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it, loudly proclaimed its pre-eminence over all the wine in the world. But the Tokay wine was not then made according to the present method. It has been observed, that the grapes which contain most of the saccharine property dry before the rest, and chrystallize, as it were, by the heat of the sun; but the least moisture spoils them. The vintagers, therefore, gather the first ripe grapes, and after they have been carefully dried, extract from them an essence which tastes like honey, and in appearance resembles molasses. By mixing this essence with the common wine of the Canton, the real Tokay wine is produced. Of this wine there are two kinds: the Ausbruch and the Musklass. The former contains twice as much of the essence as the latter. The Hungarians assert that gold is found in their grapes; but a naturalist has discovered that what they mistake for gold is the egg of a small insect round which the sugar chrystallizes and acquires a gold colour. This does not, however, disprove the existence of gold in invisible particles in certain vegetables, a fact which is evident from the experiments of Chaptal.

FRANCE.

Literature. Great activity prevails in the literary circles in Paris; new editions of most of our celebrated authors are preparing; the number of periodical works increases, and though politics engage the attention of many writers and readers, still the Belles Lettres are not neglected. Our literati have suffered a great loss in the death of M. Millin, who took a pleasure in assembling men of talent at his house, and introducing them to the learned foreigners who visited Paris, to whom he showed the greatest hospitality. His house was the resort of all distinguished literary men. He moreover corresponded with the learned of every country, and his Annales Encyclopediques, which formed a supplement to his Magasin Encyclopedique, was a faithful register of their productions. M. Millin published about forty different works, chiefly upon antiquities, among which are his Monumens Inedites, the description of the Vases Etrusques, his essays on the Vases found at Canosa, &c. The conclusion of his Travels in Italy will appear in a few months. His Annales Encyclopediques will end on the first of January; but a society of scientific and literary gentlemen propose to resume them under another form, and with the title of Revue Encyclopedique. Some men of

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science at Strasburg, intend to commence at the same time a similar periodical work, under the title of Bibliotheque Alsurienne.

Among the literary novelties, the following are the most remarkable:--Polymnie, a poem on music by Marmontel: hitherto nothing was known of this work except a few cantos. The manuscript is understood to have been preserved in England, from whence it has lately been brought.

A translation of the Travels of Mr. Rich, an English resident, to the Ruins of Babylon, with notes by M. Raymond, formerly consul at Bassora. These notes are very numerous, and highly instructive. The translator who has visited the places described by Mr. Rich, illustrates, explains, and corrects the ob servations of the English resident. The following is an instance: Mr. Rich says that the current of the Tigris is infinitely more rapid than that of the Euphrates: M. Raymond proves, by the evidence of other authors, and by his own observations, that the waters of the Euphrates flow with more impetuosity than those of the Tigris. He proves, likewise, that the Euphrates does not begin to rise sooner than the Tigris, as Mr. Rich asserts it does. In fact, the Tigris, though confined within a smaller space, receives a greater number of rivers in proportion to the length of its course; and its source being further to the south than that of the Euphrates, the rivers which it receives are augmented by the first rains. When the period of the melting of the snow approaches, the mountains which border upon the two rivers, as well as those of Curdistan, situated more to the south, and consequently more exposed to the sun, are also the first to experience its effects, With regard to the vast extent of the ancient city of Babylon, M. Raymond observes, that all astonisliment ceases when it is considered, that in the warm climate of Asia each family has a house to itself, and that, therefore, an Asiatic city, with a population equal to that of London or Paris, would require four or five times as many houses as either of those cities contain. He, besides, supposes ancient Babylon to have been a little state, composed of a whole nation, which its vast fortifications proteeted, rather than a city including merely a portion of a state. M. Raymond's translation concludes with a dissertation on the situation of Pallacopas.

