skill, fails in making that impression of which the character is capable. In the parts of heroic vigour, more particularly in that in which the old King contends with the assassins of Cordelia, and, exhausted by the efforts which he makes in her defence, sinks into the arms of his attendants, Mr. Kemble presented a perfect image of Lear. In the parts of abrupt passion, when the mind of the aged monarch shifts between insanity and reason, Mr. Kemble was equally happy; but he was not successful in representing the decrepitude of Lear; he was any thing but an old man.-He stalked with all the firmness of juvenility, and when he assumed the feebleness of age, the art was too apparent to deceive. To make the limbs totter, to bend the body, and dim the eyes, is more a trick of art than a requisite of natural talent; and as this is the only part of Lear in which Mr. Kemble does not succeed, his failure cannot be imputed to any want of judgment or skill. ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THEATRES. SIR, SINCE the year 1792 there have been seven Theatres burnt down in this metropolis. The following observations on the construction of edifices of this description, tending in some measure to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents, may not perhaps be unacceptable to our readers. The naves of Lincoln, Ely, and Westminster Cathedrals, are vaulted with stone; the first is 39 feet wide, and S2 feet high; the secoud 35 fect wide, and 73 feet high; the third 33 feet wide, and 103 feet high: and these vanits are built of materials of which few architects of the present age would dare to erect a wine vault. The perpendicular supports to these vaults are comparatively slender columns, and the thrust of the vaulting is resisted by flying buttresses over the side aisles; and the naves of the Cathedrals are intersected by towers, against which their vaultings abut. Hence the form of a Theatre and a Cathedral bear a great resemblance; the part over the pit may be compared with the tower, the choir end of the nave to the stage, the other end to the retiring boxes, &c. and the aisles to the lobbies. There is always sufficient distance behind the boxes and galleries in a Theatre to erect flying buttresses, the abutments to which will be concealed partly in the walls to the lobbies, and in the waiting rooms, or may project be yond the fronts; the widths of Theatres vary from 40 to 70 feet between the backs of the side boxes; the heights under the ceiling seldom exceed 70 feet. Hence it appears from precedent, that a vaulting to a Theatre is by no means impracticable. The roof over the pit may be a dome, and over the other parts cylindrical vaulting intersecting the dome. If the vaults be erected with stone ribs, and the spandrels filled in with bricks, a few boards and scaffolding will be ribs to erect them on; the dome in either case will not require a centre. The dome and vaults may be afterwards covered with lead or composition; no other roof will then be ne cessary. The church of Santa Sophia, at Constanti-sufficient without centering, except for the nople, is related to have been burnt down se veral times; and the Emperor Justinian is stated to have made the discovery, that if it were to be built of materials not combustible, a similar accident would not again occur. One would really imagine that there would be no need either of a ghost or Emperor to pointing can be preserved, only partial fires can inout this obvious truth; but experience shews that this is one of the lost secrets; therefore permit me to revive it in the mind of our Theatre-builders. It is evident that while the roof of the build jure the Theatre, and the injuries will be confined to what with propriety may be called the furniture of the building; and it is also evident, that upon this principle, in any times, this mode of construction, as it relates to the shell of the building, is considerably less expensive; but when the present high price of timber is recollected, it appears with still greater force. It may at first appear that there must be a great increase of thickness in the walls, and that from this circumstance A Theatre is divided into two parts, the one appropriated to the actors and scenery, and the other to the audience; the latter is again divided into two parts, the one being the area, inclosed by the backs of the boxes, and the other, the retiring boxes in the middle of the Theatre; the plan is generally a circle, ellipsis, or mixed curve truncated, having parallelo-much space must be lost, and the expence of grams issuing from the section for the stage and the retiring boxes and galleries. Behind the part appropriated to the audience there are lobbies for communication. walling must be enormous; but a recurrence to the principles upon which our Cathedrals are erected, will warrant a very different conclusion. X. OF DR. GOLDSMITH. THE TRAVELLER; OR, A PROSPECT OF SOCIETY. INSCRIBED TO THE REV. MR. H. GOLDSMITH. REMOTE, unfriended, melancholy, slow, Or onward, where the rude Carinthian boor Where all the ruddy family around But me, not destin'd such delights to share, view; Let school-taught pride dissemble all it can, Ye fields, where summer spreads profusion Ye lakes, whose vessels catch the busy gale; supplies; Yet oft a sigh prevails, and sorrows fall, May gather bliss to see my fellows blest. But where to find that happiest spot below, Who can direct, when all pretend to know; That, like the circle bounding earth and skies, The shudd'ring tenant of the frigid zone Allures from far, yet as I follow flies; Lakes, forests, cities, plains extending wide, Continued from No. 42.]