1 827. ] Notes for the Month. 403 



cated and riotous in the street. And the extent of the sentence pronounced 

 upon their conviction very often in words refers to, and is regulated by, 

 that very fact " The Court takes into its consideration the time that 

 the prisoner has already been confined, and orders" so and so. Whether 

 it be worth while to diminish the penalty which attaches to the com- 

 mission of the kind of offences under discussion and which, even with 

 the consequences at present known to follow upon them, occupy two- 

 thirds of the time of our police magistrates may possibly be a question 

 (though we do not well see how) for consideration. But certainly, if any 

 species of penalty is to be inflicted, that punishment should seem to be 

 the most useful and effective, which at once stops the continuance of 

 the offence by either laying under securities or separating the con- 

 tending parties. In the greater number of instances, however, as the law 

 stands, the bail demanded, after a short delay, is found. And this 

 changes the lesson given into a fine, instead of a certain number of days' 

 imprisonment. The expense of the recognizances, in one shape or other 

 to the party accused, being ton or a dozen shillings ; and the bail itself, in 

 almost all cases among the lower classes, (at a fixed per centage on the 

 amount) paid for. 



" The following pithy placard" (the Comber says) " has lately been 

 twice stuck up at Madrid, where it has created a considerable sensation 

 from the crowds assembled to read it." " The French in the Ebro ; the 

 English in the Tagus ; the Liberals at the devil; and down with the 

 King !" The writer, whoever he may be, certainly seems to be on very 

 charitable terms with all parties. 



The winter theatres are both about to commence their season ; and 

 have advertised, against each other, the dramatic force that they set out 

 with. Covent Garden is very strong indeed in actors ; Kean, Charles 

 Kemble, and Young, are engaged in tragedy ; and Wrench is to supply 

 the place of Jones, in comedy. We should very much like to see Cole- 

 ridge's tragedy Remorse, revived, with the aid of this company, at 

 Covent Garden. The acting of Rae and Elliston gave the play no 

 chance of even reasonable success, when it was produced ; and it would 

 hardly be possible to find a tragedy containing two characters at the same 

 time, so equal and so well suited to the powers of Young and Kean, as 

 the two brothers in Remorse Don Alvar, and Don Ordonio. Drury 

 Lane puts its trust rather in opera and farce ; and brings forth the strong 

 attraction (combined) of Braham and Miss Paton, Liston, Jones, and 

 Mathews. Madame Vestris, however, who is the best actress in England, 

 is engaged at Covent Garden. Mr. Macready is the tragedian. A sou 

 of Mr. Kean's, is also to appear : about whom, by the way, no more such 

 very direct puffs, as one or two that wo could point out, should appear, 

 or the young man's fair chance of reception will be weakened. Consider- 

 ing the great practice that people have, puffing really is not near so well 

 done as it ought to be. It strikes us, we must do a little in that way 

 just to set an example to those who manage it so clumsily ourselves. 

 It will be a singular occurrence, rather, if Kean's son should prove a con- 

 siderable actor; for the talent of the stage has seldom been hereditary. 

 The children of many obscure performers have become eminent: but 

 there are very few instances in which the descendant of a considerable 

 actor or actress has been distinguished. To take instances within recent 

 recollection, or of the present day, for example Mr. Elliston has a son 

 upon the stage: with none of *the striking talent of the father. Mr. 



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