Star. — London, England, 1809-09-19 00:00:00

THE ARMY. General rnAstrt and Itmily have arrived at Ports .tricnnth, trnm Guernsey Yesterday morning the first division of the 14th and s od re giments disembarked at Portsmouth ; as did Colr'nel COCHRANE'S battalion, to take up their quar ter; in Fort Cumberland. Th e Worcester and Renfrew Regiments of Militia no mpecl yestet day morning on South Sea Common, an d the Inverness-shire Militia are expected there daily to take up the vacant ground. A b out goo more sick landed yesterday at Ports: the 51st were to disembark there t hi s month ;and day. Th e 2d battalion of the 14th Foot, under the corn• mo d o f that most excellent Officer, Colonel McHots, have only lost ten men by sickness and the sword, a lthough they lay in :lie trenches before Flushing. Extract of a letter from a Colonel in the Army, to h i s Magi at Faversham, in Kent, dated Island of Wakheren, Sept. 9, 1809: a DEAR stn -- h grieves me to the heart to be under the ne cessity to communicate to you, the death of our worthy and re spected friend, Major HiU. of the with Regiment, which took place an the 7th inht. at Middleburg, and yesterday he was inter red in a private and respectable manner. “ :is a worthy and upright man he died in the estimation of all all that knew him, and no man regrets him more than myself." DEAL, SEPTEMBER 17. ?‘TRACT FROM A LETTER FROM AN OFFICER IN THE EXPEDITION TO THE SCHELDT. u I landed here on Friday evening from Flush in, which I left yesterday. Sir Eyre Coote remains in command of Walcheren, with 16,000 men. I en close you the names of the regiments, as well as their state, that you may see how sickly they all are ; in deed, they continue to bury eight or nine men of a.clay. The Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel CA PIM is ar rived in the Downs, with dispatches from Lord CtrAr- BA 1 ; he has been on board the VALIANT, :tree days, ‘riting for a wind, and confirms the dreadful state of sickness of the army. 4 , Every arrangement is making to repair the ford fication!round Flushing ; but, from the debility of the troops, the work goes on slowly ; all theguns and stores of every de,cription were brought from South Bev& land, and there is no thinking man that does not ap prove of the resolution (however reluctantly adopted) by tile Commander-in-Chief, of relinquishing all fur ther operations against the Scheldt. 0 Vie gun boats are, with bombs, posted all round :Le island, by Rammekens and Vere ; and the ene my, last night, were so much on the beach at South. Borland, as to cause a considerable firing at night:• Vere is quite within range of shells, from Beveland ; elf course, ships with merchandise, indeed, all vessels, must soon quit it, the Instant the enemy eitabliih mortar batteries, which they Will icon. Sir H Pop- MASI !lays; scidoes 'Admiral OTWAY. WakheTCll - never be able to supply ;tail with provisions myr.;!!.zi an additional number of souls, amounting to 16,000. The hospitals are full, and the sickly sea." son but just begun. The following are the Regiments left, as they ri?.br;gaded Vi Liglit Dragoons-60 effective, none sick. 1 13 y,! Artillery-771 effective, 250 sick, total 1021. ILn:.l7.ngineers-150 effectivo, 50 sick, total 200. General Rottenberg's Brigade : GEtth Regiment -439 effective, 316 sick, total 753. ::st-603 effective, 359 sick, total 942. 2 5a1-437 effective, 132 sick, total 569. General Allen's trigade : .st German Legion-477 effiectivo, 297 ski, total 704. sd Ditto -405 effbetive, 205 lick, total 610. Colonelliays's Brigade : ..Regiment-784 effective, ISO sick, total SSC 5;11-4t3 effective, 431 sick, total 914. I;tt —4:O effective, 310 sick, total 730. General Ackland's Brigade : Rez t anent-208 effective, 217 sick, total 1125. ;Gth-544 (L'ective, 189 sick, total 732. 32d-366 &mire, 192 sick, total 555. Major-General Diott's Brigade : 6th Regintect-450 effective, 496 itk, total 941. SNh-323 effective, 332 sick, total 855. 91E-151 effective, 205 sick, total 636. Brigadier-General Btowne's Brigade : 25d Regiment -154 effective, 244 sick, total OS. 33:t -4r, 3of 187 sick, total 6.55. 