Or, labouring in an agricultural fury, Then natives, startled at the news, will crowd, "What houses!-dear!-in those tremendous days, How great, how matchless, must have been their plays. All trace of Bluebeards and of Miller's Men; "Oh! for the good old times, when Congreve's wit "Taught human hearts how happy they might be ;— "Which makes the very mind to dream and smile!" A shop, in some ideal Monmouth-street,— But is all hope betray'd?-And may I not, REPORT OF MUSIC. The Opera-house, having at last reached the crisis of its protracted disorder, the issue has been unfortunate, and its existence has ceased. The extent of the perilous complication of infirmity, by which the establishment has been so often and so long assailed, is too well proved in the excessive weakness, and miserable exhaustion, that marked the final moments of the abruptly terminated season. It seems that Messrs. Birch and Chambers, the bankers of the theatre, had obtained judgment against the property, and an execution was put into the house, some time since, for between fifty and sixty thousand pounds. The strong hand of the law was, however, stayed by the more powerful voice of equity; for, on an appeal to the Chancellor by Mr. Taylor, the quondam proprietor, his Lordship issued an injunction, forbidding Messrs. Birch and Chambers to sell any thing beside the interest of Mr. Waters (their debtor) in the concern; which interest, involved of course in all the claims, litigations, suits at law and in equity, debts and engagements, with which this hopeful property was burdened-offered abundant temptatations, no doubt, to a purchaser! Still, however, the theatre continued to open, and operas were peformed. But, after having tottered and trembled on, for some time, in spite of its dying symptoms, at length, on the 15th of August, the following fatal bulletin made its appearance. King's Theatre, Aug. 15. The nobility and gentry, subscribers to the Opera, and the public, are most respectfully informed, that, owing to sudden and unforeseen circumstances, there can be no performance at this Theatre this evening. These sudden and unforeseen cirTM cumstances are understood to have been the mutiny of the band. Point d'argent, point de Suisse. Ten nights, it is said, had the orchestra generously served, without pay or plunder. At last they insisted on present satisfaction. There were no funds. Mr. Waters, the general in chief, was upon the continent. As a temporising proposition, the night's moneyreceipts were offered to be consigned, so far as they might extend, in liquidation of the arrear. But the demand was absolute, and the claimants obdurate and so-the Operahouse closed before its time! to the infinite mortification and distress of all those gentle persons, who draw either the means of living, or the pleasures of life, from fashion, virtù, or intrigue -whether legal, musical, or amatory. The history of this establishment, so interesting and important, with reference to the musical art, is curious; and the continual unfailing failures of each, in the long series of succeeding schemes of management, present a mass of error, and a consumption of property, so immense as to puzzle conjecture concerning the causes and modes of such stupendous squandering. The expence of the first importation of an Italian opera, was met, in 1720, by a public subscription of fifty thou sand pounds. Seven years disposed of this entire amount, together with all the receipts during that period. From 1729 to 1738, Handel laboured, without success, to continue the establishment thus planted; and concluded his management (owing probably to an opposition set on foot by some of the nobility) with the loss of the greatest part of his property, which was certainly more than ten thousand pounds, and all the fruits of his genius and industry during that time whilst he had the satisfaction of knowing that his noble adversaries were not more benefited by their rivalry. Heidegger, the general master of the revels of that day, next failed. In 1741, the Earl of Middlesex undertook the adventure, and assumed the dangerous office of impresario to the opera. From 1744 to 1746, the house was closed; and in the succeeding year the noble manager was joined by several others of his own rank, who carried through the season by four separate subscriptions, for six, ten, seventeen, and fourteen nights. In 1748, Lord Middlesex, however, resigned, with loss, to Dr. Croza; who, in 1752, ran away in debt; but taking care to carry with him the receipts of a considerable benefit. In 1756, Vaneschi, the next manager, followed the example of his predeces◄ sor Croza. Giardini and Mingotti then took it up for a season; but relinquished it with loss. From this time to 1762, Mattei, and her husband, Trombetta, were losing managers; when Giardini and Mingotti for a short time resumed the empire. Two years afterwards, Vincent, Gordon, and Crawford, three musicians, became the joint proprietors, and barely escaped from bankruptcy. The hon. Mr. Hobart next, and, after him, Millico, and Sacchini, Mrs. Yates, and Mrs. Brookes, hazarded the enterprize. In 1785, the concern