name of Mrs. Field, but as there is a frailty attending the fair sex of the stage, I suppose the lady has found it convenient to take unto herself another "thing of her own." Touching her acting, although the character of Miss Vortex is not in want of a display of gentility, yet, such is the vulgarity of this lady, that even in the character of Miss Vortex she appears to be the very essence of vulgarity; and as to the openness and size of her neck and bosom, decency forbids a description, and to give you an idea of the effect she had upon the audience, I shall mention a few words that fell from the mouth of a lady in the next box to me. "Oh dear! there's that horrid roaring woman again."-The second female announced, is a Mrs. Bernell (Jessey Oatland) from the Theatre-Royal, Bath, her first appearance in this city. I have often visited Bath, but I must declare the name of Bernell, is a total stranger to me; I should, therefore, presume that the Manager conceives by announcing his fresh troop from Theatres Royal, it gives additional colouring to their merit: here I beg leave to differ from his judgment, for you are led to expect much, and on visiting the theatre you behold a band of strollers.-End of the play, a Pas Seul by Miss Norton from the OperaHouse, her first appearance in this city. I make great allowance for play-house puffs, but this is too great an insult upon our judgment, før I will venture to say, there is not a little girl at a dancing-school in Edinburgh, but will "trip it upon the light fantastic toe" equal to our OperaHouse dancer. In the farce of Catharine and Petruchio, the first and only object held up to our view, is a Mr. Wheatley (Petruchio), from the Theatre Royal, Bath, his first appearance in this city. I should presume this must be a mistake of the printer, for to my cerrain knowledge, this gentleman has for years past been the hero of a strolling company who perform at Deal and Dover, and some other small towns upon the coast of England, and, indeed, his performance is suited to nothing better. When I think of our old favourite Young in this character, I am only surprised at the good nature of the audience, in allowing him to go through it, without pelting him off; but, to my astonishment, the second night's play announced Mr. Wheatley in the character of Octavian, his second appearance, with nearly the same group as on the first night, and each of them distinguished by their second appearance. What Mr. Rock, the Manager, can mean by this, I cannot pretend to account for, unless it is from this being his last season, that he wishes to insult the Edinburgh audience; for, I declare, a more wretched attempt I never witnessed on these boards, or, indeed, any other. Octavian is a character of all others, that ought never to be attempted by profane hands. The farce of Love laughs at Locksmiths followed, with a Mr. Asker, (agreeable to the puff of the bills) from the Theatre Royal, Dublin, in the character of Captain Beldare, and Mr. Dalton in that of Risk; and

I will venture to say, such a performance was never before seen, from
the Lands-end to John o' Groat's House, for as to the singing of Dalton,
I can only compare it (mixed with a good stock of impudence) to the
sound of a watchman's rattle. It has been whispered that our Manager,
Mr. Rock, jealous of the favour Mr. Berry has obtained for some years
past, engaged Mr. Dalton, in order to remove Berry. Mercy on us!
what a difference between the two-this is management. It is Mr.
Rock's last year, and if he had any hopes left of a renewal, I think he
may now bid adieu to all chance *; indeed, if he has not something better
in store, in my opinion he will not be able to keep the theatre open
for the season. What a melancholy thing it is, in such a populous and
enlightened city as this, that we should not have a respectable company
of comedians; and yet, when one considers the smallness of the salaries
they have to exist upon, it is easily to be accounted for, as I understand
na first-rate has not more than three pounds per week †, and some twenty-
five shillings; and, agreeable to the Manager's own words, he has not
more cats than will catch mice, but this is a most mistaken idea of a
Manager to grind the performers, for by giving good salaries, he would
get performers of merit, and instead of “a beggarly account of empty
boxes," he would reap the benefit of full houses, a rare thing for some
time past in the Edinburgh Theatre. It is a fact, that a Mr. Fraser,
who has been at the head of a strolling company for many years, in this
country, was performing lately in the small town of Cooper, with a bet-
ter company (take away one or two of our old performers) than we
have now in Edinburgh. Should this meet with a place in your
esteemed Mirror, "I shall watch their gambols," and give you more
bereafter.
A SCOTCHMAN.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

A NEW periodical work is established, called, The Tradesman; or,
Commercial Magazine.

Mr. Curran has written a poem, called The Plate Warmer, of which the tasteful Mr. Carpenter speaks in glowing terms. The subject is new, or at any rate very little handled by Poets!

Mr. Shield, the most original genius amongst English Composers, bas sent forth a Prospectus, by which it appears that he is about to publish several Centos, as Collections of Vocal Music. One in this January, another in the Spring.

*Mr. H. Siddons is to have the patent. Ed. 1

And that only to one or two of the performers: the general run of the salaries is 256.30s. and some at 21. 2s. ! ! !

2

Mr. Banting has all the Ancient Melodies of Ireland adapted to the Piano-forte, and ready for the press. This will be a very curious work. Mr. Thomas Green, of Liverpool, a youth of seventeen, has a Volume of Poems in the press.

The Rev. Mr. Daniel, Author of Rural Sports, is about to publish by subscription, a History of the Horse, to be accompanied with Engravings by Mr. Scott; it will form one Volume in Quarto,

Mrs. Inchbald intends closing her publication of the British Theatre, with a Series of the most admired Farces, that retain possession of the Stage.

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE Dedication of Theoba aus Secundus, in the present Number, will be a treat to all readers of taste, wit, and humour.

Mr. Lofft on Gray is received, but with several other valuable articles necessarily postponed.

J. R. assures us that Miss Ray's " Memory and Study, among those who know her, are proverbially good."-When we spoke otherwise of her, we only spoke as we found, and are glad to hear that she has a better character at home.

We agree with Dramaticus, and shall expect the particular passages he alludes to. Shakspeare is certainly to be traced more satisfactorily in nature than in books.

"A Subscriber," at Norwich, by the way of doing something, has sent a description of a Coltage, at Great Plumstead, in Blofield. It consists, he says, of Two Parlours, 17 feet by 18, and a library, kitchen, and other necessary offices." If any of our readers want a thing of this sort, we'll enquire the rent!

Mr. Hatt's Pastoral and Impromptu; Citharides' Banks of Windermere; Mr. Brand's Translation of Lope de Vega's "Si la grana, &c.” and Mr. Lewis's, and Mr. Amphlet's Letters, are received.

We have always defended Vaccination, and are glad that our Review in June has been thought serviceable to the cause. See No. 11 of The Vaccine Scourge.

We thank Mr. Adamson for some delightful pieces of poetry. Next month, with Mercutio's Anecdotes, a part will appear.

It grieves us to deny any favour to P. G. but he will, we trust, see the impossibility of our inserting a piece of poetry of such length as his Christmas Eve. It is very clever. The other, next month.

X.'s Court and City Martial is admirably conceived, and cannot be in better hands.

To" Acrostic (private)."

To know is, according to Shakspeare, to have "the wings wherewith we fly to Heaven."-" Oh! let me fly."

ERRATA. The Bon Mot, p. 344, should have been a separate article. P. 375, Pyramus for " Pyramis," and p. 379, Heraclitus, without the unnecessary mark.-P. 338, After Transition,' insert a comma; p. 339, after charmed, a comma; after excellencies,' ditto; after ais, dele semicolon, and put a coma. There should have been no Italics to complacency.'