The Sun.
London, England, 1831-08-01 00:00:00

MONTHLY MA GA ZINE.

" The State of Europe" should more properly
be called the state of Poland, for it is confined
for the most part to a sketch, pleasing, but
vague and superficial, of the present condition of
that much-aggrieved country. " Narrative of
the late conspiracy at Cadiz," is worth reading,
as its subject imports, and has the advantage of
having been penned by an intelligent eye-witness
of the facts he records. " Elliston's Eccentri-
cities" are incomparably the best Ellistoniana of
the north. The anecdotes are truly graphic and
full of breadth and humour. We know of no-
thing that can excel! the subjoined :
" A gentleman of considerable merit as a provincial
actor, once called, by appointment, at Drury-lane Theatre.
lie found Mr. Elliston, who had then the management,
giving some directions on the stage, and was welcomed by
him with great politeness. The manager, however, think-
ing from the slight conversation that had passed, the gen-
tleman in question did not seem sufficiently impressed with
the greatness of the individual whom he bad the honour
for the first time of addressing, took an odd method of dis-
playing his power and consequence. Yes, Sir,' said Mr.
Elliston, continuing the conversation previously commenced
with a slow and solemn enunciation,—' the drama—is
now—at its lowest ebb ; and—' then suddenly breaking
off, in a loud emphatic voice he called First night
Watchman.'—The man instantly stepped up, and making
his bow stood for orders.—' Anti,' resuming to the actor,
' and unless—a material—change—' again breaking off,
he called, OTHER night watchmen, with peculiar em-
phasis. The call was obeyed as before—' a material change
—I say—takes place,—as Juvenal justly—' Mr.
Prompter.'—The prompter came—' as Juvenal justly ob-
serves—" Box-heeper, dress circle, right hand.'—The
man joined the group,—' but, Sir, a reaction must take
place, when—OTHER Box-keepers.'—The other box-
keepers came Sir, I say there must be a—'
Copyist.'—Copyist arrives,—' must be a—' First
scene shifter.'—The man comes.—' Sir, I say it, a con-
vulsion, which will overturn—' OTHER scene shifter.'—
They all flock round—' and eventually crush even the—'
' call boy.' Mr. Elliston having now, by the power of
his wand, collected all these personages around him, without
seeming to have an idea of providing for their exit, luckily
thought that the easiest way to dismiss them, without de-
rogation to his dignity, would be to make an exit himself;
beckoning, therefore, to the actor, for whose especial bene-
fit this display of authority was got tip, he said, in a slow
and magisterial tone, ' follow me ;' then, in the most dig-
nified manner, be retired to his room, leaving the minions
of his power to guess at his will.
" A clever dramatic author once so far offended the
manager, that, forgetting his dignity, he kicked him out of
the room. This little effervescence of Mr. Elliston of
course produced a coolness on the part of the other ; till
the talents of the latter were so much iR request by the
manager, that he condescended to apologize. Sti'l, how-
ever, the wound was hardly healed, and was alluded to in-
dignantly by the injured poet. ' Come, come, my good
friend,' said Elliston, ' you think too much of it, many
would have rejoiced, and with good cause ; for at all events
it will make you popular !' "
"If ever an actor obtained credit for identifying himself
with the character he represented, it was certainly due to
Mr. Elliston more than to any man on the stage ; for it is a
well known fact, that, during the celebrated representation
of the coronation at Drury-lane, Mr. Elliston was so car-
ried away by the enthusiasm of his profession, that he
verily believed himself to he the royal personage he repre-
sented. When the mimic but gorgeous pageant left the
stage, the acclamations of a crowded house were long and
deafening ; until Elliston, forgetting that he was only the
puppet of royalty, overcome with emotion, burst into
tears, and stretching forth his hands, exclaimed in an al-
most inarticulate voice,—' Bless you, bless you, toy people."'

" Johnson,' Boswell and Croket," is -a' slight
and rather meagre account of a late serviceable
publication. " Spanish High-ways and Bye-
ways is written in an easy natural style. "My
Wife, a whisper," is spirited though far-fetched
and strained in some of its attempts at humour.
" Recollections of Scenes and Cities" will not
derogate from the well-earned reputation of Mr.
Inglis ; and the " Notes on Affairs in General"
are happily selected and pointedly hit off. Alto-
gether the number is an excellent one.