The Sun.
London, England, 1838-08-09 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

LEGENDS, OF THE RHINE.—No. IT .
Westley, London, 1838.
These Leach is are told in a very graceful manner by
Mr. Snowe, who possesses just the requisite amount of
fa'tla ; and as they are, for the most part, of a highly ro-
mantic character, and by no me.tr.s detic:eat in incident, we
think them very likely to become favourits with the public.

ROALINTIC AND PICTURESQUE GERMANY

A. So, London, I—.
A translation fromc
ahl woss
rk well know neon on the Continent,
by Nlis3 ilenningsen. The work is now publishing in
ev "thly numbers, each of which is embelishcd with three
clerish engravings.

MEMOIRS OF THE MUSICAL DRAMA.
Two Vol.. Bentley, London, 1838.
We are indebted for these entertaining volumes to the
Pen of Mr. Hogarth, a gentlematiwell known by his critical
treatises on the subject of music. The prevent work com-
mences with some account of the origin of the musical
drama, and, after some general observations on this subject,
Proceeds to describe the earliest Italian operas, and sketch
the Peculiarities of the Italian singers of the seventeenth
Century. This, however, though perhaps the most elabo-
rate, is by no means the most entertainieg portion of the
work, which can scarcely be said to possess interest, until
the author reaches the time of Purcell, whose musical
talents he criticises in a very masterly, analytical style,
" Though Purcell's genius," observes Mr. Hogarth,
" ranged through every walk of his art, yet its bent was to-
Wards the music of the theatre ; and he has left behind him
a large body of dramatic compositions, which to this hour
remain unrivalled among the works of the English school.
In variety of character, beauty of melody, truth and force
of expression, and nice adaptation to the genius of the
English language, they are to this hour unparalleled." Of
Mrs. Bracegirdle, an accomplished actress and singer, and
remarkable for her beauty and uniform propriety of con-
duet, who died, at an advanced age, in the year 1748, we
"ye the following amusing sketch :
f " Urs. Bracegirdle," says Aston, A contemporary writer, s. that Diana
'tage had many assailants on her virtue, as Lord Lovelace and
'ongre've, the last of whirl, had her company most. But she ever
resisted his vicious attacks, and yet was always uneasy at his leaving
ter. She was very shy cf Lord Lovelace's company, as being an en-
--sa.ng 'flaw who dressed well; and as every day his servant came to
ask her how she did, she al ways returned her answer in the most obei.
that words and behaviour, that she was indifferent well, she humbly
h'auk" his Lordship. She was of a lovely height, with dark brown
air
, and eyebrows black sparkling eyes, and a fresh blushy complexion;
its whenever she 'exerted herse;f, had an involuntary flushing in her
orfeevst, neck, and face, having continually a cheerful aspect, and a fine set
_ e.n white teeth ; never making an exit but that she left the audience
Cot.:.smitat ion ()flier pleasant countenance. Her virtue had its reward
set,
and
applause and specie; for it happened, that as the Dukes of Dor-
ext...?sl Devonshire, Lord Halifax, and Ober nobles, over a bottle, were
RatTiaixng, Mrs. Bracegirdle's virtuous behaviour, ' Come,' says Lord
Lordslt
inoorn you all commend her virtue, but why do we not present this
able woman with something worthy her acceptance?' His
to IP.deposited 200 guineas, which the rest made up 800, and sent
11, , with encomiums on her virtue."
ter
It is not a little diverting to find great Lords and Dukes
paroxysm of morality, over the bottle,
. eight hundred pounds in order to recompense an actress for
he virtue! Such subscriptions are rarely made now-a-
e3s • The biographical sketch of Farinelli is full of
:rinotts anecdote. This celebrated singer, who came to
'land in 1734, was quite the rage of the day—" a rage
411 eh led the votaries of fashion, not the lovers of music, into extravagant folly and absurdity."' He was petted—
nLatsted—idolized—carieatured—and in one year pocketed
fOO less than five thousand pounds—a pretty golden harvest
1! a Poor Italian to reap! So preposterous was the popu-
adrniratien of him, that " one God, one Farinelli,.' was
affected
expression used by a lady of fashion in her
~eetied extacies during the performance of one of his
,43,,ings' On quitting England the Signior went to Madrid,
ere he became an equal favourite ; was taken into the
-ilService, of the Court ; had the good luck to warble King
Philip out
of a desperate fit of illness, and himself into a
15:1si°n of three thousand pounds a year. After a long
Ind somewhat eventful life, he died at Bologna in the year
:82. To the unrivalled Mozart, Mr. Hogarth devotes
'4 entire chapter, the critical portion of which is not
legs interesting than the biographical. He also dwells
n on a a am,
rsclle length t 1 Naldi, Grassini, Mara, and
A o,
-rogetti, whose names—though the singers them-
eg lAve, we helieve, all passed from the stage of life—
". &nand. in our mouths as household words."
01.1 the whole ive have been much pleased with Mr. Ho-
Ratty
8 Work. It is penned in a candid spirit, abounds in
44!cd°tes, some of them quite of a dramatic character,
a ~
slicksitaan every page a thorough relish for, and acquain•
tdryee with, the subject.

