Star.
London, England, 1829-08-06 00:00:00

THE DRAMA.

We were yesterday present at the representation of a new piece
produced at the Haymarket, denominated Nothing Superfluous—
in which the author, or rather are translating play-vamper, is said
himself to pemonate a character. This new attempt, we are
mortified to report, has nothing original in it but its dulness, and
is spoiled from a neat little French piece we have seen a hundred
times on the minor French Theatres, and played to satiety some
years ago, for the amusement of bumble Cyprians and the " petit
people," at the CalF Mootansler, in the Palais Royal. It is truly
deplorable that we should thus, year after year, be wholly in-
debted to French invention for the novelties of our theatre.
To the dramatists of Paris is intrusted the double task of pro-
viding both for their own stage and ours, and the servile readiness
with width we either pilfer or borrow wholesale from them, to the
utter exclusion of our ow• efforts, is more than a tacit acknow-
ledgment of their superiority. And it is humiliating to the Sowers

of nazi .nal drama to think that every little trifle, written merely
for Cie passing occasion, and the stage of some eubotleate " spec-
tacles " in the French capital, should he considered of set:lcier:,
import :trice to be re-produced with pompotn pretensions at our win •
ter and summer theatres, as if the left off garbage of our neigh-
bours was dainty food, sufficiently good to aliment the best English
taste. The long dearth of new original dramatic production in
:his country, contrasted with the amazing fertility of dramatic
ges:iui in France, calls for attentive inquiry ; for it is as strange as
depressing to reflect, that our drama, so long successfully com-
pet:ng with the art in France, should In our drys give in so spirt •
lessly—nay, almost without an effort—to sustain any further rivalry.
In France the severe chastity*. the stage, diligently watched
by zealous Literati. still preserving the good old custom of
sitting in nightly judgment on the (rot t Bench -s of the Pit
expressly divided off for their accommodation, excellent regu-
lations, inviolably maintained, and a judicious police on the
must active alert to repress all expression or appearance of im-
propriety with the audience, have made the theatre a safe re,oz t
for the moral and intellectual. The dissolute are there constrained
to preserve the show of decency as strictly as if congregated in a
church, and from the Pit to the Gallery a modest woman may
venture alone to a theatre, without exposing herself to the small-
est rudeness or obscenity. This, by rendering such enter:tan.-
merits respectable. fills them with people of al classes, who
thus can profess to be play-goers without incurring censure
from the most fastidious; and thus always certain of a
respectable audience, the writers of France consider the theatre
as the most glorious arena. On the other hand, the merit of their
pi:auctions never depending on the doubtful or capricious judg-
ment of a single man :ger, or secret inquisition of sonic ante demob
of a reader,—but fairly judged by a competent independent com:
mittee, responsible to the public for their opinion, they are en-
couraged to dedicate their hours to a study they can prosecute to
its success, without the humiliation of dancing attendance un some
player in office, who, forsooth, is to judge what is, or what is not
to be received as fit offering to the stage. The success of a
price interests the public, besides, so much in the author, that
he is invariably demanded to present himself, in order to re-
ceive the tribute of their applause. Ili* name. as the writer, is
attached to every play-bill; he is well remunerated for his Li
hours ; his copyright descends as an inheritance to the third gene
ration; nor can a piece be performed in any theatre in Franc-.
without a portion of the proceeds being deposited with the antls -
titles of the place in favour of its writer or his heirs : now all
this is the reverse in England.
Our stage is irregular and licentious; its pit, boxes, and gallery,
present the must shocking spectacle of disorder and Minion:lo
The success accorded to the most miserable trash, removes all
ambition front the worthy, to obtain applause by any legitimate
effort. A gentleman who would sacrifice to that Dramatis
Muse must descend to solicit and importune some Ildr. Pales,
KIMBLE, Mtill3l3, ARNOLD, or &UM: who is to blues
hot or cold on his labour, just as his convenience may suit,
or bit own private judgmeot dictate. A It r MOLDS, or a
MORTON, who scarcely ever rose to mediocrity, shall be called its
to pass judgment ; and these assuming to he important critics, ca •
pable of selecting or rejecting, in the name of the nation, what •
ever the writer may offer to the dramatic literature of the countr),
will save or damn in their closets at one word without compunction,
just as they puff off any stage misery the managers may like t
physic the people oldie!. While one of the elect, rieliculons
as a Berton, anxious that the drama shall wear the cant cons-
pleaion of the times, snivelling about new light and regenera•
tion, will give a play meant to depict real society and man-
ners, all the shape of a religious tract. If, however, the author
is persevering enough to overcome all these obstacles, the actor
is alone applauded, while be remains unknown, and is remu-
nerated less than any indifferent writer of ghost story or flip-
pant novel that may choose to ink paper. All this cries• aloud
for reform, or in a little time the Theatres of the country will very
properly be wholly, as they are already partially, abandoned for
the Italian and French Houses, conducted in this very capital in a
manner in superior to our own. By the bye, Mr. %iorris's music,.
WAS more than usually riotous last evening : we wonder if the pro •
stitutes who frequent it have the free entry of the House.

