arts. We have noticed it more fully under the head of
_Scientific Miscellany_.

* * * * *

MR. HACKETT, or _Baron_ Hackett, as we believe he is entitled to be
called, is now in England. We have seen no announcements of his
appearance in the theatres, but believe that like Macready, he had
engagements, and was to make a "last appearance" in London during the
present season. As the originator of the line of Yankee characters, he
has, like the originators of almost every thing else, seen others step
in and divide the palm with him. As an artist, he is more finished than
his competitors, and as a general actor he is above all comparison with
them. They confine themselves to one range of characters, he shows a
versatility of talent, and goes through a variety which it requires some
genius to conceive, as well as mere talent at imitation. His
Falstaff--though we cannot concede it to be exactly the character drawn
by Shakspeare--is the best delineation in its way given by any actor now
on the stage, and his Monsieur Mallet is in all respects admirable.

* * * * *

The STATUE OF GIOVANNI DI MEDICI, by Baccio Bandinelli, has just been
placed on its pedestal in the place before the church of San Lorenzo at
Florence. It is three hundred years since this statue was made, and
during all this time it has been kept in the great council hall of the
Palazzo Vecchio, while its proper pedestal has been vacant. It
represents Giovanni (the famous leader of the _bande nere_, or black
bands, the Bayard of Italy, and the father of Cosmo I., the first Grand
Duke of Florence) in a sitting posture, with the commander's baton in
his hand. It is of little value as a work of art.

* * * * *

LORTZING, the eminent German composer of operas, who died lately, left
behind him only four Prussian thalers, or $3, on which his family had to
exist a week. This was his sole property aside from music-books and a
little furniture. And yet during his life he was a great favorite of the
German people, and could not justly be called a spendthrift.

* * * * *

A very interesting series of lectures, by Henry James, George W. Curtis,
Parke Godwin, and Mr. Huntington, was delivered before the artists of
New-York, at the hall of the Academy of Fine Arts, in January and
February. The ability displayed in the lectures, and the interest they