THINGS THEATRICAL. 337 



what fairies are, or gnomes and others, or good honest, genuine 

 diablerie of the old sort ; but we have no legendary lore of this 

 nondescript race no nursery associations to reconcile us to the 

 monstrosity ; we can only identify them with Monsieur Chabert, the 

 fire-eater, and an interesting female who exhibited some such accom- 

 plishments as swallowing boiling lead and eating brimstone in the 

 classic regions of Bartholomew fair. This jportion of the drama was 

 decidedly bad tact in the dramatist; buf*the music made ample 

 amends, and brought it through triumphantly. The chorus of 

 demons is as bold and original a piece of composition as we have 

 ever heard, and the trio by which it is succeeded is in the very 

 highest style of art. The music throughout is rich and varied ; the 

 chorusses particularly bold and effective, uniting melody with the 

 most scientific arrangement. If true original genius, cultivated by 

 the most careful study, is requisite towards excellence as a composer, 

 we know of no English professor who can come within many degrees 

 of Mr. Barnett. 



The Haymarket offers nothing worthy of remark besides the 

 admirable performances of Mr. Vandenhoff, who continues his line 

 of characters with unabated interest ; we shall reserve our critical 

 remarks upon various points of his acting until he removes to 

 Drury-lane, when he will be belter supported. Mr. Buckstone 

 has brought out a very agreeable comedy, which has added much to 

 his reputation as a dramatist. W* expected more in the commence- 

 ment of the season from the manager, Mr. Morris, than we see 

 likely to be realized. He brought out a drama by Mr. Douglas 

 Jerrold, called " Beau Nash, the King of Bath," which was unques- 

 tionably a work of very high character, and behold it was suddenly 

 withdrawn. Mr. Jerrold has earned and most deservedly a high 

 reputation for dramas wherein characters are introduced of English 

 history and court gossip. Now " Beau Nash" is certainly not in- 

 ferior to any that he has written, and yet it is suddenly withdrawn, 

 and all manner of wretched substitutes placed in its stead. Without 

 pretending to know the secrets of a manager's closet, we would 

 wager a trifle that some evasion of . s. d. is at the bottom of this 

 some shuffling in the interpretation of an agreement. If Mr. Morris 

 is sad or sulky at the success of rival establishments, it is bad policy 

 to visit his ill humour on those that can best serve him. However 

 good-naturedly people may put up with the tetchy and querulous 

 habits of old gentlemen, Mr. Morris' experience ought to teach him 

 that illiberality and meanness are not favourable features in the cha- 

 racter of a manager. 



