commands of her father, who insists upon her tion : ACT IV. SCENE II. that fine feelings, a self-denying spirit, and a PANORAMAS, LEICESTER-SQUARE. We have paid an especial visit to this delightArmand. My gracious Liege, no king can tear ful resort, for the purpose of examining closely The land-marks from the honest path of truth. Mr. Burford's new painting of Pompeii. It is Marry! call'st thou that marriage which but joins now five-and-twenty years since a panorama of Two hands with iron bonds? that yokes, but not Unites, two hearts whose pulses never beat this spot (at once so interesting to the scholar, In unison? the legal crime that mocks the antiquarian, and the artist) was exhibited in The very name of marriage-that invadesLondon. Besides that, a new generation has Profanes-destroys its inner holiness? arisen, the present view is from a different No! 'tis the spirit that alone can wed, point, viz., the Forum; so that there is no When with spontaneous joy it seeks, and finds, sameness; and, indeed, had the situation of the And with its kindred spirit blends itself! spectator been the same as then, the discoveries My Liege, there is no other marriage-tie! made since that time would have lent considerThis play is beautifully written: the verse able interest and additional novelty to the scene. sparkles with intellect, emotion, and dramatic Though peculiarly interesting to those whose power; and the action does not flag from its reading and research have made them conversant commencement to its termination. Mrs. Mowatt with Sallust, Cicero, Pansa, and others, and also acted her part with alternate simplicity and with the city itself and the surrounding localities grandeur. In the first part of the play, where in an historical point of view; yet, to the general she appears as a peasant-girl, the effect she pro- | observer, as a work of art, it must have a great duced was most charming; the ease and grace of her manners, the lightness and buoyancy of her step, the guileless and bewitching power of her eye-made her appear like a veritable incarnation of an ideal May-Queen. From such a being the following sweet bit of poetry came so naturally : ACT II.-SCENE 1. Babatte. You seemed so happy! To Him who made them to make us more blest! So ends our account of a play written and acted by a lovely and gifted woman. Long may she live to compose noble dramas, and to personify them! Let her, however, not "lay the flattering unction to her soul" that she will attain that position in public estimation to which her merits entitle her. She does not possess enough of that unscrupulous, adamantine, nerveful, hardy, and unsensitive nature, which is so necessary to grapple with and conquer this callous world. It is too common a case, alas! power of attraction, for its colouring is brilliant, pure, and natural; no ways forced in effect; and the chiar' oscuro is in a high degree satis factory. To the young it is invaluable, since it enables them to grasp at once a conviction of the truth of a scene and circumstances connected with it, which might otherwise appear too much a fable from its very wonder, were it not, as in this Panorama, brought palpably before them. As a work of art, it bears onward the high renown to which Mr. Burford is so well entitled. We admire such a scene as this more than the representation of modern cities, because the associations are more identified, and sought after with a deeper thirst for the knowledge it points out the necessity of obtaining. The figures, which we presume are from the pencil of Mr. H. C. Selous, are well drawn, and give a life-like character to the scene. The Panoramas of Paris and Vienna, also at this exhibition, are scarcely less worthy of attention; and if we regard them as works of art, or associate with them the convulsions these cities have so lately experienced, they must be at least as interesting as that of Pompeii, and are on a larger scale. We extract a portion of the introductory remarks to the catalogue of the scene: Pompeii is unquestionably the most extraordinary of the remnants of antiquity extant, alike deeply interesting to the antiquary, the scholar, the artist, and the observant traveller. It presents the remarkable spectacle of ruin without decay; a whole city, preserved from the corroding hand of time, suddenly fixed, and after being inhumed for eighteen centuries, again unfolded unaltered, to be compared with the drama of human life in the present day. It thus possesses an interest, which even the most magnificent cities of ancient Rome or Greece must fail to excite; in them we see fine ruins, monuments of the power and splendour of the ancients; but here, and here only, can be viewed a complete city as it existed in the proudest period of the Roman Empire; here we are admitted into the same apartments, the same retreats of private and domestic life, and can learn from actual observation, that man is the same in all ages, that he has the same wants and luxuries, the same