The National Register. — London, England, 1817-01-06 00:00:00

THE DRAMA. NIURY-L %NE. To the good things provided for the holiday folks, the managers of Drury-lane seem to have thought that the tragedy of Jane Shorc would form no unseasonable addi tion ; and we can imagine a tragedy to be so ingeniously acted as to appear a t.ery proper preliminary to an enter tainment of the nature of , the Christmas Pqc. In truth, we are disposed to treat with much tenderness the novel representation of Thursday evening*: first, because it was something new betere such an audience; and second ly, because there were some of the perfermers who aimed at performing it in a new manner. Of these, the most distinguished was Mr. Bengough, to whom was confided the character of the Doke of Gloomier. There strikes us to be this difference between Mr. Bengough and the " Amateur of. Fashion"—that the Amateur is equally amusing in all Ids parts ; but holds the stage itself in thorotu contempt, as an instrument for effecting any other purpose than that of stirring the risible muscles of the spectator. We have seen Mr. Bengough, on the con trary (we allude more especially to his comieeflerts), the very reverse of entertaining ; and we are likewise pretty certain that he attributes great influence to the stage. We suspect, indeed, that he carries his theory of the moral efficacy of scenic representation beyond the usual bounds. Some of our most admired comic writers have intended and no doubt accomplished, much good to society, by turning the force of ridicule against those vices and tellies which are spread upon the surface of common life, and which however mischievous and re prehensible in themselves, are rather proofs of weakness than enormity. Mr. Bengough goes a great deal high er : he is of opinion that the most horrid and atrocious crimes are proper suljects for the lash of ridicule. Ile appeared to us to labour very heartily, throughout the whole performance of Richard Duke of Gloucester, to deter men front the pursuit of ambitious and bloody purposes, by making that monster a perfect laughing stock, and an object not of detestation, but contempt ; and we mtwt add, that it is in no small degree patriotic and meritorious in this gentleman, at a season when so many actors hi the Spafieldi plot may be presumed to o:!eupy the most !malted stations at the theatres, to rein- Ittrce the terrors of the police and of the gallows, by ex citing in the breasts of all traitors, who would seise the government into their own hands, a salutary dread of the hisses and hootings of the public. Miss Somerville made her first appearance in Alicia. This lady's intro auction to a London audience in Imogene, the heroine • of the tragedy of &dram, was rather favourable. to her future prospects. We feel ourselves bound in strict justice to say, that the impressions in her fitvour were neither improved nor confirmed by her perfOrmance on this occasion. Her action was profuse, without being natural or graceful. Her voice was often strained, and her tones violent without being distinctly heard. She understands her part; but her execution of it does not tell, upon the eye, the ear, or the feelings. Miss Suiner ville also made Xicia more pompous and declamatory than became her These are faults ascribable to inexpe rienoe—and, as she prolongs her course upon the stage, she will no doubt be able to extend the range, and do more justice to her own conception of her characters. Mrs. Bartley played Jane Shore more respectably than almost any part in which she has appeared : but of Mr. . Rae, we regret to state, that he was a dry, and awk ward, and tasteless representative of the insolent and voluptuous, but animated Hastings, We sincerely congratulate the public on the return of Mrs. Allsop to the London stage. She returns as an actress greatly improved. We do not know that she has acquired any new fitculty, except that of self pos session ; but it is the faculty whose existence invigorates, or the want of which extinguishes every other.- IW/ode was the character in which Mrs. Al/sop was reintroduced to the metropolis. To be well sustained, it exacts a variety of powers : and we can aver most truly and conscientiously, that, so fur as our impartial judgment could infirm us, this young actress fully an swered the call. The four great scenes in the four last acts of the comaly, and that in the fifth act above the rest, are peculiarly trying to the mistress of Don Felix. All these scenes partake of one character, but that character is extremely complex. Wounded tenderness, otii•ntled pride, affection rekindling to be again repulsed ; these break out in their natural !males of speech and manner, and lead the way to rapid transitions from one cla►s of sentiments to another diametrically opposite.