A NEW AND FASHIONABLE WEEKLY JOURNAL OF LITERATURE, FINE ARTS, MUSIC, AMUSEMENT, EXHIBITIONS, VARIETIES, SATIRE, AND THE STAGE. VOL. I.-No. 24.] "QUALITY,-NOT QUANTITY."-Common Sense. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1837. A SUDDEN CONVERT. "Sunday morning arose clear and bright, and Rosina, nicely dressed, accompanied her mother and sister to church with feelings of great complacence. She could uot help stealing a furtive glance around, to see in whose pew Mr. Huntley might be sitting; but no Mr. Huntley was to be seen, a circumstance not inimical to her devotion. After service, Matthew ran to divide his mother and eldest sister, and accompany them down the lane; and Sam Good, in the glory of a new blue coat with bright metal buttons and a primrose waistcoat, walked by the side of Rosina, flourishing his cane, drawing up his pert little figure, and observing that the weather was 'uncommonly charming.' He came, on Matthew's invitation, to lunch at the White Cottage; and then, to Rosina's relief, they set forth on a walk. "There was a poor lame boy, named Henry Neale, who lived in a small cottage on the chalk hills which bounded the valley opposite to the church, to whom, as he was unable to attend the service, Hannah always went to read for half an hour before dinner on Sundays. Thither she was now accompanied by Rosina, and as they were proceeding down the lane, Mr. Huntley crossed a stile which brought him immediately in their path. He looked pleased at the rencontre, bowed, hoped Mrs. Wellford was quite well, and took the same direction as that which they were keeping. "I have had a delightful morning,' said he, 'on these downs!' "You were not at church then?' said Hannah. "No. That was very wicked of me, was it not?' said Mr. Huntley, laughing, and looking at her as if he did not expect to be judged very severely. 'I have been lying under a venerable tree, Miss Wellford,listening to the harmony of the birds and the distant tolling of the village bell, and watching the various picturesque groups of peasantry as they crossed the hills. How much more enjoyable is a Sunday in the country than in London! There you are jostled by strings of elaborately dressed, unintellectual looking [No. 9, NEW SERIES.] [PRICE ONE PENNY. people, pouring from churches and chapels, or nearly run over by cockneys in their one-horse chaises, setting out on expeditions to Highgate or Hampstead.' "You speak of meeting the congregations face to face, Mr. Huntley,' said Hannah. 'Are we to understand, then, that you do not add one to their number.' "That is a very satirical inference,' he replied, smiling. 'Oh, I assure you, I go to church-sometimes. However, I will acknowledge that my attendance might be more regular. But shall I also own to you that the green hills and the clear blue vault of Heaven form, in my humble opinion, a fitter temple for the worship of their Maker than the most gorgeous building which man can raise?' "Hannah looked at him in quiet surprise. "I am an idle fellow, and talk a great deal of nonsense, I dare say; but there is to me so much of formality, of mind-crushing repetition, in the prescribed service, so much of the tiresome or ridiculous in the manner in which it is usually performed, as to deaden, or, at any rate, interrupt feelings of devotion. A liturgy is a good thing; an established liturgy there ought to be; I agree with you there-those that have no ideas of their own to express, must have words put into their mouths-but the helps which are given to sluggish piety are insufficient, and real piety wants none. miserable chorus of charity children, often a droning preacher, always a bad clerk, are the chosen substitutes for the majestic trains of priests and melodious choirs who presided over the worship of the ancients. Surely,' continued he more earnestly, and stooping as he spoke, to gather a tuft of flowers, more real advantage may be derived from moralizing over one of these campanulas which spring beneath our feet, than in drowsily listening to one of those well-paid gentlemen who A -'reading what they never wrote, Just fifteen minutes, huddle up their work, And with a well-bred whisper close the scene!' "You should hear Mr. Russell!' said Hannah with energy. "Yes, he is a man of talent, and doubtless preaches "Well!' "Hannah paused, and Huntley for a moment looked triumphant. "Well!' repeated he, 'what have you to say against the religion of