and putting suspicion to shame, that she be-nesses. The coloured gentlemen of the comes glorious. - The widow of Bona- city of New-York petitioned the corporaparte has married an old and ugly Austrian tion for a place in the procession at the General. "Her fittest place were by Na- Grand Canal celebration; the modest repoleon's grave." - Mr. Everett, American quest was not granted, there being no lack minister to Spain, fell violently in love with of colours on this occasion. -A gentleKing Ferdinand at first sight, and made a man and lady of colour were willing to condeclaration of his passion. He did not "get descend so far as to open the Grand Ball in the bag."-Some gentleman threw a po- a Guinea double-shuffle; but their favour tato in the New-York theatre, which put was dispensed with, as it was feared that out another gentleman's eye; the latter has they would eclipse all the other dancers. not seen double since. N. B. He was not - The Editor of an American newspaan Irishman, but a Jonathan, and marvels per, speaking of our squadron in the Medithat the potato should have been sent to terranean, says, that he is "happy to learn him; had it been a pumpkin he would not that the ships and crews generally are in have been surprised. Mr. Stone, of the good health." Quere, to what diseases are Commercial, lost three subscribers for put- ships liable, and how are they doctored? ting on panoply " in the cause of honour, The state of New-York turned another morality, and virtue"!!!-The public lost political somerset, at which both parties all confidence in nine-tenths of the new rubbed their eyes, wondering "what the banking institutions. - The President of a d-l it could mean," certain bank lost his principle; the deposi tors of money also lost their principal. The We would recommend to the friends of difference in termination is a mere trifle. morality, who are regulating the morals of -A certain doctor lost a good patient by the theatre, to employ a portion of their bleeding him too profusely during the first zeal in redressing the wrongs which virtue year. A gentleman lost a good rattan by has suffered at the hands of those offenders unfortunately being out of the way when who have been preying on the pecuniary called upon to receive the present. N. B. distresses of the community. Perhaps they The present was to have been conferred ad can find fitter objects of indignation in men dorsum.-A shocking attempt was made who have not paid the penalty of their crimes to extinguish "Morality" during the late than in one solitary individual who has atotheatrical disturbances; it was actually ned, by the judgment of the law, for a solithreatened with murder; vide the commu- tary offence. The champions of morality nication of "Morality" in a daily paper. -A Greek sea-captain was so rude as to tell the commander of an Austrian brig to "fire and be d-d." He could not have The following resolution was passed by been an Athenian, for Athenian politeness the "Bachelor's Club," (a highly respectais, or at least was, above such incivility. ble institution in our city) - that the philoso should show no partiality. pher of old, (Socrates) who said, "do as you will, you will repent," was a dunce, for we have all lived Bachelors to this day, and never repented. Quere-What is the Greek for d-n, in the sense here intended ? Is it καλαζαομαι ? -Some friends to decency, propriety and public order, gave practical proof of the sincerity of their professions by throwing apples, oranges and sand-bags at a defenceless actor. There is something chivalrous in such courage. Valuable present.-A Vermont Editor has been presented with a 1st. That Diogenes was a fool, for when potato measuring nearly two feet in circum- Alexander begged him to crave a boon, he ference; it should be presented to Pat Ma- said, "stand from between me and the gee, the Irish Giant. - The President of sun." the United States of America shook hands with a foreigner, on board of a steam-boat! The fact is attested by several credible wit The "Cool Club," (who meet only in warm weather), at their last meeting in August, passed the following resolutions: 2nd. That Macbeth, was wiser than either Diogenes or Solomon, for he said, "I gin to be a' weary o' the sun." THEATRICAL. It gives us much pleasure to insert the following criticism: it is from the pen of a close observer and spirited writer. MR. KEAN'S SHYLOCK. And when Tubal informs him of Antonio's losses, the horrid earnestness of the exclamation, "I thank God, I thank God." But it is in vain to particularize: we will merely mention the court scene. The object for which he stood there was never lost sight of. The Duke harangued, Bassanio Mr. Kean made his fourth appearance pleaded, Gratiano stormed; Shylock thought on Friday the 11th inst. in the Merchant of only of "his bond." His manner toVenice. Of his Shylock we cannot express wards the latter was particularly fine. A ourselves in adequate terms-to be appreciated, it must be seen. It was in truth as Pope said of Macklin, "The very Jew That Shakspeare drew." common actor would have looked at him. Kean stood with his back to him, his eye fixed steadfastly on the object of his hatred, until he had finished; then turning round, he slowly drew forth the bond, opened it