The National Register. — London, England, 1815-07-02 00:00:00

43(1 TTIF. NATIONAL REMSTER. DRAMATIC REGISTER. MR. KEAN'S LEON. Our pages last week were so completely occupied with in telligence of the most interesting nature to all ranks of so ciety, that we were prevented from inserting our usual the atrical remarks. Nothing requiring particular notice occurred in the scenie world except Mr. Kean's performance of Leon, in Beau mont and lietcher's comedy of Rule a Wire and Hare a Wife. Tl.•e plot of this piece is taken from the Cosamiento Enga ',ion) of Cervantes, the justly celebrated Spanish author. It contains several well conceived characters, and is replete with the most laughable incidents. The character of Leon may be given in a few wo , ds :—I-le is a man of honour and courage, and assumes the appearance of a simpleton, for the purpose of marrying a woman of large fortune, who wishes for a passive and inoffensive husband, that she may, under the guise of matrimony, follow the bent of her licentious in clinations with greater freedom. His honour is not diminish ed by this deception, as when she becomes his wife, he spews himself in his real character, assumes the authority of a hus band, and ultimately succeeds, as he originally intended, in securing to himself her hitherto wavering affections, and in eradicating from her mind all its former levity. The part of Leon is less interesting than many others in which we have had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Kean; it con tains, however, some passages well calculated for the display of that gentleman's talents; and his masterly representation of it must have convinced the public that his abilities are not confined to any particular cast of character, as this is es sentially different from any which he has hitherto perfom, ed. Nothing could be more admirably expressive of the character of an idiot than the vacant countenance and awkward gait assumed by Mr. Kean when he first appeared on the stage. In his manner of answering the various ques tions that are put to him, touching his abilities, there was an air of stupid simplicity which was irresistibly laugh able, and which drew from a crowded house loud and repeated shouts of applause. The apparent 'astonishment and timidity with which he receives the command of Mar garita, to kiss her, and the increased boldness with which he repeats the salute formed as genuine a display of comic powers as we have ever witnessed. In Leon's first interview with Margarita, when he promises the most implicit obedience to all her reasonable commands, and even goes so far as to tray _ _ 1 ‘ I'II never speak again, Madam, But when you charge me," Mr. Kean was particularly happy; his appropriate deli very of every sentence in this scene, combined with the timid obedience that was so faithfully pictured in his countenance, presented to the imagination, precisely the governable, good kind of. man Margarita wishes for; and heightened the in terest of the plot by making his deception appear less impro bable than it weuld if this part were played in an inferior manner. Mr. Kean's assumption of the authority of a hus band and dignity of a gentleman, war characterised by an equal display of ability, and was the more remarkable by be ing so great a contract to the character which he at first adopts. In the answer to the Duke rf Medina, who requests Leon, towards the close of the third act, to use his wife well, the expressive and feeling manner in which he answers, " Mine own humanity will teach me that, Sir," was most excellent. Mr. Garrick is said almost to have sur -1 assed himself in his delivery of this line: we do not think it possible that more interest could have been given to it than by Mr. Kean. We will close air remarks upon this gen- JITT,Y 2. tleman's performance of Leon, by observing, that great indeed must be the versatility of an actor's genius, who succeeds in representing two such very different characters as are com bined in the part of Leon, to the entire satisfaction of hi s au dience : the loud and repeated cries of " Bravo bravo !" amidst which the curtain fell, are sufficient proofs of the ap probation Mr. Kean gained and so well deserved. Mr. Bart. ley's Copper Captain was not one of his happiest Obits ; it was, however, altogether a respectable pet formance. We remember Lewis in this part, and are therefor e, pet haps, dif ficult to please ; for his representation of it was really in imitable. We remarked with pleasure that Mr. Battley struck out every passage which was particularly exceptionable. The language of Beaumont and Pete& r frequently passes be yond the bounds of decorum and even of decency; it is pos sibly owing to this circumstance, that out of fifty-four dra matic pieces produced by these poets, two only are ever brought forward, the Chances, and Rule a Wife and have a mfr. We think it unpardonable in an actor at any time to deviate intentionally from the text of his author, and parti cularly so when it is for the purpose of adding to, instead of diminishing, the indecency or impropriety of any particular passage: if the ohl lady is not blind as well as deaf, she will take this hint, which we thought it incumbent upon us to give. Mrs. Clover's Bstcrania is a spirited performance. Mrs. Orger, as Margarita, was highly respectable. FASHIONS FOR JULY. We have great variety hut little novelty to present to our fair readers in the walking costume. Muslin', sarsnets, poplins, Italian gauzes, French washing silks, and French cambrics, are all worn, and one would be pouted to tell which predmoinates. High drrsses o f French cambric, with slight French silk scarfs, and French hats of plain straw, ornamented with feathers, are in very general request. White lace spencers still continue in the highest estimation, as are also scarfs of silk and white lace, The only actual novelty of the month is a very tastetiol Wive, composed of fine India sprigged muslin ; it is a three quarter length, rounded at the corners, and trimmed in tasteful style, which is difficult to describe. It is com. posed of plain clear nnulln formed in scollops by casings which ar• drawn with ribband. The bodies of the morning and promenade costume continue to be worn with cross or handkerchief tionts, and are generally trim med, agreeably to the texture of the dress, with qnilled toll or ribbon, The quilled ribbon is also predominant in single rows at the ti.et of all dresses composed of silk, bombazeen, or fancy prints. The prevailing colours are primrose, celestial blue, and evening prim. rose -, the waist short, and the fHlness of the peiicaat carried to the back. Ruffs of French work are universally worn, except in full dress. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF KING'S BENCH, SATVHDAY, ATLY 1. THE JUNG V. Hooftm tx. The Attorney-General stated that this was an indictment preferred by the prosecutor, a respectable merchant, against the defendant, for a most violent and aggravated assault upon his person. The defend. art was also a merchant. Some dispute respecting commercial trani• actions had arisen between them, and in consequence of it, the de fendant invited several other merchants to come and see him pull the prosecutor's nose ; and, as the fittest place in ell London for such an exhibition, he selected the Royal Exchange. Mr. Gurney here interposed, on the pan of the defendant, and ob served, he was instructed by his client to acknowledge fb the utmost extent all which could he said of the respectability of the prosecutor. His client was also respectable, and it was some observations which were reported to have been made by the prosecutor which had irri tated him, and led him to be guilty of the breach of the law, for which he now telt the most sincere regret. As a proof of which he should now consent to a verdict of Guilty being taken against him. The Attorney-General said, had Mr. Doorman now stood in the same situation as he did when this transaction took place, the presiss CC r~ (r ui