Nature?' "Nothing against it-only that there are six days in the week on which we may study campanulas; the seventh requires-something more.' "You are right,' said Mr. Huntley, looking pleased; and after a short pause, he added, 'I like to hear women plead for religion as if it were something intimately connected with themselves.' "They had now reached Henry Neale's cottage; and Rosina, who had attentively listened to the dialogue between her sister and their new acquaintance, opened the garden gate. "You are bound on some errand of charity, I suppose,' said Mr. Huntley, as he glanced at the mean exterior of the cottage,Well, Miss Wellford, I am a thorough convert. You may believe me, I assure you. See! here goes the campanula! And this afternoon, I shall make a point of hearing your Mr. Russell.' "Every body's Mr. Russell,' said Hannah. "Nay, the pronoun was plural, and embraced the whole parish. Till I have the honor, Miss Wellford, of a more intimate acquaintance, the monosyllable you must occasionally comprise all Summerfield, while we stands for the busy world of London, with myself as one of its inhabitants.' "Mr. Huntley bowed respectfully and gracefully, and passed on. What a study she would make!' thought he. 'If I could but persuade her to give me a few sittings!'" From the 'Village Belles; a Novel. HINTS TO BONS-VIVANTS, AND THE VOTARIES OF PLEASURE. The sun begins now to lack power, and the moon will soon be in the ascendant. Hence, the roysters, "her minions," begin to arrange their winter amusements, and determine the witty club, the convivial Pickwick, the choice Harmonic, or the unexceptionable Free and Easy, which is to be honored with their patronage for the season. And in this matter, let our straighthaired friends, who shake at "pleasure's name," and our true men of the ton, who hold nothing sinful but that which is vulgar, let both be told, that they may waste a joyous night at fitting season, in one of the many houses of public resort in the neighborhood of the Garden, and neither be startled by vice, nor shocked by coarseness. Would they unbend for an hour-and who does not or should not, seeing there is a time for all things?they may fall in at "the very prime of the night" with men of a little literature and a good deal of humor, musicians and artistes of all sorts, and haply sit under the shadow of no trifling branches of the aristocracy, should it be their taste or vanity to be therein honored. Who fails to pay a visit on Tuesday and Friday evenings to Manders' in Long Acre? Here presides the veritable Falstaff, shorn only of his knighthood, whom Dame Quickly falsely reported dead. There might, perhaps, have been more 'fencing and foyning,' at the Boar's Head in East Cheap, some odd score winters ago, than there is at present at the Sun, in Long Acre, but it may be left to the commentators of the next century to determine at which tavern a man could best "take his ease." Then there is Evans's, under the Piazzas,-good dinners, and "wine and walnuts," as rich and pleasant as any Lambe celebrated. The vocalities here, are of the first class. Or, for those who prefer comfort, apart from noise, there is an excellent dinner at an extremely moderate price, provided at Exeter-Hall Hotel, 375, Strand; where a smiling, cheerful, and fascinating little waiting maid serves up the dinner with her own pretty fingers! Tea, coffee, and an excellent cigar may also be had here. Afterwards, the old original Coalhole cannot fail to attract those who think there is nothing in a name, and believe that wit may shine as brightly in Erebus as it ever did on the highest peak of Olympus. "Punning and iteration,' of that quality which the fat knight charged upon his companion, fill the light atmosphere of this gay queernamed place of resort, so that the followers of Heraclitus know the "Hole" they should shun. At Offley's, the old character is still maintained-every thing is good, and all the clocks in the house go or stop as the reveller would desire. Nor should the Shakspear and the Garrick be forgotten-what names to entice a man for once into a tavern!