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 person and habits often as to the motives and objects of public men, which cannot be found elsewhere."— CROKER'S NEW WHIG GUIDE. No. 188. SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1835. [ Price One Penny. INTERPRETER. TO CHURCH REFORM. The last battery, the last strong hold of the bishops, the last stiuggle of Toryism against Irish Church Reform, will soon be brought to proof. No more will regiments of lancers attend the clergyman to collect his tithes, no longer will the Irish peasant pay his penny fee to a parson, whom, like a tax- gatherer, he never sets his eyes upon but at quarter day. But it is said that the Lords will throw out the bill, and so they may. Did they not throw out the Reform Bill ? and have we not forced the Reform Bill down the throats of these'obstinate and haughty Lords? Reject Church Reform, indeed! yes, when they feel inclined to give up their estates, their stately mansions, and their lordly parks, to be made VOL. IV. Grief a Crime. " At Hatton Garden police office yesterday a young girl, named Amelia Itansten, aged about nineteen, was charged with creating a disturbance in the neighbourhood of Clerkenwell churchyard, on Sunday night, by moaning and crying over her father's grave. She had several times been seen crying over the grave since her father's death ; and was indulging her grief in this manner on Sunday night when she was taken to the station- house by the police, where she continued crying during the whole night. The Magistrate censured her conduct and discharged her, with a caution not to do the like again."— Courier. To be sure, grief is a crime in the poor— every action is a crime in the poor: to be hungry and want bread is a crime— to be thirsty and want drink is a crime— to stand in the streets and listen to a cheap fiddle is a crime— to sing is a crime—- to dance is a crime— to go to a cheap ( heatreis a crime— to buy a cheap publication is a crime— to live is a crime— and, when tired of the worrying laws and tyrannical law- makers, a poor man chooses to die in his own fashion, if he happens to be caught by a policeman in the fact, it is a crime for the poor man even to die, and he is sent to the tread- mill; but, if actually dead, the law punishes him by giving his body to the surgeons. In truth, a happy country for the poor is this same England. If a man comes into it to earn his living ( like the Irish) he is called a vagabond; if he quit it to earn his living ( like the volunteers in the Spanish expedition) he is told by • Tie Times' that the country has a good riddance of sucb tatterdemallions. But the climax of all has been attained by the Magistrates of Hatton Garden, in this punishment of a young woman for pouring forth the Printed by G^ Cowie, 13, Newcastle- street, Strand. THE LAST STRONG HOLD into co- operative club- houses and national tea gardens ; then, in- deed, these Lords may presume to oppose the wishes of the people. What! shall Lords whose hereditary wisdom consists in a continu- ation of the profligacy and debauchery of their forefathers, from generation to generation, who live but to disgust and plunder the people— shall such men as these dare to oppose the wish of a sound and salutary reform in that which concerns the eternal salvation of a nation, expressed by the voice of that nation's united representa- tives ? The utmost degree of insane folly can hardly reach so far. 116 FIGARO IN LONDON. 179 tribute of her pious tears on the grave of her lost parent. What right have the poor to their affections— they should suffer without a tear or a murmur? the rich and titled only in this country have the privilege of feeling. Was there no man, no father of a family in the office, at the moment that the cold- blooded scoundrel of a magistrate was thus har- rowing up the feelings of an afflicted girl, to take the unfeeling villain by the nose, and first bringing the tears into his eyes by such forcible means, then give him in charge to his own officers for a breach of the King's peace, by thus crying at his own misfortune. Decided Muddle. " Major Beauclerk sai* d he certainly had given the vote with much regret, but he had yet to learn that the vote was a wrong one ; but he would not say that those who had acted in a contrary way were not perfectly right."