bours, where he is capable of only two prayers, for rain and fair weather. His compliment with his neighbour is a good thump on the back, and his salutation commonly some blunt curse. He is a niggard all the week, except only market day, where, if his corn sell well, he thinks he may be drunk with a good conscience. For death he is never troubled, and if he get in but his harvest before; let it come when it will he cares not."

Select Biography.

No. II.

ROSSINI.

ROSSINI, the celebrated Composer who now presides over the Italian Opera in this country, was born on the 29th of February, 1792, at Pesaro, a pretty little town in the Papal States, on the Gulf of Venice. His father was a poor player on the French horn of the third rank; one of those perambulating symphonists, who get their living by visiting the fairs of Sinigaglia, Fermo, Forli, and other little towns in Romagna and its neighbourhood; and forming a part of the little impromptu orchestras, which are collected for the Opera of the fair. His mother who had once been handsome, was a tolerable seconda donna: they went from town to town, and from com

pany to company; the husband playing in the orchestra, the wife singing on the stage-poor, of course : and Rossini their son, covered with glory, with a name which resounded throughout Europe, faithful to the paternal poverty, had not laid by for his whole stock, two years ago, when he went to Vienna, a sum equal to the annual salary of one of the actresses who sing at Paris or at Lisbon.

Living is cheap at Pesaro, and although his family subsisted on very uncertain means, they were never sorrowful, and above all, cared little for the future. In 1799, Rossini's parents took him to Bologna; but he did not begin to study music until 1804, when he was twelve years of age. His master was D. Angelo Tesei. In the course of a few months, the young Gioacchino earned several paoli by singing in the churches. His fine soprano voice and the vivacity of his youthful manners rendered him very welcome to the priests who directed the Funzioni. Under Professor Angelo Tesei, Gioacchino was well instructed in singing, in the art of accompanying, and in the rules of counterpoint. From the

year 1806 he was capable of singing any piece of music at sight, and great hopes began to be entertained of him. His handsome figure induced the idea of making a tenor of him.

In 1806 Rossini quitted Bologna to undertake a musical tour in Romagna. He presided at the piano as leader of the orchestra at some of the smaller towns, and in 1807 entered the Lyceum at Bologna, and received lessons of music from father Stanislao Mattei. A year subsequently, he was qualified to compose a symphony, and a cantata called Il Piano d' Armenia. It was his first production of vocal music. Immediately afterwards he was elected a Director of the Academy of Concordi.

Being by the interest of a very amiable female sent to Venice, in 1810, he there composed for the Theatre San Mose, a little Opera in one act, called La Cambiale de Matrimonio. Returning to Bologna in the autumn of the following year, he prepared L'Equivoco Stravagante for representation: and then revisiting Venice, produced for the Carnival of 1812, L'Inganno Felice. In every part of this Opera his genius sparkles. An experienced eye can recognize, without difficulty, in it, the parent ideas of fifteen or twenty capital pieces, which at a later period established the character of Rossini's chefs-d'œuvre.

At the Carnival of Venice, in 1813, Rossini produced Tancred. This delightful piece was so successful, as to create a kind of musical furor. From the gondolier to the nobleman, every body was repeating

"Ti rivedro, mi rivedrai.”

In the very courts of law the judges were obliged to impose silence on the persons present, who were singing

"Ti rivedro, mi rivedrai."

The dilettanti all declared that their Cimarosa had revisited the world. This

charming Opera of Tancred made the tour of Europe in four years.

"No one

Stendhal," that in such a place as Vecan doubt," says M. de nice, Rossini was as happy as a man, as he was celebrated as a composer. In a short time, La M— buffa singer, then in the flower of her the charming genius and her youth, tore him from the great ladies, his early protectors. He was many tears were shed on his account. called very ungrateful; and On this subject an full of incident, and very entertaining, anecdote is told, which places in a strong light Rossini's daring and lively character; and the

ease with which he adopted decided resolutions; but really I cannot publish this anecdote. Whatever changes I might make in the names of the parties, to defeat the curious, it is a story so replete with extraordinary circumstances, that every body in Italy would know the actors in it. Let us wait a few years. It is said, that La M- not to be behind-hand with Rossini, sacrificed Prince Lucien Bonaparte to him." In the autumn of 1812, when twenty-one years of age, Rossini was engaged at Milan. He composed for La Scala, La Pietra del Paragone, his chef-d'œuvre in the buffa style.

