The National Register. — London, England, 1817-08-18 00:00:00

AtTCOTST 18. THE DRAMA. KING'S THEATRE. This splendid theatre closed fur the season on Tues day nOit, with the favourite II Don Giovanni, which to the last, attracted most abundant houses. Not withstanding the tninia among our gentry for resi dences abroad, this may be numbered among the most successful seasons of the Opera House; and to this success, the powerful music of Mozart has most essen tially contributed. Mr %V aters' judicious management at the same time has had a powerful effect, and we may hope that in the ensuing season when wholly relieved from the troubles of Chancery suits, he will do still more to deserve that patronage which an English pub lic is ever ready to bestow on deserving industry. The Opera was succeeded by a hymn, in celebration of the Regent's Birth-day, in which the who's estab lishment of the house assisted. /I AY:MARKET THEATRE. On \Wane/3day night was performed the comedy of Pule a Wye and Have a Wife, in which Mr. Terry sustainea the part of Leon. Of this Gentleman's ex cellence in this character we have long bc.7n sensible, and we do not fear contradiction when we assert, that, since the retreat of Kemble, he is the only Leon on the stage. After the play a most whimsical one act piece was produced for the first time, entitled the Actor of all Work, affording Matthews an maple field ibr the dis play of his imitative powers. The piece opens with Multiple (Matthews) reading a letttcr which he has just received from the manager of a theatre in a country town, rejecting his proposal of en engagement, On the ground of his deli eiency of talent. indignant at the team of taste in the manager, afultipk determines to convince hint of his mistake by iwrisonifying a variety of characters, and then diecovering himself. 'I he succeed ing scene exhibits Velinspe - le the manager. in a most perplexing de lemma. The theatre has been rebuilt, most tastefully fitted up, fwd the curiosity of the town and neighbourhood wound up to the high sat point, by the high-flown announcements of the manager, when Ite receives information by letter from Pe cr Penmyfr,s, the treasurer, that none of his company can make gaol their engage tnents The reasons assigned are various, and whimsical enough, The prinsipal km comedian has fallen into a fit of melancholy; the Irishman has been gored by a bull ; the Lacer has been trans ported for seven years ; Ilarkquin has been tapped the a dropsy. and the tragedy hero tapped on the shoaltler. hilt' deploring 1114 situation, the manager is roused by the entrance of Mr. Stuffy, (Matthews) a thornagh antique. bent almost double, squint ing horribly, and frightfully afflicted with the snuffles in his nose. He is seeking an engagement :—The manager wishes to know what is hiaeiir le. Ile despises comedy; for tragedy he is aware he has no voice; for opera he is equally defective, and fur pantomime he' wants e g ility.—Wliat can he di; ? lie has lwen a Prompter all his life, and wishes to be one still. lie remembers ail the ancient heroes of the stage; Wary, Ilosup, Garrick, and a bust of stars. whose names e'en are fortmen. Mutt: at rick is "the god of his idolatry:l" The itn- Mortal Mr. Garrick, dereaseJ." The manager observes that he has scold. Yes he eanght it betUre he was born, by his mother sitting tinder the ventilator looking at the " immortal Mr. Garrick I" The manager objects to Ili, want of voice ; he proves that voice is ot nccesvary irt a Prompter, but that the position of the lips, only. is outficient to guide the actor. But he posse airs a requisite peculiarly Biting him for his duties squinte. The manager is hat aware of the vane of this talent, but Mr. Stiffa, proves to hint that without a man squints, he eaßllot keep his eye on the book, and on the actor at the saute moment. lie demands five shillings a week, and to provide his whistles, and linally is dismissed, with a request that he will call again to know the fate of his proposal. The ma nager is scarcely seated to reply to his Treasurer sgloomy epistle. when lie is again interrupted by the entrance of a tall. awkwanl, pie bald Frenclumui, (Matthews) who, in very bad Enseiaii, amitiaiwes himself, as the grand trweedian of the grand theatre of Paris; that he has just landed from the packet, and that ire wishes to obtain the vicars of defraying his expenses