— In the delineation of all and each of thee, Mrs. discovered unusual talent : she reminded us frequently of her mother, although she had not quite her mother's easy management, and rich exuberance ()Goalie expres ion. Her playful sarcas:a was, however, given with never-fitiling. effect : in the utterance of the softer emo tions it appeared as if her fear of extravagance pervaded every look, word, and gesture. This, we think, furnishes strong ground fior anticipating in Mrs. Allsop the attainment of one excellence of the highest kind— namely, a singular uppnaximation to truth in her mode of acting. She appears, indeed, as the occasion offers, to unite some qualities that are rarely found without is:l 7 : her humour is fax from grossness --her spirit rota violence—and her feeling front the taint of THE N ..A2 11 ... 141 ..,. 1 1. 4 :1. :::•71S-TE- mtions. We could reconummd i nevertheless, a dose AttehtlMl to :lOW particulars vitich are capable of ;ugirii• improvement. There is a want of decfsion in her step, and of gracefulness in her carriage. We could detect in some instances, a fahe emphasis, and sometimes a redublication of the emphasis in the same short sentence. 'With that exception (and the ihult did not occur more than half a 'dozen times during the play) Mrs. Allsop is an admirable speaker. Her articulation is front a cor rect school. "Alany of her times are accurately those of Mrs. Jordan. Her voice is not only sweet, lint clear and penetrating; and her song, self-accompanied upon the harp, being executed with the utmost delicacy of taste and purity of ornament, was loudly encored by the audience. We could see this very promising actress again with extreme pleasure in the same character, anti we indulge the most favourable prognostics of her future s carcer upon the stage. Of the other personages, Miss Kelly's flora was distinguished by its arch anti exquisite humour. Harley's Lissardo was gay, bustling, and eccentric. [Wand did all that could be done fhr Colonel Briton ; and though we much : , refer Charles Kemble's i.km Felix to that of Mr. Hoe, we must give the latter gentleman malt fair more than ordinary suc cess in that hupetuous character. On Thursday the Prince Regent held a Privy Coun cil at the Pavilion at Brighton. The members of the Council assembled at three o'clock, agreeably to sou-• mous. There were present his Royal Highnes's the Duke of Clarence, the Earl of Liverpool, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Viscount Melville, Viscount Castle reagh, the Marquis of Hertfbrd, the Marquis of Chol mondeley, &c. The Right Hon. Lord Combermerc was introduced to the Council, and sworn in Governor of Barbadoes. The Regent gave audiences to several of the Cabinet Ministers. The late Earl of Effingham had but a small estate considering his rank—perhaps not 20001. a year; but Gen. Kenneth Howard, who, it is said, mimeo's to the Barony of Howard, has property to add to this, which will enable him better to support the dignity of the Peerage. Lord Stanhope, it appears, was some time before his death much impressed with the advantages resulting to the public from Sunday Schools, and expressed a wish to see the children of one of these schools in his neighbour hood, that he might judge from personal knowledge of the truth of what was said. He accordingly appointed a dav for the children to wait on him, which they did. Their innabers were 130. His Lordship, after seeing the pro gress they had male, addressed them respecting their conduct in life, and the necessity of carrying the instruc tions they received into practice, and then gave each of them a bun, a glass of wine, and (id. A meeting of the electors of Westminster was held on Wednesday at the Crown and Anchor tavern, for the purpose of receiving the answer of Lord Cochrane to the address voted to him by his constitutents ori the 17th ult. Major Cartwright took the chair, and the answer of his Lordship was read to the meeting by the secretary. It commenced with some very severe reflec tions on the conduct of Lord Gambier, and pronounced the chart which had been produced in his def6tee to the Court-martial