The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-04-13 00:00:00

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.

Last night the public anxiety was gratified by the pro-
duction of the opera of Oberon. As our readers are doubt-
less aware, it is founded on a story:which originally appear-
ed in that famous collection of French romances " La
Bibliotheque Bleue," under the title of Iluon of Bordeaux.
Wieland, the German poet, adopted the principal incidents
of it in his beautiful poem of " Oberon," and which has been
translated into F.,.•glish by Mr. Sotheby. Mr. Plsnchc is the
author of the present piece, which he states he undertook
at the desire of M. Von Weber,—that he is principally in-
debted to Mr. Sotheby's elegant version for the plot of the
piece, and that the defects of the dialogue and lyrical por-
tions of the Oberon now produced, must, therefore, be
visited on his head. • In reference to Mr. Sotheby, he
says—

" If aught like praise tome belong,
With hits I must divide it;
I sin not the mse, says the Persian song,
But I have dwelr beside it."
It has been the unfortunate lot of most, if not all, of
the fairy tales that have been dramatized, to he loiribened
with a dialogue not attaining even mediocrity ; in this in-
stance, however, we have no such complaint to make, in
many parts the eastern style is very happily expressed, and
the poetry is certainly superior to anything we have seen
on former occasions. The characters were thus repre-

svnted :
Charlemagne, Emperor of the Franks Mr. Austin
Sir Huon of Bourdeaux, Duke of Guienne Mr. Braham
Sherasmin, his Squire - . Mr. Fawcett
Haman Alraschid, Caliph Mr. Chapman
Babekan, a Saracen Prince Mr. Baker
Almanzor, Emir of Tunis Mr. Cooper
-
First Saracen - - . Mr. Evans
Second Saracen - . Mr. Atkins
Third Saracen - - . Mr. Ryals
Fourth Saracen . - Mr. 'Finney
Abdall ih (a Corsair) . . Mr. Horrebow
Oberon, King of the Fairies - Mr. C. Bland
Puck . . Miss H. Cawse
•
Fairy . • Mr. Henry
Negro Slave . . . - Mr. Griffiths
Captain of a Vessel . - Mr. Isaacs
.
Sea Nymph . . Miss Coward
Titania . - - Miss Smith
Beiza, Daughter of Ilaroun . Miss Paton
Fatima, her Attendant . Madame Vestris
-
Boshana,NVife of Almanzor - Miss Lacy
Namouna, Fatima's Grandmother - . Mrs. Davenport
Nadina. a Female of Almanzor's Harem Mrs. Wilson •
and we shall endeavour to give as succinct an outline of the
plot as possible.
The Opera opens in Oberon's bower with a chorus of fairies.
Upon ()herons (31r. C. Bland) awaking he demands of Puck (Miss
H. Cause) weere he has been since " cock crow," and is informed
that he has been round the globe, and that among other wonders
witnessed in that short space of time, he has seen the unfortunate
Sir Huon of Bourdeaux (Mr. Braham) banished by the Emperor
Charlemagne ; and that his return to his native country is to de-
pend on his obtaining Reiza (Miss Paton) the daughter of the
Caliph of Bagdad for his bride. Oberon having taken an oath not
to be reconciled to Titania, until

" Some fond pair,
Through weal and woe, mid flood, and chains, and fire,
Should keep their plighted faith inviolate,
Unmoved by pleasure and unbent by pain,"
Conceives the project of subjecting these parties to the test, for the
redemption of his oath. Puck is commanded to transport Sir
Iluon and Sherasmin his Squire (Mr. Fawcett) to his presence,
which is forthwith accomplished. The stage opens, and on a flowery
bank which rises they are discovered asleep. Heitz is here ,ntro-
duced to Sir Hum in a vision, and on his waking is told by Oberon
that he shall obtain the Princess and return triumphantly to France.
Ile then presents Sir Iluon with an ivory horn, whose power (Theron
tells him is such, as to

