The National Register. — London, England, 1812-07-19 00:00:00

JULY 19 • LITERATURE. TO THE EDITOR. SlR—Since you have done my Latin Epigram " the Kisses," the honour of insertion, and some of your Sub scribers that of translation, I take the liberty to request the same favour for the following, which is a counterpart of the first EPIGRAM. Millia snipe lieet dederim tibi Basia, Clitoris I/num si reddas, plus erit ecce satis ; Idiraris quod vic repetam, pro minibus, unum ! Ba,iutu at Ulalpl a to initiinostra valet. Temple, July 13, 1812. 1 remain, Sir, &c, DRAMATIC REGISTER. cots N r GARDEN, This Theatre closed, on Wednesday night, for the season, with Ifamlet and Torn Thumb. Before the commencement of the latter, Mr. C. KEMBLE came forward and spoke an Address, which we cannot give without requesting the Ma nagers, if they did not intend sheer mockery, to tell us who are the " modCin dramatists," whose efforts they pretend to have so liberally• encouraged. In the whole course of a season, prolonged, to - the pre jndice of the Summer Theatres, much beyond the usual time, they have performed one new coniedv ! Thus far extends the encouragement they have gi%vn to " modern dramatists," unless they consider, as spe. ciineni of the regular drama, the Vir g in of the Sun, and all the hippo spectacles with which they h ave loaded their stage. 'Let them have due credit for what they have done, in the revival of SHAKSPEARE'S plays. In their choice of pieces, and the style in which they got them up, they deserve appro bation; but let them not covet the praise of encouraging young genius, for fear they should be laughed at by an en lightened public as impostors. The following is this remarkable Address : " LADIES AND GENTLENIFN, " I am desired by the Proprietors of this Theatre, to return you their. sincerest Thanks for the very liberal marks of your favour be stowed upon them during this Season. " They have endeavoured to merit such distinguished support, by producing on their Stage. the most admired works of the British sics, by encouraging tl►e efforts of the. modern Dramatists; anti to .combine with solid Instruction, mirth—and recreation, they have not refused the aid of Pantomime and Specatcle. ' • • " To please the various tastes of the British Audience has been, and ever will be, their highest ambition. " Some of the brightest o:maments of the Stage have lately retired horn this Theatre. Their loss must be always regretted, and the Pro prietors are aware that d►ligent at►ention can alone repair it. They, however,confideittly hope that you will find at Covent-garden, ❑ext Season, a company of Performers whose talents will mer►t the conti nuance of your indulgent pAronage, and they arc prepared to nicer _their newly-rebuilt sister Theatre with such a fair and open competi tion, as will ensure you an undiminished stock of theatrical entertain went. The Performers, Ladies and Gentlemen, beg leave to express their heartfelt gratitude for your long-experienced kindness, and they humbly take their leave till the 7th of September, the time fixed fur the re-opening this 'llleatre. Remarks on Miss Johnson in our next, BRIGHTON, JULY 15. On Tuesday evening, to an auditory passing thin, we witnessed the representation of the lively Comedy called, The Busy Body, and sel dom have we seen a perfininance on the whole more deserving of a favourable report. Mr. WRENCH, the acting Manager, was the Mar plot. His blunders, the natural consequences of an insatiable curio -511, ardent spirit, and a never dying desire to serve his friend, un aided either by courage or prudence, evinced the strong and versatile powers of the actor, and procured him the plaudits of all present. Sir Jealous Traffic was very ably sustained by Mr. BENNETT, and Sir Francis Gripe had a respectable representative in Mr. 0w EN. Hot: LAND acquikted hi:nself with spirit and good sense, as Cha:los, and • . • ,• - 445 POW ELL gave equal satisfaction as Sir George Airy. Mrs. FIRER ETIIM is an actress of very super;or talents—and she lost notl.ing of her well acquired theatrical reputation, in her dclineitii n of Miranda; and we do not wish to see lsabinda more interestingly personified than it was by Miss SIDNEY. This young Lady is a stranger in this part of the world—and, we hear, to the Stage altogether ; and if SO, certvinly holds forth the best promises of future excellence that can possibly be imagined ; particularly in the higher walks of Comedy. Her figure is symetral and lovely ; her action is tinconstrai•ied ; and the tones of her voice are peculiarly harmonious. Tu these advai t this young Lady adds a set of fraturei fascinating and replete with expression ; and front the just emphasis and good sense with which her words are invariably uttered, sho vs a mind that has been cultured and improved by education. II NE ARTS. BRITISH INSTIIUTION. Study from A T ature—J. RLCNAN.—The hurry of get ting up a newspaper is so great, that articles of interest, and which, in justice to merit, ought to appear, are fre quently overlooked or forgotten. We think it necessary to state this, to account for our having so long omitted to notice the performance now before us, which it was the more in cumbent on us to do, from the delight which we have fre quently derived fr,mi the versatility of Mr. KEENAN'S talents. The truth and energy which mark this artist's performances, extort admiration and command a;•splause; and whether we contemplate the delineation of age in the Picture before uF, or the charming infittnine group which appeared in the late Somerset House exhibition, we are equally struck with the powers of the artist, and the facility with which he follows nature through all her varieties. • The above interesting study is a portrait of an aged man, whole benignity of countenance fixes attention at the first glance.—On a closer inspection, mingled with benevolence, an air of wildness is discernible, which gives the whole com poition a strikingly sublime effect. The colouring is very rich, but managed throughout with admirable address. The original, we understand, is a benevolent recluse, who, after twelve years of solitude, came a long journey on foot to Windsor, in the persuasion that the Almighty had delegated to s him the power of restoring his afflicted Monarch to the prayers of his subjects: On his arrival at Windsor, he was at first treated with derision, but his subsequent deportment, though strange, was such as to grin him universal respect. The result of his errand it were u&eless to state. Under all the circumstances, however, it was well judged of Mr. KEENAN to present the public with a likeness of so extraor. dinary a character, and the ability, fidelity, and spirit with which he has executed his task, arc in no instance second to the original design. Mr, WEST'S PICTURE of " Christ hea the Sick In the Telvie:* The Subscriptions for the Print of this Picture, continue to be received at the British Gallery, where the Picture, and a Proof trapres.ion of the Etching of the 1:::1,4 - rdv ing, will be exhibited till Saturday next. 'Ytte price of the Pri.iti to Subscribers is Pi% e Guiiu' each: one !Witn be paid at the time of Subsci bing, and the re mainder ou the delivery of the Print.—N. B. Prioit. resit' og• to the conutry may transmit Al. per post, to Mr. Gre.i, the Keeper at the British Gallery, Pan-Mall. Loudon, for which a receipt will be immediately re.-tur::e,:. At length the grand desideratum of the. Laughing Philocopher, " The Spirit if Irish Wit," has made its appearance, under the power.. ful incantations of Tegg, Booloellei, No. 111, Chcap,ide ; who, in this Work, has shown his power of '' Calling Spirits front the vasty deep," Aye, aad they have " come" too ; and many a Boa Mot, tAilona stroke, and Devilish Good thing—the genuine effusions of Ilthcruian wit and humour, (in which none can excel the natives) are here res cued ifolll OblIV101), mid destined in these gloomy •imes, tat tu.kle tho risible muscles of John Bull, and " set the table in a roar." W.• ale informed that the Publisher has contrived to lwis r into his aid on this occasion, the talents and eccentricities of several men ut . genaine wit, humour, and jocularity ; and therefore the lovers of laughter way expect, in the pero,ul, a high seasoned boa bout/c. THE NATIONAL REGISTP,R.