The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1803-01-28 00:00:00

LTITRATURE. Eit oilers pr.•tnim c.noomert. Hum. }rem a Translation from the German of Fisither's 4' Travels in Spain, in 1797 and 17944' we will give an interesting extract for the entertainment of our aders. As the volume from which we hall bur vow, on this occasion, was rublislied during the c iiirae of the last year, it' C.4:11;(1t properly be the subjects el our poem' notice. lk-fore we begin to transcribe, we will first pmfess our disle•liel of that depravity, which is ascribed, in the concluding part of onr extract, to the WOll7Ol of Spain. In a cli mate, 'where the passions ate ard:nt, many guilty iv some tragic consequences may be expected to eiceur: hut human nature herself must b.: changed beyond the Pyrenees, if thousands el-women in Ma drid have perpetrated the murder of their husbands! By any impartial observer of our species it cannot he doubted that the female sex is greatly superior to the male in mildness, patience, benevolence, affec tion, and mat / meta . `'Mile t he crimes of women, like prodigies, excite onr wonder, their virtues occu py every corner of society, and constitute, in its rude or its civilised state, the solace, the cement, rind the ornament of lite. Atrocious wickedness in women is as rare as exemplary virtue among men; and, not assuming to adjust the balence of intellect between these two portions of our race, we must de cide without hesitation, that the balance of goodness is very . greatly against the men. " It is true that in Spain women were formerly in n state of the most abject slavery, insomuch that since the general civilization of Europe spanish jea lousy has become proverbial; but in progress of time Lb; manners of Spain, running from one ex treme to the other, are alme become more free thaV ite.any other country. \\*omen pay and re ceive visits, form their tertullas at will, go to pub lic fetes without consulting their husbands, spend the income of their dowries as they please, and day 'brawl besides a certain proportion of pin-money, whiatirvairslated in their marriage articles. in a word they not only know hog to assert their rights, hut enforce their pretensions witlythe utmost ri7our. They alsre. combine together with a kind of esrrit de corps, by means of which the slightest infringe ment of cenimon tisage is resented as an attack or an injury done to the whole sex. " These ill assorted marriages sometimes produce the most horrid acts of revenge. I will relate one , or the most recent examples, which took'place dur ing my residence at Madrid. Donna Antonia, a charming woman about 29 years of age at most, was married to a merchant, a man of a mild temper, but capritloua and of a weak constitution. This lady had always lived a very retired life, till a young man from Vaiencia,tho came to study the law at Madrid, was recommended to her husband, and thus had access to her. Donna Antonia was pleased with his a, which pro cured him her favour, and all )e t i ;i: privileges :at tached to it. The husband however perceived their intimacy, and by means of the offers and hononr able means he employed succeeded in dismissing the young man, without affording Donna Antonia an opportunity of opposing the measure. M' l he letter: however of Donna Antonia pursued her lover wherever he went, and love and revenge r•ndered them so eloquent, that the ydung man some months after broke his word and !turned se- cretiv to Madrid. He• thou renewed his interviews her at a private house, and Ilk passion daisy ill:reased. At length the time arrived, that An to.,ia ventured to communicate to hint a plan, she . - had long since formal, of assassinating her hus band, and offt redhim on that condition het hand and her fortune. Don Juan shudJered with horror at the proposal, begged her to abandon the idea, showing her the dreadful consequences of so black an aa;on, which he absolutely refused to perpetrate. Hereupon at first she treated him with the pro foundest 'contempt, and then gave het self up to all the extremes that could be suggested by despair. She employed alternately menaces, prayers, and im. precations, then recurred to all the artifices that re venge or love could contrive, till at length Don Juan consented, and the death of the husband was resolved. They were engaged in contriving the means of effecting this, when the following circum stance occurred to hasten its execution. "Donna Antonia had presented one of her watches to 1)on Juan. but her husband missing it, she accused the cook of having stolen it, and under that retest discharged her. The husband however meeting the woman upbraided her with her condnct, but she justified herself by revealing to him the whole secret. He therefore brought