The National Register. — London, England, 1817-03-31 00:00:00

MARCH 31. THE DRA3IA. COVENT-GARDEN TEE:A.m. The Managers, on Thursday night, got up Tobin's play of the Curfivv, to bring out Mr. Booth in hording, but that character is so manifi:st and miser able a copy of Zanga, that it affords no scope fin. an actor. There was no want of effort on the part of Mr. Bata he threw as much power into the character as it would. admit of; but the effect was not correspon dent. This gentleman, has already been often can tinned against unnaturally inflating his cheeks and protruding his under lip, in the expression of rage. We now deem it necessary to repeat that caution. His countenance is good; but he relies, perhaps, somewhat too mueh on his gestures; and they require to be chas tened. ;le fixed the attention of the audience, and was deservedly applauded in some passages M'Crcady perihnned Robert with grad sense and fixiing. Abbot made the most of Bertrand. Terry was out of his element in the Baron; and very tame and very frigid; his excellence lies in another line. Miss Booth in Florence, and Mrs. Egerton in Matilda, were respecta ble. The Duke and Duchess of Gloacesvr entered early, and the house was crowded; but, on the whole, the play went off coldly; and when Mr. Abbot an nounced it for a second representation, a cry to . No! Not-1'..5/1/1(ms! Posthninusl arose in the pit and galleries. If the Managers wished to chill Mr. Booth, they could not have chosen a better part than Fitzbarding. But it is ;lair judgment alone, we con demn, and not their intention. Incledon took leave of the public on Monday night, when many of the most distinguished performers of the two Winter Theatres performed at his fiirewell benefit. --The House was filled in every part, and the reseipts were considerably beyond 1,0001. It is saiu he goes to America. In the course of the evening Mr. Dowton came forward, surrounded by all the performers present, and delivered with great pathos the following appro.. priate address : The woeful favourite of yotir youthful flays, Ratted by your smiles, and norturd by your praise; Whom y,.a ibroriai o'd, from competition free, ivard w fun uaUycnieludy : NI. w filo Cti, ! in foreign l':)1111'S to roam, To seek, beyond tl.' Atlantic waste, home; `Err yet :a Enela.iil's shore lie Mils adieu, Pours 101111 one parting, grate-fat siraite—to you. Clli let the men, who with him trod the stage, illo wiark'd the ennu,se of his Vito sAW with joy his talents iipesed bloom; ho hail'd in. progress, and now mourn his doom; Shod, for talents WA, tin pitying tear. While yet they may behold their Itrothei hare. ll , Te—ss hot c the Friend. who view d his youthful power, Now meet to e.i.e.eera c his farewell hour: Here—where tilt- I , l,Liodits he ties fed so long, Now Jor the Past that, cheer your Child of Song. To von his claim for kindness he preterit : Your presence skews that his appeal was heard. No Actors here, as Actors, now attend, Bit Ft it assemble to support a Fr;end. Tlico.e Friends would waft alms r one fervent prayer, One an‘ j o Hs w i s i, for him c 1 lit) ()mks their care:- 11ay lie, in lot di where Briti‘li acerlits sotf.d, Esperience what he felt on ISriti,h ground : While to his Lai• your language they impart, 0:1, may they speak your lan .uage—la his keart I Nay a.I the social joys %%Welt here c‘ki, there wait upon the " I aiid rig,, Melodist 1" Mr. Kemble has disposed of his residence in Russell street, Bloomsbury-square; MO proposes, after having' taken his leave as a public performer at Covent-garden theatre, to retire to Italy, at least for a time ; that cli mate having been advised for the restoration of his health. It is not in England only that dancers are well paid. The Monitcur j . the two Sit'ilies gives an account of the modest demands of Du Port, the dancer, when an engagement was dieted him to dance tier the season at the New Theatre of Sans Carlos at Naples. The Mana gers proposed to allow him a yearly salary of 83,000 francs, two free benetit, a house, dresses, and douceurs. This he refused, and demanded 25,000 francs fin. danc ing 15 times during the Carnival!, and 75,000 for the rest of the year, with a house, a free table for himself, wife, and son, and the members of his establishment, a carriage, horses, and footmen, and that he should only dance 84 