The Sun. — London, England, 1823-01-29 00:00:00

THE THEATRES. Datitry-LANE.--Mr. litsToN last night made his first appearance at this Theatre, as Tony Lumpkin, in GOLDSMITH'S pleasant Comedy - of She Stoops to conquer. He was received on his entrance with the most gratifying testimonies of public favour. His merit in. the part is too well known to require any comment from us, and it is only necessary to say that he tiever exerted himself with More spirit, and may be said to be the best representative of the character since the admirable original, Mr. Quicx, whose versa tility .of tafents altogether have not been equal led since he made his voluntary retirement.— Previous to the play an apology was made by Mr. Coop sit for the absence of Mr. Musiou, on account of indisposition, and stating that Mr. TEatty would take the part of Hardeastle, which indeed he performed with so much ability at the Haymarket Theatre, without detracting from the merit of the former, as to afford much pleasure to the audience. The comedy altogether was well supported and very amusing. COY ENT.GAILD EN.—A new play, partly derived from Nigel, one of those Scottish Novels which have excited so much popularity, was brought forward at this Theatre last night. Ible IDs; 00 1 King James Buckingham - Dalgarno - - Nigel - llerlot r Skourlie (a Scrivener) Trapbois - - - Jin Vin - Strappet . Peppercola liildebrod :Alargaret - Martha Trapboiu - Bridget - - DRAMATIS PERSON/E. - Mr. BARTLEY. ▪ . Mr. HUNT. • • Mr. C. KEMBLE. • - Mr. A/3BOTT• • - • Mr. EGERTOX. . - Mr. W. FARREX. - Mr. BLANCHARD. ▪ - - Mr. Cobalt. • • • Mr. FAWCETT• "• • • Mr. YATES. - • t Mr. TAYLOR. •. Miss FpoTE. - Miss LACY. - Mrs. CHATTERLEY• I. ' FA ULE. The time of action is about the dose of James's reign, when ,0 the feebleness of the government, as evinced in the impunity of , e ,• Overbury's murderers and other great offenders, had rel axe d the morals of lhe higher classes, many of whom, for purposes of lewd intrigue, and even lucre, retained as dependents, and otherwise leagued with, the desperate adventurers that fre4uented Patirs4iiele, and other places of public resort. e Worn°, a gay nobleman subservient to Buckingham, is the hero of this play : and his tools are, the bully Peppercole, and !,... Skourlie, a scrivener, who, though of middle ege, has contracted a passion for Margaret, the object also of Dalgarno's lawless (Intim. Her preference fur Nigel, and the circumstance of e Nigel's being assisted by th e Ki ng , w h o was hi s f at h er ' s i'l debtor, with jewels whereon James authorises hint to raise a sum fir paying off a mortgage of his estates (pledged greatly e below their value, nominally to Skourlie, but in secret for Dal. gerno's use), are considerations which irritate Dalgarno against Nigel ; who, for having drawn his sword within the royal pre. . eincts in rescue of Margaret from an attempt of Dalgarno to force 1.. her off, is fain to take sanctuary in Whitefnare, (alias Abatis), at the house of Trapbois, the usurer, who is to raise the money on the. k jewels. To prevent the completion of the payment within the few re renaming hours of die mortgage-terni,Dalgarno,whtkuti failure 1 , of redemption would become sole lord of Nigel's fortunes, come', masked and cloaked, with Peppercole into the usurer's house, with a view of seizing and secreting the jewels till theaux of the time. • Trapbois is gagged' by Dalgarno with a scarf; and it ireh is struggle, the noose of the scarf sliding, becomes entangled round his throat and strangles him. Dalgarno is wounded by. „ K Nigel in the wrist, but escapes with the Jewdis. The play how deviates still further front the tract of the novel: Nigel, being r proved to have suddenly quitted the fatalaceneet Ifii the old nian's (laughter and some valuable property, is next morning at Dal garno`e suggestion; charged with the murder ; a charge cor roborated b 4 l the non.appearance . of the daughter at the in quest held by Hil ebrod. A aw minutes only before the expiration of the term, the mortgage is.paid off to Skourlie by Strapper from a secret' source : while Nigel is brought from the Tower, and examined by the King, in the presence of Margaret : she having claimed, under suspicious circumstances, and in the disguise of a Scottish Peg!, a promise which James, when she had sung befOre him in that dreg:eat - tt . unnwrobig; -hrat made that he. would grant the Page a boon ; which boon she wishes to receive in the shape of Nigel's pardon. The evidence of the murder l„ now pressing Nigel, ' Skourlie, who has before unsuccessfully sought the hand - of Margaret ' promises that on her consenting to bestow it on hi m , h e will acquit the accused. She, in agony, it yielding, when the rich usurer's daughter strives.