The National Register. — London, England, 1816-04-28 00:00:00

~F Ct,cbical Z?er.iter. t4161111 , R XI. %kLUS ?OPEL' st , PREMA 251 r LEX.. csms si quit faveilniskandsio, ..Ist furit,aut rut. UM, 0116 r grardate asporem. Ov. MIT. IYY. V. S. i AMONG the changes which have taken place in the habits of the people of this country, increasing in them the predimpositiou to apoplectic disorders, mity be reckon ed the greater prevalence of spirit drinking ; a custom which, although chiefly confined to the lower orders el society, 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 are addicted to the practice. This pernicious poison operates both on the sanguiferous anti rervnus systems, inereosing the momentum and velocity of the cireelet ion, and dintinishirg- the sensibility and mo tility of the nervc Is Of the power of this stimulating NM to cause important changes in the state and structure of the delicate brain, no one con doubt who has witnessed • its (-wicket effects upon the body in general ; the totter ing limbs, the unsteady gait, the itnperfect speech of those under the temporary influence of spirituous pats tion, are sufficient evidence of the powerful eflists pro duced on the system; while the bloated thee, the stupid and vacant countenance of those who have long indulged the habit, arc no less evidence of the important changes gradually taking place in the structure end funstions of parts by a frequent repetition of its application. Whilst ardent spirit thus increases the predisposition to apoplexy *and !easy. and favours the operation of the exciting esuses of these disorders, it also becomes itself an exciting cause of them. A temporary excess in the use of spirits fre quently proves fatal in those who have I:.i 1 the Ibunda tien of a strong predisposition by a long rentinutd habit of drinking. kis not excess only which renders ardent spirits prejudicial to the human constitution; even a moderate use, long continued, produces a state of the sys tem mere prone to le 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 fiend to be a common consequence of intemperance. It is not to be wondered nt, that a cause adequate to produce a change of structure in such nn ormo, should be sufficient to impair the delicate functions of the brain. Because, sometimes in persons dying of spoplexy, the liver has been found diseased, some patho h gists, fend of overrating the importance of this viscus, have propagated an opinion that the diseased liver was the cause of apoplexy ; forgettiug that the pernicious ef fects of the real exciting cause (ardent spirit) were ex erted simultanemsly upon the two organs. This evil of spirit drinking is lamentably extensive omeng the lower orders of ;eerie, the most important part of the national population, Loth as to their numerical proportion. and their share in contributing to the comfort end seem-duo datien of the whole. Under the head of spirituous po tation mest be included the too free use of WINE, which produces in the higher classes of society mrre-pondent mischief with the abuse of spirits in the minimal people. The custom ef hard drinking in convivial companies has of late fallen into disuse, and in this respect One of the predisposing ( :MKS 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 bevereee common to all classes of so. ciety is now to be mentioned, the use and abuse of which constitutes no inconsiderable means of increasing the pre dispseition to apoplectic disorders. This is PORTER. 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. Bat this liquor, even in its purer state, possesses a stronger power than belongs merely to its proportion of spirit, in producing the apo plectic predispssition : this power it derives from its im pregnation with hop, a bitter narcotic plant, whose action upon the animal system, in commen wit h the ot hcr plants el its des:, is - that of u relative, diminishing the sensibility and mobility of the nervous system. A constant and long con! i nucd use ofthissedative,it is tole npprehendcd,:tc teallyFOmuchimpairsthenervous energy as tolay the limn elution of these complaints. When formerly it was the fashion to rose the gout by the Portland powder, a C , ta position consisting chiefly of bitter narcotics of this de sciiptiou, it was remarked, that all those who took the medicine, although they were cured of gout, and appear ed to have hal their health improved fur a time, speedily fell victims to apoplexy. Porter then ditties but in de gree from the medicine alluded to ; it is to be c o nsi l lesed, whether the long and uninterrupted use of this bitter infusion may not make up Cm its inferior strength and bitterness. If serious consequences arc to be apprehend ed front this hevernee in its genuine state, what shall we say to that vile composition, which, passing under the name of prates, is known to consist of' stifle of the most noxious sedatives anti narcotics? The constant use of such a spurious liquor cannot but be highly prejudicial to the health of the community. The original intention o f employing hop in the brewing of malt was, to check t e s eatneel rmentotien of the baser, and to prevent its THE NATTONAL REGlrrldt. eiple into vinegar. Habit has reconciled he palate to the HAer taste of the plant, and