" Bring him to his side
Tho' planets rolled between them."
He also presents Sherasmin with a golden cup, which will yield
wine to the guiltless, but molten lead to the guilty mouth. The
parties are then conducted to the banks of the Tigris, and to
Bagdad, where Sir Huon hears from Namouna (Mrs. Davenport),
that Reiza is to be married on the following day (he having pre.
viously tried the test of the cup on the person of Babekan, his
rival in the affections of Rein), anti he determines upon an inter.
♦iew at all hazards. IVe are now introduced to Reiza, and her
attendant (Madame Vestris) in the harem of the Caliph, on the
evening previous to the proposed marriage with Babekan. Reiza
is fully impressed with the vision she has seen of the Knight
Paladin, and determines, If he does not come to her rescue, to die
by her hand. At this moment Sir Iluon and Sherasmin appear ;
and eventually, by the assistance of the charmed horn, succeed
in destroying Babekan, and in abstracting the Princess and
her attendant ; leaving the royal Court of Bagdad to
disenchant themselves from the transfixed state in which the
horn had placed them in the beat manner they can. Obe.
Von now appears, and having told Sir Hoots that he has
redeemed his knightly pledge, informs Rein that if she re-
pents the step she has taken, she shall be restored to her father, the
Caliph. She, however, though aware " that the course of true
love never did run smooth," is ready to embrace difficulty and
death rather than pert from her affianced lord. Sir Iloon. The
parties are then transported to the port of Ascalon, where a Greek
vessel is ready to depart for Greece ; they embark, and being over-
taken by a storm raised by Oberon, are shipwrecked on an island
In the ;Mediterranean. Sir Huon appears supporting Rein in an
exhausted state ; he Wpm* her to be dying, and, after imploring
the assistance of " the Ruler of the awful hour," the golden cup
Is suddenly washed ashore, the contents of which soon re-animate
the Princess. Sir (Ilion then ascends the heights for the purpose of
obtaining succour, when a Tunisian corsair suddenly appears, the
crew of which land, make " lawful prize" of Rein, and leave Sir
Hann wounded on the beach. The captain of the corsair, on his
arrival at Tunis, presents his fair captive to Almanzor, the Emir,
( r.Cooper) who becomes en &mowed of her. Sherasmin and Fatima
have also been made captives,and are become slaves,the flamer being
In the !occupation of a gardener. To his garden Oberon conveys
Sir Huon, who learns from Fatima the arrive( of the Princeas, and
that she is kept in durance in the harem of the Emir. Ile deter.
mines to obtain admission in the disguise of a slave, and in the
gardens finds a bouquet made flowers, which, according to eas-
tern interpretation, conveys the language of the donor. Ile applies
to Fatima for a solution of the enigma, who assures hint it can
come from no other than the Princess. Sir Huon, in obedience to
the injunctions conveyed on a leafed one of the flowers, passes into the
harem, and rushes to embrace a veiled lady that he supposes the
Princess, but which proves to be Roshana (Miss Lacy), tae wife of
Almanzor, who had become enamoured of the Christian slave. At
this moment Almanzor enters, and condemns Sir Huou to instant
death, as well as Reiza, on account of her remitl of his affections.
In the interim, the Charmed Horn has passed into the hands of
Sherasmin, who foam, it suspended in his garden. At the instiga.
tion of Fatima, he is induced to try if it indeed be the Magic Horn,
and she is, for her temerity in doubting, condemned to laugh for
her folly. On her recovery from this fit, she learns the probable
hue of Sir Hum and the Princess, and conjures Sherasmin to pro.
teed to their assistance. He does so, and just as the light is about
to be applied to the funeral pile, he sounds. The whole of the at.
tendants are immediately seized with a dancing mania, and waltz off
" to lively music." Oberon then appears, and informs the Prince
and Princess their probation is prat, transports the fugitives and their
brides to the Court of Charlemagne, and the curtain drape._