Journey to St. Petersburg, by the Abbé

George-The Abbé Georgel, who was formerly grand vicar of the celebrated Cardinal de Rohan, was implicated in the affair of the diamond necklace. He is well known by his Memoirs, which Bonaparte suppressed, but which have been lately published. During his emigration in Switzerland, the Abbé Georgel was invited, by the Knights of Malta, to accompany the German deputation of that order to St. Petersburg in 1799 and 1800. This circumstance occasioned the narrative of the Journey, which forms a supplement to the Memoirs of the Abbé. The work contains some interesting anecdotes respecting Paul I. and Rostopchin, who is not represented in a very favourable light. To his influence M. Georgel attributes the change which took place in the policy of Paul I. when he made peace with Bonaparte. However, this same Rostopchin, 12 years after, proved himself the most determined enemy of the despot. The energy which he displayed as governor of Moscow, on the invasion of the French, is well known.

Summary of the Voyages undertaken to discover a Northern Passage to Indiu. Many works of a similar kind have appeared in London, within these few months, which contain more information on the subject of the English expeditions; this summary, which is the production of M, Cadet, is, perhaps, more circumstantial respecting those of other nations. It contains an account of two

[Jan. 1,

voyages undertaken by the French. The author is one of those who regard the discovery of a passage to the Pole as a probable circumstance; but he is of opinion, that the ships ought to sail in the spring, and keep in the open sea, at a distance from the coasts, near which, he says, the ice always accumulates in heaps. He lays down a theory of currents, which, if not entirely unobjectionable, is nevertheless worthy of attenD. tion.

At a late sitting of the Academy of Sciences, three foreign correspondents were elected, viz. Mr. Brisbane, in Scotland, for the division of astronomy, in place of M. Ferer, deceased; Mr. Smith, for the division of botany, in place of M. Swartz, deceased; and M. Kunth, for the same division, in place of the Baron Picot Lapeyrouse, likewise deceased.

ITALY.

A manuscript in the hand-writing of Tasso, has been purchased at Paris for the Grand Duke of Tuscany: the price is 4,000 francs. An agent of the French government offered, it is said, 2,500 francs. The manuscript consists of about 50 pages, containing pieces of poetry addressed to the great lords of his time, eminent writers, cardinals, ladies, and friends of the illustrious poet, From the number of erasures, it is clear that this great Epic Poet was very fa miliar with the art of blotting

མཝ་ རྩེ

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:!

the German Language: also, The Art of French Conversation, exemplified on a new plan.

PROFESSOR ROBINSON'S System of Mechanical Philosophy is about to be republished by DR. BREWSTER with Notes and Illustrations, comprising the most recent discoveries in the physical sciences.**

ALEXANDER JAMIESON is preparing for publication a work entitled Conversations on General History, Ancient and Modern, for the use of schools and private instruetion.

C. F. WIELEs, esq. has in the press Lamioli, a novel in three volumes.

In the course of the Spring will be published Memorials, or Memorable Things that fell out within this Island of Britain from 1688 to 1684. By the Rev. ROBERT Law. Edited from the M.S. by Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, esq.

A new Monthly Dramatic Journal called the Inspector, will appear in a few days.

The Annals of Coinage of the United Kingdom from the earliest record to the present time, by the Rev. ROGER Ruding, has been delayed, in consequence of the accession of much additional and valuable information: it will however be published in the month of February, and be comprized in five octavo volumes and a quarto of plates, bringing the engraved series down to the recent issue of Sovereigns and Crown pieces.

MR. HAZLITT intends to publish in January next, his Lectures on the Comic Genius and writers of Great Britain, now delivering at the Surry Institution.

A second volume of a Course of Family Sermons, expressly adapted to be read in families, by the Rev. HARVEY MARRIOTT, Rector of Claverton, and Chaplain to Lord Kenyon, will be published in a few weeks. Letters on the Important Duty and Advantages of Early Rising, will appear in a few days.

