1827.J Notes for the Month* 627 



rence proceeded from an inclination for their alliance, not from an apprehen- 

 sion of their strength. In the mean time, while we are on the subject of 

 correcting mistakes we see some indications in the old quarter, of an at- 

 tempt at another u Greek Loan." This is waste of pains : the thing wont 

 do, the parties may depend upon it. It will not even do, so far, as to raise 

 the price of the old Greek Bo/ids in the Market. 



Protestantism, it seems agreed upon all "hands, is gaining ground consi- 

 derably in Ireland. It gives us great pleasure to state this fact: as, after 

 the entire freedom of Catholicism, the next good that we should desire, 

 would be the extinction even of the memory of it. It seems a pity that tho 

 inhabitants of that country could not amend their tempers along with their 

 faith ; but that seems past hope : the "game has begun " with Sir Anthony 

 Hart, the new Chancellor, already. 



lf Sworn Appraisement." Mr. Barber Beaumont, of the County Fire 

 Office, has brought an action against the Morning Herald newspaper for 

 taking away his character. And the jury found a verdict for the plaintiff, 

 Damages a shilling ! 



We have taken occasion once or twice to ridicule the absurd commenda- 

 tions bestowed upon a number of our inferior actors and actresses in the 

 course of their recent exhibition at Paris; we pray heaven we don't perceive 

 some symptoms now of a little traitorous design, to smuggle over some of 

 these (i French goods " these transmarinepretensions and reputation into 

 England ! Mr. Kean, junior, who (with a box of comfits) should beyond 

 doubt be committed to the care of the housekeeper at Drury Lane theatre, 

 and from thence back to school, as suddenly as possible, is announced, from 

 one or two quarters, to be "deeply engaged in studying Ro?neo f" in which 

 character his appearance is only " deferred" that he may *' be assisted by 

 the extraordinary powers of Miss Smithson, on her return from Paris, in 

 the part of Juliet." Now we should like just to set this matter right. The 

 French critics can know nothing about English acting ; and most of them 

 have sufficiently proved that they do know nothing about it ; but, besides 

 this, it remains to be observed, that the criticisms such as they are which 

 appear in the French newspapers, are, two thirds of them, jobs of the most 

 impudent description. Our readers w r ill recollect, not more than a few 

 weeks since, an exposure of the whole system, which was published in the 

 Paris journals; when some gentleman, who had notoriously sold his 

 applause for years, was beaten by a performer whom he abused, and who 

 did not think fit to pay the amount of money demanded from him; 

 And in fact, French puffing (to which we shall some day give a little 

 notice) is becoming a regular course of advertisement among the minor 

 dealers in English literature. This is a subject as regards the actors not 

 worth pursuing; and perhaps we may be mistaken there may be no such 

 folly proposed at Drury lane, as we allude to. In fact it is difficult to con- 

 ceive the existence even of the thought of humbugging the London public 

 with such trash, as u the ravishing talents" of Mr. Abbott and Miss Smith- 

 son, in Jaffier and Belm'dera! not to speak of those *' evinced" by 

 Mr. Mason, in Pierre ! Since we are upon the subject however, we may 

 as well give our readers a notion of the sort of "English, that these distribu- 

 tors of English fame and reputation write and speak. The extract is from 

 the notice of the play of Venice Preserved: and the writer quotes a speech 

 by Belvidera, 



" New then kill me. 



While then I cling about the cruel-neck, 

 Kiss the revengeful lips, and die in joys 

 Greater than I can guest hereafter." 