CO MMEICCTILT EEL I GENCE.

~.

The dealings in Brazil Shares are pretty extensive.
Tuesday they realised 731. per share; but yesterday afternoon they
were not worth more than 691. 104 per share. The National Bra-
zilian Shares rose from 91. 10s. to 111. per Share. Real del Monte
are at 70i. per share.

The crops are very fine in the neighbourhood of The
Fens of Lincolnshire. and the farmers seem to have ceased croJk-
lag for a short period.
Wheat-cutting has very generally commenced in this
neighbourhood. Oa an examination of several ears, we found the
&evel shrivelled and Indurated, and not above half its usual size.—
Chronicle.

The crops about Dumfries look remarkably well, and
are in a state of great forwardness. Harvest will be pretty general
le the course of two weeks.

In the Rhinns of Galloway (Scotland), area lower
down, all sorts of provisions are cheap at present. Fifty-two
pounds of new potatoes can be bought [or a shilling ; large fresh
herrings, according to the take. at a halfpenny each, or three for a
penny ; rock cod for three farthings, and excellent salmon at six-
pence the pound.
LANG 11 01. M FA I n.—The great annual mart for lambs
and wool was held at Langbolm, on Tuesday last, the 28th tilt.—
In point of numbers, the show was inferior to that of last year—
there being only 13 000 exposed—but as regards prices, we are
happy to Aare, that the breeders, considering the present slap d
condition of the markkts in general, experienced no great cause of
complaint.

HASTINGS. AVG. 4.—The Hotels, Libraries, Arcade,
Ece. of this fashionable watering-place exhibit an ekgant display
of beauty and fashion, and the promenade near the sea may vie
with any fashionable lounge, enlivened as it is by an excellent band.
Bums has commenced his theatrical campaign, and has engaged
Min GRADDOII, who nightly meets with those sounds so soothing,
to the ear as " encore," " bravo," &c Hiss Wsrsos is engaged
and will shortly make her appearance.
BRI6IITON, AVG. 4.—Thu Races at Lewes ct.m..
menced this day with favourable weather, cloudy but free front
rain, and this place, as usual, contributed Imply to the show
of fashion on the Course. Among the company were—The
i Duke and Duchess of Richmond, Lady G. Paget, and Lord
G. Rentinck ; the Rals of Sheffield, Mountcharles, Chichester,
Stradbroke, &c. The actor was animated and cheerful. The
Duchess of Richmond patronised the performances at the Theatre
lad night, and, with the Duke and suite, occupied the King's buy.
The House was elegantly visited.
By the Boston Papers received this morning at the
North and Sauth American Coffee-house to the 12th July,
it appears a small shock of an earthquake was felt at St.
Thomas's.

By the French mail this morning, we have the follow-
ing piece of news from Gibraltar, 16th July : —" A pay-
master of the 94th regiment, in garrison here, has ab-
sconded with money to Spain ; live soldiers who were
going to follow him were taken, and sentenced to receive
600,1 ashes. The day before yesterday, arrived here the.
brig William, from Terceira: at her departure the inha-
bitants were in the highest spirits.
Accounts from Constantinople of the 7th July, state,
that the embarkation of troops at Odessa, which was
known in the above capital, caused great anxiety to the
population. Sir R. Gordon has frequent audiences of the
Reis Effendi ; and it is believed that General Diebitsch
will not consent to an armistice, before he is positively
informed of the intentions of the Sultan. The D::tch
Ambassador is on the point of leaving, and the fever
on board the Turkish fleet augments daily.
From Berlin of date the 25th July, we hear that the
Duchess and Prince GEOROE of CUMBERLAN D nad
just then departed for London.
At the same time his Excellency the Lieutenant-6mi.
Scitot.en, Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary to the Court of St. Petersburgh, had
taken his departure for St. Petersburgh.
From Petersburgh, July 22, it is stated, that on the
13th of that month the Emenno a arrived at Tscherni-
jou, where he reviewed the camp of the Turkish prisoners.
They are said to amount to the enormous number of
42,000 men ; out of which the Eat YEROR dismissed to
their homes 21 officers and 300 privates, on account of
advanced age, or having numerous families.
Accounts received this morning from Rio Janeiro, of
the 6th June, by a ship at Guernsey, brings the ex,:
change at 24. No political news had occurred ; the April
packet was to sail on the 14th June.
. Letters are in town from Oporto to the 14th July. We
do not hear they bring any thing of importance. Up to
the present hour we have no further newt from the East.

