THE FRENCH THEATRE.

The St. James's French Theatre has opened with its usual brilliancy and its usual fashionable success. This place, indeed, presents a perfect model of dramatic art. Acting, decoration, dresses, all is admirable. Some new performers of Parisian reputation have recently appeared. M. Montaland, Mdlle. Baptiste, and Mdlle. Ligier are great acquisitions. Chatelain plays the lovers extremely well; and, be it remembered, the lover-a being generally so little regarded, and so badly acted on the English stage-takes an important station in the French drama. The performances as yet have been pleasing short comedies and vaudevilles. One farcical production, "Une Fille Terrible," was most amusing. It excited the broadest and loudest laughter, and yet throughout the ridiculous trifle there was nothing of coarseness or vulgarity. Mdlle. Ligier played the hoyden charmingly, and M. Tourillon, as her antique suitor, was surpassingly droll. This theatre is indeed one of great attraction, for it has a combination of the histrionic excellence of France, a country far away beyond all others in the number, the industry, and the perfection of its actors. The study of French performing must be infinitely useful to English players. Mr. Webster has lately proved this at the Haymarket Theatre, where his acting in a translation by himself, of "Le Reveil du Lion," made one really believe oneself present at a performance in Paris.

A tragic sketch, a species of drama unknown to the English stage, has been represented with great pathos and effect at the St. James's Theatre; The title of it was, "Le chef d'œuvre Inconnu;" and the acting of M. Fechter and Mdlle. Baptiste, was replete with the finest feeling.

The Antigone of Sophocles, with the music of Mendelssohn, is announced at the French Theatre, and will doubtless prove a rich classic and musical treat: it promises to unite the very essence of dramatic perfection with the costly seasoning of most exquisite harmony.

LITERATURE.

PIUS THE NINTH; OR, THE FIRST YEAR OF HIS PONTIFICATE. By COUNT C. A. DE GODDES DE LIANCOURT, of the Pontifical Academy of the Lincei, at Rome, and JAMES A. MANNING, Esq., of the Inner Temple. T. C. Newby, 72, Mortimer-street, Cavendish-square.

THIS book is a very agreeable and interesting account of the life and opening Pontificate of the great and good man who now occupies the chair of St. Peter. In style, the work is elegantly and clearly written, and in matter it is so attractive, that it is almost impossible to take it up without proceeding through the whole of it. The information it affords as to the funeral, and especially as to the election of a Pope, considerably enhances the value of the production. The sitting of the Conclave, and its mode of choosing the new sovereign, is carefully detailed and explained. One singular portion of the ceremony is thus described:

"One of the most curious scenes which occurs during the sitting of the Conclave, is the arrival of the Cardinal's dinners at the Palace of the Quirinal. Each dinner is brought in procession through the streets of Rome. The state carriage of the Cardinal takes the lead, followed by the officers of his palace, in their state liveries, more or less numerous according to the rank and fortune of his Eminence. These persons are followed by a gilt litter carried by two servants, which is magnificently ornamented, and bears a basket decorated with the arms of the Cardinal to whom it belongs, containing the dishes destined for his repast. The private carriages follow in this procession, which starts every day in the same manner, from the palace of each Cardinal Elector, to the great court of the Palace of Monte Cavello. On its arrival in the court, where a temporary hall is erected with planks, covered with tapestry, a Bishop, especially appointed for the service, proceeds to the inspection of the viands, carrying his investigation so far as to examine into the bodies of the fowls, the insides of the fish, and the bottoms of the vegetable dishes. This search, as that to which strangers are subjected from the Custom-house officers on the French frontiers, is instituted with the view of preventing any correspondence, or external influence in the deliberations of the Conclave. The object, however, is not always attained, for diplomacy slides into every hole and corner. When this visit is finished, the Bishop delivers the dishes to the subaltern officer, who places them in one of the towers of the Conclave, whence they are drawn up by a machine, and received by the conclavists, who carry them to the different cells of their Cardinal masters."

The enthusiasm that reigned throughout Rome on the election of Pius IX., is related with graphic effect:

"The people of the Eternal City were, nevertheless, agitated by a thousand unpleasant conjectures and forebodings, for all these alarms, augmented by fear, could have no other result than to plunge the city in stupor, when suddenly loud cries were heard from the Quirinal, re-echoed from the Vatican to the capitol. The Pope was elected! a few hours had sufficed to harmonize all opposing elements; the Sacred College, previously so divided, soon brought their deliberations to a close, all contention, opposing interests, and party and political sentiments, blending, as it were, by a sort of miracle, into a rapid and unforeseen unanimity.

"The whole city now burst forth as on a day of festival and rejoicing, and rushed towards the square of Monte Cavello; this immense place was covered in an instant by an enthusiastic population, who made the air ring again with loud and joyous acclamations, with which they saluted the Aurora of a new reign.