-in both these houses humor is strengthened by intellect, and the weight of sense made pleasantly buoyant by wit and laughter. The Eccentrics and the Mulberries also offer pleasant anodynes to the pains of labor or study, but these are not directly to be tasted by the uninitiated. * * * "We have read the 'Vicar of Wrexhill' with great pain, and trust we shall never see it on the tables of the decent, or the good. We have a deep pity for the woman who could write such a book; but that pity must not prevent us from expressing our horror at the book itself. Even were there no exaggeration in Mrs. Trollope's sketch-were her pictnre true in all its dreadful deformity-and even if it were not a fearful thing thus to step between man and his Maker, and sit in judgment on the souls of her fellows-what good could be answered by the publication of a book like this? we answer, none-but much, very much of evil. Mrs. Trollope has a hand of power, and no fears-no awe-which would prevent her grasping the thunderbolt, if she could reach it. But she wants skill :-she is not destined to be a new Moliere to the new Tartuffes. We will give no account of her story, nor darken our columns with a single extract from its pages. The book is, no doubt, destined to the general reprobation which it fearfully merits." NOTICES. PART 5 of THE IDLER, containing the numbers for A PLAY-GOER is informed that we will purchase his free admission to Drury Lane,-but not at the price he asks for it; as ORDERS for Drury Lane may now be had as plentiful as blackberries. THE THEATRES. "See that the Players be well used."-Hamlet. "Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." Othello. Covent Garden.-The admirers and patrons of the regular drama, cannot but rejoice Miss FAUCIT in the second act. It is not only out of place, but it borders on profanity. All the actors exerted themselves to the utmost, and their efforts were duly appreciated by a most respectable audience. Notwith Drury Lane opened for the season on Saturday last. The house forms a strange contrast to its rival; being dingy and dirty in the extreme. All that has been done to it consists in the removal of cobwebs from the boxes, and dust from the chandelier. In other respects, it remains in statu quo. At a quarter past seven, the curtain rose; and the "strength of the company" sang " GOD save the Queen." standing the array of names, however, it was a very sorry affair. Miss H. CAWSE sang better than any of the others, and was loudly applauded. To this succeeded the Merry Wives of Windsor; which, though well played by some of the characters, went off very tamely. DowTON was the Falstaff, which he looked to the life; but his physical abilities are gone. He did his utmost to render the part effective; but failed signally. TEMPLETON, as Fenton, was in very bad voice. His breast, which heaved tumultuously, resembled Mount Vesuvius, when about to undergo the convulsion of an earthquake; his mouth forming the crater, from whence issued sounds unmentionable to ears polite. COMPTON, as Master Slender, completed his pretensions to a first-rate buffoon. He mistakes idiotcy for humor; and a vacant stare for the perfection of comicality. He should return to the Provinces forthwith, where he is said to have been a favorite. In London he is "no go," as Sam Weller has it. M'IAN is another oddity, who seems to move on steel springs. His agility is extreme; but he fails to convey to our mind's eye an idea of Pistol. From censure we gladly turn to praise, and are happy to record the merits of Miss ROMER, as Mrs. Ford; Miss H. CAWSE, as Mrs. Page; Miss POOLE, as Anne Page; and Mrs. C. Jones, as Dame Quick at the spirit and fairness with which Mr. MACREADY is conducting his national establishment. We have now no deliberate falsehoods staring us in the face, in the play-bills. No outrageous puffs of the merits of the several performers. No wonderful accounts of the overwhelming overflow of the preceding evening, &c. &c. There is a plain, straight-forward bill of fare, allowing the public to judge for themselves, aud to put their own comments on what they have seen. On Saturday last, the Bridal was performed for the first time this season; the character of Melantius being sustained by MACREADY, Amintor, by ANDERSON, Evadne by Miss HUDDART, Aspatia by Miss TAYLOR, and Antiphila by Miss E. PHILLIPS, This play pleases by repetition, and we never remember to have seen it performed with so much spirit, as on this occasion. The noble bearing of MACREADY in the presence of the King, when he charges the latter with the violation of his sister, was fine; so also was his interview with Evadne after she has stabbed the King. We were right glad to see our amiable little friend, Miss E. PHILLIPS, again in her original