Mn. HoxE.—The interest of readers in the ingenious author of
the Every Day Book, was lately excited by two circumstances : first, the announcement that he is in distress ; second, the publication of a correspondence between Mr. Hone and Mr. Southey, the tenor of which is creditable to both. The amiable feeling which prompted the worthy Laureate, at the risk of being misunderstood by minds less pure and comprehensive than his own, to bestow public praise on the literary Ia.hours of a man formerly in mauvaise odeur for his politics, cannot be mentioned withont honour. The subscription entered into for Mr. Hone, and which is meant to enable him to open a small coffeeroom, for the maintenance of his numerous family, has not filled up so rapidly as was expected. We desire to second the appeal, which will be found in ano. ther place, in favour of a man who, whatever difference of opinion may exist about his early works, is confessed by all to have proved himself in those of later years a most amusing and instructive writer.
MISS STEPHENS'S BENEFIT.—Tbe theatres have teemed with "benefits" this week; but we only attended Miss Stephens's, on Tuesday ; when the Merry Wives of Windsor, with the songs introduced, and pretty nearly the same cast of characters as before, was revived. It was a bold yet happy thought of Miss Stephens to recal to the recollection of her audience the rapturous enthusiasm which greeted her performance in this play when her sweet voice was in the fulness of its power and she herself in her prime. Her pure taste and unaffected style have not left her, if her voice and person have lost any of their charms ; and her
exertions this evening were received with that hearty applause which showed that the audience bad not abated in their admiration. She was *encored in the favourite ballad "John Anderson my jo," which she Sang without accompaniment, with touching sweetness. Dowton's reappearance as Falstaff was very warmly greeted, but his personation of the .character wanted not only the gusto of Shakspeare, but the mellowness of the actor's former representation. He drank his sack as though it were but "filthy beer ;" his amorous leer was gross, and not relieved by the roguish twinkle of the eye, and the zest which carries off the villany. His jests wanted richness, his speech raciness. Falstaff:s wit should bubble up as from a cauldron of turtle soup, with the flavour of green fat. Dowton's performance wanted breadth, and old Jack Falstaff was in his hands nothing better than a hoary villain.
The prevailing rage at the benefits, this season, is to draught the . forces of the Italian Opera to the English boards. Young's night was on Monday. This favourite tragedian, after the play of Firginius, an• nounced his intention to take leave of the stage next season. We understand Mr. Young is in the habit of making such announcements. Mrs. Henry Siddons, after taking a final leave at Edinburgh, returns to the boards and the management of that theatre, on account of the illness of Mr. Murray, her brother.
Madame Vestris and Mr. Anderson have arranged their differences. Both, it is said, have been the "victims of misrepresentation."
In consequence of the depression of theatrical property, the proprietors of the Norwich Theatre met on Monday last, and unanimously agreed to reduce the rental 2001. per annum.
GIG HACE.—A very neat gig race took place on the Harrow Road on Thursday, for a trifling bet of five pounds. The gigs were by no means light, and were driven by gentlemen, the one of whom weighed nearly sixteen, and the other fourteen stone. The ponies Were not above twelve hands each. The winner did the distance in twenty-eight flutes; having, by taking a wrong turn, trotted six miles and a half in • that time, instead of six miles : the loser did the six miles in twenty-nine minutes. Mr. W. Hutton, of Harrow Weald, was owner of the loser ; and a brother of Mr. Adams, of Little Pulteney Street, of the winner. Neither of the little animals had received any previous training.
The remains of the late Marchioness of Northampton arrived in the • Calais steamer yesterday, and were landed by a Treasury order, and delivered to a gentleman who attended, as a friend of the family, to receive the corpse. The funeral will proceed to the family seat, Castle Ashby, in Northamptonshire. Her ladyship died at Rome very suddenly.
On Wednesday, George Roots, Esq., Recorder of Kingston-on' Thames, was elected to a Tancred Law Studentship.
The French Academy has assigned the prize of 8,000 francs, le.% by the late M. Monthyon to the author of the best invention for rendering any art or trade less unhealthy, to the Chevalier Aldini, the inventor Of the fire-resisting dresses.
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