— Par- liamentary Report. The above sentence is what we are under the painful necessity of calling a decided muddle. The worthy Major, who in intellect seems to be yet a minor, evidently has not known what the deuce to be up to. First, he says be voted with regret, but knows he has done perfectly right. Now regretting the right is not the point in the M. P.' s speech which seems to us the most unaccountable; for the accidental process of following the right path, is an occurrence so very rare with members of the House of Commons, that we are not at ali astonished at one of them who has strayed out of the usual track, regretting it immediately afterwards. But the part in which Beauclerk makes the muddle is, where he says, " he is right., and those who acted the contrary way are right also." We always thought that the contrary to right must be decidedly wjong; but this gentleman has taught us, that in the parliamentary vocabulary such is not the case. In politics, however, we ought to be aware that in very many cases theie is no distinction whatever between right and wrong ; and that for the former to be swamped in the latter is a thing of by no means rare occurrence. Objectionable Claws ! " Sir J. Wrottesley hoped the honourable member would persevere in the clause, which was the very best part of the bill."— Parliamentary Report. That honourable members generally coincide with Sir J. Wrottesley is quite evident, for the whole house seems to persevere with its horrible clause ( clans), as the public pocket, so deficient of the public money, can most flamingly testify. Sir John knows the feeling of the house well; but he is rather ignorant of birds, however well he may be ac- quainted wilh beasts, for his calling clans the best part of the bill is a dreadful mark of ignorance! Surely he ought to know that the clans and the bill are quite separate, though they are often applied to precisely the same purposes. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT. We are very sorry to observe that Sir John Campbell has been, for some months past, humbugging the community oa the subject of this bill, which has been made the subject of one or two clap- trap speeches, and then thrust aside with the most thorough indifference. Sir John ought to be told that something more is expected of him than mere frothy declamation, and that action is a considerable deal better than all the sentiment he can gather from new novels, or all the fine words he can rake up out of Dr. John- son's dictionary. A considerable parade has been made of petitions against the bill by all the money- lending, bond- snatching, blood- sucking, and interest taking gang of swindling capitalists, who coalesce with the lawyers, and share the profits of expensive law proceedings growing out of the infamous law of arrest; but it is the cause of the whole community that Sir John Campbell and the legislature ought to take promptly and summarily in hand at this juncture. After a variety of unnecessary postponements the bill is again to be brought under the consideration of the honse on Thursday, and if we find Sir John Campbell flinching from his task, we shall certainly be at the pains of severely castigating him for his lukewarmness in the cause to which he owes what little popu- larity he possesses, A GRAND FETE CHAMPETRE will take place on the FIRST DAY OF THE SE8SIONS at the HOUSE OF CORRECTION COLD BATH FIELDS. Under the Patronage of the Magistrates for the County of Middlesex. The viands will be provided under the superintendence of the Poor Law Commissioners. The celebrated Turnkey Band will be in attendance, and the splendid Tread- mill will be set to turn a magnificent barrel organ newly invented expressly for this occasion. N. B. Vans will be in attendance for the accommodation of the visitants. MYSTERIOUS ACCIDENT A few days since as a respectable looking young gentleman of rather dashing appearance, was strolling unconsciously up Chancery Lane, he was suddenly accosted by two ill- looking persons— who seized him by the arm and carried him off to a house in the neigh- bourhood, where they kept him confined for upwards of five days— until they had extorted from him a large sum of money. CITY COURT CIRCULAR. It is now our painful duty to record the death of Mr. Jas. Dykes, Purveyor in General of Onions and Tripe to King Winchester. This benevolent person honestly paid his debt to nature on Friday morning. The following is the official announcement :— " 10th July, 1835. " Mr. Jas. Dykes expired this morning at ten minutes to ten. " JOHN EPPS, P. in Ord. to the King." The Court goes into moilrning on the 15th July, changes on the 3rd August, and goes out on the Kith. Gentlemen— To wear black hats and stocks, black coat3 when they don't wear any other colour, black highlows, and black faces. The Ladies— Black shoe ribbons, and black faces, black hands and white stay laces. In consequence of the melancholy event, the Pavilion theatre was closed last night. His Majesty has been pleased to [ appoint Miss Ann Page, as his pur- veyor of onions. The contract, we understand, was made at about four- pence halfpenny a day. Of course this event will shake public securi- ties. Mr. Grosschild's beard, it is said, has grown two inches in con- sequence. MONEY MARKET AND CITY