The National Register. — London, England, 1817-01-20 00:00:00

JANUARY 211 BRIGHTON, Jan. 19—In the aftcrtmen of yesterday n Privy Council assembled, which was attended by the Dukes of York and Clarence, the Cabinet Ministers, the Lord Steward, the Lord Chaisberlain, Mr. Arbuth not, Lord St. Helens, and tl:e Attorney-General. The state of the silver currency, and the final arrangement of the topics of the speech to the Legislature, are sup posed to be the principal business for the assembling of the Council. Hastenew Cm7o.—At 12 o'clock on Saturday a meeting o f several of the members composing the I lamp den Club was held at the Freemar4ms"favern, Great Queen-street, for the purpose sf taking into considera tion the form of a bill on the sulf re t of Parliamentary Reform, to be submitted in February next , for the ap probation of a general meeting; in th e event of its re ceiving which, it will be presented to Psrliament forth with by Sir F. Burdett. The draft of tt;,, Bill, which has been prepared, embraces the whole of N e popular topics connected with the question of reform in q ie must detailed arrangement. This meeting being mei.ly o f preliminary nature, and for the purpose of prepar. ig the bill, was open only to the Members of the Club. Mr. Barre Beresford has been appointed to the office of Deputy Vice-Treasurer of Ireland. It is at. length determined that all the British officers serving with the Portuguese army shall be placed on the half-pay of Great Britain from Christmas lust. _ _ The King of Franc:: has granted un annual pension of 2,100 francs to the widow of the celebrated Poet Do nne, whom French writers entitle the Virgil of Frince. We have great satisfaction in stating, that consider ahic for goods have been received at Manches ter, from Spain and Portugal, for the supply of their colonies ; and that many orders fin. cotton goods have been given in consequence of the corn trade. The cotton trade. has consequently taken a very litvourable turn, and the manufacturers and others employed therein are in high spirits, and there is abundant evidence that the prospect is brightening, —Courier. In the parish of St. Leonard, Shoreditch, there have been issued three thousand six hundred warrants of dis tress against inhabitant householders, for defitult of the last quarter's poor rate! Requisitions have been signed fix meetings of the Livery of London and the Common Council, " fix the purpose of petitioning ibr a reduction of the present enormous and unconstitutional military establishment. an abolition of all sinecure places and unmerited pen sions, retrenchment and economy in the public expen diture, and a constitutional reformation in the repre sentation of the people in Parliament. It appears by the returns male at the London Hor pital fimr one week, that there are now no less than seven children in there who have been burnt by their clothes catching fire. A wedding, brought about by circumstances of a novel nature, took place n ithin these few da'•s, at St. Andrew's Church, Holborn. A young woman, named Mary Sterry, was tried, on a recent occasion, at the Old Bailey Sessions, with her mother; the former for rub bing her master, a trade: mum in Cornhill ; and the lat ter for receiving the goods stolen. During► the trial, a young man of the name of Mills, who had casually got into the gallery of the Court, suddenly became ena moured of the fair young prisoner ; and, after her con viction, he made interest to get to see her on her being taken out of Court : he then expressed his sincere at tachment towards her, and proffered every assistance in his power to small her confinement. Ile visited her daily, found her necessaries of every kind in abundance, employed great exertions in getting it represented that she had become a convert, and also petitioned the Secretary of State, promising to marry her, should the royal clemency be extended towards her.—The be haviour of the prisoner was testified to be geod ; Dad last week she received a pardon, on condition that Mills man•ied her immediately. The next nunming the happy pair accompanied Mr. Crosby, Chaplain to the Refuge for the Destitute, to St. Andrew's Church, Hol born, where they were married, and Mr. C. paid all ex pences. King Christophe of Hayti was formerly the slave of a widow in the island of St. Thomas, where she still lives. lle lately wrote a letter, in which he requested her to go to him, that he may testify all his gratitude to her, timr the humane and generous treatment he experienc ed from her in his condition of slavery. This demand not having been accepted, he again requested the wi dow to send him at least her son, that he might through him repay his debt of gratitude. Christophe has fallen under the displeasure of the American Government ; preparations are making in America to send out a frigate to demand of him the payment of about 500,000 dollars, the estimated amount of his sixdiations upon their commerce. ROBUERY AT ST. PAUL'S CATIIEDRAL.