had been seduced by Prince Altenburg, and afterwards deserted by him, in consequence of his marriage with a German Princess, (who bore him a son, and shortly after died) lived retired in a cottage near the castle, with her supposed son Adrian, under the assumed naine of Madame Clermont. Adrian during his childhood, being frequently invited to Rosenheim Castle, as he advanced to manhood, became deeply enamoured of Orrila. Prince Altenburg, who had become a widower, the patron and friend of Count Rosenheim, proposes for the hand of Orrila, and arrives with the Count at his castle to celebrate his nuptials. His arrival baffles the hopes of the young lovers. Madame Clermont, terrified at the Prince's presence, prevails on -Adrian to quit the territories of Saxony; and the Count, suspecting the real state of his daughter's affections, forbids Adrian's presence at the Castle. Lothaire, (page to Altenburg) contrives a meeting between the young lovers at the house of his sister Minna; and while Adrian is on his way to Minna's cottage, he accidentally preserves the life of Altenburg, and refuses to tell who he is. The Prince receives intimation from Lothaire, and waits on Madame Clermont to thank her for his deliverance, but is disdainfully received, she not even unveiling. During this, a meeting thaving taken place between the lovers, Orrila consents to elope with Adrian. They are intercepted in their flight, and brought back to the Castle. Madame Clermont, hearing of the situation of Adrian (whose life is become forfeited by the laws of Saxony, for endeavouring to run away with the heiress of a noble family,) hastens to the Castle, gets admission to the Count's presence, and in vain pleads for her son. Hearing the voice of Altenburg, she hides her face with her veil. The Prince enters, leading in Adrian (his deliverer), whose pardon he obtains. Madame Clermont kneels to the Prince, unveils, and discovers herself to be Matilda Carlstein, whom the Prince had seduced; and in the relation which she gives of the occurrences of her life, Adrian is discovered to be the legitimate son of Altenburg, whom he imagined had been drowned, but whom Matilda Carlstein had stolen from his house, stripped him of his clothes, and sent them down the Elbe; by which all difficulties in his marriage with Orrila are removed, the Count consents to their union, and the Prince receives Matilda as his wife. This is not a translation, we believe, but "only borrowed" from the German school, and strongly resembles Lovers' Vows. To say the truth it is all over German, notwithstanding the introduction of a poor Welch harper, who came into Saxony, nobody knows how, to sing ditties " in honour of the Lord of Rosenheim;" and to preserve this German character, the Deity is c continually invoked usque ad nauseam. Add to this, a plentiful share of declamation, which renders the piece both tedious and dull. However, it was very favorably received, and the audience was contented to wink at the most glaring improprieties such, for instance, as the tolling of the bell for the execution of Adrian before he is even tried; but then we learn from the next scene that the Count of Rosenheim intends to give him up to the laws of his country; -by this dextrous anachronism the audience is amused with a pretty piece of music to the burden of ding dong bell. The language is sometimes figurative, and now and then approaches the true bombast. "On creation's brink," is a phrase employed to describe the situation of a fair lady dying with grief. Nor is it deficient in many other phrases equally fine. Although our languor was happily relieved by some sweet music compose by Kelly, Atwood, &c, yet we hope the auth the author will at tend to the comfort of future audiences who may honor this play, and not only use the pruning knife, but the hatchet, as Mr. Puff says; for it is intolerably long, and certainly a great part of it may be left out without detriment to what remains. When the curtain dropped, it was half past ten o'clock. We are antigallicans, yet we must acknowledge, they manage these things better in France" -all theatric entertainments being, or at least used to be, over by ten. Miss Smith, the heroine, displayed great powers, and the energy with which she sustained her praying, extravagant part, materially contributed to the success of the piece: she is second only to Mrs. Siddons. Miss Brunton played very prettily indeed-but her dress reminded us of Mme. Tallien and the Palais-Royal. We notice this merely, en passant, for we shall have much to say in a future number about dresses. Mr. Cooke tripped more than once or twice. Mrs. C. Kemble's character was too contemptible to make any thing of, though she bustled through it, and did all she could for it. The newspapers have kindly told us that the prologue (written by Mr. Skeffington) was a neat classical production-we thank them; as, without their information, we should not have known it; for notwithstanding we were only three seats from the orchestra, we could not thoroughly understand one line, owing to the imperfect and confused manner in which it was delivered by Mr.. Brunton. It certainly had one