6

To behold this living mass of beings, black and variegated, and agitated like the waves of the sea in the hour of tempest, the flux and reflux of men of every age, of every condition, the indiscriminate mixture of princes, and porters, beggars and bankers, youth and age; we might say, in the language of poetry, more than history, this human equality quitting the tomb in order to pass under the eye of God in the Valley of Jehosaphat,' was a truly marvellous sight. The excitement of the Romans was extreme, when a small stone detached itself from the walled-up window of the Conclave, and fell upon the balcony--the opening increased rapidly, and in a few minutes it was sufficiently large to permit the passage of the Cardinal Camerlengo, who appeared with a countenance beaming with joy. At this solemn moment, the breathless anxiety of the people was converted into thunders of applause, suppressed again immediately, as by enchantment, and the silence of the grave reigned around, while Camerlengo thus addressed the people :

"Romans, I announce to you great joy. We have a Pope-the most Eminent and most Reverend Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti, Bishop of Imola, of the Holy Church of Rome, who has assumed the name of Pius IX.'

"Before he retired, the Cardinal Camerlengo threw a paper to the people containing, in Italian, the words he had pronounced in the language of Cicero.

"The enthusiasm spread like fire from one end of the city to the other, and vivas and acclamations rent the air from the Piazza del Popolo to the Quirinal and the Consulta. The name of Pius IX., pronounced by a hundred thousand voices, mingling with the sounds of the cannon, which roared from the Castle of St. Angelo, was a benediction worthy the great solemnity.

"Soon after, the whole of the Sacred College appeared at the balcony and the windows of the Quirinal, and were visibly affected by the enthusiasm of the people, whose manifestations of joy was a noble testimony to the unanimity which presided at the choice of the Conclave."

The birth, origin, armorial ensigns, and amiable disposition of the new Pope are gracefully put forth:

"Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti was born at Sinigaglia, a small city in the marshes of Ancona, in the Papal dominions, on the 3rd of May, 1792, and is consequently now in his 56th year.

"He was the younger son of the Count Mastai Ferretti of Sinigaglia. The only reference we shall now make to the genealogical, or rather the heraldic distinctions of the Mastai Ferretti Family, is as to the singularity of its armorial bearings, as connected with the supreme power to which Pius IX. has been raised in the Papal dominions, as Sovereign Pontiff, and the pretentions of the Holy See, of which he has become the head, with universal spiritual dominion. Here we may observe that the Roman Pontiffs bear their own family arms, the arms of Rome, the cross keys upon the banner or Gonfalon of the Holy See, being but accessories, which are generally placed behind the tiara or trinal Crown of Rome.

"The arms of Mastai Ferretti are quarterly, 1st and 4th, azure a lion saliant crowned, or, his left paw resting on the globe, 2nd and 3rd, argent two fesses, or, according to English heraldry, two bars gules.

"It is not a little singular that the above quarterings, so indicative of dominion, should not have already struck those who seek to enhance the greatness of their hero, by auguries drawn from the most trivial incidents, for it cannot be denied that the coincidence is curious.

"The sweetness of Giovanni Mastai Ferretti's disposition as a child, and the

gentleness of his manners are recorded by those who had the charge of his infancy, and it is said of him that there was a seriousness about him even in childhood, which betokened an early disposition to reflection, often the forerunner of that precocity which engenders in the anxious minds of parents the apprehensions of an early grave.

"It is said, that, when only a few years old, the life of Giovanni was endangered, and, but for the prompt assistance of a shepherd boy named Guidi, his name would only have been preserved in the records of family affliction. At the period in question, the family of the Count Mastai Feretti was residing for the summer at a country house about six miles from Rome. Giovanni had been in the habit of walking into the woods with the son of one of the agriculturists, who was employed in the care of stock. As he was passing by a pond one day, accompanied by the boy Guidi, he was struck with childish delight at seeing a shoal of little fishes sporting about near the surface of the water, and, in endeavouring to catch some with his hand, he lost his balance and fell in. Guidi could swim, and at once plunged in and saved the young child's life. Giovanni became Pope-Guidi continued a peasant.

"A short time ago a countryman arrived in Rome to seek the charity of a great man, to whom he had rendered a service in his childhood. His appearance, and the supposed improbability of his story obtained him but a sorry reception from the police, into whose hands he was consigned. Nothing daunted by the stone he had received instead of the bread he solicited, Guidi, for it was he, found means to make the object of his visit known to his early acquaintance, His Holiness Pius IX., and had no cause to repent his temerity. He is now comfortable in his little farm, and his daughter is placed in a situation until she shall think fit to marry, when a portion will be given to her."

Many more pleasing anecdotes are given of his Holiness, which render this a beautiful record of the first chapter of his fame. Our fervent wish is, that the rule of Pius IX. may continue in the same course of goodness and glory, and that he may again have as apt and able historians to tell to the world the wisdom of his life and the wonders of his story.