From this brief epitome, it will appear that Mr. Planche
has hail no lack of materials on which to exercise his skill,
and we congratulate both him and the public on the
manner in which he has accomplished his task.
111. Von Weber, as the composer of this Opera, is next
entitled to our attention, and we have the greatest pleasure
in stating that our admiration of his genius is considerably
increased by this important effort. The ground he bad
to tread was one which was no unbeaten path in England ;
Locke, Purcell, Arne, Percy. and last, though not least,
Bishop, have inspired us with recollections of fairy music
that can never be forgotten " while memory holds her
seat in this distracted brain." In the Freischutz, Weber
displayed his powers of the terrific ; it was left for him in
the " Oberon, to complete his power over us in the more
pleasing task of the acts of a good and protecting spirit.
The styles of music are essentially different, and, in our
judgment, that now under our consideration is by no
means the least difficult of the two. The overture com-
mences with an adagio movement of short duration,
in which there are several bars of• horn solo, which
powerfully introduce the subject matter of the piece.
It then resolves itself into a presto, of much power
and expression. The effect of the serial harmony was
most happy, and the arrangement of the intermediate
instruments was equal to any thing we ever heard.—
Without detracting one iota from the merit of 'this
work, because we do not, in the comparison, mean to
allude to the least plagiarism, we think it approaches near-
est in resemblance to Chertibini's Overture to Anacreon.
The first chorus, " Light as fairy foot can fall," was full of
harmony. The accompaniment to Oberon's song of " Fatal
oath, not even slumber," was highly expressive of the sub-
ject. The harp accompaniment to the song in the vision,
by Miss Paton, " 0 why art thou sleeping, Sir Iluon the
brave ?" was also a very happy effort. In the chorus of
" Honour and joy to the true and the brave," the ascent in
the scale by the trumpets and bassoons was admirably
adapted. The whole of the recitative and air by Braham,
" Yes, even Love to Fame must yield,"was highly wrought;
and the accompaniment to" Mourn, ye maids of Palestine,"
took the hearer indeed tti the house of mourning, and his
grief could only be relieved by the beauty of the concludiog
part of the air on an old French melody, of " Joy to the
high-born dame of France." The finale of the first act

wu very good, and the half-bar rest to the chorus Of
" Now the evening watch is set," extremely (Active.
The opening chorus of the second act, " Glory to the Ca-
bpi)," had its beauties, and the movement to which the
(lancing girls danced was very pleasing. Of the song 1,
Madame Vestris, of " A lovely Arab maid," we eann,:t
say much ; it was net adapted for the style of Madam
Vestris, and therefore, perhaps, had not a fair chance!
The quartet by Brehm, Miss Paton, Madame Vestris
and Isaacs, of " Over the dark blue waters," though i;
commence:l like the air " Through the Forest," in
schill2. suddenly broke elf into a totally different subject,
and the concluding verse, " On board, then, on board,
while the skies are light," was most felicitous, sod was
rapturously encored. The accompaniment to what we will
term the incantation scene of Oberon, where Puck com-
mands the attendance of the •
" Spirits of sir, rind earth, and sea,
Spirits of fire, which holy be,
All that have power o'er wind and Irate.
Come hither, come hither, my Spirits so brave ! "
was most happy ; and the unearthly chorus in amwer to
Pork, who informs them that they are only reqeired i 4
" wreck a bark upon the coast," to the following ye,*
was a masterpiece:—
" Naught but that, hn, ho. ho, ho
Lighter labour none we know ;
Winds and waves obey the spell;
Hark l 'tis done—Farewell ! farewell! "
The air, by Braham, " Ruler of this awful hour," en
very ably handled, and the supplicatory part very tenderly
imagined. The chef d'oeuvre of the piece is, however,
Miss Paton's scene, in which she describes the effect of the
stottn and the return of order and happiness. It cones..
ponded with the balcony scene in Freischult, and had
evidently been prominently situated in the mind of the
composer. The Mermaid's song, " 0 'tis pleasant to float
on the sea," and the concluding chorus of Fairies, " who
would sleep in the lily's bell," were fancifully and
tastefully arranged. The duet of Fawcett and Madame
Vestris, " On the banks of the sweet Garonne," was
good, but too long. The air by Miss Paton, of " Mourn
thou poor heart for the joys that are dead," in a minor key,
was most expressive, both as regarded the voice part and
the accompaniment; of Sir Humes air, " I revel in hope
and joy again," we can say but little; we think it
the least happy of the Opera. The quartet by Brahtni,
Miss Paton, Fawcett, and Madame. Vestris, " Rejoice,
rejoice, 'cis the Horn of Power," and the concluding
;chorus of " Hail to the Knight with his own good
brantl," wive a fine termination to this musical treat. In
looking at this opera as a whole, we think it stands en,
tainly on a level with Freischulz. There is something of
a falling off in the last act, which would bear curtailment.'
Having revelled through two acts in fairy transports, the
mind is not disposed to settle itself to the common-place
affairs of "Mother Earth ;" and we therefore think the
Tunisian part of the plot, if not altogether objectionable,
at least heavy. In looking into the score of this piece, we
find few transgressions of the grammar of music. Tofind
exceptions to all general rules is the peculiar province of
genius'; it is only the pretender who wilfully applies forbid-
den precepts, without being able to give a sufficient reason
for breaking the rule that is to be condemned. M. Voti
IVeber's style has always been considered as founded on the
best school; his compositions are most carefully adapt-d,
never going contrary to the sense, and in this instance his
anxiety on these points is most conspicuous. Of Miss
Paton we cannot speak in terms sufficiently strong to ex-
press our admiration; both her acting and singing exceeded
all her previous efforts. Mr. Brahain also, with the ex-
ception of some very bad cadences, and being now and
then nearly a semitone above concert pitch, was very Effec-
tive. Madame Vestris's " 0 Araby, clear Araby, was a
delightful morceau, and her duet with Fawcett, " On the
banks of the Bund-emir," after the duet of " Now then
sorrow's all over," in the cabinet, was most pleasingly
performed, though rather protracted. It delighted
us to see Fawcett so much at home, so young
and so buoyant; and recalled to our recollection very
forcibly the days of twenty years gone by, when, on the
same boards, he did not appear much younger than at
present, dancing and singing„witli Storace. 3fiss 11. Cawse,
in Puck, gave strong indications of improvement in her
acting, but not so in her voice. Mr. C. Bland was
respectable in Oberon, but has rather too much of the
" mortal leaven" to make a good fairy, and we tin not like
his voice. Mr. Cooper and Miss Lacy had but little to do,
and from the observation we have before hazarded, as to
the curtailment of the last act, we could wish that little
less.

