The National Register. — London, England, 1816-06-17 00:00:00

150 DRAMATIC REGISTER. ENOLIsH OPERA. This Theatre, rebuilt during the short period that has elapsed since last season, in a style of elegance and splen dour wide!' delights the taste and the eye. was thrown open fur the first time Saturday night to the public. The audience was both fashionable and numerous, and ex- pressed its admiration of the House by repeated rounds of applause. God save the King was then sung in a most impressive manner by the new eompany, whose num bers tilled the vast capacity of the stage. Miss KELLY afterwards made her appearance to speak the opening Address, and was received with bursts of applause, repeated for several minutes. Powerfully affected with these enthusiastic marks of the &your which she justly enjoys with the public, she nevertheless spoke the Address with admirable spirit, and gave all the pointed allusions made in the beginning to the opposition which the Proprietors of the new Theatre have encountered in the completion of their undcrtaing, with the must powerful effect. Every line was seized with corresponding spirit by the public, and gave birth to tumults of applause. The Address being over, the Opera of Up all Ni4ht, or The Smug gler's Cave, began; and besides the al favourites, Miss KELLY, Mrs OnGEit, Miss L. KELLY, Mr. BARTLEY, and Mr. Buoa rasT, introduced several valuable per fumers to the public. From the want of room, our account of their merits must necessarily be brief. Mr. SHORT, from the Dub lin Theatre, displayed in Young Hearborll considerable sweetness of voice, purity of taste, and elegance of execu tion, - with no small portion of just animation in his acting. Mr. RITSSEL, front Edinburgh, gave a faithful picture of the blunt, honest sailor, and sung with great spirit; and Mr. ISAACS, in Harr Blunt, gave proofs of an excellent buss voice. All these gentlemen, as well as Mr. Baosoituasr, had the honour of being encored. The Opera closed in the midst of general applause. The management of the scenery had evinced a little of the hurry always attendant on a first opening; and Mr. BARTLEY, the manager, in announcing the same per forrnmee for Monday next, thought proper to apologise for the little inaccuracies which had taken place; an apology, which, though extremely well received, the good sense of the audience had rendered unnecessary. The Musical Farce of The Boarding House fidlowed. In it we were glad to see Miss POOLE, who gave to Caroline Heard!, her usual sweetness and melody. — were equally pleased with the re-appeitrance of Mr. WRENCH, who most ably re-placed OXIIER RN the part of Young Contract. The new perfhrmers in this piece were pi o , .ty numerous. Among the most emi nent were, Mr. Cu ATTFRLEY, of the Bath Theatre, who played Peter Fidget with much s; and humour, and executed his songs with great success; Mr. HERRING, who gave all the fire of the old admiral ; Mr. JONES, who displayed in the little he had to sing a strong, harmonious, and very promising voice; and Mr. WILKIN SON, who in .9platterdash sometimes reminded us of the exc4lencies of K NIGHT. The whole performance closed rather at a late hour, but to the fall satisfaction of a nu merous and judicious audience. We have scarcely any room to enter into a description of the house; which, besides its elegance and splendour, poss , :sses this great qualification, that in every part the public may see and hear perfectly. .)r Orchestra may very properly be called one large instil!. went the flooring being composed of several sounding-boards, with two arrangements of iron bars to admit the vibrai 'nn of the instruments composing the band. The ceiling is coral:ascii of several sounding boards, to give better effect to the miNical performances. It is supported by a series of grand arches, deem ..ted with numerous mil -ors to multiply the lights by re flection. The beilding is tipu a a smaller scale than the Winter Theatre•. The form of the Theatre in the interior is that of a Lyre, and the decorations of the Boxes and PrOACCIIiIIIII are all indicative of its being : , ppropriated to music : the lower circle displays a series of subjects in Basso tteiievo, from classical designs. The principal Bo.• entrance is i❑ the Strand. A large f!glit of stairs leads to the ems circle; from which another staircase conducts to a vestib.;le. communicming with the first circle and with the saloon, which is dedicated by inscription to eminent British compost rs. The other entrances arc from Exeter•place and Exeter street. ADDRESS, ircrirs RY DIM; WELLY, ON OPENTNO TUE NEW ENGLISH OTEHA-1101!$E, SATUIMAY, JUST: 15. WELL! here I am ut last!