Star. — London, England, 1820-12-21 00:00:00

THE WESTMINSTER PLAY. Tuesday se'nnight, the classical friends of the West minster "juvenes togati," were again regaled with a scenic representation of the Phormio—a drama re plete with sprightly gaiety and genuine attic humour ; and, although it is not considered as the happiest pre-. duCtion of our old school-acquaintanee, TIM encE, yet so powerfully was the effect of his Comic Muse as _ sisted by the abilities of the actors, that the risible faculties of a more numerous audience than we ever recollect to have observed, upon a similar occasion, were kept in continual exercise. All the old 41 West minsters" and their friends appeared to have been congregated in one vast body, and had obtained possession of both pit and gallery long before - the classic banquet was commenced ; a decided prefer ence being given to these milites emeriti, whilst the claims of strangers were completely overlooked.—,- This circumstance gave offence to the less favoured visitors, and certainly prevented numbers from get ting even a transient glance at the AnglO-Roman stage. Those who were fortunate enough to gain admittance, and whose physical powers were capa ble of sustaining the melting heat of a small pit, crowded to the greatest possible degree of endurance, were amply repaid for their patience and perse verance, by the histrionic efforts of the juvenile performers. The exhibition of youthful talent is always highly gratifying, and we may say, with truth, that the most fastidious taste could , not fail of discovering, in the performance of Phormio, the rich and vigorous germs of future excellence, which a little practice and experience would soon ripen into comparative perfection. It is not our intention to examine the performances of these youthful amateurs with the rigid severity of theatrical criticism, yet we will venture to assert, that 'some of them might stand, without fear, upon the boards of a regular Theatre, and bid defiance to the puny critic's" ferula. Their conception of the various characters was just and correct, nor was there a single individual who did not fully enter into the spirit of the author.— The Prologue, as well as the Epilogue, was written expressly for the occasion, and both were perfect' specimens of the Terentian style. The Prologue was delivered with much force and propriety of elocution; it would have obtained a greater share of approbation if certain expressions of a pontical ten dency had not been introduced ; hence arose partial symptoms of dissatisfaction, but good sense and good temper predominated, and the cloud blew over an a few moments. It would be invidious to notice the good acting of any individual performer, when all are deserving of commendation; however, we cannot forget the merits of Mr. H. DODGSON, in Geta, who personified the facetious Roman slave with faith ful accuracy and admirable naivete. The dialogue between him and Davus, in the second scene of the first act, was irresistible; it would have relaxed the face of Melancholy herself into a smile. The parts of Chromes and Densipho were admirably supported; the thin small voice, tire tottering step, and the que rulous peevishness, together with the other pecu liarities of old age, were painted to the life. Mr. VERNON was an excellent Phormio. He made many excellent hits in the course of his performance, which literally set the Theatre in a roar. The Dorio of Mr. Sritaxny was, perhaps, taken as a whole, a most faultless piece of acting. The young Gentle men were, without one solitary exception, remark ably perfect in their parts; a prompter was never once required, and this is more than can be said of many an old stager of the present day. The Epilogue, a spirited satire upon those who are afflicted with the Bildiomania, was enthusiastically greeted with a deafening peal of universal applause. We can assute our Readers, that it is not from any want of talent in the other Performers that we have not made par ticular mention of them ; and we exceedingly regret that the demands of more important matter compels' us to abstain from dismissing at large the more than common beauties which were exhibited in the per formance of every one who took a part in the busi ness of the Play. Amongst the company we noticed the Dukes of YORK and WELLINGTON, the LORD CHIEF BARON and family, Sir W. G ILAN r, Mr. Justice PARK, &c. &c. Many Ladies were also present; and we observed more than one with a volume of TERENCE, carefully following the performers through the dif ferent scenes. The third and last representation of Phorado took place last Monday night. It went off with eclat, and attracted a crowded and splendid audience, inclu ding Lord GRENVILLE, several of the Cabinet Mi nisters, Sir A. MACDONALD, Mr. JEKYLL, &C. &c. DRURY-LAVE THEATRE.