1827.J Notes for the Mont/i. 399 



of the copper boiled over upon them," by which horrible death, two died : 

 this is in the country where twenty pamphlets upon the discovery have 

 been written. 



, Royal Bon Mot.- " During the time that his late Majesty George the 

 Third was indisposed at Windsor, it was frequently his custom to play a 



game at cards. On one occasion, while playing with Dr. , one of his 



physicians, at picquet, the doctor was about to lay down bis hand, saying, 

 as he wanted but twelve of being out, he had won the game ; for (added 

 he), " I have a quatorze of tens." The King bid him keep his cards. 

 " Tens" were good for nothing just then. " For," said his Majesty, 



looking significantly at Dr. , and laying down four Knaves " here 



are my four physicians !" Examiner. The late King rest his soul ! 

 was a heavy joker ; but surely he never could have volunteered a niaiserie 

 like this ! The Examiner does not like kings, and must have invented it. 



The Thedtre Odeon has opened, with its English company, at Paris, 

 during the last month ; and the opinions of the French critics upon the 

 merits of our actors and drama, recal to us a theory which we took the 

 liberty to hazard, a short lime since, touching the entire incompetency of 

 the people of one country ever to judge (with real accuracy) upon the 

 dramatic representations of another. The English performers who have 

 most delighted the Parisians, are those whom we either never hear of, or 

 consider perfectly detestable, in London. A Miss Smithson, who used to 

 play minor characters, at Drury Lane Theatre, is ravishing all Paris, in 

 Ophelia, and Juliet. Mr. Power, who (though an extremely good actor 

 in low Irish characters) is literally horrible when he attempts any thing 

 iu the way of a gentleman, the French journals pronounce to have 

 been admirable, in Sir Lucius O' Trigger, " an actor, possessing great 

 intelligence, with remarkable correctness !" while Listen is described in 

 Acres, as " a mannerist, whose voice is sluggish, and whose jerking 

 pronunciation too often degenerates into huskiness these defects being the 

 more to be regretted, as he appears to have passed the age when they 

 might be remedied!" Eventually the writer admits that Liston is 

 " amusing, and likely to be a useful member of the company;" but 

 he evidently rates him low ; for the tone changes directly he comes 

 to discuss the merits of Mr. Abbott who is said to have " a noble 

 appearance, and to wear the military costume with great advantage !" 

 Poor Mr. Abbott ! A " Mr. Chippendale" too who he is we have not 

 an idea is mixed up with the grandees (" Liston, Abbott, Chippindale, 

 and Power") as one of the genuine stars from the London boards, who 

 have already appeared at the Odeon ; and great commendation is bestowed 

 upon a " Mrs. Vaughan," for her performance of the Queen, in Hamlet ! 

 As for Miss Smithson, the journalist, if we recollect right, draws a parallel 

 between her and Mademoiselle Mars'." 



The fact is, as we some time back asserted, that there can be very little 

 perception, in any country, of the merits of a foreign performance. Humor- 

 ous, or what is called " broad" comedy, must, nineteen twentieths of it be 

 local ; and the nicer circumstances which go to the composition of accom- 

 plished acting, even in genteel comedy, and in tragedy, have quite as 

 much reference to an ideal standard of manners, &c. maintained in the 

 country to which the performer belongs, as to any principles existing in 

 nature. It is true that we can make a rough estimate; an English actor 

 totally destitute of manner and deportment, who attempted to act the 

 heroes of Congreve and Farquhar, would be detected, perhaps, in Paris : 