—On Wed nesday morning, during the time of the thick fog, the choir of St Paul's Cathedral was robbed in a very dar ing manner of three large church prayer-books, at the time the regular morning service was proceeding, about ten o'clock. It was so extremely dark that the Clergy man was obliged to have a light, and hold it close to time boot, end the darkness enabled some person to take away the books unobserved. THE NATIONAL REGISTER. The .Tamaica Papers to the 30th November inclusive contain the proceedings of the House of Assembly to that. date. After much debate, and divisions on every clause and in every stage, a Bill fur a more particular Return of Slaves was passed by a majority of 11. A smart shock of an earthquake was telt on the "Ist of November. . _ 13y accounts from Barbadots to the sth Nov. inclusive we arc informed, that after the lamented death of Sir James Leith, the Hon. John Spooner was sworn in as President and Commander in Chief of the island. A Gentleman who dined with Sir Gregor M'Gregor at St. Thomas's on the 29th of November, states, that his reason fix quitting the cause of independence, was a quarrel with one of the patriot Leaders. We are happy to add, that this gallant Officer, far from being dis heartened at any occurrences in Venezuela, then pro nounced the cause to be in a most triumphant state, and that he will shortly rejoin his lran..ers to complete the work in which he had taken so distinguished a part. The Bev of Tunis has been induced, by the events which took place at Algiers, to restore all the Christian slaves within his Regency, C.:pt. Forest's reception by kite Pope at Rome, after landing those helonging to the Ronan territories ,75 in number), was particularly markta and flattering. His Holiness presented hini with an elegant Mosaic box, set in geld and ounces; which latter prestm was likewise made to all his Ofliers. An hotel had been specially fitted :or them, previous to their arrival. Captain Forest and Ilia officers while at Algiers experienced every attention ; the fbrtifications are all repaired, and the guns arc remounted. The I)ey's Of ficers confessed, that nearly all the guns of the upper tiers were dismounted, and many of the casement ones dismantled. The Bank of England have extended the time from the Ist of February next until the IA of May fl R. receiv ing Bank dollar tokens at the rate of ss. 61. each. We understand, from very good authority, that it is the determination of Lord Grenville, immediately after the assembling of Parliament, to throw up the large sinecure %Oriel' his Lordship now holds. Earl Whitworth is expected in town next week, from Ireland. His Lordship has taken a house in Grosvenor square. The Right Hon. Sir George F. Hill has been ap pointed Vice-Treasurer of Ireland. The patent has pas sed the Great Seal. . _ The Freeman's Journal asserts, that the Trinity Cul lege Board, Dublin, have recently come to a resolution of expunging Lock's famous Treatise on Government from the College course ! ! A few days since Mr. Bullock was proceeding from Liverpool to Ireland with the carriage of the ex-Em peror of France, for exhibition at Dublin, when the whole was detained by the officers of the Customs at Liverpool, and a very high duty was demanded, as the whole was deemed to be foreign manufacture. Mr. Bullock applied to the Lords of the Treasury, who taking into consideration that the object was to gratify the curiosity of the Irish, who had as much right to such gratifications as the English themselves, sent an order on Thursday to the Comn.issioners of the Customs in London fbr them to direct the Custom-house in Liver pool and Dublin to let the whole of Mr. Bulock's ex hil=iti:m pass free. THE RIOTE.—The Grand Jury found true bills for the capital offence against Hooper, Cashman, Gunnell, and Simmons. The moment it was understood that Hooper was amongst those who are to be tried upon the capital charge, Cartwright, the marshalman, was scut to apprehend him. Hooper was foand playing at put with Mr. Harrison, one of his bail, and immediately conducted to Newgate. The Grand Jury were occupied a length of time in examining the witnesses in the case of Preston. They found a true bill against him for the misdemeanour. The Grand Jury have found a true bill against James Watson, jun. fin. shooting at Mr. Platt, with intent to kill. To this indictment, if he will not appear, it is said immediate proceedings will he instituted against him as an outlaw. The alterations in the Old Bailey Court, as proposed by the Lord Mayor at the close of the last Sessions, were completed on Wednesday evening. The entrance to the Students' box, which was close to the Jury, is now from a new door, immediately on entering the Court ; and the Summoning Officer's box, contiguous to that of the Jury, is taken away, so that an open space is here formed. The Grand Jury box, contigu ous to that of the Students', which at all times caused so much annoyance, has also its cntrancv from the gal lery. The open space between the hack of the bail dock and the first door on the right after entering the avenues of the Court by the eastern steps, is fitted with benches for prosecutors and witnesses, who will enter at that door instead of the first at the top of the western steps. The Court is to be open, and no fees are to be taken. The Lords of the Admiralty have rent a Naval Officer (Licut Justice) to report on the state of the sea men in the Helder, for the purpose of selecting; such British seamenrs were fit for employ. This Officer has accordingly name his inspection laud report, and all found fit have been ordered to be scat to Sir C. RowLy, at Sheerness. • THE DRAMA. COVENT GARDEN. BE.