For AUGUST 1821.

A New and Emproved Series.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ILLUSTRIOUS AND
DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS.

Number One Hundred and Fifty-two.

MADAME CATALANI.

suasions of their friends not to suffer such astonishing talent to be buried in a cloister. She was soon judged sufficiently qualified to take the first parts in serious Opera, even

WHEN the undisputed superiority of || culiar melody, that they yielded to the pertalent displayed by the English Stage first prompted us to adorn our work with the portraits of those Females who confer so much honour on their professional life, we commenced, now about ten years ago, within her native soil: the high reputation of

a Portrait of the fair original whose present exact resemblance graces this Number. The lovely character of Italian beauty, the noble and commanding Roman features, || will be found but little altered from that period; and the alteration that time has produced, may be pronounced an improvement, the graceful person of Madame CATALANI being somewhat more full than at the time above mentioned.

This lady, whom we may well term an enchanting syren, is a native of Italy, of that land of harmony where music seems to have established her empire: she was born in 1782 or 1783: her parents were of high respectability, and, it is said, had destined their daughter to religious seclusion; but in the execution of some divine canticles, her voice was found of such pe

exquisite singers, long accustomed to stage business, was even thus early not sufficient to obscure her extraordinary powers. The fair debutante not only gave ample proofs of rapidly obtaining the most brilliant celebrity by the power and harmony of her cadences, but the Graces seemed to follow in her train; her every movement was accompanied by elegance of carriage and deportment, and she gaye fair promise of becoming also an excellent actress.

Before the Royal Family of Portugal emigrated to the Brazils, the Opera House at Lisbon was remarkable for the superiority of its Italian singers; and the writer of this sketch, who had there listened with delight to the ever graceful Grassini, had also the satisfaction of receiving the highest musical treat from the wonderful and scien.

tific warblings of the young Signora CATALANI. She resided five years in Lisbon, and dedicated all her leisure hours in the improvement of her native talent, according to the best rules of music, under the tuition of the celebrated Crescentini, a singer of such extraordinary science, that he was long regarded as a prodigy.

the character of Semiramide, to a crowded auditory: and in order to give full scope to her powers, Bianchi's original music was superseded by a new composition of Portogallo, which was best fitted to the display of her talents both native and acquired. Her success was complete, and the reiterated plaudits she received well earned.

Her fame hourly increased; but of fragile and delicate constitution, it was decidedly unequal to the variableness of our wintry climate; the public therefore were often disappointed by her frequent indisposition: she found our language also as rude as our atmosphere, and never could be brought to pronounce it with any tolerable degree of precision.

Her last engagement at Lisbon was for three thousand moidores annually, besides a benefit. She was a great favourite with the Consort of the present King of Portugal, then Princess of Brazil, who honoured Signora Catalani not only with her admiration but her personal friendship; and when Signora Catalani quitted Lisbon for Madrid, the Princess gave her the most flattering recommendation to the then Queen of Spain; and she met with the most marked distinction and attention from the Spanish Court; while, with the gentry, and sub-engaged to perform twice a week in serious ordinate classes, she was a decided favourite.

In Paris, to which city she went on her quitting Spain, she formed a matrimonial engagement with Monsieur Vallebraque. Under the name of Catalani she had, however, acquired all her well merited fame: that name had resounded through Europe, and its renown had reached every quarter of the globe: she therefore still retained it, assuming only the title of Madame, in lieu of Signora.

England, the sure patroness of transcendent talent, anxious to reward merit, and munificent in its encouragement of science, had long heard of the fame of Madame CATALANI: the Managers of our Italian Opera were anxious ro engage such a treasure, and at the same time to indulge the scientific amateur, and gratify the curiosity of an expectant public. At the latter end of the year 1806, this desirable object was accomplished; and though the first yearly salary of Madame CATALANI was only two thousand pounds, the half of what she obtained at Lisbon, she scrupled not to accept it, relying on the generosity of the English, when her merits should be sufficiently known.

She made her first debut at the King's Theatre on the 13th of December 1806, in

Madame CATALAN1 found herself justified in the ideas she had formed of the generosity of the English. In 1808, she was

or comic operas, for five thousand two hundred and fifty pounds, with two clear benefits; while Madame Dussek was to perform in serious opera, and to take the part of principal Buffa in the event of Madame Catalani being at any time so indisposed as not to be able to perform. In 1809 some difficulties arose concerning these engagements; and Mr. Taylor, the then manager of the Opera House, offered her six thousand pounds, with three benefits, payable in two equal moieties in 1810 and 1811, for her performance for eighty nights in serious opera only; this she refused unless her Brother should be engaged as first violin: and here, however she might be actuated by sisterly affection, we cannot but consider her blame-worthy, after the great value that the English set on her talents exclusively, and for which she had been so munificently paid.

Mr. Harris, on opening his new Theatre in Covent-garden, engaged Madame Catalani; but could not fulfil this engagement on account of the famous O. P. fracas. She afterwards assisted many Charitable Institutions with her enchanting powers, performed also at the University, Music Meetings, and at those of some of the great provincial towns of the three kingdoms.

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS.

HISTORICAL AND SELECT ANECDOTES.

ANECDOTE CONCERNING CARDINAL WOLSEY.

a rich habit for every day in the year, and she varied its form and decoration to three

In the time of Henry VIII. every great man kept a fool in his house, who was ge-hundred and sixty-five inventions of exnerally a very clever, witty person, but who, presuming on his title, was licensed to speak his thoughts. Cardinal Wolsey was not without one of these appendages to grandeur, and one day, as he was about to give a magnificent feast, wherein, according to the custom of those times, a prodigious quantity of butcher's meat was consumed, his fool said to his Eminence, "I wish, with all my heart, that you was made Pope." "Why?" replied the Cardinal. "Because," said the buffoon, "St. Peter established Lent in order to profit his relations, who were fishermen; now you would abolish it to enrich your parents, who are butchers."