do - lain don. Here smile most happy allusions are made to the recent visit of Tabu:, to this country. lie will give recitations tiara the best of the French tragic authors. Tlw ananager doubts whether his licence will allow this, but the French. man soon reitioves that difficult:V. by pniposing that the audience shall Fey for the orchestra, and he will give his talents gratis. Ile now gives a specimen of his abilities. by retitirg part of die raving sp e e c h of thestes. in IlUebile'b al ndiwtnaque, in which the caricature of 'Admit was most perfect. Having made hia exit in a paroxyism of fury, the manager, to keep all parties in good humour, pays some very just compliments to that distinguished performer. 11 is speech is scarcely eloarai, when Robin Seta:eV, a native of Berwick upon 'Tweed, the stage-struek apprentice of his uncle a Scotch pawn-broker, enters. Ills dramatic propensities have already subjected him to multiplied castigation, trout his uncle, with whose stock he had begun Windt,: undue liberties in die furtherance of his favourite pursuit. The portrait of a Judge in his rote and full bottomed wig, which he had used as - the portrait of Potsrathe in the Afouataincers, had been found under his pillow ; his uncle had caught him on the counter petorming and using one of his best German flutes as a truncheon ; another time he had been found with his face all be grimed. addressing three a ieli,alay clocks in the warehouse. by the atede and title of Most ',man. grave, and revererend Segmors.'' For all and singular these offenees, his' uncle was now on the way to the toast, to soil, him MT to his correspondent at Rotterdam; and tifiCa hewing that a manager was in the town, had given him the slip, while hint and his epouse were at dinner at the Inn, and now pre tatted himself for the manager's approbation. This candidate fur dramatie fame, has the true Northumberland burr in his throat, and Ins efforts at declamation convulsed the llouse with laughter. Ile wished to retreat from an affeeted apprehension of his Uncle's aeeival, but hr is a f raid of meeting him as he goes out, the manager therefore sends him up stairs, and here we have a view of trim m the first floor, for the scene presents two floors at once as u stir party-wail Wet,. nwly, and fri.ni the upper rOOlll there is an escape by a pair of back stairs. Hasiog speedily dressed himself as his untie, lie diaappears from above, and instantly enters as An drew .11. SW-terries, the pawnbroker, claiming his runaway ap prentice. W eat yof insolence, the manager sends him up maim, where he tells him his nephew has concealed himself, and as he as eini!s he holds an admirable conversation, in which individuality of person can hardly he believed. Having speedily arrayed himself as Mrs. AU Si4ergrp, he re-appears in search of her huabasul, and is aloe bent up stairs by the perplexed manager. Descending by the back t -CWft: 440414. he ilatettly re-enters as the fist coachman. w Ito had driven o:in frost: town in search of his company. 'P lie 111:11.a 4 "er is nave driven to a frenzy, whet, If Oriole disengages himself of his box coat, and exhibits Mrs. NPSillergrip ; as suddenly fretd from that disguise the rhoeithroker stands forth, then the .apprentice, the French tragedian. Maitliew Stuff:', ant' last of all Multiple !din. self in his roper Mein. The mantaerr's astonishment is beyond ex resmon, tlaltipit yf enistsged, and the audience gratified to their ltta:lL Luiite.l4 TM RAIIONTAt LtGtsTER. ENGLISH OPERA-HOUSE. On Wednesday, a new Opera was produced at this theatre, intitled Persian Hunters; or, the lime of Glogislan.. It is written in a style superior to the generality of productions of this nature, particularly the songs, many of which breathe the true spirit of poetry. The plot is briefly thus:— A Persian numurch enjoying the sports of the field. beholdt a lowly damsel with whom he falls is love, and the snore agreeably to to e ursue his amorous purpose, he assumes a peasant's garb. under which he fully succeeds in gaining the affections of the maid, who consorts to elope with him from the cottage of her humble mother. There is a turbulent Tartar Chief at violent hostility with the Persian Prince, and who, to induce his revenge, makes a sacrifice of his sister, similar to that which is exhibited in Verr ice Prrorred, when Jeiffier consigns his beloved wife to the