actuating motives, the same love of splendour and amusement, the same eager pursuit of business, and the same grasping avarice. THE SAINT GEORGE'S HARMONIC performed "Auld Robin Gray" on the cornet-àpiston; and a young lady played one of Rosellan's etudes, on the pianoforte, with exquisite taste and finish. Mr. Ball delighted the audience with one of his really comic effusions, and on being encored (which he was with enthusiasm), gave his well-known" Recruiting Serjeant." The concert concluded with the laughing finale, "Vadasi de via qua" (Mr. Allmann taking the soli parts), which sent the audience home in hearty good humour. Accompanyist, Mr. Beuthin; conductor, Mr. Lyon. 66 FINE ARTS. In an Nature's and the Queen's Flower-painter in ordinary Mr. Valentine Bartholomew-has just The second concert of this Society, given produced, and obligingly offered for our inspecat 69, Dean-street, Soho, by its members, went tion, a series of twelve pictures, such as he only off with, if possible, still greater éclàt than the can create, illustrative of as many different previous one. Of the madrigals that were per- descriptions of flowers-viz., Azaleas, Irises, formed, and of the manner in which they were Tulips, Rhododendrons, Roses, Foxgloves, Popexecuted, we can speak in terms of high com- pies, China-asters, Chrysanthemums, Larkspurs, mendation. Morley's "Now is the Month of Dahlias, and Camellias; each group being limited Maying," is too well known to need more than to varieties of the same flower. We believe passing mention. Festa's "Down in a flowery these paintings were executed as a commission vale" was repeated by desire. Donato's "All for a lady's portfolio-an admirable idea, preye who music love," a splendid specimen of its senting as it does a poetical flower-garden for class, which is in the purest Italian school of the the drawing-room table-but before reaching old monks; and Allmann's "Ask me no more," ," their destination they were laid before Her which we noticed at some other concert, were Majesty, who has been graciously pleased to given in a highly creditable manner, the parts express her high approval of them. in the latter being taken up by the respective artistic point of view, we know not which of voices with effect and precision. Miss L. C. these masterly productions to prefer—each is Schaffer rendered Glover's "Will you love me treated with such consummate skill. The drops then as now" (by the bye, what a mawkish and of dew the artist has depicted upon some of the affected title) with taste and feeling; she pos- leaves are alone sufficient to set us poetising. sesses a voice that, with cultivation, is capable Mr. Bartholomew, in copying that which is most of achieving great things. Miss Eliza Lyon beautiful in the Real, actually reaches a high sang a ballad by Linley, "Little Nell!" with the Ideal. The force of Art superadded to Nature most exquisite taste and finish; and a rapturous can no further go." encore proved how highly the auditory approved of her efforts. She also took part with Mr. H. Buckland in the well known A B C duet, and with her sister, Miss Ellen Lyon, in the charming duet, "I know a bank," in both of which she testified her excellent qualities as a vocalist. The latter gave Donizetti's "L'Amor suo" (nell' Roberto Devereux) with all the taste, style, and tours de force for which she is so eminent. Messrs. Lovett and Nappi won considerable applause by their delivery of Mercadante's The above Songs from the New Opera of duetto "Claudio ritorna," which they sang with "Robin Goodfellow" are among its gems. No. 1. immense spirit. Mr. H. Buckland's song, "The is a pleasing flowing melody, capable of much Icelander's Song of Home," met with universal expression, as Mr. Charles Braham proves. approbation. Mrs. Plummer, though evidently No. 2. is, perhaps, a more ambitious composition, labouring under a severe cold, gave the pretty with, by the way, a telling accompaniment. Scotch song, "My heart is sair for somebody,' "No. 3., our favourite of all, is in a gay and with tenderness and expression. Mr. Allmann sang his own song, "I cannot tell thee how I love thee," which is a very telling song for a tenor, and elicited very favourable marks of satisfaction. Signor Nappi sings his own language well. Mr. Pelham gave a song by Balfe with spirit and animation. One or two glees besides the above were given exceedingly well. Of the instrumental portion, a pupil of Koenig MUSIC. 1. "OH! SWEET REMEMBRANCE OF DAYS LONG VANISHED; 2. "THE JOYS OF MY FAIRY HOME;" 3. “Come, BLUSHING MAY;" 4. "SING ME THE SONG OF OLD;" 5. "WHEN IN HAPPIER DAYS WE WANDERED;" Songs from the Ballad Opera of "Robin Goodfellow," composed by E. J. Loder.-(D'Almaine & Co.) tripping measure, with a theme more original than is usual in modern ballads. No. 4. is also fresh to the ear, and very charming, and No. 5. a simple melody, dependent for its effect on the power and expression of the singer. DEUX ETUDES, POUR LE PIANO-FORTE. Composées par Marie Moody.