V No. 27. J SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1832. [ Price One Penny. THE GREY HORSE AT THE END OF HIS JOURNEY. The Old Grey, the horse that has done so much, and carried his master so well, has at length reached the end of his fatiguing journey. He has, indeed, borne more than in justice to himself he ought to have done ; he has been put upon to an extent shameful to those who have so maltreated him. He set out on his expedition with the King, his master, on his back at a full gallop, and carried every thingbefore him; but his rider having given him the rein, for some time, suddenly checked the patient creature when near his journey's end, and took up his wife with a number of reptiles, whom she thought proper to take under her patronage. These were all foisted on poor old Grey, and his master's wife seizing the bridle from ber weak husband's hand, thought to guide their faithful servant in such a manner and into such a path as could not have been taken without the utmost danger. At this juncture, the jaded animal was firm, and though the dead weight of vermin with which his mistress encumbered him was near breaking him down, he stood up boldly, and giving a gentle kick behind, threw oft" a rancorous Waterloo bird, that was worrying him in the back in the most dastardly manner. This creature is of the FOWL species, and though known as a determined bird of prey, has at last been compelled to show the white feather. William and his wife finding they were only likely to get into a scrape by quarrelling who should guide their horse, are represented in our Caricature as having once more given him the rein, and he has at last led them in safety to their destination. They have, however, not yet done all that it is their duty to per- form. They must prevent the royal and reverend reptiles which surround them from pressing longer on the back of Old Grey, or he will have to make a plunge which may be equally dangerous to all parties. In throwing off the brutes alluded to, his master and mistress may chance to share in the fall, indeed Grey must show more spirit than he has hitherto exhi- bited. He is not to be saddled at pleasure as he has lately been, but must boldly carry his unwilling master into the road that is best for him. THE INTERPRETER. Honourable Members. Mr. Gordon apologized to the house, and pleaded the frequency of the member for Kerry's attacks in palliation. He could not help ex- pressing his opinion of the vulgarity and meanness of criticism indulged in by the honourable member for Kerry, who had acted three times by him in this way.— Report of Parliamentary Proceedings. It is really amusing to observe how vituperative and compli- mentary members of Parliament can be at the same moment in their expressions with regard to one another. However FIGARO IN LONDON. Satire should, like a polish'd razor keen, Wound with a touch that's scarcely felt or seen.— LADY MONTAGUE. " Political Pasquinades and Political Caricatures are parts( though humble ones) of Political history. They supply information as to the personal habits, and often as to the motives and objects of public men, which cann ot be found elsewhere."— CROKER'S NEW WHIG GUIDE. 106 FIGARO strongly an M. P. may protest against the behaviour of a fellow legislator, though he may stigmatize him as a vulgar, mean, and disreputable character, the epithet " Honourable Member," is still considered applicable. He may be a rascal of the very lowest stamp, as far as society is concerned, but of the House of Commons he is still an " Honourable Member." If the honour of St. Stephen's be made up of sucli materials, no won- der at the dearth of principle within its walls. There is Peel for example, who would be guilty of any meanness for place ; and Scarlett, who has long ago sacrificed every pretension to principle for the same benefit. But Scarlett is an honourable member, so are they all! all " Honourable Members." However, anything Parliamentary is sure to be a little out of the common way, and Parliamen- tary honour is of " a most unique species. It is amusing to hear one member address another, as the honourable renegade from every thing like common honesty. There is, however, " honour among thieves," which may in some degree, account for the seeming paradox to which we have drawn attention. Incitement to perjury. A poor woman who had been three months in prison was brought up before Mr. Minshull to swear her child to some one, she having been committed previously for protesting on oath that she did not know the father. Mr. Minshull.