The National Register. — London, England, 1808-02-01 00:00:00

FEB. 1. only do not feet what they are saying, but really seem not even to understand it. The pieces that nre represented are often, it it true, of such a nature, that no powers of acting could make them effective : bat if they were decently performed, they would nut at a ays be ab4olutely contemptible: and, besides, we do not ',now why pieces that no acting eau render agreeable, should ever he acted at all. Perhaps it will be said. that the English do not careabout good writing or good acting at the Opera; but this it is impossible to prove: for theiracceptanceofthatwhichisindifferent,isnomore an argument of their iusensibility to that which is excellent, titan the bread-and-cheese appetite of a hungry man is an ar onnent of coarseness in his palate. Let us see good pieces tole rably acted, and yv e think it ciliate as possible to create an in t( rest in all Opera, of w hich the language is not generally un derstood, as it is to create an interest in a Ballet, where there is no latertiage at all. And the best indication of the public eagerness for dramatic excellence of every kind, at the King's Theatre, is the popularity w hich has been acquired by an Operatic Actress, not in herself admirable, but eminent by'a comparison «jilt the people about her. We mean Madame Catalan'. This Lady, if she could be divested of her foreign avernt, and introduced into any principal character of English Tragedy, would probably he regarded by the few persons who really understand the science of the Stage, as a very indifferent !actress: and when connoisseurs are heard to ex pres an admi ration of her talents, as an Actress, they mean to be understood speaking of her performances, comparod with those of the ladies and Gentlemen who occupy the interior situations. She certainly is a good Actrebs,fer the Opera : and so IMaster Betty was a good Actor, for a bay ; but we v. isle to see the Opera always provided with performers who may be at least too de cent to be used merely for foils. Didone is a very tolerable piece, fur the Opera ; but no one who sees how much situation it possasses, can help regretting that it is not positively good. Madame (atalani herself acted Didane ; and all that voice and person could convey, was effected by her for the interesting heroine of Virgil. But if she attires to the just reputation of a fine Actress, she should recollect that a perpetual smile, even on her beautiful mouth, will never depict the various passions of love, grief. anger, and disdain, as they occur throughout the interviews of Dido with iEneas and hula's. Let us say MI mitre of her acting, to which we can give only the praise of " the wickeil compared with the more wicked ;" but conclude our observations on her !lido, by recording our enthusiastic ad nairalion of her J ingi ftg , where she stands unrivalled, except by Mrs. Billington alone. Madame Ca talani has the peculiar fa culty of imparthig interest to the lle•acara : and those critics ho haye decided that her powers are generally rather astonish ing Hum tasciaatitz, will probably coatis an exception to their tolgmeio , it he ti at the beginning of the second act of Didone, they hear her sing.. •• Perder(; frt 'Wee Sptrao:o•" lladame Hus-ek made her first appearance on this stage. as A:neas. lier fame in the musical world ha been lime; estah li•hed ; and on this evening, although touch alarmed. .lie was It no means deficient in taste or execution. But her acting was so mach worse than that of any singing Miss whose first appearance we ever saw on an English Stage, that even apprehension, for w Welt u e :flys ays feel a great indulgence, w ill not be a suffici ent excuse for her very slovenly manner of delivering her reci tative. Her dress was as ungrateful as it was inappropriate. .Caeas io spaugled muslin trowsers ! " lieu, quantum mulcting ab !" GEN ER Al. WIIITELOCKE's TRIAL. Our Readers may depend on the accuracy of the follow lug taleuteutS nursday. 2Rth 3' a nimey, 1805. Art an early hour, the Public anxious to witness a trial ofsttch importance, began to assemble in numbers at the entrance of the HAL in Chel‘ett Hospital, where a guard was placed at nine o'clock. At ten, the Members being all in Court, Sir William Meadons, the Pre4deut, signified hi, intention of proceeding to the business of the day, when the Ilion 11Ir. Ryder, the acting Judge Advocate, called over the uames of the Officers summoned ; being all present, they were arain called over . to assume their places at the table according to their rank, and seniority, and C 01:• sitted of the following General Officers, all Senior to the Prison, x : Sir William Meadows, K. B. President. General Garth Lieut.