[>n. 1, 
590 ^taie of Public Affairs in December* 
IS in D. minor, and comprises some pas¬ 
sages that would do credit to the most 
celebrated of tlie old Irish bards, and 
will, we may venture to say, recom¬ 
mend the composition to tiieattetition of 
every cultivated ear. 
^hrec A:rSi ‘zuitl' Varhiiofts, ccryipcsea and prs~ 
gressi^i-ely arranged for the. Piano-forte, by f. 
B.ttoxly. 2s. 6d. 
iRIr. Bcttomly h-aS supplied in the pre¬ 
sent compositions, a useful, if not a par¬ 
ticularly ingenious, exercise tor piano¬ 
forte practitioners. The passages lie 
well for the hand, and the progressive 
arrangement of the movements is well 
suited to the obvious and laudable pur¬ 
pose of the work. 
Kionhers J and 11. cf Natlcnal Airs or Melo¬ 
dies, composed by the most eminent Authors, 
<s. 6i. 
These melodies are, certainly, taste¬ 
fully selected. The composers of Eng- 
3and, Ireland, Scotland, and ales, 
bave been searched for llie assemblage ; 
and the rondos, and little practical pieces 
into whicli they have been moulded, by 
the compiler, or compilers, will be 
iound highly amusing, as well as im¬ 
proving, by juvenile students of the in¬ 
strument for which they are designed — 
tiie pia7io-fo7'fe. 
Dreary nvas the Day,''' sung by Mrs. Nunn, 
in the comic Opera of the Fi-ve Lenders, at the 
Theatre Royal, Dublin. Csvjposed by. T. 
Coche, 6d. 
“ Dreary was the Day,” is a song not 
destitute of claims to cur praise. The 
melody is easy, smooth, and natural, 
and tells the poet’s tale with its designed 
effect. 
Utile DuJci, a favorite Divertisement for the 
Piano-forte. Composed by F. C Panermo. 
4i. 
In this divertisement, the second 
movement of which has for. its theme 
the popular air of “ Cease your funning,’^ 
in the Beggar’s Opera, we find many 
florid and ingeniously conceived passages; 
and the composition is adjusted aiid ar¬ 
ranged with a comprehension at once 
capable of viewing ti:e parts and embra¬ 
cing llie zi'hole, of an elaborate compo¬ 
sition. 
Munster B'use, a familiar Rondo for the P'.aro- 
fort e or Harp, composed and dedicated to Miss 
Sa'rnpays, by fohn Parry. Is. Cd. 
“Munster House” is a piano-forte 
exercise, tiiat takes a respectable raiik 
among the pleasing, though passing, little 
objects that from day to day claim th« 
notice of the musical world, 'i he sub¬ 
ject is agreeable, and the digressive 
matter springs naturally from the main 
source, and at once -speaks the good 
taste and sound judgment of the com¬ 
poser. 
Txventy.rfcur Psalm and Hymn Tunes, composed 
by Joseph Neiherclift. ‘ds. 6d. 
The present publication is well entitled 
to the attention of the pious and well- 
disposed lovers of music. The melodies 
are appropriate, and the whole is calcu¬ 
lated to form an acceptable Sunday as¬ 
sociate. 
STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS IN DECEMBER. 
Coritaining official Tapers and authentic Documents. 
PORTUGALo 
Dispatch addressed to General Viscount 
\Veliington, from Lieutenant-General 
Kiil, 
' Merida, Get. SG, ISIL 
Mv Lor 3, 
TN pursuance of the instructions which I 
received trorn your lord-ship-, 1 put a portion 
of the troops under my orders in motion cn 
the 52c! instant, from their cantonments in 
the neighbourhood of Portalegre, End adv.an- 
?ed with them towards the Spanish frontier. 
Oa the 2:3d, the head of the column 
yeached Aibuouerque, when I learnt that the 
enemy, who had advanced to Aliseda, had 
fallen back to Arroyo del Puerco, and that 
thfc Spaniards were again in possession of Ali- 
ieda. 
On the 24th, I liad a brigade of British 
infantry, half a brigade of Portuguese artil¬ 
lery (six pounders), and some ofyny cavalry, 
at Aliseda , and the rernaindt-r ot my cavalry, 
another brigade uf Idritisb inlartry, and half 
a brigade of Portuguese si-x-pounders, at Casa 
de Cantillana, about a league dis£?nt. 
On the 25th, .the Count de Fenne Villa- 
mcr made' a reconnolsance with his cavalry, 
and drove the enemy from Arroyo del Puerco. 
The enemy retired to Malpartida, which 
place die occupied as an advanced post, with 
about St'O cavalry and some infantry, his 
main body beijig still at Caceres. 
O.'-r the 26th, at dav-breakj the troops ar¬ 
rived at Maiparcida, and found that the ene¬ 
my had left tnat place, retiring towards Ca- 
eeiesj followed by a small party of the 2d 
iiossars^ 
