The National Register. — London, England, 1808-10-09 00:00:00

an effectual stand : a general survey of a character, and 'mina ations thrown over every part of it, chews the accuser fearfol or unwilling to risk a closer examination, than which nothing can he a greater proof of its impotency and injustice. I should be sorry to be unjustly severe, but if I mistake not, few will consider the remarks of Onesimus worthy a second perusal, either from the truth of the criticism, or the propriety of their arrangements, and, except his few observations at the conclu sion, I think (as he observes in a former part concerning the gentleman he so unjustly asperses) his literary reputation will not be increased by this ingenious and liberal production. •* * I have just received, under the signature of Philo reri las, another Defence of the Rep. John Moore. This last worth, gentleman seems extremel% irritable and even vindictive : hi. re-entment has evidently superseded his ehristianity. " Cii%vard, dastardly coward," and I know not what besides. are the epi *het., n ith which this correspondent thinks it proper to honour me ! Before my remarks on his reverend friend appeared, I was, in his estimation, all that was commendahle t hut now—. I really compassionate Mr. Moore's situation, if he has no bet ter friends than Gerinanicns and Philo Yet-item: who, under th. pretence of vindicating his character, appear determined to do him the most serious injury. I hope, indeed, they will cease to provoke any further reflections from me. Oct. 8, 1808. THE THEATRES. DRURY LiNR. ONsirm vs. On Tuesday last Mrs. Orger, from Edinburgh, made her first appearance at Drury Lane, in the character of Lydia Languish. in The Rivals. This Lady possesses almost every regnisite for the stage, ease, grace, a pleasant voice, a handsome countenance, and an elegant figure. Having been accustomed to meet the applause of a Scotch audience, she thought too highly of the taste of a London ow to betray any symptom of fear. Her modest confidence enabled her to give due effect to her part, and was rewarded with deserved plaudits. The youthful sim plicity that marked her features, and her moderately whining accent, rendered her imitation of a girl, whose heart is warmed v.ith romantic love through the perusal of novels, more like an original than a copy. In the scene when her aunt and Sir Anthony Absolute are announced, and she bids her maid conceal the works she was reading, she was rather too tame, and gave her commands with an air of indifference, which proclaimed her heart was totally free from the apprehension she so weakly at tempted to express. Upon the whole she proved hers •If wor thy of the reception with which she met, and we have do doubt but study will improve her talents, and enable her to occupy :t distinguished station in the drama. Elliston, who, through some unaccountable whim, had till then acted the p:►rt of Faulkland, which nearly concealed his powers, at last assumed that of Captain Absolute, which, in his hands, suddenly emerged from the obscurity in which Barry more had plunged it, into the brilliancy of liveliness and wit. Mr. Henry Siddons, in Faulkland, delivered a few speeches with appropriate energy, but at nearly regular distance•, like a clock that strikes at certain periods only. Mrs. Sparks dis played no small degree of excellence. which, however. shrank into irsi4niticance at the mere recolleeion of Miss Pope in the same character• Dowton, as usual, oared above the sphere of criticism. TFIE NATIONAL REGISTER. OCT. 9. warm reception granted on Friday night to unworthiness by the crowds that filled the immensity of the King's theatre. Nonsense is a tree of stupendous magnitude ; planted in the rich soil of public patronage, it spreads its baneful shade over the whole domains of modern literature, and cheeks the growth of talent and genius that spring and wither at its foot. Its roots are nu merous, but lay near the surface of the ground; criticism now and then severs some of them from the trunk, hut their division serves only to strengthen those that remain, or cause new ones to sprout. The axe must be continually and unmercifully ap plied if we wish to effect its entire destruction. Whilst the au- Hence of one of our winter theatres is industriously bent upon the overthrow of this fatal tree, let not that of the other helot! -ttford it every prop that can secure it from falling. It i, not a orivate, it is a general benefit that will he obtained by its eradi ation. Let the public and periodical critics therefore join their efforts together; let union be their motto, impartial justice • heir weapon, uniyer,al advantage their aim, and success onn prove their reward. However severely we a nimadverted in our last parr, on Mr. Skelfington's Mysteriouv Ride, amt however deficient sse eon. tinue to deem it. in whatever on4ht to constitute a drama, we cannot refrain from thinking that he has been vet. much o rouged by the author of Fite Poret of HermenNtad. The poo: man who with only sixpence in his pocket is mined by a .ootpad, loses as much in proportion as the wealthy Cit 4•.