— I will send you for three months more unless you toll who and where the father is. Female.—- For God's sake, don't so,— for the poor infant's sake, don't Sir! Oh, Sir, you don't know what I have already suffered. 1 would tell who the father is, if I could. I would not have lain three months in prison if I could have done what I'm required. ( The poor woman clasped her hands and implored for mercy.) Mr. Minshull ordered her to be taken to the workhouse, to consider if she would do what he was confident she could do if she pleased— swear who was the father of the child ; and in case of her persisting in the refusal to do so, he should commit her again. Police Report in last week's papers. The police magistrates of the Metropolis occasionally indulge in a bit of stupid barbarity that astonishes even those who are best acquainted with their general character. Here is Minshull sends a poor woman to prison for thiee months because she cannot swear who is the father of her child, whom she declares on oath she never saw but once, and then accidentally in the neighbourhood of Bow- street. Minshull, however, has nothing to do with that, it is usual to swear a child to somebody, and an oath he must have, or the mother must go to prison. Business before conscience appears to be the magistrate's motto, and the making an affidavit seems to Mr. Minshull a matter of the most utter course, however, little one may know of the circumstances which in the oath are sworn to. This zeal for the protection of the parish against the charges for keeping illegiti- mate children is quite worthy of an official personage. No matter who is victimised, no matter who has the disgrace of being sworn father to the child, or the inconvenience of being sad- dled with the expence of keeping it, 110 matter if the oath be false, the parish must be indemnified. Mr. Minshull holds out but one alternative to the wretched woman,— an oath, or the house of correction, perjury or prison, and the poor creature has so much conscience that she cannot help preferring the latter. What a paradox does Minshull's conduct present, he refuses to believe the woman when she swears she docs not know the father of her child, though slie is aware her declara- tion will send her back to a dungeon, but the magistrate pro- mises ready credence to her oath, if she will only fix the parentage of her offspring on somebody. Our contemporary the Examiner implies that Minshull him- self is the father of the child. The fellow who is, was cer- tainly picked up in Bow- street, which looks rather suspicious and the magistrate himself is the only person who seems to fee convinced the individual may be indentified. IN LONDON I \ , ENGLISH MELODIES, NO. 9- The following touching melody is supposed to be addressed by the Duke of Wellington to Lord Lyndhurst, who is well known to have preferred the chief Barony of the Exchequer to the more exalted, but less durable honour of Lord High Chancellor. The allusion to reccnt events will be very readily discovered. AIR.— Dost thou remember. Dost tliou remember that place so lonely, The place of premier, and premier only, When first they threatened stopping the supplies; The seals of office, soft jingling o'er thee, T'illume thy visage, I stood before thee, And read my plot's quick triumph in your eyes ; Then, then how slyly we devis'd each art, From our snug places never more to part. . No— no, no, no, no, no, no, Never— never more to part. And when I offer'd a place the dearest That I could give thee, my Lyndhurst queerest, " The Lord High Chancellor'' above the rest, In those strange accents that still amaze me, Thou saids't, " Oh! wherefore to the woolsack raise me ? Chief Baron is the title I love best, Chancellor passes,— but how blest to be, That Judge who never, no'er resigns with thee. No— no, no, no, no, no, no, Never, ne'er resigns with thee." BREVITIES. " Brevity is the soul of wit."— Shakspeare. Epigram. ( On the members of the Pitt Club.) Immortal Pitt! the Tories say— And I to their assertion bend, For surely on a future day, They'll find a Pit without an end. A. dishonest Maintenance. The Bishop of Exeter finding it inconvenient to maintain his principles, has long ago determined that his principles shall maintain him. Interest without Principle. The Duke of Wellington declared at the late dinner, that Mr. Pitt promoted the interests of his country. The deceased statesman never promoted but one interest that we ever heard of— though in the advancement of that one he made up for his indifference towards the others. We allude to his zealous promotion of the interest of the national debt. Epigram. ( On an ex- chancellor's vacillation.) Lyndhurst's a weathercock whose pliant mind— Will yield to him who best can raise the wind, He joyfully will turn his legal craft In meek obedience to the strongest draft. Something on foot. It is said that Ministers having passed the Reform Bill, intend to try and bring the King to a better understanding. They must first bring a better understanding to his Majesty. V FIGARO IN LONDON. 