— and what's as true, Nor lets surprising—lime.—at last, are you. 'I booth we do nicer, too soon, I fear, to part, l'et welcome ! kindly welcome !—lroist my heart! (nor Mumble Edifice triumphant rose In 1140 IC of threatening (lames and Put/ nt Foes , '1 tie Foe. .‘ im'd "tint your pleasures—but in vain, To Coveet Garden and to I )rury-Lane. Who kindly wish to 10 . 0% r, as it appear', Mooomilirers of your smiles and teals! Who lov , volt all so tleamk, that they swear yon 0411 40 110 where—if yon don't go theme. Pray hna dye like oar House! Is't "nog and easy? 1./;.on Inv life, we'se done our Lest to pieoge ye ! Y o u Al can hoar and tier, I hope—Yes- -all! Tatumr are rare virtues of a House hat's soma! ! ''or such, are .eteiors ever hound to pt av, NV!ieie you call see titu Shtze, amid /I,w the Play. Witt re yamt a itls ease can :nark our ~.a/ faces, 14 dhow the aid 01 . 10;14410 IA or erimat ! Amid .soh intl•Ttiori of the voice I..ut tars pit serv'd ; and eur es.or lungs are spared! THE NATIONAL IiP,GISTER. To that samit stage which here Dor steps would press, rutinClay ail Actor owes his fir t success; Your cherisled favorites MOW WI wider stages, Here grew beneath your smiles—their noblest wages ! Exteml those s:niles, which rear such valued fruits, o cheer the labours 4.f our new Recruit! Support the timid, who erom dread 014% waver, And reuse their talents, by your generous favour. So may their real repay the boon we crave, And learn to merit what your kindness gave. Ve Gods! who reign above in distant wonder — For Gods we know yOll, by yonr dreadful Thunder! Not alo art dreadful loud—because Here I firstfirsthld4 your thutob-rs .tpiPunxe ! Ye It ties! say, ate you well crannied, (to the and you ? Pray sir, sit close—there's room enough fur two! " ri l e man who has not Music in himself, "la fit for"--nothing stood, a peevish elf! So Shakespear says—and adds, pray Critieks note him, (We roust not net him here, but we may iisote him.) "Let no s u ch 111411 he trusted'—such we fear-- So those that don't los e Music—don't come here. Is there a spot through all the varied earth, Where Nature triumphs iu a hamar' birth, But yields to Musick undid mated sway, And owns the magic of her 'leaven-Mom lay! Thine! Musiethine! to strike with powerful art Rest lye chords on VI , Ply feeling Heart! To lift the Will 1/11 meek Oevoti (((( 's prayer, To solace sorrow and to soothe despair ! From lisping Infancy to life's decline, In every age, or stale, the art divine Still claims o'er Man, its soft yet silting controul, And assays, at will, each passion of the soul! Who has not mark'd the Infant's playful smile, While some fond Mother's Song its Pains beguile? Its eye! which struggles still to wake, sold hear The sounds which hill its pangs and charm it. ear? Who has not mark'd that still reluctant 6 . e, Clos'd by the Mother's plaintive ? The rudest savage of the rudest clime, In Mane wild measure, and disco. dant rhyme, Provokes the madliing dance ; or warrior throng; And rules man's passions by the charm or Song. The lowliest peasant who prepares the soil, % its cheerful ditty, half beguiles laid toil ! And labour done, around his evening blaze, Recounts, in Song, the deeds of former days.— So on the deck, the sturdy seaman takes His patient watch, and spite of natm e, wakes, And as the darkling waves around him swell, The Helmsman chinints the cheering sound," All's Well But now a nobler subject we disclose— Behold what Misery to Music owes! This Isle, so finfil where'er our Warriors roam. Is scarce less faMil for Charities at home, Of all its noblest mansions—those the chief, Where Age, and Want, and Sick find relief. Where youth is snatched from crime —the I Dry fed, And Vice itself, is back to \'a to Of th? , e—the proudest acts, by man iiisplay'd, How few, hot thaws their funds from Mssick's aid ? • Thus Music, " Heavenly Maid !" alike bestows Joy in our Gladness—Comfort in our Woes! 'l'o her, then, is this modest Temple due : Worthy of Her—lt' but approved by ion! COVENT'-GARDEN. One of the events calculated to form an epoch in Dramatic History occurred at this Theatre on Monday evening. The great Master of the Tragic Art, Mr. KEMBLE, appeared, for the last time, in one of his prin cipal characters. This, we understand, is the beginning of a series of performances of each of tle several p ar t., which stand identitied in our recollections with the name of this admirable actor, before he quits the stage for ever. It is not an agreeable task to notice those events which tell us that we must shortly depend upon our recollections alone for those enjoyments which we have been