The National Register. — London, England, 1818-11-02 00:00:00

WYV t TUE DRAMA. DRURY LANE THEATRE. A new actress naade 'her first appearance on Saturday alight, as Portia, in The Merchant of Venice. Mrs. I've (for such we understand the lady's name to be) possesses great exterior advantages, and is not without some of the intellectual ones which arc necessary to insure celebtity in the profession to which she belongs. Her figure is rather tall and well proportioned; her face is handsome, her action graceful, and her voice harmonious; but our readers will probably join with us in condemning the selection of the part assigned to ter upon this occasion, when we state that her success vas more complete in the lighter scenes than in those of a serious nature. It would surely not be difficult to select some character in which her playfulness could avail her more, and her want of energy be less apparent, than we can say that it was when brought to the im portant test of the trial scene. However, even under this disadvantage her reception was very favourable ; and the impression of her talents has excited an ex pectation in our mine~::, that at some future day, nod perhaps in some other walk of the Drama, her ambition of excellence will be realized. Mr. D. Fisher in Bas sani°, in some parts displayed considerable point and ti;drit, but there were others •in which he degenerated into flippancy, and the whole had an appearance of being too laboured and artificial. Of Mr. Kean's Shy inch it is unnecessary to speak; but we are happy at being enabled to say, that the house was numerously and respectably attended. COVENT-GARDEN. Miss Somerville appeared on Thursday night as the heroine of Lewis's tragedy of:Me/Oka ; or, the Fruits of a Single Error, a character well-conceived, though perhaps feeble in some of its details, astd affording, from the variety and complication of distress which it exhi ti!s, a severe teit of the powers of the performer by whom it is represented. To fail in all the situations of Addgilha, would imply the absence of all talent for the tragic drama: to succeed in all, require the perfec tion of that talent. Miss Somerville surprised us by a few passages executed with peculiar felicity ; but her general performance was an appeal to the eye, rather than to the ear or the understanding : a graceful actin, u variety of attitudes approaching to the pictures4ue and the beautiful, appear to he at her command; these qualities tell admirably to the distant parts of the house, and may even impress on the careless slictator the idea of greatness ; the delusion, however, vanishes on close examination. Miss Somerville, we fear, is deficient in feeling, and is perpetually losing sight of that essential quality, consciousness of character; her voice, too, by its deep solemn tones, and want of variety in its inflections, produces by continuance an effect on the car that is far from being agreeable or exciting, anti appears almost to refuse its ta to the expression of acute distress. On the whole, we rejoice in Miss So merville's accession to the strength of this theatre : the general perfection of the tragic drama will be increased, though its character as regards individual talent will not be exalted by that event; and youth ever leaves us much to hope wherever the improvement of art is in question, and where the understanding is likely to come gradually in aid of the natural powers. The character of Michael-Duras found a most able representative in Mr. Macready ; thPre are few perthrmers on the stag , . who produce so much effect without any apparent clot as this gentleman. Messrs. Young and C. Kemble, in Guiscard and bnhair, were as judicious and effective as usual. Mrs. Faucit played the part of hnma with much feeling; tied the whole tragedy was got up in a manner highly creditable to the theatre. Elliston is fitting up the Olympic Theatre, in New castle -street, in the Strand. We hear that, in ti - ,: internal decorations only, he is expending from 3 to 4,0001. Report mentions that he has already engaged Dowton, l'ope, Decamp, and other superior performers. —We sincerely wish his success may be equal to his A letter from Rochelle, tinted Oct. 17, states the lowing singular and melancholy occurrence :—A few days since some squeezed grapes, fresh from the wine } Tess, were thrown into a large tub, by an inhabitant of the commune of Marsai, without apprising his vin tagers that they should not tread on them. Unfortu 'lately, a youth of 18 years, and two children, went into the vessel. The forme: was killed instantly, by the mortal vapour. The two children, who remained near ti c edge, were taken out in a state of suffocation, from which they were restored. The body of the youth nu - mined in the midst of the mortal vapour, and no one dared approach it. At length a man went in holdiag a rope, but soon f►insed and lost his hold. He was taken out apparently lifeless, but soon restored. The body of the unhappy victim was dragged out with a grappling iron. Messrs. Baring and Co. are reported in the Brussels put era to have discounted their own collateral bond of 50,000,000 frs. to Prussia, at the rate of 5 per cent ; the latter power having expressed some uneasincss with