26:1k-51s effectivei 236 sick, total 784. Major-General Montresor's Brigade : !VI Regiment -523 effective, 129 sick, total 632. 38th -453 effective, 352 hick, total 805. 17th -262 effective, ^B4 sick, total 546. SO RoyJ Staff Corps-160 Waggon Train. " Lieutenant-Colonel CAPRI., and Lieut.-Colonel (J 'PREY, were left at the head of the Adjutant-Gene departMent, as they were actively employed in that department during the Whole of the siege, and t:y both speak the language fluently. When Sir ETPF.C;)OTE was appointed Governor, they both left the Island, a;;:1 Lieut.-Colonel WALsw, a very intelli- Ofiker, remains." Captain BARCLA Y is arrived in London flom Walk deren, two stone heavier than when he completed his . arduo us undertaking, from which ht does not feel any In effects. Another division of the troops of the Duke of lISIINSWICK ()ELS, landed on the Isle of W:wiltip on xitorday last ; on which day his Serene Highness accepted the invitation of Sir MiltßY WORSLEY Hum's, Bart, to a grand dinner, at his house in Newport ; at whi c h hi s sta ff, and the principal mili *Y officers and gentlemen of the island, were enter tained. OPENING OF COVENT °ARDENT/MITRE. At so early an hour as one o'clock yesterday all the avenues leading to Covent Garden were thronged with numerous parties proceeding to witness the open ing of the new Theatre. Great numbers forced their way over their on ballustrades towards Bow.street, and by this means succeeded in gaining the main doors into the Theatre several hours before the appointed time of opening. The windows and roofs of the ad joining houses were also filled with spectators, but the females were, comparatively, less numerous than the opposite sex. Indeed, upon our admission to the interior of the Theatre afterwards, we do not think that fifty females could have been counted among the whole audience. On the opening of the doors at the usual hour the house was immediately filled throughout by an au dience which certainly had not the appearance of , being very select : some attempt was made to keep boxes, but they were immediately forced, and the pit, according to all report, had the appearance of being full, as an Irishman would say, before any body obtained admission !—The house has been al ready accurately decribed ; it is every thing a Theatre should be, spacious and compact. Except that the private boxes occupy too much room, every part of the audience is well accommodated.—When illumi nated the effect of the interior is delightful ; the pre ' vailing colours being light brown and white, nothing glares upon the sight.—The pit, and lower gallery are very capacious, and the seats of the upper gallery are actually as good as those of the upper boxes, being included in the same circle.—The lobbies of the Theatre are lighted with patent lamps ; but in the area, richly cut lus:res are suspended as usual, furnished with wax lights, which produce a very brilliant effect. —The tout ensemble of the inte rior of the Theatre is that of extreme neatness.— The avenues are grand and magnificent. Soon after entering the Great Box Door, in Bow -street, we ascend a flight of about twenty broad stone steps, between two rows of beautiful columns, painted in imitation of porphyry. This part of the entrance is lighted by bronze antique lamps, arranged among the pillars in such a manner as to give a most romantic appearance to the scene. From this stair-case we enter the Grand Saloon, where we are gratified with a most excellent statue of SHAKESPEARE, placed in a capacious nich. The next object which excites attention is the Lobby, which is somewhat more limited in its size than that of the former building, but far exceeds it in point elegance of decoration ; of statues of Bacchus, Po mona, &c. &c. are tastefully placed on both sides, and the accommodation for the frequenters of this part of the Theatre, has been successfully.studied. —There are doors of mutual communication with every 'part of the house, which are kept closed, but may be opened in a minute in any case of emergency: one of these, communicating with the stair-case of the upper boxes, and the two shilling gallery, was last night forced, and it was with great difficulty a gene ral mixture of the company was prevented from tak ing place. — On the rising of the curtain a most classical drop scene was exhibited, resembling the interior of a Tem ple, devoted to dramatic poetry, in which SlimcnspeAß was the most conspicuous figure, a general clamour burst forth, that quire overpowered the applause be kowed upon the work of the artist. The opening music was 0614 d—but the uproar continued—" GOD rave the Xing" succeeded; the song sung by the whole vocal force of the Company—‘ , Rule Britannia" fol lowed—still the storm rattled.