42 
probably, be “‘ yery delightful!’’? The most 
astonishing of all was the part borne by 
this singer in the finale — particularly 
“ Disarmi il suo adegno,”’ and in the duetto, 
“Da questo istante ;’’ on which the ap- 
plause was very general. 
It was an extraordinary sight, after the 
fall of the curtain, to see this mis-repre- 
sentative of the heroic Knight of Rhodes, 
in gorgeous panoply, led forward, by the 
hand, and under the protection of Mme. 
Caradori, to receive the suffrages of the 
auditors:—of which, by favour of such 
association, he seemed, at least, to have a 
large majority. 
If the unfortunate being, who is the pro- 
minent subject of this criticism, were alone 
the object of consideration, the tone we 
have assumed might be regarded as austere. 
and cynieal. But we have an eye to pos- 
terity, and we haye a feeling for the moral 
reputation of our country; and we Call 
upon those persons of bigh rank and sta- 
tion, under whose patronage, and by whose 
invitation, this disgraceful exhibition has 
been made, to cast their glance, also, beyond 
the voluptuous gratification of the hour, and 
to participate in that feeling :—at least, to 
think again before they persevere in ren- 
dering the prospect of British remunera- 
tion a temptation to depraved Italian pa- 
rents to immolate their future offspring 
to the vampire taste of a perverted sensu- 
ality—before they hold out the tempta- 
tions of British opulence, and _ proffer, 
the lavish remunerations of British pro- 
digality, as bribes for the renewal of a 
detestable practice, from which decency 
revolts, and at which humanity shudders: 
—a practice (be it remembered) which, if 
British gold be not lavished to re-encourage, 
is likely never again to disgrace the Euro- 
pean world. The Hero—as he is ealled— 
of Waterloo, is named among those who 
are most forward in the patronage we are 
reprobating. But let: even him reflect 
whether the laurels he claims, as vietor 
over Napoleon, wi!l receive any additional 
lustre from the opposition in which this 
species of patronage would have a tendency 
to place his and Napoleon’s name. Among 
the benefits which that Napoleon confer- 
red upon Italy (and he did, in the midst of 
all his tyranny and despotic usurpations, 
confer many), was the discouragement and 
abolition of that worse than infanticidal 
practice, by which children were qualified 
for the’ Velluti scream. » Must this detest- 
‘ 
Topic of the Month :—Opera Exhibition. 
[Aug. I, 
able practice, as well as the blessings of 
Austrian dominion, Bourbon dynasties and 
Spanish Inquisitions, be restored? — and. 
restored, also, by Wellington influence, and 
by British gold? Are the ambition and the 
tyranny of Napoleon not completely van- 
quished, till every benefit with which he 
occasionally modified that tyranny, and 
atoned for that ambition, are obliterated, 
and every abuse he proscribed renewed ? 
But four, we are told, of that unfortunate 
choir of dishumanized squallers, heretofore 
so numerous in Italy, at this time survive. 
Shall we be the people to offer premiums 
to shameless parents to render them again 
as numerous as ever? Shall it be a part of 
our system of legitimacy, to renovate the 
hideous practice? Shall the sereams of 
infants,under barbarous immolation rise to 
heaven, in accusation of the seductive 
abuse of British wealth, and the unfeeling 
sensuality of British luxury?—and the 
maturer screams of the half-vital victims of 
that immolation record to future genera- 
tions, that such were among the purposes 
for which Britain conquered, and to which 
British liberality was applied ? 
The subject has been much discussed 
during the present month. If we have 
taken it up upon somewhat broader grounds 
than have generally been assigned to it, 
and expressed our sentiments strongly, we 
trust we have placed it in no improper 
point of view, and that our zeal in the cause 
of insulted humanity may in some degree 
excuse, if not fully justify, some occasional 
warmth in the expression of our sentiments. 
—But, warmth did we say?’ Na: we have 
been cold—we haye been coy—we have 
been reserved! There is a part of the 
subject still more frightful, upon which we 
have not—upon which we cannot touch. 
There are vices which must remain unre- 
proved, lest the cheek of Innocence should 
be seorehed by the very breath that dif- 
fuses the echo of the reproof. By the 
adepts in the science of -sinning without 
shame, we shall be understood; and we 
wish not to unveil to the modest eye of 
morning, mysteries at which Cotytto her- 
self would blush! There are reasons 
enough, in what has been already argued, 
why the matrons aud the maidens of our isle 
should shrink from the imputation of coun- 
tenancing, in public or in private, those 
squeaking things whom humanity, even 
while she pities; must yet disown. 