times within the year! The Manager broke off the negociation ; and a Ballet for the opening of the Theatre was preparing by M. Talzitme without him, under the appropriate title of La Modestie Recompenff. when this great little man thought proper to concede to the terms offered him. Capt. Somerset, the eldest son of Lord C. Somerset, arrived a few days ago, from Boulonge, accompanied by Miss Ileatheote, daughter of Captain Heathcote, on their way to Gretna-green. It appears the happy pair took their flight from a ball, when the company left off dancing of the supper-room, and imme diately embarked for Fnglan I. The happy couple, since their northern union, have returned to London. REVIVAL. Or TitADE.—We can state, from the best authority, that during the last tl.ree weeks, a most sensi ble revi.-Al in the trade of this port has been experienced at the Cot ,m-'rose, and amongst several of our mer chants and maaJfaeturers.-w-Bri4to/ Journal, Marc THE NATIONAL REGISTER. MR. CCRIVEN'S PLAN Fait THE RELIEP OF THE POOH, AND FOR THE REDUCING AND EQUALIZING THE ANIOUN C OF THE POOH RATES. THE Committee of the House of Commons, to I whose consideration the laws respecting the poor have been referred, have now continued their labours above a month. As we do not find that they have made any report, and as the subject attracts considerable atten tion, we have determined to lay befiwe our readers a short sketch of the means which the public sj.ifited Senator, at whose instance the Committee was appoint ed, has suggested as likely to avert the evils consequent on the present system, by which rich and poor are at present equal sufferers. The principal feature of the plan is a modification of the Benefit Society System. Each parish is to have an option, whether or not within it shall be established a society, with a treasurer and other officers, to whom those of each sex who earn their bread by labour, shall pay weekly two and a half per cent on their wages. To the amount of these sums is proposed, at present, to be added an equal amount from the parish rates ; and the whole, distributed among the subscribers w Ito may be cotne necessitous at the discretion of a committee to be form ed, one half out of the contributors from wages, the e;her half from those who pay to the rates. This committee is to be renewed biennially, ene half annu ally going out by rotation, but each individual retiring to he capable of re-election, by the subscribers to the society, or contributors to the rates, respectively. In the lapse of a few years it is hoped, from the habits of industry and foresight, and from the more independent feelings which the possession of these funds and their management must generate, that a payment from the rates, of a sum equal to one third, or one quarter part of the amount of the subscriptions may suffice. In this case the proportion of numbers on the managing com mittee is also to vary and bear its due proportion to the sums respectively raised by subscription and by the poor rates. It is proposed that all persons above forty years of age shall be provided for on the present footing, and that with regard to them no alteration of the present system shall take place; but that all those persons now under forty, who do not subscribe to the National Benefit Society, if established, are to receive no re- lief under the Poor Laws beyond the provision given by the 43d of Elizabeth, on incapacity to labour. Several contiguous parishes may join, if they think fit, in one National Benefit Society. When so united by common consent, they are to firm a district '-'eo vergo- vernedby one committee. In the distribution of the fun•ts of the Society, no particular rules are meant to be dictated. Each committee is to be guided by their own discretion aceording to their view of local circum etnees, but that in case of diteute no general rules are t.) be established which have not bee ratified by the quarter sessions, who a-e, however, to be restrained fr these rules, having a power merely to tenti;nn or to quash. The eian itself has been pub lish me h more in detail; but the above particultuv may be se. i,:ient to give our readers a general notion of the amewhnents in the present system, which if they can be came-1 into effect, will no doubt lead to con side-:able benefit to the poor themselves, as well as