the tv.rdid avarice of hn•wers has impelled them to supply its place by ch'oper, although noxious ingredient::. To arid to the intoxicating eflixts of the liquor, and to enable the brewer to withdraw a proportion of malt, is the intention of employing opium, eoeculus indices, and the other tau coeics. It were notch to be wished, that the laws were - wore effectual in securing to the public a more regular supply of genuine unadulterated porter, instead of that sophisticated liquor we Po frequently meet with. G. DR.I3I.ITIC REGISTER. mally-L‘Nr. The Tragedy of Romeo end Juliet was performed on Tuesday night; and Miss GutstAxt, from the Bath The atre, made her first appearance before a London audience in the character of Juliet. Her reception seas very favour- 1 . able; and her talents are of an order whieh,hy proper culti vation, teary arrive at eminence. Her figure is good—her arpearance altogether interesting—and her voice, though not remarkable either for strength or rarickv, is, if we mistake not, capable of a greater display of - both than she could fairly be expected to manifest in a Situation so alann ing as that of a first efliwt before a metropolitan audience. Mr. RAE, in Itonieo, was also much applauded, mid the whole went MI with consieerable cc/W.—The Tragedy wits succeeded by CA a HICK'S (hie to Su AK SPEAR E, which was recited by Mr. POPE; but the grand pageant, illustra tive of our Bard's dramatic efforts, was that which pro (bleed the most powerful effect. It would be impossible to select any subjects better calculated for pantomimic re presentation than the prominent situations aftialled by SHA lisPEAlt E'S dram's. Independently of their own impressive nature, nail of the fine opportunities they allow for attitude and movement, they are all so generally known, us to be easily intelligible. It would be endless to enumerate the diflirent passages and characters group togethcrin this magnificent review; but there is some thing exceedingly sublime and affecting in the rapidity with which the wind is hurried over so great a space, and the rooollection awakened to situations so dear to poetry. Nothing could be better adapted to set the great genius of our immortal Bard fhlly before the audience. Mrs. BARTLEY, as Ma/W/ow, appeared mounted in a car, Fur roundest with the appropriate insignia ; and, by the ex pression of her countepance, aflitrded a spirited picture of the Muse. Mrs. DAVISON, as Tha:ity, was equally cha racteristic. Of the characters of SIIA SPEA RE, souse were well displayed and some indifferently. Indeed, it could not be otherwise, on an occasion 1% here it was necessary to muster the whole corps of the Theatre; but • with every fair allowance, the effoct, we have before ob served, was in a high degree sublime. COVENT-GARDEN. Mr. Connsm repeated on Monday night the charac ter of Richard to Third. As it was our painful task, in the discharge of our druty to the Public, to speak of this Gentleman, on his first appearance on the boards of the regular Drama, with some degree of severity, it gives us pleasure to be able, on the present occasion, to bear r testimony to his improvement. Taking advantage of the observations which were made on his first performance, Mr. CounAM has divested himself of much of that buis terous vulgarity which prevaded his first appearance ; and it was only when he attempted too much, that he f A ik s i of success. This was most perceptible in the in terview with his mother, in the commencement of the fourth act. Mr. COMIAM'S voice possessor considerable powers, but when exerted above its natural pitch it be comes disconlant. He would do well to avoid us much as pcssiblc fulling into this error. His exertions were generally well received—but so unequal isiii, performance, 1. eking 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 &sew continues to astonish all who sec her, and to make every body regret seeing her in such a place. Her exhibition is, doubtless, the most extraordinary and appalling that has ever been witnessed in Landon ; and so much the More so, as being that of a femele, from whom the courage and strength of nerve necessary to sustain so perilous an enterprise is never looked fur. Two centuries were on Tuesday completed, since the death of the immortal SHAKSPEARE—ana the Proprie tors of this Theatre, anxious to render to his memory that honour which his genius demands, successfully 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 for the memory of him, whose works are the peculiar pride of Great Britain, and the spkudour of whose talents reflects glory upon the human intellect. It is true, we, from time to time, are delighted by the representations of his dramatic efrorts—but, when an evening is set apart for the celebration of his fume, we proceed to the Then- tre warmed by the bright recollection of his excellence, —we feel, more JesidAlly than on ordinary oceasieAs, that he is the ber.efactor of our country—and we wit ness the crsertainments instituted in commemoration of wl..se works shall admonish and instruct through all ages, wiih sensations or delight. The tragedy of Corivla nut was selected fbr performance; in which Mr. Artttr, #4. KEN ULE appeared, for the first time this season, as the prottd, impetuous Roman. He