-.accounts for her absence from the ingtiest by explaining how she has secretly been employed in raising the redemptioneritortey of her deliverer's estates t.--and finally, by scarf, which is identi. fled for Dalgarrio's, as well as the wound on his wrist, .proves ,j him the 'real felon. Margaret is thus rescued front Skourlie, , and united to Nigel. ' We confess with regret that we: have not ~.. perused the novel, and therefore cannot say Ili" whether or not the author of the play has kil t proved-on the original. It seems, however, to have been his intention to bring forward a Variety and contrast of characters, and in this he has 1, fully succeeded. In this respect the Managers ! have very successfully assigned the characters to the respective performers. It was the avowed intention of the author also to found .the play .upon the model of our earlier Dramatists in t• point of style, adopting occasionally, as the scene 1 .requires, blank verse or simple prose. This plan, 1. as the 'style of the elder D rama ti s t s h as b een i n ,a great measure superseded by the language of i SHANSPEARE, w hicil his genius will render the .language of this country for ever, necessarily / renders the play rather quaint to a mixed / audience, who are not conversant with the • phraseology of a distant period. The play altogether, though it requires truncation, is well i'; • constructed in point of interest, and with skit / ful pruning will become more so. We never . attended the first performance of any play in which the representation in general was more . ; correct. Having given an outline of the fable, ' and repeating our opinion that, when judicious ~. curtailment has. condensed its interest, it . will snore strongly excite attention, we . have nothing g. . to.add in the way of comment. There was some 1 apparent licence in the description which Dalgarno 0 gaveof the amorousprete ns i ons o f t hen Id Scrivene r , k, :which seemed to be an outrage upon that delicacy -which should always characterizes the Stage, but menre not sure that the pruriant imagination of the audience did not give greater latitude to the _passage than was intended, when they marked it with decided censure ; • but, however, ;it wilt of course be omitted in the future . representations of the Play. Even supposing • that the meaning was rather too free, it may be inferred, that in studying the style of our elder Dramatists, the author's mind might catch something too much of the broad kvity which characterised th e manners o f t h e i r times.—lt is difficult to -say too much in praise of the acting, and we have only to refer to the 1, • Dramatis Persomi, as • g i ven a b ove , t o assure our Readers that all the characters were well supported. The gallant bearing and spirited elegance of CHARLES Kt:mimc rendered his part, naturally revolting, highly entertaining. FARR.F.N t, . was •admirable, and so was BLANCHARD. AUUOTT ' ' was very respectable. FARt.re matte as much i . . of his character as it required. Miss LACY fully If • Justified all the favourable reports which we made of her former exertions. Her performance last a '- , • Aligkrt Was d eeply affecting, and was so chum, teristically just, that she deserves to hold a very high station on the London Stage. Miss FOOTE and Mrs. CHATTERLEY both exerted themselves very successfully. BARTLEY gave a humorous sup port to the character of King James. ERTON displayed his usual judgment in herb t, — and CHAPMAN would doubtless have been more effective, if he had not been disabled by a severe cold.—The Managers have rendered full justice to the Author in magnificence of cos tume and picturesque beauty of scenery, in the latter of which the taste, talents, and correctness of Gluey': appear to great advantage.