The National Register. — London, England, 1811-10-20 00:00:00

NATIONAL REGIST-ER, DIM IIATIC REGIS TER. COVENT-GARDEN. KOTZZBUE'S BenyOngki, " translated by Mr. C. KrmaLit, was en Wednesday performed, under the title of Kamtchatka ; or, The Slava Tribute?' Having stated it to be the " Bengoteski" of KOTZEBUE, it it quite unnecessary to go into the plot. The alterations made in - it are trifling, and the additions do not merit particular notice. As a whole, it is found very tedious. There is a tiresome same- news in the scenes, and the languor and insipidity of the dialogue renders it difficult to pay very great attention, or, indeed, to re pel the frequent visits of Somnus. It is a good deal in the style of " The Exile," and it really ap peared to me, as if Mr. C. ICEssaLE had studiously laboured to give an humble imitation of that admirable production, the chef trawre of the immortal litxY N 0 LD S. The scenery is beautiful, but not appropriate ; and the music is very far from being original. It met with but an indifferent /caption, and is not likely to become a stock piece. LYCEUM. A new afterpiece from the pen of Mr. Pococx was produced at this theatre on Monday last, under the title of The Green eyed Monster; or, How to get your Money. The title of a piece has, in common, so little to do with its business, that I cannot say the above truly unmeaning appellation had not the effect of exciting in me any feeling of unusual curiosity, or any extraordinary sentiment of disgust, It might as well have been given to nine pieces out of every ten that have appeared in modern times. The author has only attempted to apply it to a few silly expressions of jealousy which fall, for that purpose, I suppose, from two of the Dramatis Persons. The manner in which he tries to make out the second title, How to get your Money, is still more ridiculous, as it merely goes to teach extra vagant young men to put a hand, or a foot, no matter which, on the strong box, in which their guardians may have deposited that property, which, in the fulness of time, they are to inherit. Mr. POCOCK'S attempts to frame a plot, and to excite interest in his former pieces, have been, I believe, pretty generally ac knowledged to be as consummatory wretched, as those of any author of the present day, the learned writer of The Benighted Travellers excepted. In this instance, it seems to have been his 'study to save himself all trouble, and to avoid all censure, which he could have reason to apprehend would follow, his pretending to give us what he might feel disposed to call a plot. It has not even the shadow of a fable, and it must be confessed, that the poverty of the dialogue is admirably adapted to the insignificance of its design. The songs boast nothing which can make the piece popular; and the characters are wanting in spirit, and as desti tute of originality as of nature, and of consistency as of humour. With such defects, The Green-eyed Monster can never keep the stage long. It was hissed a good deal on the first night, and though it is still performed, it will, in all probability, soon pass away for ever; or, at all events, be the same ae though' it kud Teen " Twenty rears ago." The music, by Mr. WeLcit, is pleasing; but, saying this, nothing more can be said in its praise, as it boasts nuthing s•:rikingly original. Mr. H. I.xwis made his appearance on Friday in Tangent, in " The Way to get Married." lie strongly resembles his :father, but his figure is not so good. His performance also frequently reminds us of that celebrated actor, but only to fill us -with re gret for him who is now no more, instead of making the pre sent candidate for our su: port the object of admiration. There is an air of insignificance about him which makes strongly • against him; but though unequal to first rate characters, I think there is every probability of his succeeding to admiration in light farcical parts, which require much animation and little study. .....- . , 6. 