was receiveil on his metre with shouts of applause, waving of hats and handier chic fs, and, in short, with every species of congratulation which the fertile invention of the audience could devise. This scene, so animating to the theatrical veteran, last e d for several minutes. Mr. K MIME then proceeded to tic lineate the character of Coriolamet, in the perlitrman ee of which he stands unrivalltal. lie appears to be somewhat thinner titan when we last saw him ; and was occasion ally affected by a slight cough—but he supported the part with great ability. After the trvedy, the mnsieal aflerpiece of The .lu. hilee, written by Mr. GARRICK, and pert - in-met! at Drury lane Theatre in the year 1769, Ayes revived. la the Sep tember of that year, the celebrated Jubilee, in ho.. mar of SHA xseE.t nit was hebt at Strattbrd-upon-Avon; and created a very great sensation throughout the coun try. Mr. GARRICK conceived that a piece, founded on this circumstance, and concluding with a grand pageant, in imitation of that exhibited nt Stratford, would en rich the treasury of Drury-lune Theatre. The piece which was this night revived was accordingly prat - lured, :end was perfonnt•l for upwards of a hundred nights. fit the upswing pert. Mr. (Wows has givon a v er y live ly view of the bustle and confusion into which Stratford was thrown, in consequence of the influx of visitors measioned by the Jubilee. He has also entesed the ri diculous fears which it produced among the peasantry —and the vile extortion which was practised en the vi sitors. The piece has been brought out in a truly spiels ' did style.—The pageant, in which representations are . given mdumb show of scenes from twenty of SPE.‘RE'S most popular plays, is brilliant beyond con ception. Miss O'NEsta., as the Tragic Maw, and all the other principal performers of the Theatre, were in the procession ; and, as they passed, qate, in dumbshew, little characteristic Walks which svere much admired by the audience, who were tints happily reminded of many of the most striking smiles in their tiwourite Author's works. This action was supported by appropriate machine's' : in The Thupest we had the ship—in Romeo and.Jteliei the tomb of the CAPULETS, which ndvcnced with the proms lion almost to the front of the stage—and in Ma 4Th the cauldron, the apparition in it, and the Ghost of qmo. Finally the tragic characters were drawn up on the side of the stage to the left of the audience, and the vo taries or Conway took their Stand to the right. Miss O'NEILL anti Mrs. Claus, as the Tragic and eusuic Muses, stood to the right and left of the image of 511.5 K. seranE, who "wearier his immortal w r ea ti l ,” appealed nearly in the centre, surrouraled by die appro priate trophies of the Drama. The effect was excellent, and the performers were several ry greeted with shouts of applause as they carne forward. These they very pns perly forcbore to acknowledge till the curtain was about to descend. Miss O'NEILL, Mr. KEMBLE, Mr. TERRY, Mr. CONWAY, Mr. BETTY (who represented Hum/e0„ Mr. FaweErr, Mr.JoNns, Mr. LISTON, and Mrs. Gums, were particularly noticed by the audience for thus com ing forward to do honour to hint, who was not of an age, hot for all time." The House was crowded in every part. On Friday evening Mr. KEMULE played Nir Met Overreach, in A New Wall lu Pay Old Debts.—His per formance has the merit of a finished picture, chaste and correct, without that exuberance of execution, which is to be finind in a cotemporary artist, between whom and himself a small party seemed' disposed to make invidious comparisons. Bursts of well-merited applause, however, completely overpowered every puny (dial of opposition, and the curtain fell amid loud expreisions of approLation. Mr. Fawcett, we are glad to hear, has no intention of ivithdrawing himself from the management of Covent garden Theatre. The report to that effect w •:: s totull;► void of foundation. The Humourous Lieutenant, with considerable altera tions, is under considenttien at Covent-garden Thcatie. 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 heatylliseussion in Parliament. It is expected that Lord Althotpe's motion respecting the taxes upon /rather, will' ultimately tend to put the nation on abetter finding. Among the disbursements of the Irish Treasury appears an item of thirteen thousand nine Lunctred pounds, for secret service, in detectin. , treasonable conspira c i es . On Friday, a puke= of Yoh, who brews his own ale, sent the bellman about the city to announce that he had reduced the price to 4d. per pint: HVl•liouse . was soon overflowed with customers, and before' nigh the declared he had said SOO gallons. The Blue Stocking Club is rtsviVed; and the ennerna tiones ore enlivened by puns and, riddle-merees brow; ht by the ladies in their aidicults, ready cut and dried. The Mowing were sported :.t the last Assembly near Berke ley-nivare, with eche' I—Lady Eli;:uteth S-- asked, " Why nre Lord P—rs—m's dashing 'a/do/vans like two threign towns?—" Because," replied the lion. Miss " they arc too long (Tomiov) anti tbo loose (Toulouse)!" The mune lively Countess spurted an other, vis. , —" Why does a railer resemble a Maud holler —Gen: T---n igstantly exclaisied--" reeause he runt for tie plate!"