The National Register. — London, England, 1816-12-16 00:00:00

ISECEMBER 18. THE SABBATH. AS whew the hero sailing d'er those saes, Which even fancy ne'er supposed before, Inhard with joy the apicey western breeze, And saw in misty clouds Columbia'* shore. As when the lonely mariner at night. Perceives just glimmerin; through the clouds afar Amidst the thickening gl tom, one only sight, And gladly hails the well known polar star. Thus, and with a greater joy, a joy sublime, The faithful Christian in this yak of tears. Whilejourneying o'er the thorny road of time, Peels when til3 ltallow'd Sabbat h morn appears. A rest, the Lord hash said, my saints shall rind, A rut, how exect l to every weary mind. Letters from Quebec have been received to the 28th, Gazettes to the 25th of October. The former mention, that his Excellency the Governor General and Com mander in Chief had dispatched two gentlemen of great respectability to Fort William, to take possession of that settlement in the name of his Britannic Maksty, to re tain the possyssion until the disputes between the Hud son's Bay and the North-west Companies were adjusted. The arrangement by his Excellency had given great satisfaction. The business of the Company would pro ceed without interruption, and would not at all affect the dispute u to territory, &c. between the two ex tensive establishments. It was believed the disputes would ultimately be referred to the Courts of Great Britain. We are happy to learn, that Government has taken into consideration the forlorn state of the foreign seamen who have so long been begging about the streets of the metropolis, and passing the nights under the miserable shelter of the bridges. The Heider frigate, of 3•l gum. is to be sent immediately from Deptford, to be off the Tower for the reception of these destitute men. She is commanded by Lieut. Collitt of the navy ; and is placed under the special directions of the Lord Mayor, with respect to the reception of proper objects. The statement communicated to us adds, that provisions are to be sent from the Victualling Department at Deptford, to be issued to the men on board according to the practice of the naval service, under the manage tr.ent of a purser. All these humane measures are much to be approved: at the same time, we trust, that even in the works of charity, a due regard to economy will not be lost sight of, by which means the money destined to benevolence will be made to relieve a greater num ber of distressed individuals. The METEOR.—The meteor lately seen at Glasgow was also very visible at Perth. It made its appearance in the S. W. in the form of a small star, and gradually increased in magnitude till it reached the zenith, when it subtended an angle nearly equal to that of the full moon. In shape it resembled a paper kite. After pass ing the zenith, it again seemed to diminish in size, owing no donht to its gradually receding from the observer, till its altitude was equal to about SO deg. when it ex ploded like a skyrocket. The report of. the explosion, which is described as more tremendous than the noise of the loudest thunder, reached the ear about three minutes after the meteor vanished, so that it could not be loss than 40 Miles distant, and probably about 27 miles above the surface of the earth. From the various particulars collected concerning it, its diameter must have been about 240 yards. The light which it yielded was very considerable, being sufficient to render the smallest ob jects visible. BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL Soctszy.—A ge neral meeting of the ladies and gentlemen subscribers to this institution was held on Thursday at the Freemasons' tavern. His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex took the Chair, and the last report of the Committee was read. The report presented a very flattering picture of the progressive utility of the Society, who were now en gaged in a work, the building of a general school, to the completion of which the sum of 1,4001. only was wanting. The report was received, and ordered to be printed. The most interesting part of the report was that which referred to the influence produced abroad by the example of the society, not only in France and Ger many, but ih 114wsia, and the remoter parts of Europe. A person from Mount Caucasus bore simple but im pressive testimony to universal excellence of their sys tem; and amidst various other indications of external (mntenance and support, the Saxon Ambassador (Ba ia Just), through the mouth of Mr. Schwabey, beg ged leave to add, that it was already established, and l•rnspering in the dominions of his master, whose sub jects had been for centuries remarked for their mental improvement, and whose land was the earliest scene of mformatimi. The Parisian journalists are amusing their readers with the following. talc :—"Three weeks, ago during a violent night storm in the Categat, a Russian and a Dutch vessel drove twainst each other with a tremend ous crash ; terrified by the shock, the wife of the Dutch Captain rushed upon deck in her shift, and thinking her husband's vessel was sinking, sprung into the shrouds of the Russian ship. In an instant a hurricane separated the two ve.mels. The Dutch:nart continued his voyage to Copenhagen, and the-Russian, with his prise, steered towards the Moditeraneass. The poor Dutch Captain is inconsolable for his loss,. and waits with anxious soli d:11(1e for the return of the Itusaian ship with his letter I et!. .:.._. DRURY-LANE.. A new farce was brought out at this .Theatre on Thursday night, which assumed the somewhat osten tatious title of Note Bette. It is one of those absurd though pretending trifles that we would willingly suf fer to creep unnoticed into that oblivion which must in a day or two close over it, except that custom demands that a critic should come in at the death ef every drama. W e shall, therefore, merely ratify the hisses which as sailed it, by asserting that it deserved them all. We cannot pretend to enter into any detail of the disjoint ed ,incidents which were huddled together in this in significant composition. The chief ingredients arc a quack doctor, a barber, two sign-boardS, and two kicks, in the seat of honour. --.o o '- COVENT-CARDV4. ........ The farce of Love a la fir de—no unhappy satire on modern manners—was pertinmed at this Theatre on Thursday night. We experienced a considerable degree of pleasure in witnessing the revival of a favourite piece, which affords infinite amusement to our brethren of the north, in whose society the representative of Sir Archn (Mr. 11. Johnstone) is supposed to have gradu ated in the proficiency of his Scottish utterance. We yield without the least reluctance, or to the smallest disposition to the institution of old comparisons, a sincere avowal of the merits of this perfbrmance, as consisting in scientific mastership over the auxiliary parts ofcomic talent, and developing, what is still better, occasional glimpses of that rich and native humour which bright ened the drama of other days. We have not room to enter into any minute discussion, nor indeed does the subject require it. In all prob a bility th e ambition of Mr. H. Johnstone will not stop here ; and an occasion will shortly present itself when a higher effort will demand from us a more considerate opinion. A new farce entitled Love and the Toolh 7 Ache, was offered to the public on Friday night, and met with but an indifferent reception. It is, perhaps, not a very easy or necessary task to define the constituent qualities of what is sometimes called genuine farce. There is, how ever, one rule which we apprehend to be fundamental and universal in every species of composition--an argu ment is not more essential to a discourse, than a plot is to a dramatic story. The ornaments of a beau are no thing without the beau himself; nor is a fable, to which one or two captivating features are attached, sure of at tention, unless it have something like consistency and verisimilitude to support it. We were dreadfully puz zled, it must be confessed, to discover the ultimate meaning of the author. It occurred to us at one time, that it was the refornation of a profligate footman : but we were undeceived in this belief by his detection in a gross fraud at the end of the piece. The production of the same effect upon his master appeared then neither an unnatural or improper design ; but no such result was intended. The old, and as it were legitimate, re source of fierce-writers was appealed to, and transfor mations, and disguises, and blunderings, aided by the terrors of a dentist, furnished a few scenes, to the effect of which it wash ardly necessary that the exquisite gri mace of Liston should contribute. If the excitement of laughter be, in short, the principal end of farce, a co pious source of amusement will be found in this very ridiculous production. WESTMINSTER PLAY. Wednesday last, the King's scholars at Westminster, • according to annual custom, performed one of Terence's plays. The piece chosen was The 'Enoch, which, though not so broadly laughable as the Phoratio, is the most amusing of the whole six. To say that the drama was correctly represented would be but meagre praise : the parts were all tilled up and executed with greatin telligence and spirit. The only defects observable were either such as arose from an inexperience of theatrical trick, or such as did these actors honour, because they sprung from the want of power to give affect to cer, taro sentiments which can only he fully understood af ter some hackneyed intercourse with the ways of the world. It is curious, however, that the part which seemed to us best acted was that of Pythias, the jiwtme de chauthre of Thais. The vivacity and apparent con sciousness of young White in this part charmed the whole audience : it was a striking iiiustration of the fact, that strong animal spirits, joiaed to a quick obser vation, will frequently supply the pla-x (as tar as imita tion goes) of a long study of men and manners. This actor, and Mr. Bourne, the Captain of the school, who perfbrintsl (inalho, seemed to us to enter most fully into the spirit of their parts : but the Phcrdria of Wild, the Pamela) of Gater, the Cheerers of Hall, the rheas!). of Short, and the Thais of Hutchinson, were all calculat ed to excite respect for the talents of these difii:rent youths. We will not, however, invidiously select when all were worthy of eulooum. The prologue, which consisted of some very neat lambics, was spoken by Mr. Bourne it was dedicated to three topics—a deserved panegyric on the the learn ' od Dr. Vincent, the late Dean; a, handsome compli ment to Dr. Ireland, the present Dean ; and an expres loon of gratitude to Dr. Carey, the late Master. lost w een Geode" ant the =mitigative advantages of _ _ s __ beim@ eamoor et__ eeremanies at a fashionable watering.. place * es at &gag a mese dancing-master. The lines were eteeeding tense, and if not fastidiously modelled; showed at least an intimate acquaintance with the len gulp of the best Roman poets. A number of Noblemen and Gentlemen am said t• have become purchasers of the King's Theatre. TILE ROYAL FAMILY. BRIGHTON, DEC. I2.