in the great object of his ambition was so great as to prevent his return to his native land, and he continues to exert the full vigour of his uncommon talents at the age of seventy-nine; nay, the last great picture he has exhibited, "Christ Rejected," is not only his greatest performance, but ranks among the greatest pictures of the world. his art for his emolument, he had accumulated a England, he in his way thither passed through sufficiency to bear his expenses to Italy, and as- Turin and Paris, profiting by the works of art sisted by the liberality of Mr. William Kelly of there displayed. In England Mr. West's success New-York, and Mr. Allen of Philadelphia, he attained the object of his wishes, an opportunity of studying the great works of the masters of his profession at Rome. Mr. West arrived at Rome in July, 1760, and was advised by Mengs to visit Florence, Bolonga, Parma, and Venice. This advice he was enabled to pursue by the liberality of Messrs. Allen and Hamilton of Philadelphia, The painting under contemplation, "The Madwho, unsolicited, remitted letters of unlimited credit in favour of West, to their agent in Leghorn. At Parma he made the copy of Corregio's Virgin and St. Jerome, which is the third number of the present Exhibition, and which is in the possession of the family of Mr. Allen, one of his first patrons. Having an opportunity of visiting ness of Lear," was painted for Alderman Boydel in the year 1798, and was, with its companion, "The Madness of Ophelia," purchased by Mr. Fulton at the sale of the Shakespeare Gallery. Mr. West then retouched the picture, which he always considered as one of his finest compositions. ART. 8. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. FOREIGN. Tsocieties, as imminently dangerous to the faith.' The Holy Alliance is making rapid progress. Sweden and Cassel have acceded to it, and the courts of Weimar, Hanover, Oldenburg, and Mecklenburg, have been invited to do so. Bavaria and Saxony have already become parties to it. DOMESTIC. W. muel Merwin, Vice Presidents. Mr. Henry A new Tract Society has been formed in A society has lately been instituted in Savannah, (Georgia,) under the name of the The Bible Society of Virginia held a gene-Savannah Female Mite Society,' for misral meeting at the capitol in the city of Rich- sionary purposes. mond, in the last month. The corner stone of a new church has lately been laid in Baltimore. On a brass plate deposited in the stone, are written these words," There is one GOD, and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus." 1. Tim. ii. 5. From the Report of the board of inspection of the Albany Sunday Free School Society, for the benefit of Africans, it appears, that besides the direct benefit of the institution, the force of example had led to the organizing similar associations in the neighbouring towns and counties. The average number which had attended the school, in the past year, was about 200. The pupils had been of all ages, from 4 years to 78 years. At the Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Bible Society, held in the State House in the City of Hartford, on Thursday the 8th ult. the following officers were chosen for the ensuing year-Hon. John C. Smith, Presi dent. Hon. Jedediah Huntington, Rev. Sa muel Nott, Rev. Lyman Beecher, Rev. Sa The East Tennesee Bible Society,' has become auxiliary to the American Bible Society.' A Female Auxiliary Bible Society has been lately established in Colchester, Connecticut A Bible Society has been organized in the county of Herkimer, New-York. The following donations have been made to the American Bible Society,' by societies not professedly auxiliary,-Philadelphia Female Bible Society, 500 dollars; Long Island do. 200 dollars; Stanton (Va.) do. 200 dollars; Middleburg Female do. 90 dollars; Charleston, (S C.) do 500 dollars. A Female Sunday School for adults has been established at Chilicothe, (Ohio,) and there is a prospect of others being opened in that town. We notice, with pleasure, that the board of directors for the American Bible Society, have resolved to publish the Bible in the language of the Aborigines of this country. E. ART. 9. POETRY. N the following Parody of Virgils' Pasto- Proeme,' to the Shepherd's Week,' from ly preserved to heighten the ridicule. His ludicrously quaint. As this part of his works is not in so common circulation as his 'Fa- ،THE PROEME ، To the courteous Reader. ‹ Great marvel hath it been, (and that not unworthily) to diverse worthy wits, that in this our island of Britain, in all rare sciences so greatly abounding, more especially in all kinds of poesy highly flourishing, no poet (though otherways of notable cunning in roundelays) hath hit on the right simple Eclogue, after the true ancient guise of Theocritus, before this mine attempt. Other poet travailing in this plain highway of pastoral know I none. Yet, certes, such it behoveth a pastoral to be, as nature in the country affordeth; and the manners also meetly copied from the rustical folk therein. In this also my love to my native country Britain much pricketh me forward, to describe aright the manners of our own honest and laborious ploughmen, in no wise, sure, more unworthy a British poet's imitation, than those of Sicily or Arcady; albeit, not ignorant I am what a rout and rabblement of critical gallimawfry hath been made of late days by certain young men of insipid deli cacy, concerning I wist not what Golden Age, and other outrageous conceits, to which they would confine pastoral; whereof, I avow, I account nought at all, knowing no age so justly to be instiled Golden, as this of our sovereign lady Queen Anne. This idle trumpery (only fit for schools and school-boys) unto that ancient Doric shepherd Theocritus, or his mates, was never known. 