—No. XLIII. Boldly proclaims that happiest spot his own; M even. Nature, a mother kind alike to all, Still grants her bliss at labour's earnest call; With food as well the peasant is supplied On Idra's cliffs as Arno's shelvy side; And tho' the rocky-crested summits frown, These rocks by custom turn to beds of down. From art more various are the blessings sent; Wealth, commerce, honour, liberty, content. Yet these each other's power so strong contest, That either scems destructive of the rest. Where wealth and freedom reign, contentment fails; [vails. And honour sinks where commerce long preHence ev'ry state, to one lov'd blessing prone, Conforms and models life to that alone. Each to the fav'rite happiness attends, And spurns the plan that aims at other ends; Till carried to excess in each domain, This fav'rite good begets peculiar pain. But let us try these truths with closer eyes, And trace them through the prospect as it lies: Here for a while, my proper cares resign'd, Here let mesit, in sorrow for mankind; Like you neglected shrub at random cast, That shades the steep, and sighs at ev'ry blast. Far to the right, where Appenine ascends, Bright as the summer, Italy extends ; Its uplands sloping deck the mountain's side, Woods over woods in gay theatric pride; While oft some temple's mould'ring tops between With venerable grandeur mark the scene. Could nature's bounty satisfy the breast, Tho' poor, luxurious; tho' submissive, vain ; When commerce proudly flourish'd through the state: At her command the palace learn'd to rise, Again the long-fall'n column sought the skies: The canvas glow'd beyond e'en nature warm : The pregnant quarry teem'd with human form; Till more unsteady than the southern gale, Commerce on other shores display'd her sail; While nought remain'd of all that riches gave, But towns unmanned, and lords without a slave: And late the nation found, with fruitless skill, Its former strength was but plethoric ill. Yet still the loss of wealth is here supplied By arts, the splendid wrecks of former pride; From these the feeble heart and long-fall'n mind An easy compensation seem to find. A mistress or a saint in ev'ry grove. As in those domes where Cæsars once bore sway, Defac'd by time, and tott'ring by decay, Exults, and owns his cottage with a smile. My soul, turn from them-turn we to survey Where rougher climes a nobler race display; Where the bleak Swiss their stormy mansion tread, And force a churlish soil for scanty bread: charm, Redress the clime, and all its rage disarm. Tho' poor the peasant's hut, his feast tho small, He sees his little lot the lot of all; With patient angle trolls the finny deep, steep; [way, Or seeks the den where snow tracks mark the While his lov'd partner, boastful of her hoard, And e'en those hills that round his mansion Enhance the bliss his scanty fund supplies. Dear is that shed to which his soul conforms, These far dispers'd. on timorous pinions fly, To kinder skies, where gentler manners How often have I led thy sportive choir [Loire! Yet would the village praise my wond'rous And dear that bill which lifts him to the And the gay grandsire, skill'd in gestic lore, storms; And as a child, when scaring sounds molest, That first excites desire, and then supplies; Has frisk'd beneath the hurden of threescore. Thus idly busy rolls their world away: [seem. Unknown to them, when sensual pleasures cloy || Till, seeming blest, they grow to what they To fill the languid pause, with finer joy; flame, Catch ev'ry nerve, and vibrate through the frame. Their level life is but a mould'ring fire, Unfit for raptures; or, if raptures cheer But not their joys alone thus coarsely flow; the way; But while this softer art their bliss supplies, Nor weighs the solid worth of self-applause. Spreads its long arms amidst the wat'ry roar, Convenience, plenty, elegance, and arts; At gold's superior charms all freedom flies; Rough, poor, content, ungovernably bold; The self-dependant lordlings stand alone; Nor this the worst. As nature's ties decay, As duty, love, and honour fail to sway, Fictitious bonds, the bouds of wealth and Jaw, Still gather strength, and force unwilling awe. The land of scholars and the nurse of arms, One sink of level avarice shall lie, And all that freedom's highest aims can reach, Is but to lay proportion'd loads on each. Hence, should one order disproportion'd grow, Its double weight must ruin all below. O, then, how blind to all that truth requires, Who think it freedom when a part aspires, Calm in my soul, nor apt to rise in arms, Except when fast approaching danger warms : But when coutending chiefs blockade the throne, While e'en the peasant boasts these rights to Contracting regal pow'r to stretch their own; scan, And learns to venerate himself as man. Thine, freedom, thine the blessings pictur'd here, Thine are those charms, that dazzle and en dear; Too blest indeed were such without alloy, When I behold a factious band agree To call it freedom when themselves are free; Each wanton judge new penal statutes draw, Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law; [roam, The wealth of climes, where savage nations Pillag'd from slaves, to purchase slaves at home; Fear, pity, justice, indignation start, Tear off reserve, and bare my swelling heart; |