1 0 7 h Not at all fair. The Duke of Cumberland, though he has retreated from public opposition to the people in the Lords, is privately work- ing against Ministers in conjunction with certain Ladies. Another Explanation. Who'll say if Munster is inclined ' Gainst liberality or to it ? For plot whate'er he may, we find He has but half a mind to do it! The Illegitimate. Lord Grey declares there is nothing surprising in Munster's back- handed and insincere conduct, for on every occasion the latter nobleman has been found wanting. Epigram. ( On Lord Eldon's frequent asseverations by the Deity.) ( So help me God!— Before God.— In God's name, ET. CRA.) On my Lord's invocations sad strictures are hurl'd, Yet why by such folly should mortals be vext ? For tho' he MAY CALL UPON GOD in THIS WORLD, He'll PAY HIM NO VISIT, we're sure, in THE NEXT ! Things with human pretensions. It is a fellow- feeling which makes so many members of the House of Lords inseparably attached to the old order of <' things." Another shaft at Ellenborough. (" Nil admirari.") " Some men delight in nothing," sages write, Of this class is his lordship, ( oilly elf!) Who may be said in NOTHING to delight, When he delights so greatly in HIMSELF. Not Polite. Mr. Palmer, the Tory candidate for Berkshire, seems to have admitted his want of head, for he is said to have demanded a poll. Epigram. ( On Peel's interminable harangues.) Ye Fates that hold the vital shears, If ye be troubled with remorse, And will not cut Peel's THREAD OF LIFE, Cut then the THREAD OF HIS DISCOURSE. Bullying Parsons. At the late attempt to put up cows to auction on a distraint for tithes at Cork, 110 bidders were to be found— the Irish people are determined not to be cowed. Epigram. ( On the King's double dealing.) Of such a paradox as this Before I never dream't The King of England has become A SUBJECT of contempt!! ! The disorderly Order. There has been some talk of elevating the speaker of the House of Commons to the peerage. This would be a judicious step, for their lordships are at present sadly in want of manners. Epigram. ( Lord Ellenborough put in a word for the borough of Minehead.— Parliamentary Report.) " Why place Minehead in schedule A ?" Cried Ellenborough to'ther day, " We cut it off," their lordships said, " Because ' tis uninhabited." Absence of mind. Sir Robert Peel, in opposing the introduction of solitary con- finement as a secondary punishment, declared it would have the effect on s6me men of rendering them insane for the re- mainder of their lives. Sir Robert, doubtless, speaks feelingly, for we are inclined, from his conduct, to infer that he must have passed much of his time in solitude. Epigram. ( On Lord Winchilsea's saying the independence of the House of Lords is gone.) " The independence of the Lords is gone," Says Winchilsea, to truth for once inclined, And to believe his Lordship I am prone, Seeing that he himself is left behind. Setting up and Putting down. Lord Lyndliurst maintains that every man has a right to lay down his opinions freely provided they are honest. It is a principle which, to look at his present sentiments, we should say his lordship had long ago acted upon. Epigram. Colonel Sihthorpe protested once more against the Bill, on its being brought up from the Lords, ( much coughing.) Corruption now at length has ceased to live, Save in poor Sib— its representative, And when the Billites find the Colonel scoffing, They give to bury it a little coughing ( coffin.) Standard of public opinion. Very few banners were displayed in the streets on the occasion of the King's birth- day. The popularity of their majesties is evidently flagging. Epigram. ( Colonel Sibthorpe hoped the Ministers would oblige him for oncc.) Oblige him ! Of course— does the Colonel not know— By their Bill they designed to oblige him— to go ? look a- head. A Tory member declared the extent of the Reform Bill posi- tively made the hair of members 011 his side the house to stand an end. On the ensuing elections they will find the Bill to have a still greater effect on the state of the poll. Airy