productions of a similar nature, differing merely in name, and for nearly the whole of which we have been indebted to the French. Few men, indeed, now-a-days trouble themselves so far as to attempt the production of an original tragedy, a comedy, or even a farce. The method by which dramatic honors, such as they be, are attained, is extremely simple. From some kind correspondent at Paris a retainer of the theatre receives the last new Melo-drame, no matter of how vile a description, which he "does into French," or if unequal to the task, procures it to be done by some damn'd good-natured friend;" a few doggrel lines are then tacked together for songs; the composers and sceneshifters are set to work, and in due time the play-bills announce that "speedily will be produced, with new scenes, dresses, and decorations, a Melo-drame, which has been in preparation all the summer." The newspaper editors are then furnished with orders, quant suff; they swear solemnly and repeatedly that 'tis a divine Shakespearian piece, and upon the strength of this, silly Bull runs headlong to the theatre, claps and bellows most lustily, the piece is played twenty or thirty nights, the managers' pockets are plentifully filled, and their ends completely answered.—In such a melancholy state of things the slightest glimmering of common-sense is most acceptable, and though the "Slave" is positively a poor composition, yet compared with others of its tribe it is infinitely preferable. This praise, at least, is due to Mr. Morton, that he has not, as far at least as we can perceive, had recourse to any foreign assistance, but has trusted to his own powers to produce the piece before us; we confess however we should have expected something better from the Author of the "School of Reform" and "Speed the Plough." Novelty it has none either of plot or character: Gambia, the Slave is a compound of Rolla, Bertram, and Oronooko; Fogrum is a mere counterpart of Lubin Log, and the remainder of the characters have to boast of quite as little originality. The dialogue is for the most part easy, and undebased by vulgarisms, and one or two of the songs are extremely pretty, particularly that sung by Malcolm in Act 1st. A comic song, however, by Sam Sharpset is most execrable ;-take a specimen : "King Solomon's Temple had pillars made of brass, "But surely our Temples of Lawyers surpass, "For there's brass enough to prove Solomon an ass, "Quid pro quo. "Fal de ral, &c. "The Antipodes who dwell the other side the ball, "Fal de ral, &c. "Wear their heads below,---but St. Stephen's on a call, "Is it aye or no? "Fal de ral, &c. Sad stuff this, it must be confessed, yet we know not why Mr. Morton need trouble himself to write better, for we do most solemnly aver that we never witnessed an audience half so delighted with the wit of Congreve or of Farquhar, as by the doggrel lines we have just quoted. The managers assert that comedy and tragedy will not fill their houses, and verily we yield implicit credence to their assertions; the mind which is amused with such loathsome trash as the above, can experience but little satisfaction from witnessing the productions of Shakspeare and Otway; yet of such minds the majority of a play-house audience we believe is generally constituted. Superstitions opposed and detected. Towards the end of the Greek empire at Constantinople, a general who was an object of suspicion to his master, was urged to undergo the fiery proof of the ordeal, by an archbishop who was a supple courtier. The ceremony was thisThree days before the trial, the patient's arm was to be inclosed in a bag, and secured by the royal signet; he was expected to bear a red hot ball of iron three times from the altar to the rails of the sanctuary, without artifice or injury. The general thus eluded the experiment-" I am a soldier and will boldly enter the lists with any of my accusers; but a layman, and a sinner like myself, is not endowed with the gift of miracles. Your piety, holy prelate, may deserve the interposition of Heaven, and from your hands I am ready to receive the fiery globe, as a test of my innocence. The archbishop started, the emperor laughed, and the general was pardoned. ON CONTENTMENT. A FABLE. Nolint, atqui licet esse beatis. (Continued from page 64.) HOR. At Isaphan in Persia there lived a young man of noble family and good fortune named Achmet, who from his infancy shewed the earliest signs of a restless and turbulent spirit; and though by nature endowed with an understanding supe rior to any of his age, was led away by every gust of passion to precipitate himself into the greatest dangers. After having å little experienced the misfortunes that acrue from such a disposition, he became somewhat more diffident of his own abilities, and determined to take the advice of those who had been most conversant with human nature, how to proceed for the future. There dwelt not far from the city, in a little cell among a ridge of mountains, an old hermit, who many years before had retired from the world to that place to spend the rest of his days in prayer and contemplation. This good man became so famous thro' the country for his wisdom and exemplary life, that if any one had any uneasiness of mind, he immediately went to Abudah (for so he was called) and never failed of receiving consolation, in the deepest affliction, from his prudent counsel which made the superstitious imagine, that there was a charm in the sound of his words to drive away despair and her gloomy attendants. Achmet repaired, and as he was entering a grove near the sage's habitation, met according to his wishes the venerable recluse; he prostrated himself before him, and with signs of the utmost anguish, "behold, said he, O divine Abudah, favourite of