merit, it was short. The epilogue, by Mr. W. Por ter, contained some happy allusions to the present election scenes, and put the goodnatured audience into such a merry humour, that, when the play was given out for a second representation, they gave a proof of their profound taste and judgement, by ape : plauding it to the skies. The epilogue was well delivered by Mrs. Mattocks and Miss Brunton. We had hoped that the rage for German dramas which begin in seduction and conclude in left handed marriages, had been pretty well over in Britain, where not a single principle necessary to give an air of verisimility to the scene is acknowledged; and, indeed, we believe it will prove to be so entirely sunk, that not even an occasional instance of success can revive it. The broad and general principles of human nature are the same, all the world over; the liberal refinements of education do no more than soften them, and deprive them of those asperities of which good manners prohibit the eficets. Yet character, if less violent among the well-instructed, is sufficiently marked for the purposes of the theatre, because sufficiently for those of life; and what just purposes can the theatre intend, for which life does not furnish the prototype? If this play contained any thing resembling what life presents, we should readily select, approve, and applaud that; but, in fact, our only selection, as it stands, would be the songs, our approbation would terminate in praising the exertions of the performers, and our -applause would exclusively honor the music. Thursday, November 20, was presented at Drury-lane theatre, a new comedy called the Vindictive Man. It is understood to have been from the pen of Mr. Holcroft. The principal character was that of a merchant, who having been assaulted by his brother thirty years ago, had never forgiven the offence, but had forsworn the relation. Another leading event in the fable was, the sudden acquisition a fortune by a Devonshire rustic, whose daughter had received cellent education; and scrupled the enjoyment of £100,000, because her aunt, from whom it descended, had received it as the wages of licentiousness. The other cha of racters were subservient. an ex We are sorry to announce that the demerits of this drama outweighed its merits; and that, after a patient hearing, the audience pronounced its condemnation. If this comedy be tried by the general principles of criticism, a kind of merit must be allowed to the conception and the intention of the principal character: but it was overwhelmed by the incidents attached to it. The author no doubt intended, that his Vindictive Man should possess every other virtue, by way of counterbalance to his principal failing: but the exercise of these virtues was not so apparent to the audience as to excite an interest in his favour. Moreover, from the state of facts, the principle of implacability seemed to have too much to support it: for what can be more atrocious than brother fighting with brother? Add to this, that the habits of thirty years are too strongly confirmed to be suddenly removed by events of any kind; and that the adventures of a military life are little calculated to make any favorable impression on a commercial man. A character which appears vindictive from first to last, which cherishes the principle of implacability, is not likely to be popular with Britons. It is not the general description of our countrymen; it departs too much from ordinary nature: such individuals may exist in every country under heaven; but among us they are distinguished by their singularity. And who can respect (we might say, who can forgive) the unforgiving? The author had direeted one British officer to weep; and another, to kneel, in supplica tion. Did he then forget, that the cha racter of an officer of long standing is compounded of his personal disposition, and of his professional habits? That an officer, used to command, should on every occasion retain a firmness, which contributes to his respectability; and that the moment he abandons this firmness, our regard for him is sensibly di minished? Heroes should be heroes under every circumstance; and prostration is no becoming attitude for a British Colonel. Mr. Holcroft should also have recollected, that a Devonshire rustic is a marked character: it is not merely his being no Londoner which makes a rustic. Such a man, only three days in town, would strongly retain his modes of speech, his relative notions, and his ways of expressing them: he would, as it were, smell of his farm, of his teams, of his crops: his friendships, his enmities, his gossips, for a rustic has all these, would rise trippingly o'er his tongue," and that which he had been he would continue to be, strongly, decidedly, infallibly. On the whole, we are of opinion, that the author composed this comedy, between sleeping and waking, when the lazy fit was upon. hin. His choice of materials might have been better; but he had not made the most of those he thought proper to adopt his characters wanted mental vigour, that energy which leads the attention, and commands the sentiments of an audience; that remove from every dav