SIR HUMPHRY DAVY, BARONET.
The Gazette of Health for the present month, in its
medical obituary, has the following notice of this lamented
man. Before proceeding to quote, we must apprize our
readers that the present number of the Gazette contains
a variety of valuable information. Among other matters
there is a notice of the late-Inuch esteemed Dr. Dtarcat N,
Professor of the Theory of Medicine in the University of
Edinburgh, and of Dr. YouNG, Fellow of the College of
Physicians, and Physician to the Middlesex Hospital.
In its miscellaneous intelligence, we have speculations on
all subjects relating to the practice of medicine, from the
obstetric art down to the qualities of wheat flour (or ra-
ther potatoe starch)—and the preservation of potatoes.
But, with the exception of the notice of our distinguished
countryman and eminent philosopher, Sir HUMPIIRY
D v 1,, we can make room for no other extract from the
valuable contents of the Gazette of Health for August :
The depth of an eminent philosopher, and successful cultivator
of science, is certainly one of the greatest lows the world can suf-
fer ; for this noble class of men enjoy the rare felicity of confer-
ring en their species inestimable stores of knowledge and happiness,
without ever being under the necessity of inflicting a single pang of
woe. What warrior can contemplate the strewed field of battle,
without shuddering at the expense at which his laurels have been
gathered? What statesman ever proposed a measure for the benefit
of his country, which did not entail ruin on many of his fellow-
citizens? The philosopher and man of science alone enjoy the sin-
gular satisfaction, the moment they lave established a discovery, of
enriching the knowledge, alleviating the misery, sod extending the
happiness of the human race, to an incalculable extent, without its
being in the power of any individual to cast a reflation so their
noble work. Of all the eminent philosophers who have adorned
the pap of history, none ever passed to the silent tomb with greater
claims on the gratitude of man, than Sir Hutr.phry Davy, when
numerous, brilliant, and splendidly useful discoveries in philosophy,
have enriched and extended that science to a vast degree ; when
name is as well known and respected in every country of the civi.
fixed world, as it is in his own native land, over which it has shed
so grateful a lustre, and the memory of whose genius and weeks
will be preserved in the minds of men, so long as knowledge and
virtue shall endure. Sir Htimphry Davy was one of those rare is.
dividnals whose talents enabled him to surmount the difficulties in-
separable from an obscure birth, and defective preliminary educa-
tion. These obstacles, however, when once mastered, may be con-
sidered rather to have been advantages; for the independent feeling
of the man of genius that he is indebted to his own exertions far
his present elevation, is the greatest stimulus to a farther advance.
meat ; and hence it happens, that the ultimate station of the man
of talents never bears a proportion to the humbleness of his origin.
Is the paths of science, like those of religion, the rule of " he that
is last shall be first," is generally found to obtain. Sir Humphry
was a native of Penzance. His preliminary education was greatly
defective, and he never obtained, in subsequent life, a knowledge
of the classics. If, however, he did not enjoy the benefits of a
classical education, at least he escaped its numerous defects ; for
that part of his life which would have been devoted to the useless
and hurtful drudgery of learning Greek and Latin, was employed
• in more practically useful lessons. The ardour and success with
which be entered, at a very early period of life, on the study and
cultivation of an abstruse science, is a strong argument against the
present system of education, where the years of boyhood are spent
in acquiring, by rate, classical knowledge, at the expense both of
the health of the mind and body, only to be thrown away and for-
gotten as manhood advances, instead of being employed in obtain-
ing a knowledge of the European languages, and of the more simple
and elementary sciences.

The late Dr. Beddoes. himself an accomplished philosopher.
has the honour to have di-covered the talents of the youthful Davy,
and to his generous patronage the world is in a great measure in-
debted for the unfolding of a genius which has since been so much
admired.