testa effectually to lighten the present increasing, and alieady nearly intolerable burden of the poor rates. The Monument voted by Parliament to the memory of A aural Lord Collingwood, and ordered to be erected in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, is now completed. The inscription on the monument details the various ac tions in which the gallant Adniml engaged. Adelaide Contarel Chauviniere, an interesting female has been condemned to death by the Court of Assize at LIM, for having poisoned one of her nieces, a rich and beautiful young 41y. The culprit had appealed, but her sentence was confirmed, and she was execated on the 1:1th in the market-place of Ernee. There is no fmndation for the report mentioned in the Court news in all the papers, that the King of France less presented a splendid mansion, four miles from Paris, to the Duke of Orleans, on condition that he shod reside there, and that his Highness hail ac cepted it. The filet is, that the mansion alluded to is to he exchanged by the King of France fur the Duke of Orleans stables in Paris, which have been occupied by his Majesty's household for three sears, and for which the Duke of Orleans had not yet obtained any compen sation. It is equally unfounded, that any promise should have been requested from the Duke of (Means, or given by him, for his future residence either at that place or at any other. A coal-black young tiger is now on board the Java, Captain Hodges, recently arrived in the riNer from Ben gal. He is so ferocious in his manners that no one can approach his den without danger. He is confined in a strong iron cage, and is about 1;2 mouths old. It is sup posed the Captain intends him as a present to the Prince Regent. The Cap - ain has also brought two very beautiful buff:flees ; they word likewise very fierce when first taken on board, but during the voyage be came snore docile. I )1 MR. HUNrS RECEPTION AT BRIDPORT! BRIDPORT ELECTION, AlAncil 26.—1 n consequence of a vacancy having taken place in the repr, , sentation of this Borough, Charles Henry Sturt, Esq. son and heir of the late member, has been here sonic days, and has canvassed this town. He has received assurances of support from all ranks. To-day, we were not a little surpri::ed at the arrival of Mr. Hunt, at the Golden Lion-inn. This mock patriot applied to Messrs. Margrie and D azaloe, printers in this town, to get an address to the electors published; but, to their credit, neither would give currency to the inflammatory poison. He then made application at neighbouring printers, at Bea minster, where he met with the same contempt. In the course of the day, he harangued the populace, stating, that in consequence of the resignation of Sergeant Bed. he intended offering himself as a candidate ; that t&. morrow he would canvass the borough, and the next day he should be found on the hustings, and would there explain himself more filly. His addrAs was received with loud and universal groans and hisses : the multi tude vociferating, " N., Hunt, no Spatields." ALLOWANCE or COSTS TO Peoatarvritits.—lii a case of lar ceny, which %vas tried at the Staffoi :I Assizes, betine Justit • P.lrk, neon an application to the Court for the expenses el the prosecution, his Lordship refused ht allow them ; tov.igning as his reason. th it since thit prisoner was committed, two lie- Deral Quarter Sessions of the Peace had intervened, at ONO of which the prisoner might and ought to have been tried, that being a competent tribunal for such Off n ler , . His that lie li,:d refused to grant the costs in a r.vie at Worcester on the sane ground, and to that rule lie should always adhere. KENT, MARCH 22. James and George Pocock stool capitally indicted for having on the 'lath of July, at Bridge, In t his county, as saulted Z. Fry, put hint is fear, And taken foam his person several bank-notes, • silver watch, gold seal, age. amount *in value to 2091, his property. 'the prisoners in this case are past-liovs; and together wi ill a third man, stopped Mr. Fry on his raid from Dover to Canterbury, dragged him out of his gig, and rifled his pockets of the property stated in the indictment. Mr. Fry snore most positively to the per sons of the prisoners, who were taken up ut Woolwich on the 9th of August following; the eldest one, James, having opened an eating-house with his portion of the spoil. An at. tempt was made to prove an alibi on the part of both the prisoners, this was sucersful in the ease of George, who was acquitted, but James was found Guilty.