sunk; after entailing various degrees of injury upon the several managers. The destruction of the building by fire, in 1789, terminated the career of Sir John Gallini and Mr. Taylor. In 1791, the present structure, perhaps the most beautiful in Europe, was built by Novosculski; but not opened for a regular opera, owing to some dispute about the license, till 1793. Since this date, Mr. Goold, and subsequently Mr. Waters, have been the proprietors; and the theatre now again appears to have arrived at the consummation of 1785! Such is the brief chronicle of this disastrous concern; and, to those who regard only the enormous receipts of the house, it does seem most extraordinary that such sums should be found inadequate to carry on the performances. A pamphlet, however, published about two years since, but suppressed a few hours after its appearance, accounted for the vortex which has ingulphed all those great bulks of property, that have floated within its influence, as if they had been sticks and straws. The short detail, as given by the author, who seems to have been deeply conversant with all the transactions, is to the following effect. There was a total want of funds at the outset. Pecuniary accommodation of the most ruinous kinds, lawsuits, and profligate expenditure of all sorts, naturally succeeded. Amongst others, it became imperative in the then manager to get into parliament, in order to keep out of prison. One lawyer is stated to have made a clear gain of a sum equal to about three thousand four hundred pounds per annum, by his opera practice, during the space of seven years. The total stage expenditure the author estimates at fifteen thousand per annum; and he gives the names and salaries. The total annual receipts, (enumerating also the several sources) he puts down at seventy thousand two hundred and fifty-seven pounds. For the balance, law, usury, and other expences are left to account. Making the amplest allowance for the hostility of the author of the suppressed pamphlet, there is yet sufficient proof that he was thoroughly acquainted with all the proceedings, and that his statements are not so far from truth as to lead to very erroneous conclusions. The useful inference to the public, then, is, that this object of their enjoyment (and a very principal one it is to the world of fashion and of musical science) has been rendered to them at about double the expence it ought to be, if conducted by any person of taste and energy, and of prudence and honour. But it should seem, from a century of past experience, that the sine qua non is a complete acquittance from present incumbrances, of whatsoever kind they be. When the opera opens again, the new director, to go on prosperously, must start free, or he will fail, like all who have gone before him: whatever be the actual sums required for capital, rent, or charge, he must know them in order to meet them. The channels of expense, as well as the sources of dispute, have hitherto been indefinite and endless. The metropolis of England will not now exist without an Italian opera; and as, we have said, it ought to enjoy the finest in Europe at about half the late expence. It is already reported, that a board of management is likely to be created, and several noblemen have been mentioned as interesting themselves in the establishment. It is, however, due to the public, that the main points we have alluded to should be considered and provided for. Benefit concerts are still going on. Amongst others there has been one for Miss Paton, at the Argyle Rooms; one for Madame Obert, at the house of a lady of fashion, in Harley-street; and one for Mr. Bourget, at the former establishment. Miss Paton is of Scotch extraction, and a young lady of various and considerable talent. She made her first appearance in London, as a child, eight or ten years ago, when she sung, recited, and played upon the piano-forte at the Argyle Rooms. She has since studied that instrument under Webbe, the harp under Bochsa, and singing under Vercellini. She displayed her acquirements in these several accomplishments to a very full room, and with considerable applause. Madame Obert is a piano-forte player from Paris; has received instruction since her arrival in England from Kalkbrenner, in whose style she is considered to excel; and is altoge ther esteemed a fine performer. M. Bourget was also from France. He has a good tenor voice; but is unfortunately gifted with so much sensibility, that his face announces every rapid and changeful succession of his feelings. He made his debut at Bath, and the young ladies there encored him for the sake of enjoying his grimaces! He mistook physiog→ nomical for vocal success, and he was inspired with the resolution of confirming his empire by a concert in London. But whether the intelligence of his particular attractions travelled slow, or whether the ladies of the metropolis have less expensive subjects for mirth, than Mr. Bourget, at a guinea a head for admission, his concert was ill attended, and he set off for the continent the next morning. We have before mentioned the spirit with which music is now cultivated