-the organized deception on the Stock Exchange, | almost unrivalled in the history of fraud - the forgeries of Fauntleroy, when the most trifling incident which related to the crime or the man was devoured with avidity, and vast crowds assembled near Carltonhouse, anxious to gain, on the day of the Recorder's report to the sovereign, the earliest intelligence of the banker's doom-with the more recent cases of the Continental Conspiracy and the Will Forgeries, form part only of the contents of these volumes. The panic of 1825, its assumed causes and consequences, the varying opinions of the first men of the day, with particulars of the loans and companies which ruined half England, have been collected from past and present authorities, and the writer believes that in no other work can so complete an amount of information concerning this fearful crisi be obtained. The promise thus given is amply fulfilled. We shall add a few anecdotes, to show how well adapted the work is for the general reader: the money-maker and the money-seeker will peruse it for the immense variety of information which it supplies. THE USE OF BANK NOTES. The uses of Bank notes are manifold; but the following is a novel mode of rendering them serviceable. One of these 57. came in the course of business to a mercantile house in Liverpool. On the back of it was written :-"If this note gets into the hands of John Dean, of Longhill, near Carlisle, his brother Andrew is a prisoner in Algiers." The circumstance was interesting, and appeared in a newspaper, in which the paragraph was perused by a person in Carlisle, who had known in past years one Andrew Dean, and was still acquainted with his brother, John Dean, of the place named in the note. The son of the latter happened to be in Carlisle, and hearing the intelligence, gave such a report of his uncle that there was every reason to believe he was the Andrew Dean whose captivity became thus singularly known to his friends in England. possession of a 50%. note, came to the resolution of cutting it in two. With one part he went to a moneyed acquaintance, told him he had just received it by post, and that the other would follow in a day or two, and it would be a great convenience if his friend could advance him cash to the amount on its security. The person to whom he applied consented to the request. Having been thus successful with one half he determined to try the other; with it he proved equally fortunate, and thus his 507. note procured him 1001. The game was too profitable to be given up at once, so he went to a banker and demanded a 1007. note with the cash he had received. Again he had recourse to the process of cutting, again he victimised two acquaintances, and thus procured 2007. for his 507. With the money thus acquired he departed, satisfied with having gained 1507. thus easily. FRENCH TRICK OF A "RUN UPON THE BANK." The Duc de Choiseul, during the American war, hazarded a project which, had it been successful, would have injured the credit of the establishment, and, for a period, destroyed the energies of the nation. Aware of the importance of this corporation to the state, and that Great Britain owed her success in war partially to the Bank, he conceived the idea of using all the efforts of France to destroy the power of the company, trusting that a triumphal close to the contest between the two countries might be produced. Some millions of livres added to the zeal of the French emissaries, who discovered a period when the bullion was somewhat low, and spread reports calculated to injure the reputation of the Corporation. Collecting all the notes which they could possibly procure, they poured them into the Bank, and carried away the gold with a parade which attracted the attention it sought. The old cry arose of a run upon the Bank, and in a few hours the whole City was in motion. Volumes of paper were presented, and gold received in exchange. The consternation of the directors was in proportion to the suddenness of the attack. The alarm, far from being quieted, became every day more general. Post-chaises The following clever but infamous scheme was poured in from the provinces. The application for successfully pursued:-Twelve "leading men" in specie became more urgent. There was no mode of the City brought out a project for a railway. The judging to what an extent an attempt so unprece deposit was trifling, but their standing enabled them dented and so unexpected might be carried. The to demand a heavy premium. They cleared by this efforts of the national enemy seemed prospering, and 25,000l. a-piece, and shortly afterwards sent round for some days England appeared to be upon the a circular, that unforeseen engineering difficulties brink of the