appointed to inquire into the Basque roads expedition, a false and fabricated instrument. A great number of exculpatory observations were added with regard to his Lordship's participations in the al ledged fraud upon the funds, of which he had been con victed ; and censured the conduct of the Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench, and the Marshal of the King's Bench prison, as unjust, partial, and oppressive. The answer was received with loud test imonics of approbation. A resolution of approbation of his Lordship's conduct was put and carried, as were the thanks of the meeting to Major Cartwright for his zealous and uniform ex ertions in the cause of reform through a long and un wearied life. Savary, the mock Duke of Rorigo, has been tried in his absence, and sentenced to death. He is, we believe, wandering about among the Deserts of Arabia ; the last time we beard of him was from Constantinople. The atrocities which have chequered the fretful fever of the bad man's life makes us regardless of his future des tiny. It is perhaps within the scope of the decrees of Providence, that he who has so often administered the dagger and the bowl to others should wander a houseless exile, until the world receives an awful example of strict retribution by hearing that the knife of some mid night assassin has extinguished that life which has so long most unaccountably braved the gripe of the exe cutioner ! Several boxing matches are in agitation. The one talked of between Cribb and Carter excites the most lively interest ; but Carter cannot get backed fOr Cribb's sum of 3001. a side, but he is willing to fight any body if he could get backers.—The next in point of interest is between Scrag ins and Turner. 1001. a side is ready, and the match will be made immediately. Scmgg,ins is the favourite.—The next match in contemplation is be tween Puintee and Sutton, the black who beat Robin son at Doncaster. Robinson, the block, is ut Dum fries, in Scotland, and he will fight any one near• his weight. JANUARY 6: PRESTON. -OP • The fhllow•ing is a copy of a letter which this per. son sent on Wednesday to the Lonl Mayor;.-. 'I TO TIM iewirr HOY. M 'ITTRIEW WOOD, LORD MAYOR Or J.ON ZION. • " My Lord—Being at length restored to that state of per sonal liberty. which I defy even my most inveterate enemies to prove me unworthy of possessing at any time, Ica I re frain from offering to your Lordship my grateful acknowledge mo l ts, for the kindness and dignified impartiality, siniforinly displayed by your Lordship, throughout my late examinations, on charges arising front the tumult and riots in the Pity of London. Happy indeed may I consider myself, in falling under the protection of a Magistrate who, possessing ability, inclination, and industry, to detect the conspiracies of thu profligate, and unravel the intricacies of clashing and preva ricating evidence, is alike the scourge of the guilty and the shield of the innocent. I ant well aware of the extraordinary fatigue sustained by your Lordship, since the occurrences of that disgraceful day which threw this great metrorolis into such confusion and alarm ; amid, when I reflect on y our im minent danger, •ashing almost alone among the infuriated and infatuated multitude—your sobseqneeit exertion s ain t harrassing vigilance, I do confess, that I feel more astonished at the equanimity of your • I. and the admirabl e equity of your magisterial conduct towards one who stood charged be. fore your Lordship as the prime instigator, and pi ! actor in those very scenes which had plint.sit yourself and the city into a state of peril that nos alone averted by yoor distinguished prudence and personal prowess. " My bird, if any thin. , ' could add to the pleasure re su lti ng m fro the conscious rectitude of my own actions, and the ge. neral approbation of my countrymen, it is the satisfaction 1 have derived during my confinement from obseruing the Vi t ... I . sprayed practical excellence of our criminal code, when administered in those sacred retreats of civic freedom, where, if not totally destroyed, at It Jst the corrupting influence of the all-devouring oligarchy is effectually restrained, by the presidency of an exalted patriot, whose unsullied haunts bear unequivocal testimony to the nicommtible purity of his heart. " Believe me, my Lord, no one breathing more ardently loves or reverences our eonstitution than the humble indivi dual now addressing your Lordship. Butt