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of their rulers, equally worthless. How can you expect a people to be religious who can discover no standard by which to try religious opinions anywhere, and see their civil rulers awarding to their spiritual pastors the very same treatment which they award to soldiers, or miners, or magistrates, or police-officers, or any other class of persons whom they employ as mere instruments of state?

There are other causes, doubtless, to which may be attributed the miserably low scale of moral and religious feeling which we find in Prussia; such as the abject poverty of the clergy-the contempt in which the higher orders hold them, and their total lack of influence even in their own parishes. Yet we question whether any of them operates more powerfully to produce the sad result than the studied care of the government to exclude an ecclesiastical spirit from the system of education, and to treat the ministers of all denominations equally as state functionaries, and nothing more. The Prussian government, however, in thus struggling to keep in its own hands even the moral influence which no mere government can long retain, is, unless we mistake the matter, sadly overshooting the mark. Without doubt the Prussians are and will in a few more years become still more so-a highly enlightened people. We have ourselves conversed with peasants who, educated at one or other of these elementary schools, could sketch you an architectural design with great beauty, and explain the principle of the arch. Was he, in consequence of the knowledge thus conveyed to him, the more contented with his own lot, or the better disposed to acquiesce in the continuance of a state of things which, so long as a wise or humane sovereign shall fill the throne, may continue to work well, but for the continued well-working of which there is no guarantee? We know the reverse. Even in Prussia there is a latent desire for what are called liberal institutions, which, sooner or later, not all the military force of the country will restrain; and which, unshackled by the slightest restraint of religious or moral duty, may, when it does break loose, bring about fatal results.

We have already exceeded the limits which we had marked for ourselves, and must bring this paper to a conclusion. Unless we deceive ourselves, the analysis of the Prussian system which we have given will suffice to satisfy the unprejudiced among our readers that the introduction of that, or anything at all resembling it, into this country is not to be thought of for an instant. In the first place, the people of this country would not submit to have their children dragged to school by the police, and themselves imprisoned or fined, because their little boys happen to have played the truant. In the next place, there is good sense enough left in the English nation to make the majority of the people aware that education, without more than the form of religion, can serve no good purpose; and that it is impossible to communicate more than the form of religion, where you tie up its teachers to certain rules, and leave nothing to the discretion of the clergy. In the third place, the people of England are yet honest and wise enough to be aware, that the placing of all sects and churches on the same footing is an error in legislation which nothing can redeem. Be as tolerant as possible-shut your eyes to all manner of absurdities, so long as they do not disturb the public peace-permit all manner of religionists to inculcate their own views freely, provided they do not tend to the corruption of public morals.

But wherever you enjoin by law that religion shall be taught, let it be the religion which the law recognises. Any deviation from this rule is sure to injure the cause of religion itself, by teaching the people to believe that it is not esteemed for its own sake by those in authority over them.

Prussia is a strong country at present-the king is popular, and humane, and just. The military system is much relished everywhere, and great exertions are used to find the people employment, and to keep them from troubling their heads with political questions. But how long will this last? Prussia has made prodigious strides of late years in population. She has no colonies-very little sea-coast-very little foreign trade-very little land unreclaimed. What will she do, by and by, with her rapidly-growing masses? And if these increase in numbers and intelligence, yet continue irreligious and immoral, where will she be? A few years will probably suffice to answer the question.

THE MANAGER'S NOTE-BOOK.-NO. VIII.*

CHARLES BENJAMIN INCLEDon.

CHARLES BENJAMIN INCLEDON was born in 1764, at St. Keveran, in Cornwall, where his father was a highly respectable surgeon and apothecary. Having a large family, and Charles possessing a fine voice, he had him at a very early age entered as one of the choristers of Exeter Cathedral his first master took but little pains with the boys, and he made very little progress; but when the well-known Jackson became organist, and consequently teacher of the choristers, he soon discovered the superior powers of young Incledon, and took delight in cultivating and improving him. Under so able a master he made rapid improvement, and soon became a favourite in all the musical parties of Exeter.†

The following story relative to his going to sea is said to have been dictated by himself:-One fine summer's evening he was sitting on the rails which surround the cathedral-yard, singing "Were I a Shepherd's Maid," from a farce called "The Padlock;" a Gentleman inquired of one of the listeners who the singer was?-Little Incledon, of the Cathedral, was the answer-and the enquirer walked away; in the morning, Jackson sent for him, and, on entering the room, he found a stranger with his master, whom he afterwards learned was the enquirer of the previous evening. "Young gentleman," said he, "Mr. Jackson has given you leave to go and see Commodore Walsingham, at Torbay ; have you any objection to accompany me thither ?" Charles was delighted, and readily assented: he accordingly went, and remained on board the Thunderer three days, charming the officers with his vocal abilities, and himself with a minute examination of the ship. The boy quite happy, wished to remain on board; the Commodore wished that he

* Continued from No. ccix., page 117.