to its fullest extent, gazed on it with a fiendish exultation, and pointing to the seal, exclaims "Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond, Thou but offend'st the lungs to speak so loud." It could not be called acting-it was the thing itself; no trickery-no laying out for applause-no looking at the audience (as much as to say, " was not that well done?") from his entrance to his exit he was perfecThe opening of that parchment might tion. Shylock, unlike most of Kean's chahave been heard at the farthest part of the racters, has no adventitious circumstances house. There was fine acting too in the to set it off-no regal pomp-none of the unwilling and cautious manner in which paraphernalia of greatness-he stands alone he let it pass from his hands to that of the amid the haughty Venetians, a degraded " learned doctor," and the trembling eagerold man; and in the hands of a common ness he evinces in seizing it whenPortia enperformer is so. From the time of Shak- treats that it may be torn, as if apprehensive speare to that of Macklin, this was general- of the mere possibility of such an evently performed by the lowest comedian in the "When-when it is paid, according to the tenor." company, and sunk into a mere buffoon This character was the foundation of Mr. -and it requires power of the highest order Kean's fame; it was this in which he first to make him what Kean made him-the Shy. Three thousand ducats-'tis a good round sum; Shy. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft had an electrical effect, and could only be made his appearance before a London audi- PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY. The first scene in the third act, with Tubal, was as fine a display of histrionic talent as can possibly be conceived. Few will forget his look-the pointing of his fore-finger, as if his daughter's corse were actually before him, and his manner of pronouncing | Subscriptions received by G. & C. Carvill, 108 Broad JAMES G. BROOKS, Editor and Proprietor, No. 4 Wall-street, New-York. the word "dead" Shy. I would that my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear! would she were hearsed at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin! &c. way-where communications may be left, or transmit- J. SEYMOUR, printer, 49 John-street. AND Phi Beta Kappa Repository. FIDE AC FIDUCIA. NEW-YORK, DECEMBER 3, 1825. No. 13. Swift. "LET us go to an English ordinary," said a reverend clergyman to me one day; "I like," continued he, "to see the honest countenances of the most thinking people in the world, and to hear my mother tongue; I like also, occasionally, to feed on plain food, fish and butcher's meat, without a sin VOL. I. near the pig;*" this might have a double meaning, but I was content to take it literally. A noise was now made by the drawing in of chairs, and we fell too, very much in earnest, at our meal; the waiter conveyed each request to be helped to any particular dish, otherwise the two principal carvers sent the food round, and helped themselves in turn. The parson's ambition led him to the top of the table, but he was punished for it, his right hand neighbour being deaf, and his left hand one keeping up a conversation with his lawyer on law business, in a low tone of voice, during the whole time of dinner. A number of the frequenters of this house must either have been men of business, or must have been engaged to the theatres, as they quitted table a quarter of an hour after the introduction of the dessert: of the sixteen present, four distinct parties of two or three made up a round dozen, who spoke to their own party only; two gentlemen never uttered one word whilst I remained, gle ragout, fricassée or other made dish, but and only one (a dentist) smiled: this he did all wholesome simplicity." I complied with very frequently, and was evidently looking my friend's wish, and we sat down to gravy out for customers, but he could not make soups, a plain boiled turbot, and a piece of the conversation general in spite of his teeth: roast beef; there were other dishes of meat this was my left-hand neighbour. My a l'Anglaise, which we will pass over, all right-hand man dealt in monosyllables duwas decent and fairly cooked, the room was ring dinner-time, but came out in the shape crowded, and sixteen, exclusively of my of politics, and addressed his discourse to friend and myself, sat down to one table. me half an hour after dinner: in proportion At my entrance to the room I made a as he gained confidence and acquaintance, circular bow, which was only answered by he improved in matter and in manner, and I a country gentleman near me, and I took had to regret that an engagement, which I one of the lowest places at the board, no- could not put off, forced me to lose his sociebody offering either to promote me, or to ty, which I enjoyed for two hours. Just as change place with me; the eating party I was about to retire, I motioned the clergydropped in irregularly, some very leisurely, man to accompany me; but he chose to reand others in a great hurry for fear of being too late; there was much scuffle at the hanging up of hats, and some emulation as to getting good places, some of which (the highest) seemed to be assumed as a matter of right; I detected one arch