INTELLIGENCE. City, Saturday morning. The death of Mr. Dykes has caused an alteration in our market this day, which we are fearful is likely to lead to a panic. The Charlotte row three and a half per cents, are now quoted at 71, while on Thurs- day, and to- day they had attained 85J to f. It is rumoured in George Yard that Mr. Grosschild is likely to be greatly affected by these alterations in the funds, as he had bought con- siderably at 85* Since the above was written, we have received intelligence that Mrs. Brown, the Marine Store Dealer, has been obliged to stop payment; it is, however, certain, that the sum of three farthings in the pound will be paid immediately, and very probably a further sum of a penny in the pound will be declared in 1838. We are glad to hear that such a com- position will be made, and congratulate the creditors on their good for- tune. FIGARO IN LONDON. 179 The Kentish Town papers to 3rd December last, have been brought us by the Omnibus. The erection of strong iron palings near Mr. Davies' grounds, have caused a great deal of sensation, but an appearance of satisfaction is de- picted in the countenance of the settlers. A dog was killed on the 3rd. The usual letters from Wapping have been received; we find it quite impossible from the crowded state of our columns, to give even an outline of the important intelligence they contain. In our next, we will bring up arrears. BREVITIES. Shocking Times. Mr. Roebuck's Pamphlets may be said to have shown the Stirling value of the Times newspaper, and Mr. Fonblanque has looked very blank at the same member. A Good Turn. It is a common thing for M. P.' s to say they are easily inclined. This at least is generally true, for there is scarcely a member who may not safely say that he is very soon turned. A Sharp Cut. The Coroner's Bill is expected to meet with strong opposition in the Lords. Among others, the Duke of Cumberland declares he thinks they ought to be done away with altogether, for they are an impertinent an "' far loo inquisitive body. A taking down. We perceive the House of Commons is to be taken down. It cer- tainly requires taking down a little, though it has let itself down won- derfully during the present session. Stamping on the Press. Though there can be no doubt of the expediency of taking the stamp off newspapers, we very much fear that certain journals, by their corrupt conduct, have put a stamp upon themselves that no power can remove. A New Court. There is to be a new tribunal established for juvenile offenders. We think there should be some court having a jurisdiction over offenders in their second childhood, at the bar of which tribunal old Eldon ought o make a speedy appearance. Another. The court for juvenile offenders is to be called, not the Old Bailey, but the Young Bailey. Perhaps F. IV. N. Bayley would be more appropriate. Smoking the M. P.' s Smoking in Parliament used to be a common practice, and we should imagine it is about to be revived, for the members are continually moving for returns. Temporary Measures Lord Lansdowne moved an address to the Crown on Tuesday, recom- mending the temporary erection of a House of Peers. We think the whole concern— members and all— should be made temporary. A Riddle Sir M. Kidley said that the Coroner's Court was for the ends of justice. That is a mistake ;— a coroner's inquest is always for the beginnings, and not for the ends of justice. Several members lately have been declaring their wish to stand upon principle. We think the general disposition of the members is, if not to stand upon principle, at least to trample it under their feet. Aid yourself! God will aid you His Majesty, understanding that considerable assistance was about to be sent to Spain, and that, among other things, French aid was about to be given, made the following pithy remark: " Pooh ! what's the use of French aid ? why in this hot weather Lemon- aid ( ade) would be much more refreshing."* Quite Figurative One of the speeches in the House of Commons, the other night, was said to be hypothetical. His Majesty, hearing it, is said to have re- marked, " They often get into the high- pathetics." ( hypothetics.) THEATRICALS The refuse of London actors are now forcing themselves upon the country, to prey upon the unfortunate country managers, and impose themselves as ' stars' upon the staring boobies of a country audience. We should like to see a return by the counft y managers of the ' stars' who have brought into their theatres the clear amount of their engagements. It is a great mistake to sup- pose that because a Mr. Scraggs is great in a ' Charles' at Covent Garden, he should therefore be immense in a 1 Richard the Third ' at Coventry. We always ourselves carefully avoid visiting a theatre in the country, lest in the Othello of the night we should recognize