After all this success, Rossini revisited Pesaro and his family, to which he was passionately attached. During his absence his sole correspondent had been his mother, his letters to whom he addressed, "To the most honoured Signora Rossini, mother of the celebrated composer in Bologna." "Such," adds his biographer, "is the character of the man; half serious, half laughing. Happy in his genius, in the midst of the most susceptible people in Europe, intoxicated with praise from his very infancy, he is conscious of his own glory, and does not see why Rossini should not naturally and without concession, hold the same rank as a general of division, or a minister of state. The latter has drawn a great prize in the lottery of ambition; Rossini has drawn a great prize in the lottery of nature. This phrase is his own

The severe critics of Bologna charged Rossini with transgressing the rules of composition. He agreed with them. "I should not have so many faults to reproach myself with (said he) if I were to read my manuscript twice over. But you know that I have scarcely six weeks given me to compose an Opera in. During the first month I amuse myself and pray when would you have me amuse myself, if not at my present age and with my present success? Ought I to wait till I am old and full of spleen? The last fortnight comes, however! every morning I write a duet, or an air, which is rehearsed in the evening. How is it possible that I can perceive an error in the accompaniments ?" The accusation was repeated in Paris, by M. Berton, of the Institute, who made a comparison between Rossini and Mozart, disadvantageous to the former. This produced a very animated reply from M. de Stendhal and a furious paper war ensued

Some time afterwards poor Rossini experienced at Bologna a more serious embarrassment than any the critics had Not known in this country.

occasioned him. A Milan lady abandoning her palace, her husband, and her children, her reputation, arrived early one morning in his small apartment at an humble inn. The first moments were very tender; but presently the most celebrated and the most beautiful woman of Bologna (the Princess C) also made her appearance! Rossini laughed at both, sung a buffa air to them, and left them in the lurch.

From Bologne, Rossini was engaged to visit all the towns in Italy, where there was a theatre. He composed five or six operas in a year, for each of which he received 800 or 1,000 francs. The difficulties with which he had to struggle in combating with the caprices of the various singers, were numerous, but this is invariably the case with performers. To compose was to him very easy; to listen to the rehearsals of his compositions the greatest pain. Every where the performance of a new Opera superseded for the time every other occupation on the part of the inhabitants. At the commencement of the overture a pin might be heard to drop. When it finished the most tremendous_hubbub ensued. It was either praised to the skies or hissed without mercy. The same took place after every air. It is only in Italy that this rapturous and almost exclusive admiration of music exists.

About the year 1814 the fame of Rossini reached Naples; the inhabitants of which, with commendable self-complacency, were astonished that there should be a great composer in the world who was not a Neapolitan. Rossini engaged to produce for the Neapolitan theatres two operas a year for several years. The labour was immense; he performed it laughingly, and ridiculed every body, which caused him many enemies, of whom the most incensed at the present day is M. Barbaja, with whom he had engaged, and to whom he paid the uncivil trick of marrying his mistress! Rossini commenced at Naples towards the end of 1815, in the most brilliant manner, with Elizabetta regina d'Ingelterra, a serious opera. But to com. prehend the success of our young composer, and his subsequent uneasiness, it is necessary to go further back.

King Ferdinand had languished for nine years in Sicily, amidst a people who were continually talking to him of parliaments, finances, the balance of power, and other absurdities. He arrives at Naples, and behold! one of the most beautiful features of his beloved city, that which, during his absence, embit

tered most his regrets, the magnificent theatre of San Carlo is burnt down in a night. The loss of a kingdom, or of half a dozen battles would not have affected him so much. In the midst of his despair, M. Barbaja said to him "Sire, in nine months I will rebuild the immense edifice which the flames have just devoured, and it shall be more beautiful than it was yesterday." He kept his word. From that moment M. Barbaja became the first man in the kingdom. He was the protector of Mademoiselle Colbrand, his first singer, who laughed at him all day, and consequently ruled him completely. Mademoiselle Colbrand (now Madame Rossini) was from 1806 to 1815, one of the finest singers in Europe. In 1815 her voice began occasionally to fail her, and she sang falsely; soon she sang out of tune; but no one dare say so at Naples. Devoted to music as the Neapolitans are, from 1816 to 1821, they were obliged to be thus annoyed in the most tormenting manner in this their principal pleasure, without venturing to complain.

When Rossini arrived at Naples, anxious to succeed, he applied himself to please the Prima Donna, who entirely governed the director, Barbaja. Her voice was not pathetic, but magnificent, like her person, and Rossini adopted the means of enabling her to display it to advantage. But in the following year, her voice became weaker, and the iron hand with which the King compelled the Neapolitans still to listen to her, alienated more hearts from him than any other possible act of despotism could have done. In 1820, had it been wished to fill the inhabitants of Naples with joy, the way would have been, to remove from them Mademoiselle Colbrand.

Rossini, enamoured with Mademoiselle Colbrand, but not being able to depend upon her voice, deviated more and more into German harmony, and departed more and more from true dramatic expression; being perpetually persecuted by the lady to give her such airs as she was yet capable of executing.