'Verily, as little pleasance receiveth a true home-bred taste from all the fine finical newfangled fooleries of this gay Gothic gar niture, wherewith they so nicely bedeck their court clowns, or clown courtiers, (for which to call them rightly, I wot not) as would a prudent citizen journeying to his country farms, should be find them occupied by people of this motly make, instead of plain, down-right, hearty, cleanly folk, such as be now tenants to the burgesses of this realm. Furthermore, it is my purpose, gentle Reader, to set before thee, as it were, a pic ture, or rather, lively landscape of thy own country, just as thou mightest see it, didst thou take a walk into the fields at the proper season; even as Maister Milton hath elegantly set forth the same. As one who long in populous city pent, Where houses thick and sewers annoy the air, The sinell of grain, or tedded grass or kine, 'Thou wilt not find my shepherdesses idly piping on oaten reeds; but milking the kine, tying up the sheaves, or if the hogs are astray, driving them to their styes. My shepherd gathered none other nosegays but what are the growth of our own fields; he sleepeth not under myrtle shades, but under a hedge; nor doth he vigilantly defend his flocks from wolves, because there are none, as Maister Spenser well observetb, Well is known that since the Saxon King "For as much as I have mentioned Maister 'But here again much comfort ariseth in me, from the hopes, in that I conceive, when these words in the course of transitory things Cud. My brown Buxoma is the featest maid That e'er at wake delightsome gambol play'd; Clean as young lambkins or the goose's down, And like the goldfinch in her Sunday gown. The witless lamb may sport upon the plain, The wanton calf may skip with many a bound, The frisking kid delight the gaping swain, But neither lamb, nor kid, nor calf, nor Tray, And my cur Tray play deftest feats around; Dance like Buxoma on the first of May. 'Lob. Cl. Sweet is my toil when Blouzelind is near, Of her bereft, 'tis winter all the year. With this premonition the reader will be With her no sultry summer's heat I know; prepared to take up the bucolic. 'LOBBIN CLOUT, CUDDY, CLODDIPOLE. Lobbin Clout. E. THY younglings, Cuddy, are but just awake, For he that loves, a stranger is to rest; 'Lob. Cl. Ah Blouzelind, I love thee more by half, . Than does their fawns,or cows their new fall'n calf: Wo worth the tongue, may blisters sore it gall, That names Buxoma, Blouzelind withal. Cud. Hold, witless Lobbin Clout, I thee ad- Lest blisters sore on thy own tongue arise. Lob. Cl. See this tobacco pouch that lin'd Made of the skin of sleetest fallow-deer: This pouch that's ty'd with tape of reddest hue, I'll wager, that the prize shall be my due. 'Cud. Begin thy carols, then, thou vaunting slouch, Be thine the oaken staff, or mine the pouch. Lob. Cl. My Blouzelinda is the blithest lass, Than primrose sweeter, or the clover-grass. Fair is the king-cup that in meadow blows, Fair is the daisy that beside her grows; Fair is the gilliflower, of gardens sweet, Fair is the mary-gold, for pottage meet; But Blouzelind's than gilliflower more fair, Than daisy, mary-gold, or king-cup rare: In winter, when she's nigh, with love I glow. Cud. As with Buxoma once I work'd at hay, Lob. Cl. As Blouzelinda in a gamesome mood, Behind a hay-cock loudly laughing stood, I slily ran, and snatch'd a hasty kiss, She wip'd her lips, nor took it much amiss. Believe me, Cuddy, while I'm bold to say, Her breath was sweeter than the ripen'd hay. 'Cud. As my Buxoma, in a morning fair, Of Irish swains potato is the cheer; 'Cud. In good roast-beef my landlord sticks his knife, The capon fat delights his dainty wife; About my eyes the towel thick was wrapt: blind." • Cuid. As at Hot-cockles onoe I laid me down, And felt the weighty hand of many a clown, Buxoma gave a gentle tap, and I Quick rose, and read soft mischief in her eye. Lob. Cl. On two near elms the slacken'd cord I hung; Now high, now low, my Blouzelinda swung. With the rude wind her rumpled garments rose, And show'd her taper leg and scarlet hose. Cud. Across the fallen oak the plank I laid, And myself pois'd against the tottering maid: * Populus Alcidæ gratissima, vitis Iaccho, &c. Virg High leapt the plank; adown Buxoma fell: This wily riddle puzzles every swain; I'll frankly own thee for a cunning wight; Clod. Forbear, contending louts, give o'er An oaken staff each merits for his pains. The richest metal joined with the same? סין * Marygold. ART. 10. THESPIAN REGISTER. Saturday Evening, May 24. Romeo and Juliet.