her home, con cealed her in an alcove, called his wife, and made the pretended theft the topic of conversation. The remainder of this interview may easily be imagined. And now all was lost, and noshing but the dtath of her husband could save her. The grief of the hus. band for the infidelity of his wife brought on a fever, and he vac obliged to confine himself to his bed. It was therefore determined to send all the servants out on the folywing Sunday, and leave the patient atone. The opening the door of the balcony was the signal agreed on, and thus the plot was eNccuted, Te lover entered the apartment with a poinard in his hand, fell upon the sick man, gave him several stabs in the belly, and made his escape. But the unfortunate husband calling for help, a young girl who was with her aunt Donna Antonia heard him. The noise of Don Juan in escaping also attracted her atteati•m, as she ran to the apartment of her uncle, whom she found weltering in his blood, and immediately called her aunt. It may easily be con ceived that the latter. did not fail to cry out for help too, and to feign the deepest despair. Meanwhile the young man had gained the gate of Toledo, and was going to quit Madrid, when he recollected he had no money : he therefore turntd back, and went to his apartment to get soma, but strongly impressed with the embarrassment in which he imagieed the oirject of his love to be, he went to a woman of his acquaintanoe, and there waited to receive some tid ings of her. o Two days pared en, fhe report of this assassina tion splead user Mairid, and the interval the per son who w.o. in the secret of their connection re vealed it to LIT curie —or, who advised her to go and inform the aicade-mayor. The suspicion was confirmed by an mt..vcepted letter, and the culpr'ts were arrested. Dun Juau immediately confessed a:i.l Donna Antonia, who n.“l at first denied her rime, was convicted. The prosecution continued t'-ear months, after which they were both condemned :and seuktaccd to suffer death. All the interest and ~k the 'n:ort eor.sietrable ,11Ters were made in vain. At Donna Aittot,ia ilzw in a rage, when she wls informed that•her lover hal confessed, and loaded him with reproachet, and with abnse ; but in her las' pi ?went% her tote seetoAl to be renewosi,widi inerea•ed t.ilottr, and 4411 her sentence was read to 11:_t she asked, " Don Juan tendra la,misma suer,. i"--" And wiil Don John suffer the same faite ?"--which bring answefed in' the armative, she replied, "Pues sennores •la ciento n.ucho mas (pie la mia"—" I am much niore grieved, gentle mea, for him than for myself,"--and immediately fainted. " The day of execution at length arrived, for which a scaffold had been ereeted in the Plaza mayor. .fhe two culprits having received the sacrament in the chapel of the Dominicans were conduccted to ex ecution by the •:onfraternity del Refagio. They were both dressed in black, and Donna Antonia wept. She would have embraced her lover liar the last time, but he turned away his head, till the con fessor at length reconciled them. She had begged as a favour to be strangled first, but the sentence was that both should be executed at the same mo ment. They were each on a separate seat. Don Juan fainted at the moment when the cord was put round him, but I>onna Antonia sat with great de cency, casting her eyes upon her lover. They were dispatched in about a minute. " It must here he remarked, that in Spain there is a difference between strangling (dar garotes) and hanging (ahorcar), in the former of which a wheel is used, which turns a cord across a beam, before which the criminal sits. "according to custom the bodies remained ex posed in the same state till suns t. Twelve c andles of yellow wax burned near them on black stands, and some of the executioner's attendants kept guard. The whole square swarmed with people from four in the morning, and continued so through ont the day. The observations and judgments of the spectators all . liore the stamp of the national cha racter. The faces of the deceased being black in consequence of the refkix of blood during the suf focation the people of course attribut , d this to the vidence• the devil had done to their souls. They compared the two countenances. The men made excuses for Don Juan, and the women took up the defence of Donna Antonia. The majority pitied their unhappy fate. This probably it was, that induced a curate some days after to say in his sermon, " that he knew for certain, that Madrid contained thousands of women, one half of whom had been guilty of similar crimes, and the other meditated the nerpetration of them." lam willing to hope, that the pions pastor in his zeal somewhat eraggcrated, yet it is certain that the Spanish wo men are too often led