, was transmitted, and proceeded at once, in the se-feu de joie, which was answered by a royal salute from cond part, to consider the manner in which it was impressed upon the organ. His views on this subject he illustrated, partly by a demonstration of the structure of the ear, partly by the analogy of sight. No member offered any remarks upon this Essay. The Secretary having reported the donations which had been made to the Society during the vacation, it adjourned. SKETCHES FROM THE PORTFOLIO OF A THE ALLIED FLEET AT MALTA AFTER THE BATTLE OF every ship in harbour. As Sir Edward passed down the centre line of the squadrons, he was enthusiastically cheered from the yard-arms of every ship; and he stepped ashore, on the Custom-house wharf, amid the deafening shouts of the multitude. His appearance is at once noble and commanding, and everywhere as he passed along he was greeted with the loudest acclamations. Fetes and rejoicings followed in rapid succession. The civil and military officers of the place gave a splendid ball and supper, at which hardly less than 1500 people were present. At a fete of this kind, where the invitations were so generally extended, a portion of the company was, as might have been expected, not very select, and a number of ludicrous incidents occurred. A certain class of the Maltese, who just barely come in for admittance to I was at Malta when Codrington and the fleet returned such assemblies, consider it their duty, on such occasions, thither from Navarino. The excitement created there by not only to dispense with their evening meal, that they this action was very great. However men's minds might may the more enjoy the good fare of the supper, but also have been divided on the question which gave rise to it, conceive themselves called upon to pocket a few sweetthere was only one opinion as to the gallant manner in meats for the children at home; and even sometimes dewhich it had been fought-and this feeling prevailed over licacies of a more solid nature. On the occasion to which every other. The Maltese, almost universally, detest the I allude, an elderly gentleman had been observed busily very name of Greeks, and think nothing too bad for filling his hat with precious scraps of this kind, over them. The measure, therefore, considered separately, which he carefully put his handkerchief, and was very was any thing but relished by them, particularly as, only quietly walking down stairs, when a young rogue of an a few days before, some Maltese vessels had been plun- officer, as if by accident, gave the hat a twitch, and out dered off the very mouth of the harbour; and they would tumbled-to the great amusement of the bystanders, not allow themselves to distinguish between an indivi- Maltese as well as others the better half of a fowl, some dual act of aggression, and the character of a whole na- exquisite slices of ham, and various et ceteras of a similar tion. When the Maltese do hate, they hate with bitter- | kind. I do not mean to represent these traits as national ness, and to some purpose. Nor could all the atrocities I have said they belong only to a certain class; and I committed upon the Greeks move their hearts one iota to "hate, abhor, detest, and abominate" the illiberal spirit sympathise with them. Notwithstanding this, however, that would take advantage of the eccentricities or the as the vessels of the different squadrons entered the great vices of a few, to ridicule or to lash a whole commuharbour of Valetta, the bastion walls were crowded with nity. The Maltese collectively are a virtuous and meriall ranks of people, who cheered them as they passed, torious people; and should my humble lucubrations by which was returned by the brave fellows, who had so chance ever meet their eye, I should wish them to believe nobly done their duty, from the yard-arm. that the kindnesses I have met with from many of them are not forgotten. The first vessel that entered was-if my memory do not fail me a French 74, the Sirene, a beautiful ship, followed in rapid succession by the Genoa-in a most shattered state-the Asia, and the Albion-both of which appeared to have suffered much less-and by the greater part of the rest of the Allied squadrons. The Genoa had only a few weeks before left the port in gallant trim, under the command of the brave veteran Bathurst; now she returned a mere battered hulk, having on board the remains of her much-lamented captain. As she passed under the walls, there was a waving of hats and handkerchiefs, but not a voice was to be heard a solemn and impressive silence was observed by all parties, which contrasted strongly with the previous cheering. A French, a Russian, and a British squadron, assembled together in peace and harmony, was, indeed, a curious and most interesting sight; and it was not the less so, that very shortly before, the spacious