in the habit of receiving. Mr. Krstuce has appeared in Hamlet so often, that it would be superfluous to enter into a minute examination of his performance of that night. Our Readers will have a tolerably correct idea of it when we tell them, that the acting, like the man, was the same, grown Uhler; the point, and strength, and elasticity of youth, moderated and sulxlued by the weight of years, though still bearing up against physical decay, with the energy.ofeuperior intellect. The house was filled ; and the fall of the curtain was attended with repeated plaudits. Thursday the King's Theatre, for the performance of Italian Operas, held under a lease for many years to come, at a rent of 13601. per annum, with all the scenes, de corations, dresses, music, &c. was sold by the Master in Chancery to Mr Waters for 41,0001. It is now, there fore, to be hoped, that as all legal contention will cease, this Theatre, which from the n other of subscription boxes, its extent and beauty, as from having the exclusive licence to perform Italian Operas, may be made the most splen did in Europe, will assume a character worthy the metro ' polis of the British Empire. Considering the number of boxes (198), and the immense sum which the building cost, it was thought that it would have sold for 100,0001. at least. DUEL—Nesterday morning an hostile meetirg took place between Cie Marquis of Buckingham and Sir Tho mas Hardy at Kilburn Wells. After discharging a brace of pistols each, without cflivt, the Seconds inter fered, and an amicable adjustment of differences took place. The quarrel, we understand, originated from some misinfornu.tion, received by ouc of the parties, re. spccting an infamous anonymous letter, which some base itsassin has contrived to circulate ; but of which, we are happy to state, it is now satisfactorily ascertained, the party suspected had not even the remotest knowledge. CHIMNEY SWEEPS. Wednesday a vire 111111 l emits cool respectable Meeting was held at the Mansion house, for the purpose of superseding the neeessity of e•liut'ning boys, by encouraging a method ot'swee•p ing chimodes machiocry, and for improving the condition of children, and others, at present employed by chimney: sweepers. The Lot d Mayor took the chair at one o'clock, and has Mg stated the object of the meeting, he was followed by Mr. Tooke, Treasurer to the institution already tstablished 'for Ow ;airtime in mwstion, who detailed the progress they load ovule ; and forcibly pointed out the harriers that Still esisted to impede the great object of linnianity they had in view.; namely, to rescue young and unprotected children from a life of misery and wretehrduess,that,as a domestic es il, was equa l, if not more hatefol, than tle• slave-trade.—Sir F. Burdett, the Hon. Mr. Bennett, the Hon. Mr. I) Burrell, Mr. !Lill, Mr, Fry, Dr. Lushington, Major Cartwright, Mr. Rowerotl, Mr. lieva,n, and several other distinguished characters, took part in the debate.—The representationS of the Speakers, cc well as the Report of the Committee, disclosed a catalogue of erowli i t s and of dire consetrences attendant upon the wretched situa tion of those who at an infant age became the slaves of inciter chimnev•sweepers ; cud stated to the meeting the many mod successinl eaperimems that hail been made of the mode nut only of etfectually %%seeping tint of est inenishing tires in ehitn nies. It was further stated, that ilium the Contiuent, with the esception of Faller, the practice Was Scarcely known; and that even in Scotland, in 119 cases out of lOU, the practice of the climbing-boy was wholly unknown.—A master chimney sweeper combated, with no small ability, the objections of several of the speakers, though he deprecated the cruelty exl ercised by some members of the frateroity ; obsei sing, that is that as well as every oilier trade there were good and bad members. He was heard with much attention, and concluded amidst general testimonies of approbation.•—Several Resolu tions were afterwards put end carried, lecoominenoling the use of the machine, and for the purpose of applying to Parliament upon the subject in question.---Mr. Wilberforce, Sir F. Bur dett, Mr. Iteunett, and several other Members of Parliament, promised to gise the subject their most cordial support. — Thanks being voted to the Lord Mayor and the Committee, the wiling dissolved.