MR. CHAMBERS' History of Worcester is nearly ready for publication, in 1 vol. 8vo.,

MR. H. A. MITCHEL announces a Treatise on Credit and Political Expediency, tending to shew that there is no real national debt!!

JAMES TESSIER, esq. has in the press, in 1 vol. 8vo., A Narrative of the Operations of the Royalist Armies in the Interior of France, during the period of Buonaparte's usurpation in 1815.

Speedily will be published in one volume octavo, Plain and Practical Sermons, by the Rev. JOHN BOUDIER, M. A.

A Third Series of Tales of my Landlord, in 4 vols., is in considerable forwardness.

The Sixteenth volume of the Encyclopædia Londinensis is nearly ready for publication. It will contain the articles Morocco, Naples, Navigation, and Music.

The Elements of Natural Philosophy, illustrated throughout by experiments which may be performed without regular apparatus, are announced by JAMES MITCHELL, M. A.

A new novel is in the press called The Intriguing Beauty, and the Beauty without Intrigue.

MR. J. Mc. PHAIL twenty years gardener and steward to the late Earl of Liverpool, has put to press " The Gardener's Remembrancer," exhibiting the nature of vegetable life and of vegetation, with directions for the culture of the cucumber, the pine-apple, the grape vine, the peach, and for forcing all sorts of choice fruits, flowers, and esculent vegetables, without the influence of fire heat. The Poetical Remains and Memoirs of the late JOHN LEYDEN, M. D. author of an Historical Account of Discoveries in Africa, will appear in January, on

The transactions of the Literary Society of Bombay, are nearly ready for publication, in one vol. 4to.

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The Second volume of the Transactions of the Association of Fellows and Licentiates of the King's and Queen's College of Physicians in Ireland, is just ready.

A Second volume of the Dublin Hospital Reports will appear shortly.

MR. MONTGOMERY, author of the World before the Flood, is preparing a new volume for the press to be entitled Greenland and other Poems.

In the press and shortly will be published, Biblical Criticism on the books of the Old Testament, and Translation of Sacred Songs, with Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By SAMUEL HORSLEY, L L. D. late Lord Bishop of St. Asaph.

In the course of next Spring will be pub lished, the First Number of Excursions through the counties of Surry, Kent, and Sussex, on the same plan as the Excursions through Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.

At the same time will commence the pub lication of Excursions through Ireland, on the same plan as the Excursions through England, and intended as a companion to that work; to be comprised in 8 volumes, and will contain Four Hundred Engravings.

A new Novel, by the author of the Physi ognomist and the Bachelor and Married Man, will appear shortly, entitled Hesitation or to Marry or not to Marry.

MR. EDWARDS, author of the First Principles of Algebra, is printing a Treatise on The Latin and Greek Prosodies, wherein every difficulty relating to accent and quantity is entirely removed.

The same author has in the press a Course of Lectures on Philosophy and Chemistry and a dissertation on Maxima and Minima.

Early in February will be published, A Defence of the Poor Laws; with a plan for the suppression of Mendicity, and the establishment of Universal Parochial Benefit Societies. By SAMUEL ROBERTS.

MR. RENNEL, Christian Advocate in the University of Cambridge, and Vicar of Kensington, has in the press, Remarks on Scepticism, especially as it is connected with the Subject of Organization and Life, being an answer to some recent works both of French and English Physiologists.

A volume of Familiar Dissertations on Theological and Moral Subjects. By the Rev. DR. WILLIAM BARROW, Prebendary of Southwell, will shortly be published.;

The First Number of DR. WHITTAKER'S History of the County of York will appear early in January.

The Entomologist's Pocket Compendium. By GEORGE SAMOUELLE, Associate of the Linnæan Society of London.

In the press, Illustrations of the Power of Compression and Percussion in the cure of Rheumatism, Gout, and Debility of the Extremities; and in Promoting General Health and Longevity. By WILLIAM BALFOUR, M. D.

DRURY LANE.

