The National Register. — London, England, 1813-04-18 00:00:00

?52 MRS. SIDDOXS. 1118. Enrrdn—As a lover of the Drama, I was one of those who mourned the retirement of Mrs. Sddons. I regretted that age and irs infirmities, rendered it necessary for so distinguished an accompanying ectress to withdraw from the stage. When she- came forward to read fer the benefit of Mrs. am y, I was ansong those who eagerly sought elle more opportunity of gadrig on the departed fitvourite of Melpo mene. On dint accrosion soy admiration was equally divided be:weeit the benevolence which prompted and the talent w hich supported her exertions ill the cause of distress. I I f in delighted to see she has again come forward with the same praise worthy feeling. I rejoice to see her so active in the cause of ben - colenee, for it is impossible to suppose that any other new ive could Ato i n bring her krfore the public. It cannot he imagined that with a fortune so immense t) be thought sufficient (yen by herself —it cannot, I will maintain, he for a moment imagined th• t she *could come forward pro fessionally for the purpose of adding to the wealth she has already ama'ssed. Bene , t lessee only could induce her to resume those labours to w'hich it was understorrd she had bid ass eternal adieu. 1 a m, however. curious to know, to what pull: rdar charity or chari ties ~he jooposes to give the produce of her readings. - This, I think, fire ju.tiee hcisell, ought to be publicly stated, its order etfect ,, ailv to silence those malignant individuals. who would fain rmke the Piddle b e li eve , that .Acarice has, in part, been the cause of her thus (pitting redremunt. I hope she wiil take this hint and guard against such taisrepresentation. She 'nay ha unwiding to do so, from an apnre bension that this would appear like ostentation. Let her, however, rememher, that it will serve those who she wishes to relieve, by in ducing the Public mwe curdiulty-to come forward, and her Objections vat vanish. Feeling, as lam satisfied you will, with me, t h at Humanity alone can have induced Mrs. Siddons to offer herself again to the notice of the Public, I trust you will not refuse this letter a place in your va luable Journal. lam CO!Itidt•OI you will arhrit. there can in reason Ise no difference of opinion on the subject, and that it would be as ridiculous to think that Mrs. Siddens has come f o ra and merely to add to her wealth, us it would he to s .oirese, that she heisel h:id set on those ridiculous persolis, calling Co-in-eh: es a " Committee, w by are making themselves the laughing-srssc k t'te town, to petition her to return to the Stage. I um, Mr. Editor, yours, &c. Aprill6, 181 S. CANDOUR. BY a, statement printed by order of the House of Lords, 1 the following - was the British naval force on tke American stations, on the lst of February, viz.—Newfoundland, under Sir T. DUCKWORTH ; one sloop, one brig, and two frigates. Noth America and the West Indies, under Admiral Sir J. B. WARREN; 11 ships of the line, one fifty, 53 frigates, two troop frigates, 38 sloops, 12 brigs, and smaller vessels. VALIDITY OF SCOTC ir D ! YORC ES.---.olll' readers will re collect, that in the case of W. APLoLLY, who was convicted of bigamy at the Lancaster Assizes, the Twelve Judges de cided, that a divorce obtained in Scotland could not be pleaded in bar of an action for bigamy in England, when the marriage took place in the latter country. The Scotch Judges, i. e. the Commissaries for Scotland, upon a revision of the whole business, and after again hearing Counsel at great length, have unanimously adhered to their former sPn tence of divorce, finding that " according to the Common and Statute Law of Scotland, if their be no collusion between the parties, or other valid exception against the pursuer's right of action, adultery committed in Scotland is a legal ground for divorce, without distinction as to the country where, or form in which, the marriage was celebrated : Therefore find, that whatever may be the views whieh the law of England takes of the indissolubility of marriage con tractedXnere, or whatever effect the decrees of this Court pay receive in foreign countrks, ,all such foreign views and consequences, especially where, as in the present case, these are distinctly adverse to the settled dictates of the law of Scotland, can have no effect in regulating or influencing the slocisioni of this Court." . - THE NATIONAL REGISTER. THE DON COSSACK. APRIL 18. Wednesday last, at noon, Caudilll and the neighbourbood.of the Royal Exchange, was crowded almost to suffocation by persons ars sembled for the purpose of seeing the Rassian Officer, Captain Bock, alai the Don Cossack, who arrived in this c: sultry on Friday se'a i nght, They arrived at the Mansion House shortly after one o'clock ; and were greeted with loud and repealed acclamations, ansl . cendrieted by the thy Marsha:3 t) the anti chamber, where the Lord Mayor, at tended by several of the Ildermen, received them. A very hand. some cold collation was prepased, of which Captain Bock and the Cos. sack partook. Mr. Grant kindly undertook to he the 1. terpreter ba'- tt can Isis Lordship and the veteran warrior. His Lordship assured the Cossack, that as Chief Magistrate of the city of London, he wars proud and happy to offer Ins hand to so dtstinguislad a soldit r, al thouah Le was not decorated with title and rank. The ati , wer of the Cos3ack was short, but emphatic ; he thanked the Lord Nlayor, and was ready to die for the geod of his Sovereign and his country. His Lordship then took the veteran by the hand, and a hearty shake took place on both sides. Captain Bock was in foll uniform ; and a jewel, the reward of Ilia valour in the battle of Borodino, was pendant from his ner k. The name of the. Cossack is Alexander Wittischendst ; he is it his eslth year, and had been allowed to retire on a peasant. the row aid of his courage and good conduct. When lie heard of the lava:ari l of I s is country by the French, he quitted his retirement, and voluotariF en rolled himself and his two sons in defeace t native indepenet nee. He wa4 dressed in tie Cossack caataare, its a lard • pistel staci% on his left side, on a belt, a musket slung behind him, and a pike ups. wards of ten feet lung, shod with sharp iron. 'to a question put to him by Mr. Grant, at the desire of teveral Gentle:mos, w kaiser he killed any of the enemy, he answered with great navich—" Three officers, besides the fry." At half-past one the Lord Mayor and'atteudants, with the Don Cos. sack, and Captain Back, proceeded to the Rival Exchange.-- The rash into 'Clialige was irresistible, and a very narrow lane was formed with great difficulty, through w filch they pr ceeded in) to Lloyu's, and placed themselves in the gallery on the west side, where the Cossack could be distinctly seen from reel , part The huzzas were cordial and repented. Silence being at !coatis obtained, the Lord Mayor said that he was desired by the noble Wurtior, and the Don Cossack, to return their best acknowledgements for the gratify iota re cep.ion he had experienced. Ile Olen proposed-a salute of thee times three to the gallant visitors, and his Lordship gi‘ing the word, it was complied with by acclaniwions as cheerfal mid loud as ever al re heard in that place. His Lordship their said, he was requestad by Captain Bock to propose three times three to Lord Wellington terd the British Army, which was zealously adopted. Old Engatod was also given with three times three. The Lord Mayor, by the desire of the Don Cossack, communicated through the Interpreter, assured the Meeti g that he should always continue faithful to his country, and to Isis Sovert ign; and that he had trained up his two sons, who were ready to die in the same good cause. His Lordship added, that the Cossack had with the instrument in his hand killed thirty-nine of the enemy. Au universal Insist of ac clamation succeeded, and the visitors withdrew. The following is a description of the persists of the Don Cossack, who has attracted so much attention : His stature is about six feet ; his make robust and manly ; los car riage and demeanor very erl, and even graceful ; his motions and gestures being entirely tree from that angular stitfoess which civilized etiquette has attached to the soldier. His features and conhtemoce, thought rough and military, are at the same time expressive of ex ceeding good nature and honesty. His broad and open f qchend is the very mirror of candour and simplicity ; and wt,ether from the sof tening hand of age, or the pastoral habits of his counte men, there is nut one trait of the brutal character in his lace. His beard is long and bushy, adding much to the power of his eyes, which; though light in col , ior, beans forth with much fire. llts hair, less grey than his heard, flowing unconfined, is combed back over his sie..l: about the length of six inches; on the tbrehead, it is cut stmt and straight. His dress consists of a blue jacket and loose trowsers of coarse cloth, with shoes very broad and round at the toes. as if to allow free action to the feet, on which he stands rem& kably straight and firm. His band is remarkably broad in its spread, thiutgh his fingers are not long; and he manages his arms, consisting of a pistol, a musket, a sabre, and a long pike, with wonderful address and case, and carrying them with out the least appearance of being eucumbered by their weight, or in convenienced by the length of the musket or pike. It is said that a subscription is contemplated, for the purpose of sending him back handsomely clothed and armed, in testimony of the general admira aura of the British nation for his countrpneus' valour and his own. Win