character of Antiphila; which, though insignificant in itself, she renders quite a feature. This young lady will, we trust, under Mr. Macready's fostering care, be brought prominently forward. She possesses talent, which only wants a favorable opportunity to develop itself; and her retiring modesty has been hitherto the only thing which has kept her, comparatively, in the back ground. The house was very well attended. On Monday, Hamlet was again played to an excellent house, the characters as before; excepting that WARD played the Ghost, in lieu of ELTON, a change greatly for the better. Mr. ELTON'S Ghost is a regular parched-pea. It jumps about in the most fanciful manner, and being particularly lankey, its movements excite considerable mirth, instead of sympathy. On Wednesday was produced a new play in three acts, entitled the Novice. The materials of which it is composedly. These ladies played admirably; the two are good, but they have been worked up by a most unskilful hand. The author acted wisely in placing Miss Helen FAUCIT in the principal character; she played, and looked the Novice admirably. The next prominent characters were entrusted to ANDERSON, who played the part of a fond lover most naturally,-VINING, and BARTLEY; all of whom elicited well-merited applause. The piece was unmercifully long; and the ridiculous absurdity of some of the situations had well nigh been fatal to its success; it, however, weathered the storm, and was received, at the fall of the curtain, with general applause. It must be curtailed very considerably before it will run smoothly. MACREADY is so good a general, that we expect hardly to know the piece again on its repetition; we shall therefore reserve further comment till a future number, for the piece will certainly have a short We would, however, en passant, strongly condemn the posture of prayer, introduced by run. first, in particular, were in fine voice. We must also notice the performance of COOPER, as Mr. Ford, which was gentlemanly and effective. DURUSET, as Doctor Caius, evinced a degree of humor that we never supposed him to possess. He makes a capital Frenchman. HUGHES, as Justice Shallow, acquitted himself well, and W. BENNETT, as Sir Hugh Evans, talked in a lingo that would have puzzled all the philosophers in the world to decipher. He would have been an invaluable assistant to the late parson Irving, in the character of "linguist." The orchestra was perfect in its arrangements, and the overture to Oberon was performed in a most masterly manner. Of the ridiculous afterpiece, entitled the Child of the Wreck, we shall in pity say little. But for the performance of Mademoiselle CELESTE, who rendered the character of a dumb boy very effective by her pantomimic acting, the piece would have been treated as it deserved,nevertheless, Mr. BUNN tells us in his veracious bills, that "in consequence of its immense attraction, it must inevitably supersede all other announcements whatsoever!" Macbeth, She Stoops to Conquer, and other similar pieces, have been played during the week, and the house, by means of "nightly orders" has been tolerably well filled. We hardly think Mr. BUNN has been well advised, in making the price of admission to the pit 3s.; when that to Covent Garden, with double attractions, is only 2s. 6d. Haymarket. On Monday was produced KNOWLES' new comedy, in 5 acts, called the Love Chase; whose plot will be found fully detailed, when we say that the principal characters play at cross-purposes with each other, and fall in love without asking each others' permission! The most striking characters are those of Sir William Fondlove, an amorous old baronet, (STRICKLAND), Wildrake, a Lincolnshire sportsman (WEBSTER), Master Waller, a seducer, (ELTON), the Widow Green, (Mrs. GLOVER), Constance, Sir William Fondlove's daughter, (Mrs. NISBETT), and Lydia, a sentimental waiting maid, (Miss VANDENHOFF). The acting of all these parties was excellent, and secured the triumphant success of the piece; which, however, must be curtailed one third at least. The fourth and fifth acts were very tedious. The comic part of the piece is admirably conceived, and the dialogue is smart, throughout; but of the sentimental portion we cannot speak favorably. ELTON and Miss VANDENHOFF were two very great nuisances, and seemed altogether to mistake the characters they were playing. We were much amused at the virtuous Lydia telling her would-be seducer, that