THINGS THEATRICAL. 227 



POEMS. BY THE REV. W. H. CHARLTON, A. M., CURATE OF 

 ST. MARY'S, BRYANSTONE SQUARE. 1 VOL. 8vo. RIVINGTON. 

 THAT the author of this unpretending volume lacks not friends, the 

 list of subscribers printed at the commencement of it proves ; but 

 even without their assistance he might have rested his hopes of success 

 on the good taste^and poetic feeling which pervade his book. We be- 

 lieve that the publication of these poems is mainly attributable to the 

 cause he so delicately and unassumingly glances at in his brief preface. 

 A considerable portion of this book is devoted to sacred poems not 

 declamatory spoutings " yclept blank verse/' burlesquing Milton, and 

 out-heroding Herod ; but pleasing, easy, flowing verse, which, un- 

 like the productions of the inspired eleven-book-men, is agreeable, 

 instructive, and natural. There are also some miscellaneous poems 

 on various subjects, many of which possess considerable merit, and a 

 few translations of some of the odes of Horace, which are neatly and 

 elegantly done. Of the latter, we would particularly instance the 

 version of the ode, " Ad Licinium Murenam :" 



" Rectius vives, Licini, neque altum 

 Semper urguendo." 



The book is evidently the production of a well cultivated mind ; it 

 breathes throughout the kindest and best spirit ; and we are happy to 

 have this opportunity of wishing Mr. Charlton all the success he 

 deserves. 



THINGS THEATRICAL. 



IT is curious to remark how a dramatic incident will travel unap- 

 propriated over the world before it ultimately assumes the form of a 

 play. The opera of " La Sonnambula" affords a remarkable instance 

 of this. The occurrence upon which it is founded took place early 

 in the present century in Scotland, and was related many years ago 

 during a promiscuous after-dinner conversation, by a gentleman who 

 has since vindicated the promise which he then gave of superior 

 talents, and is now well known as the Ettrick Shepherd. " The 

 lassie," said Mr. Hogg, " whose nocturnal propensity to ramble had 

 brought her into so serious a scrape, was the daughter of a Scotch 

 baillie, who carried on a considerable traffic with a mercantile house 

 in the west of England, through the medium of a travelling clerk, 

 with whom he was periodically accustomed to settle his accounts. 

 The day of reckoning came, and with it the bagman, and the settle- 

 ment was so satisfactory to the baillie that he insisted on the bagman's 

 staying all night, as the weather threatened. To accommodate the 

 guest, the young daughter, a girl of eighteen, was sent to sleep 

 in a small chamber which was seldom occupied, and her room was 

 given to the young clerk. Some time after the family had retired to 

 rest, he was sitting in a loose wrapper, again inspecting his accounts 

 and assuring himself of their correctness ; when the bed-room door 

 opened and the girl walked in ; and, going up to the table at which 

 he was seated, put her candlestick down, placed the extinguisher 