—The play, upon the whole, was so well received, that, with the exception of those passages which gave offence, and those which hung heavily upon the attention, we have little doubt that it will be hardly less successful than the other dramatic pro ductions which have been derived from the same Caledonian storehouse. We know not who is the author of this piece, but we are as sured that the report which assigns it to Mr. HORACE TWISS is unfounded ; and from what we know of his character, the passages which excited censure.on the score of imputed indelicacy are not likely to have issued from his pen. There was a strong mixture of applause and opposition when ABBOTT came forward to announce the Play for repetition, but we are persuaded that, with judicious abridgement and compression, it will maintain its ground, and, considering the admirable skill of the acting, and the general beauty of the decora tions, &c. it will experience the general support of the public. The house was very well attended. EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTER. • • THOMAS I)ntsaELL, the miser, who died a few days ago io Clerkenwell workhouse, wuburied in the ground be longing to St. James's parish, on Thursday last, in thepresence of a vast concourse of persons, who were anxious to see his re. mains consigned to the earth. The funeral was conducted in a very respectable manner, and the corpse was followed by four couple ; and Mary Ann Thompson, a little girl about thirteen years of age, a natural daughter of the deceased, to whom he has bequeathed the whole of his hoarded wealth, at. tended as chief mourner. As the history of this extraordinary man is singularly interesting, we lay it before our readers : Drisdell was by trade a journeyman scale-maker, and worked for many years with Mr. Wood, in Smithfield. He was always remarkably • industrious, but was disliked by the other workmen and most of his acquaintances for his penuriousness. lie was always ready to join them in carousing, but was never Mond to contribute towards defraying the costs, which he would avoid by saying he could not afford it, and that he was deeply in debt. By this method he contrived to hoard the whole of his wages i • and whatever sustenance he partook of was obtained from d ifferent individuals who were in the habit of associating with him. His disposition became so gene. rally known, that he was called amongst the trade " Poor Tom," and at other titles " Tons the Cadger; " but it was never conjec. tured that lie had saved any money, and hisoonduct was supposed •to be on account of distress. A few years back ho was discharged from Mr. Wood's service, he having got to b* a very slow work. man, which was attributed to his age ; and from th at t i me , t ill a short period of hi s d eat h, h e travelled about town as an itinerant, cleaning and keeping shopkeepers scales in order, and wherever; he apphed for a job, and did not succeed, he would implore the charity of the people of the house, and, by stating himself to be pennyless and in the most urgent want, he would obtain the broken victuals, and in this way he existed. On Friday, the llith inst., information was given to Mr. Scott, the churchwarden of St. .lames's Clcrkenwell, that Dristlell was perishing for want of sustenance and medical attendance, at a house in Paradi se . court, Turninill-street, an d that unless immediate assistance was rendered, he would not survive many hours. Mr. Scott forthwith dispatched Brown, the beadle- with a chair and t wo carriers for the dyin g man , i n or d er that he might be taken care of in the house, and receive the attendance of the arish doctor. On the beadle entering a two.-pair of stairs wretched spectacle presented itself. The floor did not appear to have been cleaned for year*, and in one corner of the hovel was Drisdell stretched on a few old rags, and covered with a piece of filthy blanket. This, with an old deal table , I wo bot tomless ch airs , an d a sma l l dea l box made sill the entire of the furniture. Th e box appeared to be filled with oldeffithecutar. nients, and that, together with Drisdell, wh o was s ere, were removed to ' the workhou se . M r . S cott human y ordered every comfort to be administered to him, and medical aid was promptly rendered, but lie only lin gere d t ill neat day when he expired. After his dissolution th e con t ents o f the deal box were explored by Mr. Scott and other gentlemen belonging to the parish, when, amongst a heapof filthy rags they found 3 silver watches, each wrapped in a piece of rag; on further search they discovered l 5 sovereigns, an old stocking half filled with silver, crowns, half-crowns, shillings, and idxpences, and some of them quite black from age; and a bundl e of papet,i tied roun d with a piece of string, which on being opened turned out to con. tail Navy 5 per Cent. Bonds to a very large amount and other sureties, together with his will, appointing Mr.Wood,his former employer, at sole executor and guardian t o hi s natural daughter, the little girl abOvementioned, end leaving her the whole of his property amounting to 17001. When the documents were found, some doubts arose as to th e i r v a lidi t y, t h e deceased having led such a wretched life, but on inquiry they were found to be genuine. Mr. Scott immediately set about making inquiries for the little girl amongst those persons who kn e w h eran d t h e d ecease d ; and after much trouble lie found her living with a poor woman who obtained a scanty existence by selling water-creases about the streets. She was forthwith taken from her distressed abode and comfortablclad, and is now und e r th e p ro t ect i on o f t h e executor, Mr. Wood, the scale-maker, in Smithfield, end it Is his intention to send h er t o b oar di n g- i school for instruction.