nothings. Lord Canarvon among other wise things, told the ministers he should abstain from attending the last discussions on the Reform Bill, and he hoped they would have only emptiness to listen to their speeches. Lord Canarvon's wish has long ago been gratified:— in parleying with the heads of the Tories, the reform party have been only talking to a vacuum. THEATRICALS. On Monday night we went to witness a novelty in the shape of the performance of Romeo by Miss Ellen Tree, a young lady of first rate ability. It has lately become so fashionable even 108 FIGARO IN LONDON. in the most distinguished quarters for women to wear the breeches, that we suppose we must say nothing about the impro- priety of so doing, and indeed such a proceeding has an example in a certain illustrious foreigner, who in private life may do as a pattern for her sex, but in politics is really a terrible clog to the country. Romeo is a dreadfully soft youth, and therefore can only ( we should hope for the honour of manhood) be represented by a woman. Old Kemble who is nearer a hundred than sixteen, used to make the part even more mawkish than it is, and in fact was about as interesting as Mrs. Gibbs would appear in Juliet. The play is not to our liking, though its effect on the audience generally affords us some amusement. It sets all the tender- ness of the juveniles in the house into pleasing agitation. During the balcony scene, clean- shirted Romeos leer sheepishly from the pit at lrizzle- pated Juliets in the boxes ; they seem to sym- pathise with the poet's language, and at the point, What's in a name ? The thing we call the rose, By any other name would smell as sweet. At these lines, some Mr. Romeo Snooks takes fresh courage, and looks with new boldness at some Miss Juliet Snodgrass in the neighbourhood. All the Buggins's in the house immedi- ately fancy themselves Romeo's, and are immediately on the look out for a Juliet. But we have said enough about this sickening twaddle, generally engendered by the play, and must say a word of the performance. Miss E. Tree acted the character better than we ever saw it represented, but in Fanny Kemble's Juliet, happening not to have seen her before, we were much disappointed. The grand diversion of the piece with us was old Egerton, that concentrated essence of lauda- num, who for the last 30 years has been, in one sense, the flower of the stage, the poppy of the drama. About the 4th act, when Juliet consents to marry Paris, old Egerton, who played Capulet has to appear happy and brisk ; need we say- the effect was indescribably humourous. A smile on the face of Egerton!— why, one would as soon think of introducing punch at a funeral; and to see the veteran attempt to throw a bit of sprightliness into his bearing ; we should scarcely have been more startled had we met with a piece of wit in one of the ponderous speeches of the Duke of Buckingham. The tragedy was followed by some miscellaneous fooleries; to wit— a dance a la Taglioni, by a little girl, whose innocent ignorance of decorum created some merriment, and the playing of a very dull ' piece of music on the violin by a Master Baker, an awkward youth in curled hair and white trowsers. These are the horrors of a benefit: when a performer takes a night, all his or her ambitious friends must be thrust on the public, in order to display the abilities they fancy they possess, and accordingly a dreadful infliction of aspiring inefficiency is often the consequence. We are surprised at Miss E. Tree lending herself to this system, though it is sometimes carried to an alarming extent by the u; derlings of the theatre. When they take a ticket night, chores singers aspire to perpetrating an entire song, and we positively were once, ( thank God, only once) doomed to hear one Mears squall out something, which, by the orchestra accompaniment we must suppose was intended for " Meet me by Moonlight." But these enormities are rare, and we allude to them now as a warning to the wretches who are guilty of tliem, because it draws near to the close of the season, and the time for them must be fast approaching. Kean who has made about twelve last appearances, taken no less than about six farewell benefits, and gone through about as many last seasons previous to retirement from the stage, and played all his favourite characters for positively the last time, at least twice within these five years, made his first ap- pearance this season at the Haymarket on Monday, with all the impudence for which he is so gloriously conspicuous. He rattled away through Richard in his