The National Register. — London, England, 1811-09-15 00:00:00

:N THEATRE NATION • Sam I NMI tlpelied for the Winter Season on Monday, with Romeo and Adige, and Harlequin and ii.mtodeus. There.was nothing new in the cast, and I could not perceive that any material alteration bad been made in any part of the h- , use, excepting that a new private box has been added at each end of the orchestra. • zmai DRAMATIC REGISTER. HAYMARKET THEATRE. At this house nothing of importance has occurred in the course girdle week. A Mrs. MINTON, from Newcastle, came out on Friday, in The Road to Ruin, in the character of Sophia Free kat. Her performance had nothing in it to call fur particular observation. A first appearance is, in most instances, to the disadvantage of a female performer. She was favourably re ceived ; but I am not prepared to say she is likely to prove to the Theatre an acquis:tion of importance. Tire regular Season is now at its close, as the period allowed ter Dramatic perforniances at this Theatre extends but from the Isth of May to the 15th of September. It is, however, under stood that it will be kept open by license for another month.— The ereater part of the present performers are (I am told) to be immediately sent back to their respective barns. I wish them safe back to the places from whence they came, with all my heart. All the principal actors are expected to be retained.— Even the Surrey Chidlain, whose engagement we were once gravely informed " extended to but a few weeks from the com mencement of the Season," will pause some time longer before be 1Tt111113.-- . " At mighty risk, sc To fight with fury near the Obelisk. Prithee, dear patrons, do nut ilierefute grumble" ENGLISH OPF.RA. A new Opera, from the pen .of Mr. TSIOMAS MOORt, of Lyric celebrity, wits on Monday produced at this Theatre, under Ain title of J%4 P.; or, The Blue Stacking, and received with unbounded applabse. Those productions which are ushered into the world as Ope n,, are considered generally as Mere vehicles for music, and any exertion to form an ingenious plot is reckoned in a great el:Tree superfluous, and originality and strength of character are tltr.ugit equally unnecessary. Hence the greater number of piecea of this description are in the-;e ri.f.pvcti miserably poor.— Mr.P.loo e's production is certainly not so bad as many, yet at the same time I cannot say that in thcsc particulars It is a very splen did exception from the bee.: al run of Operas. The reader may be in sonic measure enabled to judge for himself, from the fol lowing outline of the bttsines,s cf ..1/. P. DRAMATIS i'mtsoN.7. *Sir Charles Centras Mr. 07-BERRY. Captain Canvas norry de Rosier Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Hartington Mr. RAYMOND. . - -Ll':Olit'therid... b I)UttV Ltt Fop fie . Mr. WEWITZER. Lady Bab Blue Mrs. SPARKS. .11 , 1Aame de .Rosiiir jtii3S SPiiviftl • MN. MOUNTAIN. :MAI HartittrftoH MISS KELLY. • Susan Sir Charles and Captain Canvas arc the sons of the kite Sir Wm. Canvas, Bart. who had married their mother privately in trance, hot did not acknowledge her as his wife till after the birth of the first son, Capinin Canvas, when a second solemni sation of their nuptials took place. publicly in England. The difF.culty, indeed the apparent impossibility of proving the first marriage, from the total want of witness or document, is taken advantage of by the younger of the sons (sqlt.d Sir C. CUIIIMS throughout the piece), to usurp the title and fortune, during the absence of his brother, Captain C. a Naval Officer. The Opera opens at a watering-place, (we believe Brighton) where we find Sir C. Canvas paying his addresses to a rich heiress, Miss Selwym, who is already strongly attached to his brother. At the same watering-place, there is a distressed emi,rant fa mily, consisting of Madame de Rosier, her son, and a faithful old servant. The son, it appears, had for some time moved in the fashionable society of London, but by the failure of his re sources, in consequence of the French Revolution, is compelled. as the only means of supporting himself and his mother, to live as shopman with the proprletor of the chief circulating library at the watering-place. Sir C. Contorts discovering by chance that Madame de Rosier had been the intimate friend of his mother at Paris, and that she and her servant were present at the private marriage, employs threats and bribery to suppress their testimony against his claims, but by the agency of Mr. Hartington, - a humane character (who goes about in the dis guise of a meadicant to find tit objects fur hi 3 henevolerce), the views of Sir Charles are defeated, and the title and fortune re. verts to the rightful claimant, Captain Canvas., who arrives from sea under the false impression that his mistress has de serted him, fur the more promising proposals of his brother, but who is made happy by finding that not only her fidelity, but his own rights are confirmed to him beyond either doubt or dispute. The second plot of the Opera turns upon the affections of young De Rosier and Miss Hurtington for each Other, and the constancy with which (notwithstanding the fall of his fortunes) she perseveres in her attachment to him, till, with the consent of her father, her hand is united to his, and a double marriage concludes the piece. From the above it will be seen, that in plot and in character this piece has no great pretensions to any thing strikingly nova But however it may be found wanting in this point of view,' it kas still much to recommend it to public approbation. The dialogue is in many parts possessed of more than common merit. It not only sparkles with wit and humour, but it boasts a variety of pleasing images, playfully turned, and happily applied, with an elegance and felicity peculiar to the author. These have the happiest effect, and not unfrrquently cause the smile and the tear to chase each other in soft succession. The music is good, and many of the songs are not unworthy the bards of other days. With such advantages, this Opera appears likely to become more deservedly a favourite th an any piece. of it ! the kind which has for many years been produced. It has cer tainly many defects which it might he desirable to point out, but I am anxious to be brief, to gain space for a specimen of the 11 Poetry. SONG—MR. Pin 1.1.1 rs. rho' sacred the tie that our country entwineth, • And dear to the heart her remembrance remains, • Yet dark are the ties where no liberty shineth, And sad the remembrance that slavery stains. Oh thou! who wert born in the cot of the peasant, - - But diest of langour in Luxury's dome, . Our vision . , when absent—our glory, when present— • Where thou art, 0 Liberty! there is my home. Farewell to .the land where in childhood I wander'd! In vain is she mighty, in vain is she brave ! Unblest is the blood that for tyrants is squander'd; And Fame has no wreaths for the brow of the slave. But hail to thee, Albion! who meets the commo. ion Of Europe, as calm as thy cliffs meet the foam; With no bands but the law, and nceslave but the meas. Temple of Liberty ! thou art my home. SONG.—Mr. PHILIPPS. Spirit of joy ! thy altar lies In youthful hearts, that hope like mine, And tis the light of laughing eyes That leads us to thy fairy shrine. There if we find the sigh, the tear, They are not those to sorrow known, But breath so soft, and drops so clear, 'That Bliss may cle.iin them. for her own. At, wIGtBTI:R.