—This Theatre was well attended last night to witness the revival of that ex cellent Opera The Lord of the Manor. The names of Mr. BRAHAM and Madame VEsTnis are sufficient to slim with what talent the vocal department was fiLed. The former, according to custom, introduced to my favourite airs from other sources, which he executed in his best style, and the latter was also in excellent voice. The characters which they sup -1 ported were those of Trnemore and Annette. Mr.' BARNARD perfollioed that of Young Contrast, the fop, with excellent effect. Mr. KNIGHT, as Ralph, the young rustic, was quite at home, and Mr. WIL LIAMS, in the absence of MuNDEN, exhibited the mas culine peculiarities of Moll Flagon with a good deal of humour. The whole was much applauded. GRAND PIGEON MATCH. THE MIDOHAM PIGEON CLOS AGAINST ALL ENGLAND.-A sport. lug match took place on Monday, between Messrs. Jarrett's:i t CONNINGIIA3:, and Reuses, members o f th e a b ove Cl u b, an d Me,srs. 'faNt.sc, BILLINGHL AST, and Kunsan, who bagged the most head of game in a day's play, for a hundred and fifty gui neas, by a subscription of 50 guineas each. The following was she result : Partridges. . Pheasants. Hares. Jefferies bagged i 14 ,- 8 - 9 Conningliam, do. - 17 - 4 - 11 Reeves, slo. 9 - 7 - 4 Islghty-three head of game were killed over the manors of Knareton and Finchly, Hants, and England shot over the new enclosure in the vale of Berkshire, and killed as follows: Partridges. Pheasants. Hares. 21 - S - 3 17 - 14 . 7 24 - 9 - 14 Tanner, bagged - Billioghurst, do. - Khmer, do. Total, England - - - 11! Blidghasn Club - - - $3 —..29 angland bad thirty shots more than the Club, but they missed Wise only, and the Club six. It was one of the greate it day's play is the canals of sporting, considering the season 91 the yes. 4 . 4e'. -... • THE_EVENLYO STAR. ___ I LONDON. 'THURSDAY, DECEMB E R 21, 1820. IT. Tlionaa'a - Day.—Hollgay at the Bank. -The resignation of. Mr. CANNING, whkh has for some days been anticipated, has at length taken place. He is no longer President of the Board of Controul t but retires " because," as 'stated in a Mi nisterial Paper, " he could not, with honour to him self, remain in Administration, after the turn which the Queen's business has taken, and the Parliamen tary discussions likely to ensue upon it." It has been More than suspected, fro the great pains taken by the enemies of the QUEEN \o procure what they call Loyal Addresses, that Mini ten were determined yet to bring forward measur el of son* kind or other against her MAJESTY; but now it seems to be put beyond all doubt. We infer this not merely from the above avowal, but from the re sigimlion with which it is coupled. Mr. CAN NI* whatever some men may say, has always shesvo, himself a good cakulator of political con tingencies. Having been as much in the secret respecting the contents of the Green Bag, and the means by which they had been procured, he was at least as well furnished with materials from which to draw an inference on the probable issue as any of his colleagues. He saw that there was no evidence there on which the character of the QUEEN CONSORT could be affected. Her MAJESTY was, and he fore saw would still continue to be, " the grace, and or nament, and honour of society ;' and he accordingly declined all co-operation with Ministers in their labours to degrade her. No person whose eyes are open, can, with these facts before him, draw a wrong inference from the resignation of Mr. CANNING. If Ministers had re solved to acquiesce in the voice of the Nation, to restore the QUEEN'S name to the Liturgy, to give her MAJESTY a suitable Establishment, and to pay her that respect which is due to