6 9 RE-BUILDING DRURY-LANE IIIEAI'I►E. On Monday last, a very numerous meeting of she Subscribers for rebuilding Drury-lane Theatre was held at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, in the Strand. Mr. Whitbread took the Chair, and after s few observations, r ea d to t h e M eeting t h e R e p ort o f the Committee appointed to investigate and arrange the claims upon the Patents and Property of the late Theatre. It appeared from their Report, that the claims on the old Theatre amounted to 436,9711. but almost•the whole of the claimants having agreed to accept one-fourth only in lieu of their demands, about 140,0001. it was calculated, would discharge all claims whatever upon the late Theatre and its Patents. In aid of this, there was the sum of 3.5,6001. from the insurance offices, but which, by the Building Act, could only be applied to the re-building the Theatre. There were also the old materials, and other property, which it was estimated would increase the preceding sum to 60,0001.; so that there would only be *anted about eO,OOOl. for extinguishing every claim, and purchasing the entire property of th e Theatre and its Patents. The highest calculation of the expellee of any plan that had been 1..b. - r:sented to the cotniZ a . — ....,e or re building the Thralre with the money necessary for preparing it for performances, did not exceed 150,1001. as it was not intended the new Theatre should be so large as the former, nor that so great a sum should be expended on its interior decorations. The interest upon this sum would be 75001. per annum, which, added to the interest upon the sum required for the extinction of the old debt and the discharge of the annuity, would he altogether about 15,0001. To this there was likewise to be added 1%01. for rent, and 804. for taxes. The total estimated income would be 49,1001. and at the most moderate computation, the Committee conceive that a fair reliance might be placed on a profit of seven per cent. in addition to the free admissions of subscribers of 5001. shares.—The Chairman then stated, that the subscription to the new Theatre already amounted to 143,0001. and he .hoped he should see the present company sitting in it in the course of next year.—The Report of the Committee and the observations of Mr. Whitbread were received with great applause, and the thaAs of the Meeting were unanimously voted to that Gentle man and the rest of the Committee, .for their unweared exer tions In bringing the cohiplicated affairs of Drury-lane 'Theatre to so successful an issue. Three 'models for rebuilding Drury-lane Theatre were exhi bited on Thursday to the Prince Regent at Carleton House. They are the productions of Mt*:ssrs. J. and P. Wyatt and Mr. Wilkins. NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE. Stop Launcn.—Friday the launch of the new frigate, called the Maidstone, took place at Deptford. She is a beautiful . roomy ship of 36 guns, and built upon a new p • -inciple, which has already been tried, and found to answer extremely well: on taking out the pins•the knees work at sea ; and thus, by a dimi nution of resistance to the angry element, less danger is effectM. Contrary to custom the Maidstone presented her head to tha water. At a quarter after two the vessel was baptized in form, and the few Supporting timbers which were under, were knocked away.. When within a few yards of the hank, where a considerable portion of the crowd were stationed, site gave a sudden plunge, which had 'a fin e effect, the water rising in foam nearly to. the gut i okhale and the people'at the prow cheer ing, 3.nd cheered by.those below, On %Lose heady thy seemed descending. The band of the rower l Liii:ets Militia enlivened the seen: by playing the most popular national airs during the ceremony. A Court Martial has been -held at Sheerness on board his Majesty's ship . Raisonable, on Captain Kenny, of his Majesty's sloop 'I rinctrlo, for drunkenness, cowardice, tyranny, and op pr scion. The Court,•af.er heati ng the evidence in favour of tl prosecution, as well as what Capt. /tinny had to offer in his defeece, and arter having duly and maturely considered he same, were of Opinion the charges were not proved, and, Iletre fure did adjUdge Capt. Renny to be most honourably acquitted of the whole and every charge. • . • Mrs. Diokons is engaged at the Lyceum, for three years, on very liberal.terms. 1 he drawing begins on Tuesday next and finishes on the same day. So long as a Ticket or Share is to be had, the 'Public will be sure to find one at Hornsby and Co's. No. 2G, cornhill.— The Lottery consists of only 13,500 Tickets. The demand far exceeds many former Lotteries. Present price —Tickets 191.19 i. Half 101. 58.—Quarter 51. 4s.—Eighth 21. 13i.—Sixteenth 11. 7s. :rickets and Shares are. Selling in great variety and considerably Cheaper. Hornsby and Co. base been truly fortunate for many fears past in selling anti sharing Capital Prizes among their riends.--N. B. All Orders by Post or Carriers duly Executed. ' %