by the manners of the coun try to rid themselves of flieir husbands by poison or any other method." • THEATRE-NO 14L, DRURT-LANE. THIS EVENING will presented the C•initdy of KING RICHARD THE THIRD. King Richard, by a GENTLEMAN, Being h.s third Appimraticc on any Stage. _ _ King Henry, Mr. Wrought n; Buckingham, Mr. Raymond; Richmond, Mr. C. Kona)lc; Stanley, Mr. Packer. gaecu, Mrs. Powell; Lady Anne, Mr;. Glover. To which will lac mkt. il, LOVE ANI) MAGIC. To-mairovr, a New Comedy, called blear both Sides, ea h- performed for the first time; to which will be added The Doctor and Apothecary. THEATRE-ROYAL, COVENT-GARDEN. Till IS El ENVtiG will be performed rliti Coin,* of THE MAN OF THE WORLD. Sir Pertmax M'Sycr2hant, Mr. Cooke; Lord Lumber. court, Mr. Waddy ; Me!rille, Mr. Cory ; Egerton, Mr. Sicklons. Betty flint, Mrt. Mattocks; Constantine, Mrs. li. Sidilons ; Lady M'Syelphaitt, Mi,s 1..-serve; and Lady Rodulpha Lumbercourt, Mr'. H. Jultu;tone. 'fn utile), will b• , added, HARLEQUIN's HABEAS. Tn.mnrrow, Faar'y Quarrels, with the new Pantomime. Ili^ Young Gi.tiVeman who performed Othello on Mon day with the great,!.t applatise of a most splendid and otter flONVillg Theatre, will rapeat the Character on Monday next. A Young Gentlemen will, on Wednesday next, perform the Character of I latnlet, for the fir-t. time. THE BRITISH PRESS. LONDON, FRIDAY, JAN. 28. In the absence of new intelligence from the Con tinent, and without any domestic occurrences of moment before us, we may give our attention to any feather which accidentally floats across cur way.,---Some of the papers of the last week have anivaed themselves with speculating on the occur r..nice of Mr. PITT'S late visit to St. James's. In the event itself, we profess to see nothing that is extraordinary.—That a man, who has moved in the high sphere, which was occupied during so many years by Mr. Pirr, should pay his compliments at Court, on the oceasioq, of a Royal Birth-day ; or should be fond of hovering round the source of that power, which has constituted the happiness of the greater portion of his life—cannot reasonably excite our surprise, or force us to the neces shy of diving deeply for motives. It; indeed, Mr. Peres compliment was received by the sovereign with coolness, and a lowering counte nance, (and this we believe to have been the fact) the event would rise into importance ; and the omen, which wa ; so ill-boding to the individual, would be hailed by uc i,s at s..icious to the commu nity. ;t is not our temper to insult over the fallen ; Lut a Minister, wh s, c freer has bten so disas trou ly eventful to Bri - ain, that every step of it is im pressed with the most painful associations upon our minds, may fairly be pursued by the public voice to his retreat. When we contemplate the whole of Mr. PIIT'S political conduct—when we see him trampling on the people, on whose shoul ders he had been elevated to power—when we see him uniting with those very characters to whom he had previously been in the most hostile opposition ; and, after playing off the people against the Parlia ment, employing the Parliament against the people —when we observe him, not only break.ng thos.: i - engagements Which had armed him ,with the strength of popularity, but persecuting men whose sole crime seemed to be an adherence to that cause, from which he had .apostatized--when we behold him supporting the interested views of a narrow aristocracy, by illusion, by ri gour ; by the most lavish expenditure of the blood, the' treasures, and the Constitution of England.— When we see him, after all, abandoning his Sove reign and the State in the midst of that tempest, which he had himself excited ; and eager to retire from danger, on an usurped spot of popular ground, and under die protection of an Act of Indemnity : , When we contemplate the whole of this scene, and feel the deep wounds inflicted by his extrava gance as a Financier, and his intemperance as a Statesman, we must necessarily rejoice at the cir cumstance, which prohibits his hope of recovered power ;' and must warmly applaud the feeling which actuated the Royal frown. The Sovereign, indeed, has experienced as much of Mr. PITT'S haughtiness, as the Parliament and the people ; and with servants More agreeable to himself and to the country which he goveens, he will scarcely expose himself again to die menace of a subject-brow. — We arc as far from being the sycophants of an ex isting as we arc from being the insulters cf a de parted Minister; but looking to the past and to the present administration, we should certainly con sid...r Mr. PITT'S succession to Mr. ADD;NGTON as a very afflicting event to Great Britain : We should dread from it, in peace, the clumsy trick of new commutation and income taxes : and