-(Wessel & Co.) Messrs. Wessel & Co. are famous as importers of choice music by Foreign composers: and the To the Editress of the Belle Assemblée. present "Etudes," published also in Berlin and Paris, do no discredit to their judgment. They are precisely what "studies" should be--examples of such passages as constantly occur in modern music, yet for the fingering and execution of which the amateur too often needs preparation. Common-place exercises, on the other hand, are frequently little more than such as a tolerable player would be likely herself to originate; and we know that progress is only being made while difficulties are being surmounted. 121 "THE WELSH QUADRILLE," composed by George J. O. Allmann.-(Lewis and Johnson). A very excellent selection of Cambrian Melodies, which are arranged with this popular composer's accustomed taste and skill. Mr. Allmann, we find, is also progressing with the series of Scottish Songs, and the series of Madame Grisi's Songs, already noticed by us. No. 3. of the former consists of the beautiful and characteristic "BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE," and the latter of the famous "CASTA DIVA," here anglicised to "MY FAITH IS STILL UNBROKEN. TO THE EDITRESS OF THE BELLE ASSEMBLEE. "COOK-A great name in English history."-Vide SCHOOL-Books. DEAR MADAM,-I trust you will excuse the liberty I take in thus addressing you; I am disposed to hope for your indulgence, as you are generally reported to be of a merciful disposition. I am, madam, one of a number of unfortunate English girls now undergoing the process of cramming for the marriage market, as turkeys are crammed before Christmas for Leadenhall. I am not accustomed to literature, therefore I trust you will overlook the various defects which will, I am sure, be apparent to you in my com munication. Our governess's first axiom is, that "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach;" and it is on this foundation she rears the superstructure of our education. Not a few persons are attracted by the prospect of making their daughters "practisers of all those household virtues and fireside accomplishments so dear to an Englishman;" at the same time parents are assured that "the more showy acquirements of the drawing-room are not neglected; in short, all that goes to make up a periect gentlewoman-a Minerva in crinoline, with a good knowledge of French cookery, geography, and music-is instilled by Mrs. Impossible into the minds of her pupils." To quote the prospectus-" Mrs. Impossible can refer with pride and satisfaction to the parents of young ladies who have been under her care, and to former pupils, who are now the responsible heads of families. The wonderful success of Mrs. Impossible's efforts is sufficiently visible by the following statistics: Of twenty pupils who have left the school during the last five years— Married well, though not remarkable for beauty Ditto ditto rather pretty Married unfortunately (a very handsome girl) Engaged in keeping the houses of rich bachelor uncles, with every prospect of handsome provisions Engaged to be married 10 دو "Prizes are distributed once a year, when the friends of pupils are invited to partake of a dinner cooked entirely by the young ladies; a novel feature in an educational establishment, which will, it is hoped, give great satisfaction." All this I quote from the prospectus. Miss Flighty calls our governess "Eve in full dress," but I cannot say I imagine Milton's Eve to bear any resemblance to Mrs. Impossible. Miss Flighty traces a likeness, in that Eve prepared "dulcet creams" from "kernels pressed," and Mrs. Impossible never seems so happy as when she is cooking; but you, madam, will remember, that when Adam and the angel began to converse learnedly and deeply, sweet Eve retired with a delicate gracefulness that drew her husband's heart after her; hoping, when she and Adam were again alone, to hear something of the high converse upon which she did not intrude her presence. Ah, madam! how unlike Mrs. Impossible! she would have stayed, and argued, and debated, and asserted, and conquered I should not wonder. Not that she teaches us to argue. Oh, no! we are instructed to be femininely silent; and Miss Flighty says Mrs. Impossible never 66 finished" a pupil who could converse agreeably and sensibly. But then Miss Flighty is so odd in her remarks! She says we are taught a smattering of everything, but nothing well. We have a Frenchwoman in the house, who teaches her own language and the higher branches of foreign cookery; and as she is very ill-tempered, she leads us a fine life. I am sure I cried myself quite stupid, last week, over an attempt at a vol au vent, of which I made nothing at last but a long punishment lesson-a page of one of Mrs. Impossible's "milk-and-water morality" books, as Miss Flighty calls them; I say I got nothing 3 by my vol au vent but this lesson, and the task of eating my own odious manufacture. You 1 remember, madam, in