—Death. The indictment against several persons for boarding the Hope luggage boat, near Erith, on the night of the Slst of October last, fastening down the Master and his brother, and stealing upwards of 3001 worth of tea and other articles, oc cupied six hours ou Friday. Giddons had before pleaded guilty, and on being admonished by the Judge that he would derive no mercy by such plea, he said that he would persist in it, as he would not chose to die with a lie in his mouth. Scott, his associate, was capitally convicted; unit Butcher and King, the two receivers, were found Guilty, and sen tenced to 14 years transportatiou. Giddous, it will be recollected, is the man who, to save his life, wi-hed to accuse and give evidence against two others, as being concerned in the murder 0f Lieut. J.dinsim. A great number of indictments were found against a fa mily named Coley, consisting of a father, mother, arid three sox .. fo r sheep stealing, and numerous other offences. One of the solo: w ,v; capitally convicted, another %las transported, and the thild is not yet in enstotly ; the father Was Innis ' ported for It years, and the motile' acquitted. At the late Thetford Assizes, one Laton, an officer in the ar iv. brought an action against a Her. Mr. Ileaueliamp, the yonagest son of a Norfolk Ha: 'net, for criminal conversa tion with plaintiff's wife. It appeared, from a letter of the pl I:atiii, that he wished to gel rid of his wife; :cud upon that ant o:ner eircetinstances, the Judge pot it to the Jury, whe ther he had not, by his OWII condnet, destroyed his right of action.—Verdict for the defendant. At Meath AssiLes, James Clarke, Patrick Clarke, Luke. Crake, and B..rtiard s'initegan, w..re coovietell of the numb. of W. Gosnum, !..er. ant to Robert S...liery. at Cleragle, and Or burglary and run hery to Sallery's house, All hat Filmier* were executed nn Thursday week. The younger Clarke (lir(' in execrating and cursing the Judge. the juirors, and the witness against hint. The exhortations of the reverend priest whn attended him had no effect on his hardened mind. lie shocked every person present w ilk horrible expressions ; par. titularly this—'' If my stall goes to hell, there, tli-,w4h burn ing in tire, I will curse every person concerned in bringiu: we to death." EXECUTION, OX Fon n.--On Monday morning last, William Archer was esecuted in front of Osford castle gaol, pursu ant to his sente•uce at the last assizes, for setting tire to two ricks at Great Itourtim, in this county, the iiroperty of Mrs. Ann Buckett, of that plate. From the day of his trial tip to the very morning when he terminated his life on the s^atfidd, he persisted is his innocence of the offence for which he woe to suffer; and charged his prose,mtors, and the witnesses who gave evidence against him, with having compiled to take away his life. On Sunday lie attended divine service. and in the afternoon a discourse was delivered by the Res. Mr. Bishop, which, with other exhortations from the same an I other clergymen, wrought upon Archer's mini a sense uf futurity; and although he haul obstinately persisted in a denial of his guilt, and had heaped upon Ins prosecutris the k.•u nest reproaches, lie at length, on the morn n. ut lii• e onion, acknowledged in the mu:•t mega Aided manner, gnat it was by him, and him Mime, the ricks were set en fire; alleging that he was prompted to the commission of the as t by a spirit of resentment which he had nufcrtunately 1 o long indulged against the family of the Backetts, in ee se quirliee of repeated trespasses they were in the habit of e ionnittinz on his grounds. In making this acknowledgment of his guilt, its• declared that Hay - cock (who was condemned with him, bid afterwards repri.tved) haul no share in it: he added, that he freely for,nve tit•: Bucket's, and ad wl appeared against him. Having ,lesited one of the attend:sits to make know n the confession of his guilt, and praying mast fervently to heaven for forgiveness, he was lannehed itau eternity; his last words being. " Lord receive my molt)•-- .lu imtneu‘e multitude of prtsi.at aheimfb:e4.l to witues,a ;his sad catastrophe.