she loved him! nay, she actually threw herself at his feet, and confessed it; at which, of course, he "looked unutterable things." Mrs. NISBETT played with great vivacity, and secured the greater part of the applause. Mrs. GLOVER, as usual, was all life and spirits, and enacted the part of an amorous widow to admiration. STRICKLAND and WEBSTER, too, were warmly applauded, and as the characters they sustained were well suited to their peculiar abilities, they played with the greater spirit. When the curtain fell, there were general shouts of approbation, and loud calls for Mr. Sheridan Knowles; who, however, showed his thorough contempt for the audience, by taking his leave without further ceremony. The comedy has been repeated every night during the week, with other favorite pieces recently produced, among which, the operetta of the Swiss Swains, by WEBSTER, may be favorably mentioned. The music, by A. LEE, warbled by Mrs. WAYLETT, is worth walking some distance to hear. The St. James' is still playing the favorite pieces produced on the opening night; with the addition of the Cornet (a most contemptible affair, in which Miss RAINFORTH attires herself as an officer, and looks very much out of her element), and Mrs. White. At the Adelphi, POWER is still the attraction in Rory O'More; and, for this week only, Mr. DUCROW has been playing the Dumb Man of Manchester,—an unrivalled performance. The Olympic is crowded every night, and the New Servant and Advice Gratis continue to be popular. The Surrey performances, owing to their extraordinary attraction, remain "as before." The Victoria ditto; WRENCH and OXBERRY being universal favorites. Of Sadler's Wells we may report as usual; the pieces produced being good, the audiences are consequently numerous. Garrick.-We have twice attended this theatre, at our own cost, for the purpose of reporting proceedings; but as the management treat our courtesy with contempt, we shall, of course, for the future, let "expressive silence muse their praise." WE shall be no losers. CHIT-CHAT. The NORTON FOLGATE THEATRE opens on Monday, with three new pieces. Mrs. Honey, who was to have spoken the address, has, we regret to say, been taken suddenly and seriously ill; and will not, it is feared, be able to play till the following week. Her first appearance will be in Lord Byron's Don Juan. NEW STRAND.-This pretty little theatre closed for the season on Thursday last, with a variety of performances for the benefit of the worthy manager, W. J. HAMMOND. It gives us very great pleasure to add, that it was, in every sense of the word, a 'bumper.' The season, owing to excellent management, has been a particularly prosperous one. QUEEN'S. This theatre has again changed hands! It will open on Monday, under the management of Miss DESBOROUGH, late lessee of the Richmond theatre. Miss WARING we understand, has entered into an engagement for the present season at the Newcastle theatre. We think the manager will find her a great accession to his company. COVENT GARDEN.-The Queen has been pleased to express her commands that a private box should be reserved for her use for the ensuing season at Covent Garden theatre. One has been, consequently, fitted up in the most tasteful manner for her Majesty's occupation. The proprietors of VAUXHALL-GARDENS, together with Mr. Green, are actively employed in preparing for another "voyage of discovery" in the Nassau Balloon. Mr. Green is to be accompanied by a select party of gentlemen, who have agreed to defray the expenses of the voyage." It is expected that the ascent will take place in a few days, and will be somewhat similar to the continental trip of last year, the destination, the weather permitting, being Scotland instead of foreign parts. Miss Clara NOVELLO, in compliance with the invitaapproaching concerts at Leipsic. tion of the directors, is to appear at the last six of the BOCHSA, with Madame Pasta, Miss Nunn, Curioni, and De Begnis, has been making a rich harvest at Cheltenham. Printed by J. Eames, 7, Tavistock St., Covent Garden. the Office, 7, Tavistock St. Covent Garden: sold also by Published for the Proprietor by GEORGE DENNEY, at Hetherington, 126, Strand; Strange, 21, and Steill, 20, Paternoster Row; Purkiss, Compton Street; and James Pattie, 4, Brydges Street, Covent Garden. A NEW AND FASHIONABLE WEEKLY JOURNAL OF LITERATURE, FINE ARTS, MUSIC, AMUSEMENT, EXHIBITIONS, VARIETIES, SATIRE, AND THE STAGE. VOL. I.