-Gen. I.d. Vist. Cathcart ... ....Norton • ..... Lord L a k e Hulse • Manners Larl of Clanrickardc ..... Loftus `THE 'NATIONAL REGISTER. General Ogilvie Cuyler it. Gen. For ... Sir James Dor Harris Lieut. Gen. VVilrotd Garth •• • •••• • • • • Stavely Sir .1. Moore . Sir C. }tom The Doors were now thrown open for the public, and shortly after the Prisoner entered, in uniform, but without sash or sword, conducted by Colonel , and accompanied by his Counsel Mr. Harrison. The Lieut.-General bowed to the Court, /and was then asked by the Advocate-General " if be had any objections to make ;" but all objections being waved, the Conrt was sworn in. The King's Warrapt for holding the Court was then read. In this were contained the Charges (four in number) with some observations and directions for general guidance. Tbe usual question of—Guilty, or Not Guilty, was now put, and answered by the prisoner in an audibie suice" Not Guilty." A request being now made to the Court, by Generni White !oche, for the assistauce of an Officer high in rank in the ex pedition, but who was stated to be a material witness, it was judged proper to clear the Court, and in half an hear we we re again admitted. We do not feel ourselves authorized to eater further into tile details of this request, but which we understand .was not complied Vb ith, as being unprecedented. Mr. Ryder now addressed the Court in an appropriate speech, and the several papers necessary to open the case were then read ; these consisted of Lieutenant-General Whitelocke's In structions and A ppointment to the command—of Details of his Military Force—sod of his subsequent Dispatches. The Judge Advocate having proposed the different modes in which it might be expedient for the Court to proceed, viz. ei ther to consider each charge separately, or to examine witnesses in a regular detail on the general facts. Strangers were again ordered nut, and shortly after their re-admission, it was under stood the latter mode was adopted. General Gower was then called in about half-past two for examination, and at three the Court adjourned. Friday, Jan. 29. • A little after ten, the Court opened with the usual ceremonies, and a much larger audience attended than Yesterday. General Gower being again called in, his evidence of the day before was read over, and his examination proceeded. hi the course of the evidence, a question was put, to which the prisoner objected, as referring to some points in his conduct, uncouth - en:it with the present charges. This question had a re ference to the propriety in lime of making the attack ; but the Judge Advocate. stating to the Court, that the first charge of improper Conduct must generally embrace such questions, it was judged necessary to clear the Court. On re-admission it appeared, from the Proceedings, that the objection was over-ruled, tieneral Goner's examination took up the remainder of the day, .u►d the Court adjourned till Monday next, us Saturday was the Martyrdom of Ping Charles. It is supposed that General Gower's evidence is (hr from being finished. It appears that the trial u►nst necessarily oc cupy soiree weeks, as the Court has not proceeded in his exa mination farthei than the sth of July. 1.1•,\T Tliursiav the .' ud ; es of the icv.!r:tl Courts. met in the King's Bench l'rea;nry ctiainheri, for the purpo , e of choo,in k r, Circuits for the nest Lein Issizes, which are to fol!ows Circuit.—The Right lion. Edward Lord Eller.- borough and the lion. Mr. Justice Midbind.---The Right Hon. Sir James Mansfield, Knight, and the Hon. '1: r. Baron Wood. llome.—The H ight Hon. Sir Archibald Macdonald, Knight,. and the Hon. llr. Jnilice Heath. Wes:ern. --The Huth Mr. Baron Thomson-and the nor. Mr. Justice Hooke. Northern.—The lion. Mr. Justice Lawrence and the lion Mr. Justice Le Blanc. Orford.—The Hon. Mr. Justice Chambre and the Hon. Mr. Baron Grat am. DILA). At Keilles, in Scotland, Janet M'Naughton, in her 109th year. —She was a native of the parish of Dull, and had lived in three centuries. Lately, Mr. Anthony Hart, of Wanhorough, Wilts, a sin• gular parsimonious character.—He had secreted thirteen or ourteen hundred. guineas in or about his dwelling, without ia•- structiotai to any person where to find them. !ti t I ,ls 1 111, W . !.