—Mr. Ketanix appear ed—it increased to a dreadful. hurricane. He com menced his Address ;—not a syllable could be heard ; we have, however, procuivd the following copy of it : In early Greece, and in a barbarous age, A wre:c:eti tumbrel was the Actor's Sage: The Muse, with cheek reclin'd in pensive shame, • • Blugh'd for her wanderers from the path to Fame. Asehylus ;prang ;—and stcrm'd, as he arose, His Country's passions, like his Country's foes. Rough from the ba•tle, train'd to vanquish men, E'en as his sword he wielded, so his p.m. He smote the heart, the trembling sense oppress'd, And gave no quarter to the human breast. Yet, Stage Improvement mark'd the Soldier's sway, And thig'd with taste the Captives to his lay. Then, first (the cart of Thevis overthrown), Form'd by rude planks, a Theatre was known : Coped by the Heavens, it overspread the lawn, And Veit on Scenic Dress appear'd to dawn. But, all divine, when Sophocles appear'd, 'Twas then the Drama's Majesty was rear'd, Builders and Decorators came ;—their boast Was who could grace the lofty Poet most : The lofty Poet lack'd not brains to know That Dramatists require the Drama's shew. NATUR E'S perfection springs from various parts; And " IsiArya es MIRROR" needs the Sister Arts. Hence grew the Splendour of the Scene,--and hence The Hand-maids that embellish eloquerice Dance, Music, Painting, Pageantry, Parade, — All that give Zest, or yield Illusion aid. Rome caught the sparks from Greece ; improy'd the plan ; At last the flame through modern Europe ran. Our Scene now decks, In an illumined age, The Bards who first gave vigour to our Stage :..a. Thus Shakespear's fire burns brighter than of yore; And may the Stage that boasts him burn no more! For this our Fabrich,—banish we, to-night, Figures worn threadbare, metaphors gtown trite. No Phenix from her ashes shall arise,— Stale to our thoughts as sparrows to our eyes ; No naked Truism be cloak'd anew, To tell that fire Which cheers consumes us too,— No,—let a Briton now to Britons speak ; His cause is strong, although his language weak. We feel, with glory, all to Britain due, And British Artists rais'd this Pile, for you ; While, zealous as our Patrons, here we stand, To guard the Staple Genius of our Land. Solid our Building, heavy our expence; We rest our Claitn on your Munificence : What Ardour plans a Nation's Taste to ease, A Nation's Liberality repays ! Mr. KEMBLE then withdrew, and the representation of Macbrth commenced, but such was the clamour and jarring of discordant vociferation, some calling off ! off ! and others go on ! go on ! that the whole play , was, to every person but the performers themselves, a complete pantomime. To the musical performance of the Older, which followed, a little degree ;fatten tion was paid still, however, it appeared as mere iinstb-skew. The after-piece was concluded, but the audience seemed determined to remain, and abollt this period their attention was attracted by a gentleman in the front of the lowa- tier of boxes, who, elevating himself on the f r o nt o f a b ox , seemed tb wish to - ad dress them- All parties appeared to wish to hear him, but could not, through the loud cries of 'Silence,' which resounded throughout the Theatre. Th ose i n the Upper B oxes ca ll e d - to him to get on the Stage, and in this they were followed by the whole hoirse. He accordingly quitted his place, 'descended into the pit, and was escorted towards the stage, as far as the orchestra, where some impediment occasioned a full stop. In the mean time the stage lamps, which had been let down, were again brought up, and several persons appeared at one of the stage-deois, who were invited to the centre of the stage. TheY, however, retired ; but after a short time Mr. Justice READ, I attended by several gentlemen from BOw-kreet, Made his appearance. All appeared anxious to hear him, but to pin silence was impossible. After i'ainiy en deavouring a hearing, Mr. R. at length produced a paper, which was suspected to be the Riot Act.