the sterling abilities of Signor Rossini, however high his present reputation.

We hear of no preparations at present to renew either the Vocal, the City Amateur, or the British Concerts, nor to institute any other of a similar nature, for the general reception of the public. It is hardly likely, however, that the metropolis should continue in such a state of comparative musical destitution.

The re-appearance of MR. SINCLAIR, at Covent Garden, has not justified the reports of his marvellous superiority which preceded his arrival, though he has not very much deceived the anticipations of those who really understand the science of singing. They but too well know, that the foundations of pre-eminent excellence are laid by nature in the mind, and by art in the establishments of the very first principles. Habits are rarely to be eradicated, and still more seldom to be improved; and, however general notions of style and execution may be occasionally changed, the power of improvement is not often vouchsafed to one so far confirmed as Mr. Sinclair was when he left England. Really scientific judges anticipated slight improvement in facility, and a fatal admixture of styles founded more on imitation than on principles, and this turns out to be the fact. The hurricane of applause that accompanied his first appearance has sunk into a calm, and the public seem already scarcely to remember that Mr. Sinclair has been to Italy "to study." He has a fine voice, and much ease in gliding through rapid passages; but with the principles of the great style of singing, he may be said to be almost wholly unacquainted.

The art has lost several very eminent professors during the last year, both in England and abroad. M. Steibelt lately died at Petersburg, aged 67 years. This composer was a native of Berlin, and was born in 1758. Early in life, he manifested very decided talents for music, and was placed under the celebrated Kirnberger, by the then King of Prussia; with this master he perfected himself in the study of music. He subsequently visited Paris, London, and Petersburg. While he re

sided at the former city, he wrote a ballet, called, Le Retour de Zephyr, and an opera, La Princesse de Babylone, both of which were successful; and for the theatre Feydeau, he wrote Romeo et Juliette. In the year 1797 he was in London, and performed at the concerts, under the direction of Salomon. On the 20th of January, 1805, he produced his ballet, La belle Laitière, ou Blanche Reine, and it was allowed to possess considerable merit. Steibelt finally visited St. Petersburg, where he has since resided, receiving that encouragement and notice his merit deserved.

Signor Viganoni, who, for several years, was one of the principal singers at the opera, died at Bergamo, of an apoplexy, during the present autumn. He was the principal tenor at the King's Theatre for many years, just previous to the close of last century; his voice was not considerable in volume, but his taste and execution were polished and beautiful. He enjoyed much respect, both as an actor and teacher of singing.

On the 27th of November, of a typhus fever at Dublin (whither he had gone to superintend the debut of his pupil, Miss Goward), died Mr. Henry Smart. Mr. Smart began his musical education under Mr. Cramer, and played in the early part of his life in the orchestras of the Opera, Haymarket Theatre, and at the Ancient Concert. At the opening of the English Opera House, he was engaged as leader, and continued in that capacity for several years. When the present Drury Lane Theatre opened, Mr. Smart was also retained as its leader; and, we believe, it was his peculiar pride to have formed that orchestra entirely of English artists; and in such estimation did they hold his character, that on his retirement from the theatre in 1821, the orchestra presented him with a silver cup, as a mark of their gratitude and his merits. Mr. Smart was leader at the Oratorios, at which he had assisted since they were under the conduct of his brother, Sir George Smart, which began in 1813. 1820, Mr. Smart entered into a manufactory for pianofortes, and, but a very short period since, had obtained a patent for an important improvement in the touch of these instru

In

ments. He was distinguished by great urbanity of manners. In his nature, he was kind, generous, and humane. He always evinced an ardent love for his art, and, on all occasions, private feeling gave way to public interests in its exercise.

NEW MUSIC.

Introduction and rondo for the pianoforte, composed by J. N Hummel. This is "a production of mind as well of as learning. The effects resulting from the union of melody, harmony, and expression, are here demonstrated with the skill of a great master, and afford matter both for the head, the hand, and the heart of the performer. Mr. Cramer's arrangement of Bishop's He is all the world, as a rondo for the pianoforte, is quite unworthy of his former reputation. The incessant repetition of a theme in different keys intermingled with unmeaning remplissage are the principal features of a piece which can but be considered as a failure.

Mr. Bochsa has published a set of variations in different styles for the Harp, as a supplement to his Instruction Book; the piece is intitled, "Aisé brillant et utile," and is prefaced by an address to his pupils, -explaining the object of the work, the peculiar construction of each variation, and the style in which it should be played. The plan is excellent in itself, and is as well executed. Nothing can conduce to perfection so much as interesting the faculties of the mind, for it is mind alone that - exalts and ennobles every production of art; and even mechanical excellence would -be more easily attained, if the means by which it is to be acquired were more fully explained and better understood.