our mighty prophet, who resemblest Allah by distributing the balm of comfort to the distressed, behold the most miserable of mortals."He was going on, when the old man deeply affected with his lamentations, interrupted. him, and taking him by the hand, "rise my son said he, let me know the cause of thy misfortunes, and whatever is in my power shall be done to restore thee to tranquility." "Alas! replied Achmet, how can I be restored to that which I never yet possessed! for know, thou enlightened guide of the faithful, I never have spent an easy moment that I can remember, since reason first dawned upon my mind; hitherto, even from my cradle, a thousand fancies have attended me through life, aud are continually under false appearances of happiness, VOL. II. L Hither deceiving me into anxiety, whilst others are enjoying the most undisturbed repose. Tell me then, I conjure thee by the holy temple of Mecca, from whence thy prayers have been so often carried to Mahomet by the ministers of Paradise, by what method I may arrive, if not at the sacred tranquility thou enjoyest, yet at the harbour of such earthly peace as the holy Koran has promised to all those that obey its celestial precepts; for sure the damned, who remove alternately from the different extremes of chilling frosts and scorching flames, cannot suffer greater torments than I undergo at present.' Abudah perceiving a discontented mind the source alone of the young man's troubles, "be comforted my son, said he, for a time shall come, by the will of Heaven, when thou shalt receive the reward of a true believer, and be freed from all thy misfortunes; but thou must still undergo many more, before thou canst be numbered with the truly happy. Thou enquirest of me where happiness dwells. Look round the world, and see th how many different scenes she has taken up her residence; sometimes, tho' very rarely, in a palace, often in a cottage; the philosopher's cave of retirement, and the soldier's tent amidst the noise and danger of war, are by turns her habitation; the rich man may see her in his treasure, or the beggar in his wallet. In all these stations she is to be found, but in none altogether. Go then and seek thy fortune among the various scenes of the world, and if thou shouldst prove unsuccessful in this probationary expedition, return to me when seven years are expired, when the passions of youth begin to subside, and I will instruct thee by a religious emblem, which our great prophet shewed me in a dream, how to obtain the end of all thy wishes." Achmet not understanding Abudah's meaning, left him as discontented as he came, and returned to Isaphan with a full resolution of gratifying every inclination of pleasure or ambition, imagining one of these must be a sure road to felicity. Accordingly he gave up his first years entirely to those enjoyments which enervate both mind and body; but finding at length no real satisfaction in the possession of these, but rather diseases and disappointments: he changed his course of life, and followed the dictates of avarice, that was continually offering to his eyes external happiness seated on a throne of gold. His endeavours succeeded, and by the assistance of fortune he became the richest subject of the east. Still something was wanting. Power and honour presented themselves to his view, and wholly engaged his attention. These desires did not remain long unsatisfied; for by the favour of the Sophy he was advanced to the highest dig nities of the Persian empire. But alas! be was still never the nearer to the primary object of his most ardent wishes! Fears, doubts, and a thousand different anxieties that attend the great perpetually haunted him, and made him seek again the calm retirement of a rural life. Nor was the latter productive of any more comfort than the former stations; in short being disappointed, and finding happiness in no one condition, he sought the hermit a second time, to complain of his fate and claim the promise he had received before the beginning of his adventures. Abudah seeing his disciple return again after the stated time, still discontented, took him by the hand, and smiling upon him with an air of gentle reproof; "Achmet, said he, cease to blame the fates for the uneasiness which arises alone from thy own breast; behold, since thou hast performed the task I enjoined in order to make the more capable of following my instructions, I will unfold to thee the grand mystery of wisdom, by which she leads her votaries to happiness. See (said he, pointing to a river in which several young swans were eagerly swimming after their own shadows in the stream) those silly birds imitate mankind; they are in pursuit of that which their own motion puts to flight; behold others that have tired themselves with their unnecessary labour, and, sitting still, are in posession of what their utmost endeavours could never have accomplished. Thus, my son, happiness is the shadow of contentment, and rests, or moves for ever with its original. ON THE INFLUENCE OF THE GYMNASTIC EXERCISES, ON THE MANNERS AND CONSTITUTIONS OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS. (Continued from page 62.) The Macedonians whom Demosthenes affected continually to term barbarians, had strong nerves, and a degree of good sense consequent upon such a conformation of the fibres; they applied themselves but little to athletic exercises, yet in pitched battles almost constantly defeated the other Greeks. The Baotians, the Phocions, the Spartans, the Athenians; in short, all who durst oppose themselves to the Macedonian forces, fell in succession almost as corn before the sickle of the reaper. gym The Roman soldiery who knew not the name of the nastic art, began their march in the morning, and were sure |