The National Register. — London, England, 1815-12-17 00:00:00

DEC. 17. pendent on his late captive ; the virtuous, who were doomed to death, have it in their power to pass the same sentence on their oppressors : and all this is effected by such simple means, that while the change excit s astonish_ went, it does not seem greatly to outrun probability. Nothing could exceed the satisfaction of the audience at the winding up of the Play ; and it was announced for re petition amidst one general shout of" Bravo !" We undf rstind that the public are indebted to the Hon. Mr. Douglas Kinnaird for the revival of this long neglect ed play. I'he alterations he has made have great merit, and the general arrang ement is altogether satisfactory, li e has judiciously called in the assistance of music ; and the skill and science of Mr. Cooke are happily displayud in the selected pieces, and in the original compositions, whicis are here introduced. l'he powerful assistance of Mr. Lin ley has al‹) been called in ; and the opening glee and chorus, and the air— " In every woodland dale and bower," furnish specimens of harmony highly creditable to his taste and ability. ADDRESS, VrRITTEN By J. HORHOUSE, ESQ.-SPOKEN BY MR. POPE, PREVIOUS TO THE REPRESENTATION OF " THE MERCHANT OF BRUGES; OR, BEGGARS' BUTT." Whet e Macedonia's madman, foil'd, withdrew, Where Rome's triumpha , it eagles never Hew, Beyond the realms for ancient pride assign'd, In worlds Ambitioti ne .e, hop'd to find, Far to the settiog an l tho rising day, Britann:it's boan ss e 'vire spreads away; o'.! , either sphere her standards ?oat And Art aid Se:en .e.spriti4 oeneath their shade: And whet Tune rank our vitit.sh'd state. With all m ht . s7 names that once were great, Still shall the language live, and leave behind One trophy of the lords of human kind; Eac't conquer'd clime retain their yoke, and each Submit, for ever, to the master—Speech : Onr s tg..!s stiil, and still (ter poets reign In inathy ehquence and lofty strain ; S , iil to the farthest age, the latest hour, Your wide dominion last in Shakspeare's power. Ye; then, Nvh.)se breast the generous wish inspires ) To leave your sans the language of your sins, Leav,t uni apair'd the bright inheritance, The tini:th'd work of freedom and of sense, Think how this living organ of the age, Demand; 'your cue, demands your patronage; Your care, lest a ..!- , isurpar.:: p:ac'd By sister Fashion on the ihruiw of Taste, Of native eloquilice, the grace and force Corrupt, and poison at her purest source. Your patronage, since Wisdom's accent falls Lifeless, that echoes but to silent walls! in vain Thalia, at her idle helm, Rules undisputed in an empty realm, Whilst we, her servants, unrequited, share The thankless toil of duty and despair. 'Tis all too little, that your critic eye Discern our scenic monsters, and decry, Boys, hears, curs, cavalry, may meet your scorn, Yet one ;ping more remains—let MEN be bow. Let Punch and Pantomime be brush'd away, Agreed—on this condition—thar a play. Ah! let the Drama s voice, though long repress'd, Still find an echo in your patriot breast ; Here let that once-loved voice he heard, and here Awake the genuine smite, the genuine tear. Here Shakspeare, Jouson, Fletcher, yet be known, Here moving Massinger be still your own: Rowe's piercing passion, Otway's tender scene, gain be cherish'd, as they once have been. Nor sparkling dialogue, nor pleasing plot, With Congreve, Vanbrugh, Farquhar, here forgot; Nor Sheridan himself deplore the fate Of wit unfelt, and nature out of date. As yours the duty, then he yours the pride, To patronize the labours that yen guide: Your judgment only can protect our zeal, The PEOPLE are a Barron's last appeal. [THE EPILOGUE IN OUR NEXT.] COVENT-GARDEN. flf Tuesday night, a new piece in tire acts, called " Smiles and Tears ; or, the kVidow's Stratagem," was produced at this Theatre Lady Emilia, a young widow, has for her intimate friend Mrs Belmour, also a widow, and engaged in a law snit with Sir Henry Cholmondeley, in which she is likely to lose her whole fortune. Sir Henry has by chance •net Lady Emilia at a masquerade, where he has become ena .noured of her figure, wit, and vivacity, without haviiig seen her face ; and at length writes to her, soliciting an in•er.. view. Lulu Emilia, being herself astached to Colonel'. O'Donottglain. determines to introduce Mrs. Ileinmar to Sir Henrg, as La iy Emilia ; but aware that she will not receive him, she writes to Sir Henry, thut she will admit him under the assumemed name of Grenville; and prevails on Mrs nclmour to receive his visits in the name of ['arty 4 .;everal interviews take place between Sir IL and Mrs. B who conceive such a mutual attachment, that when the stratagem is diacov-red, each agrees to put an end to the law suit, by a matrimonial onion. Another stratagem is conceived also by Lady Emilia, to restore Fitzharding to reason, and his own daughter fo his affection, both of which had fallen sacrifices to the misconduct of Dclaval, ho had seduced Miss Eitcharding, and then deserted her. such is the outline of the plot of Smiles and Tears, which, we understand is the joint production of Mr. and Mrs. C. Kemble. The language and sentiments are good, and some of the scenes interesting. The concluding scene is au imitation from that of the Winter's Tale. Fitzharding ho believes his daughter dead, is shewn her picture which excites all his paternal affections. The living form rushes from the imaginary canvass into his arms, and the curtain dr bps. The author is evidently well acquainted with stage trick, but is deficient in the true dramatic art of delineating the passions naturally. however interesting on the stage, it never happened that the victim of seduction quitted her betrayer, and resigned her child to his care, to watch over the pbrenzies of an injured and enraged parent; nor is confirmed madness cured by a sudden impulse, as gout is said to be driven away by a fright, and ague by a plunge into cold water. The Irish Colonel is an overcharged cha racter, as dramatic Irishmen mostly are ; and we thought it in many parts much overdone by Mr. Jones. Lady Einifia, and Sir Henry, were well acted by Mr. and Mrs. Kembie ; the former of whom is the best representative of a finish ed gentleman on the stage, perhaps the very best since smith and John Palmer. Young was a good theatrical maniac, and Miss Foote a beautiful and interesting repre sentative of the heterogeneous compound of female frailty, virtuous sentiment, and filial piety. This comedy is said to be the joint production of Mr. and Mrs. C. Kemble. The Epilogue was spoken by Liston, in the character of Goosequill, a poet. The following is a specimen of the versification : " I'll buy Mrs. Goosequill a Frenchified bonnet, And wikik to Blackheath—but I wust not walk on it." THE NATIONAL REGISTER. . ,