" Slow rises merit, by poverty depressed."
Under the auspices of this acoomplished and generous-minded man,
Mr. Davy came to London, where, buried in the heart of the
mighty metropolis, he pursued his studies with a degree of ardour
seldom witnessed. At this period of his life, the writer of this
article had an opportunity of becoming acquainted with him, at a
small society composed of Dr. Babingtoo, Mr. Richard Knight,
Mr. Pepys, and the then unknown philosopher, established by
these enthusiastic individuals for the cultivation of chemical science.
This mull society of kindred men held its sittings in the city, and
the member* were in the habit of cooking their owe beef-steaks
and potatoes, in order that even that necessary operation might be
conducted on strictly chemical principles. At this society, it is
said, Mr. Pepys; since so well known in the chemical world, first
discovered the decomposition of the alkali by means of the galvanic
fluid, but the research was prosecuted by Davy, and bow well he
has performed his task, the world has not now to learn. Through
the kindness of Dr. Beddoes, Davy was introduced to Mr. Davies
Gilbert, and Count Rumford; and by their influence he was ap-
pointed Lecturer on Chemistry at the Royal Institution ; and soon
after, by the promulgation of his discoveries in reference to the
composition of the alkali, and the publication of his truly philoso-
phical papers in the Transactions of the Royal Society, his reputa-
tion rose to a height, which no man in his department of science
ever before attained ; and honours and emoluments flowed rapidly
en the discoverer. Of the estimation in which his genies
was held, nothing affords a more striking example, than his election
as a member of the Institute of Paris, the most scientific body in
Europe, at a period when England and France were Whined
against each other by an aggravated war; and when the enticed
animosity and prejudice had reached such an extent, that the in-
habitants of the two countries scarcely looked on each other in the
light of human beings. The invention of the safety lamp, due not
to accident, but to the calm deliberation of a strong inductive mind,
may be considered as one of his most useful discoveries. In con-
sequence of its introduction into use, the great saving of human
life and happiness which it has effected, does not require to be told.
The improvements introduced by Davy in the coppering of vessels
have also been highly beneficial to his country. In short, whether
man penetrate Into-the bowels of the earth, live on the surface of
the waters, or ascend into the regions of the clouds, there the kindly
genius of Davy pursues and guards him. Among the many plea.
stares Davy reaped from his reputation, none could have been more
gratifying to him, than the love and esteem of Mrs. Apreece, which
it procured for him. That amiable lady soon bestowed her band
and large fortune on the Philosopher : and although circumstances
occurred to interrupt somewhat their mutual happiness, still we
have reason to know, that she retained a respect and admiration of
her husband to the last. Her feeling attentions to him on his
death-bed, mark low little, notwithstanding the numerous reports
to the contrary, her affection was diminished by the progress of
time. The favourite amusement of Sir Humphry in his leisure
hours was fly-fishing, which he pursued with extraordinary avidity.
It 'ls said, that his mind during these times increased in viguir,
and that when apparently engaged la a trifling amusement, it was
really occupied in reflection on those abstruse subjects. which it
afterwards elucidated in so perfect a manner. Sir Humphry pub-
lished a small work entitled Hours of Fly4thing. He was also
remarkably fond oilfield spat., and during the last winter of his
life, spent at Rome, be seldom omitted a day witkoutvnjoying his
favourite recreation. It is amusing to contemplate the differeot
"omits which men of genius follow, with the view of relaxing
and strengthening their mind. Certain it is, that the strongest
evind, like the body, requiem' repose and nourishment. But, alas!
•e most elaltedlenen most share the common fate of raorudity.'
Sit Hompbry's great metal exertions induced a deeesenination of
blood to the head, and his method of diet and regimen did not

tend to ameliorate his condidon. He became attacked by a para-
lytic stroke. During last winter be travelled to Italy for the
benefit a his health. At Borne he was an object of great interest
to all die men of science in that celebrated capital, and to his
countrymen, whopald him every honour. But the nature of his
illness did not It him for mingling in the polished sodety of modern
Rome. He was attacked, during his residence, by a second para-
lytic stroke. His brother, Dr. Davy, and his amiable Lady, has-
tened to his assistance. He improved somewhat in health, and
was enabled to reach Geneva in the beginning of May, where,
however, in his fiftieth year, his disease at length terminated his
edstence. Thus has beaked the career of the greatest chemical
philosopher that has ever appeared, and certainly one of the
greatest benefactors of the human race. In closing this little
Memoir, it would be superfluous to attempt to pus a panegyric on
one so universally known and revered. We therefore have " left
him alone with his glory."