TIIE VIOLIN. 1 Voz.
C lburn, London, 1833
A careful and well-digested treatise, containing a great
'zni").' of information, biographical as well as anecdotical,
1',4411,,,c,er.ni.ng that singular instrument—the violin ; which, as
ninl has lately Froved, can be made to " discourse"
,ntivalled music. Mr. Dubourg, the author, is himself a
ilitne violin player, consequently the task of writing upon
51l treatises,
been to him a labour of love—the great charm of
.iot
treati'es. Among other recommendations, his volume
)jtitaiiis accounts of Cooke, Corelli, the Cramers, De
t, Linley, Mori, Paganini, Spagnoletti,
the
Po lir, and several others, who have been celebrated for
excellence of their violin performances.

SPORTING MAGAZINE.
1411• tendency to indiscriminate praise, or to sweeping cen-
t' j
• Just it jumps with the humour of the critic, has
pelt
,en charged upon some of our brethrs.n of the- book and
,and, accordingly, but little importance has been at-
It;
v'e.(l by some person; to the notices of periodicals monthly
en to'the public. We ourselves, however, being free
r°lll all h;55 whatever, and speaking impartially, from an
Pet usA of ail the papers in the present Number, un-
(litzuill,rl • C,rm such as have not yet teen the August
, it i
1,14(nu y
er, that, trken as a whole, san excellent one,
ap lere are even some artic'es in it that would lend grace to
P • 1. •
4;4Periodical—that. ical—that for instance, by Ornither, describing
4 to the Black Moontains, is. evidently the production
scholar and a gentlemao, Charnwood is cf the same
; and, with other contribators, proves that Pitman has
te,„
t: "red the pens of persons who are not only thorough prac-
,
41" sportsmen but something besides. " ales on Riding" is
IZ%'gl:lYuseful paper, gracefully and elegantly written, hav:ng
• cuject to prove that the great secret in leaping is
aneY in the waist: and hip joints. The futility of the
Itieking" :ystern is exposed in the most masterly manner,
~thi4ll it is conclusively shewn that neither knees, calves, nor
4hs, without pliiney of tiic vraist and hip joints, will give u4.l' 0 or safc seat in riding ti' hounds. " A Touch of Hy-
''
1•41.01.ia" is perhaps a l';ttle out of place, and the rhyme
"titled " The Eccles Hunt," really requires a good-
f.are(l, not hypercritical reader. " Phcenix" is clever :
'HI observations on Private Trials will Le new to ntuny ;
'are just, and derive additional interest from the Cob.
f.,411 affair. The engravings; especially Westley's Poacher,
w`'i Kida's painting, are of the same order of excellence
I."re accustomed to look for, and generally find, in a
tng magazine like Pitman's, which has a high reputa-
(l,l to sustain.

--...........--.
. ,
*0 UN I' 011 I,l* DE 1) REPORT.—A vasw. rumour in the
14,,:tiern
k Pall of this county has been in general circulation during,the
li,h (7•1e14:, that the Galatea hait been run down by a steamer in the Log_
tit, wi:_4:lnel. and had immediately gone to the bottom, taking with her
Tsihet'le (1 her gallant crew, together with her owner, Mr. C. 11. M.
Iti
..,„! h 11), his amiable lady and some friends. We have, however,
sjoi"'lsfaction of swing that there cannot be the least feundation for
th, ~, rel)ort, as we have ascertained that the report was abroad before
or ,74th Ott., on ,•I • •Iday the ' latca sailed from Cowes for the coast
Spain . ' lic 1
Peper,,it• . Ism notice of an accident` has appeared any o
4, Ice that date.— Merthyr Gtia,"dian.
strata 41°St destructive conflamation occurrcd in Elbceuf,
f,tereadY hour on Saturday moriiin;, by wri:ch the great woollen menu.
e . ). '4 M. Rataloing was totally do3troyed, with all the machinery,
is elti4illie adj.iining hit !dings were also seriously damaged. The loss
1,,,,,:n,tcrl at a million of francs, and more than threehundred work.
it,,,,:i.".atir,' thrown cut of employment by this caia:nity. 'f:ie property
'the
,":,,,tie.dtto a considerable amount. Fortunately no lives were lost.
-r,_ e
.thie accident is ra.t known.
iis„k
f" Lunerick tradesmen have determined not to
in 11,„ . r. any employer who does not pay his workmen before two o'clock
ttree'r:ritti,rnooil each Saturday, Co as to enable them to go to market in
ill o Sabbath.
I isli A PPLA USE.—A funeral procession met the
Ard Li_
14,,, three tenatit on some of the roads about Dublin—halted, and gave
vk/ee cheers ! It is said the corpse joined. in it.
Wet , . "MR iS most beautiful when in tears like a rose
'itli the chr •st I lew --ilarile Eris whzer.
A ftvr 3a ' 4
t1„1 m payinciit of the expen,;es of the coronation fed-
of upwards of int., which has
lic,,, i n'trY, there is a surplus in hand littu,24gid in the natnes ef the trustees in the savings' batik for some
' °evasion. It is to be hoped Et similar occasion will not soon occur.
pt.pA • INT PosurtoN.—A few days ago,
kuri,," ' S' ,
at
1,04 e 1 ), a siv:.rrn of bees settled on Ea man and boy, near the Pack-
. 4,,, Ih• A hive was procured, and placed over the heads ot the
bat ''Y Couple ;" and the queen bee h.sving been taken c,ft the boy's
ar0,,,,'“,41 placed on the top of the hive, her subjects loyally gathered
'.l her, leaving the frightened pair unscathed.