basin of Valetta harbour had almost been entirely deserted. Now it was well filled, and the streets of the city were crowded. The appearance and character of the different seamen were well worthy of remark. In all respects, the British tar stood foremost-neatly and cleanly clad in his dark-blue jacket, red waistcoat, white trowsers, and glossy hat. The French sailor wore a somewhat similar dress, but it was not nearly so trigly put on. Lastly, the Russians were dirty, greasy, and ill paid; but they all mingled together, and might be seen hugging and caressing one another in the open streets in the most loving manner. Going through the Marina gate of Valetta one day, I was witness to a curious meeting between a Jack-tar and a red-coat. I hope," said Jack, "we ha'nt disgraced you? I hope we've done our duty? But hark ye, Mister Lobster, you see as how its the Admiral's orders that every sentry's to present arms to a British sailor; so come, old fellow, give us the salute!" On another occasion, some of these fellows treated themselves to a spree in the Upon the arrival of the squadrons at Malta, the Lieutenant-Governor, the Honourable Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby, with the utmost promptitude, had the extensive Fort Ricasoli, at the entrance of the harbour, converted into a general hospital for the wounded. Their conveyance thither was effected in the most admirable manner. Nor can I pass over, without a tribute of praise, the conduct of the Maltese boatmen, whose assistance was required on this occasion. Not a sound was to be heard but the splash of the oars in the water; and the scene was altogether one of the most impressive I ever witnessed. The accommodation afforded to all in the hospital-theatre. without the slightest shade of partiality towards our own men-reflected the highest credit on the authorities; and the attentions paid, with his usual ability and benevolence, by the venerable Dr Allen, late surgeon of the Naval Hospital, will be long felt by many a grateful heart. It happened that the "Turco in Italia" was performing, when, in the middle of the Primo Tenorés songs, the audience were startled with a rough voice from the gallery calling out, "Shiver my timbers, Jack! [ thought as how we had smash'd all 'em 'ere Turks!—but blow me! if there a'nt more of 'em! Let me get down to that squalling chap; I'm blest if I don't make him pipe to another tune!" But there are better traits in Jack's character than the ludicrous. "I say," said one of them, meeting a Greek," I say, are you a Turk?" "No, no," said the man, "Greco."- "So much the better for you, then; give us your fist, old boy!—a Turk would have felt the weight of my arm in another guess sort of way!" It was gratifying to observe, that these brave and generous fellows perfectly understood what they had been fighting for, and took a noble pride in knowing that it had been in the cause of justice and humanity: what otherwise was a Turk or a Greek to them? R. A. D. A LETTER FROM DR GILLESPIE CONCERNING ROBERT BURNS. 6th Dec. 1829. DEAR SIR, AS you have already given publicity to an anecdote respecting Burns, which Mr Lockhart has honoured with a place in his third edition of the Poet's Life, I feel myself, if not called upon, at least encouraged, to supply you with one or two additional notices, equally authentic with the former. I have in my own possession, and I am acquainted with others who have, several unpublished poems of Burns, which, whilst they exhibit most forcibly the Poet's genius, are unfit for publication. But there is one production of Burns's every-way fitted for the public eye, and eminently characterised by his mind, of which I have never seen, and of which, indeed, I know that there has never been, any public notice whatever. The production to which I refer is a letter, written from Dumfries a few weeks before the Poet's death, to Mr James Clark, formerly schoolmaster of Moffat, and then Latin teacher at Arbroath, or Montrose, I forget which. With Mr Clark, who was afterwards master of the Grammar School of Cupar-Fife, I was most intimately acquainted, and have spent some of the happiest hours of my life in his company, both in the parlour, under the witchery of most admirable music, and by the Eden side, in fishing. Clark was an intimate friend of Burns, to whom he often played on the fiddle, and never spoke of Burns, particularly after dinner, without evincing deep emotion. Clark had corresponded with Burns, and I understood him to be in possession of more letters, written by Burns, than one; but to one only can I speak at present, as I do not recollect having seen any more. The letter was written in a most friendly style, addressed, My dear Clark," and ended with a request, which, at present, I am not authorized to mention. I believe it was Cromek-I know that it was somebody-who offered