Frankenstein," the hero is haunted by a monster of his own making; 'tis just so with us: we are haunted 4 by the monstrous and unwholesome viands we 2 prepare; for I ought to have told you before, that " every pupil in the Cookery Class, who is 20 unsuccessful, must eat that which her careless 66 122 To the Editress of the Belle Assemblée. ness has spoiled." You would pity us if you could see the " geological pastry" (as Miss Flighty calls it) which we are condemned to eat. We have also an Opinion Class, in which we are taught those opinions most current in good society on literature and art. This class has, of course, quite a feminine cast; every pupil is taught to say, "that dear Cowper," and to give a little shriek when Lord Byron is mentioned. Novel reading is prohibited, under the severest threats in case of disobedience; Miss Flighty is exceedingly annoyed by this restriction, for she says she could forget her discomforts if she had an amusing book. When I say novel reading is prohibited, I mean all works of fiction, excepting only Mrs. Impossible's tales, which are admitted, Miss Flighty says, only to disgust us with that kind of literature. Oh, I forgot! we are allowed to read "Coelebs in Search of a Wife." Miss Flighty hates this book; she says both Colebs and Lucilla are terrible bores, yet Mrs. Impossible is always bidding us imitate Lucilla. Altogether our life is very, very dull. We do not often walk out of our grounds; and as they are laid out so as to give Mrs. Impossible a constant surveillance over our proceedings, I leave you to determine whether we ever enjoy our outdoor exercises. Miss Flighty, who, in spite of her frivolity, is sometimes philosophical, says it is the worst system in the world for a girl of lively temper and spirits. She says she is nearly worn out by the monotonous recurrence of disagreeable experiences ;" but, as I said before, Miss Flighty is so very odd! The principal feature in the establishment is, after all, the Cookery Class. We have a room with a proper kitchen range, &c.; and pegs round the walls to hang our aprons on-our cooking aprons, I mean. Mrs. Comfit, the housekeeper, is as kind to us as our governess will let her be. We commit to memory the receipts of the cookery book; and in order to render the task easier, Mrs. Impossible has put some of them into rhyme. Here is a spe cimen : TO MAKE VEAL STUFFING. ،، Of the finest beef-suet chop small half a pound, A fresh egg beaten up with your stuffing is found ،، Of lemon-peel do not omit quantum suff; And of bread-crumbs add just what you choose: Some pepper and salt, and green parsley enough'Tis a stuffing that none will refuse. "And if there's too much to put into your veal, Yet to use it, dear pupils, you wish, 'Tis a sweet pretty fancy I'm sure you will feel, To dispose it in balls round the dish!" Is not this enlivening and enlightening at the same time? But I must give you one more extract from Mrs. Impossible's poetical work - The Culinary Muse; for the use of the Maids, Wives, and Widows of England." TO COOK A STEAK. ،، Beat the steak with rolling-pin, Let the fire be bright and clear, And the gridiron clean ere the steak go near. "When one side is brown and crisp, Their beef with onions smother. Let it ring throughout the school- Seem governed while you rule; and the management of a husband at one and Thus, madam, we are taught cookery, poetry, the same time. As Mrs. Impossible's terms are very high, we have girls of good station in the school." All, however, from highest to lowest, are taught the drudgery of cooking; and I can give you an instance of the effects of this education which Mrs. Impossible has not thought fit to detail in her prospectus. You see, in the part I have quoted, "Married unfortunately (a very handsome girl)." Well, madam, Rose Ringdove was the beauty of the school. Mrs. Impossible despises personal beauty; so poor Rose was always in trouble. She had long golden hair, and her sweet blue eyes by the side of the yellow curls looked like tender blossoms opening to the light of the sun; so Miss Flighty says, at least, but she is so very odd! Rose, being always more or less snubbed in the school-room, took kindly to Mrs. Comit, and made every excuse to stay in the cookery room. The consequence was, she grew pas sionately fond of cookery, and was indeed an been kept within proper bounds, it would have adept before she left school. Had this passion done no harm. To proceed, however: Rose grew up, and left Gastronomy Hall. Her beauty and her fortune combined, soon brought the gentlemen to her feet; and ere she attained her eighteenth year, Rose was the wife of Sir Pink Gilliflower, a most accomplished and refined young man, with a handsome person, and an unencumbered estate of five thousand a-year. Here was a prospect of happiness! But, alas! a very short time proved how fallacious are hunan hopes. Rose, during the honey-moon, had no opportunity for exercising her culinary tastes; but when she