passability, that elevation and dignity, which results from their being well conceived and assiduously wrought up, to a finish, a distinction, a firmness, a power, which a spectator beholds with satisfaction, and a critic applands with delight. The general tone of the piece was that of insipidity; and the falling of the curtain relieved the audience from their ungratified attention Two other novelties, The Deserts of Ar bia, and Tekeli, after-pieces, have appeared, but our report must be postponed. OBSERVANDA EXTERNA. AMERICA. Astronomical Observations. Annular eclipses [of the sun of course] are very rare; they are proportionately interesting to astronomers: in order to observe that of June 16, 1806. M. de Ferrer, a Spanish astronomer, who resides in New York, went towards Albany under latitude 42° 23' where he knew the eclipse would be central. He observed the total obscuration to be from 11 o'clock, 7'55" to 11 o'clock 12'32"; from whence M. Delalande concludes, that the conjunction was at 11 o'clock 25′ 33"; and what is more interesting, he concludes also that we should add 2" to the semi-diameter of the moon. But a more singular phenomenon observed by M. de Ferrer, is, that the disk of the moon appeared luminous, seven seconds before the end of the obscuration. This appears, to be occasioned by a small portion of atmosphere. He also observed a luminous ring concentric with the sun, whose diameter was between 45 and 50 minutes. and which had not been observed in former eclipses. It appears to proceed from the light of the terrestrial atmosphere of those countries, bordering on the parts where the eclipse is total. The borders of the moon were but faintly delineated; slender columns of vapours were seen darting from it, proceeding either from the sun or from the moon, and terminating at the ring. The total obscuration did not occasion so great a darkness as had been expected: six principal stars only were seen: we suppose Venus and Mercury, Sirius and Procyon, the two stars of Orion, the Goat and the Lyre. Birds were seen going to roost, and a little dew was felt. The light from the ring prevented a complete darkness. Esquimaux Christians. At the latter end of the year 1804, the mumber of Esquimaux whom the Moravian missionaries were instructing amounted to 221. Classical Literature. Messrs. Poyntell and Co. have just issued from their Classical Press in Phiadelphia, in a neat and correct style, the first American * edition of Xenophon's Cyropedia in eight books. The American editors copied from Hutchinson's London edition, and announce, that under the critical inspection of Mr. John Watts, they have corrected many errors of the London edition. place of a son to one of the parties; it is very probable that the practice would in a short time become less fashionable. At about 2 o'clock P. M. an Indian was discovered, by the family, entering the South end of Cirault's lane. He drew their attention, being painted in an uncommon manner; his whole body appeared red. He held in his right hand a gun, which he brandished with many gesticulations; in his left hand he held a bottle. He was attended by two other Indians, who advanced at rather a sober pace. At the opposite end of the lane, some more Indians were discovered, among whom was a man painted in like manner, but unarmed. He was held and detained by a woman; but when the one brandishing his gun came within about twenty yards of him, he burst from the embrace of his wife and rushed towards his antagonist. At about four yards distance they both halted: when the unarmed man presented his naked breast to the other, who took deliberate aim, but, appearing to recollect himself, he suddenly dropt his gun, and drank from the bottle, which at the time was tied to his wrist; the other patiently and resolutely holding his breast open and presented all the while. Having finished his drink, he gave a whoop, and took fresh aim; and, in an instant, the other dropt dead almost at his feet. This done, he once more loaded his gun with all possible speed, and gave it to a by-stander (son to the deceased). He then in turn, bared and presented his breast, and was instantaneously sent into eternity. The dead bodies were each carried the way they came, and by their respective friends interred one at each end of the lane. The wife and relatives of the unarmed one, who was first killed, howled over his remains three days and nights, and then disappeared. On Friday last they returned again, fired several guns on approaching the grave, gave a general howl about a quarter of an hour, and retired. We learned from some among them, who spoke broken English, that they had quarrelled over a bottle sotne Considerable time ago, when the Indian who was first killed had his finger bit by the other in such a manner, that his arm became inflamed; he declared he was spoiled," and that they must both die. They agreed, and formed the arrangement as related. DENMARK. Invention of a new Praam. A mechanist of Copenhagen has constructed the model of a Praam proper to navigate the largest ships across the ice. This model has been examined by the most celebrated engineers on the continent, and it