Clark ten guineas for this letter, which the holder very delicately, and perhaps properly, refused, as the letter contained matter of a private and confidential character. Not being at liberty to say any more at present on the subject of the contents of this letter than that it was pretty long, strongly and strikingly expressed, and full, in short, of the man, I can only refer you or Mr Lockhart to the heirs of Clark, who reside, I believe, at Dollar. Our mutual friend Tennant would be able, I am sure, if not to procure the letter, at least to ascertain what has become of it, and whether it may not, as in my humble opinion it ought, to grace your own pages, or at least those of the gifted editor of the Quarterly. I may mention, in conclusion, (as Fielding says, where othing is concluded,) that when a schoolboy at Wallenall Academy, I saw Burns's horse tied by the bridle to be sneck of a cottage-door in the neighbourhood of Thornill, and lingered for some time listening to the songs, vhich, seated in an iron chair by the fireside, Burns was istening to. Betty Flint was the name of the songstress. She was neither pretty nor witty, but she had a pipe of he most overpowering pitch, and a taste for song. She as the very woman for Burns, when disposed to have song without supper;" in other words, to enjoy the sweet notes of music without the usual accompaniments. I remember that she sung, even to 66 us laddies," "There's nae luck about the house," and "Braw, braw lads o' Gala water," most inimitably; whilst, like the trees and the blocks to Orpheus, we stared and listened to her most religiously. I remain, my dear sir, truly yours, THOMAS GILLESPIE. THE DRAMA. THE great question about all actors and actresses is," Are they true to nature?" But the previous question may be moved, "What is nature?" Tell the same story to two persons, and one will laugh and the other cry,-which is the more natural? The only answer is, that the laughter is natural to the one, and the tears to the other. Well, then, may not two actors act the same scene in two very different ways, and yet both be true to nature? Yes, but we are brought into this seeming dilemma by a sophistry, and to such sophistries the Socratic mode of reasoning (with reverence be it spoken) is peculiarly liable. What is one man's nature, is not another's; but as there is a standard of taste, or something approaching to it, so there is a standard of human nature, by which the civilized is distinguished from the savage being, and the different grades of refinement traced and appreciated. There are actors for the nature of the upper and lower galleries,actors for the pit,—and actors for the boxes. The actors for the one-shilling men have a one-shilling nature, and are true to it; but as one shilling is not so valuable, and may be more easily met with, than five shillings, so these actors are of a more common and less honourable order. There is a difference, too, between the nature of a comedian and tragedian. The polished comedian plays principally to that artificial nature usually met with in what is called "good society;" whilst the great tragedian, on the other hand, addresses the more unsophisticated feelings of the heart, delicate and acute as those feelings ought to be, both by temperament and education. The chief question, therefore, concerning actors and actresses, still is, "Are they true to nature?" to that nature which they undertake to delineate, and by which they are to be judged. Be it observed, however, that an actor may be amazingly true to nature, and yet not a great actor. This latter point can be settled only by looking at the line of parts which he attempts. He who plays nothing but country bumpkins, has very different talents, or in other words, a very different nature, from him who plays such characters as Hamlet and Othello. Descending from generals to particulars, were we to ask-" Is Kean's acting true to nature?" we should have to consider that his walk is the very highest in his profession; and that it requires, therefore, some boldness to answer the question; for he who does so, implies that he is entitled to make his own ideas of what high and lofty passion is, and should be, a fit standard to judge by. Nevertheless, the question is answered every night by all Kean's audience, not one of whom ever take it into their head to suppose that they are doing a vain thing. It must be ever thus :-there is an invisible sympathy between the souls of men, which, if the right conductor is touched, will communicate itself to a vast multitude, with the velocity and simultaneousness of electricity. Let us take another instance then,--that which is more immediately in hand, and which, indeed, has suggested these remarks:-" Is Miss Smithson's acting true to nature ?" She also plays the first line in tragedy; but, in so far as we have seen, there