at Great Yarmouth in Norfolk; and, perhaps, there is nothing more essential to the diffusion of this science than the engagement of individuals of leisure, talent, and affluence in the practice. At Yarmouth, a concert has been formed for some years, by a pretty numerous and an increasing party of amateurs, at the head of whom is Mr. Palgrave, the collector of the customs; a gentleman eminently fitted to carry forward such a design, by the general respect which attends him, by the amenity of his disposition and manners, and by his devotion to music. The concert now appears to have obtained a force and consistency which will probably lead to the highest results. Last week a festival, upon a pretty large scale, was held; Mrs. Salmon and Miss Venes, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Terrail, Mr. Bellamy, and Mr. Lindley, together with one or two other London professors, were engaged; many amateurs from Norwich assisted, and the band mustered upwards of a hundred performers. The selections were comprehensive and tasteful, ranging through ancient and modern composition. The success of this first great undertaking, in so far as the delight of the lovers of music was concerned, will probably effect the repetition of such performances at proper intervals, which will tend to cement and perpetuate the cultivation of the art, and cannot fail to be beneficial to the town. We lament to understand that Mr. Bartleman, since his exertions at Oxford, has suffered a relapse, and is again confined by severe indisposition. Mr. Welsh is said to have a pupil of most extraordinary powers and promise, in the person of a young lady, whose name is, we believe, Wilson. Nature has gifted her with a voice of uncommon volume, richness, and brilliancy; and her talents are subjected to a master equal to call them forth and apply them in the best manner. Mr. Welsh, we have understood, is content to moot his reputation, as a teacher of public singers, upon the success of this pupil; or, at least, such is the interpretation put upon his language by those friends to whom he has spoken of this young lady's attainments, and if so, the public can hardly expect too much. Mr. Pio Chancettini has published the cantata, performed shortly after his arrival from Naples at the Argyle Rooms. It is certainly a composi tion that promises much for the future, though, perhaps, not distinguished by the overflowings of mind, for it is restrained and polished rather than full and exuberant. After the manner of Haydn, light and melodious, it is rendered attractive by grace rather than sublimity. The style is elevated somewhat above the music of the chamber, by dramatic effects, which the cantata allows; and if, on the whole, it is not likely to make a very deep impression, it augurs well for the good taste of the composer. It is lowered by the too frequent repetition of common place passages, which, had they been expunged (and they might have been expunged without much difficulty or labour) the whole would have taken a much loftier character. We have three songs by Mr. Emdin, whose ballads have already attracted a good share of regard towards the author.-Come, O love, and dwell with me, is very light and animated, with a nameless quality that is not absolutely elegance, yet very nearly approaches to it. There is something of an Anacreontic spirit about it, that, we should think, would render it acceptable either in hall or bower-at the table or the piano-forte. Of him who sighs for thee, we cannot speak so highly. The subject is trite (and what ballad subject is not?) and it is so far overmatched by the beautiful old ballad, When 'tis night, and the midwatch is come,—one of the best of our early days, that the song before us sinks into insignificance in the comparison, and yet the ideas are the same. The maid with a love-beaming eye, is scarcely more worthy of Mr. Emdin's hand. It begins like the threadbare song, The pretty girl of Derby, and reaches that level. LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. Hydrophobia. A disease resembling hydrophobia has been again perceived among the foxes in some parts of Bavaria; the same having been remarked last sum-mer too. This dreadful disease has also shewn itself among the calves in Pomerania. Here it has been stopped by killing the animals attacked by it. On the 17th of July an earthquake was felt at Schwalz in Tyrol, which, although it did not last above a second, did a good deal of injury. It was also felt near the Georgian mountain, from which large pieces of rock were precipitated in the valley below, without however, as far as has been learned as yet, any individual having been killed. At Inspruck the shock lasted about four seconds, but was only slightly felt. But what is most extraordinary in this phenomenon, and what has given rise in its neighbourhood to many superstitious notions, is that in the year 1670, on the same day, this district experienced a similar calamity, in consequence of which the day had been since that time set aside for thanksgivings and prayers.The people were in church when the present earthquake occurred. Africa. The possibility of diffusing knowledge and civilisation, by means of the school at St. Louis, into the interior of the countries situated on the Senegal, begins to be proved. The kings of Galom and Bambouk already send their children, from a distance of about 600 miles, to that school-in which one hundred and fifty Yolofs and other Africans are taught in the French language on the British plan, of mutual instruction, and by means of tables printed in both languages.