regard to the security of their claim upon the French GOVelluntra. THE NATIONAL REGISTER., DRURY LANE THEATRE. In consequence of an intimation from Mr. Walker, chairman of the Committee of Creditors appointed on the 16th, a considerable number of creditors amembled in the saloon on Wednesday, soon after t!. Nlr.lValker was called to the chair. He reported that the Commit tee had not approved of the proposition made by the Sub-Committee on the 16th, but had in their turn proposed two successive sets of resolutions; the first, agreeing to receive a composition of 10s. provided the remainder of the debt should be paid by annual divi dends on the profits of the theatre : the second, agreeing to a composition of Ws. and a full acquittal on the part of all the creditors, excepting those who had been pabliely assured of full and ready payment last year.— Both sets of resolutions had been relitsed by the Sub- Committee; the Committee had, thereftre, only to say, that they had not. agreed to the terms of the Sub- Committee, and now surrendered their trust. A creditor now got up, and speaking with consider able warmth,, said, that it had been very well if the Sub-Committee had agreed to the resolutions proposed ; but since they had not, were the creditors to refuse 10s. in the pound? He should be very happy to have the whole of his debt, but if he could not have that, thank fully should he take a part. The gentlemen w.-re to advance this money out of their own pockets. Who would be such idiots as to refuse it ? He concluded by moving a resolution, that the meeting agree to the proposition made by the Sub-Committee on the 16th of October. Mr. Neale, a member of the late Committee, seconded this resolution. Many other creditors strongly supported it. On a show of hands, a few appeared against the resolution. The effect of this was much deprecated, and an actual divison took place, when it appeared that 411 the opponents of the resolution, except one, had withdrawn. The resolution was declared to have been carried in the affirmative, and the meeting dissolved. A General Meeting of the Proprietors took place in the Saloon on Tuesday, for the purpose of taking into consideration the appointment of the Sub-Committee, as agreed upon by the General Committee. The Earl of Yarmouth having been unanimously called to the Chair, Mr. Ware, as Secretary of the Thea tre, proceeded to read the advertisement by which the Meeting was convened. The Earl of Yarmouth then stated, that the question which he, as Chairman, had to put, was, whether the Meeting would agree to the nomination made by the General Committee ? It' any Gentleman objected to such nomination, the regular course was to call for a ballot, which, in that ease, must immediately take place. Mr. Robins said, that before they proceeded to the business of the day, he wished to put a question of same importance. He had seen in the Newspapers, that a proposition was made by the Sub-Committee to the Creditors, stating that they would subscribe to the amount of :3,5001. each, for the discharge of a part of the debt. He was desirous to know whether all the Members of the Sub-Committee had agreed to this, and whether they still remained of the same opinion? Mr. Ironmonger said, that the proposal orig inated with him, and was agreed to by all the Members. A Meeting of the Creditors was held in consequence, but the proposal was nut acceded to by them. At a subse quent Meeting, however, he believed *their objections were removed, and they were now willing to accept the offer. He was bound to state at the same time, that Mr. Wilson, who, as one of the Sub-Committee, was ready in the first instance to advance 3,5001. had, since the refusal of the creditors to accept their proposal changed his mind. Mr. Rubins observed, that the proposition, as he un derstood, wag made, upon condition that all the Credi tors should come into the terms, he was therefore slow to acknowledge the great merit of the Sub-Committee in making such a proposition, as they must be aware that it was almost impossible is could have been ac cepted. He could himself name some of the Creditors who could never be prevailed upon to give it their sanction. Sir T. Turton said, he felt disposed to move a vote of thanks to the Committee for their liberality, and if the creditors generally felt any regard fin their own in they felt any inclination to support one of the great national Theatres, and, considered on the score of humanity, tha number of families whose support de pzuded on its success, they would concur in this measure, which was the only one that afforded the slightest pros pect of keeping the theatre open. After some further conversation, the appointment of the Sub-Committee was confirmed by the meeting. The question for the Chairman leaving the Chair being put, Air. Robins, reverting to the subject of the reduced prices, maintained that the Proprietors ought to have been called together befiire it was determined on, and he believed Lord Yarmouth and Sir T. Turton would couvur in that opinion. The Earl of Yarmouth said, he had thought all along so trang a measure ought not to have been resolved ukea nithout ping to the Proprietors; but as to the n+~ measure itself. he thoaght, for