"He is the child of legislative mystery, the base-born of bigoted old custom and Madam Double-meaning, and wears in his rascal looks the bend-sinister that declares his origin. "The Common Informer walks not in high life. Portland Square is to him a desert-an Arabia Petrea: he can gain nothing from looking in at "Grillon's," or "The London Hotel:❞ no, he eschews Albemarle Street, and snuffs his prey afar in the City Road-in the Borough. His quarry is at some "Goat and Compasses' in an alley-some "Bag o' Nails" in a back street for there he has had good intelligence of social iniquity; there, at both hostelries, the landlords have-music!" The miseries of The Family Governess are set forth by a lady, who seemeth to rejoice in the name of Winter. "Four years had wearily rolled over her head, but ten seemed to be added to her age. Her light, graceful figure had become large and heavy from want of air and exercise, and from torpidity of mind; her eye was dull, her cheek sallow, her manner apathetic; she suffered from constant head-ache; the daily walk of one hour round the eternal gravel walks of the square fatigued her almost to fainting. When, at last, left to herself at the close of each long day, she was unable to enjoy her leisure, but sunk exhausted into sleep. Her nights were either one continued heavy slumber, or disturbed with frightful dreams, and spent in restless, tossing wakefulness; forms and faces unbidden began to haunt her, and flit about her even in the day; she had become irritable to a degree that made her life a perpetual struggle to avoid giving offence." 66 ALTHOUGH we had heard of this work before, we had never seen it, and its arrival operated as a most agreeable surprise." We were not prepared for so handsome, so well printed, and so ably edited a periodical, from a provincial (Doncaster) press. Judging from the present number of the Naturalist, as a specimen, Mr. Stafford need not fear to compete with his brother typographers of the metropolis. Nor are the literary contents of the Naturalist less satisfactory. On the Varieties of British Forms, and the Diagnosis of Allied Species On the Value of Plates and Illustrations as subservient to the Study of Natural Historyand Sketches of European Ornithology-are exceedingly interesting papers but with no A Narrative of the Loss of the Ship Harriet, (Whaler,) of London, which was wrecked on a Reef of Coral Rocks off the Fejee Island, in the South Pacific Ocean, on the 16th of July, 1837. By Charles Sparshatt, of Stoke Newington, one of the Crew. 1839. THIS interesting and affecting little narrative is published, by the Philanthropic Society, with the benevolent view of raising, by its sale, a small sum to meet the expenses of the writer, while under medical treatment for deafness, and also to provide an outfit for a future voyage. The Harriet, a fine vessel, well manned and appointed, sailed from the Thames on the 1st of After the loss of her commander, (Mr. Christie,) June, 1837, under the most favourable auspices. who was put on shore in the Bay of Islands, the principal harbour in New Zealand, where he died, the Harriet cruized, with indifferent success, between the coasts of Holland and New Zealand, till May, 1837. Subsequently, intendislands to the north-east of the Bay of Islands, ing to cruize amongst the various groups of she suddenly struck on a reef of coral rocks, off the Fejee Islands, called Providence Shoals, which had not been accurately laid down in the charts. All efforts to get the vessel off proving unavailable, the crew took to the boats, and many of them were lost. The sufferings of the survivors, who drifted, in their boats, towards Wallis's Island, a distance of 700 or 800 miles from the rock on which they were cast away, were dreadful. At length they made land, where they were stript and otherwise ill-treated by the savage natives; but they fortunately escaped with their lives. Subsequently, the writer of this narrative, with nine or ten others, reached a more friendly island, where they lived some time with the natives, and were well treated. On the arrival of an English whaling brig, the Guide, belonging to Sydney, seven of them were taken on board in room of men who wished to leave her. They continued to cruise in the Guide till August, 1838, when they arrived at Sydney. There, after a time, poor Charles Sparshatt got on board another London whaler, the Chieftain, and at length reached the London Docks in safety, on the 19th of February, 1839. We have noticed this little statement, not only from its intrinsic interest, but because we happen personally to know that the writer is an industrious and most deserving youth, whose friends are, unfortunately, not in a station to afford him the pecuniary aid he requires. Select Necrology. PROFESSOR RIGAUD. TOWARDS the latter end of March, suddenly, whilst on a visit in London, Rigaud, Savilian Professor of Astronomy, at