— Loud hisses followed. Unable to explain himself to the whole House, he now addressed himself to a Gentleman in one of the Stage Boxes, who at tempted to communicate them to the audience.— This efTort was followed by a partial burst of applause from those near him, inducing those at a distance to imagine their wishes were complied with ; but, una ble to ascertain this precisely from their new spokes man, they called out to have the prices chalked on a board, and exhibited on the stage. On this Mr. READ and his attendants retired, and the audience remained silent for some time, expecting their wishes would be acceded to ; but no further notice being taken of them, they again proceeded to hiss, &c. and at length retired by degrees at a very late hour, after 'God save the King had been sung by about fifty of those who seemed most determined to remain. We did not hear that any personal mischief was sustained by the press, occasioned by opening the doors ' • but it was at o ne ti me very a l arm ing.--One of the lustres in the interior of the Theatre was broke, as were sevekal of the mahogany doors at the backs of the boxes ; and during the greater part of the perform ance, pugilistic encounters were going on in different parts of the house, occasioned by attempts to turn out persons who were more than usually noisy. There was certainly much in the general aspect of the Theatre to disarm censure, to conciliate acquies cence, and call forth other emotions than those of dis content and disapprobation. It cannot be denied that every thing bespeaks a magnificent design—a happy execution, and the unsparing supply of every thing that could contribu ce to convenience, splendour and embel lishment. The general coup d'ail of the house is most splendid and imposing. The chandeliers are of ex quisite workmanship, and produce the most brilliant effect ; which, we think, would be considerably heightened if the ground of the colouring in the front of the boxes, and throughout the house, was more varied, and had not such a predominance of light co lour. The stage itself, the proscenium, and the various emblematical devices that adorn it, argue much judg ment and taste, exhibiting a very grand and striking appearance. The scenery and decorations displayed in the exhi bition of Macbeth are splendid and appropriate, and the dresses were of corresponding magnificence. Whe ther the Theatre is calculated to make the voice au dible in all its parts we were unable to judge last night, the voice of the perfOrmers being entirely lost in'the continued noise and clamour that prevailed during the performances. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM AN OFFICER ON BOARD HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP IMPLACABLE, DATED OFF REVEL, GULF OF FINLAND, JULY 10, 1 809 : " Since my last, we have been very successful.— We left our station off Carlscrona on the 22d June, and proceeded directly to the Gulf with the squadron; on our arrival off Dagerot we were sent on a station with the. Melpomene frigate under our command, to crnize between the Islands of Nargen and Hogland. In our passage we took two galliots laden with naval stores on account of the Russian Government, and we also fell in with one of our licenced vessels, who gave us information of a Russian frigate cruising be tween Hogland and Aspo, about 20 English leagues from Cronstadt : we immediately made all sail, the Melpomene in company ; and on the 30th June, saw a strange sail upon a wind a-head ; we made all sail in chace, and in the course of a few hours found her to be a frigate ; we disguised ourselves as much as possible, having a stump fore-top-gallant mast up, and our mizen top gallant mast struck ; and our hammock clothes made fast outside to cover our bright side ; but she having a friendly port under her lee, named Aspo, about