— What is most extraordinary, the child had never received the least assistance from the deceased whilst livinA, although she was wandering about the streets an outcast and without a shoe to her toot or a rag to cover her. Dristiell was 56 years of age when hedied, and was a bachelor. Du. JeNNER.—With unfeigned sorrow we have to announce the death of our distinguished countryman, Dr. J ENNUI, the discoverer of Vac cination. lie expired on Sunday last, after a very short illness, at his house at Berkeley, in the 74th year of his age. An event so awful from its suddenness, and so impressive and mournful, front the eminent qualities of him who has thus been removed from among us, demands an ampler notice than we now can give ; but we cannot refrain from expressing our ardent hope, that due and ample honour will be paid to the memory of an individual , not less worthy of love for his private virtues, than of esteem and admi ration as one of the greatest benefactors of man kind.---(Gloucester Journal.) Letters Patent have passed the Great Seal of Ireland, appointing the Hight Hon. Lord MARY uottoncin, one of his Majesty's Ministers, Master of the Mint, &c. to be Custos Itotulorum for the Queen's County. Sir G Witta Lxe has given to his numerous tenantry in Bucks in the whole fifty-five per cent. since a valuation was taken of his estates about ten years ago. Sir Grottoes estate is of the first quality, consisting of feeding, dairying, meadow, and arable land. C. Sttlnn, Esq. of liedgerley, Bucks, imp plies the poor of that p ar i s h w i t h a go od hot dinner of roast and boiled beef alternately every Sunday, front Christmas to Lady-day. The Earl of ROSIDERRY has directed Wt. to be distributed among the poor of each of the Parishes of Dalmetty, Cramond, Linlithgow, Livingston, Carrington, and Temple ; and a supply of clothing, meal, and coals to the poor in Dalmeny and Queensferr7. FASHIONABLE ARRIVALS. The Duke and Duchess of Somerset, in Park-lane the Marquis of Westmeath, at the Duke of Buckingham's house in Pall-mall ; the Marquis of Graham,. from a tour ; the Earl of Westmorland, from Strathfieldsay, Hants; Earl Clan. william, from Strathfieidsay; the Earl of Nrinehilsea and Mr. Finch, in South-street, Park.dane ; the Earl of Ancram, ttt the St. James's Hotel, from a tour; Countess De Grey, in St. James's-square, from her /feat in Surrey ; Lord Saye and Sele, from Belvidere, Kent; Lord Somerville, in Hill.street ; Lord Amberstiand Hon. Capt. Amherst, in Lower Grosvenor street ; Lord Garvagh, in irertford-street Viscount Maynard, in Grosvenor-square ; General Lord Hartland, In Grosvenor. place ; Lady Sophia Heathcote, front a tour; Lady Smith, at the Terrace, Piccadilly ; Lady Home, in Sackville-street; Sir Win. and Lady Duff Gordon, in Lower Brook-street ; Hon. Mr. Eardley, from Belvidere, in Kent; Mrs. Broadhead, in Berkeley-square; Sir James Balfour, in Brook-street. UnaxGES..— Viscount Downe, at his seat, Danby-hall, Yorkshire from a tour ; Visco u n tess B u lk e l ey , f or h er seat , Englefield-green, Berks ; Lord de Dunstanville, on a tour; Admiral W ells, for ibis seat in Sussex ; Sir Frederick Fowke, Hart. for Surrey ; Col. Hallam, from the St. James's Hotel, Jermyik-street, for .his seat in Hens; Mr. and Mrs. Douglas, from slivart's Hotel, Lower Drook.street, for Bath; Captain Oswald, from ditto, for Ireland; Mr. and Mrs. Moore, from Read's Hotel, Lower Grosvenor-street, for Bath. FASHIONABLE PARTIES. Mr. Secretary Peel gave a grand entertainment yesterday at his house in Stanhope-street, Mayfair. The Countess of Essex had a small party yesterday evening at her house, in Hilr-street, Berkeley-square. Lord Holland had a dinner party yesterday in Old Burling ton-street. Dowager Lady Neave had a select party yesterday evening at her house, in Albetnarle.street. ANNIVERSARY OF MR. FOX. GLASGOW, JAW. 25.