•11 should have to deplore the rape ofa guinea; and the criminality of the deed is equal in both cases. Mr. Skeflinoon w row a bad drama in three acts, which was acted successfully three higo;s last .ea son, and damned the fourth tine it was performed, last week. Air. Dibdin copied the first act, word for word, and reduced the two others into one, with the only trilling change of introcincin , the Bulgarian Ambassador half an hour sooner than Air. Skef: fington had done. Is this fair? is this honourable? Not ouiy all the incidents were the same, not only the order in which they !tap petted was not changed, but the very language through. out the whole of the first act,and the greatest part of the second, had suffered scarcely any alteration, and w hen it had, it was much for the worse. To look for beauties iu Air. Sketfington's drama, would he vain, yet the jealousy of the innkeeper's nife gave rise to something like humour, which vanished awas in Mr. Dibdin's copy. The former gentlennas play sutUred greatly from the imbecility and want of memory of the actors, and Mr. Dibdin's was strongly supported, or rather saved, by the excellence of Liston. Mr. Skelington hits loudly complained that his piece has been damned through the influence of a party. We fondly hoped a n d believed its condemnation had sprung from justice alone, but are now almost inclined to give credit to his assertion. It is impossible that a melo drama evidently stolen from his own, and still less interesting, should have succeeded unless through the Influence of a party. the numbers of which were too considerable not to damn any play against w hie!' their animosity was bent. In order to hinder the public from perceiving the theft committed on the Mysterious Bride, it was necessary to crush it on the tir-t night of its regeneration, and before the Forest of Itermensfad made its appearance. This was performed, and we have thus a new proof that good flows front evil. This seletue has host. ever partly Skeflington is now raised in the estima tion of every sensible being as an injured matt, that noblest title to the commiseration of his fellow-creatures : and Mr. Dibdin has sunk his fame as an author, still lower, and not added to his reputation as a man of honour. The music was pretty, but not new ; it presented us with se veral old acquaintance, amongst which 0 Lady fair ! &c. May public justice overtake this piece at its second representation! r,5 ~ kr.vu's rifictrßH. On Friday night, a pretended new melo-drama, entitled, The Forest of Ilermenstad, or Princess and no Princess. was acted at this theatre. This literary theft proves that folly has many chainpiinis, hut that her stock of arms is nearly exhausted, since two of licit most distinguished soldiers are obliged to fight in turn with the same weapon. Scarcely had it dropped from Mr. Skc:lington's hand, than Mr. Dihdin slily picked it up, and then boldly alpailed sense, taste, and wit, with most unblushing im pudence. More fortunate than his robbed companion, unde served success crowned his cause, and loud plaudits, every one of which proclaimed its author an undescerning patron of non sense, rewarded his temerity. We congratulated the Drury Lane audience last week, on the judzinent they displayed iu emulemaing two miserable pieces to merited oblivion. We expressed our hope, cay our conviction, that such severity would burst the slumbers of true genius, and at length overpowerand annihilate ignorance and its silly brood. :5..2 are sorry to see our expectations nearly blasted by the FUNERAL OF PROFESSOR I'ORSON. On Monday last the remains of Professor Porson were removed from the house of the London lostitation in the OW .1 eivi , in order to bedeposited in Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge. The Directors of the institution ordered it to he shut for It day, and the Officers assisted in the solemnity. The proce ,, ion from London comisted of four mourning coaches, followed by six private carriages; and the persons who attended him o e his relatives and most intimate friends. At half after two o'clock on Tuesday afternoon the hearse arrived at Trinity College, Cambridge, and was received at the great gate, and conveyed to the Hall, where the body lay in state till five o'clock. The Lord Bishop of Bristol, Master of the College, the. Vice !Waster, Senior and Junior Fellows, Datchelors of Art!. Scholars, and other Members resident in the University, in their s F t