THE theatres recommenced their performances on the 3d, after the suspension occasioned by the death of our lamented Queen. A new tragedy, entitled Brutus, from the pen of Mr. Howard Payne, a young American gentleman, was prodused on the occasion. The plot is formed upon the most impressive features in the history of the first of that name, who flourished in the time of Tarquin the Proud, in the earlier age of Roman history. The scene is sometimes at the camp before Ardea, sometimes in Collatia, and sometimes in Rome.

The play commences with the assumed idiotism of Lucius Junius, who, on the murder of his father and his elder brother by Tarquin, counterfeits the fool, and is received into the family of the king to make mirth for the young princes.Tullia, the Queen, who is raised into "bad eminence" by history as having driven her chariot over her father's dead body, is left by Tarquin the Proud (then absent with his ariny before Ardea), regent of Rome. Alarmed by dreams and portents, Tullia sends for Lucius Junius from the camp, that a watchful eye may be kept over him; but when he arrives, she is disarmed of her terrors by the grotesque answers of Lucius Junius, and orders that he shall be called Brutus, from the resemblance which the want of reason gives him to a brute. The first act closes with a scene between the Princess Tarquinia and Titus, the son of Brutus, in which it appears that Titus had gained great favour at the court, and had formed an attachment for Tarquinia, which was favourably returned. In the second act the young Princess and Collatinus are discovered in the tent of Sextus. They converse respecting the female character, and are thus led into the famous wager concerning their wives the result is literally as recorded in bis

tory.

The piece altogether possesses considerable merit, and though the author has not much claim to originality, having culled from all former dramas on the same subject, yet he must be allowed that of producing a successful play from unsuccessful ones-of putting materials which failed in other forms, into a powerful shape-and of making up a play which will long continue to afford delight to the public.

On the 10th, after the tragedy of Brus, a farce, entitled, Is He Alive, or All

[Jan. 1,

Puzzled, was performed. It was brought forward last season for a benefit, aud has now become a candidate a second time for public favour. The piece in itself is too unimportant, even was it a first representation, to deserve a regular critique upon its plot. It belongs to that class of productions which pass too rapidly over the mind to excite any thing like a spirit of examination. Tame and uninteresting, it seems only brought forward to pass into deserved oblivion with the rest of the pieces lately produced at this theatre.

COVENT GARDEN.

This house opened with the comedy of The Jealous Wife, in which Miss O'Neil again displayed her unrivalled abilities. After which, a new operatic fairy tale, called Rose d'Amour, or Little Red Riding Hat, stolen from the French, who in their turn stole it from one of Mr. Marshall's nice little sixpenny books, with cuts, published in Aldermary Churchyard, London, price two-pence, bound and gilt. For many years our dramatic writers have plundered our neighbours with as little conscience as mercy; and it is but doing justice to both countries, to let it be known to which of them all the trash accumulated on our theatres owes its origin. The fault on our side becomes only one of taste.

The story is too well known to need much description of the plot. The Wolf, which the innocent maiden encounters, is a

debauched lord, (Duruset,) who goes by that appellation among the peasantry on account of his excesses, and who wishes to receive a certain Droit du Seigneur, and make the lot fall upon Rose. Defeated in his attempt by the interposition of a fairy, he disguises himself as an hermit, and thus gets Rose in his power. The spirit of his sister appears at the critical moment, and bids him spare his niece.The scene then suddenly changes to the palace of Rose's lover, who had hitherto courted her as a shepherd. The faithful couple are united, and the wolf is carried off by dæmons whose appearance excites some laughter as an imitation of Don Juan.

As a piece it possesses no merit; but it is enriched with some very soft and pathetic music from the pen of the French composer, Boyledieu. The overture is captivating, and at the same time rather out of the common, being more elegant and delicate than powerful. Most of the airs are tasteful; but one in the

first act, delightfully sung by Miss Beaumont, who made her first appearance in the part of Rose d'Amour, was encored with enthusiasm. The novelty of the night was Miss Beaumont; and a more interesting candidate for public applause has seldom appeared. To an elegant form she unites the most perfect ease of manners, gracefulness of action, archness of play, and expression of voice and features, and her reception was commensurate with her merits.

