The National Register. — London, England, 1818-09-13 00:00:00

SEPT. 13 THE DRAMA. COVENT•GAt2DEN. This Theatre opened for the season on Monday night, with the play of Macbeth, and the nfterpiece of Thc Miller and his Mem. The only novelty of the evening was Mrs. Yates, a lady from the Dublin Theatre, who made her first appearance before a London audience in the arduous character of Ludy Macbeth. • This lady ressesses a good 'figure and expressive countenance, and her conception of the character and reading of the text, were good. • She throughout. however, discovered a want of enerey, or a failing of power of voice to fill •the extensive edifice, in which she, far the first time, appeared onehis occasion. She failed to itupart to the character'that boldness and decision which should mark oad distinguish the character of the ambitious wife of the tyrant. When Mrs. Yates shall have acquired More emfidence in her own powers, she may, perhaps, do mare atnple justice to the character. The audience were most liberal; and although there was nothing in her performance to illicit enthusiastic applause, she was well received throughout. Mr. Young played Macbeth, •ani was, on his appearance, received with an enthu siestic round of approbation, which did not subside for several minutes. Mr. Charles Kemble played _Wacky; sand was greeted on his appear ace as an old favoueite, .and as his merits deserve. The rest of the performers .were also well received. Previous to the commence ment of the piny the house was well filled ; and on the rising of the curtain the whole vocal corps or the theatre, smallest whom we observed Mr. Dstruset Mr. Taylor, • Mr. 'Pinney, Mrs. Bishop, Mrs. Liston, Miee Math'ews, Mrs. Sterling, &c, were discover:a ranged on the stage, and the national anthem of "-Gtxl 'eve the King" was eang, and received with the loudest applause. At the hnlf-priee the house was crowded to excess, and the first night of the season promised to the •proprietorset most successful harvest. O Wednesley the mesieel play of Gay Mannering was pertitruted at this theatre, with some features of novcky in the cast of its characters r . uot to be passed user without notice The meet conspicuous of these was the appearance of Met Yatee, in the part of Meg Nerr lies. The sudden desceat feom the sublime:a heights of-tragedy, from the representation of a high sauled being like Lady Macbeth, to a character so far removed in its nature and conception, is a dangerous • experiment tore peethrmer to snake who eaters on a theatrical career olio a strong notion of dignity • there is something, however, so jacions in diht.•‘:overing the ,true suhcre ia which abilities may be exerted to effect, anti so much magnanimity in at onLe subsiding to that level which the public voice appears to•point Cut as the .true one, that a new claim is set up by such a pro ceeding to our admiration and esteem. Mrs. Yates, perceiving that the high school of tragedy is not her forte, is therefore content to please by humbler efforts. Her Meg Merrilles is a fine performance; and though in a dillircnt style front that of Mrs. Egerton, the only representative of that character in London, and from whom tae town have formed their notions of the mys terious gipsey, is full of excellent and well-discrimi nated passages. The energy raid passion, with.. the occasional burst of tenderness, were the touches of this singular portrait where • the colouring was truest to mature ; while the solemnity of mustier, and the awe she is supposed to strike into the teholderi, were in a great measure forgotten, or by not being marked with -sufficient strength, failed to justify the effect produced, and to rive the due reality to the scene. Mrs. Yates will always rat:: a; a useful and judicious actress, and her style must command . the attention, and occasion ally the admiratim of the public. - The part.of Henry Bar:runt, was assigusd to Mr. Pync, being his first appearance is that character. ; his gentleman's talents as a vocal performer are by no means of the first class; his voice is tolerable, and his execution is passable, but in cll the higher requisites cf taste, style, and expres sion, he is far from being qualified to sosti.ia a le:.ding part in our national operas. Our English school of singing is already sufficiently low in the estimation of hampers; but the introduction of Mr. Tyne in so prominent a situation is likely to depress-it still lower. Miss Mathews appeared in thu part oi . Lucy Berfren, wad succeeded better thou v. , e expects:: ; simple airs, lowever. sere not the style• of singing in which tins lady most excels, ead• her expression is very in ferior to her.eseention. Miss Foote played Julia Man nerly in a manner not unplcasing. Liston- was as atuusing as ever ; and Emery was nature itself. The • house was well filled. Sheritian'a master piece, The School for Scandal, was pertintmed on Thursday night. A Mr. Farren, from the Dublin Theatre, merle his debut befOra a Lon don auttience in the -Hl:tructcr of Sir Peter Teazle He is a young man, posses-vs a good figure, an animated • countenance, an easy depor•otent, a voice so remarkably distinct and p4,weretil as to tit! this large Theatre with out the Least nimearance of ditficaley or effort ; and, ad ded to all this, he has a perfect acquaintance with the stage. He so:laincd the character .with'an excellence not witnessed .ince the dies of King the original Sir l'eler.