is thought that the Danish navy will derive great advantage from it. i FRANCE. Proposed Canals to be executed in France. Grand Northern Canal. This is divided into two branches totally distinct from each other. The first is the junction of the Scheld with the Meuse from Antwerp to Venlo. The second is the junction of the Meuse with the Rhine. Canal of La Censée. To unite the Scheld and the Scarpe. This fluvial communication is designed as an appendix to the grand canal of St. Quentin. Lateral Canal of La Haine. To improve the navigation of that river. Canal of the Lys to Liperlée. To shorten the passage between Lille, and other cities of Flanders, and the sea. taught to read and write, without using the method of the Abbé de l'Epée, or of that of the Abbé Sicard. This latter, he adds, migl t make a will, since she is capable of conversation, by writing. Ancient Ceremony re-established. By a letter from Beauvais, dated Oct. 14, we learn that, with permission of the Prefeet, the procession, in which the women of this town have the precedency over the men has been re-established. It had been instituted to perpetuate the memory of the courageous Jeane Laisné, called in history Jeane Hachette. When Beauvais was besieged by the Burgundians in 1471, she wrested a standard from the hand of an enemy, who was attempting to fix it on the wall, and threw him head-long into the ditch, by which he Canal of Charleroy to Brussels. A canal of indispensable utility for the conveyance of ❘ roic deed she saved the town. This pro coal from the numerous mines near the river Sambre. Canal of Reims. To follow the river above Braime; join the ancient Egmond canal; and then follow the bed of the Vesle to its junction with the Aisne opposite the village of Condé. Lateral Canal of the Loire. Very advantageous to the neighbouring departments for the exportation of their territorial productions and manufactures. Canal from Niort to Rochelle. Prisoners of war to be employed on it until they are exchanged. Communication from Nantes to Brest. A project of incalculable advantage for supplying the ci-devant Brittany with naval stores. The plan is as follows: the junction of the Loire and the Vilaine; junction of the Vilaine with the Blavet; this navigation to be continued to Port-Launay and Brest, by the rivers Doré, Hières, and Anne. Thus there will be four communications with the sea. The plan, also, embraces a branch extending to Quimper, by the little river Odet. The canal from Nantes to Port-Launay, will be about 96 leagues in length. Persian Professor. M. Sylvestre de Sacy, the celebrated Orientalist, and member of the Institute, is appointed Persian Professor in the College of France. Will of a Deaf and Dumb Person. The civil tribunal of Verdun is engaged in the decision of a cause of importance. The question is to know whether an individual born deaf and dumb, was eligible to make a will, and whether the legacies were valid. On the 18th of August, the Procureur Impérial had given his sentence before the Court, on which occasion, a great concourse of spectators attended. Our correspondent observes, that at Commercy, there is a poor girl, also born deaf and dumb, whom a curate of this town, forty years ago, cession, which had been abolished by the revolution, took place last Sunday, for the first time since, among discharges of artillery and the applauses of our fellow citizens. Á young woman, personated Jeane Hachette, carrying the standard taken from the Burgundians; the tassels were held by other young women; then came the rest of the female corps, and after them the municipal officers and the rest of the followers. The whole was headed by a numerous body of clergy and the shrine of Sainte Angadrome. Prize Question. The free society of physical and medical science of Liege, proposed, in their meeting of 12th June, 1806, as a prize question : “To determine the influence of the passions " in the production of diseases." The society wishes that the authors will be particular in indicating the connection that exists between certain affections of the mind and the origin of certain physical affections. The prize will be a gold medal, value 200 francs, to be given at the public meeting, June, 1807. The memoirs may be written, either in French or in Latin, and directed (post paid) to M. Saveur, the secretary, previous to April 1. New invented safe Carriages. M. Durivoire, late Captain in the Regiment of Rohan-Soubise, advertises his having invented carriages of a new kind, for which he has obtained a patent. He affirms that these carriages are more convenient, more solid, and yet lighter, than any hitherto built; that they neither catch, nor break, nor can be overset; in short, that they offer to travellers the advantage of avoiding danger by getting out of the vehicle, although the horses should be frightened and running away. The inventor proposes to supply travellers on the road to St. Germain-en-Laye. Astronomy. In the month of March, says Mr. Zach,. a large spot, with two smaller ones within it, appeared in the sun; these I observed at 9° N. of the solar equator; which differs but little from the well detined spots which