Oxford. Professor Rigaud was matriculated of Exeter College at the early age of sixteen, and had never been absent from Oxford so much as a single year during the period which has since elapsed, little short of half a century. Eminently qualified for mathematical pursuits, he was enabled to recover and ascertain many particulars respecting Bradley, Harriot, Hadley, and other eminent scientific men, the biography of whom had been previously neglected. No one could be more desirous of fulfilling all the duties of life, and none ever surpassed him as a son or as a parent. Twelve years ago he had the misfortune to lose his wife, a bereavement which he felt most acutely, and from that time he devoted himself with all the energy and ardour of his character to the education and care of his children. Yet even this attachment was not suffered to absorb his thoughts and to interfere with his professional duties as a lecturer and an observer; and he was ever forward to promote the cause of science, either in London or in Oxford, where he was one of the originators of the Ashmolean Society, and a frequent contributor to it of papers, most of which have been published. Simplicity and innocence of mind he possessed in a peculiar degree. He was no less remarkable for integrity, veracity, and genuine humility; qualities which were combined with great forbearance in judging others, with warm and zealous affection to his friends, and with devoted loyalty to the four sovereigns whom he had, in succession, the honour of serving. His illness, sudden and unexpected, he bore with resignation and Christian fortitude. His sufferings were severe, but happily they were of short duration. Mr. Rigaud, in 1831, printed the miscellaneous works and correspondence of Dr. Bradley, to which, in 1833, he added a supplement, including an account of Harriot's papers. In 1838 he published some valuable notices on the first publication of Newton's Principia. These were all printed at the University press; and at the time of his death he was diligently employed in editing a valuable collection of original letters from men of eminence in the scientific world, from the originals among the papers of Mr. Jones, father of Sir William Jones, now preserved in the library of the Earl of Macclesfield. Mr. Rigaud was a frequent contributor to the scientific journals of his day: to the Transactions of the Royal Society, to Brewster's Journal, and to the Nautical Magazine. In the Transactions of the Ashmolean Society will be found, by him, remarks on the proportionate quantities of rain at different seasons in Oxford; a paper on the Arenarius of Archimedes; and an account of some early proposals for steam navigation; and at the commencement of the present year, he read before the same society an interesting paper on Captain Savery and his steam engine, which will, probably, appear in the next volume of their Transactions. SIR HERBERT TAYLOR. AT Rome, after a long and lingering illness, on the 20th of March, Sir Herbert Taylor, remembered as Secretary to his Majesty George III., and as the confidential friend of the late Duke of York. Sir Herbert was born on the 29th September, 1775, and was elder brother to the Right Hon. Sir Brook Taylor, distinguished as a diplomatist, and second son of the late Rev. Edward Taylor, of Bifrons, in Kent, by Margaret Payler, his wife, descended from a family seated at Sutton Valence, whose ancestor was in King Henry the Seventh's household. Sir Herbert was a Lieutenant-General in the army (May 27, 1825), G.C.B. and K.G.H., Principal Aide-de-Camp to Queen Adelaide, and Colonel of the 85th Foot, to which he was appointed in May, 1823. Sir Herbert was appointed Cornet in the 2nd dragoon Guards in 1794, having joined the British army in Flanders in April, 1793, as secretary to Sir James Murray; he was present as a volunteer at the actions of St. Amand and Famars, the sieges of Valenciennes and Dunkirk, and most of the actions during that campaign; he also served in the campaign of 1794, including the battles of the 17th, 22nd, and 26th of April, near Cateau, and of the 10th, 17th, and 22nd of May, near Tournay, besides many other affairs of less importance, and the retreat through Holland. On the return of Sir James Murray to England Sir Herbert continued with the Duke of York as an assistant Secretary. In May, 1795, he was promoted to a troop in his regiment. When his Royal Highness returned to England, Captain Taylor was appointed secretary to the commander of the British forces on the Continent, and continued in that situation with Lieut.