On the 10th, The Castle Spectre attracted an extremely crowded house. Miss O'Neil performed the character of Angela for the first time, and displayed in it great energy and feeling.

On the 11th, Miss Somerville made her first appearance as Margaret of Anjou, in The Earl of Warwick. She entered fully into the author's views of the character, and supported it throughout with becoming dignity. In the interview with Edward, after having assassinated Warwick, she was particularly grand and impressive, and, with the exception of her occasionally approaching to a rant, the character was well supported.

On the 18th, a new comedy (said to be from the pen of Mr. Kenny), entitled, A Word for the Ladies, was produced. The plot is by far too complex; but the following is a sketch of it. A young gentleman, named Winterland, (Macready,) having incurred the displeasure of an uncle, upon whom he had great dependance, is disinherited, and to avoid his creditors, hides himself in a fisherman's cottage. His sister, (Mrs. Fawcit,) who shares his misfortunes, is attached to young Dorrington, (Mr. C. Kemble,) his sworn friend, to whom he had formerly made great sacrifices, and who has been to the West Indies to take possession, as he believes, of a rich inheritance. On his return, the Winterlands depend on his fulfilling their hopes, both of marrying Clara and relieving her brother. His conduct, however, becomes mysterious and equivocal, and the most affect ing of the situations arise from Winterland's resentment of his conduct, the disappointed passion of Clara, and the severe reproach of her feelings which she incurs from the high spirit and wounded pride of her brother. Circumstances render Dorrington the bearer of an offer of marriage to Clara, from young Bowerscourt, (Mr. Abbott,) who had suffered overtures to be made in Clara's prosperity, and which his father holds

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him more than ever bound to follow up. An explanation ensues between Dorrington and Clara, when he declares himself disappointed also of his inheritance, and urges the suit of young Bowerscourt, in order to save Winterland from despair and ruin. Bowerscourt's heart has, however, in spite of his better reason, been ensnared by Miss Adamant, (Miss Brunton,) a gay woman of fashion, of a generous disposition, but volatile manners. The difficulties of these parties are finally removed by a seasonable discovery. The uncle of Winterland had left the property to a stranger, who had saved his life from robbers on the coast of Cornwall, on his identifying himself, if not, it passes to Mr. Silvertongue, (Mr. Liston,) a more distant relation. Silvertongue, by a cowardly caution to avert the supposed indignation of Dorrington, calls on him to explain his conduct, and unfolds particulars which prove Dorrington himself to be the fugitive incog nito, in the last hour allowed him to set up his title. He arrives, however, at old Bowerscourt's just in time, and the possession of the property enables him to do justice to Winterland, and confirm his engagement to Clara. Young Bowerscourt is thus released of his obligation, and both him and his father become reconciled to Miss Adamant, who remains the mistress of his heart. Mr. Larum (Mr. Young) is a natural agent in the plot; and some amusing situations arise out of his having abandoned his wife, from a hasty and erroneous conviction of her infidelity, and being afterwards employed by old Bowerscourt (Mr. Farren) to promote a match with her for the old gentleman, she being then unknown to him under the feigned name of Singletown (Mrs. Yates). This leads to an explanation, by which they are also reconciled. The impertinent gallantries of Mr. Curvelle, (Mr. Jones,) which have a great tendency to create the jealous fancies of young Bowerscourt, form a considerable share of the earlier acts of the comedy.

The reception of the piece was not remarkably favourable. The three first acts were very languid: the fourth and fifth somewhat more interesting. The defects of the play are obviously an obscurity in the plot, and too great a number of characters. The whole strength of the house concentrated in the comedy, and the performers in general did justice to their parts.