-No. 25.] "QUALITY,-NOT QUANTITY."-Common Sense. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1837. KNOCKING,-A SCIENCE. To the Editor of the "IDLER." Sir,-I beg leave to address you on a subject in which myself and my fraternity are very much interested. You cannot, Sir, have failed to observe, among the many persons of distinction whom you visit, that the principal part of a footman's duty, is to be able to knock well at a door. So much depends upon this, that since distinctions in dress have been given up, and the man is better dressed than the master, a proper style of knocking is now the only difference between the great and the vulgar. Now, Sir, as I have turned my hand to this subject for many years, I wish to be of some use to my brethren, and purpose to give lessons on knocking, according to the strict principles of rank and quality. I shall hereafter send you an advertisement for my course of lectures; and I have no doubt I shall be able to make some noise in the world. In the mean time, that you may be able to give me a good word, I shall mention a few particulars relative to the science of knocking, which, I hope, will show that I am not, like many pretenders, unacquainted with the subject I have taken in hand. In knocking, the great business is to give a suitable idea of your master's consequence; the knock, therefore, must not be single, but a series of knocks, arising one above another in loudness; sufficient, not only to give notice to the porter (for if that were all, one tap would be sufficient), but to shake the nerves of the company, and prepare them for something grand. I have often thought of a scale of knocks that shall distinguish the different ranks of the peerage, from the Baron up to the Blood Royal-but it won't do; for, independent of the stupidity of my brethren, (a lamentable thing!) I never could find a Baron who was willing to knock under to any Duke in the land; nay, Sir, what is worse, the merchants of the city, and the bankers, ever since they forsook Lombard Street, for Bedford Square, haye reduced knocking to such a state of anarchy, that I know not whether I shall ever be able to arrange the number of taps in a proper series. [No. 10, NEW SERIES.] [PRICE ONE PENNY. It is necessary, however, to keep off the mob ;-I therefore restrict all persons who come to deliver messages, ask favors, or visit the servants, to one single tap and no more. Nor will I permit two taps to any curate, halfpay officer, author, (you'll excuse me, Sir, this is a matter of science), or other needy person. I wished to have kept led-captains to the same standard; but I don't know how it is, that these fellows have as much impudence (almost as much) as ourselves. There are a sort of genteel visitors, distant relations, and sixteenth cousins, whom my Lord' asks now and then to take a bit of dinner, when he is sure nobody else will be there;-they may be allowed two or three taps, because it may be useful to them in the way of their business; but they must not go so far as to alarm the neighborhood. My own proficiency in knocking is now so well established, that my Lady will never venture abroad without me; and, as she pays a great number of visits, at all which, I do her knocks, she very generously considers it in my wages. When we have company, and one of the clumsy new-caught Yorkshire footmen (fellows that belong to country gentlemen) attempt to knock, she exclaims, "Lord! only hear such a horrid style of knocking -I'd die before I would enter a house after such a knock!" I am so tenacious of my knocker, that I never fail to be very angry if any visitor presumes to use it improperly. It was but the other day, a poor devil of a parson's wife, some distant relation, gave three knocks at our door; I told her, pretty sharply, that that was not the thing in London, and warned her in future to content herself with one knock. Indeed, my heart relented a little when she mentioned her being a widow, with six helpless children; but you know, Sir, if we were to give up this point, there would be an end of all rank and quality, and it would be impossible to know who was at the door-before we opened it. I have taken the liberty to send you these few remarks, merely as preliminaries to my Course of Lectures, the terms of which will be advertised in all due time; and I have no doubt that, before winter sets in, when the town fills, I shall have reduced knocking to a perfect and regu |