THE MILITARY LIFE OF JOHN DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH. By ARCHIBALD ALISON, F.R.S., Author of "The History of Europe." W. Blackwood and Sons. 1848.

To praise this book is superfluous. Suffice it to say that it is written by Alison, and that its narrative is one of the most brilliant epochs in the glory of England. How spirit-stirring, how all-absorbing is the perusal of these warlike pages! The events pass before us in a panorama-clearly, concisely, correctly. We go through the whole course of Marlborough's greatness, till we at last arrive at the termination of his earthly career, which is thus related: :

"But the period had now arrived when the usual fate of mortality awaited this illustrious man. Severe domestic bereavements preceded his dissolution, and in a manner weaned him from a world which he had passed through with so much glory. His daughter, Lady Bridgewater, died in March 1714; and this was soon followed by the death of his favourite daughter, Anne, Countess of Sunderland who united uncommon elegance and beauty to unaffected piety and examplary virtue. Marlborough himself was not long in following his beloved relatives to the grave. On the 28th May, 1716, he was seized with a fit of palsy, so severe, that it deprived him, for a time, alike of speech and resolution. He recovered, however, in a certain degree, and went to Bath for the benefit of the waters; and a gleam of returning light shone upon his mind when he visited Blenheim on the 18th October. He expressed great satisfaction at the survey

of the plan, which reminded him of his great achievements, and in which he had always felt so deep an interest; but when he saw, in one of the few rooms which were finished, a picture of himself at the battle of Blenheim, he turned away with a mournful air, with the words 'Something then, but now —

"On November 18th, he was attacked by another stroke, more severe than the former, and his family hastened to pay the last duties, as they conceived, to their departing parent. The strength of his constitution, however, triumphed for a time even over this violent attack; but though he continued, contrary to his own wishes, in conformity with those of his friends, who needed the support of his great reputation, to hold office, and occasionally appeared in parliament, yet his public career was at an end. A considerable addition was made to his fortune by the sagacity of the Duchess, who persuaded him to embark part of his funds in the South Sea scheme; but foreseeing the crash which was approaching, they sold out so opportunely, that instead of losing, she gained £100,000 by the transaction. On the 27th November, 1721, he made his last appearance in the House of Lords; but in June, 1722, he was again attacked with paralysis so violently, that he lay for some days nearly motionless, though in perfect possession of his faculties. To a question from the Duchess whether he heard the pra ers read as usual at night, on the 15th June, in his apartment, he replied, 'Yes; and I joined in them. These were his last words. On the morning of the 16th he sank rapidly, and calmly breathed his last at four o'clock, in the 72nd year of his age.

66

Envy is generally extinguished by death, because the object of it has ceased to stand in the way of those who feel it. Marlborough's funeral obsequies were celebrated with uncommon magnificence, and all ranks and parties joined in doing him honour. His body lay in state for several days at Marlborough House, and crowds flocked together from all the three kingdoms to witness the imposing ceremony of his funeral, which was performed with the utmost magnificence, on the 28th June. The procession was opened by a long array of military, among whom were General, now Lord Cadogan, and many other officers who had suffered and bled in his cause. Long files of heralds, officersat-arms, and pursuivants followed, bearing banners emblazoned with his armorial achievements, among which appeared, in uncommon lustre, the standard of Woodstock, exhibiting the arms of France on the cross of St George. In the centre of the cavalcade was a lofty car, drawn by eight horses, which bore the mortal remains of the hero, under a splendid canopy adorned by plumes, military trophies, and heraldic devices of conquest. Shields were affixed to the sides, bearing the names of the towns he had taken, and the fields he had won. Blenheim was there, and Oudenarde, Ramilies, and Malplaquet, Lille and Tournay, Bethune, Douay, and Ruremonde, Bouchain and Mon, Aire, St. Venant and Liege, Maestricht and Ghent. The number made the English blush for the manner in which they had treated their hero. On either side were five generals in military mourning, bearing aloft banderoles, on which were emblazoned the arms of the family. Eight dukes supported the pall; besides the relatives of the deceased, the noblest and proudest of England's nobility joined in the procession. Yet the most moving part of the ceremony was the number of old soldiers who had combated with the hero on his fields of fame, and who might now be known, in the dense crowds which thronged the streets, by their uncovered heads, grey hairs, and the tears which trickled down their cheeks. The body was deposited, with great solemnity, in Westminster Abbey, at the east end of the tomb of Henry VII.; but this was not its final resting-place in this world. It was soon after removed to the chapel at Blenheim, where it was deposited in a magnificent mausoleum, and there it still remains, surmounted by the noble pile which the genius of a Vanbrugh had conceived to express a nation's gratitude."

This life of Marlborough is a valuable addition to Mr. Alison's other historical treasures.