reached her home, the sight of a modern range threw her into such ecstacies, that she dreamed all night of remarkable puddings, pies, &c.; and the next day, to the surprise of Monsieur Kickshaws, the cook, she began to indulge her favourite propensity. So absorbed was she, that one hour after another carried round the hands of the hall dial, and yet Asylum for Invalid Gentlewomen during Temporary Illness. -Lady Gilliflower left not her occupation. In vain the cook hinted that he wanted the fire. Six o'clock struck, and Sir Pink came in, bringing Major Gourmand to taste "that haunch of venison." Alas! there was nothing at the fire. Poor Rose, not knowing her husband had brought home a friend, appeared quite in undress. Her hair, "usually allowed to clasp its thousand shining rings over a neck of dazzling fairness," was now rudely knotted up, and swept back from her face. And that face, generally so serene and lovely, there was-yes there was-actually a huge amut down one side. Sir Pink was not unreasonable in being proud of his wife's beauty; and the Major (who had been a dashing member of the Prince Regent's Dandy Club), was said to be the best judge in London of female beauty. Rose came in hurriedly. "Gracious!" shouted Sir Pink, "what is the matter, Rose?” Rose was introduced to Major Gourmand, who turned away and laughed aside. Sir Pink saw it, his pride was hurt; in an angry tone he bade Rose go and dress. That was the first interruption of the marriage harmony. Sir Pink was disgusted at his disappointment he had meant to dazzle and surprise the Major. Rose went and dressed charmingly, but she reappeared with red eyes; she had been weeping, A bad dinner, hastily prepared, was served up. The cook was enraged; Sir Pink had been attached to him; he had lured him away from a friend by a higher salary; yet Monsieur gave warning, and left; saying, it would ruin his reputation to send up such dinners as that. It is unnecessary to go into minute detail. A pupil of Mrs. Impossible's married a country curate she was always giving parties and 123 making elaborate French dishes, saying they saved fifty per cent. by doing it at home. However, the poor man had not a penny to waste; small debts accumulated; his wife persevered in her "saving" system; and the result is, they are now poor struggling people, with eight children, and an empty larder! Miss Flighty advises me to conclude; she says you will be tired of my "ill-written nonsense. I must just add, that on a pupil's marriage, Mrs. Impossible presents her with a complete set of her own Works in a neat glass case. "What shall you do with your books, if ever you are in the situation to acquire them?" asked I of Miss Flighty. answer. "Send them to the cheesemonger," was her Gastronomy Hall, 24th January, 1849. JULIA SIMPLE. P.S.-I should be awfully frightened, if I thought you would print this letter; but Miss Flighty says you are sure not to do that, 'tis too stupid; but, Madam, could you not write a tale, or something to do us a little good? Papa was pleased that I got the Pancake Prize last half; but he found me terribly deficient in history and arithmetic, and all that sort of thing; so, in the holidays, I was kept at home a good deal to read with him. Was it not a shame? JULIA SIMPLE. P.S. No. 2.-Miss Flighty had to make a plum pudding this morning. She forgot the flour, so 'tis all suet and fruit-such a greasy mess; and she has to eat it before she is allowed anything else! J. SIMPLE. P.S. No. 3.-Miss Flighty says you will be certain I AM simple, for I have signed myself so three times already, but she is so odd! Out of friendship, I am going to eat half her nasty pudding. She says that is friendship. J. S. ASYLUM FOR INVALID GENTLEWOMEN DURING TEMPORARY ILLNESS. In the last number of the "Belle Assemblée" we observed a notice of a proposed establishment for the reception of invalid gentlewomen of moderate means, or those who may be dependent for support on their own exertions. Although this philanthropic scheme may appear new to the minds of some of our readers, and that the prospectus is at present necessarily vague, and deficient in detail; yet already has the project arrested the attention of many who have long felt, either for themselves or others, the need of such an establishment. * See novels.-Fanny Flighty. The poor have their hospitals, their dispensaries, and their district visitors; but there is a higher, a more educated class, not exempt from the trials of sickness and the evils of comparative poverty, for whom, in their hour of need, there exists at present no relief, no provision. It appears to us that the institution to which we now allude is not to be classed with other public charities. We could not, indeed, offer charity (in the general acceptation of the word) to the objects of its present solicitude. The benefits of this asylum are not to be considered as emanating from mere benevolence; they are offered from a sense of justice. It is not the rich giving |