The scenery is without exception the most splendid we
have ever witnessed, and must be seen to be adequately
appreciated. 11'e noticed particularly the distant view of
Bagdad,
" In the last bright sunbeams glowing,"
as a most happy effort by Grieve, and the Port of .Ascalon
by Grieve, jun. The invocation scene, where the spirits
of the elements are called into action, is powerfully ima-
gined, and the change by which they are brought into view
in the " rifted rock," is awfully grand. But the happiest
effort is that of a storm, followed by sun-set, twilight, and
night. In this scene the last red beams of the god of day
upon the rippling surface of the waters, succeeded by dark-
ness on the wave, and then by the moon's silvery light o'er
the expanse of ocean, defies description. The concluding
one of the Hall of Arms, in the palace of Charlemagne, is
one of the finest of its kind. The machinery also, which
was very complicated, did not fail in a single instance.
(They certainly do this sort of thing well at Covent'.
garden.) 'fhe ascents and descents of Oberon, in his
cabriolet winged by swans, and the gala of the sea nymphs
on their own element, met with great and deserved ap-
plause. The dresses also were got up with an attention to
costume and a richness of decoration surpassing anything
we have ever witnessed.
'fhe curtain fell amidst overwhelming applause, and M.
Weber, who had presided at the piano-forte, and been
repeatedly cheats], during the evening, was loudly called
for. After a short delay the curtain rose, and Mr. Faw-
cett appeared leading him on. Tumultuous shouts, waving of
hats and handkerchiefs, and cries of " Bravo! Weber for
ever !" unaccompanied by one dissentient voice, assigned
to this successful composer the highest reward he could
possibly hope for. Ile was evidently much affected at this
flattering testimonial, which, however objectionable on
other occasions, we think pardonable on this.
Oberon cannot fail to indemnify the management for the
immense expense bestowed upon it ; and we conclude our
observations with the closing chorus of the 'liar:—
" Hail to the knight, with his own good brand.
Who bath won a fair bride from a Saracen's hand!

Ilail to the maiden, wl o over the sea
Bath followed her champion so faithfully!
By bards yet unborn oft the tale shAll be told,
01 lieiza the lovely and Ilmon the bold."