—lttu ploy was altogether most admirably per 'formed, and WA: trt:uottah.;cl far repetition uu Wednesday. Ttir. NATTONAT., Pr:MATER. CHESHIRE ASSIZES, Aug. sl. RIOTS AT STOt KPORT. Jacob Hinebe for having, on the 14th July, and on divers other days, at Stockport, un lawfully, &c. endeavoured to 'raise and create insurrec tions, riots, and tumults, for disturbing the King's peace, &c. and fur having unlawfully, wickedly, and maliciously incited divers inhabitants of Stockport and neighbourhood, unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously to assemble, to disturb the peace, &c. The second count charged the defendant with unlawfully, mali ciously, Bse. intending again to disturb the peace, &c. and to cause other insurrections, &c. Two other counts charged the offence in differeat ways. he Attorney Galena addressed.the Jury on behalf of the prosecution. Mr. Cross, and Mr. Williams, were for the prisoners. After the evidence had been gofte through to prove the case, the substance of which is given in the Judges charges, The Chief Justice, in an able and impartial manner, summed ,up the whole to the Jnry, saying, among other thiogs,—" You find this lawless mob, proceeding to break into a house, where some unprotected females had fled for succour and shelter. God knows, Geotle:nen, what might have been the result bud they succeeded in their attempte ; the defenceless inmates w re shriek ing and calling fir assistaece,whilst the men who were in the house were wpm. their knees, imploring the protection of Heaven !--Tho object of• the mob is clearly defined : it was to compel hlr. Gartside to-dis charge. his Sjzvaats, and intimidate tit on fetal working. Gentlemen, it is impassible to look withoin apprehen sion at the coneequ ences Welt may resultfroln these con spiracies, if they he not speedily stopped. An shinning riot has taken place, which might ,have terminated in fetal consequences ifsthe aid of the military hail not beca called in. Stones are brought from a distance by boys, for the mete; to assist in the work of mischief ; there is an union =west the wletle of • the matetfac tunes which is preserved by. ail.' The Jure immediately &il the Priemer—Guilty. Joseph baker was also fund guilty of havi 1g com mitted fhe same offhace, bat to a mach less degree of Thee Chief Justice, in passing sentence, addressed the pritemers, und observed, " there never was a case of greater aggravation before a Court. Scarcely a year has elapsed, when parsons in your situation, experienc ing distress from causes that were unavoidable, and could not be controlled, received the prompt assistance of the wealthy portion of the community ; and now, when prosperity again begins to shine on the munuftte. tures of the country, you avail yoursolf of its re-appear ance to extort from your masters such wages as are not required by present. circumstances It appears from the testimony of Mr. Gartside, that .even girls can earn from twelve to fifteen shillinp per week—boys a so as much, and men twenty-seven shillings per week. It cannot be doubted, but what there is ample work for all those inclined to honest industry ; so that a man who has two or three children, may average a weekly stun, far superior to what many families enjey placed: in very different cirumstances in Ife, and infinitely above that remuneration which is given to those who hazard their lives in the defence of their conntry.• The breaking into a dwelling house, with 4ntent to commit an injury therein, is a capital ollerice, and this fact has been proved to you. You, -I sin sorry to ohservee have also proved, that an Englishman could be foend base enough to threaten the seihty of a woman ; for, at the moment when the women :mere rescued frutu their deegtsr, they were praying tolleaven for protection fivin your designs. Taking,. therciiee, all the cireutn stances of your case into ceaeideration, the Court tel. judge, that you be imprisoned nn the Common Gaol for the Term of Three Years, and pay a Fine of One Shilling. This sentence-is 'mercy to you;. for within its walls you will have time to reflect and repent. on your past depravity. " With respect to you, Joseph Biker, there are fea. tures in vour case not so aggravated as ire that of the other vriemer ; but it may, perhaps, be a seasonable caution to you, and . to others, - to know,-that in the riot which disgraced the city of London in 1780, many perems suffered the decadful sentence of the law, against whom no other facts appearedi than that they wore the cockade of the mob, or were heard shouting. If, therefore, in the riots in which you have been engaged, a capital offence had been conimittedon any of the days specified, your life would now have been forfeited to the offended laws ofyour country. The Court, dtatinguish: ing between your case and that of the prisoner Hinch chile, sentence ycu to imprisonment in the Common Gaol fbr the space of Ono Yeare and that may also pay fine of one shilling." On the sentence being passed, Hine - hell& appeared deeply atfectel, and shed abundance of tears. The Lord Biehop •of Chester, and the Viscount Belgrave, were in Court tiering these imports ut )uctit. The number of foreigners who had arrived at Aix la-Chapelle, up to the 27th August, was 1,918. The garrison of the town is to coasiat, during the Cungres-, of about I,OGO men. I . IIE KING'S HcALTH.