-General Harcourt and Sir David Dundas until September, 1795, when he returned to England in consequence of being appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Commander-in-Chief, and soon after assistant secretary in his Royal Highness's office. In July, 1798, he attended Lord Cornwallis, appointed Lord Lieutenant, to Ireland, as military and private secretary and Aidede-Camp. He continued with his Excellency until February, 1799, when he returned to England, on being appointed private secretary to the Duke of York. In September of that year he attended his Royal Highness to Holland. He remained with Sir James Pulteney as secretary until the return of the troops from North Holland. He continued in the situation of Private Secretary and Aide-de-Camp to the Duke of York, until June, 1805, when he was appointed Private Secretary to his Majesty George III.: he received the rank of Colonel July 25, 1810. In March, 1812, he was appointed one of the trustees of the King's private property, and soon after (in consequence of the Regency) Private Secretary to the Queen; the 4th of June, 1813, he obtained the rank of MajorGeneral. In November, 1813, he was ordered on special service to Holland, and a few days after his return from the army under Sir T. Graham, in March, 1814, he was sent on a military mission to the Crown Prince of Sweden, to Sir Thomas Graham (now Lord Lynedoch), and to the Hague. In December, 1818, he was appointed Master of St. Catherine's Hospital, which appointment he held till his death. Sir Herbert, who represented Windsor in parliament from 1820 to 1823, married Charlotte Albina, daughter of Edward Disbrowe, Esq., Vice Chamberlain to queen Charlotte, and grand-daughter of the third Earl of Buckinghamshire, and has left issue one daughter. He was uncle to the Hon. Richard Bootle Wilbraham, M.P., and to the lady of Lord Stanley. Sir Herbert was granted a pension of 1000l. per annum on the civil list, with the reversion, we believe, in case of survivorship, to his lady. JAMES BIRD, THE SUFFOLK POET. وو 66 66 66 servant traveller, and a voluminous writer; with in 66 One of Mr. Galt's latest literary engagements, shortly before he left London, some years since, was the editorship of the Courier newspaper; that, however, was of very brief duration. In consequence of continued ill health Mr. Galt left London, and retired to his native town four or MR. James Bird, bookseller, and extensively five years ago. For several years past, even beknown as the amiable and gifted author of "The fore he left London, his physical powers had Vale of Slaughden," "-" Machin, or the Disco- been much prostrated by a succession of paravery of Madeira,"-" Framlingham,' "Dun- lytic shocks, which prevented him from moving wich, a Tale of the Splendid City, "Cosmo, from one apartment to another without help, Duke of Tuscany, a Tragedy," " The Emi- and of course confined him constantly to his grant's Tale,"-" Francis Abbott," and various house. On the 2nd of April last he was visited other works, died on the 26th of March, at the by another paralytic shock-the fourteenth by village of Yoxford, in Suffolk, where he had which he had been assailed. This deprived him been resident many years. After a long illness, of the use of his speech for several days, although in which he evinced the utmost patience, and he afterwards had power indistinctly to articulate truly Christian resignation of spirit, he fell a broken sentences. He was, however, quite senvictim to pulmonary disease in the 51st year of sible, and indicated, by unequivocal signs, that his age. In the final hour he was soothed and he understood what was said to him. He was blessed with the presence of his entire family-aware that his end was approaching, and apa bereaved wife, and twelve sons and daughters! peared calm and resigned. “He expired on the No man was ever more beloved, or more deserv- 9th. ing of love, than James Bird. From the pen of one of his oldest and most attached literary friends, we shall, next month, present an extended memoir of him and of his works, biographical and critical. THOMAS BARKER, ESQ. MR. Barker, of Thetford, a distinguished classical scholar, and member of the University of Cambridge, died in March. This gentleman was the son of a vicar of Beverley, in Yorkshire, and received the rudiments of his education in the grammar school of that town. Subsequently and collected considerable materials for a Life of Professor Porson, which, with his correspondence and other papers, will probably be given to the public. PETER TURNERELLI, ESQ. he entered as a member of Trinity College, Cambridge. Soon after he became acquainted with Dr. Parr, and was induced to reside with him. Previously to leaving the University, Mr. Barker distinguished himself by a Latin epigram on "Strenua Inertia." After residing for some years, and until his death, with Dr. Parr, Mr. Barker married, and settled at Thetford, in Norfolk, where, for nearly twenty-five years, he la- MR. TURNERELLI, the sculptor, was born at boriously and unremittingly devoted himself to Belfast, in the year 1774. He was the son of his favourite studies. During that time he edited an ingenious Italian modeller and figure maker, a new edition of "Stephens's