—With the exception of the Prince Regent, who tool• his usual exercise in the Riding-school, there has been no movement among the Royal Family during the whole course of the day, which has ruined incessantly. The imitations to the nobility to join the evening parties at the Pavilion con siderably adds to the bustle of the town, and; above ell, t.) the interests of the inhabitants. This evening a number of the nobility are invited to the concert at nine o'clock. Mr. Watier, the Prince Regent's steward, distributes tickets to poor finnil its who ore deserving of a participa tion of the royal bounty. While the Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold were walking through the streets at Brighton on Wed nesday last, the crowd that collected round them, con sisting chiefly of boys and girls,. became so great, that Townsend, who was in attendance, struck several of the boys with his cane, iu order to clear the way : the Prince, as became him, desired the officer to desist from such unjustifiable chastisement. The populace imme diately- cried out, " God bless you both ; long live the Princess and Prince." w THE GRAND DUKE NICHOLAS. --sews Cuarswon Dec.B,—Thls evening, the Grand Duke Nicholas and snite arrived here from Derby. On the oth in stant Ins Highness and smite left Birmingham, after visiting Mr. Bolton's manufactories, and all the others at that place worthy inspection; after which they proceeded to the George Inn,nt Lichfield, where they dined. In entering Lichfield, the spring of his Imperial tlighitess's carriage broke, butt, during the time of dinner, it was repaired. After dinner. they left Lichfield for Derby, and put up at the King's H•ankl Inn, where Mete slept. On Friday morning, his Grace the Doke of Devonshire had prepared a grand suit of apartments fur his Hlghnt ss and suite; but his Imperial Highness apologized to his Grace is not accepting of them, and renthined at the Inn, where his Grace breakfasted with his Highness and suite. After break fast, three of his Grace's carriages, with leer beautiful bay horses each, elegantly caparisoned, with coachmen, postillions, and seven footmen in state liveries, conveyed the distinguished party to the infirmary, and from thence to the china rnanufac. tory, where his Imperial Highness, with his usual attention, in. spected the whole process, with which he seemed highly pleased. Thence they proceeded to inspect the lead and shot mane. factory ; after which they returned to the hotel. and pa: Isok of an elegant collation, prepared by order of the Duke of De. vouslilic. They then left Derby for Helper lane end, where they inspected a cotton manufactory, the inspection of %chiefs detained them upwards of two hours. They then proceeded to Mattock, where the whole of the party dined. A f dinner, the party proceeded on to his Graces noble inansion. Chatsworth. On elite, inc the park, his Imperial Highness it'd suite were most agreeably surprised at seeing the grand avenue leading to the house lighted by men on horseback, with lan terns and tlantheanx. The t ',aeriar as well u interior of that noble mansion was brilliantly illuminated. His Imperial Highness was conducted by. his Grace to a superb suit of rooms, which was prepared on the occasion, as were aiso the whole of the other snits. _ _ At eight o'clock dinner was announced, and he dining room, with the redundant brilliancy of the highly-fini•hed chandeliers, candelabras, Grecian sod Egyptian lamps, toge ther with a quantity of gold and silver displayed on the side boards, afforded a most delightful coup d nett. On Saturday morning the illustrious visitor and Suite, accompanied by his Grace and the keepers, went out on * shooting party, when a great quantity of game was Wed. The Grand Duke is an excellent shot, and particularly fond of the sport. The next day the whole bf the party were at Castletown, to slew the peak and ether curiosities. On Monday morning, the Grand Duke and snite left Chatsworth furobetheld, intending to peas the night at Leeds. ROYAL ACADEUY.—On Tuesday night the distribu tion of the prizes teal: place at the Royal Actureuty.— In Painting, the principal prize was allotted to Mr. Elton, for his copy from Rembrandt ; and the second prize to Mr. Carruthers, for his copy from T ritan.—ln the Life Aradent.9, Mr. Leslie obtained the prize for Drawing.—ln the Antique Sekool, Mr. Shcpperson re ceived the prize.—ln Sculphrre, Mr. Behnes—and in Archilc. - !urc, Mr. Donaldson. MRS. COUTTS'S SOUP KITCHEN.—This Lady has adopted a phin to mitigate the sufferings of the poor at Higlig,ate. I ler regular distribution every Friday is us follows :-501b. of bear, four ox-heads, with rice and such other materials as are required to make a strong soup. She has too two quart and one quart jugs, with the names of 100 persons, whom she has discovered to be proper objects of charity, affixed to each. Those who have wives and families have A two Tian jug of this soup, and two slices of the beef, and those without chil dren half the quantity. By this means, tOO families, including 69 wises and 390 children, are in sore de gree relieved weekly; and our Reader:: will be supiised to learn, that the expence hardly exceeds two guineas.. How requisite is it then for every Coldly to pursue in souse degree this praiseworthy course, when so much rind good is effected at an expence not worthy of men., ton. THE NATIONAL RETSTEIt. - lowir — TII E DRAMA. The epilogue was a Thrace ; •ed discussed