The National Register. — London, England, 1811-11-17 00:00:00

CE FASHIONABLE WORLD. THE KING. On Sundaj the following Bulletin was shown at St. Times's Palace, to the inquirers after the state of the KING:— " WINDSOR CASTL•, Nov. 9. 44 His Majesty continues nearly in the same state." His Majesty's mental indisposition continues without any material alteration. His nights are frequently restless, and corporeal debility is the na- Aural consequence. We understand that an express was sent off early on Wednesday morning to the seat of Dr. John Willis, in Lincolnshire, requesting the attendance of that eminent professional Gentle man on his Majesty. His Royal Highness the Prince Regent held a Court at the Treasury, on Monday, which was at tended by most of the Cabinet Ministers. His Royal Highness gave audiences to the Lord Chan. cellor and Mr. Ryder, and then proceeded to hold a Privy Council, to which the Recorder of Lon don was admitted to• make his Report of the 18 convicts capitally convicted at the last September Sessions ; out of which one only was ordered for execution on Monday next, viz. John Bevan, far a burglary. The Prince Regent has been confined at Oat lands, in consequence of a hurt which happened at a party given there by the Duchess of York, on Wednesday evening, for the purpose of introducing the Princess Charlotte of 'Wales into company. In going down the dance, which his Royal Highness led off with his daughter, be struck his right foot against the leg of a chair, which giving it a twist, the consequence was a sprain of the ancle. Little inconvenience was produced by the accident till the next morning, when, Mr. Home was sent for, and his Royal Highness was so much recovered yester day, that he is expected at York House this after noon. The Duke of Sussex, we are concerned to state, has experienced another serious relapse of his asth matic disorder. A Messenger was dispatched late on Tuesday night, to Stamford, in Lincolnshire, express for Mr. Jour; WILLIS, to come immediately to Windsor. On Friday s'ennight an extraordinary circumstance took place in the lobby ut Covent Garden Theatre. One gentleman cal!, d to another, saying his pocket had been picked of his watch, chain and seals, and at the same time pointing to a man who had got them. The gentleman said to be robbed, challenged the man with having his watch, &c. which be acknowledged, very coolly returned it, and was suffered to escape. On the gt tale man returning home, be relate.l to his wife the narrow escape he had had of losing his watch. At this his wife appeared astonished, and said his watch was then hanging at the head of his bed. The gentleman was equally surprised at her account, and on taking out the watch from his fob he discovered it not to be his own, but very like it, as was also the chain and seals; SO that there is no doubt the gentleman who was actually robbed did nut discover it. The gentleman has .4clYertised fur the owner. The Elephant who. we understand, is engagPd to take a share in the serious characters at Covent-Garden Theatre, for the ne cessary relief of Mr. Kembk, has rehearsed twice and tremels the stoim in a dignified manner, that cannot fail to make a st,it able impression. He is not to receive a weekly salary like his brain.: performers, having been purcha•ed of his proprietor out • 11.. i out for soul. which, hcirv• ver Mr. Wilberforce, n his bound,ess ph.lanthropy, complains of as an act though in the pers.)r: of an Elephant, in the very teeth of his humane Statute Ayr the abolition of the Slave Trade ! THE NATIONAL REGISTER. '••••111=41*I:iF-•* COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE. A new Opera, from the pen of Mr. T. DiBDIN I was pro duced on Monday last, at this Theatre, called Up to Troths The plot was tedious and uninteresting, the songs poor, and the music uncommonly bad. Without something like tolerable music, it has not, for a considerable time back, been thought possible for pieces of this description to stand their ground at all. On this occasion, though four composers were engaged, the music was at once destitute of originality and variety. The dia logue was, in some parts, uncommonly good; but it was not distinguished by such merit as could make an audience tolerate the piece altogether. Under these circumstances it was most completely damned on the first night. Having the, briefly characterised this piece, as I have no dis position to pursue a disappointed author with any thing like exultation at his failure, and as the piece is not now to be per formed again, I think the Ices that is said on the subject the better. I must, however, at parting, have one word with the Managers—" Pray, Messrs. Heltßls and Kt mat x, after the piece had so completely failed, how could you have the impu dence to tell the town in your bills, that it was received with the highest approbation and applause ? Really, Gentlemen, after she experience you have had, you ought to k now better than still to endeavour to impose upon John Bull. Your con duct in giving Mr. DIDDIN'S piece the chance of a second night, might not deserve censure ; but why deliberately tell the public such an impudent lie (I like to speak plain), as you had the folly to publish on this occasion ? I do not envy you your feelings, if you have any, at that moment when you found your selves under the necessity of formally withdrawing it. Did not Mr. Ffiwcerr laugh when you directed him to announce this to the audience ?—And did you not feel yourselves rather awkwardly situated when compelled, out of deference to the Public, to withdraw a piece, which, according to you, that same Public had honoured with the highest approbation and applause " Oh, Shame ! where is thy blush !" G. PANHARMONICON. Of the many exhibitions of human ingenuity displayed in this country, the Panharmonicon, invented by Mr..l. Gurk, a native of Vienna, is certainly amongst the most remarkable. In this machine, after seven years of unremitting labour, the artist has succeeded in producing, a complete self-acting band of musical instruments—the whole of which are comprehended within a frame of about six feet in length, four feet in width, and about nine feet in height. The appearance of the machine is that of a canopy bed, with elegant blue silk furniture. The front view, presents to the spectator, a row of 31 oboes, and 20 German flutes, placed perpendicularly, as the pipes of an organ ; the ends resting on a frame raised somewhat less than two fort from the flour. At:hind these, is a considerable number of square pipes of wood, also placed, perpendicularly. Above these instruments are placed four French horns, the mouths directed towards the front of the machine—and on the same frame are fixed, 14 trum pets, in a perpendicular position. Behind these are a pair of kettle drums, with a trianre on the one side, and a pair of cymbals on the other. Above, is a double drum ; and in the front, behind the flutes and oboes, a regimental drum, in a perpendicular po sition. At the back of the machine, is a barrel, like that of a common organ, five feet in length, and nine inches in diameter, resting in a horizontal position on its axis, about two feet from the floor. Within the base of the machine is a pair of bellows, which supply the flutes, oboes, and other pipes. • Immediately beneath the trumpets and Frencb horns is a smaller pair of bel lows—comprehended within what appears merely a croft bar. The mechanism by which the machine is put in action, consists of three distinct parts. The first, actuates the flutes, oboes, p'pes, and drums—the second the trumpets, French horns, and ..ingle—and the third the cymbals. the several parts being wend up as a cit.ck, the pins upon the revolving barrel raise small brass levc.s, which communicate by cords with the dif ferent valves and stops of the various instruments. German Waltzes, and 1411 pieces by Mozart, Romberg, and Starke, are performed with great correctness ; but the watch relief" o t -.r r 731 'A 3IATIC REGISTER.