looking man placing himself in such a manner as to prove, to me, that he had no choice in a neighbour, but much preference as to a dish; another studiously avoided a carving seat, and a third whispered to a stock broker, whom I knew by sight, "I shall sit main, and he afterwards informed me that he was just getting comfortable as I went away, that the deaf man retired five minutes after me; and the lawyer and his client turned round to him, and beckoning up my neighbour, whom I had just left, they formed a party of four, commenced hard drink * Dining on the Boulevards, one day, I perceived an epicure of sun burnt complexion, feasting on a young pig; his neighbour being asked what he would be helped to, replied-Un cochon roti comme monsieur. ing, got into general conversation, and mencement of the repast; the female part to me, quitted it as if they were in an En- and involuntary regret when I quitted the glish coffee-house*; and one person a (North presence of one who put me in such good-huAmerican) put on his hat before he left the mour with myself. The dinner was a very room; he was followed by a Newfoundland lengthy one, but did not appear so, and the dog, which had slept upon my feet during party broke up in less than an hour after dinner-time, and when I patted his head the dessert came on the table: there was licked my hand in return; to tell the truth, great variety in the conversation, in which he seemed to be one of the kindest creatures the French author introduced a work of his own, and read some very pleasing extracts; very little wine was drunk, except by the general, the parson, and myself. The first had been in England, and my friend always in company. My reverend friend proposed to me on the following day, to go to a famous beef-steak house, much frequented by the English, but I had not a beef-steak apthe time to wait for a sociable conclusion to a plain, long, dull dinner, such as that of the day before; I therefore engaged the clergyman to accompany me to a French table d'hote, where I occasionally dined, and which was mostly frequented by profession- since. al men and half-pay officers of a certain rank. petite that day, and, moreover, I had not allowanced himself to a bottle of claret and one glass of Madeira during dinner. Before we separated, the general expressed a wish that we should meet again, to which I was as much inclined as the brave veteran, and have enjoyed his society very frequently On many other occasions I have met at Our number was twenty, all at the same well-informed persons of both sexes, and this table d'hote with many well-bred and table; four ladies ornamented and improved never in one solitary instance, had to blush the party; ten gentlemen were decorated, for the vulgarity of any one present. There and the other four were habited in black, is a general polish in the circle, all extenand seemed to be authors and medical men. sive as it is, formed by les habitués of the Each entering person gave the inclination ivilit and smile of good breeding to the circle; the house, and there is a species of external ladies were handed in with the greatest po- up the countenances of those who dine in kindliness and cheerful civility, which lights liteness-the entire circle rose to receive public, in happy contrast with the cold inthem, and after they had the seats of pre- dependence and secure deportment of the eminence offered to them, the rest of the pride exhibited towards an attendant at the company vied in humility as to placing their majority of our countrymen. There is ne neighbours above themselves, great atten- bar, nor is there any mortal sin in saying a tion was paid to a general officer, and he gallant thing to a female met by chance at received it with becoming gratitude and the open table of a pension, or at a restauradignity, and, addressing the clergyman in teur's; indeed, the former is of great advanbroken English, he requested him to sit on his right hand, then beckoning me a place these boarding-houses or tables, are kept by tage to the travelling gentleman. Many of near my countryman, but I preferred ta- officers' widows, and by reduced nobility king the general's left hand, which atten- and gentry, the person presiding is not un tion he felt and repaid tenfold. frequently highly accomplished, and always obliging and well-bred. Our dinner consisted of two courses, ad-bl mirably cooked; but the only plain dishes were the bouilli and a roasted turkey; the others were tossed up to the best advantage, and pleased me prodigiously. The conversation became general almost at the com * Travelled and well-bred gentlemen comply with the customs of those countries to which they travel, but stubborn John Bull is above all this, and there is no thing which annoys the French more than to see him enter a coffee-house, with his hat on, and pass the dame du comptoir without the bow of courtesy. ing as very desirable, and a lesson may be Economy will point out this mode of livtaken daily of much utility to the inexperienced person, who is only just entered on his intention of seeing the world; the conhome stock of integrity and good-will, and tact of foreign manners will improve the the voyageur on life's current will gain an ease in manner, added to amusement and instruction. The