is little or no sympathy between her and her audience. Why, then, the conclusion must be, that her acting is not true to nature. "But does she get no applause at all?" Yes; occasionally from the upper gallery. "Then she must have a one-shilling nature." Granted; but from her who plays the first line in tragedy, we want a just and delicate medium between a three and a five-shilling nature; or, in other terms, some culiarly farcical subject, Phrenology, which will be brought out immediately. Miss Foote's ten gratuitous performances commence to-morrow evening, Dec. 8, with Letitia Hardy, in the “Belle's Stratagem;" and T. P. Cooke concluded his six similar representations of William, in Douglas Jerrold's nautical melo-drama of "Black-eyed Susan," on Saturday last, though he is engaged to play it again for three more evenings this week. The career of this piece has been as astonishing as it has been unparal thing that will charm the pit, and delight the boxes. In one word, if our opinion be asked regarding Miss Smithson, we pronounce her altogether a caricature. She is no more capable of sustaining the first parts, either in tragedy or comedy, than she is of enacting Harlequin, or of dancing on the slack wire. Her style is a good deal like that of a respectable moon-struck milliner, who having seen, for the first time in her life, a play performed by a strolling company in a country town, immediately becomes stage-mad, and throws herself into grotesque atti-leled; it was written for the Surrey Theatre, to run its tudes, and makes speeches about daggers, and poison, and few nights and be forgotten, like something more than love, and that sort of thing, to all the other female ap- ninety-nine-hundredths of all its contemporaries, manuprentices. There is no delicacy in her appreciation of factured to sail in those latitudes; and of its being played character,-no grace in her execution of even the most for a hundred and fifty successive nights at the Surrey, simple passages. In her conceptions, there is now and then the following six at Covent Garden, and subsequentthen something like originality; but it is originality of ly the further announcement of the succeeding twelve at the coarsest and most vulgar kind; as, for example, her the Surrey, with its repetition on some of the same evenlaying aside her black velvet robe, in the mad scene in ings at Covent Garden, making a total of one hundred and "Venice Preserved," and making her entrée in a white sixty-eight uninterrupted performances, its author himslip or under petticoat, black stockings, and shoes; and self says, and I, for one, most potently believe him, “ Had as the slip comes down only a little below the knees, the the individual who discharges the fireworks at Vauxhall black stockings have a peculiarly fine effect. "But what, seen one of his rockets, instead of gleaming a brief time, then, do you say to the Parisians?" Simply, that they and then waning into darkness, become fixed in the sky, are no rule to us; and that for the opinions of a set of and shine a star for the whole season, he could not have claqueurs, who know about as much of English as they been more surprised." That this success has been solely do of High Dutch, we entertain an exceedingly small re- owing to the acting of Mr Cooke, and not to the mere spect. "Is she not a fine woman?" We know not merits of the drama, you will, it seems, very speedily have what she was; but now she has grown fat and pursy, an opportunity of judging for yourselves in Edinburgh; with a face like a muffin. Good Heaven! are the public where, if you have a pretty, sensitive, modest Susan, a such profound ninnies as to submit to trash like this? We clever Gnatbrain, a surly Doggrass, and a gentlemanly are glad that in Edinburgh, at least, Miss Smithson is Admiral, it will doubtless be a favourite. Mr Jerrold drawing no houses; and we consider it the duty of those has since produced a five-act tragedy, called “Thomas à who do go to split their sides with laughter. We give Becket," also at the Surrey, which has been tolerably sueMr Murray no great credit for bringing her here, for cessful; and he is, “take him for all in all,” very far suhe must have known that her only chance of success perior to the usual run of minor theatrical writers. arose from her having been talked of. To drug us at so short an interval with Miss Smithson in tragedies, which, only the week before, were supported by Macready and Miss Jarman, (the latter as much superior to Miss Smithson as light is to darkness,) was not the very happiest specimen of management. Should we be thought to have expressed our opinion of Miss Smithson severely, we can only say, that we have done so because others seem afraid to speak out, and because we are anxious to open the eyes of at least a portion of the public, to the preposterous stuff which she