the QUEEN CONSORT of ENGLAND, no difference of sentiment would have remained between them and Mr. CANNING : he could still have continued to occupy his place, and to maintain their measures generally. But as he has resigned, it is obvious that some measures were contemplated to which be could not give his support ;—nay more, which he would find himself' bound to oppose in Parliament. His first .calculation respecting the issue of the Bill of Pains and Penalties having proved correct, furnishes a strong presumption that he now calcu lates on the complete overthrow of Ministers from " the discussions likely to ensue in Parliament" on the question of the Qtystea,—or rather from the measures which they still mean to hazard re specting this Illustrious Individual ; and we can not, therefore, avoid concluding that, at least in the opinion of Mr. CANNING, Ministers will not be able to carry their measures, or keep their ground. In this respect, his conviction must carry with. it considerable weight. Here we have one of the Ministers, as intimately acquainted with s every Etc; on which they ventured to found their proceed ings as any of them, and as able—nay, as the fact has proved, more able—to make a proper estimate of their value, and yet ke quits the State vessel, that he might avoid the danger of being swamped with those who insisted on carrying so unwieldy a cargo. The "Loyal Addressers" may rest assured that Mr. CANNING has made a more correct estimate than they have of the possibility of buoying up the vessel ; and we mistake the character of some of them, if they shall now be found as for ward as they have been in their manifestation of attachment to the present Administration. It is not a little curious that the fact of Mr. CAN- NING'S retirement should have been known at Vienna as far back as the 6th of - December, long before there was any positive rumour of it here.— The following article of that date appears under the head of Vienna, in the French Papers received this morning :—« We learn that my Lord CANNING has retired from the Ministry; and, in consequence of other changes near at hand, we believe also that Lord STEWART will be recalled from his post at Vienna." We trust that the Vienna newsmen will prove as cor rect in their information,, as to the " other changes," as they have been in regard to Mr. CANNING. We beg to refer our Readers to the ample and in teresting Report, given in another part, of the Public Meeting held at Ettinburgh, to address his MAJESTY for the dismissal of Ministers—a Meeting which, without disparagement to the character of other As semblages, must be allowed to stand pre-eminent for the literary talent and personal respectability of the great body of the individuals of which it was com posed. Mr. Janstsgy, the celebrated Editor of the Edinburgh Review, moved the Resolutions in a spiech, which every account represents as of uncommon splendour and ability, but of which we suspect the Reporters to the Edinburgh Press have furnished us with but a very imperfect outline. The Gentlemen who supported the Resolutions are among the most distinguished ornaments of the Scottish Bar-4011N CLERX,' Esq. HENRY COCILEURN, Esq. J. A:Mmt- RAY,`Esq. &c. A similar Meeting is to be held at Glasgow to "r• ' • • . .... 0...., ~...:..,. ~...... morrow. The Chief Magistrate of that City followed the esatnPle of the LORI) PROVOST or Edlnbur gb. in refusing to give his sanction to.the Meeting, though Presented with a Requisition signed by many hut‘dred individuals of the first respectability.. The Requisi tionists are to meet on their own responsibility. _ We observe a Meeting also called of the County of Dumbarton ; but we presume it has its impulse in Ministerial sources. A Requisition for the Meeting of the County of Kent was sent, as we are informed, to the High Sheriff on Tuesday: This morning the DIANA packet arrived from the Brazils, bringing letters from that quarter to the 25th of October inclusive. She sailed on the morn ing of the 26th. The news of the Revolution in Portugal had been received a few days before, but people were very cautious .how they spoke of th e event, the Government not having made anything public of the accounts they had received. The CHESTERFIELD packet, which