The National Register. — London, England, 1817-03-10 00:00:00

lIARCR 141, • THE DRAMA. KING'S TIMATI2E. La Molinaro, an opera of Paesiello, was revived, after an intervel of 14 years, at this theatre on Saturday night. Such a revival does great credit to the taste of the, manager, who seems to be making the most stre nuous and the most judicious efforts to refine the taste fn. music among the upper classes of this country. He goes the right way to work by selecting the operas of Mozart and Paesiello, for their compositions are not only the most attractive, but their attractions address themselve.4 as much to the judgment as to the senses. Paesiello is full of: sweetness, full of delicacy. La linara is one of the most pleasing of his works : it is from begining to end a gentle undulation of sweet and ' delicate sounds. It was acted and, sung in a style that harmonized with the music. The charming facility of Madame Fodor's execution accorded with the character of the camposer. Like her author, she made no effort to surprise: but all was natural, simple, graceful. All the performers exerted themselves successfully. Among the company were the Duchess of York, the Duchess of Glocester, and the Grand Duke Nicholas. DRURY LANE. On Saturday night was produced at this Theatre a !lbw Tragedy, said to be the production of the rever end author of flertraus.—Mr. Kean, in the character of Don Manuel, an old man, whose son had been basely murdered at the instigation of Dc Zelos (Mr. Rae), did not in any respect disappoint the hopes and wishes of his friends. In this character he discovered those ex cellent traits and touches of nature which so eminently characterize all his acting. The piece was received with enthusiastic, raptures, and its announcement for Monday was attended, with a very few faint hisses, with loud and continued ap plause. The Prologue was spoken by Mr. Penley, and the Epilogue by Mrs. Mardyn, in a style of peculiar energy and correctness. Indeed, the latter was most loudly demanded to be repeated, which request could not, of course, be complied with. Manuel, like many other new plays, is somewhat too long. The scenery, particularly the second one in the first act, descriptive of a feast in Don Manuers house, are uncommonly grand and imposing.—The fol lowing is an outline of the fable. -Vann, son of Manuel Count Valdi (Mr Kean) having dis tinguished himself at the battle of Tolosa,and rescued Cordova from the Moors, is expected at Isis Caller's mansion ; where a festival k prepared. His page first arrives, hoping to find his master already there, who hail proceeded alone by a forest road: this excites alarm, and soon after his warsstead coming with Woody stains, nod his broken lance, raised dread fial surmises of his murder. The forest is searched in vain, and Manuel. mad with anguish, accuses De Zeta, (Mr. Hai.) his needy kinsman; who is next heir to him after Alonzo, though without proof. Manuel madly demands a trial; there he persists unsupported in the accusation, under the stroil•t• est conviction of les kinsman's guilt ; De &los at length clears himself Ity oath: but Manuel, unsatisfied by tit • formal deposition. dares him to swear upon the bier, on which a hand of Span;sli warriors arc carrying Monza 's armour to deposit on some s shrine. De Zelos hesitates, and his son Torrismon m,'. by a doubt of bis father's ianocetice, rushes in and prevents him from sealing the damning assevera tion:DeZelos alrearlydeinanded the coin nat.:slid the Spanish nobles, who supp•irt him, determined ta banish Manuel, it' its issue fails him. Torrismond, with difficulty convinced of his other's innocence, and therefore unmoved by the entreaties of Victoria (Miss Somerville) by whom he is beloved, appears in the lists as his father's champion. Manuel has no ennui- pion, bet an unknown warrior comes in his behalf, and is mor tally woitiole.l • *ere he is borne elf, he uncloses his vizor to De Zelos, aiiill•IICWR himself to be a Moor (Mr. P. Cooke). who hail mysteriously appeared in a Calmer scene. Ma nuel is then banished to an ancient castle of' his ancestry, and his daughter ,who tends him in his frantic state AV 4-oinpanic% him thither; also Ximena (Nil-s. Knight) who !itt been betrothed to Alonzo, and hopelessly pines for his loss, wanders, and meets Islamic' at Alonzo's cenotaph. In the same vault she finds the Moor expiring, who confesses that he had been hired to 1111 l riler Alonzo, and gives her a 'lag g-r, which he had received for the purpose, and the blade of which bears his employer's name, binding her by an oath to commit it undrawn to the hands of justice. This 'she dying delivers to Torrismond. D • %isles arrives at Manuel's castle, in search of his daughter, and Torrismood rushes in, glorying in his father's innocence. Mendizahet„ the Jostice (Mr. Hol land), desires hem to imsheath the Jaeger; he does so, and, discovering his father's name, stabs himself. De Ztlos sinks, f , p5 ,,,,,ed W ith ; and Nlannel, before frantic, dies madly glorying in the thought that De Zelda is childless as himself. Monday evening a Mr. Palmer Fisher, front the Ex eter Theatre, made his first appearance in the character of Young Rapid, in A Curefite the Heart Ache. This actor possesses a great share of vivacity and natural ta lent. Mr. Fisher was extremely well received, and highly applauded throughout. Munden, in Old Rapid, was altogether inimitable. We have seldom witnessed a more delightful treat of voc.tl and instrumental music than that which was af forded on Wednesday night at Drury-lane Theatre, by the numerous performers, under the direction of Sir George Stuart. The Selections were from the Season., of llavdn, and from Act,' and Galatea, to;;ether Leith Beethoven's Grand Battle Siqimia. Among the singers, Mrs. Salmon and fluster Bar attracted the principal notice, for the uncommon sweetness and taste with which they executed the airs allotted to them. The latter was encored in sonic of his songs. Mr. Nicholson pertenued a ouncerto on the flute with astonishing taste . : THE NATUINAL IIk:LUSTER. and execution ; and Miss Tremenn, from Bath, ap parently about nine years of age, was equally happy in her performance on the violin. