The National Register. — London, England, 1818-03-30 00:00:00

m Anal Se THE DRAMA. ---o- DRURY LANE. phis theatre re-opened on Monday, with the comedy of John Bull, and. tlie afteiTieze of Obi. A magnifi tent chandelier, illumincted by gas, made its debut on the occasion, and was very favourably received, as the phrase is. It is said to have cost 1,2001. All the griffin tribe have disappeared from the saloon, which now resumes its pristine simplicity. Good taste cannot. toil to rjaicc at this, for unless ugliness can be deemed beauty, Chinese monstroAties must be offensive to every ooe who has any ideas of symmetry and elegance at all. vagaries, however, arc more tolerable in a then re, than ebeuthere. On Wedne3day appeared• Mr. foam's new version of Rob /kb After the story had been grasped by the rival theatre, and mangled by the minor ones, poor Drury brinls up the rear, like a fat man in .a foot-race. The Author, however, disdaining to tread in the steps of his pte.doc.:ssors, very sapiently alters the plot, .till ii, is no more like the original Rob Roy. than he to Hercules, nar so much. filacgrerpr himself is twisted into a lover, sighing for Diana Vernon, who sighs for Lifts in return ; and just as the iatly is abaut to be mar ried, by compubion, to Raaltleigi Osbaldistone, very opportunely steps from behind a monument (awincident rendered venerable from its antiquity) and compels the poor .pricA to.perform the ceremony for himself. Helen is introduced as the mother of Rob Roy, and is 41 per— fect fury, very poetically got-rid of by a•flash of light ning. The main error of all this is, undoubtedly, the introduction of personages with whose names we were familiar, in new situations, and displaying -sttalities entirely different from those in the original work.— NV hate% er be . the motives that may have occasioned the change, it is still injudicious, for an audience-is never tiatisiied when its old friends appear metamorphosed, or scarcely retaining any features of identity. Thepicee was given out for repetition amidst consi entble opposition. It was repeated on Thursday with very considerable curtailments, and went (Abetter than .on the preceding night. COVENT GARDEN. Thistheatre re-opened on Monday night,with The new .musical drama of Rob Roy Macgregor, and the Panto .mime. A few trifling alterations have leen effected in the interior of the house. An additional seat has been • gained in the pit next the orchestra, part of which, to make room fin the alteration, is caviled under the stage-»a plan which apr ears tc place a portion of the sperformers in a somewhatunpleasant situation. In the light which ranges along the front of the stage, gas has been substituted for oil. The pieces were perform ed with great spirit, and the favourites of the public •gained their usual raced of applause. The house was -crowded, but not iu .so great a degree as on the first and second Ferformances of Rob Roy. We must mot omit noticing, on this occasion, •the great degree of perfection which has been attained in • the mode of warming and regulating the temperature of the theatre. . In no part of this large building does there exist any variation sufficiently great to cause an feeling. SURRP.V THEATRE. The chief novelty at this house, was a burietta in two acts, founded on the admirable Romance of Sir Launeelot Creates, in which the principal characters there described, cre..introduced, with all the . original eccentricities and humour, imparted to them by the ingenious Author. • Several excellent songs, chiefly selections from the best Irish and Scotch .ecappositions, are introduced ; and the. whole went off to the entire .ratisfaction of a crowded . audience. The piece was nillowed by c grand mele,drame, entitled the. Three 'Talismans t which affords a beautiful and interesting exhibition of Turkish manners. The house has been Itewly embellished, and every thing belonging to it ras attractive. SkDLER'S WELLS. Aquatic scenery, Grimaldi, and Easter-Monday,- are causes of attraction too powerful to leave it a matter of surprise, that this theatre should have commenced its season to a very crowded and contented audience. The principal performances consisted of a pantomime called Elements, and a dramatic romatice, entitled l'lteGkeber, The former presentedan unustial.variety of transfbrma tions, and was enriched also with a considerable propor tion of new and picturesque scenery. The Glreber is founded on Moore's . tale of the " FireWorshippers" in Lana ltookh, and showed, we think, .that, to skilful hands, it would afoul the materials of a very imposing. nicio-frame. The last scene of the present .p'ece had a very ,gniral.. effect, and in some de gree for the unreasonable time which the . audience was *impelled to wait during its preparation. A new Tragedy, by Mr. Shell, the author of The Apostate, is in preparation at Covent-Garden. The scene is laid in Tunis, and the plot founded on an his torical fact, the insurrection of the Christian Slaves. It draws out the whoc tragic force of the theatre. VIM NATIONAL REGISTER. Mr. INcLcooN.