554 Notes of the Month on QMAY, 



tion should be spared to make the name of Englishmen a tower of 

 strength, even among savages. 



How can we wonder at the decline of dramatic writing, when even 

 established and successful authors receive so little encouragement ? Miss 

 Mitford, who succeeded two years ago to the unusual extent of writing 

 a tragedy, which lasted nearly a whole season, rare as that distinction is 

 among tragedies, and peculiarly while the present race of tragedians 

 exist, most of whom, as George Colman once pleasantly observed,, " add 

 the murder of Macbeth to the murder of Duncan ;" yet we see that 

 Miss Mitford has been compelled to transfer two subsequently written 

 tragedies, from one of our theatres to another, and even there with but 

 a sorry prospect of performance. The usual polite negative, " too 

 many things on hand for the present," appears to be the answer. 

 Another case in point comes before us. One of the papers says 



" Knowles, the author of Virginius, wrote, some time since, an historical 

 tragedy or drama, denominated Alfred, which, in manuscript, has been read 

 by many of his literary friends, who entertain unqualified opinions that it is 

 calculated to increase the reputation of the author, and add golden proofs of its 

 success to the coffers of the manager. He has agreed with the lessees of Drury 

 Lane that it shall be produced at that theatre during the present month. 

 Macready will personate Alfred." 



The truth, we believe, is that Alfred has been written these half-dozen 

 years ; for certainly, we have been warned of its existence by various 

 announcements for that time or more, and that Knowles has been fight- 

 ing his way for its exhibition through all kinds of difficulties. In this 

 we by no means desire to say that managers have acted either harshly 

 or disingenuously ; they have had their difficulties too, and in sufficient 

 abundance. But they may rely upon it, that in encouraging only the 

 mere journey-work people of the theatre, they must suffer ; that the 

 only solid and permanent emolument must be derived from those higher 

 performances, which can be produced only by superior men ; that such 

 men are to be found if they are sought for, as has been the experience 

 of every great theatre, from time immemorial ; and that the less they 

 have to do with such stuff as may go down with an Adelphi or an 

 Olympic-theatre audience, the better not merely for their proper pride, 

 but for their real profit. 



The citizen king grows upon us. He is more citizenish every day, 

 and so far he shews his sagacity; for, as the time is likely enough to 

 come when the king will be sunk in the citizen, what is it but wisdom 

 to accustom himself to the change in time ? He now wears a white hat, 

 upper benjamin, drab trowsers, and speaks badaud, or as we should call 

 it, cockney, in a manner the most conciliating. His next costume it may 

 be difficult to conjecture. But we hope that old Lafayette, or his white 

 horse, will not order sansculottism for the next winter-fashion ; as it is 

 the duty of a citizen king to set an example to his fellow -citizens, and 

 between the mud and the frost of a Paris winter, the most vigorous pa- 

 triotism and cuticle, might find themselves rather severely tried. But 

 can we possibly believe this specimen of royal conversation, which Louis 

 Philippe is said to have lately held with the Belgian deputies, who came 

 to offer their crazy throne and ragged populace to the Duke of Nemours ! 