some scene- shifter or supernu- mary of a week before, and destroy the illusion of the scene by the vivid portraiture of our recollection of the hero in all his stiffness and shabby finery of a back- scene- o'- man. But, oh! what a dreadful place must America be, where all bad actors fly to seek that acknowledgement of their merits, which, as they flatter themselves, is denied to them by the envy and prejudice of English actors, managers, and audiences. What execrable atrocities are nightly perpetrated at the Park Theatre, and throughout these unhappy United States, in the name and under the pretence of legitimate English acting. We have omitted for some time any notice of those amusing people, the French actors, at the Olympic. We will jnst whisper a whimsical secret into our readers ears. Half the performers of this French company are Englishmen, and speak a patois; more particularly one of them, who being a native of the Emerald isle, and happening to be short in his part the other night, set to and went on in Irish. The best of the joke is, that he was loudly applauded and laughed at by the ignorant people, who sit, and jsmirk, and smile, at this theatre, pretending to understand what is going on. We have not been able to avail ourselves of M. Soudre's polite invitation to his Concert, in which he undertook to display the theory and practice of his Telephony, a musical universal language; but we have procured the reports of the various French scientific societies on the subject of his invention and agree with them in our admiration of the ingenuity aud simplicity of his contrivance. We shall take our leave in a stride over the Colosseum, and report progress next week. Mr. Bunn finds Malibran's engagement so profitable that he has given the Neapolitan manager £ 300 to let her remain for six more nights, and has likewise, in the true spirit of humbug, been presenting her with a case of real glass, mounted in copper, which he calls a set of rubies set in gold;— but whether Malibran believes the humbug of the thing is a point on which we must be ^ peptical. At the Opera Taglioni has taken her farewell, which she did most grace- fully on Saturday iast, in a pirouette ten minutes long, and there was an affectionate fervour in her standing on one leg which proved how difficult she found it to part from an English audience. The brilliance of the Opera still continues, though Pasta is still due ; but we presume she does not mean to honour Laporte's bills, though in the first instance her name was un- doubtedly upon them. However, Laporte has fulfilled everything to which he pledged himself, and ought to have reaped the fruits of his great spirit and activity. At the Haymarket a new piece by Bnckstone, has given something like life to the concern, though Farren's indisposition has thrown somewhat of a damp upon the success which it experienced It is called ' The Scholar,' and if not in the happiest vein of that truly happy author, it is yet well worthy of the universal applause which attended it. In consequence of Farren's illness, there has been a little display of Mr. Morris's facetious notices of management, and with a true comic gusto worthy of an Astley's clown, he has been advertising old comedies ill- played, and places facetiously at the top of the bills the word Entertainment. The English Opera has been rather more prosperous lately, principally on account of the weather having taken it rather cooler than it did a month ago, whert it seemed probable that our globe was about to be turned into one magnificent baked tatur, which vCas to be offered up as an expiatory sacrifice for the thundering Sins of degraded mankind. A new melo- drama from the pathetic and pithy pen of Mr. Serle, has been produced with that mild mo- dicum of success which should only be awarded to works of far inferior merit to the one in question. It is, however, a translation; and consequently all the errors of the production must fall upon the French dramatist. When he can be so successful in the field of original composition, we are somewhat surprised he should have had recourse to adaptation. ' Der Freischutz' has been resuscitated, and the seventh bullet has made another hit, while ' The Bottle Imp' has been revived, with a success that is surprising, considering its antiquity. Vestris has crossed the border, like Alexander, to spread her conquests further, and draw shoals of flat- fish and superannuated old beaux of the Bench to gaze upon that beauty, on the mere recollection of which they have 134 FIGARO IN LONDON. gloated for the last fifteen years. If any thing could teach women that it is not on mere beauty only, but on grace and manners that admiration depends— it is the continued success of this ever- flourishing actress. There is an old Greek epigram, with the original