MATRIMONIAL ANECDOTE.

A CLERGYMAN, who had in the lottery of matrimony drawn a share that proved to him worse than a blank, was just experiencing a severe scolding from his Xantippe, when he was called upon to unite a pair in the blessed state of wedlock. The poor priest, actuated by his own feelings and experience, rather than by a sense of his canonical duty, opened the book and began,

"Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of trouble," &c. repeating a part of the burial service. The astonished bridegroom exclaimed, "Sir, Sir, you mistake, I came here to be married, not buried." "Well!" replied the Clergyman, "if you insist on it, I am obliged to marry you, but believe me, my friend, you had better be buried."

cursive fancy. A thick quarto volume was filled with a simple detail of the wardrobe appertaining to Elizabeth of Russia. This mania has not been confined to the fair sex: when Dresden fell into the hands of Prussia during the seven years' war, the Saxon Minister, Count Bruhl, afforded the victors a spoil of eight hundred pair of boots, which Frederic ordered should be distributed to his guards: twelve hundred wigs that had sate, in turn, upon the lofty brow of the statesman, were thrown in a heap, upon the floor of a public store, to be sold; and it was whispered, that many hundred dozens of shirts, silk stockings, and laced cravats, with every species of masculine finery, had been sent to different marts, and converted into cash for the royal treasury!

ANECDOTE OF LOUIS XVIII. AND
GENERAL RAPP.

GENERAL RAPP being on duty attending the King at St. Cloud, was informed of the death of Buonaparte while he was breakGeneral would not credit the intelligence; fasting with his Majesty. At first the received official information of it the night but on the King's assuring him that he had before, the General could not restrain his tears, and audibly declared, that the death of his former General, whose Aide-de

camp he had been for fifteen years, most

sensibly affected him: "I am not an ungrateful man," said he, and immediately retired home. The King, pleased with the faithful conduct of the General, sent for him after mass, and kindly addressed him in the following manner : "Rapp, I know that the news I have received has been very afflicting to you; it does honour to your heart; and I love and esteem you the more for it."

General Rapp replied with much emotion, || and making his way to a place where he

"I owe, Sire, every thing to Napoleon, and more especially the esteem and kindness I receive from your Majesty, and your august family." The King, struck with the frankness and loyalty of the General, made his conduct known that very day to his family and his ministers.

ANECDOTE OF DOCTOR ANDERSON.

SITTING once at table with the Marquis of Wellesley, the Doctor had the boldness to tell his Lordship, that the fall of Seringapatam was more owing to good luck than good management. The Marquis replied, that if he did not take care of his tongue, he would hang him. "That," said the Doctor, "would be very hard indeed, my Lord, after I have bestowed so much pains on the cultivation of hemp."

SINGULAR FATALITY.

saw a light, found several gentlemen over
a jovial bowl. They laughed him out of
his wrath, and summoning the landlord,
satisfied the youth he had seen the body of
a seaman who died in the harbour that
morning. The gentlemen invited him to
join their party, and having resumed his
garments, he sat with them until day-light
permitted him to pursue his journey.
Twelve years subsequent to this adventure,
our son of Neptune lodged one night at an
Hotel in an inland country. He was scarcely
recovered from the effects of a hot climate,
and though he travelled in his gig, was so
fatigued, that he hastened to bed, and dis-
missed his servant from the chamber, with
orders not to be disturbed till nine in the
morning. Day had but faintly dawned when
he was startled from sleep by heavy steps;
and looking up, saw six tall fellows in black
passing through his apartment to a closet,
the door of which had quite escaped his
notice. In no placid mood he demanded
how they dared to intrude; and one of the
number, with a civil bow, apologized, say-

L

A GENTLEMAN whose courage has been tried amidst the roar of battle and the jeopardy of shipwreck, relates the following incidents, humorously avowing, that no peril from winds and waves, and no encountering, he was an Undertaker, and the men with flesh and blood, horrified his mind half so much as the chilling sensations created by nocturnal proximity to the still, tranquil, immoveable dead. When a very young man he was travelling alone, and at a late hour put up at the Inn of a small sea-port town. The host told him there was but one vacant bed, in a garret-room; and he was glad to take repose even there, after a long journey. When shewn to his apartment, he began to undress with eager impatience to seek his pillow; but, while unbuttoning his vest, he cast his eyes around, and observed two doors that seemed to enclose a bed, and, apprehending he might have a companion against whom some precaution might be necessary in securing his purse, he very softly opened one of the folding-doors. Every fluid in his frame was for a moment congealed, when he beheld a corpse! He rushed down stairs,

within the closet were his servants, carrying out a coffin, which contained the corpse of Mrs. R——, wife of General R———, of to be that day interred in the family vault. They had been a week in their progress from Bristol, where the lady expired, and the Inn was crowded with relations of the family, who had come to pay the last respects to her remains. Our traveller was easily appeased so far as concerned the Undertaker; but was enraged at the hostess. When he sent for her to vent his remonstrance, she said she hoped Mrs. R—— had not greatly disturbed his slumbers. He soon discovered the good dame was tipsy, and left the house, muttering imprecations upon the fates, who seemed to have decreed that he should be haunted by the dead, whether his auberge happened to be on the sea-coast, or the interior of a country.