the eighteenth century (the Prater, 1756, | rushed into the war without having made re-published as a book in 1757), we are told that the conduct of ladies in the theatres was often so unbecoming, that the audience hissed them into silence. It seems that they talked and laughed so loudly as to render the actors inaudible.

sure of a valuable alliance; while M. Thiers and critics of his sort have always alleged that the Imperial Government had ample warning that France could not reckon on Austria doing anything for her. The discussion of this point was interestI imagine that a chapter might be ing to French politicians who were trying made upon the repartees of the victims to fix blame on each other and each of hissing. To say that the hissed have other's parties, but it was extremely inoften given back as good as they got, convenient to Austria, who did not much would be to say that they merely shewed admire a process by which her diplomatfight; but the fact is that they have very ic secrets were being raked up, and probfrequently, like Orator Hunt, won an un-ably, being now on good terms with mistakable victory. On one occasion Prussia, did not like to have it known there were only seven persons in the the- how very warmly she had espoused the atre at Weimar ; the seven, however, cause of Prussia's enemies. Enough was considered themselves to form a suffi- published to show that Austria was recient court of criticism, and taking of strained by prudence only from helping fence at the bad acting of one performer, France, and the Prussian Court, which they hissed him energetically; the mana- was perfectly aware of this, neither felt ger thereupon brought his whole com- nor expressed any resentment. Prussia pany upon the stage, and out-hissed the had, in fact, converted the former ally of visitors. Mr. H. C. Robinson tells us France into an unhesitating ally of her that he was present at Covent Garden own, and this was a triumph sufficiently Theatre with Charles and Mary Lamb in great to throw all past causes of unpleasDecember 1806, when Lamb's Mr. Hantness into the shade. But the controwas performed for the first time. The versy was not terminated in France, and absurdity of the piece turns upon the the Duke of Gramont persisted in saying hero being ashamed of his name, which is that there had been a despatch received only revealed at the end as "Hogsflesh." at the moment when the war broke out, "The prologue was very well received," says Mr. Robinson, "indeed, it could not fail, being one of the very best in our language. But on the disclosure of the name, the squeamishness of the vulgar taste in the pit shewed itself by hisses; and I recollect that Lamb joined, and was probably the loudest hisser in the house." Rossini, at the first performance of his famous Il Barbiere di Seviglia, took the very opposite course; when every one was hissing, he turned round and energetically applauded. He felt certain of the triumphant future of the opera, and from his earliest youth was unmoved by the first judgment of the general public.

From The Saturday Review.
COUNT BEUST'S NOTE.

WHAT was the real nature of the position of Austria towards France when the war of 1870 broke out has been the subject of violent dispute among French politicians. The Duke of Gramont has always alleged that Austria gave France such assurances of support that it cannot truly be said that the Imperial Government

in which Count Beust had positively stated that Austria considered the cause of France as her own. At last the Austrian Court seems to have thought that there need be no more concealment, and has permitted the despatch to be published on which the Duke of Gramont relied. Considering the circumstances under which it was written, it seems to have been a very sensible and creditable despatch for Count Beust to have penned. It is quite true that it is stated in this despatch that Austria considered the cause of France her own, but it is also true that it is pointed out in language of unexceptional clearness that Austria was not prepared to give France any active aid. It must be remembered that Count Beust was writing long before the Germans had gained any successes, and when France was preparing to carry the war into Germany, and fully believed in her power to get the start of her adversary. When, therefore, Count Beust explained why it was that Austria could not help France, we may be sure that he was in earnest when he wrote that neutrality, a word he uttered with regret, was imposed on Austria by imperious necessity. It was to the permanent interests and permanent difficulties of Austria that he

was obliged to look; and an examination of the reasons he gave for Austria adopting a course which it caused him sincere pain to own that she was obliged to adopt throws great light not only on the temporary question why Austria did not take the field against Prussia, but on the general policy of Austria since the war of 1870.

only has much of the factitious discontent in her outlying provinces died away with the cessation of the stimulus given by Russian agitation, but she has ventured on letting Turkey know, especially in the Bosnian affair, that she will insist on having proper respect shown her, and the Porte has been obliged to reply in very civil and conciliatory language. But The primary reason that induced Aus- this might have happened if for any reatria to remain neutral was the fear of son Austria and Russia had seen fit to Russia. Count Beust had ascertained make friends and give each other the beyond the possibility of doubt that, if benefit of a temporary alliance. What is Austria took the side of France, Russia new is that the present alliance is under would at once, without hesitation, take the guarantee and guardianship of Gerthe side of Prussia. What good would many, to whom its existence is in fact an Austrian alliance do to France in such due. Austria leans upon Germany as a case? Austria would have been imme-a protector able and willing to see that diately threatened in Galicia and on the no unjust advantage is taken of her, Pruth and the Lower Danube. She while Russia in its turn is satisfied that would have had to fight for her own life, Germany will take care that the eternal and would have been utterly unable to Eastern question is not permitted to assist France. It must always be borne take any new and awkward shape at a in mind that it was the close alliance of moment when Russia may prefer rest or Russia and Germany that enabled Ger- needs her energies for the prosecution of many to improve her first victories, and her aims in Asia. to pursue her career of conquest unchecked by outsiders. As a recompense for the assistance thus rendered, Russia got, at the expense of the honour, if not the interests, of England, the coveted prize of the free use of the Black Sea. When the French war was over, Prince Bismarck set to work to use the Russian alliance to a new purpose. He so managed matters that he was able to offer a Russian alliance to Austria, with Germany as the mediator between them, and the friend of both. Austria, after due consideration, accepted the offer, and the consequence has been the introduction of a completely new phase of European politics. Formerly, Austria was the secret or scarcely concealed enemy of Prussia and Russia, dreading both, but trying to hold her own against each in turn by every device that patience and courage could suggest. She had to fight Prussia in 1866 and was severely beaten; and subsequently by constant intrigues with her discontented subjects Russia did much to annoy and embarrass her. Still, when the French war broke out, Count Beust could write that the cause of France was the cause of Austria, and that it was only fear of the consequences that restrained Austria from challenging Russia to take part in the war. Now Austria has seen reason to adopt a totally different policy. She makes her calculations on the basis that Russia will be sincerely friendly, and not

