The National Register. — London, England, 1815-09-17 00:00:00

bot DRAMATIC ItEGl`init. OPENING OF COVENT GARDEN THEATRD. This magnificent temple of the Muses opened its doors to the public on Monday last. Here, as at the sister theatre, the intended advance on the Pit has been relinquished, and harmony thus restored between the Managers and the town, • the representatives of the latter were left at full liberty to give themselves up to that admiration which the iinprove relents tee , ntly made are so well calculated to inspire. The etertions made to adorn the interior of the house, and the vast change Made in its appearance within the few weeks ssvhich have elapsed since the late season closed, it is im possible to contemplate hut with the m ost a g reeable surprise. it almost seems as if the slaves of Aladdia's Lamp had been Set to wak. Accustomed to those delays which arc so pro eserblatly common in cases where great buildings are to be improved, we can hardly recognise the labours of mere work- Men, in decorations so expeditiously supplied, and so well ticecuted The Theatre it, again regenerate ,l , and for the third time in the short space of six years, it presents us with Rh the freshness and I,eauty of a new erection. The national moments with which the fronts of the boxes were adorned in 18 s have been burnished anew the pannels new paieted, and to make the coup dccil complete, a splendid new eu:esen presen s itself on the stage " designed," as it is texpsi eed in the bills (and admirably executed), to harmonise with the whole." The curtain had a much richereappeareice, than that tebich supplanted the venerable green one, last year. The' great beauty of the one which is now introduced, dimi nishes considerably the regret which we formerly felt fur the loss of that to which we had been heCtiStOthed so long, that tee could hardly recognise it as one of those things ithich ought to be liable to give place to novelty. It re presents a superb crimson curtain b ordered with gold, par tially drawn up, to reveal the massy columns over which it is suseended. The boldness of these give great effect to the representation of distance in the back ground. In the tentre a temple (of Concord, we presume) commands by Its beauty the attention of the spectator ; and to the left of the audience a triumphant pillar guides the eye to the mo del of another of those noble structures, which formed the pride of ancient days. In thus hastily enumerating some Of the objects which it presents, we only attempt to give an idea, of the general design which is so felicitously executed, that while we do not feel satisfied in dismissing it so briefly, tve fear a trtorc laboured description would do it greater in justice, as to comprehend its merits, it is necessary to see it in its place. 'rho external part of the theatre, by the grand entrencei the stairs leading to the Shakespeare room, and the Shakes peare room itself, are brilliantly illuminated with gas, ele gantly disposed in a variety of forms. The circles and branches of Ileme which ate interspersed with lamps of thin •hi dinary construction, thoueb sOpplied from the same Source, shed a rich flood of tremulous light on the avenues bf the Theatre, which well prepare the visitors for the splendour Nvllich waits for them within. O,tTuesday night, Mr. C. Kemble, who had been three years absent flees) the metr o p olitan stage, re-appeared in k higher rank than he occupied at the time of his depar ture. To assume the character of llacbcilt was an under• taking which his success alone has justified. Ile surpassed the; hopes winch the public had foim el ; as they were not TTIP, NATIONAL REGISTER.. SEPT. If, very sanguine, and in:rived that the first range of tragedy was not closed to his abilities any were than the highest walks of Thalia. On Friday the comedy of The Belle's Stratagem was represented, to introduce a Mrs. Dobbs in the part of Le titia ildrdt, , , who displayed more ease and grace than vi vacity. perfortnance, though perhaps not sufficiently spirited, was nevertheless pleasing. On account of Mr. C. Kemble's illness, Mr. Ellistort was, for the night, the re• presentative of Doricourt—a character in which no one has ever Welled Irim, and which he played with even more than his Wonted skill. His reception was clithu,i astir ; universal plaudits attended him throughout, and crowned the close of his performance , The same night another translation of The Magpie, or the Maid, was pro duced at this theatre, with scarcely any alteration from that which Is played at Dritry4ane. The same success marked the representation of this interesting piece as on , the rival theatres. iNCEUM THEATRE. The Season of the English Opera at the Lyceum closed Friday night. The following Address was delivered by Mr. Raymond LADIES AND OIENTLEMEt,—Seyen years have elapsed since the Proprietor of the English Opera, under the immediate sanction of his Majesty, first solicited your patronage to his intent undertaking. Macy were then of opinion, that his attempt to estiblish a Theatre for Musical Performances would cud in disappointment ; but expei Hence has proved, that' exertions to merit the favour of the Public are sure of their reward, and that he who labours diligently in your service is certain to reap the gratifying harvest of your approbation. So highly, Ladies and Gentlemen, sloes the Proprietor of this Theatre estimate the encouragement you have bestowed, that, as • next step towards raising the character of the English Opera, and establishing the undertaking on a solid basis, he means to embark Dri a Mehl wirier field ; and such arrangements have been made, as, be trusts, will enable hint, at an early iterlod of next Summer, to crei't the -Petrone of the present Lyceum, in an entirely new, airy, pnd commodious Theatre. lie will not promise yon much splendor, Ladies and Gentlemen, but he promises you the best talent which indefatigable research can procure. It has ever been his pride to brine, forward Merit to your notice, and it will ever be his boast that many of your established favaerites on the larger stage, have been reared in your favour beneath this humble roof. In the New Building, Ladies and Gentlemen, every thing 'will • be attentively studied which can contribute to your easy accoanno i dation ; but above all, to your perfect safety. The avenues m.d lobbies will be spa,kons, and the ingress and egress to, and from every part of the Theatre will be so contrived, that the most desir facilities will be afierded to the very croWalcd, brilliant, and overflowing an3iences which the Proprietor has the pleasure to an ; ticipate. IWith reserved thank', Ladies and Gentlemen, for past support, and with the hope of future etwouragement, in the name of the Mo. prietor, In my own, and in that of alt the Performers, I heartily and respectfully bid you farewell. We have received New York Papers to the ftth of Augus t t, and Wa7,hington Papers to the 4 th. The Neptune, wih Messrs. Crawford and Bayard or board, had arrived at Balti more. Mr. Crawford arrived at Washington on the 2J. Mr. Bayard remained on board in a very bad state of health. The Hornet arrived at New York the 3lst July, from a cruise to the east of the Cape of Good Elope, and last from St. Sal vador. On the 94th of April, she was chased fur seven hours by a British 7-1. The Peacock, which was in company with her at the commencement of the chase, continued her course. The Hornet had not made any capture iince the