—On Sunday the following Bulletin was exhibited at St. James's Palace: Windsor Castle. Sept. S. " Majesty has bxn exceedingly quiet and comfortable through the lam month, but without any alteration in the state of Ws Ma jeaty's health." (Signed as usual.) ANECDOTE OF CURRAN:" When Curren was call. ietl to the bar he was without friends, without mimeo. t ions, without fortune, conscious of talents far above the mob by which he was elbowed, end cursed wits sensibility which rendered him painfully alive to the aturtitications he was fate,' to experience. Those who hive risen to professional eminence, and recollect the impediments of such s commencement—the neglect abroad—the . power y perhaps at home—the frowns of rivalry—the fear➢ of kiendship—the sneer at the first essay—the prophecy that it will be the lust—iliscou. ri.gements as to the present—forebodings' as to the fu.- tareSD:ll3 who ere established endeavouring to crush the chance of competition, an!! some who have Etilel anxious fir the wretched consolation of companionship —those who recollect the comforts of such an appren. ticeship may duly appreciate poor Carran's situation. After toiling for a very inadequate recompense at the seinen, of Cork, and wearing, as he said himself, his With almost to their stumps, he proceeded to the ma. tro ?tills, taking for his wile anti youth• children, a mi.. ser Able lodging upon Hug Hill. Term after Term, without either profit or pratiissional repotation; he paced the hall of the Four Courts. Yet even thus he was not altoge her undistinguished. If his p - icket was not heavy, his heart was light ; he was pen t ; and ardent. buoyed up not less by the consciousness of what ite felt within, than by the encoureging'conip triian with those who were successful anion I him, and he took his ste. Lion among the crowl of idleits, whim) he anntsA with his wit or Lonnzed by his el:locum Many even who had emerged fro:n that crowd sliA not disltin occasion— ally to glean from his amscersation the rich and yariod treasures not fail to squatitler with the. most unsparing prodigality ; and smile there were whi, ilaservccl th brightncs of ilia infant luminary struz. .gling through the obAcurity eita_cloutk.l_ its c:nninence- Amongst t:u►? had the di%eliniination to appraette, and tlra heart to feel fir hitu, luckily fJr Curran, w.s Mr. Arthur Wolfe, afierward% the unfor. tilawe bat reap .too Lord Kilward:n. The first fee °fluty consequence which he rczei%ed was through Ms recommendation ; and his recital of the in;:ident cannot be without its interest to the young. 'wares innal aspic. ant whom a temporary neglect way have sink int* deivetiaa. I then lived,' said he, 'Ton Ilag.Hill ; my wife and children were the chid' furniture of my apartments ; and as to my rent, it stood pretty much t the same chance of its liquidation with the national debt. Mrs. Curran, however, was a barrister's lady, and what was wante:l in wealth she was well determined should be supplied by dignity. The land! may, nn the other hand, had no idea of any gradation except that of pounds, !, and pence. I walked out one morning to avoid the perpetual 'altercations on the sub ject, with my mini, you may imagine. ia no very •enviable temperament I fell into the Oman to whic!, from my infancy I had been occasionally snlect. had a family for -whom I had no dinner, and a land lady for whom I had no •rent. I had gene abroad in despondence-4 returned home almost in desperation. When i Opened the door of •my study, where Lavater ahme could have found a library, the first object whic/It presented itself was an immense folio brief, twenty golden guineas wrapped up beside it, and the name of Old Rob Lyons marked upon the back or it. I paid my landlady—bought • a good- dinner—gave Bob Lyons a share of it ; and that dinner was the date of my pros. r ritvl' • Ruch - was his own exact account ofhis profes sional advancement. Life of Carron. CLERILENWEI.I. ..SESSIONS.-Mr. limit Intended t1;..t.. Seasiona-hcntrg, at Clerlenwell, on Friday, in order to try Mr. Dowling's indictment ; hut the practice of the Court being, that if a bill is tbund, it cannot be tried at the same Sessions, he pleaded, traversed, and entered it first on ti to be tried the first day of next Ses sions, which begins the.26th -thy of Dauber.- By a recent arrival'at Portsmouth from the river Plate, we learn that his Majesty's ship Blossom, Capt. Hickey, and his Majesty's ship Andromache, Captain Shirriff, arrived at Valparaiso early in May; The Cumberland,. mounting► 50 guns, and 4h3 men,. had also arrived ut the above port for the Patriot service. The following euriatts specimen of logical deduction ' misquoted by Mr. Poole, a Magistrate of Kent, at a Maidstone meeting last week Mr. Mason boasted that he lived in the best house in the world, and he proved the fact thus:—he lived in England, whic4 was the best country in the world ; Kent was the bes t county in England ; Maidstone wad the best town in Knit; Stone-street. was the beat•street in Maidstone ; • and his house was the hest house in Stone-street. A Theatrical Fund, fur the support and relief of al and infirm Actors and Actresses, is about -tube esta blished at Liverpool, upon a plan nearly similar to those of Drory Lane and Covent Garden I hcatres. The whole of the old cast front of the Thoatre • is now taking down, and is to b.! re-erected, to corms with au: other pazt of the building.