conspirators. This sister he mlines instrumental afterwards in the l'ersian Court, not only to the preservation of her brother, who is'taken prisoner, but to the general happy close of the piece. The seems is among the mountains of Georgia. We understand this Opera is the dramatic effort of a Mr. Noble of Liverpool, a gentleman not unknown in the literary world. The music composed by Mr. Horn, is the best we have had from his hands. The duet a' the end of the first act, is a masterly production, describing a tiger hunt, and sung by Mr. Hi rn and Isaacs, was deservedly and loudly encored. It is but justice to the proprietor of this theatre, to commend the mannner in which the Opera is gut up. The scenery is new anti appropriate, the dresses are tasteful and in precise costume, ( " Pallas's Travels," and " Sir John Malcolm's History of Persia," having famished the designs for both). The performers exerted them selves successfully, and it was given out without a dis sentient voice. Their Royal Highnesses the l)ukc and Duchess of Gloucester and suite, were arming the nu merous visitors Mt the first representation, and appeared highly delighted. The Barletta of Midas, uncommonly well revived and cast, has been perforated several times during the week. The Justice by Chatterley and Apollo by Pear man, who is undoubtedly a pleasing and scientific singer, excited considerable applause. A new alteration of the promenade in the shrub bery attached to this theatre, has attracted numerous second-price visitants. The celebrity this novelty has given the theatre, and the increased receipts, have, we understand, induced the proprietors of the winter theatres, to attempt something upon the same plan. The !Wowing may be considered as a filir specimen of the songs in the Opera, and the feeling with which Mr. Pearman executed it, did him the highest honour. SONG —By Mr. PEARMA N. Flow, now, ! flow, thou altered stream , lu depth of siieuce tltro' thy fotests flow • Again the morn and evening beam May, unpolluted, on thee gleam, But where shall roll away oar memory of woe? Flow. sacred timid! flow silent to the main, Vocal tri more to kat:ill's tuneful breath Old Kafin sits amid the sMin Auld calls his son. - but calls in Vallll What flood can wash away the mem'ry of their death? Madame Catalani is in treaty with Mr. Waters for an engagement next seessia at the Opera.—Pyne, of Drury-Lane, is “one to Italy for three years, to study singing under rtalian nnuaers.—Miss Stephens it is wail meditates the same purpose. Mr. Young took his farewell benefit at the Dublin Theatre in the Cougars! of Tortilla and lakk and Yu rico, in which he performed, fur the first time, the cha racter of Inkle. Letters have been received from Persia. which men tion that the Russian Finbasry to the Court of Persia was on its way, and was very numerously and splen didly attended. One from Tabriz, dated :24th Nov. 181(i, mentions that Mirza Abdul I iussen Khan, the Persian Ambassador, arrived there the day before, on his way to Tehran, and that he lett the Russian Gene ral Jermaloff at Tanis, who was expected at Tabriz in February. His Embassy, it is stated, will be ex tremely magnificent ; a staff of 45 officers (most of high rank), with suitable attendants, arc to form part of it, a full band of music, &c. The General is a most intelligent man, and a great favourite of the Em peror Alexander, having distinguished himself in se veral battles. General Jeruntioff commanded all the Russian Artillery during the last campaign, and is son to the favourite of his name. A Dublig Paper, August 12th, says—" The ad vantages of the new mail coach to I lolyhead were fully proved by the result of the first trial of it. The letters which left London on Tuesday evening, the sth inst. having arrived in Dublin on Thursday, in time to be delivered. According to the former regulations these letters could not have been delivered before ten o'clock on the Friday morning.. A great deal, however, is still necessary to be done to ma►e the conveyance of the mail as perfect us it may be made, so that the English letters may reach Dublin in time on the second even ing from London, to be dispatched to the country by the Irish mail coaches. This great object may be se cured next year, in consequence of the extensive im provements now going on upon the Welsh roads, and the completion of Howth harbour. We