it is the whole, undefiled constitution or our ancestors, not the paltry phantont of modern corruption. For this I feel the firmest contempt and abhorrence: for that, I am milling to gibe up my life, %%011111 the sacrifice deliver my (Ninth) , front 113 distress and degra. dation. " In concluding, I again beg your Lordship's acceptance of my most respectful thanks for the litany obligations eon ferrtil on me through your Lordship's benevolence, u bast im mured, for the first time, in those receptacles for the refuse of society, to which, if any ought to he committed, it should be the plunderers and enslavers of the people, and slot their well wishers, who come forward in a constitutional mode to ac complish the restoration of right, and redress of public grievances. . " To Mr. Teague, keeper of Giltspur-street Comptcr, and his turnkeys, I return my acknowledgments or their goodness both to my injured friend Hooper, and myself In short, I have nothing to complain of but the unaccountable violenvo of the rioters, which has brought so mach undeserved pu nishment and trouble um my friend and myself, and the vin dictive persecutions of theself-convicted oligarchy, 'Who have stirred heareo and earth to destroy me, humble as I 4111, for my past exertions to promote the public good; as they also insulted my know-citizens, by endeavouring to thrust • • • • • • • • into the seat which was nobly and justly reserved, by a signal expression of public opinion, to be again filled with undeviating political consistency, princely munificence and unquestionable integi Ity.—l ant your Lordship's twist obliged and obedient servant, " December 13, Di Vt. " THOMAS PRESTON, N 0.14, King's Head-court, Gough-square, Fleet -street.' LA IV IN7'ELLIGENCE. SHERIFFS' COURT.:-FRIDAY, JAN. 3. THE /101.3THWARE BRIDGE COMP iNY AND THE MERCHANT . TAYII.ORS' COMPANY. This was the first cause tried in the city of London under this act of parliament, and therefore excited a considerable degree of interest. The property which was the subject of the present trial comprehends the line of buildings on the east-side of Queen-street, from the corner of Upper Thames street down to the river, and includes in it Three Cranes wharf. For the freehold of this property (the greatest part of which has subsisting leases, of different periods 24 to duration upon it) the Merchant-Taylors' Company d e manded the sum of 25,0001., and for which the Southwark Bridge Company offered the sum of 15,3301..... The ATTORNEY -GENERAL , on the pert of the plaintiffs, en tered somewhat at large into the nature of the question be. fore the Court. He expatiated em the great value of the land in question, which consisted, principally, ola wharf along the banks of the river, and contended that the sum demanded by his clients, viz. 2-1,09ta- 176- was not too high a valuation. The paltry sum of 15,3311 was indeed only othrcd by the Southwark Bridge Company, allowing for all expenses ; but he would call most respectable surveyors, and other witnesses, who would without hesitation state, that the sun, demanded was a just and fair valuation. His clients did not wish to part with the property, but the law had directed that they must do so, and then it world be for the July to take eine that private,iodividuals should not in these great me dertakings. Mr. Nlairyatt and Mr. Gurney on the same side, called several witnesses in support of the case the first of whom was Mr. Shlllll4l Robinson, a surveyor, who proved that he had been called upon by the Merchant-Tay Im's Con - pany to make a fair valuation or the property. The estimate was made first upon the present rental; next upon improved rental; alien the leases now granted to several persons were expired, much of the land haying been let upon building leases; and lastly, ul the fair and just value of the %thole, taking the repairs and other circumstances into C4lllSilli'latioil. On these principles he had found the ;fluent amin.l rental to be 3161.; had estimated the improved rental at 2,02:31. 15.. and the whole value oldie property at 21,9901. Hs. The sr cowl witness called was Mr. W. Montague, also a surveyor, who differed in a slight degree (roll, 4111: statement of ittr. Rubinson, and n he, taking the present rent to I , ts 311ii.i and hat ing estimated the improved rent to be 2,015'. the total would be 21,5131, Upon eross.examination, he said, that the Corporation of the city of London, often not compelled to sea land, had ott,