+ While at Exeter, in the Assize week, Judge Nares attended divine service at the Cathedral; Incledon sang the solo, "Let the Soul live;" the pathos and sensibility with which he gave it had such an effect upon the Judge that he shed tears; at the end of the service he sent for the boy, and gave him five guineas, as a mark of his approbation.

might; application was made to his parents for his joining the ship; but they fortunately refused, for the Thunderer went down in a dreadful hurricane not long after. The three days he passed on board that vessel, however, fixed his inclination for a seafaring life; but it was not till four years after, that he had the opportunity of realising his wishes, when he and a fellow-chorister started for Plymouth with all their property" tied up in a blue-and-white pocket-handkerchief." They were overtaken at Ivy Bridge, brought back and punished, by being obliged to perform their duties in the church for a week without their surplices, by way of degradation. As soon, however, as Incledon obtained his liberty, in 1779, he joined the Formidable, of ninety-eight guns, commanded by Captain Cleland, where he remained some time, and then obtained a berth on board the Raisonnable, sixty-four. In this ship he went to the West Indies as a common sailor. At St. Lucie his captain one day gave a large party on board: it was Saturday-night; wives and sweethearts went round amongst the crew as usual-and every man was compelled to sing. Charles's vocal talents were then and there unknown, but when it came to his turn he burst forth upon them with— ""Twas Thursday in the Morn." The crew involuntarily set up a hurrah at the close, which brought out one of the officers from the cabin, who, listening to the encore, was just as much astonished as the sailors had been: he called the Captain, who, unseen, heard the last verse; when it was over he ordered Incledon to put on his best jacket and come to the cabin, where he remained for some time singing Jackson's songs, to the delight and astonishment of the officers, who jocularly appointed him Singer to the British fleet.

While in the navy he was in two or three engagements at the expiration of the war he was discharged at Chatham, and, with letters of recommendation from Lord Mulgrave, Lord Harvey, and Admiral Pigot, applied to Colman for an engagement at his theatre in the Haymarket. Colman heard him sing, and, relying on his own judgment (Colman always admitted his want of taste for music) he declined engaging him: after one or two more disappointments, he made his debut at Southampton, in Alphonso, in "The Castle of Andalusia," upon an engagement of fifteen shillings a-week. After remaining a year in that company he was engaged at Bath, where, after his first appearance in Bellville, he was retained as a mere chorus-singer at thirty shillings a-week. Upon some occasion, however, he happened to sing a song at the end of the play, and Rauzzini, being present, was forcibly struck with his extraordinary power and beautiful voice: he immediately sought him out, gave him instructions, which soon brought him into notice, and obtained him an engagement at Vauxhall. Although he became the principal object at the Glee Club, and received a silver cup and cover from Dr. Harrington, on behalf of the Harmonic Club, for his great assistance in forming that Society, which is still in existence, prefaced by an address from the Doctor, highly complimentary to his talents, and his company was courted by all the musical people of the place, still he was thought nothing of at the theatre; the principal musical characters being given to Wordsworth, a very inferior singer, with a bad voice, and an impediment in his utterance: a few years after, when Wordsworth was engaged at Sadler's Wells, he was, even at that place, thought to be unequal to the situation.

In the summer of 1786, Incledon was engaged at Vauxhall; and in the December of that year sang, in a concert at Free Masons' Hall, the then popular ballad of "Ma Chère Amie," which he had originally sung at Vauxhall during the previous summer. It is a curious coincidence that, in May, 1787, when Master Braham made his first appearance at Covent Garden Theatre for Leoni's benefit, he sang the same song. Incledon continued at Bath and Vauxhall the three following seasons. In May, 1781, he married Miss Jane Lowther, at Bath.

In the spring of 1790, Mr. Harris, of Covent Garden Theatre, visited that city, and engaged him for three years, at six, seven, and eight pounds per week. Scarcely had this matter been arranged, when Linley proposed to him, for Drury Lane, an engagement at twelve pounds per week; but, although his engagement with Mr. Harris was only a verbal one, he considered his word his bond, and honourably declined Mr. Linley's proposal. Incledon always regretted that the first offer had not come from Linley. "Under such a master," said he, "I should have been a much better singer."