Mr. Ries has three new pieces-a Mol

davian air with variations, and the fifth and 'sixth Sonatinas. They are composed with ease and elegance; the two last are especially calculated to cultivate the taste pression. The variations are in a less amof the learner, and confer power and exbitious style than most of the former productions of Mr. Ries; but what they may have lost in originality they have assuredly gained in ease and grace.

L'Esperance, a divertimento for the pianoforte, by P. A. Corri, will please the million of auditors, and cost little labour to the player.

Carulli's Fourteen Easy Pieces, and Eight short Preludes for the Guitar, will be found an acquisition to the performer on this instrument, which has lately become fashionable, probably from the ease with which it may be learned. We may also recommend Mr. Sola's arrangement of Moore's National Airs, and his Italian Canzonets; the simplicity of which is particularly well adapted to the character of the guitar.

Duets for harp and pianoforte, with and without flute and violoncello accompaniments, are very numerous; amongst the best are Mazzinghi's "Scots wha hae;" Bochsa's selection from Clari, with variations, on "Home, sweet home;" Steil's "Tell me, my heart;" "The spring time of love;""Fra tante angoscie;" and Wilson's "Happy tawny Moor." None of these are very difficult.

The arrangements are, No. 5, of Mozart's symphonies, by Clementi. Rossini's overture to Semiramide, by Bruguier. Sola's selection from La Donna del Lago, for pianoforte and flute, book 2. Rossini's overture to Zelmira; and book 11, of Bochsa's selection from La Gazza Ladra, for the harp and pianoforte.

FRANCE.

THOUGH the public mind at Paris has been almost exclusively occupied with the Spanish war, and the fêtes given on the return of the Duke of Angoulême, which have filled the columns of the public journals, there are several interesting, if not important literary novelties, of which we shall give as usual a succinct account, beginning with

The Drama.-One of the most interesting novelties in this department is the Ecole des Vieillards, by M. Casimir Delavigne, author of the Sicilian Vespers, the Paria, &c. The critics, while they blame some inequalities in the style, agree that it has many situations truly dramatic, and is much superior to his former productions in that department of poetry. It was re

ceived by the public with a degree of approbation, bordering on enthusiasm; Ladvocat, the publisher of the author's other works, has given 14,000 francs for the copyright. Amongst the Pièces de Circonstance performed in honour of the success of the French cause in Spain, that called Vendôme en Espagne, an opera, in one act, is spoken of as possessing considerable merit, independently of the occasion on which it was produced. The Tribunal Secret, a tragedy, brought forward at the Odeon, in November, failed of success. La Mort d'Achille, a tragedy, in five acts, has been unanimously received at the Comedie Française. It is said to be the first production of a young man whose father holds a high rank in the literary world. The fine edition of the Théatre of M. Alexander

Duval is now completed by the publication of the ninth volume, which is entirely composed of inedited pieces, in five acts, prohibited by the Censors. In the other volumes, there are several pieces which have never been performed. The works of M. Duval are so well known, that we should be content with merely mentioning this complete edition, did we not think it necessary to speak of the Notices Historiques, one of which precedes each piece. At a time when the press teems with Memoires Historiques, Extraits de Memoires inedits, &c. these Notices of M. Duval are far more piquant in the details, and more agreeable in their form, than most of those which are daily obtruded on the public. M. Duval, without having had any influence in political affairs, has been a close and judicious observer of them; and, if we were disposed (says a French critic) to mix a gentle epigram, with a well-merited panegyric, we should say that there is perhaps more dramatic talent in the Notices than in the comedies, which are allowed to possess it in a high degree. The great collection of Chefs d'Euvre des Theatres Etrangers is completed.

Poetry. Here too we meet with hardly any thing but compositions in honour of the French arms. A Madame d'Abany has produced a piece in twenty-four cantos (in prose), the title of which is Joan of Arc, two vols. 8vo. ; a Life of the Heroine is prefixed. It is rumoured that M. Casimir Delavigne has a new volume of Messeniennes, nearly ready for the press.

Natural History.-The fourth volume of the new edition of Cuvier's Researches on Fossil Bones, containing the ruminating and carnivorous animals, with 39 plates.

Jurisprudence.-The important work of M. Meyer, on the Judicial Institutions of Europe, is completed by the publication of the fifth volume.

History, Memoirs, Biography.—Among the numerous productions under this head, none have excited for the moment so much attention as those relative to the unfortunate Duc d'Enghien; the first was by Savary, Duke of Rovigo, who, in endeavouring to exculpate himself, aims at throwing the blame on Talleyrand, in which he has not succeeded, at least in the opinion of those who are most interested, the king having forbidden him to appear at court, and treated Talleyrand with marked fa

vour.

