The National Register. — London, England, 1819-01-25 00:00:00

liA%. THE D1M31.1. COVENT OAR is EN. The announcement of Miss Stephens's first appear ance this season, had the effect of tilling this Theatre o n Wednesday evening to an excess. The character which Miss Stephens selected for the resumption °filler professional avocations in London, was 'hat of Maim ('genies, in Bob Buy : the selection ..vas jittlicious ore; inasmuch as it affords ample scope for the display of Stephnin's powers. We never recollect to have seen or beard this enchanting Syren to snore advantage than on this occasion. She %C.li in excellent voice, and her powers eves appear to have improves! during her temporary absence from the metropolis; her songs were executed in the most effective manner She was en csreti with enthusiasm in almost every Song ; and in erne of them, especially the delightful air commencing " A Hikilland Lad my Uwe was born ;" and in the duet in the commencement of the third act, there ap peared a dispssition on the part of the audience to cull Ca. a second repetition. Souse of the more reasonable and feeling part of the audience, however, interposed, and prevented the unreasonable call being enforced.— Tse other novelties of the evening were, Duruset in the character of Frivica Osballesitar, which he assumed Tor the first time: his songs were given with consi ier ahle effect. Tnis gentleman is something in ere than re4iectable as a singer, we shall be happy to say ILS inuelt of his acting when he gives us an opportunity: at present he fulls far short of the standard of feeliag end energy. Emery was the substitute for poor Tokely, in the character of Dougal. This was u cha reeter created by Tokely s and suited especially to his superior powers. It was a tusk of no little ditUculty to undertake it, after it ha 3 been in possession of so able a supporter. Emery, however, gave a spirited .delineation of the trusty follower of the Mat7rrpr.— It was en original piece oh seting: he was.by no ineaes a servile imitator; and though, peels:pit, net quite equal to his prissiness° , he yet deserved and received considerable applause. Of Macreatly'e Bob Boy, anti I,iston's Bailie Niro! Jarvie, it is unnecessary to speak. The first was never :sore dignified in the hardy un bending Highlsteler, to m lust night ; ; slur was the letter ever more successful in exciting the risible fa culties of the audience. Miss Somerville hies resigned her ■r!icles at Covent Garden Theatre, in consNucnee of Miss O'Neill re fusing to pciforin with her in the new tragedy of Mary Stuart ! The Rickaond Impairer, quoted by tke New York Papers, intimtnes that some definitive arrangement has been concluded between the British and American Governments, relative to the exercise of the right of search, and to the impreetanen. of seamen from on bard ne-rehant vessels of the United States. The New York Editor, however, discountenances this supposition, and expresses his persuasion that nothing had been finally done upon that delicate and difficult subject. The citizens of New Tort have voted a piece of plate to Mr. Willshire, the British Consul at Mogadore, fur his prompt beueficence in redeeming from slavery, and restoring to their country, an American captive (James Riley) and five of his cumpimions. A Messag e was received tieurthe President by Condresa, on tht; 14:h ult. transmitting a report of the Secretary at War, with the correspondence whioti took place between the Governor of Geurgia and• General Jackson, touching the arrest, &e. of Obed Wright—a ease of cruelty al must unparalleled towards the wretched Indians, and of a u dacious insulcuce s o t the part of Jackboa towards the Civil Power of the 'United States; this was referred to the Committee on Military subjects. On the 15th of December Mr CAstoa (dieted a resolution,—`• That the President should be requested to lay before the !louse of Representatives any correspondence which may have taiteti place between the Governments of Garter Britain and of the Unites! States, relative to the execution of Arbuthnot and Atubrister." ibis propu sition was not rejected ; it was merely regarded as pre mature ; the President having already promised felt information upon the said occurrences. Mr. Colston's resolution wets therefUre ordered to lie upon the table. Here there is auutheeetretty convioeing proof that the .comfortulde doctrine eirotessed by the Nalional grower, as to the outrage upon one or in,re Peritish subjects henig putely u,doutestie • busiimas between the ( ioveroment of che,.UnSll4 , Stet es and its own flivouri!:• officer, hes not mude , eoneerte.of the whole Aeiericau twee, but likely to etteaunter a sharp eemninatune nategst the repeldicemethempelves. .We are low to ler:tidy certain of knowing, -out only the extent - ot the injury which thissnatien has sidkrel, but Ilitterue "Ott to e mien it has been coneitieteei by the English (;tveniment, ms well as by :mfr. itle Moe —Under tile heed of "Spanish Affairs," •it is :.seetetl th.it the ces sion of Florida has been actually 5,.;,,e,t by iteeoftation. lietevec 440;Spanisli anti A ete; ..a The not e ..Eilwitrd Stewee e 6 e i:4 4 .1'114,4'4n, •cts of ,lee Navy, •ie to Cuhfums;:esnd tie litAV Pay. master end liepector Of M a amused Mr. Stowart.ovconnLiabionta . . • TIIF NATtoN AL TIEGIsTER._ 