greatest evil which could happen. Time rendered necessary the abandonment of the scheme, was necessary to collect specie, and people were emand, with a trifling per centage deducted for ex-ployed day and night to coin money. All the gold penses, the deposits, not the premiums, were returned. RAILWAY SPECULATION IN 1845. THE VAST EXTENT OF FORGERIES. In fourteen years from the first issue of small notes, the number of convictions was centupled. In the ten first years of the present century 101,6617. were refused payment on the plea of forgery. In the two years preceding the appointment of the commission directed by Government to inquire into the facts connected with forging notes, nearly 60,000. were presented, being an increase of 300 per cent. In 1797, entire cost of prosecutions for forgeries was 1,5007., and in the last three months of 1818 it was near 20,0002. A CLEVER TRICK. A person carrying on a somewhat extensive busi. ss in the provinces, being in want of cash, and in which by any stratagem could be gathered was brought into the bank. The method of paying by weight was discontinued. The sums claimed were delivered with greater deliberation, and the money placed guinea by guinea on the table. For nine days this fever continued; but the method adopted by the directors, with concurrent circumstances, gave time for the production of a large supply of gold. All the demands were met; the claimants finding there was no cause for doubt resumed their confidence in the Bank, and the scheme of the Duc de Choiseul proved ineffectual. HAND-BOOK OF TOWN GARDENING. By a Lady.-(Dublin: M'Glashan. London: W. S. Orr and Co.)-A cheap little book, which completely bears out its title. The last is a sort of supplementary chapter on the management of Fern Houses. FULCHER'S LADIES' MEMORANDUM-BOOK ago we should have described this Magazine AND POETICAL MISCELLANY FOR 1848.(Longman.)-Fulcher's pocket-book is indeed early in the field; yet not likely to be driven out of it by even gaudier rivals. It includes some really exquisite engravings; original poetry by Frances Brown, Mrs. V. Bartholomew, G. Linnæus Banks, and others; besides numerous selections; more enigmas than we could guess in seven years; almanac for the year, and abundant space for diary and memoranda. ATHANASE: a Dramatic Poem. By Edwin F. Roberts, author of Mephistophiles, &c.(W. E. Painter.)-A work that will be appreciated by the few rather than the many; it contains many passages of powerful writing and great poetic beauty. Still we look upon it as a promise of something greater than this present performance; for the obscurities, from which it is not free, arise we think from a weight of thought, not the want of it. THE DRAWING-ROOM MAGAZINE. October.-(Houlston and Stoneman.)-A few years briefly by calling its contents "lady-like literature." The phrase does not now, in either sense, convey exactly the same idea; for lady readers for the most part require substantial fare to be provided for their mental banquet ; and lady-writers are very often exceedingly able to supply it. The best article we have read in its pages, is "A Lesson for the Young." We ought to add, that the October number contains instructions for "knitting," and "crochet" work. FINE ARTS. SOPHIE FUOCo. Drawn by Miss M. JohnStrand.--A coloured lithograph, we suppose of son. Day and Son, Lithographers.-(Spooner, average merit; but we have small sympathy with opera dancers, and smaller still with artists who can find inspiration in them. AMUSEMENTS OF THE HAYMARKET. In spite of Mr. Webster's self-entitled "pursuit of the legitimate drama under difficulties," he has con trived to enlist under the Haymarket banner as fine a company as were ever assembled on English boards. Added to the usual corpswhich, except for the secession of Buckstone, remains unchanged-the Haymarket company includes Helen Faucit, Mrs. Nisbett, the two Keans, ditto Keeleys, young Vandenhoff, and Farren, jun., Creswick, and Wigan. Never was there such a monster company, as to number, variety, and talent. If Mr. Webster only gives us as good a chance with new plays as with fine actors, the forthcoming season will be brilliant indeed. And this he has already begun, by producing "The Heart and the World," by the author of "The Patrician's Daughter.' "We do not know a play in the whole range of the modern drama-not excepting the chef d'ouvres of Sheridan Knowles-in which the poetry is so noble, and the language so entirely sustained throughout. If it do not become immediately notoriously popular, it will be because the delineation of character it embodies is too subtle to be fully appreciated at a glance. We are aware that some critics have found fault with the construction of this play; but we by