THE GOODNAT6tED MAN.—This comedy ITU the
,first
dramatic attempt of an author, dear to the lovers of Eng-
lish literature—Oliver Goldsmith. It was represented for
the first titre, on the 29:h of Imuary, 1768, at Covent-
garden theatre, with a prologue written by Dr. Johnson.
Compared with his later production, Sh:. Sloops to Cooper,
it exhibits little incident and stage effl:ct. : yet its easy
flow of humour, sprightliness of character, and leganc:
of
language, place it in the first rank of comedy; and in tbe ab-
sence of many requisites essential to a perfect drama, Vie
Good-Natured Man will always be listened to with ph &sure.
One amusing incident in the comedy, that a Croak:r
prompting his son Leuntine while he is addressing M'S
Richland, has been borrowed by Mr. Sheridan in the scene
between Captain Absolute, Sir Anthony, and Lydia Lau-
..eh, in the Rivals—Dolby's British ;Jliratre.
fheWhig organ yesterday morning gave,as apieceanew',
a long account of the canvass of one of the staunchest sup-
porters of that party, which we inserted above a week ranee.
Lord John Russell's canvass at St. Ire's appeared in the
Press on the 4th inst.
CORN LAW S.—The petitions for a repeal of the torn
laws, which have been in a course of signature in tins town
for some weeks, were forwarded to Lord King and J.
Hume, Esq., on Thursday, with the names of 9,02 n re"
ttuoners.—Preston Chronicle.
FORTUNATE DiscovnltY.—Messrs. Fullers,
brythers,
pawnbrokers, Digheth, about fifteen years ago. Innued.
:
large quantity of gold coin, amounting to 600/. or $(.%
and after an ineffectual search in every probable place of
concealment, concluded that the property had been stolen.
fhty have recently
built themselves a new house, and
iu
taking down that which they formerly inhabitsil the 1"
treasure was diseavered.—Birmisgham Atonal.

FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENC6.

orbe Congress of Arran's card party on Tneidoe or, nlng, In Dam.
000,. was attended by an elegant a.wrablagr di .r ingui.hed Nation-
app.. among whom were—The Merged. and vhione ri of Northamp-
ton, the Lininte.. of Tankerville, Irrld St. 11 I.ady Ondrw, [Lady
;wing, lady Puller, lady Pirliy Illoritague, the Courneso of F.roes,
o,,,rsin and lady Elinberh t'ud, Sir Gime, Lady. an General Mrs.
Lady Ogie. Sir Modes and Lady Howley, and
Bundy, Orntral Walpole, Groval 31aiishown, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Giles. Mr.
poring, lam. Cuaranii. Mr. King, Are. ate.
The µad of Cawill. euteitafned • dldingulidsed party at dinner. yes-
%Noisy, at hi. house In Privy Oar
Lord Gifford had a dinner pm tit, yeatvrilay, at the House, Chan-
tey-lane.
Karl Poltroon entertained the Pire.ton of the Ancient Mu.le, and a
buri pun, at dinner, erterday. at hio botire Gro.venor-.inuire.
Dowager Lady Searle entertained a ...lint ',arty of fashionable., yodel.-
eVertt
ng. at her Amore in t.
I.ord Gwydyr bad a huge pa-ty at dinner, yeiterday, at bin house In
Piccadilly.
Holtman: ha. arrived in town from a tonr.
hLurJ
ouse
Sight Hononiable Sturges ;tonne, 5.!'., notred, yederday, at his
house in South Audey-staret, from his seat, Testwood South.
smotoni
d
j. D. nurdon, Esq• and family eier.' ye-U e da, at thitr house In Glen.
("ger plan, from their seat, Leann. No, folk.
The -Naomi. Camden arried In town yederday, from bls seat, the
Wildeinc.s. Kent.
orpartium from Fenton's New Hotel, St. Jaram•twitreet :—The Rev.
for Brighton ; Leiceoter, Earl. M.P. for Dorset-
-14,‘„,k, Boothby,
Arrival at Jordan'. Hotel, St. Javier's... Orel :-31m. Banns:, from her
inpniture .--Captain and Mr hlitman, for H.lttol,„
Arrival. at the Royni Hotel. St. James .m ;—: ~,, d lifshon, from the
Continent ; Lord Farnham, from Ittivoniibile; Lord Mount Novel., from
-- Vivian, F.-q. from a tour; —'l !et le, from Ireland;
Ireland;
Yapte, Esq. from Hants ; Henry Maxwell. Esq. M.P. from Devon.
Edward Kerr, F.M. from Yorkshire; J. J. Guest, Esq. from his
mar In Wales.
'Me Countess of Uysart har arrived In town, from her mi. Ham Howe,
lune!.
Sir Gilbert East, Rut. has anived In town,. from hi. seat Milli-
pore, Berks.
arrirals at Ifiadong's Rotel, Oxford.treet :—Sir W. Gensnl, Bart. and
Thorns.
Bath;Anderon, Erg. from Warrington ; Colonel. Mr.., and Sim Gib-
bing*, from t John Atwood. E.g. from Cheltenham; Colonel Leads,
from st. pitne rac.peri, from • *C.I ; Sir Charier and Mr.
Phillip, from a tour ; Colonel Orion:rood, from a tour. Departurest—
Mr Chun. and Lady, Mr. and Miro Chadd, and the Hon. Miss Tumours,
fm Norfolk ; Bradford, Keg. on • tour.
Annals at the Broininick Hotel Bate Blake's) Jermyn-dreet —Hon.
and Mr.. Wmterna, from Shrub. Hill ; Edwo:rd Protheroe, Esq. from
Herta ; Matthew Buckle, Esq. horn Petworth. Basset I Robinson,
Req. from Ireland.