in war, a fresh exhibition of weakness abroad, and of rigour at home. Mr. PITT may still possess friends among an Aristocracy, whom his declamation may assist, while his pride must offend: and the sturdy grati tude of a few of that multitude, whose fortunes have sprung from the distresses of the nation, may still salute him as the saviour of his country ; but we assure ourselves that England, in a large majo rity of her present generation, and in the whole of her next, will unite with us, when resigning the task of praising him to Mr. CANNING, we must condemn him as the Minister, to whose misconduct may be referred a train of evils, great in their ex tent, and we fear permanent in their duration. Mr. PITT'S discouraging reception, supposing it to be the fact, will damp his Parliamentary ardour. —He may attend in his place upon great occa sions, but without the prospect of returning power he will not be uniform and enthusiastic in his exer tions. Even his active mind will think occasional secession is not without its charms, while, on the other hand, we are assured, Mr. Fox will pay off the large arrcar of eloquence, which he owes his country, by an unremitting observance of his Parlia mentary duty, during the remainder of the Session. The vessel arrived at Plymouth from Honduras, had so tedious a passage that her accounts can scarcely be looked to for intelligence relative to the state of that colony ; yet it is sonic satisfaction to know that they do not mention the expectation of any untoward event. An extraordinary courier was yesterday dispatch ed to Paris by General ANDREOSSI. A gentleman just arrived from Venice says, that the frequent reductions in the value of the coin have produced great discontent in that state. No man knows for a day how much money be has in his pocket. One of these alterations was so great as to cause a depreciation of 401. per cent. Mr. T. Di nois ' s Opera of Family Quarrels, it is expected, will soon be honoured with a royal com mand. His Majesty not having seen this pleasing piece, the paragraph alluding to it in our paper of yesterday is evidently without any foundation. The beginning of next week, the different poli tical parties will meet to form their several plans, for the remainder of the parliamentary campaign, which cannot but prove a busy one. Mr. MIDDLETON is elected one of the l{epresen tires for Ipswich, vice Mr. CRICKE T, without op position. The House of Commons, we understand, intend to be very strict in enforcing the payment of the sureties entered into by Petitioners, in the case of such petitions as are not prosecuted—and in no in stance where a petition is withdrawn, will the Pe titioners be excused their recognizance, except a very strong case is made out. There was a report yesterday that accounts were received by the Jamaica Mail that a communication had been made by the French Commander at St. Do mingo to the Governor of Jamaica, for permission to bring thither the wretched remains of that expe dition, which, little more than a twelvemonth ago, was sent out to recover the finest island of the Wes tern Archipelago, and once the finest colony pos sessed by any European nation. We cannot say what credit is due to this report. Perhaps it is the echo of one which had reached America, and had spread over the West Indies, that General Lee LE a e, previous to his death, had intended to evacuate the island. By the Auckland Packet, from Jamaica, whence she sailed on the 13th ult. we have received accounts that the Yellow Fever still raged with great violence in that Island. On the 4th, sth, -and 6th ult. the following Ships of the Line sailed from Port Royal, on a Crtuze, in three Divisions:— ships Guns. Commanders Tiles •us • Captain BL IG If, Bellerophon 74 ---- Lome;, Cumberland 74 Coluntodore BA IrS I ON, Elephant 74. Captain Dun DA., Ganges 74 ---- WKar4LEY, Vanguard 74 --NV/11.KM( . On Wednesday afternoon, as one of the lamp lighters in Hatton-garden was employed in lighting the lamps, the ladder on which he stood slipt from under hi it, a'nd the poor fellow fell, and had the misfortune to break one of his legs. lie was imme diately conveyed to St. Bartholomew's Hospital. c' THEATRICAL INTELLIGENCE. DRURY-LANE. The Comedy of the Busy Body was performed last night at this 'Theatre to a very brilliant audi ence. We were happy to see Mrs. JoansN in her place, as it was a public annunciation of her child's safety, and though her Miranda dis; , layed her usual excellence we could perceive a shade of maternal solicitude yet remaining, which rendered her still more interesting. Mr. BANNISTER'S Marplot wis a master-piece of acting. We do not recollect to have seen him to more advantage. his various well-meant and unfortunate blunders were given in the