of which it would Jbe unkind to puzzle our printers, but the sense runs something like what follows:— Beauty alone of form or face, Unless that beauty's joined to grace, Delight, but not detains the rover, And gains admirers, but no lover ; So that in truth mere beauteous look Is but a bait without a hook. We wish some of our young actresses would take this epigram to heart and study its moral as part of their business. It annoys us to see a girl come upon the stage down to the foot- lights, and look about with the insipid, unmean- ing smile of a ballet- dancer, expecting to be admired , and thinking to make a hit by merely looking pretty. Who were the actresses about whom our fathers still sigh— the Jordans, the Duncans, the Mellons, the Farrens ? all full of life, fire, and animation ; spirited and lively, looking as if their merriment was their own and not the author's; and whose cheerful laugh illuminated their lovely faces, like the sun shining upon a pleasant landscape. Vestris will still be ever fair and young, as long as her charming ease and graceful vivacity of man- ner can endure. With regard to Mrs. Anderson, what we have said above is particularly appropriate; she looks like one- of those lazy women against whom Cobbett in his ' Advice to Young Men,' so especially warns his pupils— too indolent to sing well, too idle almost to walk, much less act— she is pretty and insipid to the utmost degree. A nd what shall we say of Hooper ? who being about six- foot two in height, and upwards of forty years in age, skips about like a kidling blithe and merry in the ' Charles's,' and frolicsome young gentle- men of the farces. The Victoria has been exceedingly fortunate this week. The new melo- drama, ' Minerali,' is the best thing of the kind brought out for many years. The language is of a higher order than the usual run of these ' blood and brimstone' productions; and the effect produced by the terrific combat and picturesque death of one of the Minerali is the most singular ever producod on the stage. The very idea of an unfortunate actor being thrown over a pre- cipice, forty feet in height, is enough to make even a critic shudder. In the 1 Roof- Scrambler,' there is a part of a Police Inspector, so exquisitely acted by a Mr. J. Parry, that it is worth a voyage over that solitary specimen of granite formation— Waterloo- bridge-— to see it. It is a bit of quiet, yet absurd, bur- lesque;, ludicrous, graphic in the imitation of police peculiarities, and almost a farce in itself. The actor who can play one such character well has good stuff in him for a better garment. ' The Echo of Westminster Bridge' is another lucky hit, and yields to no calendar of horrors in the exquisite horror of the bloody murders which are perpetrated in it. Mitchell has a good cha- racter, Matty Nicks, which loses nothing in Mitchell's hands. This actor has a happy knack of giving a vraisemblance to all his characters, which stamps them upon the mind as the representatives of their class : his disguise, in the second act, is perfect. The last scene in this melo- drama stands unrivalled on any stage. The spectator sees before him an immense model of Westminster Bridge, built upon and covering the whole stage ; and from the farthest extre- mity the actors walk over down to the footlights, the famous echo effect taking place immediately in front of the stage. The success was absolutely un- paralleled. What a beautiful creature is Franconi's horse Blanche at Astley's. How gentle, how tractable, how graceful, and really clever. It is a pleasure to see this horse, because we know that no torture, no flogging, could have trained it to such exploits. It must have been a superior instinct and natural cleverness in the animal. A D V E R T I S E M E N T S . NOTICE. No. 2, WHIGGERIES and WAGGERIES will be ready in a few days. No. 1, is still on sale. A gentleman named JUSTUS, complains bitterly that justice has not been' done to him and others who purchased tickets for Drury Lane. Our correspon- dent states his case as follows :— " I, in conjunction with others, a few weeks since purchased admissions to Drury Lane, expecting that performances would occur every evening till the usual number of nights expired, understanding from Mr. Fenton they would admit to all representations till the commencement of the new season on the \ st of October ; whereas, by a communication from the theatre on Monday, we are given to understand it was the closing night, and this day ( Tuesday,) the commencement of another season ; the usual period being, ( as before said,) the 1st of October. Thus, sir, rendering the renter's admissions valueless, for who will purchase tickets on the CHANCE of Bunn's keeping the theatre open." JUSTUS goes on to say that ' thefuns of the little Captain and his coterie are low,'— now we never knew that the Captain and his crew ever had any fun in them. APPRENTICE TO THE PRINTING BUSINESS.