After the brilliant success of Elizabetta, Rossini went to Rome, and in the Carnival of 1816, produced Torvoldo e Dorliska, and his chef d'œuvre, the Barbier of Seville. He re-appeared at Naples, and produced La Gazetta, and afterwards Othello. He then went to Rome for Cenerentola; and to Milan for La Gazza Ladra. Scarcely had he returned to Naples before he produced L'Armide. The public wishing to mark their sense of Mademoiselle Colbrand's uncertain voice, L'Armide was not very successful.

Piqued at this, Rossini endeavoured to obtain his object without employing the voice of Mademoiselle Colbrand. Like the Germans, he had recourse to his orchestra, and converted the accessary into the principal. The result was the Moise, the success of which was immense.

The Novelist.

THE CASTLE OF ORCANI.

(Concluded from our last.) Ar the report of the pistol, the Count immediately started up, and the old man, followed by his son, hastily entered. Masetti having explained what had happened, they raised the stranger; upon examining him, they found that the ball had perforated his loins. The blood flowed copiously from the wound, and it was feared that he would bleed to death. When it began to be light, the Count despatched one of his servants, in the greatest haste, for a vehicle to convey him to the castle, wishing, if it were possible, to revive him, and learn what cause he had for attempting his life. A carriage was soon procured; the stranger was carried into it, and the Count presented the old man with a purse of gold, and departed.

On their arrival at the castle, the stranger was undressed and put to bed, his beard having been previously removed: the Count's physician was sent for, who was examining the wound when Tassini entered the apartment, but who can describe his feelings at recognizing his brother Francisco!!-He was speechless for some time, but suddenly recollecting that he might yet be saved, he awaited with the greatest impatience for the physician's decision, who informed him that the wound was mortal, and that it was impossible he could live; notwithstanding this, the Count wished the ball to be extracted, which was at length executed with the greatest difficulty. Francisco, however, continued to linger till the next morning, apparently insensible to all around him, when death put a period to his existence, to the greatest sorrow of the Count and his family.

The following day Masetti requested a private interview with the Count, saying he had something of consequence to impart to him, relative to his late brother, which, at his death, he felt himself at liberty to reveal. The Count and Masetti having retired together, the latter began as follows:

"At a very early period of my life, I

felt a strong predilection for the army, and my parents being very poor, I was ashamed to be any longer a burthen to them, and I enlisted as a common soldier, fully assured that by the display of my valour, I should soon be promoted. Whilst in the army I first became acquainted with your brother; he was known by the name of Julio Guidini, and was a petty officer in the same regiment in which I was. Having been in this situation five years, during which time I had been in several battles, I found that merit seldom met with reward; but the hardships and dangers to which I was constantly exposed, completely cured me of my rage for a military life, and I was quite overjoyed when our regiment was discharged, and at finding myself once more free-not so, however, my companions.

"Having been paid off, our evenings were spent in carousing, drinking, and all kinds of debauchery. One night a party of us had assembled together as usual, and were debating what we should do when our money was all expended; your brother, whom I shall call Julio, rose and thus addressed us :-" My friends," said he, "if you will listen to me, you shall no longer toil, like slaves, from morning till night, as you have been accustomed to do; but if you will follow my advice, you will become your own masters, and live happy and free together." We were all anxious to know what he meant, and he did not keep us long in suspense. His plan being approved of by all, we agreed to follow him, and after a wearisome journey, arrived within ten miles of this castle. Julio at length conducted us through a thicket, almost impenetrable, and we found ourselves at the mouth of a cave, which we entered; it contained several spacious apartments, most excellently adapted for the purposes we designed. By the direction of Julio we had committed many depredations on our way hither; our plunder consisted of things we supposed might be useful to us, amongst which was a quantity of silver plate; this we commenced melting down and converting into money.

"Coining was soon carried on to a great extent, Julio having been nominated our captain. When our silver was consumed, we obtained a fresh supply by plundering the large habitations about the country. I had lived in the cave some time, and had become quite disgusted at this infamous mode of obtaining a livelihood, and determined to seek some honest employment. I imparted my design to Julio, who endeavoured to dis

suade me from it, but he could not shake my resolution. Before my departure he made me swear never to betray him, which, I confess, I had no intention of doing. I passed this castle, and heard of a vacant place in your domestic establishment, which I applied for, (though, being a stranger, I conceived without the least chance of success) but was immediately taken into your service. I was reflecting soon after upon the sudden alteration of my situation in life, when it occurred to me that I was now the servant of the greatest enemy of Julio's; for in the cave I had frequently heard him express the greatest hatred towards you, and that before long you would suffer for all the injuries you had done him. I could not help thinking that I was the instrument sent by Providence to preserve your life, if he attempted it and I did not doubt he would attempt it, from expressions which he occasionally dropped, and from having acquired some insight into his real character by the knowledge of several diabolical transactions in which he had been engaged.

