Star.
London, England, 1828-11-12 00:00:00

LI TER ATMS.

11'ollekens and his Times; comprehending a Life of that
celebrated Sculptor. 4.c. ;c. ilyJnua THOMAS SMITH,
Keerer of the Prints and Di ass ings in the British
din-,eurn. Two vols. Svo. London: Colbutn.
The audio, informs us, in his preface to these vo-
lumes. that he was the pupil for thtee years, and the
intimate acquaintance lor neatly sixty, of the individual
of wh m he has now become the biographer.
Po:,,e-sea of tl.ese advantaoes, few could have been
better qualified for the task which he has undertaken,
and which, we ale glad to congratulate him, he has so
sue esstully accomplished.
J i-eph Nollekens, we are informed, was born in Lon-
Jon in 1737 ; was placed, at the age of thirteen, under
the care and insttuction of Scheemakers, at that time
an eminent sculptor in Vine street, Piccadilly.
In 1760 he went to Rome, where he met with Garrick
and Stet ne, and gained the Pope's gold medal fur a
basso.retievo.
" During Mr. Nollekens' residence at Rome lie purchased, among
other articles by which be made considerable sums of money, nu-
merous pieces of ancient Roman terra cottas, some of exquisite taste,
fri ni the labourers who were employed digging gravel at Porta
Latina ; they were mostly discovered at the bottom of a dry well,
and must evidently have been placed there for security. Nolleiens,
who bought them for a mere trifle, sold them, upon his arrival in
England, to Mr. Towuly, and, together with that Gentleman's
zombies, they have since b..en porclinsed by Government for a
considerable sum, and are now let into the walls of the first room
of the Gallery of Antiquities in the British Museum."—Chap. 1.
pp. ?-10.
Noliekens, even in early life, was avaricious to the
last degree, and his mode of living whilst at Rome dis-
gusting in the extreme. He married, shortly after his
return to England, Mary, the second daughter of
Saunders Welch, Esq. the successor in the magistracy'
to his friend Henry Fielding. on his departure tot Lis-
bon.. Mts. Nollekens proved the exact counterpart t f
het husband in respect to parsimony=indeed, if possi•
ble, aimed is to a more contempttble extreme. The
following extract wiilsufficiently illustrate this:.
.4 At the corner of her house there was a small part of the street
railed in, on which she gave a poor woman leave to place a few
apples for sale upon a bit of an old napkin. To this miserable.
Minded widow she was seen to go when she intended to treat the
family w;th a dumpling, with the aluestion of ' Pray, Goody, how
many apples can yoo let rue have for a penny ?' and, touching her
legit thimb with the fore linger of her right hand, she continued,
4 for there's my husbnnil, myself, and two servants, and we must
have one a piece.' • Well,' observed the miserable dependent,
4 you must take them.'
The au:hur says—
I have several times heard Mr. Nollekens say he had frequently
Seen llogarth, when a young man, saunter round Leicester-Sekls,
with hi, master's sickly child hanging its Lead over its shoulder;
and whilst we are speaking of that eminent and eccentric artist I
may remark, that my father once asked Barry, the painter, if he
bad ever seen Ilogarth? ' Yes,once,' he replied. I was walking
thrpui;ll cranbournt.alley with Joe Nonekens, when he exclaimed,
• There! there's Hogarth!" What,' said that little man in the
sky-blue coat ?' Off I ran; and though I lost sight of him only fur
a moment or two, when I turned the corner into Cutle-street, he
was patting one of two quarrelling boys. and, looking steadfastly at
the expression of the coward's face, cried, D—n him if I would
take it of him—at him again.'"—Chap. ii. p. 4s.
We I egret we twee not space to make further eitracts
from this amusing publication, which ciutains a fund
o. anecdote and literary gossip of the most eminent in-
dividuals of the last century ; together with some va-
luable topographical it foe mation, which we must en-
deavour to lay before our readers at some early op-
portunity.