— wanted, a Youth of Respectability, to be Apprenticed to the above Business. He will be entitled to the Freedom of the City, and may reside with his Friends, or other- wise. A Premium required. Apply ( if by letter, post paid) to G. Cowie, Printer, 13, New - castle Street, Strand. EUROPEAN AERONAUTICAL SOCIETY. FIRST AERIAL SHIP, The EAGLE, 160 feet long, 50 feet high, 40 feet wide, manned by a crew of 17, constructed for establishing direct communications between the Capitals of Europe. The first experiment of this new system of Aerial Navigation will be made from London to Paris, and back again. May be viewed from^ Six in the Morning till dusk, in the Dock yard of the Society, at the entrance of Kensington, Victoria road, facing Kensington- gardens, near the first Turnpike from Hyde- park- corner, every Day of the Week. Admittance One Shilling. Children, Half- price. T Just published, neat cloth boards, price 2s. 6d., DEDICATED TO W. C. MACREADY, ESQ.. HPHE DRAMA VINDICATED ; with copious Notes. By JOHN -"- DENMAN, Esq., S C. L., of St. John's College, Cambridge. Cambridge : Published by W. H. Smith, Crescent; Sold by Strange, Paternoster- row, Onwhyn, Catherine- street, London, and all Booksellers. Now ready, handsomely printed in royal 18mo. and stitched in a neat wrapper, price 6d. "° HE GENTLEMAN'S DRESSING- ROOM COMPANION and TOILET GUIDE : containing the Art of Displaying the Person to the Utmost Advantage at the Least Expence. With Original Recipes for improving the Hair, Skin, and Teeth. By A NOBLEMAN'S VALET. Just Published— Price One Shilling. ^ ECOND THOUGHTS, a Comedy, performed at the Theatres Royal, ^ Drury Lane and Haymarket. By J. B. Buckstone, forming the 11th Number of BUCKSTONF.' S DRAMAS. No. 12, THE SCHOLAR, now performing at the Haymarket Theatre, will be ready in a few days, completing the second volume. All the plays may be purchased separately, TENTH EDITION. 32 closely printed pages, price twopence, THE LIFE of the late WILLIAM COBBETT, Esq. M. P. for Oldham.— WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. This highly interesting narrative of the progress in life of the above remarkable individual, should be in the possession of every Englishman. In Weekly Numbers, 32 pages, price twopence, Strange's Edition of The OEAUTIES OF COBBETT.— Carefully selected from the various works of this nervous and original writer. No. 3 is now ready. Also ready, price 2s. 6d. with an admirable Likeness of Mr. Cobbett, or in separate Num- bers, price threepence each, |^ 0BBETT'S LECTURES on the following subjects:— 1. French Revolution.— 2. English Boroughmongering.— 3. Grievances of the English People.— 4 Petition tolhe King.— 5 Aristocracy of the People— 6 Belgian Revo- lution— 7 Church ProDerty— 8 New Police— 9 Talleyrand's Mission— 10 The Whigs— 11 The Standing Army. Complete in Eight Numbers, One Penny each, / CRIMES OF LONDON IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. V^ Showing how thevarious offences are committed, and the average number in each class of offenders; also the receivers of stolen goods; in which is given the only true life of the notorious Ikey Solomon ! and the no less infamous Richard Coster ! with an account of the number of Gaming Houses in London ; the Tricks of Swindlers:— Treatment of Convicts on board the Hulks, and in the Colonies— an interesting description of the interior of the Condemned Cells of Newgate, with a highly impressive account of the Recorder's reading the Warrant for the Execution of their miserable inmates, the total de- spair to which they are reduced being accurately pourtrayed in an engraving from a sketch taken on the spot. " Be warned, ye youths, who see my sad despair, Avoid all crime, or you my doom may share; By my example learn to shun my fate. For wretched is the man that's wise too late." W. STRANGE, 21, Paternoster Row ; G. COWIE, 13, Newcastle Street, Strand; Purkess, Compton Street, Soho; Lewis, Manchester ; Cooper, Birmingham; Mrs. Mann, Leeds ; Hey wood, Manchester; and all Booksellers. THE FINEST BEAVER HATS, 21s. BEST BEAVER HATS, 17s. 6d. SUPERB GOSSAMER HATS, 12s. The above are manufactured of the most choice materials, and finished in the highest style of fashion— they never spot with rain nor lose their shape. FRANKS AND CO., Sole Patentees and Manufacturers. TNN, INN 140' Regent Street, West, ^ onaon 62> Redcross street, City. Paris ... 97, Rue Richelieu. | Edinburgh, 6, St. Andrew Street. Dublin . 3, Sackville Street. N. B.— Franks and Co. are the only Manufacturers who really supply the Public at the Wholesale Price. a G. COWIE, Printer, 13, N wc'astle Street, Strand. PUBLISHED ( for the Proprietor) by W. STRANGE, 21, PATERNOSTER ROW.-