three leagues from her, escaped in without our having the satisfaction to give her such a drubbing as the unfortunate Sewolod had; she is one of their large line of battle frigates, with a Few guns on her lower deck ; our brave and gallant Captain wauld have gone in if he could have obtained a pilot. We discovered four large corvettes lying there ; since then, on the Ist of July, we took seven galiuts, laden with spars, large enough for a frigate's top-masts, and plank fit for a 74's deck, and to-day we have taken another galiot and two schooners. *e have detached a flying squadron of boats along the coast, and are now lying off Revel with our convoy of prizes, waiting for a fair wind to send them to Eng land. We have received information from a vessel, that 30 sail, laden with naval stores, are now lying at St. Petersburgh, preparing for sea, of course a sharp look out will be kept." We have it from respectable authority to say, that the Lancaster plan is adopted in the tcAvn of Bandon in Ireland, among the lower order cf the Catholics, through the active exertion of the Rev. Dr. SHINWICK, the parish priest, a man whose enlightened and libe ral mind sees the necessity of giving education to the poor. The loyalty and patriotism of Dr. SHINWICK were eminently conspicuous during the late unhappy disturbances. The Assizes for the Principality of North Wales have concluded, without furnishing us with materials for a single paragraph—not a cause of any impor tance to determine, ncr a single prisoner for trial ! Such a statement requires no comment, it speaks most eloquently for the state of morals ill that romantic district. ""^ - 7 - SPORTING INTELLIbENCi: ABINGDON RACES. Tuesday last a Sweepstakes of logs. each, for S-year-olds, wal Won by Mr. Milk's Snow Drop, beating Miss Seeding, Little Folly, Littleton, and Sir Edward. A Sweepstakes of lOgs. each, for all ages. Mr. Dilly's Gnatho - - Mr. F. Cri.v.in's The Inconstant . 1 2 2 A Sweepstakes of Sgs. each, with flogs. added by the Meriber for the B Mr. Worrell's b. f. by Kill orou Devilgh, for all ages.- . - 4 0 1 1 Mr. Lucas's Guildf or d N an - - - 1 0 2 Mr. Ktipp's Doubtful - - - 5 4 3 3 Mr. Hyde's bl. h. Oscar - - - 3 3 dr. Mr. Cowley's Se o t c h St ep - - - 2 dr. On Wednesday, a Sweepstakes of sgs. each, with 50gs. added; wai won by Mr. Heath's little Folly, beating No 0 - snjuror, Mr. Prior's mare, a b. f. by Obi, Standing, Highland fling, and Mercia. William Bowles, Esq. of Abingdon, and George Nelson,Esq. of Cbaddleworth, are appointed Stewards for the year ensuing. PONTEFRACT RACES, SEPT. 14. Sweepstakes of fogs. each, with 20gs. added for three-years-old fillies, 3sr. Mr. Skelton's grey, by Delplni 1 Mr. Clark's br. by Shuttle, dam by Overton 1001. for all ages, three-Mile heats. Duke of Leeds's ch. c. Mowbray, 4-yrs-old, Tat. 91b. S 1 1 Duke of Hatnikon's b. c. Petronius, 4 yrs old, Bst. l lb. 1 2dr Mr. T. Dunconibe's b. f. Ceres, 4 yrs old, /it. 916. 2dr Ld Milton's b. c. Easton, 4yn old, est. - 3dr Mr. Dursley's ch. f. Diana, 3 yrs old, 6st. 61b. - 4dr Sir M. M. Sykes's b. c. Comus, S yts old, Est. 4111 • dis Mr. T. Duncorabe's f. by Chance, out of a sister to Maid-of s,ll-Work, peak Mr. E. L. Hodgson's br. f. by Hambleconian, out df Eustatta, tst, each, 2 miles, 100 gs. b. ft. • Mr. T. Buncombe's roan filly, by Chance, darn by Pegasus, apt Mi. E. L. Hodgson's hr. f. by Hambletonian, out of Eustotia, Ist. etch, two miles, 100 p. h. ft. The latter paid. Sudday morning, whilst Mr. H. a wealthy mer chant, in the neighbourhood of Thames -street, was attending divine service, his only daughter eloped with a young gentleman, a junior clerk in a Banking House. An immediate search took place, and the fugitives were traced to the neighbourhood of Russell. square, from whence they had set off in a post-chaise and four, accompanied by a female frier.d, for Gretna Green, about two hours before .the arrival of the father, who, conceiving it impossible to overtake them, gave up the pursuit. A young man, named Dawson, a waiter at the White Lion, in Sleaford, for a wager, trundled a hoop from that place to Lincoln, on Tuesday, without once letting it fall to the ground, or touch his body. The distance is 17 miles, .over hilly and otherwise unfa voutable road ; yet he performed it in three hours and a half.