Thesaurus," and who resided many years in Dublin, and married enriched it with a copious body of valuable and a native of Ireland. To his mother he was miscellaneous notes, and published a volume of chiefly indebted for that cultivation of his mind "Classical Recreations," besides several of the which afterwards enabled him to rise to emiorations of Cicero, he also contributed many nence. His parents intended him for the valuable papers to the Classical Journal and the church, but his passions for sculpture was irreMuseum Criticum. After the Death of Dr. Parr, pressible, and he was in consequence placed Mr. Barker published two volumes of "Parriana," under the tuition of Mr. Chenu. At the same containing notices of Dr. Parr and his contem- time he attended the Royal Academy, where he poraries, a work which contains an immense made so satisfactory a progress, that in less collection of facts illustrative of literary history. than two years he gained the medal for the best On the breaking out of the war of Greek inde- model. His first patrons were the late Lord pendence, Mr. Barker, whose political feelings Heathfield, and Sir Thomas Lawrence, the latter were those of his early patron, became greatly of whom recommended him as teacher of modelinterested in the cause, published a pamphlet to ling to Queen Caroline He was employed for excite public attention, and was afterwards one a statue of George III., and a statue of the late of the most active members of the Greek Com- Mr. Grattan; also on busts of the Princess mittee. For the last few years he resided chiefly Charlotte of Wales, the Generals Blucher and in London. His death occurred after a short Platoff, and a long list of other distinguished illness, which was unknown to his friends. Mr. characters, which will long preserve his name Barker was a man of extensive and various in- and memory from oblivion. He was also the formation, of excellent abilities, and of prodi- sculptor of many public and other monuments, gious memory. His disposition was amiable, amongst which may be mentioned those of and eminently cheerful; his manners kind and Colonel Stuart, Mr. Willett, Dr. Moylon, Admisimple; his habits uniform and exemplary.ral Sir John Hope, &c. For many years, his His friendship was warm and lasting, and it was a principle of his life never to quarrel with any one. Mr. Barker enjoyed the friendship of many of the most distinguished men of his day; and he kept up an extensive literary correspond-to the bard's memory at Dumfries; the monuence with many celebrated scholars, both at home and abroad. Besides the works we have mentioned, he published an Inquiry into the Authorship of Junius's Letters," an edition of "Anthon's Lempriere's Classical Dictionary," "Noah Webster's English Dictionary," and a translation of " Julius Sillig's Dictionary of the Artists of Antiquity." He had long projected 66 performances in the Exhibition displayed his talents to great advantage. One of his best known and finest productions is the figure of Burns at the plough, for the monument erected ment itself by the late Mr. Thomas Hunt. With a voice of fine quality, Mr. Turnerelli is said to have been an excellent singer. After an illness of only a few hours, he died at his house in Newman Street, about the 20th of March. Mr. Turnerelli had been twice married, and has, we believe, left a family by each of his wives. THE THEATRES, CONCERTS, &c. HER Majesty's Theatre is now in the zenith of its glory for the season, although no actual novelty of importance has yet been produced. But Grisi and Persiana are there; and Lablache, and Rubini, and (against even hope) Tamburini; and Mlle. Garcia and others are yet to come. At several of the English houses, changes and rumours of changes are the order of the day. Poor old Drury appears to be quite knocked up. At Easter, a spectacle called The King of the Mist, twin brother of Aladdin, or the Wonderful Lamp-was produced, but without any extraordinary effect; and, for some weeks, under pretence of getting up The Lake of the Fairies-a splendid and successful opera of Auber's, brought out lately at Paris-the theatre has been closed so far as theatrical performances are. concerned. It is open, however, for a musical exhibition, styled Concerts à la Valentino, in which, contrary to the plan of the other houses, vocal as well as instrumental performers "assist." At Easter, the Lyceum was opened by Mr. Penley, a provincial manager of considerable experience, with a tolerably efficient company, almost entirely new to the London boards. Mrs. Stirling, an actress of considerable vivacity, talent, and beauty, was, however, amongst them, bright and particular star." Three new pieces were produced upon the occasion: Lady Mary a At Covent Garden, Macready's able management terminates, we regret to learn, with the present season. It appears that Macready, instead of having been the bona fide lessee, or