many reesous not neces sary to be stated now, that it was the only one which could he of use to the Theatre in its presvot ern lition. Sir T. Turton declared his opinion of the ruinous tendency of an experiment, the tfr2ct of which vac to make Drury-lane Theatre play second fi Covent garden. They ought not to have speculated on the mo ney of persons who embarked in the concern on an im plied understanding that the prices should not be rt.:- duced. Mr. Robins complained of it as operating also against the interests of the Performers who took benefits. Mr Caleraft assigned as a reason for not taking the sense of the meeting on the appointment of the Sub- Committee, that tho►e Gentlemen had so involved the concern, as to prevent any one else from undertaking it, The meeting then broke up. It appears that family ilfietence. or Ari , tocrary, is carried to a length in the United States, fully propor tionate to that in England. In the state of New York only, no less than 40 places of profit, under the Go vernment, are enjoyed by the family of the Cliutons. Letters received yesterday, from Harrington, (Cum. berland) state, several riots had taken place on account of the export of potatoes from Cumberland ; two sloops loaded, and about to sail for Liverpool, had been attack ed by the populace, who, after taking possession, plun dered the vessels of the entire cargoes. His Royal Higness the Commander in Chief has appointed Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Paget, to the Government of Cowes Castle. The Duke of Wellington was expeoted at Paris on Wednesday or Thursday last. Letters received at Manchester from Rio Janeiro, of the 27th and 28th of August, speak in very encouraging terms of the state of the markets for all sorts of British manufactures, and repeat the course of exchange as highly favourable fur this country. They also give a flattering account of the treatment which British sub jects received in the Brazilian territory, and express confident hopes of extending our commerce in the in terior provinces of that fertile kingdom It is generally understood at Rio, that the Portuguese mean to take no part in the quarrel between Spain and hole Colonies, further than to secure their own territory from the violation or encroachment of either; and that the places now occupied by the Portuguese troops will be given up to whichever party may gain the ascendency, when the contest has terminated. The terms entered into for the conveyance of the Bri. fish troops from the continent, are 4s. 6d. per man, and 16s. per horse.. The contract was made with some of the London shipowners. A celebrated barrister of the present day, who is chiefly indebted for the affluence he now enjoys, to his professional success, has chosen for the motto to his car. riage—" Causes produce elects." On the 27th instant, a fine new brig, of 170 tons burden, named the Methusa, WWI launched fromone of the slips in Mr. White's building yard, at West Cowes; and on Tuesday next, at eleven o'clock, will be launched from Mr. White's other slip, a fine West India ship, of 340 tons burden, built for Thomas King, Esq. one of the elder Brethren of the Trinity House. An article from Frankfort, in the French papers, save, " Some idea may be formed of the wealth of the cele brated banking-house, Rothchild's, from the details of a marriage which has recently taken place in that family. - A younger brother has espoused Mademoiselle Hertz, of Hamburgh. On this occasion, twenty-five thousand florins were distributed to the poor of all rersuasioni. Each of the numerous clerks in that firm received a gratification of 100 ducats; three were also given to the most obscure servant. The new-married couple have purchased a house at 100,000 florins. It is ob served, that Mr. Rothschild has at present five banking establishments, viz. at Frankfimt, London, Amtterdam, Hamburgh, and Berlin. He intends to have a sixth at Pstersb a rgh." The secretary to a Confederacy of Journeymen ab sconded a few days since with the whole of the fundr, between five and six thousand pounds. He went away in a post-chaise and four for Gravesend, and there em barked for America. This A:Aral confidant wrote to his employers, stating that he would remit the interest on his arrival at Philadelphia ; as to the principal, they must wait flir that until it suited his convenience! We also learn, that he has taken with him, four journey men, all eminent in their respective branches of trade. At the last Leominster Qarter Sessions, a bill ne indictment was found agai• at a man tier a rninlemean nur, in selling his wife on the 18th ult. in the public market of that town for Qs. (id. It is with extreme re•z:ret we announce that the Lady of Sir Samuel 16.11' expired on Thursday.• night, at East Cowes Castle. the seat of John Islirb, Esq. She had borne a long and painful illuess with .eitem...• plan- patience and icsi;nation. Donnelly, the man who is supposed to have murd cr- • ed his wife and thrown her into the well of the Duke of York public house, Bromptun, was discharged from the 98th Regiment and entered into the 80th, a detach- • ment of which left Chathara, under the command of an officer about three weeks Niel.— Canterbury FA, •,. `-ese