all feel here much indebted to the English Post-office, and to the liberality of Parliament. for having of late dime so much to improve the communication between tie two coloatries:' INDIA. ' A letter from Ma.lra4, dated the 29th March, otivra the fol. lowing u i mportant account of the causes that led to the captor• of Hatra,4 _ . Aa authentic account of the fall of the very stmng and important fortress of Hatrass having just reached us, I will endeavOur to ea• plain to you the causes attic rupture which led to its capture. liatrass is one of the strongest forts in India. It belonged to a Chief of the name of I harem, a Prince of very ancient family. This Rajah was at the head of the :huts, one of the most warlike tribes id India. lie is related to tke Rajah of Rhurtpore, and secretly in al liance with many states there that are known to be hostile to etre power. Previous to the Mabratta war, Discern entered into a treaty offensive and defensive with us, which he broke, and joined Itolltar. Atter the submission of the latter, a fresh treaty was node. Natant agreed to pay us ! sy.xxl rupees yearly, to disband his tromps, not •.o coin, and to admit our police freely into his districts. This treaty was no sooner made than broken. . _ _ The Rolla has constantly acted as an independent Power, and Itas shamefully broke through every article of his treaty. He has b - en irregular in the payment of his tribute, and has coined ; he has made his fort a receptacle for all the robbers of the countr , , lei's:: hagoed with our enemies; lie has permitted four of our police officers to he murdered in cold blood, and when desired by our goveannent :o give an explanation, he has constantly refused to give any answer te their complaints. Lord Moira being pmveked by Dismally's faithless, lawless, diabo lical career, was resolved to punish his guilt. His Lordship kneW well that the old Chief was brave, that his people were valiant, and that his fortress was considered by them impregnable. Ile knew too that this t'rinee had fotnied strung alliances, that an attack upon him might provoke half Indostan to arms—but lie did not forget that his anise was just, that our power rested upon the jicitice of our rule, and the supposed invincibility of our anus. Our military fame had been much tarnished at Bhurtpore. Lord Lake had attacked that place four times, and had been four times repulsed and finally defeated. This happened too under Marquise ‘Vellesley's Administration, who was considered a great conqueror. Ever since that period the natives have been impressed with a belief that they are invincible in their forts, the consequenze has been, that since that they have defended their fortresses with heroic valour, and have scarcely ever been fairly beat out of them. At Calluger. we were obliged to bribe them to submission. and poor Gillespie lust his life. The place, even after his death, and after a practicable breach had been made, and the shots swept the defences, still made a most glo. rious and successful resistance. These failures, and the successful invasions of the Pindariex, began to shake the opinion the natives had of our power. Lord Moira s' foresight, which is now become the theme of universal admiration, predicted the latter evil even on his first arrival in India, and strove and battled with the ignorant and the perverse to force these Pindaric* to habits of industry. This was only to be done by assuming a coin. manding influence over those states, that sutlized and even encou. - raged their lawless and bloody march. But to return from this digression, Lord Moira determined by a scientific and vigorous attack upon Hatrass to retrieve our great and to make it at once feared and respected. 