renter of the theatre, was merely paid by the proprietary in his double capacity of manager and actor. Consider-Wortley Montagu, or Courtship and Matrimony ing the eminent success of the concern to be entirely owing, as it unquestionably has been, to his taste, judgment, skill, and persevering activity, he naturally felt himself entitled to a more distinct and liberal participation of the profits. To this the proprietary (unwisely, as well as ungenerously, we think,) refused to accede; and so, as we have said, the connexion of the parties is to terminate. When this was first publicly known, rumour stated that an offer had been made to Macready, of Drury Lane Theatre upon his own terms. That would have been well. Now, however, it is as serted, that Webster has engaged Macready for the whole of the next season at the Haymarket. Such an engagement we deem extremely injudicious. Webster has hitherto been successful in his management to an extraordinary degree; and he ought to be content to "let well alone." Macready has been mainly indebted for his success, at Covent Garden, for the magnificent and effective style in which he has brought out his pieces. The Haymarket has no such capabilities of magnificence and stage effect as Covent Garden. Morever, "the little theatre in the Haymarket" has been, from time immemorial, the house for light and lively comedy; and we are not at all disposed to consider that the public will flock thither in summer to witness the representation of tragedies, either with or without Macready as their hero. In the interim, the present Covent Garden manager is running the entire round of his successful prices, revivals as well as originals. At the Haymarket, General Webster, with Power as his aide-de-camp, seems carrying every thing before him. His chief novelty, though not a very striking one, is a little comedy called Touch and Take, or the Law of the Kiss; in which Power, Webster, and Strickland, Mrs. W. Clifford, Miss Taylor, and Mrs. Fitzwilliam exert themselves very agreeably. in 1712; Dark Events; and The Silver Crescent, or the Oath of Vengeance-a sketch from the time of Don Sebastian, King of Portugal, at the period of his African expedition. The reception experienced by the new management seems, not, however, to have been sufficiently favourable to enable Mr. Penley to keep the house open. After a few evenings-to the serious disappointment and loss, we fear, of many individuals -it was closed; and, subsequently, it has been engaged for a nightly series of Concerts à la Musard, in which the band of the Coldstream Guards performs, in full uniform. Concerts of instrumental music, on a similar principle, are also given nightly at the Adelphi. Madame Vestris commenced her Easter festivities, at the Olympic, with two new burlettas; Izaak Walton, of piscatorial celebrity, and The Garrick Fever. In the former, Farren personated Izaak, and Madame Vestris, his ward, Anne Evelyn, very delightfully. The Garrick Fever, from the pen of Planché, is a slight but effective affair, full of droll incidents, and smart, active, lively fun,-More recently, Dr. Dilworth, a brisk little farce, has been produced at the Olympic with ample success. Farren personates the humorous old grammarian, and is ably supported by Madame, Mrs. Orger, Miss Murray, Brougham, and Keeley. At the St. James's Theatre, Mr. Hooper has brought out his French dogs and monkeys with all the ludicrous effect that could have been anticipated. Yates, at the Surrey, is attracting crowded audiences every night. The New Strand Theatre, under the skilful and spirited management of Hammond, and with Mrs. Waylett for the first season these four years, is doing well; and so also are Astley's on the south, and Sadler's Wells on the north side of the water. THE attraction of the British Gallery continues unabated; nor can it be expected to flag, until after the opening of the Royal Academy. Its autumnal exhibition of the works of the ancient masters will then be looked forward to. SOCIETY OF BRITISH ARTISTS. There is a surprising number of exceedingly silly and conceited people in the world; of ungrateful people, too—of people who seem to derive gratification from the act of insulting their best, kindest, most generous, and most influential friends. These truths have received a forcible illustration in the conduct of what is termed the "Council" of the Society of British Artists. We mentioned, last month, that the "private view" of the exhibition took place on the 23rd of March. Of this event, The Literary Gazette thus reported on the following Saturday:-"Suffolk Street Gallery.-New brooms make clean work of it; and so it is likely to be with this exhibition, into the management of which, we are informed, five young Brooms have been incorporated. And, from all we can learn, they have made a tolerably successful sweep out of the friends and patrons of the Society. By means of a police |