attempts to palm upon them for fine acting. Let Miss Smithson sink to her own level, and we shall never breathe another word against her. THE DRAMA IN LONDON. London, Dec. 7, 1829. THANKS to the captivations of Fanny Kemble, Edmund Kean," Black-eyed Susan," and the Elephant from Franconi's, our London theatricals are, to adopt a commercial metaphor, once more "looking up again." Miss Kemble's Juliet having now sustained the ordeal of eight-and-twenty performances, with full houses, and unabated, or rather increased enthusiasm, to the last, her friends are probably justified in predicting a still more brilliant career for her Belvidera; in which character she is to appear, for the first time, on Wednesday next, Dec. 9, when "Venice Preserved" is to be produced, with new scenery and dresses, and the parts of Pierre and Jaffier are to be sustained by Mr C. Kemble and Mr Warde. Wade's long-talked-of new tragedy of the "Jew of Arragon" is consequently postponed for the present; though, with the true esprit de corps, and to keep his name before the public, he has since written a very lively farce, on that pe Kean's debut at Drury Lane, after coming to town purposely to befriend the rival house, agreeably to his promised offer, placarded all over London more than two months ago, was one of the most Irish methods of assisting Covent Garden that could possibly have been devised. His powerful aid was, however, never more needed than just now at Old Drury; his reception, maugre a little opposition from some, was most enthusiastic; the house was, for the first time this season, crowded, and his performance of Richard never more careful, or more energetic. Lord Glengall's new Comedy of the "Follies of Fashion," which, though now brought out at Drury Lane, was two or three years since in rehearsal at Covent Garden, has been praised very far beyond its deserts, and will never be either productive or popular; lines between them! Drury Lane's new pieces have, ineven the prologue and epilogue had not a dozen really good deed, been singularly unsuccessful this season; for, with the exception of Planche's very clever melo-drama of the "Brigand,” and Buckstone's tolerably neat translation of "Snakes in the Grass," which, however, did not draw, all the others, from Lister's dull tragedy of “ Epicharis downwards, have been most decided failures. This, as I wish equally well to "both their houses," I am sincerely sorry for. This, however, is not the only error of Mr Price's management; for his reduction of the box prices, when he erroneously and charitably concluded that Covent Garden would either not open, or must follow his exauple, was a blunder for which he never can forgive himself, while he knows that the other house fills at the old admission, and that he has thus needlessly thrown away one shilling per head upon every box visitor; and this at a time, too, when his treasury necessities have required a reduction of five-and-twenty per cent upon all the larger salaries until after Christmas, then to be repaid, if fort nate. Lastly, though certainly not least, but biggest, I mus tell you of Djelck, the Elephant, which was landed it Wallace's Dock Yard, Riband House, Blackwall, abs one o'clock in the morning of Friday, Nov. 27, wheas walked up to town, and arrived safely at the Adelphi, where she debuted on Thursday last, in a drama written by Beazley, the architect and play-writer, and called the "Elephant of Siam and the Firefiend!" She is of a very dark brown colour, and certainly a most magnificent and sagacious animal; though it is not a little singular that she was formerly in the possession of Mr Cross, of elephantine notoriety, by whom she was sold for intrac tability. Skilful management has, however, made her toute au contraire, and her present docility must be seen to be believed. Her height is about eleven feet, and her weight nearly four tons. Yet notwithstanding two such very formidable obstacles to agility, she performs the whole of her part, even to her final acknowledgments to the audience, upon being called for, à la Français, after the curtain has fallen, with an ease and elegance which very many of her biped colleagues would do well to imitate. The Drury Lane manager, being too late to obtain her powerful services, for which he offered the same terms as Mr Kean's, £50 per night, has, according to GreenRoom report, a rival beast in training for his Christmas pantomime; and all the other pantomimes are, I understand, to introduce manufactured elephants, as nearly like her as possible. She was introduced by an address, admirably spoken by Yates, setting forth, in good heroic measure, how he, a wild-beast showman, was ejected from the late Exeter Change; when, his "occupation gone," he says,― "I wander'd on, but did not wander far; Set up After which, puns, at the rate of about two per stanza, crowd