--The meeting was graved by an im mense number of elegant females, and a liberal subscription was made at the door. LAW INTELLIGENCE. SIICRIITS . COURT, sz 14. CRIM. CON. COMNIOTORC SIR F. W. C. R. owrti, MAIM, A POTH ECAR Y. Mr. Clancy opened the pleadings. The declaration stated, that the defendant hid seduced. and criminally known, the ife of the plaintiff. For this iti.inry he had laid his daestagi a at 10,0001. The defendant had sudered judgment to go by deg faith ; and the Jury were now to inquire into, and assess the damages. Ale. sericant Best stated the ease. He had the honour of attending the ('tort this day, on belialrof Sir Edward Owen, better known to the Jury and to the public by the tithe of Corn inedoi e Owen, one of the most enterprising-, gallant, and judi cious officers that belonged to that most valuable service, the Navy. This excellent officer minus before the Court to coat plain of one of the most grievous iujuries that could be con evivr tl—he meant the sotto Lon of his wite's They most recollect him commanding a squadron off Boulogne-- and, when la% services were no lung's!' isaittired there, he was called to an equally lionottiable and arduous duty, on the Lakes of Canada. V. hilt the plaintiff was on this last station, the de. fenilant, who acted us apetliecaly to the fatuity, avail d hi:Li st If of the opportunity which Sir Edward Owen's absence af forded, to seduce the affections of his hitherto virtnotts and ho nourable wife. Sir Edward Owen commanded a :lumina; tiff l3ottlobui in the year 1802, He vo: , , of com i ng to Dover and peal. The lady was the daughter of a resp.....table tn. tuber of the legal profession, who had, in 180'2. retired, and was living privately at Deal. In the course of Sir Edward Oncies visits to that town, he became acquainted with the lady and her i•ather. She was extremely beautiful, and was pos sessed of every accomplishment. Sir F. Owen paid his mi di eases to her, and a marriage was the consequeece. Sir I'.d -ward was then 81 years of age, and his bride was just turned 31--so that nu disparity of age could be *hedged as a cause for unhappiness. They lived together, down to the moment vibes; the seduction took place, in the most affectionate manner. - Tile attew ions of the plaintiff to the lady we re marked by the utmost kindness, and she returned them affectionately. The Jury would find that while Mir Edward Owen was absent, in the service of his country, Lady Owen manifested the most anxious desire for his return—that species of ft eling which a beloved wife might he expected to shevr, when the object of her affections was abroad, exposed to every description of peril. lien the Boulogne flotilla was put an cud to, tsir halo at d was sent to serve his country on the Lakes of Canada ; Lady Owen was inconsolable 011 that eceasimi.- Dorine the period of Sir Edward's absence, Lady Oueii's state of health ous exceed ingly bad. She \eilS attended. in the that place, by the father of the defendant, also was an apothecary in the neighbour hood of I +cai, and afterwards by the defendant himself. The ei.its of the defendant were extremely frequent so mach so, as to excite a suspicion, that lie was not attending the lady for the purpose of re-establishing her health, hut was engaged io warping, her mind mid seducing her affve • s from her Mis hima. No doubt could rest on the minds of the Jury, and the under Sheriff would state to them, from the circumstance of judgme lit having gone by default, that the act of adultery - was committed. But in miler to show the atrocity of the case, he would clearly ;mill• that the crime ass effected while Sir Ed ward was absent on the Lakes of Canada. On his return, he was informed by some friends that his Lady hail conducted her. evil' improperly with the defendant during his absence. Sir Edward liellaved like a man of firninesa ou this trying occasion. He ' , fleeted two friends, who wet e the relatives of his Lady, and directed them to enter into an investigation of the circum stances. Alm- they had looked into all die Information which they had been able to collect, they reported, thut the rumour of Lady Owens improper couthaq wits wiliont foundation. 'I here was not a happier matt in the acrid than sir Edeurd vs hen the innocence of his Lady was cianmunieated to 'him. He returned a ith redoubled pleasure to his a ife. Ile found her in an ill stile of health—and, imagining that her indisposi tion arose; fro a the calumnious re ;nu is which had oeeasuu ed the inquiry having le .e deep impie.sion on her mind, he felt extremely anxious for her siteation, and inimedh,bily took the best nests fur the restoration of ber health. He proceed. ed with I er to Lortilou, and played her eider the care of Dr. Pembei 'oil, 'a gentleman ewine ul flit his skill. Thai respecta ble geatleman he would this day i'all on as a witness, and the Jury would learn from h;ut the manner in which Sir Edward OP JUNE 17.