no means agree with them. We believe the plot to be most ingeniously and artistically developed. How many of the fine old standard plays are there, which-could we suppose such a thing by a cultivated audience-seen unread for the first time, would appear incoherent and confused, and yet on examination prove well constructed! A play worth witnessing is worth studying, and "The Heart and the World," striking as it is on MONTH. the stage, improves on perusal. The single fault we find is in the hero. The fickleness of the lords of the creation is an o'er true tale often recited; but the being in love with two women at once, startles one as something strange. However, "man's" nature so often shows itself in a phase incomprehensible to the " womenkind," that we ought to touch on the subject with humility. We are quite aware that Mr. Creswick did not do justice to the character of Vivian Temple-did not at all shadow forth one of the author's delicate pencillings of his nature, the dread of ridicule, which teaching him at first a false shame for his love, induces him finally to repudiate it. Hesitating as he does between the "Heart and the World," one feels more contempt for his vacillating character than sympathy for temptations which seem not very overpowering. This fault-if fault it be-was necessarily heightened in representation by Miss Bennett's incompetence-we must say it; she neither understood her part nor the language she had to speak. She looked very pretty; but that was all. Why did not Mrs. Nisbett undertake it? The gay high-bred Laura Hallerton seemed made for her. On the other hand, Helen Faucit's delineation of the character of the wronged Florence Delmar, defies all ordinary terms of description and praise: finer it is many times than her Pauline in the "Lady of Lyons," because it is by many degrees a finer character to portray. Anything so exquisitely touching and true, as depicting all that is noble *Since the above was in type we have learned with regret that Mr. Creswick was suffering great mental distress from a family bereavement. It would be harsh to let our censure stand without stating the circumstance. in woman, we have never before seen on the stage. It was genius embodying the creation of genius. The first time she appears is towards the close of the first act. Florence comes home to her mother and her cousin, Walter Ashbrooke (Mr. H. Vandenhoff), full of delight that she is able to aid in softening their reduced fortunes by the work of her hands. The young embroideress has been once wooed by Virian Temple when she was rich, and he poor: now the case is reversed, he seems to have forgotten her. The mother speaks against him, but Florence will not hear: she trusts him through all; and this woman's confidence-this love-worship, which can see no fault in its idol, is most beautifully put forward. with the change in my prospects, and of my hope shortly to entrust them to your ear, is now explained." He wrote, then! You hear, he wrote! Another charming scene is the one where Florence discovers that her lover's truth is waning-that he is not what her trusting heart believes. The writing of this scene is in Marston's noblest vein; he depicts with fearful truth the utter withering of love-the sorrow worse than death-which the heart feels when its idol is shattered. They are so easily phrased-so soon restored; Once with such radiance bright, Thought turned to Haunted my youth; but crowned, as a throne's heir seek Oh! blest is the delusion that still trusts She is rewarded for her loving trust; a letter comes, bringing the offer of Vivian's heart and hand. Here Helen Faucit was perfection. Her reading of the letter was the most exquisite piece of acting in the play-the intense joy, the pride with which she turns to her mother and cousin--a woman's pride in the worthiness of him she loves. Had pass'd into a monarch. (Aside.) I concede You triumph here! But show the vanquish'd pity. FLORENCE. Ay; pity! There's the loss, that we must learn Glorify pale, worn faces-she thanks Heaven turns to her obscurity with a stricken heart and a blighted fame. Here comes an underplot, in which she is near marrying Walter. Mr. Wigan, as Osborne, did the heartless man of fashion well; and Howe, as Thornton, acted capitally in the one only place in which he had anything to do-the duel scene. Nor must we omit young Vandenhoff, whose small part was acted so pleasantly as to cause regret that there was not more of it. To sum up all-"The Heart and the World" will certainly raise the reputation of Westland Marston, already sufficiently high as a dramatic author whose writings are full of poetry and truth. We have not attempted to follow out the plot scene by scene; but the closing lines of the play are too beautiful for us to omit them. WALTER. 