11;;;E7'IAG OF BOOKSELLERS. A numerous Meeting of the Publishers, Booksellers, Stationers, and all others interested in the sale Of the Holy Scriptures, was held on I.riday evening at the Globe Tavern, Fleet Street, to take into consideration the recent attack made on the trade, as relates to toe sale of Bibles and Prayer-books ks the nature of this attack may not be known to the generelity of our readers, we shall eibleavoer to explain it Ly giving, in few words, a short abstract of a Report made by a Coaandttee, appointed on Thursday evening, to inves tigate into its extent. It nepeared from that report, that for two or three years p./st bills in Clfaneery have been filed, and.silently operating under the instmetion of a patentee, against persons seiling Edinbuigi Bibles. or Common Prayers. These bills have beeu com pounded privately, to the TIO &Mall gain of' the attorney employed, and vexation of the party attacked. During the lust term a hundred injunctions were obtained against ditlbrent B.boksellers iu London and the sub urbs ; and ninety are entered for the present term. The clerk of the solicitors, Messrs. Foss and 0., is generally the informer. At first the injumeicus were only levelled against Bibles printed at Edinburgh, but lately they have been extended wesiinst Bibles, Testa ments, and Common Prayers, printed in England, with commentaries and notes. This proceeding ports spread terror and dismay through the various Booksellers both in town and country : especially as they have been likewise intbrmed, that they cannot, under the existing law, sell any Bible in the english tongue, or in any other tongue whatsoever, of nny translation, with note or without note, which is not printed at the press at the King's printer, or at the press of the twoUniver sides. ['he satferers by these prosecutiemi have been chiefly among the petty retail dealers, who, it was sup posed, would willingly enter into any terms of com promise offered by the attorney conducting these proceeses, rather theti incur all the risk and expense of a Chancery suit. The wholesale dealers have in neral escaped free from attack, though latterly some of them (Mr. Wool, in the :Strand ; Wihens, it the Exchange; and Messrs. Arch, of Curnhill have bt.en visited by the same antioyaece as their less wealthy treeltren. As this system was rapidly spe!aling in every direction, the trade took it up, sail weeenbled on Friday evening to discuss the .propriety of resisting it with ail the energy which such an invasion of what they deemed their long established rights demanded. The impropriety, it' not tie illrgslity, of these vex atious measures on the part of the patentees, was stron g ly insisted upon ; and the judgment of Lord Clare, in the es'se of GI ierson, the King's printer at Duulin, v. Jack ant (Ridgeway's Reports, 504) was stated to be ties cisive of the matter. In the course of that case, which originated upon an application for an injunction to prevent tle_ detendant from printing an edition of the Bible in numbers, with paws and notes, Loud Clare asked if the validity of such a patent as the King's printer enjo ed had ever been established at law ; and said , that lie did not know that the Crown had a right to grant a monopoly of that kind. funher added, " I can conceive the King, as head of the Church, may say, that there shall be but one man who shall print Bibles and Books of Common Prayer, for the use of Churches, and tir particular purposes; but I cannot cenceive that the King has any prerogative to grant a monop .ly as to Bibles for the instruction of mankind in revealed religion. If ever there was a time which called aloud fbr the disseminetion of religiois know ledge, it is this ; and therefore I should with great re luctance decide in favour of such a monopoly as this, which must necessarily confine :he circulation of the book. As to very particular purposes, I have no doubt that the vatentee had an exclusive right to print Bibles maid Prayer-books; but unless I am bound very strictly, I will not determine upcin motion that too Irma butahe Kieg's printer has a right to print such works as these." It was maintained that such testimony as this was entitled to high consideration, as. it proceeded from a nobleman who war mach attached to the prerogative ofthe Crown. Great stress was also placed upon a do cument which ha.. been extorted by the patentees - or their attorney, from a poor individual by which h e bound himself, under a penalty of Y,00'01., never to tell a uopy of the Bible, Testameat, or orotuon Warn., which did not come from the Kink's Printing-Alto, or that of the two Universities, and by which he also bound liiinselltnever to take any.ttela to tlssolvis the injouction itgaiiist him. 