'I o this met he collect. od a large army, and made great preparations for lit.winging Ha. crass,—pr:parations indeed that would have secured success. On the vet day of March last, the batteries opened a tremendous fire upon flatness. On the evening, at sun set, the great niaeazine blew up, which occasioned (nest havoc and confusion ; a:al at eleven o clock at night, the Rajah, seeing his hopeless situation, fled with I,essi cavalry. The title of men that tied from the fort prevented the gates being shut: the British, taking advantage of the opportunity, rushed into the fort, and captured it. Al ajor General Brown pursued Diann with his cavalry. It is imagined that the Prince had nett to Moorsam, a fortress about ten wiles front Ilatrass, and which is nest to be attacked. I am happy to inform you, that this great achievement, so im portant in its consequences, has not cost us one life. This may be entirely attributed to the foresight, and promptness and vigour of Lord Moim's measures, who has effected, vs ithout loss of blood, ore of the most skilful military operations ever performed in India. Btu you will say, the Flory should be in proportion to the danger and time sacrifice, end the reasoning holds good, as it is contaceteti with tit. combatants who obey 4 but to those who direct, the glory lies in at taining the noblest ends by the least possible sacritices--of which human life, however little considered, must ever, in the estimation of wise emu, be considered the greatest. Yesterday men talked of a long scige—of the failure at Bliurtpore —and the uncertainty of success; to-day they speak of its tall with astonishment. and attribute this happy result to me skill and se:limas displayed by Lord Moira's arrangements. CAT.AMITOVA SETRTCTION.—Frithy an Inquest was held at the White Hart Tavern, in Turn-street, Mile-end, on the body of Miss Mary Ann Scales, aged la. It appeared that the deccasen had quitted her paternal roof, and placed herself in elegantly furnished apartments under the protection of a friend, assuming the name of Williams, with whom she cohabited. Uneasy at not hearing front her fin. several days, Miss Scales's mother went to her (laugh. ter's lodging, who was discovered lying dead in bed, front, them ;coin. no doubt, the taking of opium. The following is the copy of a letter found on the deceastars toilette, supposed to be 14otn her sedu m, and which apparently led to her lamentable end Again I am obliged to send you paper instead of appearing my self. My mind is constantly on the rack. and my time so divided and subdivided, that I find to my sonow, that I ant utterly incapable of keeping any engagement that I may make. therefore I shall make no more, but trust to chance and fortune. My partner still continues dangerously indisposed. I have occasion to go and see hint almost every day at Camberwell. How long this state of things may con tinue with me I know trot; but this I do know. that I shall ,re,oice touch when they are terminated. My health of late is somewhat im pWred. To morrow morning I shall leave London Mr stew ea) and return on Wednesday next. Longer I cannot stop. As you are ditlicult of belief. I must rely, or rather appeal. to your liberality fur the truth of this statement . •• I remain, "Yours s incerel y, " Thursday evening." W. The last time the deceased was seen by her landlord was about eight o'clock on Saturday morning last, and at four o'clock on 1Iun• day she was found dead—Verdict—l supisosed from poison ; as a tea cmp was tonna on die chimney piece which contained the a. cgs of opium. - - - - The Lucy anti Maria, recently arived at l'ortmmith. !eft St. Helena 17th Jane. 'the Lady Campbell, IEOIII 11l logal and Madras, was to sail on the 2t.lth..ilitonaparte was well. He had lately received a bust of his son, which athu Jed hint much evident satisfaction. It was given in din, ge to a s a - .. lor, of the ship Miring (it was believed). who, upon lit. an - val at the island, was 1,1 concert the most prudent means of conveying it to its destination. The man became ly ill before tbe nitportunity ot . esecot i nt . hi s eeea.t 6,„„,. align pigmented itself: moo thr his commandine officer, lie revealed the ettemastatice to Lim. l• iie 011,1 04, 1164 :e. fore sent to Sir Hodson Lowe, who, 111.01111 Ittionaoaite h ,t 1 long refuted to be mi civil tel with Itiot, in. tilt tl. "'en' it to 1/110 There appears no rela %lithos whatever in to, b i li r e o f lie Commanders, that Itutinaparre's darling (abject nrd "non. storm hope ore, 111 ant away from the island. Ills It. ell: :• Ln,truned of late he apt.'s Is inost of his time at,lii• ha and :a. ale. 'the ships literate. Mari t a l Dor..lt, sot'. ~• sn • it expected with the gentains of the 5:14•1 cginietit front -it. lle. lens; they has e been talent up at Calcutta to corer, the Leta 11'0111011 10 that i•ialllt. Melte is now living at rmitainblean, a man aha is. at ' l t game time, both a grandtather and a araudsuu, wnieh cults* latex au uototerrupted seilea of bag Usisaf, geuchilittlaa. •