served me to determine the rotation of the sun in the memoirs of the Academy for 1776, which were at 11 or 12°. This seems to be a confirmation of my discovery at that time; proving that there are certain points of the sun peculiarly adapted to produce large spots; perhaps, they are mountains which attract and retain the scoria of that immense furnace. The parallel of 9o S. of the equator, is most subject to those large spots. Similar spots with two smaller ones within them have been seen at different times; (Mem. 1776, page 487; and 1778). These seem to destroy the system of volcanoes proposed by Mr. Herschel. The centre of the well defined spot seen in March was at 104o declination. That, whose appearance I calculated, (Mem. 1776, page 496) had from 11° to 14°; but a spot of one minute occupies nearly 4°; thus the mountain which I suppose to have served as a foundation, or obstacle to impede it, might, in fact, taking it from a different point, have attracted it 2° or 3o farther, seen under one aspect than in the other. M. de Flaugergues saw that beautiful spot in the sun, in April, and this return has given him, for the rotation of the sun, 25 davs 12 hours 6 minutes. M. Piazzi, a celebrated astronomer of Palermo, writes that he has observed the principal stars in the opposite seasons of the year, when the difference of the situation of the earth in its orbit, must produce the greatest apparent difference in the situation of the stars. Astronomers have been disputing during two centuries on that effect of the motion of the earth, which is termed the anrnual parallax. M. Piazzi found it, in three months, 1" 5 for Aldebaran, 3" for Procyon, 4" for Sirius, from whence it follows that these stars are not, as was thought, distant above 7 millions of millions of leagues; but he proposes to continue these important observations. Extraordinary vivification of Insects. "The inhabitants of Narcy, a village fifteen miles front Nevers, having neither rivers nor fountains in their neighbourhood, are compelled to drink the thick water of two small rivulets, which run on a muddy bed full of insects. This is necessary to be known, in order to understand the extraordinary occurrence, which lately happened there. A young lady of Narcy, 19 years of age, had been for eight months tormented with pains in her stomach; they became so acute as to ruin her health. which was naturally robust and florid. This, and other symptoms, led to the opinion, that she was attacked by the tape-worm; and the remedies proper to that case were determined ou; when suddenly she was seized with violent convulsive fits, and threw up above 100 small insects, which ran about the floor, with incredible swiftness. M. Rauque, the lady's physician, having suc❘ceeded in catching some of them, ascertained that they were aquatic Millepedes. The young lady was considerably relieved; and ever since has enjoyed good health. The authenticity of this circumstance might be doubted, if it had not taken place in the presence of the mayor of the village; of the father, mother, and sisters of the lady, and of many other persons, who all vouch for the truth of it, Many have even affirmed, that similar accidents are by no means new, in that country; and have named four other inhabitants of Narcy, who have experienced the same thing. -Mémorial Européen. *** We should have been glad if the physician had determined whether these Millepedes were of the same species as those with which the rivulets (or one of them) abound: and had given us the scientific name of the insect, whereby we might have been able to form comparisons as well as conjectures concerning it. Persia.-Black Sea-Caspian Sca. No one is ignorant how much geography is indebted to naturalists, who have travelled: Mr. Olivier has given a fresh proof of the utility of their observations, in the topography of Persia, which he has very lately presented to the public. He has described the chains of mountains, and the courses of the different rivers. He explains the nature of the productions of a country by their analogy to the climate, In Persia, the nearly general drought is the cause that one twentieth part of that extensive empire is not cultivated; there are whole provinces which have not a tree in them, unless it be planted and watered by the hands of man. The evil increases continually, owing to the destruction of those canals which formerly brought the water from the mountains, so that the deserted lands become impregnated with salt, which renders them barren for ever. M. Olivier has also enquired whether there be any truth in the opinion that the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea formerly communicated. He thinks that this has really been the case towards the north of Caucasus; but that the earth brought down by the inunda tions of the rivers Cuban, Volga, and Don, have interrupted it. From thence he infers that the Caspian Sea, no longer receiving from those rivers which fall into it a sufficient quantity of water to compensate what it loses by evaporation, its level is continually decreasing; it is now sixty feet lower than the Eusine. By the same means it has separated from |