ALMANACS.
the British Almanac of the Society for the Diffusion of
Useful Knowledge, for the Year 1829. CHARLES
KNIGHT, PA Mall East.
O•ir readers will i t collect that an Almanac for the pre-
sent Year has been already puhlished by the &Kir ty for
the Diffusion of Useful Know ledge; and that the object of
the Society in that Publication was to present a Work to
tie British Pubiic which should be useful to all classes,
and at the same titre purified from the absurdities which
characterised other publications of a similar character.
In this attempt the Society was completely successful.
The Work, owing to the late period of the year in which
it was undertaken, was not published, if our memory,
serve. us tight, until alter a month or two of the pre-
sent year had elapsed, and the Public, in consequence,
had got postiession of other publications at a similar,
nature; but notwithstanding this disadvantage it had a
large sale, and. the Companion to it, which was after-
wards published, a still lari:ser. The present Almanac
it, in fact, the produce of the encouragement given to.
the first, and is distinguished by the same pure and
useful information, and the same absence of as:rological
aboudities, which characterised it.
Fr um An Almanac we cannot well give extracts : but
as a specimen of the useful character of the one tn.w
under consis.eration, we give its observations on the
weather-
- There is, perhaps, no subject •of more -universal
inteie t in the whole range of natural knowledge
than that of the unceasing fluctuations which take
pLice in the atmosphere in which we are immersed.
*ft e interest, tl.e health, the enjoyment, or the
• convenience of every one is, more or less, con-
stantly affected by the weather, and the general anx-
iety hence arising gises rise to perpetual endeavours
to prognosticate its changes. In this, as in mote impor-
tant matters, the curir.sity and incredulity of the igno-
rant have been made the spurt of the ar.ful and de-
signing ; and prophecies upon this subject, if less in-
jurious than upon others, have certainly not been less
absurd.
It But although we neither pretend to prophesy out:
selves, nor to teach the art of prop! esying to uthers;
we are of opinion that useful anticipations may be
formed upon the safe principle, that like causes always,
prctlnce like effects. it is thus that we anticipate cold
in w inter and he4t in summer ; and, for masons
not quite as obvious, but which will be hereafter
explained, we expect the driest winds in March,
and a period of heavy rain in July. We ab-
jure the legend of St. Swithin; but do not doubt the
experience upon which it was engrafted. We have
.. great ;aspect, also, fur the judgment of the gardener
• and the mariner tip,in atmospheric changes ; for they
form their opinir•ns upon constant observations of
phenomena which escape the attention of those who
are less exposed to their influence. Observations
such as these science will aid and extend, not change;
and, tse doubt not, that if the same pains were
taken to Teat' the knowledge of useful inventions
in this deparimeat of science, as have hitherto been
clew( tsd to perpetuate error, the spirit of Inquiry,
assisted by such artificial means, would largely extend
our knowledge of Nieteoruhrgy and its useful applica-
tions. Of the advantage of such an unii.n, we have
a remarkable instance in our own days, in the adoption
of th.• Marine Barometer. Even common sailors are now
acquainted with the use• of this instrument, and to its

zirnely awning: many a valualde ship is acknow.edged
to owe its preservation.
r• Such useful knowledge in this depa tment f nature,
it will be our aim to substitute For the abut! di!ies with
which the popular almanacs have hitheito b.:en aisii-
gated. The unfolding of ow plan we must leave to
tin e: for few peopl can be aware of the extent of the
information which may be extracted born the
works of different individuals who have made this sub•
ject their study: this information, however, has never
been collected into a popular form; but it shall be
our endeavour to divest it of such unnecessary ob:cu-
rity as the less learned are subject to find in the obser-
vations of scientific men..

THEATRES.