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were present, and the House waf Allied in every part. COVENT GARIM:N THEATRC. Mr. Booth appeared on Saturdgynight, at this thea tre, in the part of Sir Giles Oeerrvetch, in the comedy of A. Nem Way to Pay Old Debts. The first remark that must have suggested itself to every spectator who had seen Kean in this character was the similitude be tween their respective efforts—a similitude which tinged the greater part of the performance, and which was still evidently the work of nature rather than the result of imitation. Mr. Booth's manner is somewhat more subdued; and his style chiefly diffeied from his rival's in having less pretension, and in exhibiting fewer of those sudden flashes of brilliancy for which he is dis tinguished from every other tragedian. We have not leisure at present to point out particular blemishes; they were, in fact more considerable in their number than striking from their magnitude, and we prefer for the present the more agreeable employment of select ing one or two of his more prominent exeelleneies. It was in the scene° where he prepares with such anxious solicitude, and such singular disregard of morality, his daughter for the courtship of Lord Love!, that his higher faculties began to manifest themselves. The stateliness of his pride, and the directness of his ambi tion, were pourtraved with splendid colouring; and his avowal, that all his toils were directed to the establish ment of his daughter's grandeur, whilst his conduct be trays an utter absence of every tender affection, was pronounced with a force and dignity which were best appreciated in the unanimous plaudits of the audience. We are desirous also of noting one merit of another kind—we mean the just and impressive delivery of such passages as are rather the flights of poetry than the exponents of ideas or feelings conducive to the action of the piece, and which depend entirely on gracefulness of gesture, and harmony of modulation. The latter scenes of the play have been -considered the cliff d'oeuvre of Mr. Kean ; and they were those in which the success of Mr. Booth likewise - deserves best to be recorded. The multitude of emotions by which he is alternately exalted to energy and oppressed to weak.. ness, were figured, not only in his wild and hurried action, but in the more powerful flexibilities of his countenance, The final defection of his spirits was followed by the universal acclamations of the house ; and we do not recollect an example of such significant testimonies of approbation offered on announcing a se cond appearance to a performer for his disehar t•-: of a character which a living predecessor had ahead;: made peculiarly his own. Foreign Papers reckon at this moment above 800 English families to be resident in the three cities of Florence, Leghorn, and Pisa. The number of young English who arc receiving theft education in various schools in Italy may be estimated at 1500. On Wednesday last the Governors and Friends of the City of London Lying-ind Hospital held their An nual Festival at the City of London Tavern,. when Sir JOHN PcnniNo, Hart. M P.. the President, took the Chair, in the absence of the Lord Mayor, the Patron, who sent a polite apology, on account of his indispo sition. The procession of several of the women lately deli vered in the Hospital, with their infants, one °libel's having twins, was introduced by Mrs. Widgen, the matron, and nn impressive Address from Mr. 1411311MORC, the Secretary, was pronounced, shewing the utility and benevolence of the In. stitution from the living testimonies then presented, and stating the laudable exertions of the matron, by which she had, during the past year, saved the lives of twenty-eight infants apparently still born. This very interesting circle had no sooner withdrawn than its grateful effect upon the company was instantaneous. The worthy Baronet in the Chair, and his active coadjutor Sir ChM! yrs FLOWER, as a Vice President, set the example by nominating several Life Governors, which was readily embraced by the Stewards and other Gentlemen. The Secretary explained the chief object of the meeting to he, to restore yOOOl. consols, part of the Hospital Fonds, lately sold to defray repairs and other necessary charges, and a l so t o c arry on the purposes of the Charity, in aid of its in. adequate income ; and in the course of hi* repeated Reports, introduced several recitals peculiar to some of the benefac tion., anti particularly to those °riot. N MILWInn, Esq. a Vice President, of articles useful to the house j oti l o omin g , as we ll as several hundred pounds in money. It was truly nritifying to hear the names not only of new sithscribeis, hut of mans of the old Governors continuing fresh taxi's of their liberal patronage; and a most respectable list of Iwtdve stewards r next year was completed tinrhig the afterm.on. Mr. J. and a party of his nunsical friends, happily inter mingled some very appropriate glees and ; and although for many years we have been accustomed to visit this festival, we do not remember any one to have beeu conducted and closed with mote general satisfaction. COUNTFIRFEIT SIMPENCES.On the head side in the word GEort the o is considerably too s m olt, and o p" t h e tit there are two dots as a colon: the n. in salmi': begins rather above the king's eye the head is badly exernted, the letters w w e opposite to the harp are omitted, as well as thew over the a in the word pENS , , the harp is vets clumsily dime, and contains six strings; th , re are also two cyphers in the orna mental work under the harp, which are placid ,s a , whereas these on t h e gond oamare these ail the bead side Is Use Most quick proof of detection. 