the remainder of this zoological prologue, which concludes, "Hoping that you your patronage will grant, To Messieurs Mathews, Yates, and Elephant!" This was to have been spoken in the costume of a Beefeater, which, however, the Deputy-Licenser, George Colman the younger, considered far too sacred a character to be thus jested with, and accordingly issued his veto, prohibiting its degradation !!! The elephant was to have been exhibited twice a-day, but as second thoughts are best, upon thinking twice of it, this Bartholomew-Fair scheme was very wisely given up. Of the other numerous novelties now in concoction, in preparation, and in completion, I hope to write you favourably and more particularly, very speedily. ORIGINAL POETRY. TO A FAVOURITE ACTRESS. By Henry G. Bell. I SAW thee in thy hour of pride, The empress of the glittering scene,— Gush'd through thy veins joy's purple tide, Flash'd from thy eyes, in glances keen, The sparkles of the soul within, Like lightning midst the applauding din. I saw thy bosom fall and swell, I saw thy brow on fire with thought; I saw thee, 'neath the poet's spell, Like some rich garment gold-inwrought, Give forth from every look and limb, A light, which made all others dim. I heard thy voice, and every tone I heard thy voice-thy voice alone- And I did feel thy triumph then,— My soul, like thine, was young and proud; Its chords responsive rang again To all the praises of the crowd ;- I scorn'd to give away in sound Emotions which to thee I ow'd,— Emotions sacred and profound, Whose shadow on my hot cheek glow'd; But if, perchance, my eye met thine, Its language thou mightst well divine. Alas! alas!--I knew it all A dream an idle dream at best; For does not, at the curtain's fall, The player sink into a jest ?— A wearied, sad, and painted thing, A puppet that has lost its string! I will not do, as once I did,- No-thou shalt ne'er be aught to me, Save what this very hour thou art; The fancies I now twine with thee Might else grow darker and depart ; I hate the cold truths that destroy So warm and bright a dream of joy. WOMAN. From "The Exiles of Chamouni." An Unpublished Drama. By Charles Doyne Sillery. ALAS! for gentle Woman, form'd so weak! Catching the tincture of each varying ray The inconstant sunshine sheds through dews and darkness, Prey on her inmost soul, till the fair form- LITERARY CHIT-CHAT AND VARIETIES. A NEW Literary Journal, of the same form and size as the London Literary Gazette, to be entitled The Chronicle of Literature and the Fine Arts, is, we understand, about to be commenced, under the superintendence of Mr Alaric Watts. It is to be of weekly recurrence, and will be devoted to English and Foreign Literature and the Fine Arts. There is nearly ready for publication, Travels to Timbuctoo and other parts of Central Africa, during the years 1824, 5, 6, 7, and 8, by René Caillié. The work will be illustrated with a view of Timbuctoo, and other plates representing the buildings of this remarkable city. The author of Richelieu has nearly ready a new work, entitled Darnley. Mr D'Israeli announces the concluding portion of his Commentaries on the Life and Reign of Charles I. A work of considerable interest to the sporting world is in preparation, under the title of Northern Sports. It will, we understand, exhibit, in an animated manner, the field diversions of the North of Europe. Mr Galt has nearly completed a novel, called Lawrie Todd, or the Settlers in the Woods. A novel, said to be of an entirely new character, under the title of Wedded Life in Upper Ranks, will shortly be published. Mr Emerson is engaged in writing a History of Greece, which will soon make its appearance. Shortly will be published, the History of Dunbar, from the earliest records to the present period, by James Millar. A new topographical Dictionary of Great Britain and Ireland is about to be published in numbers, by Mr J. Gorton, Editor of the General Biographical Dictionary. The Civil and Ecclesiastical History of England, from the Invasion of the Romans to the Passing of the Catholic Relief Bill in 1829, is announced by C. St George. A Treatise on Atmospheric Electricity, including Observations on Lightning Rods and Paragreles, by John Murray, F. S. H., &c. is in the press. A History of Danish Literature, from the Time of the introduction of the art of printing, is announced by J. Moeller. The Spirit and Manners of the Age, an able and judicious periodical, successfully conducted by Mr S. C. Hall, the Editor of the Amulet, is henceforward to be published under the title of the British Magazine, a Monthly Journal of Literature, Science, and Art. The Memoirs of Madame du Barri, Mistress of Louis XV. of France, forming three volumes of "Autobiography," is announced. The Life of Sir Walter Raleigh, in two volumes, is nearly ready for publication, from the pen of Mrs Thomson, the