—Letters have been received within these few days in town, which state, that he never en joyed better health, ant that his success mitimied to a degree unprecedented. (lie cleared 1401. sterling in the first three months' performances.) Phillips has been exceedingly successful in his vocal American speculation, at New York. He netted thir teen hundred and sixty pounds, and had every prospect of doublin. , that sum at Philadelphia. Miss K — elly has been exceedingly attractive at the Manchester I"heatre, so nusch.so, as to induce her to enter into other provincial engagements, which will probably detain her in the country until .the opening of the - English Opera Ilou.sc. Mrs. Charles .Komble, and kr brother, Mr. Declunp, are both engaged at the Birmingham Theatre, where, on Monday evening, they played Dr. Lenitive and Ca. rabic., in the 'f he two young Ltdies, who are figuring in the vocal line at the Dublin Theatre, are, it seems, the Misses Bugging, of the English Opeja House, who have dis carded their unharmonious rune for the more sterling one of Hammersly. The Jen) of Malta, about to be brought forward at Drury Lane Theatre, has been altered for r4nrescota tion by Mr. S—Ptutley. On Easter Sunday, the Prince Regent went in state to attend Divine Service at the Chapel Royal, St. James' Palace. His Royal Highness was dressed in a Field Marshars.unitinin, with the Collar and Order of the Garter. He was accompanied by the Duke of York, who was in a similar uniform and Order. A short time after the. arrival of the ltoyal Personages, a procession moved through the spacious suite of rooms, towards the Chapel, in theft:Rowing Order The Pages in Waiting. The State Page. The Officers of Arms. Pnrstiviants, the King's Heralds, with Garter, iu their splendid Mantles, two and two. A Gentleman Usher, and. a Groom, of the Ps ivy Chamber Four Sergeants at Arms,' with their superb Ma: es, with silver chains round their neck', tied at each shoulder with white ribbon. The Lord Chamber laia. The Lord. Stewart pf the Household. The Duke of 'Montrose, carrying the Sword of State. His Royal Highness the Duke of Yom k. His Royal Highness the Prince Regent. The Groom of the Stole. Lord Charles Spencer, as :he Lord in Wailing. Sir William Lumley ' as the Groom in Waiting. The Procession was closed by twoLieuterants„ and a Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, in their full tubiform:. When the Regent • had •taken Isis seat, the Church Sev ice was -begun by the Rev. Mr. Holmes, the Sub- Dean, and the - Rev. Mr. Pridden. The Musical, Ser vice, including the Chauut of • the .Psalms, the re Dc .me, Jubik:e, &c. were performed by Messrs. Hawes, Vaughan, Sale jun. Gore, Salmon, &c. Mr. Renshaw presided at the organ.—The Sermon was preached by the Archbishop of York, the Lord High Almoner, from the sth Chapter of Romans, and . the 10th verse, from which his Grace delivered a discourse suited to the dry. At the close of the Sermon, Kent's admired Anthem, " Hear my Prayer," was sung by Master Hawes and Master Bond. The Regent and the Duke of York then descended from the Royal Clec.et to the body of the Chapel, when the Conununion Service was read, and the Sacramentadministered by the Dean and Sub-Dean. to the illustrious Per:images. At the con clusion of which the Procession returned through the suite of Statz-rooms in the. same order as before de scribed. _ _ _ His Royal Highnes2 the Duke of Kent landed at Dover on Saturday week, under. a salute from the bat teries, and proceeded to the York I lotel, where a guard of. honour was in waiting to receive his .Royal High siess, and pay him all the honours due to his distin gtiished.rank. As _soon as his Royal Highness perceivep the guard, he desired they might be withdrawn, as he wished - to be quite private. His Royal Highness wa accompanied only, by Captain Harvey, and a few ser vants. The Duke of hussex,.as Grand Master of the - Craters nity of Freemason:, has signified his intention of being present at the • dedication of their new Masonic Hall, The Pope has bought a new chariot and eight black horses, at Paris, which are now on their journey to Rome. _ - The Royal Coll)le, Prince Hombourg and the Prin cess Elizabeth, pass the Honeymoon at the Prince Regent's Cotoge, in .Windsir Forest.—doraing Paper. Prinee,Leopold returns so Claremont on the 80th instant from Weymouth. His Sercue Highness will probably visit the Continent in the course of the summer. norm. •HUNT.—Monday the Prince Regent's stag hounds titrued out a deer at .Wingfield Plain, which shoved great sport., takin e ,tr through the wooels by St. 1..:0nar.1 &Ain', anti c^ossed the Tnames nearly Stucky tia:!. The rprtslncn and hoontls caw? iltronwli Wind sor and renewed the chase near Salt : Hill, where he took acress the country towards Uxbris!ge, and ran with greet speed by Harrow-on-the-Rill, and about three mies on .the'other side he was taken, after a long day's diversion r. The hon. Douglas Kinna,ird is, again gone down to Bishop's Castle, having too much reason to fear his interest was rramting among the burgesses. 