The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction | Page 7

be installed. Two
Londoners would buy their tickets during the day, and thus pay but 17s.
Another party are dying to hear Braham sing, or Paton warble her

nightingale notes among the canvass groves and hollyhock gardens of
Drury Lane and Covent Garden; or to sup on the frowning woes of
tragedy, the intrigues of an interlude dished up as an entremet, or a
melodrama for a ragout; or the wit and waggery of a farce, sweet and
soft-flowing like a petit-verre, to finish the repast. They go, and
between the acts try to count the wax and gas, the feet, and foot lights
till they are purblind; they return home and dream of Desdemona, sing
themselves to sleep with the notes of the last song, are haunted with the
odd physiognomy of Liston, and repeat the farce-laugh till the dream is
broken. Next day it is mighty pleasant to read how many hundred
people the theatre will hold, how many pounds they all paid to get there;
and how the splendid pile of Drury Lane rose on the area of a cockpit:
and how Garrick played Macbeth in a court suit, and John Kemble
enacted the sufferings of Hamlet in powdered hair. Upon all these
subjects the Companion is conversant, although he does not set up for
Sir Oracle, or shake his head like Burleigh. In short, he tells of "many
things," from the cart of Thespis and the Roman theatres, with their
6,000 singers and dancers, to the companies on the present stages.
Thus, we have the Origin of the Drama--Rise of the Drama in
England--Early English Theatres--Descriptions of all the London
Theatres--and a pleasant chapter on the Italian Opera. The Appendix
contains pithy chronologies of the dramatists and actors, bygone and
contemporary--origin of all the varieties of the drama--the topography
of the stage and scenery, costume--expenses of the
theatres--masquerades--play-bills and editions of plays, and a host of
theatrical customs. In truth, the book is as full as the tail of a fine
lobster, and will doubtless repay the time and research which its
preparation must have occupied. There is also a, frontispiece of the
fronts of the twelve London Theatres.
* * * * *
ORNITHOLOGY.
Mr. James Jennings has favoured us with a copy of his Ornithologia;
or the Birds, a poem; with copious Notes; &c. The latter portion is to us
the most interesting, especially as it contains an immense body of

valuable research into the history and economy of birds, in a pleasant,
piquant, anecdotical style, without any of the quaintness or crabbedness
of scientific technicality. Mr. Jennings's volume is therefore well
adapted for presentation to young persons; whilst the knowledge which
it displays, entitles it to a much higher stand than a mere book of
amusement. To illustrate what we have said in its praise, the reader will
find in the Supplement to the present Number, two or three of the most
attractive Notes under "THE NATURALIST," which likewise contains
Three Engravings of very curious subjects in other departments of
Natural History.
* * * * *
CONVERSATIONS ON GEOLOGY.
We have already spoken in favourable terms of this volume. It consists
of 15 conversations of a family circle, comprising a familiar
explanation of the Huttonian and Wernerian systems; the Mosaic
geology, as explained by Penn; and the late discoveries of Buckland,
Humboldt, Macculloch, and others. By way of specimen, we take a
portion of a conversation which introduces the very interesting subject
of the formation of coal:
Edward.--As the Huttonians evidently fail in proving coal to be
produced by fusion, I hope the Wernerians may succeed better, for I
should be sorry if so interesting a subject were left unexplained.
Mrs. R.--To understand their account, it will be requisite for you to
recollect the process of the formation of bogs and marshes, as it is from
these that Werner derives coal. What I told you, also, of the change
produced on wood by being long exposed to moisture and kept from
contact with the air, will be of use here, as wood, in all stages of change,
is often found in coal-fields, in the same way as in peat-bogs.
Edward. That is a very strong circumstance in favour of the alleged
origin.
Mrs. R. There are some facts, indeed, connected with this, which prove

this origin beyond question, as you will admit, when I tell you that
specimens of wood are often found partly converted into coal and
partly unchanged, or petrified by some other mineral.
Edward. This will, at least, be direct proof that wood may be converted
into coal.
Mrs. R. One instance of this kind is mentioned by Brand, in his
"History of Newcastle," as having been brought from Iceland, by Sir
Joseph Banks. Dr. Rennie, in his "Essay on Peat Moss,"