mingling of female socie ty in these assemblages is to me delightful, ed their religion. Custom must approve of it is a balm to the man who passes many sol- fashion. Nothing but what is so approved itary hours, it sweetens the cup, and gives a zest and piquancy (if I may use the term,) which adds a relish to the repast, and is to the drawing-room, half-an-hour before dinner-time, like a number of beautiful flowers giving odour to the apartment, and relieving the eye amidst heavy furniture and pictures of sameness; the presence of the fair creates a perpetual sunshine; for, as Morris inimitably says in one of his masterly songs: "The bottle affords us a glimpse through the gloom, But love's the true sunshine that gladdens our life." Lastly, the table society of ladies commands decorum in conversation, and prevents a monopoly of words, or an obstinacy of political or other opinion. THE ESSAYIST. THE PHILOSOPHY OF FASHION. IT will, perchance, set some readers in a puzzle to discover what connexion can exist between fashion and philosophy, especially those who are apt to confound terms, and imagine that philosophy can only be applied in the vulgar sense. That so profound a word should be used to designate any of the follies of society, may appear a little anomalous. Most have heard of the fashionable philosophy of modern times, which, after all, is a complete misnomer, if philosophy be to be used but in one sense. Carp not, gentlemen, at terms; two and two do not always make four, in spite of Cocker-at least, if political economists know any thing at all, and many a seeming contradiction may be resolved into a consistent whole. "Old improbabilities," says a late writer, "are become modern probabilities," and the philosophy of fashion may be comprehended in an analysis of the prominent characteristics of a numerous sect of the community :-marry, proceed we then analytically. To catch "the Cynthia of the minute," -to depict the ever-shifting Proteus universally worshipped by the most ardent of votaries, to define with fidelity its multiform transmutations, and the flickering hues that sparkle around the idol coming and going like the ebb and flow of the ocean, would be a vain can be tolerated, fashion, unless tolerated by custom, is put beyond the pale of adoption, made liable to pains and penalties, and finally driven into obscurity. Thus the heretical attempts made by presumptuous individuals of the supreme bon ton to launch a. mode have been many; but in spite of every effort, if custom have withheld her patronage, it has perished in neglect. Lady Arcot, just arrived from India, with all the notoriety of wealth and the sanguine hope of a fashionable of the first water, endeavoured to introduce palanquins for visiting or shopping in a London summer, by no means a bad scheme; many stood and admired her equipage, but the thing would not take. On the other hand, a noble lord, a few years ago, cut off the skirts of his coat, and, outre as he appeared, the fashion was universally adopted; the rage for shorn garments spread like a pestilence, and did not cease until another fashion, perhaps equally extravagant, "pushed it from its stool." Fashion has numerous attendants in her temple every sort Of gymnic artists, wrestlers, riders, runners, messengers too that go up and down the whole range of her empire with unwearying activity, and search out novelties, to satisfy her insatiable demands. Her extremest votaries are nearly always in the ranks of weak intellect, while every fool of a particular class in life is a certain devotee. How degrading is this devotion of mankind to a reasonless phantom; yet how mysterious in its origin! Youth with its generous sympathies catches the contagion, and the aged, in spite of experience, are as much wedded to it as the young. A great portion of the cold heartlessness of the many, is owing to the practice of duplicity and insincerity instilled by fashionable manners, arising from the constant efforts of men to appear what they are not, and to hide under a glozing courtesy envy, batred, "and all uncharitableness." An air of fashion borne by many honourable individuals, it must be granted, sets off the innate good principles they possess; such would scout fashion if she made them hypocrites-they are what they seem, they mean all they say-they may be trust task for pen and pencil united. Some paint- ed. But how few is the number of such as ers complete a picture by only delineating confer honour upon fashion, not fashion upon the striking parts in a bold manner, and them! Yet all must more or less adopt a flinging into undefined shadow those to which portion of it to pass current in the world with, their art is unequal-thus by bold and pro- -as in taking our necessary food we must minent outlines the original is easily recog-ever swallow some portion of a deleterious nised. This must be our stratagem, we poison. The wise must therefore follow must hit off a sketchy draught, and leave the fashion at a sober distance, while its intoxifilling up to imagination, that best of finish-cated disciples press close on its heels, and ers. Custom, then is styled "the law of try to hug themselves in its harlequin garfools." and fashion be truly denominats ments. There is no chiect on earth sova |