Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-03-12
LETTERS FROM THE METROPOLIS.

The city Theatres have been for some weeks past
in q state of suspended animation : they have now,
however, reopened, but with no very fiatterng sue
cess One of them, the National, has brought out
several OF Shakespeares plays but with no very able
actors land when poor players essay to enuctS
sreares characters the failure is too complete 10 allow
any respect for the attempt. Most Of the establish.
mcnts, however, content themselves with plays OF
MINOR merit but embracing more popular incidents
and better fitted, perhaps for scenic representation.
For unless great genius, like Edmund Kean, is the
actor, agree with Charles Lamb in believing that
Shakespeares tragedies are not capable of being bro't
upon the stage without disappointing the auditors.
Lectures and Evening Concerts have usurped the
place of the theatrical houses and Morality approves
the change. Whatever may be said in favor of the
Drama in the abstract, no possible excuse can exist
for the miserable dens Of pollution which now pass
under the name of Theatres in this city. They are
fruitful sources Of every imaginable vice. We have
had several splendid concerts Of the Sacred Music So
clety during the winter; and foreigner named Leo.
pold Herwg, is turning the heads of our fashonabes
by his wonderful performances on the violin The
mostpop,ar evening entertainments arc the Concerts
oliver, at Nblos, got up in imitation Of those orig
mated by Musard in Paris These merely occa
SONS on which, by paying quarter of dollar, one
can promenade fine hall and talk or listen TO fine
vocal or instrumental music at his pleasure.
Orescs A. Brownson, the notorious Editor of the
Boston Quarterly Review, and importer into this coun
try of the recently promulgated radical doctrines
touching the Laborng Glasses, has been ecturlng at
Philadelphia on the Democracy of Christianity He
is large man, Of fine appearance -pompous and hes
atng in his conversation, and by no means calculated
to impress one, by his manner with the belief that
he is very sincere self denying in his advocacy OF
radical doctrines. He lisa vigorous writer but super.
fetal and unsafe Thinker. fear that he will yet manage
to work much mschiefin this country. He says that
Massachusetts, merit 10 Vermont is the most demo-
cratic state in the Union. This is the testimony Of a
bitter Loco Foco to the character of two of the most
thoroughly Wing commonwealth in the United
States.
In the Literary world have not much of impor-
lance to communicate. The Book trade is especially
dull, indeed except in the the way of repubicatons
scarcely any thing is doing. The Appletons, who are
among our most prominent booksellers, and exceled
by none in the excellence and promptness of their i'm.
poratons, are about to bring out an edition of Camp
bells British Poets This is very excellent compila
ton, and the fine Biographical and Critical Notices
contained in it render 1t doubly valuable. II was
published in England in six volumes octave; sup
posc however, that it will be brought out in full
in this country. To suit the American market, every
thing must be curtaled i; is said that CoopER has
new novel in press in which Leather stocking is again
introduced.
Bulwer's latest romance, Night and Morning, has
just been issued by the Harpers The publication of n
new novel By this eminent writer is tcckonei quite an
in hsloary circles and it is to be
extensively rea shall make no apology for speaking
Oft. II resemble al his other works ard is yet in
some respects, better than any of them. ii has evil
IDENTIFY received greater and study than any for
mer one; indeed Sir Edward is said to have been en-
gagged upon for nearly two years. 1t has less than
LIS usual quantity Of magnificent but worse than
usoles. rhapsody and is not deforned by the loose
mmorallties and utter rrelgion which characterized
Eugene Aram and Paul Clifford. Still its influence
IS corrupng and poisonous, especially to those who
will be most likely to read 1.-THE young, the bold and
enthusiastic hose characters not yet established
upon enduring principles and who are therefore cspe
cally exposed to its seductive philosophy. can sec
no greater propricty in the name than il it were ap.
piled 10 any other romance that has ever been pub
lished: for in them all the hero is involved in long
Night of suffering and vcissule and before the story
is concluded his Morning dawns. So is with this.
It's principal characters some Of them very well,
and others very indilerently, drawn. He has, as
usual splendid villain who spends his life in the
most utterly selfish WILDERNESS running riot in all
the fields Of vice and scnsuay, and is yet taken
by no punishment, not even by for his deeds.
Is this character likely to promote good morals and
to cultivate high regard for integrity! And YET
| there are others in the work much worse than he II
is work of great ability, however, and It's scenes OF
strong passion are drawn in mastery manner
Our various CO rises Of evening lectures are drawing
10 their close Those delivered under the patronage OF
the New York Lyceum have been of great merit and
utility. They were opened by John Quincy Adams
who read two Iecturcs-onc on the Social History Of
| Man. and the las, on Faith Bancroft delivered
6ne scho!arlke and thoughtful Grafton on the Idea
Universal History. Isaac Hill spirited, instructive
and amusing account OF the Mountains and Agrcul
ture of New England, Hon. Theodore Frenghuy
SEN one he Study Of the American Constitution,
Charles flames Esq. on the Spirit Of American
History and to mention omore on last Wednesda,
evening the series closed by lecture from the Rev
DIR Bethune dfPhiladephia, who presented an eoquen
tasteful Grafton upon Athens in the Age of Periccs
1, was an intelligent and pleasing address, upon
theme which can never become trite to the cassica
student and which a man OF a brilliant md sparklin
mind added to thorough mastery of the subject, ma
render attractive even to miscellaneous audience
This Society has been organized but about two years
and is already well established. Their receipts or tn
prosen. series of lectures cannot have been essth
$1,000. Why might not the plan be initiated with sue
changes as the difference in circumstances might die
tate, in Burlington with and beneficial inHu
cnoef know that there is not among you tina
restless seeking for excitement and temporary
mcnt, which impels our citizens to evening rcso
Of the kind but, with such men as you have in ever
respect qualified to mike lectures upon general sui
iects interesting and profitable should apprehend
=, difficulty in the execution Of such scheme.
p, = - $3.50 - ,'a :
see that the amiable youth who directs the 'Spir
Of the Age in your state, most stupidity mi,represcn
a remark in my first letter. for the sole purpose
charging you with falsehood. Please to ask him f
me- if he that there is such thing as poiiic
brotherhood: land if yea how much out of the wa
should be- were 10 speak of Eastman md his 'sis
Fanny Wright Ishall not do il, however. for a
i sure the bright Venus Of Democracs' would demu
II TO the relationship. VERMONT.
n WASHING TON, Monday, March !. 1871.