left England on the 9th of September, had arrived at Pernambuco on the 25th October, with intelligence of the Revolution at Oporto. This news would, of course, reach Rio in the course of a few days, and would tend to confirm the truth of the news already circulating there. The CREOLE frigate, which sailed from Lisbon early in September, would carry out official dis patches of the whole proceedings up to the time of her sailing. The next accountt from the Brazils will inform us of the effects produced. there by the intelligence. It is feared in the City, that the news of the Por tuguese Revolution may, perhaps, induce the people of Pernambuco again to rise. The Paris Papers of Sunday and Monday ar rived this forenoon. The foreign notices which they contain abound with conjectures as to the result of the late conferences at Troppan, but contain nothing more positive than what we have already seen on the subject.—French 5 per Cents. Saturday, 78fr. 35c. TIM ARMY. Sir HENRY WATSON (a Brigadier in the Portu- Luese service) arrived in the Arabella packet, from isbon. Dr. CLARKS, who, we believe, was also attached in some way to the Portuguese Army, likewise came passenger in that packet. - NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.. The Argo, ilauntstrv, on entering Shields on Saturday morn ing, during a tremendous gale from S.S.E. was struck by a sea, and thrown upon the rocks near the Spanish Battery, and bilged. Crew and materials saved. The Eleonora, Parrs, from Milan to London, which was driven on shore early last month, near Saltfleet, h as been got offi without much damage to the cargo. The sloop Mavgam, Tyco muter, bound from Cornwall to Aberavon, with copper ore , foundered in the night between Sunday and Monday last, and all on board unhappily perished. What renders this inebncholy event more afflicting, is, that the Captain's brother, who commands another skip, bad the unfor tunate-vessel in to-7 at the time, but she went down so suddenly that no , assistance could be rendered. Knish. ut,' Dec. 15.-This day, at seven o'clock, A. M. the brig Resolution, of London, JAIMICII BLeativ master, bound for New foiTndland to Liverpool, with fish, &c. was driven on a ledge of rocks outside the entrance into %lien's Bay, east side of the Head. It was then low water, blowing a tremendous gale at 3.8. E. attended with a very heavy sea, constantly breaking over her. The crew were observed to ascend the rigging, where they remained in the momentary expectation of her going to pieces. They were all saved, however, with the exception of the Mate, by the humane exertions of different boats that went to their as sistance, the last of which bad scarcely reached the beach, when the vessel went totally to pieces, and scarce a vestige of her re mained,--Nearly at the same time the John and Mary, front Cork for Falmouth, laden with butter, oats, &c. was driven on shore at the west side of the Head. The crew was saved with much difficulty. FALMOUTH, Die. 12:—Wind S.—Arrived the Mary, 'Mises from London for Bilboa • Valentine, Ricnaans, fro m C ar diff ' fur St. Michael's - and Diana packet with a Mail fro m t h e Bra zils—sailed from Rio 27th Oct. Sailed the Pretty Law, Baowm- LSO, for Naples. PLYMOUTH Dec . Io.—Wind W.—Arrived on the 15th i ns t. the Fame, PLYMOUTH, from Charente for London. In attempting to get to sea this morning, she got on shore in Stonehouse Pool, where, at low water, she fell nearly on ber beam-ends, but is expected to be got off. PORTSMOINM, Dac. 20.—Wind S.S.E.—Put back the Mala bir, Aacoron ; she has since sailed again. Dam. Dec. 20.—Wind W.S.W.—Came down from th e River l ast night,. the City of Edinburgh, Wisamatt, for Bengal; Caroline, HODOSON, for Jamaica • John Baker, Astral, for Leghorn; Helens, WiLsort ' fur Bahia ; and Ann, Bats., for Rio Janeiro. Arrived and sailed for the River, the Mary, .HAIIIVEY ' from Havannah ; his Majesty's ship Ain, from Ports *mouth ; Ringdove, Ismairma, from Oporto for Ipswich ; and rho Landwehr, Haarzatiao, from Antwerp for Bourdeaux; the latter remains. WAvzsrean, DEc. 14.-.--Arrived the Esther, WitAow, from . ' Liverpool for Philadelphia, with the loss of main and mizen-top, masts, and in a disabled state. She sailed from Liverpool the tOth September, bud was obliged to bear up from America. LIVERPOOL, Dzc. 19.