The National Register. — London, England, 1816-04-29 00:00:00

£►'lcDtt. onitor. *:r»nr.R XI. EALrs P(.1 4 1.1.1 SVPPFHA ?ST trx. quac a 9 xi* , cibms keit tit, ,ARt fxril, cut nitruta tatitut graribete soperou. 0%. Mwi. kV. V. ttk AMONG the changes which haws taken place in the habits of the potpie of this country, increasing in them the predisposition to apoplectic disorders, may be reckon ed the greater prevalence of spirit drinking ; n custom evhich, although chiefly confined to the lower (mien; of ioviety, is much to be deplored, from its extensive in fluence on the comfort and prosperity of the inhabitants at large, no less than from its prejudicial effects upon the health of those who rue addicted to the practice. This pernicious poison operates both on the sangotiferous and nervous systems, increasing the mousentem and velocity 4.1 the circulation, and diminishing the sensibility and mo- Laity of the nerves. Of the power of this stimulating fluid to cause important changes in the state and structure of the delicate brain, no taw eon doubt who has witnessed its evident effiscts upon the hotly in general ; the totter ing limbs, the unsteady gait, the imperfitet speech of • those under the temporary influence of spirituous pota tion, are sufficient evidence of the powerful effects pro duced on the system; while the hlouted thee, the stupid and vacant countenance of those who have long indulged the habit, are no less evidence of the important changes gradually taking place in the structure and functions of parts by a frequent repetition of its application. Whilst ardent spirit thus increases the predisposition to apoplexy tad palsy, and favours the operation of the exciting causes of these disorders, if also becomes itself an exciting cause of them. A temporary excess in the use of spirits fre aaently proves thud in those who have laid the founda tion of a strong predisposition by a long continued habit of drinking. It is not excess only which renders ardent coirits prejudicial to the human constitution ; even a moderate use, long continued, produces a state of the sys tem more prone to be affected by the usual exciting causes of apoplexy. Of' the tendency of ardent spirits to produce congestion or inflammation in the liver, no one doubts, as this is found to be a common consequence Of intemperance. It is not to be wondered at, that a cause adequate to produce a change of structure in such an organ, should be sufficient to impair the delicate tnnetions of the brain. Because, sometimes in persons dying of apoplexy, the liver has been limod diseased, some patho- Ingists, fond of overrating the importance of this viscus, have pmpogated an opinion that the diseased liver was the cause of apoplexy ; forgetting that the pernicious ef fects of the real exciting cause (ardent spirit) were ex erted simultaneously upon the two organs. This evil of spirit drinking is lamentably extensive among the lower orders of people, the most important part of the national population, both as to their numerical proportion, and their share in contributing to the comliart and accommo dation of the whole. Under the head of spirituous po tation roust be included the too five use of WINE, which produces in the higher classes of society correspondent mischief with the abuse of spirits in the common people. The emtnin of hard drinking in convivial companies has of late fallen into di'usc, anti in this respect one of the predispesieg causes to apoplexy may be thought to have diminished ; but it is to be feared that enough yet re mains to contribute a share towards the production of this disorder. A beverage common to all classes of so. vier; is now to be mentioned, the use and abuse of which constitutes no inconsiderable means of increasing the pre disposition to apoplectic disorders. This is PouTER. In its purest state, when manufactured from malt and hops alone, it may be included amongst the vinous liquors which have the property of increasing the velocity and momentum of the blood. But this liquor, even in its purest state, possesses a stronger power than belongs merely to its proportion of spirit, in producing the apo plectic predisposition : this power it derives from its im preimation with bap, a bitter narcotic plant, whose action upon the animal system, in common with the other pl an ts of its cuss, is that of a sedative, diminishing the sensibility and mobility of the nervous system. A constant and • long continued use of this sedative,it istobe apprehended,ac tualiy so ranch impairs the nem m s energy as to lny the thun dation of these complaints. When Ihrmerly it was the fitsbirm to cure the gout by the Portland powder, a com position consisting chiefly of Litter narcotics of this de scription, it was remarked, that all those who took the medicine, although they were cured of gout, and appear ed to have had their health improved for a time, speedily fill victims to apoplexy. Porter then differs but in de gree from the medicine alluded to ; it is to be considered, whether the long and uninterrupted use of this bitter infusion may not make up thr its inferior strengths and bitterness. If serious consequences are to be apprehend ed from this Leverage in its genuine state, %Out shall we say to that vile compcsition, which ; passing , under the name of porter, is known to consist of some of the most noxious sedatives tutd narcotics? The constant use of such a spurious liquor cannot but lie highly prejudicial to the health of the community. The original intention of employing hop in the brewing of malt was, to check the natural fermentation of the beer, and to prevent its goirg on to such an extent as to convert the vinous TIM NATIONAL lIEGISTIiTt. riple into vinegar. Habit has relonciled the palate to the hitter taste of the plant, and the sordid avarice of brewers has impelled them to supply its place by cheaper, although noxious ingrediints. To add to th( intoxicating effects of the liquor, and to enable the brewer to withdraw a proportion of malt, is the intention of employing opium, coeculus indicus, and the other nar cotics. It were much to he wished, that the laws were more effectual in securing to the public a more regular supply of genuine unadulterated porter, instead of that sophisticated litpior we so frequently meet with. G. DRAMATIC REGISTER. —Nar— DRURY-I,ANF.. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet was performed on Tui•sday night; and Miss Gm stnict, from the Bath The atre, made her first appearance betiire u London audience in the character of Juliet. Her reception was very favour able; and her talents are ofun order which ,by proper culti vation, may arrive at eminence. I ler figure is good—her appearance altogether interesting—and her voice, though not remarkable either fir strength or variety, is, if we mistake not, capable of a greater display of both than she could fairly be expected to manifest in a situation so alarm ing as that of a first effort before a merrepolitan audience. Mr. lint:, in Romeo, was alio much applauded, and the whole went off with considerable erlat.—nz Tragedy was succeeded by GARRICK'S Ode tO SIIAKSPEARE, which was recited by Mr. Poole ; but the grand por;cant, illustra tive of our Bard's dramatic efforts, was that which pro duced the most powerful (Mixt. It would be impossible to select any subjects better calculated for paatomimie re presentation than the prominent situations ufliirded by SIIAKSPEARE'S dramas. halcpendently of their own impressive nature, and of the fine opportunities they allow for attitude and movement, they are all so generally known, as to be easily intelligible. It would be endless to enumerate the ditkrent passages and characters group ed together in this magnificent review; but there is some thing exceedingly sublime and affecting in the rapidity with which the mind is hurried over so great a space, and the recollection awakened to situations so dear to poetry. Nuthing'ceuld be better adapted to set the great genius of our immortal Bard fully before the audience. Mrs. BARTLEY, as Melpomene, appeared mounted in a car, sur rounded with the appropriate insignia ; and, by the ex pression alter countenance, afiiirded a spirited picture of the Muse. Mrs. DAVISON, as was equally cha racteristic. Of the characters of SIIAKSPEARE, some were well displayed and some indiffert ntly. Indeed, it• could not bo otherwise, en an occasion where it was necessary to muster the whole corps of the Theatre; but with every fair allowance, the effect, we have before ob served, was in a high degree sublime. COVENT-GARDEN. Mr. COBHAM repeated on Monday night the charac ter of Richard the Third. As it was our painful task, in the discharge of our duty to the Public, to speak of this Gentleman, on his first appearance on the boards of the reg,ular Drama, with some degree of severity, it•gives us pleasure to be able, on the present occasion, to bear testimony to his improvement. Taking advantage of the observations which were made on his first performance, Mr. (tomtits( has divested himself of much of that bois terous vulgarity which prevailed his first appearance ; and it was only when he attempted too much, that he failed of'- success. This was most perceptible in the in terview with his mother, in the commencement of the fourth act. Mr. Coattata's voice possesses considerable powers, but when exerted above its natural pitch it be comes discordant. He would do well to avoid as much as possible falling into this error. His exertions were generally well received—but so unequal ishis performance, looking at it as a whole, that we arc inclined to think he never will become the great actor which his admirers, judging from the fervency of their applause, seem to suppose he is at present. Madame SACIII mntinnes to astonish all who see her, and to make every bode regret seeing her in such a place. Her exhibition is, doubtless, the most extraordinary and appalling that has ever been witnessed in London ; and so much the snore so, as being that of a female, from Wham the courage and strength of nerve necessary to sustain 110 perilous an enterprise is never looked fbr. Two centuries were on Tuesday completed, :ince the death of the immortal SIIAKSPEA RE—and the Proprie tors of this Theatre, anxious to render to his memory that honour which his genius demands, some:T..4l'lly ex erted themselves to produce such entertainments as should be worthy of the occasion. It is a generous and noble idea, to manifest, at stated periods, a reverence fbr the memory of him, whose works arc the peculiar pride of Great Britain, and the splendour of whose talents reflects glory upon the human intellect. It is true, we, from time to time, arc delighted by the representations of his dramatic efforts—but, when an evening is set apart for the celebration cf his fame, we proceed to the Thea tre warmed by the bright recollection of his excellence, —we feel, more decidedly than on ordinary occasions, that he is the benefiletor of our country—and we wit ness the entertainments instituted in commemoration of him, whose works shall admonish and instruct through all ages, with sci;satiens of ddight. The tragedy of Curly/outs was selected fur performance; in \Ouch Mr. .