side by which they are led; or at least they are apt to become round-shouldered. Even though they be conducted by both hands, between two persons, we may apprehend similar consequences; as the body of the child still preponderates to one side or the other. Those mothers who possess true affection for their little ones, should not be too anxious to teach them the use of their legs. It is indeed far more prudent to delay these exercises for a few weeks or months, than by too premature an exertion of their strength to expose infants to the misfortune of bandy legs, crooked spine, and round shoulders. In my own neighbourhood I have reluctantly noticed number of bandy-legged children, because walking is here generally attempted by artificial means; and go-carts, as well as leading-strings, are much in vogue. May these instruments of torture soon be abolished, and mankind trust to nature, whose parental wisdom forms no caricatures! To compel children to exert themselves to walk, during the period of dentition, is highly detrimental. At this time they are in an extremely debilitated state, and their limbs are in danger of growiug deformed, or being dislocated. Hence I solicit mothers to pay particular regard to them at this critical change. MAR. 12. MRS. RS. Jordan made her first appear ance this season, in the character of Miss Peggy in the comedy of the Country Girl; and so irresistible was the attraction, that the house at an early hour completely overflowed in every part. She was greeted by the splendid crowd with reiterated testimonials of admiration and respect; and throughout the whole of her performance, was most warmly and universally applauded. She looked extremely well, and exhibited with the happiest effect that charming playfulness of manner, those winning gestures, and incomparable diversity of sweet and silvery accents, for which so eminently she stands unrivalled, and which have so long proclaimed her the genuine favourite child of Thalia. COVENT GARDEN. April 30. A new grand pantomimical drama, called PEROUSE; or the DESOLATE ISLAND, was brought forward at this theatre. The ground-work and principal incidents of this superb exhibition, are borrowed by Mr. Fawcett, the artist, from Kotzebue's affecting drama of La Pérouse but the immorality of the denoúment in the original has been judiciously omitted. The scene lies in an uninhabited island, north of Japan. The boldness of Kotzebue's imagination has represented the celebrated navigator, La Pérouse living in an island with a female savage, who had twice preserved him from destruction, and whom, hopeless of ever returning to his native country, he considers as his wife. Madame La Pérouse embarks in one of the vessels dispatched for the discovery of her husband, and after a separation of nine years, finds him with his savage benefactress. The various emotions produced in La Pérouse, and particularly in the women, are affecting in the extreme, but the conclusion, which left him in possession of two wives, has been omitted in the present piece. Several other alterations, in conformity to European manners and taste, are introduced, but the principal incidents and beauties of the original are preserved. "A dreary wood before me spread, "Again I paus'd-'twas hush'd-anon "But ah! how were my hopes deceiv'd, "Two vassals of the Earl I knew! "Stern were their looks-aside they drew "Behind a shady cluster. "Nay, by our lady, Jacques!" cried one, My heart begins to fail me, "For if, plague take the youth, say I, "Beneath his blows I chance to die, "Would thirty marks avail me?"? "Repli'd a second voice""'Tis well "You're past Earl Alric's hearing ;"Besides the sturdy strength of two "Will sure a puny lad outdo, "What cause is there for fearing " "Till from behind a sudden blow, "True to his charge, a second stroke "Through the strong brasset entering. "Now, rising from the caitiff's blow, "He groan'd-he died. His comrade soon "In his right hand a vase he held, "Then choicest simples he applied, "Twere long to tell, what heavy toils, |