—1 t is repotted that an American ship, supposed , to be the Dublin Packet, CoLas, from New York for Dublin, is lost off the Kish Bank--as aho several colliers. PINZANCi; Dir. in.—Arrived the Agenoria, HALL, from B r id g ewater, with loss of boat, bulwarks, sails split, and part of her cargo thrown overboard. The Fury, ()Ave, coal-laden, sunk off the Land's Bad yesterday —crew saved, and landed at St. Ives. Aaanwn—At Jamaica, the Dry Harbour Planter, ; and Amphitrite, Philips, from London; also the Lord H obart packet,' from Falmouth. At Lisbon, Nova Paquite, Da Silva, from Rio Janeiro • Blenheim, Warren ; and Robert, Hall, from-New foundb;d ; Union, Kettle • and Sally, Cummings, from Liver pool; Speedy, —, from Cork ; Waterloo,—, from Bristol; Unity, De Gruchy, from Jersey ; and Friends, —, from Pe tersburgh. At Oporto, Trio, Bazfield, from Newfoundland; and Anlaby, Overton, from Hull. LIVERPOOL, DECEMBER 18. a i ry or A ursaua LETT= TO TER COLLECTORS AND 401LIMILOLLTDS tr our -po ns , 23LATDIO TO Till waaxmovatsa Or r 011101! 111112,11.. , 4 Custom-house, London, Nov. 4. " I have it in command to acquaint you, auk it appears from a letter from Mr. Lesantoron, dated the 24th Wt. that it is their Lordships' pleasure, that the regulations under whi c h F ore i ga Cheese is to be all owed to be warehoused, are to be, in an re- spects, similar to those :of the General Warehousing Act, ex cept that, in case such Cheese being taken out of warehouse, for exportation to any of the British Colonies, it is to be liaMe to. the payment of the home eenstunptiun duty • and the comb. Meagre direct you to.govers reerstif itecordiiigly.w • MEETING AT EDIV2URGEL Saturday forenoon, a numero•ts and respe Meeting of the Inhabitants of this City took place al the Pantheon, agreeably to a public advertisemc n , in the Newspapers, to ccnsider of the proprie. y (4 presenting a Loyal Address to the Kixo, and Petit:',, his IVlAassrr to dismiss his present Alinisteis. As immense crowd bad assembled in the str(:. 16tig — before the hour of meeting, and when the (10. 1 was opened, the house was filled in all corr.ers, an excessive crush. JAMES MONCISIEFF I Esq. hating been imanimcu IT called to the Chair, stated, that the Meeting v.. 4: assembled to exercise a valuable and constitution a l right—that of approaching the Throne, and express. ing the sentiments of loyalty and duty to tl.e King free People; to express, in humble and respecti4 language, their feeling on the acts, or system of act., of his responsible servants, and of the spirit and u.lt. per in which the government of the count') 1-41 been conducted. FRANCIS JEFFREY, Esq. then rose to propose t! Resolutions. He was one of those who had fig:.t: the Requisition for this Meeting, and would 11( explain the motives which induced him to do so. He felt extremely diffident in performing the tas which had devolved upon him, because he was litid in the habit of speaking on subjects of general into. rest, and to all his other difficulties was added, min to his other avocations, a total want of preparaticl 01 the topics now to be discussed; so much so, that he felt ashamed to appear before them. But I' duty he had undertaken must have devolved some one, and he, as an individual, was the inclined to make this sacrifice, as an atonement I . his.too long supineness and want of sensibility to public cause, and to those important duties to which they were all, he trusted, now awakened—( Lout . applause).—lndeed, he would not disguise his semi. ments upon this point. Scenes like the present hai been always rather uncongenial to his disposition. I was one of those who bad entertained considerable doubts as to the propriety of holding such Meetings. 