'Twas a fall Repented error Is virtue fortified. Why, here's a tale SIR GEORGE. LAURA. Strange as thou e'er didst set to idle song. FLORENCE. Call it not idle. There's no faith expressed Does deeds with Poetry's bright impulse ife, the witches was excellently managed—a true Shaksperian scene it was-such an one as we never expected to see at the theatre, where the supernatural almost always becomes the ludicrous. The "vanishing in air" of the witches was most successfully accomplished; and the scenery throughout the whole play was as good as could possibly be, and moreover Scottish in character, which shows a regard for the unities, in which Mr. Phelps never fails. So much for outward adjuncts of the tragedy-trifling it may be, yet most necessary to the dramatic illusion. Mr. Phelps's Macbeth has been universally lauded by the press, and justly so. It is a grand conception-void of that ranting style into which a mediocre actor is so prone to fall. Phelps is gradually advancing towards the highest rank among modern tragedians. Since the time when we remember him, years ago, in the character in which we first saw him-Almagro, in Knowles's early-doomed "Rose of Arragon"what a change! Lady Macbeth was a great trial of Miss Addison's powers, and though not a failure, cannot be considered a success. This lady so deservedly esteemed as a promising young actress-can afford to hear a word short of unqualified laudation. The Lady Macbeth of Shakspeare at least the popular ideal of the character Laura Addison is not, and never could be. Her physique is unsuited for it. A slight, girlish, feminine creature, with a voice most sweet and melting, is not one's idea of the ambitious murderess of Duncan. Popular notions may be wrong. The wife of the Thane was possibly in the reality some fairhaired, meek-eyed dame, hiding a demon's heart in an angel's form; but this is not Shakspeare's Lady Macbeth-such, and such alone, playgoers must have. Whenever the gentler scenes gave scope for Miss Addison's peculiar talents, she acted exquisitely; consequently the sleepingscene was perfection. Where she failed, it was nature's fault, not hers, in giving her a form too feminine, and a voice too sweet. Of the other characters, we can only say that they were throughout well sustained, save Mr. H. Marston's Macduff, which converted one of the finest scenes Shakspeare ever wrote into a perfect farce. Cymbeline" still maintains its sway at Sadler's Wells. Surely the Shakspearians cannot complain that their idol is neglected, when four of his finest plays are now performing at different theatres. Nevertheless we think many of these Shakspeare devotees, if they spoke the truth, would acknowledge that the noblest English poet is, on the stage, at times decidedly dull. We always hail a good modern play; therefore we trust that the one which Mr. The early part of last month gave to the Sad- Phelps holds out for the ensuing month, by the ler's Wells audience another Shaksperian treat-author of "Feudal Times," will come up to "Macbeth" after the original text. It was a the standard of excellence which the reverend daring thing in Mr. Phelps to take from this dramatist (Rev. James White) has hitherto play Lock's exquisite music; and yet the result maintained. fully proved that " Macbeth," in its pristine state-with only the three witches and no chorus-can be relished by an audience as well as with the attractions of music. The scene with 66 66 The united engagement of Helen Faucit and Mrs. Nisbett has brought out during the past month The Hunchback" in all its glory. "The Love Chase" and "The School for Scandal" have also exhibited that variable star, Mrs. Nisbett, in full brightness. She comes in and out of the dramatic heaven always welcome and always the same-or with added lustre. Some after-pieces have been produced for the irresistible Keeleys, including My WifeWhat Wife?" Who's my Husband?" and "Twice Killed." In the first, young Farren, and Farren the elder, as Hector Tempest, sen., and Hector Tempest, jun.