usual style, uttering his mandates for chopping off heads & c., with all his wonted zest, and indeed played so well as to make us rejoice that he has broken his thousand promises of retirement. Now that Young has gone, we cannot spare Kean so easily, or we shall not have an actor on the stage who can be encountered without a yawn in these days of scarcity. By the bye, the Haymarket com- pany embraces a rare tribe of narcotics about whom we may have to say something in a week or two. We havg been requested to give an opinion on a place of entertainment called the City Vaudeville. We have not been able to penetrate lately so far into the recesses of the city, but we will make a point of doing so. The reports we have heard are favourable. Madame Vestris has been drawing fashionable audiences to the Queen's, where she would appear to great advantage were it not for the vileness of the orchestra. Such a set of unmusi- cal cubs never before were congregated under what they facetiously enough, on this occasion, term " a leader." It is the blind leading the blind with a vengeance. Why, we undertake to say, that we could very likely play upon the violin better ourselves, though us Power says, in the Irish Ambassador, " We never tried." TO CORRESPONDENTS. E. J. R. and other correspondents who write on the same subject, are in. formed that Figaro in London will form one volume every year, to which a title page, & c., will be given. The 24 first numbers of the Figaro in London may be had in a half- yearly part, price Two Shillings, and containing FIFTY CARICATURES, with Leading Articles, Melodies, Brevities, and Squibs on all the great political topics which during the past eventful six months have occupied the public attention. It will be found a curious and entertaining collection of pasquinades and witti- cisms on all passing subjects, forming a most interesting memento of every thing that has happened in the great world of politics.— This, it should be re- membered, is one of the most valuable features of the Figaro. The Editor of an obscure Three- penny print has been affecting to write a letter to the conductors of small periodicals in which he apes the style of Cob- bett, but has got hold only of that powerful writer's coarseness. This horribly vulgar scribbler lets his 12 readers into the secrets of his own private historj at least, for the fellow . seems to say, the writers of cheap periodicals are all men without education or respectability. The Goth clearly spealis from what he knows, and being ignorant of every part of the press but his own dull concern, talks about periodical writers, as if all were like himself, when it is evident from the ignorance the creature evinces that he is quite out of the pale of literary Society. EXETER HALL EXHIBITION.— SPLENDID PAINTINGS by the ANCIENT MASTERS, illustrative of SACRED HIS TORY, from the Galleries of the King of Spain, King Charles I., King James II., the Regent of France, the Convent of Santa Clara, & c. & c. " This collection will doubtless warm the devotion of the pious, and gratify the curiosity of the antiquary."— Times. " It brings into one point of view the most impressive works of the ancient mas- ters."— Morning Post. " A well- spent shilling."— Herald. " It will afford a rich treat to the visitor."— Tatler. " The whole well worth inspection."— Literary Gazette. " Almost all the pictures possess attractions of some kind, and the contemplation of such works cannot fail to augment the general taste."— Examiner- " Carefully studied draperies, elaborately painted— heads admirable for individual expression and mastery of style— and, above all, the intensity of purpose manifest in the work— are of the highest character."— Spectator. " We can safely recommend a visit to the exhibition, which Is by many degrees the best of its kind now open."— Court Journal. THE NEW PATENT BEAVER HATS. THESE HATS, being manufactured of the most choice materials are more durable, light, and lasting in their colour, than any hither- to invented ; they are made waterproof by a process of stiffening with elastic gums, before they are dyed, and will be found the most elegant Beaver Hats that have ever been offered to the Public. They are sanctioned by the King's Royal Letters Patent, granted to ROBERT FRANKS arid Co. Manufacturers and Patentees, and Sold at 21*. and 24s at 140, REGENT STREET, ) LONDON 62, RED CROSS STREET, 5 6, ST. ANDREW STREET, EDINBURGH. J 97, RUE RICHELIEU, PARIS. Printed by W. Molineux, 13, Rolls ^ Buildings, Fetter Lane> PUBLISHED BY W. STRANGE, 21, PATERNOSTER ROW.