This pamphlet has called forth a great many others; among which, that of the celebrated lawyer Dupin is one of the most remarkable; General Hulin, the President of the Tribunal which passed sentence on the Duke, has published a defence, tending to show that the members were more to be pitied than blamed, having been misled and deceived in the whole of that unhappy transaction. The notorious

Mehée de la Touche has taken up the pen on the same subject. Savary announced that the documents relative to the Duke's trial were lost; this, however, was not the case, and they are now printed. Count Choulot, gentleman of the Duke of Bourbon, has in the press, Memoires pour servir à l'Histoire de S. A. S. Msr. le Duc d'Enghien. "Every page of these Memoires," says the Moniteur, "proves that they have been composed from authentic information and valuable documents which have never before been confided to any body. This work, on which the author has been long engaged, will henceforth secure the memory of the unfortunate Duc d'Enghien against the attacks of calumny and falsehood." The History of Napoleon Buonaparte, by P. F. H. 4 vols. 8vo. It is rather a remarkable circumstance, that the Ministerial paper, the Journal des Debats, while it speaks with great praise of the work in general, and allows that the author meant to be strictly impartial, thinks however that he is at times more of a royalist than an historian; that if he praises the good qualities of his hero, and condemns the bad, yet he bestows on the former only a cold approbation, while he blames with a degree of warmth which indicates that he does it with pleasure. It is another singular circumstance, that this work, which a ministerial journal of Paris considers as wanting in partiality, has been prohibited in the departments, as too favourable to the usurper. The success of the "Historical Memoirs of the Revolution," has given rise to the publication of "The Military Memoirs of the Marshals and Generals," of which one livraison is now published, containing, in two volumes, the Memoirs of General Aubertin, and those of General Hugo. The memoirs of this general, who filled the eminent posts of governor of a province and aide-major-general of the French armies in Spain, are highly interesting. The first volume relates to the war in La Vendee; and the second invasion of the kingdom of Naples. The second and third to the war in Spain from 1809 to 1814.-A new translation of Herodotus, in 3 vols. 8vo. by M. Miot, is very highly spoken of, notwithstanding the great reputation of M. Larcher's translation. He has had the advantage of his predecessor, in being able to take for his guide the excellent Latin translation of M. Schweighäuser, and the critical notes subjoined to it. He has also consulted the English version, by Beloe; the German, by Jacobi; and the Commentationes Herodoteæ of Creuzer.-M. Capefigue has published a "Narrative of the Operations of the Army in Spain, under the Duke of Angoulême," 1 Vol. 8vo.-M. Delort's "Essay on the History of Charles VII, Agnes Sorel and Joan of Arc," is now

published, and, from the accounts we have seen of it, appears to be very interesting. -Count Stendahl's Life of Rossini having been translated into English, requires no farther notice here.-The Memoirs of the celebrated Goethe have been excellently translated, by M. Aubert de Vitry: we shall be happy if an English translation, which is announced for publication, is executed with equal ability.-Three more volumes of the new edition of Rollin, with the valuable notes of M. Letronne, have been delivered to the publishers.-Colonel Voutier's Memoirs of the present war between the Greeks and Turks are interesting, because the author was an actor in the scenes which he describes, and his veracity is said to be unimpeachable.The 22d livraison of Lemaire's fine edition of the Latin classics contains, in vol. 43d, The first four books of Livy, and a learned dissertation on the passage of the Alps by Hannibal; in vol. 44, 30 books of the supplement of Freinshemius, and the arguments composed by Livy himself. As above two-thirds of this great enterprise are completed, it is hoped that the whole will be terminated within three years from this time. A very interesting work has been published under the title of History of Egypt, under the government of Mahommed-Ali, by Felix Mengin, 2 vols. 8vo. The author remained in Egypt after the evacuation of that country by the army, and has been an eye-witness of the events which he describes: his work gives a high idea of the abilities of the Viceroy.

Geography. A new Dictionary of Geography on an extensive scale is commenced. The first part of vol. 1, published, contains letter A-AM. It may therefore be expected to extend to about twenty-five volumes. A Geographical Dictionary in one large volume, 8vo. by Mac Carthy is expected to prove a very useful work. The same gentleman is publishing a collection of Voyages and Travels in ten volumes, as a continuation of Laharpe.

GERMANY.