• Considerable bets were depending. Two widows, both named Mary Collins, died lately at Chumley, within three weeks of each other, whose united ages amounted to upwards of 190 years. They have left np%fards of 200 children, grandchildren, and great grand children. A new aqsteduct, composed of cast iron and sup ported by three pillars of freestone, is about to be erected near Stoney-Stratford ; the middle pillar is to be 34 feet in height, standing upon a base of 26 feet long by eight feet wide. The aqueduct will be 100 feet long, and in width eight feet, and barges of 90 tons will be able to pass it. Boxttro.-1. tremendous battle, which lasted an hour and three quarters, for 100 guineas, was fought on the last day of Abingdon races, between Davis, a navigator, and Joseph Hearman, the champion of that part of the county. The match drew together a vast multitude, greater than at any day of the races. The friends of Davis sent for Jem Belcher from Lon don to second their man. At the commencement of the combat Davis was the favourite, and continued so during the battle, from his mode of hitting and getting away. It was a conflict of the most obstinate nature, etch man hit until he was down and it was not urusaal for troth to be hit down 'at the same mo ment, by crushing blows. The pugilists were fright ful spectacles, and to the last round bottom was dis played by each. Hearman hit down his adversary in the 57th round, but was obliged to give in in the 58th, being quite exhausted. An affray took place last week at Didmaitirt, Gloucestershire, between George Chappell, of that place, and John Matthews, of Sopworth. After fight ing some time, Chappell, a very old man, finding his strength fail him, declined the contest, when his brutish antagonist s a hale hearty fellow, of about 40, rushed on him, and striking him a violent blow under his ear, killed him on the spot. The Coroner's Jury sat on the body, and brought in a verdict of Wilful Murder against Matthews, who is committed to Glou cester gaol for trial. A letter from Dungannon, in a Dublin Paper of Thursday last, says—" On Friday last s this neigh bourhood exhibited a melancholy instance of the total disregard to every moral or religious obligation, which should withhold man from shedding the bided of man. The victim of an act prompted by this san guinary disposition, was Mr. John Bleakly, a highly respectable inhabitant of this town, who held the office of Collector of the Hearth and Window tax ' • he went on his duty, attended by two constables, to the house of a family of the name of Briars, who reside a few miles in the country, and who had the day before disputed the payment of the tax of 3s.—he was met at the door of the house by three of the family, armed with muskets, who desired him to stand off ; but Mr. Bleakly, with more resolution than prudence, advanced within two yards of the men—one of whom fired, and lodged a bullet in his breast ; lie walked to a house at a short distance, and expired." The grand national Work of the Statistical and Agricultural Surveys of the Counties, for the fur therance of which Parliament voted six thousand pounds on the last day of its sitting, is proceeding with great vigour and spirit. Dr. Diercsost is now in Lancashire, making the survey of that county ; Mr. PAREV in Derbyshire; Mr. STEVENSON in Surrey; Mr. PITT in Northamptonshire ; Sir GBORGE MAC KENZIE in Ross-shire ; Mr. STONE in Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire; Mr. BAILEY in Durham; Mr. ROBERTSON in Kincardineshire ; and Mr. VANCOUVER in Hampshire. The surveys of Leicestershire, Bed fordshire, Berwickshire, and Berkshire, have just been published, making thirty-six of the sixty-four volumes of which this great work will probably con sist. Although the materials arc collected, and the surveys made at the expence of the public, under the direction of the Board of Agriculture, yet the work ou t° . i w s h th om e p i r t i s v c a o te m p p l r e o s v e n r t can o f a ot Sirc o st R less th ao a n P iit fortyt.i P t s h sand pounds. ..