'rlie principal :peelers were Mr. Maxwell, Iclr.lialiiivin, ui .alawnwe, Mr. Mr. klagster, Mr laylor, unit Mr. Hone; between whom and the Chairman, Mr. Leigh, 'some very •wa ~ii Ag ration visited. In the course of the debwe„ If. Mawman, w. it the agent to the University of 4.2v•ai bridge for tile sale 'tit .their Bibtts, butted that he 1100. written. t.e morning of that din; to the syndics there, derlaeio,, alts upiui n to be, that the measures pursue it were so. as ought to b. juinatliately terminated, on nerotu...: ,, K. - ,41 vex.t.i•rtis natort , , and expre.... -I ,veat couti..are.: twit tit• iu fy e, A , Tie At% leo:anon did sot; howtver, scree to looduce Josiah Iliect ninth the annals of his Riedkuee, why in • , 411 consequence, after some discassien,' esitattid.intt t re= solution of a?pointiog a Committee of 1 2 lAmtloti sellers, with powers to add to their numbers, and whit full powers to adopt all such measitreaas ahintl:l be quisite to -cretinate the depending prosecutions, and tes prevent any futor.s. occurrence. Tltia was . fullu•.veil another resolution, empowering asem to receive sub scriptions to eltable them to pmeeed with vigotti•igal • energy in 4*w:4oi:cause in which they were so neces sa:ily engaxed... We understand that large sums were immediately deposited in the hands c,f the committee, several persona advancing from C - 31. to 201. each, and one gentleman.) in particular, the !urge sum of 150 guineas. From hints that were ampped in the course of tbs discussion, we are led to conjecture, tl:at the great body of booksellers will ianiniaiateiy combine, and prescot petition to the two Lleases of Parliament, to obtaia some modification of the present patent. A professional gentleman, who spoke in balialt of Mr. 131.toclimil, of the City-road, stated, that he had very great doubts as toils legality, and expressed his intention of examining into that paint, whenever his client should be regularly brought before the Court. By the Jamaica papers we learn, that in - ennse quence of '•-; lute hurricane the island had eellibited a scene of distress and dosulat7on snicely ever e;itiallel. On the 27th of November a report was pi Lsented br Mr Stewart, (of Trelawncy,) from the Committee which had teen appointed to inquire into the effects cf the storm. In this the Committee recommeed an address to he sent up to his ;race th e D.,: ee et . . Manchester, stating, that with the exreetion of small part of the county of Middlesex, the utmost misery prevailed in teeery quarter ; and that through mat the western parishes, the provisions of the slave population had been entirely destroyed. It is, there fore, humbly requested that his G- er may he pleased to open the ports to all nteien , , for ! . . e . sot , . of such Articles AS may be necessare, dosing te .- • .ertod ; And to allow of pAyinent eetie et- •i.. •: Diu.:, in /initiatc or otherwise as he shad t Ank may presume, therefore,, that the ports of Jainates have . le...en open dby the local Goyeenment Aei t ecieen . and other shipping. e • The Archdul.e Maximilian of Airstela was in-,the flou,c of Lords oft Thursday, during the delivery of the Speech by the Lords Commissioners. His Imperial flighte:ss went afterwards to the /loose of Cow:tons, and sat in one of the side gaiieries. The Session of t'arliament was on Thursday fully opened with the speech from the Throne.—With the exception of the continued indisposition of his Majesty, and the recent death of the Queen, the topics twee. tained in it ware well calculated .tom gratify She iielier • of Parliament ; for they refer to the friendArip •oe Foreign Powers, the improvement of out internidie r sources, the •visdotn of our rulers, and the glory of , our are:;.—The ~ ebittes consequent upon the Spec*, ; presented soate matter of interest. From that •.,/ Our • Lards, we learn, that tee Bank is hot intended by '::mister: to resume cash pal meats ou the expiention of the present Restriction Act in July lieu, The subject of the resumption of' cash payment. MS opened on Friday night in •the Commons by Mr. •Dae vis, who had been required to ask, on the part of his constituents, what reception Government hid given to their representations against the resumption. It tees learned in reply, that the suspension of elm nietel - t in currency will, under any circums attoes, nut be takete off—that is to say, we she" not be again told it will be taken eft till the March oft 840. But the Chancellor of the Exchequer's present view upon. this subject will not be fully made known till after Mr. Ticrney's me .tion upon the state of public credit as connected with -Bank payments, which at present stands for the 23 of February. Another inquiry by Mr. Davis wan also upon an in. teresting subject : that hon. gentleman wished to kt:(,..v whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer remained in the intention of not funding or borrowing this year; he having funded so largely.last:year, with, the proles. sed view of prfeluding the necessity of recorrin~ to a sihiilar nieo.,.irc darin , the present. Mr. Veitsittart replied to the etfret that he aid nm see any of being ob!igetl,to fund or burrow.; but that he tsonLl not pledge himself. The lAnd-Cliair.2ellor and Lady FJlon irtvd„re, moving. fru.n thtirpresiAlt resitleitee in to their new hoube in Hamilton - p lace, early, in t ja o li, month. 0 A letter from Buenos Ayres, of the ifithof fteteller . agya-0 , Capt. Suerriff, frigute , AnttreJ inache, write% •tbut the ,V 1.41 Foy of Li son, tyist„i:grft d. .with him as to eom,.• rnit4y!mti, far . *yrniip t .; thet ,curtto the P.ugliall, but tiiat the rth-rchan , 4 „ tt ., l and li :we agr ee d tb rpay 1.50.000 .N.'t ars• per vrerly : this they emits t comply With. ters born I.inat. wbialt Await. in strottg_.wczna ,0 • t&ttering power of the . Nc ... 491:5,,w their friend. Say ALsktit.l • Otit Many of 4lie rich o:4 .Sl)*P;Plis mare 2 3-)Ft!" -- ,)31