-an impersonation after the fashion of C. Matthews' 66 Ringdoves" of old-were very amusing. Henry Farren's imitation of his revered predecessor was capital. Comical little Keeley, in the two other pieces, keeps the house in a roar. In truth, Mr. Webster's season has begun with unqualified success, and no manager living deserves it more than he. SADLER'S WELLS. MARYLEBONE, Mrs. Warner's three stock plays-" Winter's Tale," "Hunchback," and "School for Scan This is a bold declaration in favour of the American, while our own Helen Faucit keeps the stage. With all deference to Mr. Macready, we cannot imagine any one superior to the Helen of Helens. LYCEUM. impossible to chronicle much of its proceedings. This theatre has so lately opened, that it is "The Pride of the Market," which seems one of those revivifications from the French which Planché does so admirably, is the chief attrac tion. It consists of an amusing plot, descriptive of the contrivances of the Pride of the Market, a flower-girl (Madame Vestris), and her true lover, a young baker, (Buckstone), to escape the evil agency of the false lover, Marquis de Volange (Leigh Murray), who has carried the damsel off to his country-house. All this is very comical-how could it be otherwise with dal,”—have been agreeably diversified by "Ham- | most realizes his ideal of Shakspearian heroines. let." Therein the fair manager takes her own part of Gertrude, while Hamlet is sustained by Mr. Graham, the Leontes of the "Winter's Tale." In default of a first-rate tragedian, this actor does very well. Hamlet is the grand test of mediocrity. A common-place actor makes him a mere prosy "walking gentleman," who is the sport of every wind of destiny, and does not very clearly know his own mind in anything. In the hands of a good actor, Shakspeare's grand ideal becomes the deep-minded philosopher, the metaphysical reasoner, to whom life seems a great problem, which he is always trying to solve; the vague dreamer, who moralizes throughout, and whose questionings are only put an end to by the grand mystery of all death. Apropos of manes, Mr. G. Vining did the "majesty of buried Denmark" most spiritually: he makes a first-rate Ghost. Miss Huddart's Ophelia was also good. Gertrude is a part after Mrs. Warner's own heart; her scene with Hamlet was excellently conceived. Her fine majestic bearing and magnificent voice make a true queen of tragedy. We sincerely hope that her Marylebone Theatre prospers as it should do; for it is really a home for the legitimate drama where good plays well acted are the substantial mental banquet prepared nightly. PRINCESS'S. such a cast? That flower of comic actresses-Vestris-is a perfect immortelle: her beauty and liveliness never fade. She is as great a favourite as ever. Her theatre is exquisitely arranged, and all the appointments display the same richness and taste which signalised her sway at the Olympic in former days. That those old times may be revived at the Lyceum must be the sincere wish of all lovers of genuine comedy. 80. cessful. SURREY. ADELPHI. Here, too, the legitimate drama flourishes. The Misses Cushman and Macready are a host. Operas and Bunn are flourishing together The theatre opened with " Macbeth," that is, over the water. Various old favourites are the usual stage" Macbeth," with the customary brought out with their original cast, or nearly interpolations and omissions, in contradistinc- This undertaking for the benefit of Surrey tion to the "Macbeth after the original text," play-goers and opera-lovers reflects much credit as brought out by Phelps. It would be an invi-on Poet Bunn. We heartily hope it will be sucdious distinction to decide between the two houses-both are good in their way; if we rather lean to Phelps, it is because he has been such a staunch upholder of Shakspeare unmuMadame Celeste has returned from her protilated. Truly the Shakspeare mania seems vincial tour, and been received here with the accoming up again. "Romeo and Juliet" has customed enthusiasm of the Adelphi audience. also been brought out at the Princess's, with the The graceful and fascinating Miss Woolgar, with favourite cast of the two sisters Cushman, as the imperturbable and inimitable Wright, have the lovers of Verona. Miss Cushman is univer-assisted in several favourite pieces during the sally acknowledged to be one of the most perfect Romeos on the stage, and she still maintains her reputation. In other parts, where she retains her sex, she is also a fine tragic actress. We have heard that Macready has declared he prefers acting with her to with any other, as she past month, and drawn crowded houses. Mr. Hudson's impersonation of Rory O'More has been excellent, even to those who remember poor Power in the character; and Mr. Selby sustained the part of the foreigner more than creditably. FASHIONS FOR NOVEMBER. Although we are still in the demi-saison, our winter fashions are more forward than usual. The changes, however, are greater in materials than in forms, though the modifications in the latter are numerous and, generally speaking, in good taste. The brims of chapeaux and capotes are somewhat closer, and the crowns round; there are two different forms of crowns for capotes, the one differing from chapeaux only by having the crown as well as the brim in runners; the other crown has the material laid plain, and is entirely enveloped in a black lace |