most comic style, and though often seen, appear ed still new, by the fascinations of his judicious droll and inventive imagination. Mr. SUF.TT in Sir Francis Gripe excited all that merriment which hi; facetious powers are so well calculated to produce ; and Mr. DowToN in Sir jealous Trairc gave a cast of originality to that well-known character. Mr. I lot. AND supported the part of Charles with n great degree of spirit, and Miss Melton, an arch, inventive and faithful Patch, gave in every respect a a. just delineation of the character. The Piece was extitmely well received and loudly applauded. covrNT GARDEN. The new Comic Opera, Family Quarrel:, went off, last night, with extraordinary eclat. This re suit was probably owing to Signora Stoß aces re sumption of the character of Susan, which, during her late indisposition, devolved upon Mrs. MILL;. We donut mean by this any reflection upon the latter lady, who is inferior to none upon the stage in archness, spirit, and vivacity. But though she has also a good voice, yet the difficulty of the several airs belonging to the part, and the peculiar style of execution, were only to be encountered with effect by the powers of Signora STORACE, for whom they were originally intended, and who on this occasion, exerted herself with uncommon, ardour. The same spirit seemed to be felt by Messrs BitnitAm, MUNDEN, INCL EDON, and BLANCHARD, the last of whom still continues to play the part of Proteus, in the absence of Mr. FA wcEvr.—Most of the airs were encored. The House was very welt attended. To the Editor of the BRITIFH P&Fc3. )1 R, The recent death of a much respected Booksel ler, Mr. Alderman CAPE'. 1., brought to my recA lection the following Epitaph, upon a man equally celebrated in the Annals of Literature ; front the similarity of their pursuits, it appears equally adapted for the one as the other ; if you think it worthy of a Niche in the British Press, it may possi. bly he preserved from oblivion, and you will oblige a well wisher. OGAD. An FPITARII on JACOL TODISON, the Bookseller, made !'y a Young Gentleman a Eton School, in the Year 173;. Vita Volnrnin:• peatto Hic FINIS JACOBI TONSON, P , 7poloti Sociorum Principis, Qui velut obstetrix mustn't', In Luc em edidit, partus Lugete scriculrurn chorus, Frang . to calamog, Ille vester qui chartis vitam tiara E vita margins erases, d-Actur Sed hate postrema inscrirtio Haie prime moms pogiiiir, Imprimatur Ne przlo sepulchri commieus Ipso Editor cueat Taub, Ilic jacet Ilibliapolr Folio Vita dclapso Expectans !imam Editionet• Atu-ti,,em et Enacrviatiorem. Yesterday her MAJESTY held a drawing-room at St. James's, which was fully attended• We were happy to see his MAJESTY look so un commonly well yesterday after his late indisposition. he arrived at St. James's at half past one, and wan dressed in the uniform of a Field Marshal. Her Royal Highnc;s the Dutchess of YORK went in great state to the Drawing Room yesterday, es corted by a party of the Lite Guards. . . We are sorry to rind the Princesses AUGUgre and SOPHIA were unable to go to Court yesterday, in consequence of slight cods. The ice in the Parks was covered yesterday with fashionable skaitets. The E:trl of BELMORE still continues a': Castle- Coole near Inniskilling. It is said the heart of a victorious Military Am bassador has become the conquest of a fair H,Ati nian Lady ELL EN aoaot.:it was one of the most grace ful and best dressed. Ladies at Court yesterday. Mr. C A. 4 Ac's house, next to the _Duke of YORK°S in Portman-square, is fitting up with much taste and splendour. It will be completely finished to— wards the end of next week. Lord NELSON wai among the fashionable lcuagerb: of Bond-street, yesterday. A gentleman was attacked at Knightsbridr Monday evening by two footpads, who robbed hir, of his watch, and severely beat him with his ow:. stick. Glasgow College was attacked on the night of the inctant,'by a riotous mob, which demolished many of the fiont windows. 'I he Princesses ELIZABETH, MARY, and ANE•• LIA appeared in high spirits at Court yesterday. Aveteran Duke is expected to bid high for a group , of Satyrs at Christie's Auction of Paintings that day. Major General LENNOX is enjoying the ris,c 1:- noun as Mayor of Chichester, the Peace having for the present prevented the pursuit of mil tar, glory. Drury-lane Theatre has met with better suc cess, and more cash has actually come into the Treasury, and remained there disposeable for the ne cessary purposes of the regular disbursements of the House, than during the same period of any season for some years past. Mrs Jo it t) A N's child is somewhat better, and if she continues to mend, the new Comedy will certainly come out tO- morrow, as Mrs. JORDAN has a prin cipal character in it. ~ :~ y MEM