The Press is so fully occupied towards the close of the year with pocket books, and works for young people as presents for Christmas, that we have scarcely any notice of more important publications. The following, however, are to be mentioned: Mr. F. Horn's second volume of his Shakspeare; the same author's second volume of

the history of the Poetry of the Germans since the time of Luther; the first and se cond volumes of Raumur's works, the History of the Princes of the house of Hohenstaufen and their times. Though we have the work before us, we have not yet examined it sufficiently to judge decidedly of its merits; but we think we may venture to pronounce that it will not disappoint the expectations of the 1025 subscribers, the list of whose names, including many of the sovereigns and the most distinguished nobility of Germany, is a proof of the confidence inspired by the previous labours of the author. Dr. Schubert has published the second volume of his Travels through Sweden, Lapland, &c. This work contains a mass of information relative to the country and its inhabitants, which has every appearance of having been collected with great care; it goes however, we think, too much into minute details. A third volume of Dr. Sieber's Travels has been published, in the absence of the author, who is now, we believe, in the south of Africa, if he has not left it for the East Indies. This volume contains the narrative of a journey from Cairo to Jerusalem and back, and is accompanied with a large plan of Jerusalem, in which the author professes to have de termined the actual site of the holy places in and about the city. The first volume of the long-expected Travels of Drs. Spix and Martius has at length been published, but has not yet been received here, though daily expected. Several numbers of the Natural History, however, have arrived, being part of the palms, and 30 plates of the Brazilian monkeys; the latter are splendidly executed in colours. To these we may add, the History of Paganism in the North of Europe, by F. J. Mone, Professor of History at Leipzig, 2 vols. 8vo. The History of Islamism and its followers, the Arabs, Persians, &c. with the origin and progress of the sect of the Wahabites, by A. Wiesner, 8vo.; a new and uniform edition of the historical works of Heeren, 9 vols. 8vo.

DENMARK.

The Chronicle of King Hrolf Krake (anterior to the 9th century), from Icelandic MS., by C. C. Rafn. Essay on the origin of the orders of knighthood of the kingdom of Denmark, by Dr. Munter, Bishop of Zealand. Account of the political transactions between France, Denmark, and Sweden, from 1663 to 1689.

We have seldom had to register a more uninteresting summary of public events than that of the last month. The contest in Spain is now completely terminated, and whatever of virtue, JAN. 1824.

talent, or patriotism, that wretched country once contained is wandering over the world in search of a foreign asylum. England has received a portion of these illustrious exiles, H

and we rejoice to say, that their reception must have convinced them how sincerely her people admired their virtue and felt their misfortunes; and how warmly they would have aided the one and averted the other, had the policy of our government permitted the co-operation. The progress of our narrative leads us to the entry of Ferdinand and his family into Madrid, which took place on the 13th of November, and the details of which are dwelt on with becoming complacency by the journalists of the Faith.

arches, emblems, inscriptions, entablatures representing the united arms of France and Spain, had been carefully prepared by the corregidor of the city; and the family passed on, amid the acclamations of the monks, and the prostration of their rabble, to return thanks to God at the church of Atocha that Riego was murdered and their native country garrisoned by Frenchmen! After this solemn mockery, Ferdinand, on the 19th, gave an audience to Count Pozzo di Borgo, the Russian ambassador, whom Alexander transferred from Paris to Madrid immediately after the successes of the French. This man is said to be the diplomatist, in whose talents Alexander places the greatest confidence. He is the son of a shepherd in Corsica, and used to bring eggs, milk, and butter, to the Buonaparte family in that island. Being a clever boy, Napoleon's mother paid for his schooling, and he was afterwards, through the interest of that family, during the minority of their own sons, elected a deputy to the legislative body. It is not our duty to trace him through his various fortunes up to his present elevation, nor need we record an ingratitude to his benefactors, from which unfortunately too many precedents and imitations have taken away the novelty. Napoleon, in one of his conversations at St. Helena, described him as "a man of talent, and an intriguer, and as one who would not be removed from his post at Paris, until Alexander considered the Bourbons as firmly scated on the throne." From his removal now, therefore, one would infer that that important event was finally consumpated, at least in the opinion of the Russian emperor. Upon his intro

You

will find the means in the wisdom of your own determinations, in the virtues of your people, and in the interest with which you are sure to inspire your allies; and your Majesty will then have the glory of terminating the evils of the last revolution, by the firmness which hinders them from reviving, and the clemency which causes them to be forgotten.

Most undoubtedly, it is difficult to reconcile this allusion to future conquest with any other meaning than that of a reference to Ferdinand's foreign colonies, as the address is meant as a congratulation for triumphs already completely achieved. at home. The language is certainly more clear than diplomatists are in the habit of using. Ferdinand seems to have been quite delighted, and conferred the order of the Golden Fleece on the Russian representative. Indeed, it would appear that few of the legitimates understand one another more perfectly than those of Spain and Russia. A letter from Czernowitz asserts, that Alexander was so pleased at the royal liberation from Cadiz, that he presented the courier who brought the intelligence with a diamond ring. The same account significantly hints, that during his absence from St. Petersburgh he reviewed above 460,000 of his finest troops. On the 19th of the month, Ferdinand issued a royal decree, instituting a council of ministers, by which "all questions of general utility will be considered; each minister will give an account of the affairs belonging to the secretaryship of his department ;"-and this council are to receive all his Majesty's decrees and to attend to their execution. A precious combination truly! where Ferdinand is to issue the decrees, and a collection of the chte of the Faith.