On the 16th of December, 1790, he made his debut at Covent Garden, in Dermot, in "The Poor Soldier:" it was not long however, before his powers and merit were universally admitted.

The late inimitable Irish Johnston was at that time principal singer at Covent Garden Theatre; but Incledon's talent as a vocalist soon placed him above his rival, who at that period was merging into a line of acting in which he has never been excelled, and is not likely ever to be equalled.

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In the following spring Bartleman and Harrison (who had the oratorios at that theatre) engaged him. On the first night he sang four songs; the last was Sound an Alarm," in which he electrified the audience, and by that performance established himself as the first English singer.

At his first benefit at Covent Garden, he introduced Gay's ballad of "Black-eyed Susan," which he sang without any orchestral accompaniment: it had a wonderful effect, and continued a great favourite as long as he remained before the public.

When he quitted Exeter for a seafaring life, and was without instruction, he got into a coarse style of singing, which was in a great degree removed by Rauzzini; but he never recovered a material part of the science he had acquired under that excellent instructor, Jackson; and his natural indolence, increased by his great success in London, made the study of oratorio music a work of labour to him. He obtained for his old friend Davy, of Exeter, a situation in the Covent Garden orchestra. Whenever he had any difficult music to study, but more particularly for the oratorios, they locked themselves up in a room with two bottles of wine, and never quitted it till Incledon was perfect in his task, which was not the work of much time; and, what is more extraordinary, so fine was his ear, and so retentive his memory, that having once made himself perfect in any piece of music, he had no occasion ever again to practise it.

At the end of his three years' articles he was re-engaged at Covent Garden for five years, at twelve pounds per week. At his benefit, 1795, he made his greatest hit by singing George Alexander Stevens's celebrated description of a Storm, in character and without music: not only as a vocal effort, but as a scenic exhibition, it was unique; in fact

nothing could surpass it. From that time until he took leave of the stage it always proved a sure card at his benefits; and on some, but very few occasions, he gave it for the benefit of a friend.

In February, 1798, being at the very head of his profession, and in high estimation with the public, he began to be very troublesome in the theatre, and would not sing in the new entertainment of "Joan of Arc." He peremptorily demanded his articles, and threw out some reflections on the manager for condemning a hero of his high caste to hold up the fag end of a pantomime: his language was so insulting that Harris was induced to send him his articles the following morning. Incledon's conduct was the more extraordinary as he had some time before volunteered his services in the piece, in return for several indulgences Harris had granted him. A few days after he apologised, and was reinstated.

On the 16th of January, 1800, a new piece was produced under the title of "Joanna," in which Incledon had a musical part material to the piece. After the prologue, Murray, the stock apology-maker, came forward with his usual melancholy face, and informed the audience that Mr. Incledon laboured under a derangement of intellect, but, rather than disappoint them, he would perform the part: not many days before he had lost an infant, and not many days after Mrs. Incledon died.

Early in the summer he joined his brother actors, to whom I have referred in the memoir of Mr. Fawcett, one of whose complaints was, their being charged an extra 201. at their benefits: how far Incledon had cause for complaint will appear by the following statement; the cause of increasing the benefit charges being an enlargement of the theatre. In June, 1798, before the alteration, Incledon's benefit-receipt was 4207.; in 1799, after the alteration, it was 6207.; in 1801, 6951.; in 1802, 6007.; and 1803, 6201.

In February, 1801, he married his second wife, Miss Howell, of Bath.

In the previous summer Holman and Incledon were in treaty with Jones for the Dublin Theatre, for which they were to give 31,500l., and were on the point of closing when they discovered that a mortgage of 2000. had been granted by Barry, which broke off the negociation.

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In the summer of 1802 he visited the provinces with a new and fashionable entertainment called "Variety, or Something New," in two parts; the first part consisted of five songs, finishing with Blackeyed Susan;" the second, a like number, and "The Storm." A recitation or story introduced each song; and both song and recitation were given by Incledon, accompanied on the pianoforte by Davy.

In February, 1803, he signed articles with Mr. Harris, for five years at sixteen pounds per week, two pounds more than any other performer. In March he added another laurel to his wreath, by performing Steady, in "The Quaker." He gave "While the Lads in the Village" with such an effect as to produce general and enthusiastic plaudits.

In June he started on his summer tour, with another new entertainment, called "The Wandering Melodist; or, the Rose, Shamrock, and Thistle." The whole of the songs were new: he was accompanied by Major.

On the passage from Holyhead to Dublin he was shipwrecked and nearly lost. An Irish paper gave the following statement:-" The

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