• IMINI APRTT. CM. Is:." aLE appeared, fin- the first time this season, as the proud, impetuons Roman. He was received on his entre with shouts of applause, waving of hats and handker chiefs, toad, in short, with every species of congr;:tulaticn which the fertile invention of the audience could devise. This scene, so animating to the theatrical veteran, lasted for several minutes. Mr. KEst RLE then proceeded to de lineate the character of Coriulanws, in the pc:Obi - mance of which he suauls unrivalled. He appears to be somewhat thinner than when we last saw him ; and was oecasion ally affected by a slight cough—but he supported the part with great ability. After the tragedy, the musical aflerpicce cf The Ju bilee, written by Mr. (4 AlirllCK, and performed at Drury lane Theatre in the year 1769, was revived. In the Sep tember of that year, the celebrated Jubilee, in ho nour of SHAKSPE n E was held at Stratford-upon-Avon, and created a very great Penslttion throughout the emit try. Mr. fiatunca conceived that a piece, founded on this circumstance, and concluding with a grand pageant, in imitation of that exhibited at Stratford, would en ' rich the treasury of Drury-lune Theatre. The piece which was this night revived was accordingly produced, and was performed fir upwards of u hundred nights. In the opening part, Mr. GARRICK has given a very lire. lv view of the bustle and confusion into which Stratthrd was thrown, in consequence of the influx of visitors occasioned by the Jubilee. fk has also e%Tx:sed the ri- • diculous fears which it produced among the peasantry —and the vile extortion which was practised on the vi sitors. The piece has been brought out in a truly spirts. did style.—The pageant, in which representations are given in dumb show of scenes fiont twenty of SHAW.. SPEARE'S most popular plays, is brilliant beyond con ception. Miss O'NEILL, as the Tragic Mute, and ail the other principal performers of the Theatre, were in the procession ; and, a:: they passed, tvt ,in dutubshew, little characteristic touches which I.vcr, much admired by the audience, who were thus happily remanded of many of the most striking scenes in their titvourite Author's works. This action was supported by appropriate machinery : in The Tempest we had the ship—in Romeo and Juliet the tomb of the Cset7LETS, which advanced with the proces sion almost to the front of the stage—and in Mactmkit the cauldron, the apparition in it, and the filuat of Bar qua. Finally the tragic characters were drawn up on the side of the stage to the left of the audience, and the vo. thin's of Comedy tool their stand to the right. Miss O'NEILL and Mrs. Cons, as the Tragic and Currie MIISCA', stood to the right and left of the image of Sillik• SYEARE, who • "wearing hi. immortal wreath," uppeaml nearly in the centre, surrounded by the appro priate trophies of the Drama. The effect was excellent, and the performers were severally greeted with shouts of applause as they came tbrward. These they very pro perly forebore to acknowledge till the custain was abont to descend. Miss O'NEILL, Mr. KEMBLF, Mr. Tulin v, Mr. CONWAY, Mr. BETTY (who represented Mr. FAWCETT, Mr.JONES, Mr. LISTON, and Mrs. Gine:, were particularly noticed by the audience for thus coin ing forward to do honour to him, " who was not of au age, but for all time." The House was crowded in every part. On Friday evening Mr. KEMBLE played Sir Giles Overreach, in Aem 11. - ay to Pay Old Debts.—His per formance has the merit of a finished picture, chaste and correct, without that exuberance of execution, which 14 to be found in a coternwary. artist, between whom and himself a small party seemed disposed to make invidious comparisons. Bursts of well-merited applause, however, , completely overpowered every puny eflirt of opposition, and the curtain fell amid loud expressions of approbation. Mr. Fawcett, we are glad to hear, has no intention cf withdrawing himself from the management of Covent garden Theatre. The report to that efleet was totally void of foundation. The Humourous Lieutenant, with considerable altera tions, is under consideration at Covent-garden Theatre. Jones, it is probable, will be the comic hero. The Debate on the Weights and Measure Bill is likely to give rise to a very heat y discussion in Parliament. It is expected that Lord Althorpes motion respecting the taxes upon leather, will ultimately tend to put the nation on a better foo/ing. Among the disbursements of the Irish Treasury appears an item of thirteen thousand nine hundred pounds, for secret service, in detecting treasonalile conspirtwies. On Friday, a publican of York, who brews kis own ale, sent the beliman about the city to announce that he had reduced the price to per pint. His house was soon overflowed with customers, and before nigh the declared he had sold SOO gallons. The Mite Stocking Club is revived; and the ronverzn tiones are enlivened by puns and riddle-merees brought by the ladies in their ridicules ready cut and dried. The following were sported at the last Assembly near Berke ley-square, with eclat!--I.ady Elisabeth S.-- asked, " Why are Lord P—rs—m's dashing pautakons like two foreign towns?—" Because," replied the Hun. Miss B—, " they arc too lung ( Toulon) and too loose (Toulouse)!" The same lively Countess sported an other, viz.—" Why does a wailer resemble a blood horse?' —Gen. T—n instantly exchtianed—" Because he rues for the plate!"