popular author of the Life of Wolsey, and Memoirs of Henry VIII. and his Times. Dr Conolly, Professor of Medicine in the University of London, is preparing for publication, an Inquiry concerning the indications of Insanity. The ninth volume of Count Segur's History of France, commencing with the reign of Louis XI., is in the press. An English Journal is about to be published at Pisa, under the title of the Ausonian, or Monthly Journal of Italian Literature.. PRICE OF FOREIGN BOOKS-A paragraph upon this subject ap. peared among our Varieties last week. It has since been represented to us, from a highly respectable source, that the insinuation it contained, against foreign book-importers generally, was too severe, We are informed that, by Messrs Treuttel and Wurtz, and other extensive foreign booksellers in London, the general rule is to convert francs into shillings;-to sell a work which costs ten francs, for example, on the Continent, for ten shillings. This does not seem an unreasonable per centage. MISS PATON'S CONCERT.-Miss Paton gave a concert in the Assembly-Rooms here on Wednesday evening She was assisted by her two sisters-Isabella and Eliza. The Rooms were extremely crowded, very few less than 1000 tickets having been sold. There were three Parts, the first consisting entirely of sacred music, The whole went off with great eclat. MISS LOUISA JARMAN.-We observe that this young lady, induced by her sister's success here, has come to Edinburgh to give lessons in singing and accompaniment, during her sister's residence here. From what we have heard of Miss Louisa Jarman's acquirements in these branches, we should think there is little doubt of her meeting with every encouragement. CHESS-One of the most splendid set of chess-men we ever saw, beautifully carved in the finest ivory, are at present to be seen in the shop of Messrs Constable & Co. We understand it is the intention of the owner to dispose of them speedily by raffle. They who take an interest in game should not lose the chance of becoming possessed are a prize. Theatrical Gossip.-For what has been going on during the last week in the theatrical world of London, we refer our readers to a previous page of this Number.--Madame Vestris performed Don Giovanni last Saturday evening, gratuitously, at Drury Lane, and has concluded an engagement to play there regularly after Christmas.-The Dublin Theatre was sold by auction a few days ago, for £13,500, being £500 above the mortgage. The mortgagee was the purchaser, and he has granted a lease of the property for seven years to Mr Bunn, at an asnual rent of £2000, instead of £3000, the sum hitherto paid.-The English company playing in Holland have been suddenly thrown into great difficulty, owing to the manager having appropriated all the receipts in discharge of rent due, after having, by liberal offers, tempted the performers to come over for the winter season. It was expected that, after four nights' performance, in aid of the poorer members, the company would be broken up.-The Ramsgate Theatre was burned down on the 1st of this month.-Macready took his be nefit here on Wednesday last. Not being in good health, he has given up some provincial engagements, and returned to his own house at Pinnerwood, in the neighbourhood of London.-Sir Walter Scott's tragedy of "The House of Aspen" is in rehearsal here, and will be brought out immediately upon the termination of Miss Smithson's engagement. Towards the end of the month, a new Christmas pantomime will be produced.-Miss Paton left this ye terday morning for Newcastle, and is to perform Lucy Bertram there this evening. She then proceeds to York, and other English towns, and will not return to London for some weeks. تكرة WEEKLY LIST OF PERFORMANCES. Dec. 5-Dec. 11. THE interesting paper by the Author of " Anster Fair" will appear probably in our next. We cannot speak from personal knowledge, but, from what we gather, we should think that much benefit might be derived from an attendance on the "Soirées Françaises de Madame de Thibouville," The poem, entitled "Signs of the Times, or the Second Advent," is much too long for the Journal; it would, indeed, make a small volume. The "Scottish Song" shall have a place in our next SLIPPERB. We regret that the Song" from "Chirnside" will scarcely suit us. Our Correspondent in Stonehaven may live in hopes-We cannot find room for A Simile for the Ladies," and "Winter Returning."-A Correspondent, who is of opinion, that, on the publicstion of the new edition of Rob Roy, Mr Mackay, the living repres sentative of the Bailie, should not be forgotten, has sent us a poem addressed to that gentleman, of which the last verse is as follows: 21 31 :) to 192 "Thy fame, dear bought and well deserved, Will ne'er go out of date, One honest magistrate! They who thy modest virtues know, Will lift the voice together,- |