Yesterday the Princess Augusta visited the Duchess of
Gloucester.
On Tuesday evening Prince Leopold and the Duchess
of Kent honoured the Italian Opera with their presence.
Yesterday, at twelve o'clock, a meeting of several of the
Cabinet Ministers took place at Mr. Secretary Canning's
house, in Downing-street. Among those present were the
Earls of flarrowhy, Viscount Melville, the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, Mr. Secretary Peel, and Mr. Huskisson.
Sir Charles Long and a number of other gentlemen were
present at the meeting. They continued in consultation
for near an hour.
The Cabinet Ministers dined with the Chancellor of the

Exchequer yesteriley.
Yesterday, Prince Esterhasy, the Austrian Ambassador,
transacted business at the Foreign Office.
Mr. Meates, as King's Messenger, was sent of yester-
day from the Secretary of State's Office for Foreign Af-
fairs, with despatches for St. Petersburgh. Mr. Meates
also took despatches for the Right Hon. Henry Wellesley,
the British Ambassador at Vienna.
A King's Messenger v.as sent of on Tuesday evening to
Lord Granville, our Ambassador at Paris, with despatches

from Mr. Secretary Canning.
Mr. Crotch, the King's Messenger, arrived at the Fo-
reign Office no Tuesday evening, with despatches from the
Hague.
The lion. C. A. Hurchinvon was among the Members
who were accidentally shut out from the minority of 76, on