1 It always occurred to him,,that convocations of this kind were accompanied with considerable disadvaro cages; that they tended to .exasperate the feelingi, and if not to promote scenes of riot and disorder, least to call forth rash and imprudent expressions; which, though used only by individuals, were im puted to the whole body assembled. With those feelings, he confessed, he was rather slow to approve of Public Meetings; but in common with several in dividuals whb now surrounded him, he was forced lioM V ts his habits of privacy, and induced to step for ward. in defence of principles which it was the in terest of all who were attached to their country to propagate and to .encourage-( Applause ). Such we now the state of public affairs, that it became the duty of every man to disregard all private considerations —all peisonal repugnance—and to meet boldly every obloquy, for the purpose of effecting a great public good by the only, means left in their power—(Hear). The circumstances that gave a character to the pa sent times were, some of ;hem more, and some cf them less important, but taken altogether, were such as to render the necessity of such Meetings indisputa ble. The inhabitants of this country having risen so high in political importance, it was necessary that there should be. some channel opened up to them for expresaing their sentiments and opinions as to the state of the country. He would now briefly touch (ft silme . of the causes of discontent which were particu larly pointed out in the Resolutions he was about to gobmit to them. Mr. Jeffrey here alluded to the ad vantages-possessed by the other end of the Island, in the more wide extension of the elective franchise.— In Scotland, they possessed not the same advantage; and it was only by a convocation of the inhabitants that a just and proper opportunity was afforded for the expression of the public sentiment. In comment ing' on the conduct of the present Administration, he could not help pointing out to the Meeting the unex ampled sufferings they had brought on all classes of the People—the exorbitant debts they had contracted —their unprecedented and wasteful expenditure of the public money—and the contumely and insult with which they had trampled under foot all thePeti demi and remonstrances; of the People 7 —(Applause).— Another remarkable feature of the present times %vat, the growing disposition, on the part of the Adminis 'nation, to divide the country into separate interests— to foment the divisions and jealousies between the lower and higher orders—and to confound with the few insane and deluded men, who, by their violent and unconstitutional conduct, had occasionally kept the country in a state of alarm, those who, in support of their rights and liberties, abide by the glorious privileges which the Constitution has conferred upol them—(Loud applause).—lt was of those evils . that they were now assembled to complain, and of that policy, the tendency of which was to destroy any middle order of men, and to confound all classes into two opposite and eq ually reprehensible extremes.— , Every proposition of a conciliatory nature had been rejected with 'scorn. Our Rulers had carried them selves to the great body of the People with the mat repulsive anti - insolent aspect ; they increased the ir ritation, by a neglect of those sufferings which ought either to'have been relieved or pitied, and had deli• vered over the discontented to the operation of infiar.- matory agents, who sought to embroil the country.— Now, how werethose abuses to be remedied ? Why, those who are the friends of liberty and reform shouil come forward publicly, and declare that while they Jo dot take pan in the principles or measures of the tit!• bulent or seditious, yet they are determined, in a legal and constitutional manner, to assert their rights — (Loud applause).—lt was maintained that these Aka 'figs were dangerous to peace, but if this Meeting dis• parsed with the same decorum which they had hither to obseived, it would give the lie to the assertion, ei:‘ , convocations in great towns cannot be held w iih safety. If the result of this Meeting should be dille• taut, *I if it should kreak.up in disorder and coniii• ~.~ •_ • sion, and v *re a Lion, abust Aulevo mom stgne insint Regis SYM? pi IF *nom into biensi who and t In es had -to co expel bad 1 veste Who elan; with 4ki th cheer pen° maul to thi of lii more poste thcm lessly by ric of pc 14 itiic respo life c apt whet' he h He Meet prop _nistei - tions for it fault was rniso boas were their the s whol consi miss: that impr had and t olen Mr., lions and 4 fence -C aced, rt a Gov And and ofd -duce . puni part thel Mal was tint gal su' rea no Pel Ima• '4".11., • •