The National Register. — London, England, 1811-04-28 00:00:00

26q baste resion to hope it will be enlivened by a liberal subscription Thus circumstanced, authors naturally look out for a' Subject orn whom they troy pour as much abuse as is necessary to gain a reputation for being pointed, yet at the same time, one on whom 4ey can pour it with impunity. There exists perhaps no fraternity which has been more fro .. erently selected as a proper subject for such essays on account of the above considerations, then the society of beggars: Frotn the time of th : Spectators and Guardians to the present day, and with almost every. public writer from Addison, down to Hunt, the attacks ou mendicants have been frequent and violent. These theueli in some instances levelled at proper objects, I cannot but think have had a tendency upon the whole to injure re.. tiler tsan to improve society. I have often beheld with sorrow and surprise the perfect apttLy with which the many pass by the most distressing ob lect-; afflietion could present to catch the eye of pity. Not only have I known persons refuse them the slightest relief and treat them with scorn, but I have heard such conduct defended and even , praised as being that which ought to be universally adopted. I hare been informed that there was no necessity for any person appearing hi such a situation, and that almost all of the wretches in the streets were impostors. I have then been told of the vast sums of money they daily levy on the charitable, and then to wind up the whole I have been treated with a pathetic, account of the dreadful effects produced on pregnant women by such obiscts being allowed to go abroad. The eloquence of the anti mendicants on this last subject is really surprising. I have seen a y.rl)le company chilled with horror at the dismal stories told of the vast numbers of children born without arms and legs, (through such causes) who have wanted eyes, or come into the world without noses. These have been carried to such a pitch of extravagance, that I have almost expected to hear their mo thers were delivered at the same time of wooden legs and crutches to support the lame, or of little dogs to lead about the blind. Theo. histories like most others are greatly improved in the practsis of telling from one to another, at length they at tain psrfection, and that which was merely a " pity" at first, becomes " most tremendously horrible" in the end. From the circumstance of being exposed to the .danger, they spread as much consternation around as the affecting tales of cow pock disasters" which are so disinterestedly fabricated, and so in dustriously circulated in the neizhbourhood of the metropolis. Those. however, why► think it worth while to make anyen quiry into the truth of these statements have constantly the sa— tistliction of finding they have no foundation in fact. This hav ing been uniformly, the result of my enquiries, I now receive inch stories with just as much respect u I pay to Parson Col trm'shistery of" the Samnford Ghost," and think them as much entitled to credit as the solenut account of the Devil and Mr. Booty running a race up mount Stronibo/o. With respect to the. other reflections to Ow prejudice of street beggi.rs I have a few words to offer, Ido n.•,t believe they get vial large .urns from the public as many are disposed to ima gine. I ttn4k with Dr. Johnson "tie trade ii overstocked," an a that in consequence their p.oftts nutst be small. This circum stance is of itself, I should think, sufficient to prevent many im postors taking up the profession, though that some inipositions art practiced I can lot dly entertain a doubt. Tlvr Lrat:d charge yet remains to be noticed. It has been said a provision has been made tor thorn by the poor laws, and that therefore their soliciting alms in the street, is in effect calling upon us to contribute doubly to their support. To this I have to F that those who know the insolence of parish officers will not be snrprised at the reluctance of persons in distr, ss to seek pa rochial relief. Many koow not how to apply, and of those wbo do, there are some v‘ hoare too much shocked when bullied by tin bead!e to per....rere. It will he said that this rudeness is necessary on accoun: of the applic.tt ions made by the insolent and the dimulute it way be su s but still the consequence is that a THE NATIONAL REGISTER. greater number of real objects of compassion are forced to beg in the streets. We see wretches in the most deplorable state still anxious to live, though a man in health would have no hesitation in saying that to die were better. In like manner we see persons in the most miserable condition shrinking from the idea of going into a workhouse, though a person at ease would think the state of a parish pauper greatly to be preferred. There is a feeling in hu man nature which makes us cling to liberty as to life, under al most any circumstances. For this feeling, though common to all, ' we do not make proper allowances. I heard a pious christian (who is also a great reformer) very lately exclaim, with great warmth on seeing a beggar by the door of his pew--1." Is it not a shame that these vagabonds should be allowed to walk the streets as they do, and even to infest our churches."—" Oh ! yes," I replied, unable to suppress a sneer at his piety and patriotism, "it is indeed a shame that in a free country, cripples should be allowed to breathe the fresh air like men who have their limbs entire, and beggars be suffered to go to a place of worship as if they had souls to be saved like people who pay taxes." I am, &c. &c. DRAMATIC REGISTEI?. CO VENT-GARDEN. X. X. On Tuesday a new comedy was produced at this theatre un der the title of 66 The Gazette Extraordinary." The op;nions of the merits of this piece, as expressed by various writers in the daily papers, are so. much at variance with each other, that the public are quite in doubt whether they ought to like it or not—. whether they ought to welcome it with their applause, or to hunt it from the stage with their hisses. This indecision is, however, on visiting the theatre, dissipated in a way the most gratifying for the author, as those who will not acknowledge it to be good, cannot but admit it is not very offensive, and while they resolve to censure, think they have nevertheless a right to laugh and enjoy the performance, as well asthose happier mor tals who having no great pretensions to taste think themselves perfectly justified in calling that good which affords pleasure. Placed in this situation I have but the dismal alternative of taking one side of the question in opposition to those who main tain the other, or by attempting to steer between both excite the pity and derision of all parties. Under these circumstances the former evil may appear the lesser of the two, I believe I shall have the temerity to brave the latter. Regardless of what others have advanced, I shall presume to offer my own opinion, andthat, though hut the opinion of an humble individual, may perhaps he not wholly unacceptable to those who are dis posed to be impartial, as while it is not worked by friendship or by interest•on the one hand, it will be found uninflamed by hostility, or by disqpointinent oo the other. This comedy is said to be from the pen of Mr. Hor.mAN, and really there is a something in it which almost inclines me to give myself credit for sufficient dis;:ernment to have dis:.o vered it W as the production of an actor, if I had not received this is , formation. The characters and the situations alike tended to impress this idea on my mind, though, had I been informed it was f;om the pen of Mr. RE YNOLDi, o 1 that it was the pro duction of Mr. MORTON, I might have been very differently affected and plumed myself perhaps with equal justice on my sagacity in tracing the plagarisms it contains to some other cause than that of its being the work of an actor, The plot of 64 The Gerr.eite Earaordinary" boasts nothing remarkably striking, and (which is more unfortunate) nothing remarkably new. The outline has no extraordinary merit, hut the manner in which it is filled is entitled to considerable praise. Episodic characters are, however, awkwardly attached to it, which hang like disjointod limbs on the dramatic body, un thought ofwhen out of sight, complained of as offensively in the Way when seen. These may have their use in heightening'