%UMoNT and FLETCHER'S play of TIP? MM US"- OW Lieutenant; or, Alexander's &Lemurs, was re vived on Saturday at this theatre,and a young lady, whose name we have not heard, made her first ;.ppearance on the stage as Celia. 1t would be rather a difficult tazi: for us to concentrate, within any tolerable space, Cie story of this play as it was represented ; for a more un connected piece we never vet witnessed. The music, by B►stwP, was very fine, particularly the last air sung by Miss STEPHENS, which is full of pathos. The scenery and the decorations are also the grandest th^t• were ever seen upon any stage. But we were really astonished anti concerned to find such an excess of ex penditure, such a wanton profusion of drapery and gild ing, conferred upon an object in itself miserably poor. We never witnessed such an attempt to impose upon and to delude the public taste, as was made on Saturday, and we have strong reason to think that it will not be often repeated. When a young female offers herself fix the first time on the stage, we respcot her feelings too much to examine her pretensions minutely—but justice compels us, in this instance, to recommend to the fair debutante of last ni„•ht a diffi rent path of life. Her voice is not calculated for a theatre, and her man ner seemed to us altogether unfavourable to her hopes. Even Mr. LISTON (ihe Iluinown,u.s Lieutenant) was for the first time out of his place. The character is not at all suited to his exquisitely comic powers. Mr. YOUNG performed Leontins admirably. It is the cha racter of a blunt, good, brave, old soldier, and although it would appear quite out of his range, it was in truth, represented in a most animated style. Mr. MAC n EADY, Mr. TERRY, and Mr. SINCLAIR were also incorporated. in this piece—but their united powers, aided by the seducing melody of Miss STEPHENS, could not sustain it. Mr. You NG came forward at the conclusion to announce, us it was presumed, its repetition for this evening, but even his esteemed, and gentlemanlike pre sence could not attain for him a hearing. I)RURY LANE. On Thursday night we witnessed the performance of - MURPHY'S Comedy " Knott , .your own mind" with the greatest pleasure. This although a play which cannot boast of refined wit or delicate sentiment, yet from the comic humour, bustle, and vivacity which characterise it, is well fitted to .fix the attention, and answer the true end of comedy—to put the audience in good humour. This play had also on that night a peculiar interest, as it exhibited in a new character Mrs. A tsor, a lady who seems to possess a large portion of talent, and inherits from her mother that agreeable playfulness and lively spirit which gave a double charm to every thing that came from her.—Her delineation of the sprightly and whimsical Lady Bell was perfectly correct and was ho:toured by a discriminating audience with the loudest approbation. Her articulation is clear and distinct, indeed alma tst too much so, and she sometimes dwells rather toe long on her cadences. This may proceed from imitation, or perhaps it may be natural, but in either case we would recommend her to correct it. Her own abilities are suta cient to support her dramatic reputation ; and we should feel much more pleased to ree her rely on them, than copy even the r,:.anner of her mother. Her musical qualities are of no inferior description. Her voice is sorer, and her esezution tastethl and exprersive.— Ther care minor graces which thon:.ll not strikingyct aid considerably in producing abet, these we would wish Mrs. ALSO? to attend to, as she seemed to us to have rather an awkward manner oft winging her drapery and her motion appeared in some degree to be con tracted even in her liveliest bounds. With these trifling exceptions, we believe Mrs. ALSO? to have qualifications and powers which ensure success, and we anticipate her shortly becoming a great fiwourite. The other characters were also well supported Mrs. HARLEY gaye great spirit to the intriguing Widow Brwnly, Mr. It AL's Millanwur was excellent, and HARLEY and 13):NGOUGH as Dash •, wood and Maki! played to great advantage. A circumstance rather ludicrous occurred on Satur day se'nnight at the Opera. When the curtain was raif ing i'or the Ballet, the foot of one of the attendants wits entangled in the rope, and he was exalted in that man ner more than half way above the stage ; after hanging for nearly a minute, he was liberated from his unplea sant situation : he would have gone to the tep, if Ilia loud cries, intermingled with the shouts of the audience, had not arrested the hand of the scene-shifter. A working mnith and Carrier, of the name of 'lima!, at Newport, in Monmouthshire, has ii:vented and com pleted a clock upon an entirely new principle: it goes for the space of 319. days Ly once winding up ; has a pen dant and vibrating seconds ; the plates and wheels are brass, and the pinions of cast steel ; the dial-plate shews the minute:, and seconds. This ingenious piece of me• chanisin has hitherto performed its operations with the utmost correctness. The steam-engine sent from tl:is country, to be used for clearing the mines in Peru of water, has suceedel to the utmost expectation, and is coasLlered by tit.: tieuth Americans as a rerfeet xi