101 MEETING IV SOUTH MARK IN SUPPORT OF SIR ROBERT WILSON. On Thursday night, a numerous assemblage met at the Nag's Head, for the above purpose ; George Ault, Esq in the Chair. Mr. Hall moved the recommendatory resolutions. Mr. Weatherstone, wished to be intbrmed respecting the politics of Sir Robert Wilson, as he had published a book concerning the poisoning of the troops at Jaffa, by the order of Buonaparte. Mr. Hall said the book in question was opposed to him otc his trial for the escape of Lavalette ; but Sir Robert had with much manliness and candour, declared he had been deceived. Ile had written it from no cor rupt motive: and the information he then relie upon had since turned out erroneous. Sir Robertlad decizroil himself for 'Parliamentary ltelbrm. Mr. Cooper seconded the resolutions, which were passed. Mr I Tall had omitted to state, that in a conversation with Sir Francis Burdett, the Hon. Bart. cbserved, he had known Sir Robert Wilson for thirty years, and he was extratnely anxious he should be a Member of the House of Commons, as Sir Robert was in favour of Par. liamentary Reform. This character he thought was suf ficient.—(Hear.)—Sir Erancir. also wished the Electors of the lkireuOt would come to a resolution to retutn Sir Robert Wilson, free of expense. Mr. Hall concluded in moving that a deputation of live voters and a Chair man, should wait on Sir Robert Wilson with the above Resolutions, for his acceptance, on • Friday morning.— The following gentlemen were appointed accordingly : Messrs. Ault, Street, Woodward, Blacky, Mote, and Lesser. .They waited upon Sir Robert on. : Frilty, when of course, he accepted the invitation. On Easter Monday, the Lord Mayor gave the an. mud feast at the Mansion House. The Dukes of York and I:timberland, and the Prince of Ilesse Homberg, were present, as also the Austrian, Spanish, and French .Ambassadors. There was a tolerable show of rank and fashion ; but no person of very marked dis tinction. The dinner was handsome, -and the bril liancy of the : gas gave a splendour to the scene, which would have been a ~passport to a much less sumptuous entertainment. •The dancing room was, as usual, a scene of mere confusion ; there. was too great a crowd to admit even the semblance of a decent dance ; but, as custom requested that some such ceremony should be gone through, a proper number of persons were put upon the usual motions. The Prince .Esterhazy open ed the ball with Miss Smith, the daughter of the Lord Mayor. -Three or four Bishop were at tho dinner, but left before the ball began. In the morning the Lord Mayor proceeded from the Mansion House, to Christ church Newgate,street, in procession in the state coach, preceded by about eight hundred of the scholars of Christ's Hospital, and fol lowed by the Sheriffs in -their state chariots, the Re corder, &c. The sermon was preached by the Bishop of Peterborough. The yearly proceedings of the Hos pital were then reported, and the procession-returned w the *Minion House, where a most sumptuous dinner ,was provided for between Sour and five hundred persons in thegrand Egyptian hall, which was fitted up in great splendour. Thelma was beautifully illtunivateil with gas, displayed from. splendid chandeliers. The tables were elegantly set out. They consisted of four long tables and one top table, at which sat the Lord Mayor, Lady Mayoress, and most of the nobility of both sexes.—lt was ornamented with a beautiful tem ple, about twelve thet high ; supported ,on eight golden pillars. The middle table. was urnamouyed with two strainer temples, with _many elegant pillars. The din.. ncr consisted of the choicest dishes of the . season ; the grand baron of beet; which weighed above 17011.. was placed upon a pedestal at the bottom of the ; hall, and cut up by two carvers. In addition to this emblem of old English hospitality, amongst many. ether costly and rare dishes,. were ten of pea km L—About nine o'clock the company left the Egyptian hall„and were followed by the-Indies. .A little befitre ten the ball was opened by the Austrian Ambassador and Miss Smith, the .Lord Mayor's daughter. Amongst .the cr.mpany prexnt were';,- e The Dukes of York and Cumherland, Prince of Hesse Romberg, Prince Esterhasy, Do;ie de San Carlos, .Marquis &Osmond, Prince Cateloicala, and Mr. Rush, fro a America.—The Marchionesses Salis bury, and Clanriccalle and dangh.tc:.—Eurld Shaftese burr', Yerulam, and Westmeath.—Countess ‘Vestmeath. —Lords Stewart, :Montfort. at:.l Cranitounic.—Lady Montfort, Count Munster, Panel O'Naughten.--.Bie shops of London, Exeter, and Oxford, &T. &c. The late Captain Henry I'itsclarenee, we under , . statel, die.' ore fi:ver brought on by a wetting iu,,censom gnence of a fall into the rivia. Ganges, and imprudence in continuing his journey withaiit clianging his wet ,aothes. . . - An ordinance of his Majesty King Charles Johxt, establishes in Sweden twelve °thus in the interior, where goods are to be .visi.te4l to prevent contraband, and declares the coinunuatattiona in all the rest of the king. down free.