(Hamburgh Correspondent.) an 66 Baron Dais, of Mannheim, the inventor of the Velocipedes has recently invented clevating telescope," being a tube, in the form of a stick of about three feet in length, and one inch and a half in diameter, with which he pretends to look at once over twenty-one degrees and a half of the whole horizon, and over intervening impediments. The use of this instrument, he states particularly, to consist: first, in public assemblies, to look over the heads of the people, even if they should wear high head-dresses; secondly, for generals, to raise the station of the eye; thirdly, for ships, to see farther from the deck, than could be done from the highest mast; fourthly, for houses, to see from the lower stories, almost as far as one might from a station much higher than the house itself. The inventor offers to enter into partnership with any one that would advance the necessary money for patents, &c. (Hamburgh Correspondent.) New South Shetland. Reports have recently been circulated, that a Terra Australasia has actually been seen by a British merchant ship. At first we treated this as an Irish or American report, both of which are generally famous for not being true; but our incredulity has been conquered by the kindness of a friend, and the certainty of the discovery put beyond question. Mr. William Smith, master of the brig Williams of Blythe, in a voyage from Buenos Ayres to Valparaiso, fancying that Cape Horn might be weathered better by preserving a more than usual southerly course, on the 19th of February, 1819, saw land, amidst fields of floating ice, at the distance of two leagues. At noon his latitude by observation was 620 17/S, long. 60° 12/ W. by an excellent chronometer. On his arrival at Monte Video, he was again ridiculed for his credulity, and almost led to renounce his former conclusions. His account reached the ears of some American merchants, who endeavoured to obtain from him the true situation of the land, and offered to charter his ship on a voyage of discovery. He, however, to his credit, refused to disclose the longitude and latitude to any but a British-born subject; though he honourably offered to conduct the vessel himself, and, if no land existed, to receive no freight; but that was not the object of the other party, and Jonathan withdrew his contract. The honest Englishman, at length having obtained freight a second time to Chili, set off on his voyage, and on the 15th of October last, at 6 P. M., being then about the same latitude and longitude as before, he discovered the same land, bearing S. E. by E. three leagues, the weather being hazy. He bore up for it, approached within four miles, and proved it to be a large barren rock. At day-light next morning he again stood in for the land; and at 8 A. M. the weather being very clear, he could plainly distinguish the mainland, bearing S. S. E., the island being distant from it about three. leagues. The main-land presented itself as a cape, to which the coast tended in a N. E. direction, having peculiar marks, of which he took rough sketches: he stood in, and ran along the land as far as the point, to which he gave the name of North Foreland, obtaining all the way regular sounding of sand and gravel, lessening gradually from 35 to 20 fathoms; the bottom was good and regular. To the main-land was given the name of New South Shetland, on account of its lying in about the same latitude as the Shetland Islands. was barren and rocky, the highest points being covered with snow. A boat's crew landed, and the harbour appeared to abound with the real spermaceti whale. Seals and sea-otters abounded, as also an animal differing from the sea-otter. Next morning at day-break, he could perceive the land tend in a S. E. direction. Keeping his course to southward and westward, he saw several other islands, all about three leagues from the main-land, and all alike barren and rocky. The whole appearance of the land is described as being more like the Norwegian coast than any the captain ever saw. Having proved the existence of the coast for the distance of 250 miles, he shaped his course to the northward; and in the month of November reached the port of Valparaiso. Every one must be struck with the advantages which a British settlement would offer, not only to our whale fisheries, but to our commercial interests in that quarter of the globe. On the arrival of the Williams in November last, at the above named place, there was a general and simultaneous feeling among the English merchants, who instantly set about taking up a vessel, which should be chartered on a voyage of discovery at their own expence. Mr. Smith, on his arrival, It |