"When your brother visited the castle some time since, I had not the most distant idea that he was Julio, whom I had so long been acquainted with; indeed the dress in which I had been accustomed to see him in, and the character he assumed, were so widely different, that I had not the least chance of recognizing him.

"On the night of the robbery, having retired to bed, I found myself very restless and unable to sleep, when I imagined I heard a noise in the lower part of the Castle, which being soon repeated, I jumped up and hastily dressing myself, went softly down stairs without shoes, to ascertain the cause. I halted near the bottom of the staircase, and by the aid of the lanterns that several of them carried, beheld my former companions of the Cave all busy in plundering, and among them I perceived Julio; the sight of him reminded me of the promise that I had made, never to betray him; indeed, had such not been the case, I foresaw the impracticability of defending your property from so numerous a gang, it consisted nearly of twenty men, all tolerably well armed, and many of them desperate characters. They would, to a certainty, have made a great resistance, their lives being at stake. I still continued watching their motions, and at length observed Julio draw a dagger from his bosom, and was coming towards me in the dark-I stepped aside he passed me and I followed him. I conceived that this was the time he had fixed upon to revenge

himself, by putting a speedy end to your life; but he entered Alfonso's chamber, I suppose by mistake. I had no weapon about me, but recollecting Alfonso's sword, I seized it, and as he was approaching the bed, I made a sudden thrust at him, and judged that I had pierced him through the body-he uttered a deep groan and fell on the floor. Such was the state of my mind at this crisis that what I did with the sword I know not, but I must have dropped it. I felt a thorough conviction that I had killed Julio, and hastily ran down stairs scarcely knowing what I had been doing, and found that the robbers had decamped. "Upon reflection, I conceived that it would be better to affect entire ignorance as to what had happened; I therefore returned to my chamber, and was soon after desired to attend you. The body of Julio was not found, as I expected it would be, and I was not sorry that I had but wounded him. Your determination of quitting the castle and residing some distance from it, greatly pleased me, as you would then be far from the cave, and not so liable to any further depredations.

"On our entering the cottage, I was struck with astonishment at again beholding Julio, and from his altered appearance, concluded he had suffered greatly from the wounds that I had inflicted. On your observing that you were afraid you should not be able to depart before morning, a faint smile was visible in his countenance; and I resolved, if he attempted your life, his own should be the forfeit. I therefore prepared to receive him, and at length he entered-I counterfeited

he left the cave, and repaired thither. On coming to the entrance of it, he gave the accustomed signal, and was instantly admitted. The coiners were glad at again seeing their former comrade, but when he informed them that their leader had been shot, and that in his last moments, he had betrayed them to the Count Tassini, who was then actually taking measures to have them apprehended, the greatest consternation overwhelmed them. He told them he had accidentally heard of this, and had repaired without loss of time, to apprise them of their danger. He advised them to join a recruiting party which was then in that part of the country, and they one and all declared that they would instantly avail themselves of the opportunity. was soon in great confusion, and they were making every preparation to depart, when Masetti took leave of them, and hastened back to the castle, well pleased with the success of his expedition.

The cave

The inhabitants of the castle were soon restored to their former tranquillity by the discovery of these events. The Count offered Masetti an independence for life, but he refused it, saying that his sole wish was to live and die in his service. Tassini was not strenuous in opposing his desire, and he continued to live with them, but was always treated with the greatest respect, as the preserver of the Count, and indeed the whole family at the CASTLE of ORCANL. F. S.

The Gatherer.

"I have now revealed to you every thing I am acquainted with relative to the late mysterious transactions at the castle, and throw myself entirely on your generosity not to betray my secret, by bringing the coiners to punishment. But I have formed a plan whereby we can, to a certainty, disperse them, and make them useful to the community."

The Count here broke out into the warmest acknowledgments to Masetti, and concluded by saying that he should be guided by him in every thing.

Masetti, having obtained the full approval of the Count, attired himself in the same habiliments as those in which

men's stuff."---Wotton. FLIRTING A FAN. Amelia wav'd her fan with glee, And being in a playful mood; She give the airy toy to me, And bade me flirt it, if I could. The pleasing toil I quick began, But jealous pangs my bosom hurt, "Madam, I cannot flirt a fan," But with your leave, I'll fan a flirt.' CLAVIS.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

F. R---y, on the Origin of Gaming; P. T. W. and several other correspondents, shall be reflected in the MIRROR of next week, when we shall decide on the various communications received during the last fortnight.

Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near Somerset House,) and sold by all Newsmen and Booksellers.