-Tis all a Farce. enter into a detailed criticism of this admirable tragedy, at this time, would be superfluous. Suffice it to say, that it contains some of Shakespeare's finest fancy, and that, no where, is the passion of love, in all its purity, fondness, fidelity, and strength, drawn more true to nature, or rendered more interesting. With Mrs. Barnes's personation of Juliet we were much gratified. Her conception of the character we thought correct and vivid, and her execution generally did justice to her judgment. She exhibited not merely the passion of love, well distinguished from other kind affections, nearly allied to it, but love such as Juliet Capulet felt, and that too at the age of eighteen, when it was capable of absorbing all other feelings; before experience in life, or acquaintance with the world, had dimmed its brightness, or dashed its charming enthusiasm with the chilling spirit of selfish calculation. Mrs. B. also had reflected upon the object, which excited the love she was to portray. This love was not excited by great talents, splendid achievements, or grandeur of character; but by a young man of surpassing beauty, her equal in birth and fortune, and nearly her equal in age; of gallant spirit, generous disposition, polished manners, and many accomplishments. Mrs. B. penetrated further: she represented Juliet, and justly, as loving her parents, but no more than she need love parents of their character, who possessed no qualities to heighten filial piety into any thing beyond the cheerful discharge of the ordinary duties of a daughter; and though she felt the true touch of consanguinity for her kinsmen, yet there was nothing so great or amiable in either of them as to form any counterpoise in her heart to the love she bore to Romeo, which, at the same time that it was all ardour and constancy, received an additional interest from the enmity between their families. Nor did Mrs. B. forget other charms of Juliet's character; her frank simplicity, in her first confessions to Romeo, and the sweetness of her temper, manifested in her treatment of her nurse, and proved to be uniform and genuine by the fondness of the nurse. If we were to specify the passages in Mr. B's Juliet, with which we felt most unhesitatingly satisfied, we should fix on that, for one, in which she inquires the name of the Montagues, as they leave the masquerade, beginning with the names of Romeo's companions, that she may with the VOL. I. NO. IT better grace inquire about him; and where she finely shows, as she gazes after him, how love's authentic arrow had penetrated her heart to the very dove-feather that plumed it. For another, we would notice the latter part of the garden scene, where she calls Romeo back, after having bid him good-night the first time, and forgets why. The modesty and timidity, also,-the "rosy pudency," which Mrs. B. exhibited, when Romeo led her, "nothing loth," from Friar Lawrence's cell to be married, was correctly judged and happily expressed, and showed that she does not stand in need of directions in brackets to teach her how to act. We had the pleasure to hear, in her Juliet, also, more of Mrs. B's natural voice than we ever heard before, and we most earnestly entreat her to let us always hear it. We cannot well imagine how a lady of Mrs. B's accuracy of taste, could ever make a wrong choice between two voices so very different as are her natural and artificial voices; and that she should a second time quit the former for the latter, surprises us as much as did his mother's marriage with his uncle surprise Hamlet. She must, we presume, have acquired this disagreeable voice, with which she so often afflicts us, under an im pression that in her natural tones she could not be sufficiently energetic and audible. But this impression is a mistake. To be well heard, the quantity of sound is much less important than distinctness of articulation, in which Mrs. B. excels; and from her wish to be energetic, we are persuaded that she over-acts when she is not aware of it. We say so much of Mrs. B's voice, because we earnestly wish her to manage it better. We can assure her that it is universally offensive, and very often spoils the effect of all her other accomplishments. Mr. Simpson's Romeo was generally respectable, and in some parts touching and forcible. His conception was accurate, and his execution, in the latter part of the story, after the death of Tybalt, and after the sorrows of separation and banishment came upon him, was more just and impressive than in the former wooing scene. Mercutio's friendship for Romeo, his wit, and gaiety, and irascibility, and esprit du corps, were quite successfully represented by Mr. Robertson. He failed most, we think, in his account of Queen Mab, in which his manner was hardly free and spirited enough for the fine, rapid fancy, and sarcastic gaiety of the passage. Mrs. Baldwin's Nurse was very good, but we think that she, as 2 D Monday Evening, May 26. Marmion, or the Battle of Flodden Field.Prisoner at Large. Whoever has read Scott's Marmion will not be much satisfied with this unskilful and feeble dramatization of that highly wrought poetic tale. Mr. Simpson is not a good Marmion; he has not majesty enough for a hero, and, what