But there was another reason which weighed with Count Beust, and that was that Austria could not really count on her own subjects. The Germans belonging to Austria could not be trusted to fight against Germany; and the Hungarians, although perfectly ready to defend themselves against Russia, were by no means to be relied on if they thought that Austria was calling on them to fight in order that Austria might gain strength in Germany, and thus upset the balance of internal power on which the new system of dual government reposed. Nor was it really a hesitation as to what Austrian Germans and Hungarians would do that alone filled Count Beust with disquietude. The Austrian army, in consequence of the change in the whole system of Government introduced after the war with Prussia, and also in consequence of the experience which that war had furnished, was totally reorganized in 1868, and it was agreed between Austria and Hungary that the system then introduced should be tried for a fixed period of ten years. In 1870 the Austrian army, crippled by the difficulties attendant on every new scheme of army reorganization, was not at all fit to take the field. A large part of the troops was mobilized in order that Austria, if attacked, might not be taken utterly unprepared, and it was soon seen that the new system was only in its infancy, and that a campaign would probably be attended with immense disasters.

off than she used to be, for she is on cordial terms with Italy, and has no longer an enemy to fear on that side. But then her alliance with Italy and with Germany, and the progress of the ideas on which that alliance is based, are exposing her to a new source of internal trouble. Count Beust in his despatch speaks of the task which Austria had been requested by France to undertake at Florence, and of the hopes which the French Court entertained that a useful alliance between France and Italy might thus be established. Count Beust promises to do his best; but urges that, if anything is to be done in this way, the Italians must be allowed to occupy Rome. Count Beust implores the Government of the Emperor Napoleon to perform this act of Liberal

By prudently keeping out of the way of danger Austria gained time so as to let her new military system come into full operation. It is even now reported to be far from what it was intended to be, and here again the advantage of a fresh period of repose which Germany offered her through the Triple Alliance was obvious. Unfortunately Austria cannot afford, or can only afford with the utmost difficulty, the army she desires. She wants to have 800,000 men when the army is on the war footing, and to have these men thoroughly trained by a compulsory service of three years. It was calculated until lately that Austria by economy and very good management might get an army such as she desired for about seven millions sterling. But latterly it has been seen that this, under present circumstances, is impossi-ism, and so to outstrip Germany, and ble. The officers are starved, the cav- prevent it being thought that the Italians alry is weak, the artillery is insufficient, owed Rome to the spread and triumph of the fortresses are not secure under the Teutonic ideas which might, as Count new conditions of modern warfare. A Beust pointed out, easily prove contamillion and a half more is therefore gious in Austria. Here we have the bewanted this year beyond the seven mil-ginning of that separation of the Austrian lions which it used to be thought was Government from the Ultramontanes enough. But a million and a half sterling which has lately assumed such considerais a very large sum for a State always so ble dimensions, and which cannot fail to near bankruptcy as Austria has been for lead to the most important results, as it years; and if the money is to be found, raises in a peculiar form the great question it can only be found by complete reliance of the relations of the Church and the State being placed on the pacific intentions of which is now agitating almost every EuAustria. In one respect Austria is better ropean country.

WHAT ARE THE ADULTERATIONS OF TEA? | catechu being added in some cases to restore This subject, which all-whether chemists the astringency. The article known as the or notare interested in, has been very ex-"maloo mixture" consists essentially of exhaustively dealt with in a paper read before hausted tea-leaves. In searching for the the Chemical Society of London, at a recent presence of other leaves than those of the teameeting, by Mr. J. Bell, of the Laboratory at plant the best method is to heat a small Somerset House. He says that tea is adul- quantity of the suspected tea with water until terated to a very large extent, not only with the leaves are sufficiently softened to admit of leaves of various kinds, including exhausted being unfolded. They should then be spread tea-leaves, but also with inorganic substances, out on a piece of glass, and carefully examined such as quartz, sand, and magnetic oxide of as to the nature of the serratures and the iron; these latter substances are rolled up in-character of the venation, also the form of the side the leaf, and one sample of green tea ex- cells of the epidermis and the stomata, and the amined was found to contain no less than 20 peculiarities of the hairs as shown by the per cent. of quartz and 86 of the magnetic oxide. The latter may readily be separated by grinding up the tea, and removing the magnetic oxide with a magnet. The facing employed for green tea usually consists of French chalk and Prussian blue. In the preparation of exhausted tea-leaves, they are rolled up with gum-water, and then dried,

microscope. The essential differences which the tea-leaf presents when compared with other leaves were minutely described. The chemical composition of tea was next discussed, the amount of lignin and of tannin being very important.

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