Momlay evening.
CITY RLPRESIENT•TION.—We are happy to find that
the representation of the City is likely to be contested by
a gentleman in ever:. respect well qualified to perform the
important and arduous duties that devolve on those who
enjoy that high honour. Mr. IV. Ward, of Broad-street,
has been applied to, to offer himself as a candidate at the
nextelection, and a man better qualified fora City Member
could not be selected. Mr. Ward is a merchant of the first
respectability and a Rank Director. His political princi-
ples are strictly in accordance with those of the present
Cabinet, and therefore, we may add, with those of the great
majority of Englishmen. Sir William Curtis's advanced
age rendered it improbable that he would again appear be-
fore the Livery.. Indeed, the Worthy Baronet has long
Intimated this intention to his private friends, and he re-
tires to enjoy the idiom tom dignitate, probably in the en-
joyment of as large a share of popularity as was ever pos-
sessed by an individual in his situation. Alderman
Thompson has long been considered as Sir William's suc-
cessor, and every day strengthens the certainty of his re-
turn. Mr. Thomas Wilson s retirement was not so gene-
rally expected, and as he hail well performed his duty, the
suddenness of his determination, at the same time that it
was a source of regret to his constituents, was also a source
of anxiety to them as to the probability of efficiently
filling his place, In that, we think, they are likely to suc-
ceed, should Mr. Ward be returned. The citizens may
consider themselves fortunate in having three new csntli-
dates fur the horMur of representing them, whose high re-
spectability and business-talents render them so well qua-
lified for the honourable duty they are seeking, as the
Lord Mayor, Alderman Thompson, anti Mr. Ward.
Yesterday a Court of Directers was held at the East In-
dia House, when the thanks of the Court were voted una-
nimously to Campbell Marjoribsnks, Esq. Chairman, and
Sir George Abercrombie Robinson, Batt. Deputy Chair-
man, for their zeal and attention to the Company's inte-
rests during the past year.—The following Commanders
took leave of the Court, previous to departing for their re-
spective destinations, viz. :—Capt. John B. Sotheby. Lon-
don; Capt. Wm. Elisha Ferrer, Orwell ; Capt. Joseph
Stanton, Generalllarris ; Captain Thomas Blair, William
Fairlie ; and Capt. Bryan Broughton, Canning—all for
China direct.
Mr. Buckingham's case was disposed of on Tuesday, at
the India House, by a majority that pretty clearly indi-
cates the opinion of those who can judge most accurately of
its merits. We have studiously declined offering any re-
marks upon it pending the decision ; but, now that it is
declared, we may, without injury to Mr. Buckingham's
claim, assert that, in our judgment, the decision is a just
one, inasmuch as it rejects the claim of a person on the
funds of the India Company, who, to use no harsher term,
was opposed to its measures during the greater part of his
sojourn in the East, and has since his return been engaged
in the publication of a Journal hostile to its interests.
The numbers on the question decided by the ballot at
the India House on Tuesday last, recommending the grant
of 5,000/. to Mr. Buckingham, were-157 for the question,
and 436 against it.
Erstaseaon UNTTERSITY.—We understand that the
dames in the College, especially the medical classes, have
turned out extremely well this year. Though they were
pretty full in 1824-5, the number of students who have
matriculated during the present session, exceeds those of
the preceding by forty, and as a few enter for the summer
classes, the excess altogether will not be much short of a
hundred, and the whole number of students above two
thousand. If to thew. are added the two hundred and
sixty students in the Divinity Classes. the whole number
of young men attending the classes of this University will
be nearly two thousand three hundred. There will he
three or four su/niner classes, namely, Modern History by
Sir William Ilamilton—Natural History by Mr. Jameson
—Botany by Pr. Graham—and, probably, Natural Philo-
sophy by Mr. Leslie.
BANE or la i.l.aND.—The ballet for Governors and Di-
rectors of the fink of Ireland for the ensuing year closed
on Saturday. One Itandred and twenty-six ptoprietors
balloted, of whom one hundred and nine voted fur the
house list, as under mentioned:
Governor—John Wand Maguey. E'q. Deputy Governor—
James Cluilehe,g, Edit. Directors—Robert Alexander, Esq. 'rho.
Croothwait, Esq. William Chaigneau Esq. Geo. Drevor,
Esq. Isaac Mathew D'Olier, Esq. Joseph Goff, Esq. Arthur
Guinness. Esq. Nathaniel Hone, Esq. William Peter Lunel.
Esq. Willis° tineill Magee, Esq. James 111`Call, Esq. Nathaniel
lt,neyd, Esq. John Stewart, Esq. William Sparrow, Esq. Hugh
Trevor, Esq.
!mem:Titre A Rl7lll4F.TlcisNe.—The Scotsman news-
paper says that there are several boys in a charity school at
Leith, possessing powers of arithmetical calculation quite
t qual to those of young Nokes, mentioned in our paper
a week or two ago ; and maintains that the talent isby no
means so Atraortlinary as has been thought, or difficult of
attainment. In the Scotch schools, the babig.of calcula-
tion is very much encouraged, and the result has been so
'generally successful, that the Scotch make no account of
such a illet,Ornt:::oTl as pekes is said to be,