is rather singular, he is less erect and tall in his energetic, heroic characters, than in his fine, gay gentleman. In the dying scene, however, he gave to the remorseful agonizing struggles of Marmion excellent effect. Mr. Carpender, in King James, was better than usual. Mr. Anderson's Earl Surrey was poor enough. Mr. Pritchard gave effect to the mysterious character of the Palmer, and resumed his knighthood with dignity and grace. Mr. Robertson did sufficient justice to Douglas, which, however, is a much tamer character in the drama, than he appears from the bold deline ation of Scott. Miss Delinger's Lady Heron was nothing. It would require more than the illusion of the stage, to satisfy us of the verisimilitude of making Lord Marmion condescend to appear in her train. The performance of the character generally was about as good as her performance on the harp. Mrs. Darley, in Clara, was interesting; and Mrs. Groshon's Constance was happily soon over. In the Prisoner at Large, Hilson's Muns was comic and just, and Barnes's old Dowdle, was all the part required. Mr. Pritchard in Jack Conner was chaste and interesting; Carpender was rather less tame than usual in Lord Esmond, and Mr. Darley, shrugged, and spoke broken English pretty well in Count Fripon. The whole entertainment this evening was better calculated for Whitsun-Monday, than to please an audience of intelligence and taste. L. This comedy is from the pen of Mrs. Inchbald, and borrows from her name a credit which it does not repay. The characters are not only out of nature, but out of keeping. Bronzely is the most amusing personage in the piece, and was faithfully represented by Mr. Simpson. Mr. Barnes's Lord Priory was in his best style, and the part was entirely in his line. Mr. Pritchard's Sir George Evelyn was easy and gentleman-like. Mrs. Groshon, in Lady Priory, did better than usual The salutary restraints of conjugal discipline checked the exuberance of her airs and graces, whilst the supposed simplicity of her character took away all pretext for mouthing. Mrs. Barnes in Miss Dorillon, was by no means interesting; her gaiety was forced, her negligence stiff-in fact, her whole manner artificial. She, however, occasionally, forgot her affectation, and when she was betrayed into herself, was very charming. This was the case whenever she was absorbed in the interest of the scene,--but the moment she was collected enough to attempt to show herself off, she relapsed into her vile-tones and prettinesses again. We must candidly confess, that we'never heard any thing so disagreeable as Mrs. Barnes's sentimental voice; it is a mawkish compound of cant and cockneyism. Among the erroneous pronunciations of the evening, we notice the following,-Mr. Simpson accented indecorous on the antepenult, Mr. Jones and Mr. Pritchard clipped pecuniary into pecunary, and Mrs. Barnes called any, anny instead of enny. Mr. Robertson violated grammar grossly, by coupling a plural nominative with a singular verb. We have noticed several slips or the same sort in this gentleman. E. Friday Evening, May 30. Lovers' Vows.-Day after the Wedding.-The Apprentice. On Mr. Robins' account we regretted to see the house so empty.-The Play, the Interlude, and the Farce, were all very well supported. The play has rather more German nature than human nature, although Mrs. Inchbald has done much to improve it; and has made it, undoubtedly, very interesting. Baron Wildenhaim's parental tenderness, his native generosity, somewhat confined by the prejudices of birth and education,-his contempt of Count Cassel,-his respect for the honourable principles of Arnaud, and his exterior, though tranquil, approaching so near to an expression of melancholy, as to indicate a mind brooding over some calamity deemed remediless; his joyful surprise at the discovery of his son and heir, together with his remorse for the injuries he had done to Theodosia, were all well conceived by Mr. Pritchard, and if we except that he ought to have given more strength and warmth to the expression of them, well repre. sented. Mr. Simpson was certainly very active and busy in Frederick, though he wanted variety both of voice and action, and was more boisterous than impassioned in his treatment of his father. Mr. Carpender was more just to Count Cassel than to any character we recollect to have seen him undertake. Mr. Barnes was very good in Christian, and read his poetry with much comic effect. Mrs. Darley's Amelia was as good as any thing we have seen on this stage. The absolute sinplicity and undisguised feeling of Amelia, her charming purity and warmth of heart, united with much firmness and good sense, and a directness much more effectual than the most complex manoeuvring, were portrayed with great judg ment and animation. Mrs. D. gave us a higher opinion of her powers, this evening, than we had ever entertained before. Her voice, also, pleased us more this evening than usual, for although she, on the whole, does not very greatly offend in this way, yet she too often speaks in a falsetto style, altogether unnatural, and bearable only in singing. Even then, speaking for ourselves, we had! infinitely rather hear the haman voice, together |