~~

DRURI-LANE.
This Theatre had last night to.boast of an audience,
though not numerous, much more fashionable than is
usual at this petiod of the year, to witness the debut of
Mr. BRAHAM, for the present season, in his favourite
character of Henry Bertram, in the operatic play, of
(iuy Mannering. The estimation in which this highly:
gifted vocalist is held by the town is so well known,
that it is almost needless for us to say, that the
greeting which he received horn the audience on his
entree was most cordial and flattei ivg ; and in his
per.ormance of the part, or rother, we should say, in
his style of singing the sings assigned to him, he
gave proof that hi, power of delighting his bearers is
not yet in the wane. He introdut ed, in the course of
the Piece, as usual, several of his most popular songs—
among them, .6 The Death of Abercrombie," 6, The
King, GOD bless him !" and 6. Scots wha hae we Wal-
lace bed ;" in all of which he was rapturously encored.
In the'llnet of 6. Now hope, now fear," which he sting
with Miss LOVE., he was also most warmly greeted....
Miss Love placed Julia ittatiner ing, and was qiiite easy
in the Colonel's mad-cap se ter. She introduced the
favourite. Air of 66 I've been 'naming," and a new song
composed for her by A. LEE), "The Hunter's signal
horn is sounding," in both of which she was encored.
The litter will, we doubt not, become a tavoorite.
Miss RUSSELL made her third appearance before a
London audience in the character of Lucy Bertram
This young Lady pos-esses a voice combroing consi-
derable power and much sweet, ess. She introduced
66 The last Rose of Sllmmer,"and 6. The Saldrer Ladder."
LISToN's Dominic Sampson, was milked by his original
vein of humour, and, exerted as usual, convulsed the
audience most prodigiously. Mrs. FAIJCIT sustained
the difficult character of Meg Merilies, with a force
and determination which had a powerful effect on the
feelings of the audience; in the dying scene she was
particularly effective.- The Play, on the whole, was
strongly cast, and went off with eclat.
The Play acs f rhos. e.l.by a new Farce, from the pen
of Mr. Lunn, called 'thyme and iteason. The. whole
weight of the piece tests upon the shoulders r f Lisron
and Wm. FAnnesh Toe latter sustained the character
of Mr. Helicon Heeltap, a retired shoemak'er f:oret St.
Mai): Axe, to his teat in the country. Having accu
mulcted a fortune of 3.0001. a year, he deter mines to
withdraw hum trade with his only daughter Harriet, and
having a passion for the Muse-, to.turn4iet.tleman,and
become a man of letters at the same time. To.aid him in
effecting b. th these objects, he seeks the as-istanee f+f Sir
Simon Srnatterall (Li-Ton), a sort of mindescript being.
having a slight smattering of every thing, and an ex.
celient opinion of his own talent. ' undertakes
to get Mr. Heeltap. elected a Member of the Literary
Club, established in the vtliage in which he (Heellap)
has purchased an estate, and assumed the character of a
,tientlenrara. As a reward for this *service on.the part
of the Knight, Heeltap promised Mitt the hand of his
daughter, with a liberal dowry, which, as the Knight
has 1.0 fortune, except his title and personal chainis,
are no slight teniptatiaos t r hini. The incidents
of the piece arise out of the failure of Heel:iris
attempt ,to impose himself on the Members of the
L terary Club, owing to his" utter ignorant.', and
his frequent vulgar allusions to his old trade and
calling, and in the various scrapes and difficulties 'in
which air Simon Smatterall finds himself involved, in
consequence of his anxiety to interpose his services fox
the purpose of rendering every one happy. Front this
ootline it will easily be conceived that the. characters
given to LISTON and FARREN by the author- ate well
suited to the peculiar talents of each t.i these sterling
actors; and they made the most of the pars assigned
to them, and carried the piece through with fall success.
At tha fell of the curtain there were ft few dissentients,
but they were kly silenced, on Mi. LtsTan'S coming
forward and announcing the piece for repetition to.
morr,w evening.
•

COVENT—GARDEN.
The Opera prtwuted hint season at tilis Theatre as
MOZART'S "Seraglio," but which, as v e had then oc-
sion to state, was no such tlin.g, has been revived, and
was perlotmed last night. It presented iv.) other novelty
than the substitution rif Mr. TAYLOR in the part of
Belmont, lot merly su,t .ined by Samos an.! of Mt. J
Rt.:amt. in PERSON'S character' f ()stain. Mis%ll UGH ES
appearance in her original character of Costanza,
afforded hi r an opportunity of showing that she is st,si•
duous vie cultivation of her fine powers. She sang
the difficult music of the fist scene in a style .-f marked
improvement. Madame VESTRIS was playiul and
pleasing as usual in Blonda, and the CaWses well main•
tained their prominent ,tatinr.s it. the o,:era. WARD'S
acting was impressive, and received its deserved al.-
plause.

• About ten days ago, a p or girl belonging. to Alloa,
while gathering potatoes in an empty field in the neigh-
bonrhold, was so much alarmed by a dog which cane
, puritut of her, that she tan away in a state of the
utmost tenor. Such was the effect the circumstance
PrOduced upon her, that she had to be taken home,
where she lingered uuder a strong nervous affection for
eight days, when she died.
SHITKING ACCIDENT.—On the night of Thursday.
the 23d ultimo, Isabella Syme, a widow, belonging to
Duntetmline, met with a fatal accident. About eight
o'clock on the night in question, it being quite clear
from moon-light, she was • accompanying a wom%n
named Catharine Ferley,on her way home to the neigh-
briurhood of Colross. and both a ere about to pan,
standing on the ferinpath, near Orchquart Farm, when
an empty cart, drawn by a couple of horses, came furi-
ously towards. them, and rode over Isabella Syme, the
shaft of the cart striking her a dreadful blow on the
back of the head, which dislocated her neck. She fell
dead upon the spot.
Saturday. the Tyne steam boat, on her passage from
Newcastle to Shields, got aground, which was attributed
to the moter having taken a wherry in tow.
.Several
of the passengers oho had purchased geese, &c.
at
Newcastle marker. being aware that should they wait
the return of the tide they would be too late le r Shields
market, engaged a boat to carry themselves and awes,
and at the same time refused to pay the steam boat the
whole of the fare, when the master detained four geese,
the owner of , which means to lay his case before the
Mayor of Newcastle.