The National Register. — London, England, 1811-11-10 00:00:00

COURT MOURNL LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, NOV. 7. Orders for the Court's going into Mourning on Sunday next, the 10th instant, for his late Serene Highness Prince George of Brunswick, his Majesty's Nephew, viz : The I.atlies to wear black silk, fringed'or plain linen, white gloves, necklaces and ear-rings, black or white shoes, fans, and tippets._ Undress—White or grey %strings, tabbies, or damasks. The Gentlemen to wear black full trimmed, fringed or plain linen, black swords and buckles. Undress—Grey frocks. The Court to change the Mourning on Sunday the 24th in. stant, viz:— The Ladies to wear black silk or velvet, coloured ribbons, fans, and tippets; or plain white, or white Ind gold, or white and silver stuffs, with black ribbons. The Gentlemen to wear black coats, and black or plain white, or white and gold, or white and silver stuff waistcoats full trimmed, coloured swords and buckles. And on Sunday the Ist of December next, the Court to go out of Mourning. DIM iIIATIC REGISTER. COVENT-GARDEN. Friday night the tragedy of Venice Preserved; or, A Plot discovered, was represented here. There is no dramatic poet in our own, or perhaps in any other language, who, with so little exertion of his pow ers, has obtained so high a rate of fame and popu larity as OTwAY has. He is regarded not only by his countrymen as a dramatist of the first class, but is held forth by foreigners in a familiar association of celebrity with SJIAKSPEARE, like that which they assign to CORNEILLE, and RACINE. .Yet the sole basis of this flattering estimation exists in two tra gedies, both of them egregiously reprehensible in moral, fable, characters, and conduct. What then is that buoyant principle in those two productions The Orphan, and Venice Preserved, which lifts their author to such a splendid eminence ? It will be found irithe charming simplicity of his language, the easy, and unstudied harmony et his numbers, and.the truth and tenderness, as well the vigour of sediments deriVed immediately from nature, and passing with unsophisticated energy and impression from the bosom of the 'poet himself into those of his auditors. There is not, we apprehend, in all the compass and extent of the dramatic art, a scene so exquisitely pathetic as the whole of the last be tween Affier and Belvidera. But we would ask why some of the most affecting lines in that scene were omitted ? as those where Igier's subdued temper, repressing the ardent emotions of his wife, says-- tt prythce no more, But answer me to what I shall demand, With a firm temper and unshaken spirit. Bev.--Yes ; when I have done weeping.—. Juf--------- pray no more: Have I not hitherto—l prythee tell me Thy very fears—used thee with tenderest care. Has e'er my soul rose up in wrath against thee ; Havel e'er frown'd when Belvidera smil'd; Or by the least unfriendly word, bet ray'd Abating passion ?—Have I ever wrong'd thee ?" &c. Mrs. SIDDONS appeared as Belvidera, a part of too much interest to be overlooked in the catalogue of characters which that distinguished actress is now successively exhibiting in this her closing season. This latter reflection imposes on the mind of a lilecral critic a melancholy reserve in his adverting TIONAL REGISTER. to any imperfections, blemishes, or specks, on the bright surface of that theatrical luminary. But truth is paramount to all other considerations ; and without dwelling on the disadvantage which time and corpulence have imposed on the person of Mrs. SIMONS, we must declare that Belvidera is not a character immediately or intimately congenial with the natural gifis, genius, and talents of that lady, which are calculated for impressions of thrilling horror, of imposing magnificence, or overwhelming scorn, than for exciting the gentler emotions of pity, love, or tenderness. Hen, e, even in her prime of life and plenitude of personal charms, we always preferred to her, in the part of Belvidera, her great predecessor and s o me-time rival Mrs. CRAWFORD. —We perceived, with much satisfaction, that many of the false refinernt\nts, in point and accentuation, which Mrs. SIDDONS formerly was studious to dis play, have been repressed by . her better reflection; yet some of them are still remaining. We have seldom beheld Mr. KEMBLE to greater advantage than in his representation of Pierre. We did not consider the part as one at all suited to his manner or power of execution.—But if he was a . little deficient in familiar ease, he made ample compensation in the dignified and superior energies of the part, wherein no actor existing can eater into any hopeful rivalry with him. Mr. C. KEMBLE was the representative of Jrffer; but the part is above the reach of his ability. Mr. C. KEMBLE comes recommended to public notice by some pleasing advantages ; but his his triOnic character seems to have been cast in a medi ocrite mould, from which he cannot fairly depart ; his attempts to rise above that level are always marked with extravagance and distortion, and (cave us to lament, that he either omits the study, is incapable of copying the genuine energies and graces of his brother and sister. The house was filled to excess in all parts, eves in the basket, and the Play was announced for re petition on Tuesday next. LAW REPORT. COURT OF KING'S BENCH, Nov. 8. RUCKERS AINSLIE. Mr. Serjeant Best moved for a Rule to shew cause why the verdict which had been obtained by the plaintiffs in this case should not be set aside, and a verdict entered for the defendant, Our Readers will recollect, that it was an action upon a . olicy of insurance on goods on board the ship Fortuna, from London to Riga, or any port or ports in the Baltic ' • and that the ques tion which went to the Jury was in effect whether this country was or was not at war with Russia. The Jury found their ver dict for the plaintiff. The voyage was performed und,er a licence to the p'aint:ffs and other neutral merchants. Now the inte rest was averred in Messrs. Smith and Co. of Riga ; and Mr. Serjeant Best submitted, that it was incumbent on them who availed themselves of a licence, to sliew in what character they so availed themselves. Now, Messrs. Smith and Co. were proved not to be British merchants, for they were domiciled in Russia. Then it rested with the plaintiffs to shew they were neutrals. Lord ELLENDOR OUGll.—They are neutral, if they are not hostile ; and it falls upon you to shew they are hostile. Mr. Justic, 1 1v L E r.—How can they prove they are neutrals, but by going through all the hostile Acts of the State, and sheik• lug that they do not extend to them ? Mr. Serjeant BeNt Li1:11 rested his objection upon the declare. tion of war as to Russia. On the 13th of December, 1807, was published a declaration of causes of war with that country; and by an order of Council of the same date, general reprisals were commanded to be made from the same day,, generally to capture , .~ a.. C - e S le se It' :y )n ry r- ce e- [r. iio ey re in re ,ot It, I. 'as nd 1