4RT.c, THE BAZAAR, SOHO•SQUARE. We have great pleasure in stating that the Artists o" the metropolis at length begin to perceive the advan tages, gratuitously offered to them, of exhibiting their works of merit in the lofty and elegant rooms of the BAZAAR, SOllO SQUARE. Several exquisite and highly valuable productions ornament the new 'room lately opened. We have no room at present, for either des. cription or criticism. It is our intention, however, to resume the subject, and from time to time to notice the several pictures which constitute this truly useful an 4 novel exhibition, in which the laudable objects of in• genuity and industry—of Trade and Rational Amuse . - ment—are so admirably blended. Yesterday, at 3 o'clock, a Cabinet Council was heldt at the Foreign-office, which sat till about 5, and wail attended by all the Cabinet Ministers. Lord Sidmouth, however, only remained an hour, and went to his office to transact business. An Extra Gazelle is published every Thursday; filled with Loyal Addresses and Declarations front 'al( parts of the Kingdom. That published on Thuisdai contains, among many others, an Address - from the Es tablished Clergy of London and Westniinster, who de dare that " they cannot refrain from more particalthrli expressing their horror at the persevering endeavour th. poison the sources of virtuous sentiment, by means of blasphemous publications, adapted to the capacities o r the ignorant, for the purpose of bringing contempt ott Religion, and thus preparing the way for the commie • sion of the worst of crimes." As a proof of the very weak basis on which our im-. • mense and valuable trade to South America rests, from . the want of a proper understanding between our Go. ! vernment and that of Spain, it may be of consequence to mention what lately ;lapperted to the Captain of the British sloop of w.A. Tay. This vessel was bound • from Paaarna to Jamaica with a large quantity of specie- • on board, shipped is return for good , sent there. Ott her passage she was stranded on an uninhabited island in the Gulph of Mexico, but the crew and money saved. A Spanish corvette hearing of the event, Went to the, island and demand,al the do lays, they were smuggksl, it being unlawful for coin to be shipped in Spanish !anti. The British Captain r: fused to give up the property confided to his charge, but the haughty am, availing himself of the bet eft and defenceless state of a crew on a desert island, and just escaped from watery grave, Fei ea the whole property and carried it away to the Ilavannah, with the excepti( n of a small sum claimed by a Skaniard who had come passenger in the Tay. It is now understood, that the persons committed on' charges of high treason will not be brought to trial till early in May. This delay is attributed to the period which will elapse before the conclusion of the Circuit, and the circumstance of the 01(1 Bailey Sessions occur ing immediately afterwanls. The trials will take place at the Old Bailey Sessions-house. It appears, from thc Dublin pagers, that the disturb.. antes in Ireland, oce.asionel by the scarcity and high' price of corn and potatoes, are extending in every dim.. e tion. At Ballina, on Tuelay se'nnight, the populace riotously endeavoured to prevent a supply of oatmeal from being sent to Sligo. They were opposed by a magistrate, aided by the staff of the North 'Mayo, and a small Beta; hment of the 68th. After a smart contest, in which the military fired several shots, and were, in their turn, severally a-slilcd by stones, the rioters werc subduel, but, unhappily, tr)t without bloodshed, 3 of them having been killed, and from 15 to '2O wounded, in the affair. The bill for more ef t %tally proven ting seditious meet. ings and assemblies has received the fillowing- additions in the coninittee: The number of persons nut to wet together on poitical grievances, without notice beino r . o;,riven by seven housekeepers in the newspapers, Re. is fixed atl!fiy and upwards. No meeting, held in virtue of such previous notice, to be adjourned to any future day. The act not to extend to Freemasons' lodges ; nor to a declaration approved by 2 magistra:est • nor to any nizetiog or soeiety of the people commonly ale.' Quakers ; nor to any meeting or s:wiety assemblod for purposes of a religious or elmritable non e . All fines, penal,ics, or for:eitur, execAilig 201. in curred under the aft. may b.: re.vvered by action o f debt within three months after bring incur.-ed. N., • person to be prosecutc.l oiler this tut tin- Ita yiag :men, 62!bro the passia , of this it.l, a member of any sat i.!ty or club declared to be an unlawtin egnnMnation and • confekracy, if sach person shall not in any tn.unter, have) • acted as a nizinb,'r of such society or clubatler the itassiii 4 of the act. No person to be proicined by virtue of this act fur any thing done or mune contrary to its pm. visions, unless such prosecution ..tall be commenced within mix calendar months atter tilt offence.