—The meeting yesterdey in celebration of the birth of Mr. Fox was highly respectable. About ninety Gentlemen sat down to dinner, Ale. SAMS, of Cuicreuch, in the Chair, Sir Jolt); Maxwett., Croupier. The Chairman, in proposing the memory of Mr. Fox, made a neat eulogiurn On his virtues. Mr. DOTI OLA 3 made a very brilliant speech on the foreign valley of England. lie hailed the return of a right feeling m the Government, and rejoiced, that instead of persecuting the friends or liberty in other eonntries, it had re verted ito the ancient policy of protecting them. Mr. Max we t.r. spoke with his usual eloquence in favour of the inde pendence of Greece. The following were among the toasts : — " The King."—! , The glorious and immortal memory of Charles James Fox."—" The House of 'Hanover, anti may they never. forget the principles which seated t h em on the Throne."=" The Navy."—" The 'Army."....." The Cause of Liberty all over the world."---" The Rights of the People, which Mr. Fox spent his life in defending."—" The Sove reignty of the People."—" Speedy and substantial Reform in the Representation o f the reople."---" May a zeal for the Reform of abuses never he contaminated by personal animosity against our political. opponents." ANECDOTE.—As Lord ROBERT ----••• (who is not the tallest man in the world) was winning every thing at Whist, a short thoe ago, one of his antagonists completely lost his temper, and threw up his cards, exclaiming, " that it was too bad for Lord ROBERT to win every thing in that way;' upon which a Gentleman who was present ob served, that it was not at all surprising, seeing that he was 800 Shari,---(a celebrated writer on WHIST.) DESTRUCTION OF THE MUNICH THEATRE.— (Munich, Jan. 16.)—A terrible misfortune hap pened here yesterday. A bout eight o'clock in the evening the new Court Theatre was discovered to be on fire, - and in it feir minutes the whole of the interior was in flames. The audience happily escaped without injury, and in tolerable order, by means of the numerous outlets. Soon afterwards the roof fell in with a dreadful crash, and in less than three hours the whole of this splendid edifice was reduced to ashes. Prince CHARLES was the only member of the Royal Family present. It was not possi ble to think- of saving this fine building ; all that could be done was to prevent the flames spreading to the Old Theatre Royal and the Palace ; this was happily effected, though the old Theatre is considerably injured by the water thrown upon it. The cause of the accident is not known. Some attribute it to the pipes for heating the building. The damage is estimated at a million and a half of dories. It is reported that some carpenters were killed, and others severely wounded. The library and the music are saved ; but the wardrobe, for the most part, is destroyed. MATHEIVIt'S success in America has, we under stand, been unprecedented ; he has not only given his various entertainments to Most crowded audi ences, but has also resumed his profession in the regular drama, and his profits we learn have ex- ceeded eighty pounds sterling per night upon the average. We observe, with pleasure, that the work of ornamental improvement is still proceeded in upon the North Loch and the grounds contiguous. Within these few days a number of full-sized trees have been planted upon the north side of the Castlehill, at irregular distances ; and though the appearance of them at present, from their being pruned of their luxuriance!, is rather gro tesque, their effect, in the course of a year or two, must be very delightful.---( Edinburgh Courant.) The Southdown shepherds say, that they never remembered their ewes to have been More lusty at this time of the year than they are at present, nor to cough so little as they do now. These circumstances they consider as omens of sound uently in hope th a t th e upss, and they are consequently next will be a very productive lambing season, MOCK SUNS.--At Dalmellington, about mid day on Saturday last, four suns were observed in the firma ment at one time. An uncommoh vivid halo, resembling a rainbow, half circled each of the !twat suns, while the natu ra l one was entirely s ur roun d e d. Tne appearance of the whole was extremely beautiful, an d exceeded in brilliancy and splen dour any thing of a similar nature which has occurred in the memory of the oldest shepherds in that quarter: This pheno. menon, though varied in appearance, was likewise visible here, and in other places of the country...--( Ayr Courier.) On Thursday night the Calton Police officers took into custody three suspicious persona, whom th ey hail pre viously observed lurking about lanes and closes. On entering the Office, one of them well known in the Criminal Courts, named John Alktlonaltl, , was observed to retire to the win. dow, where he attempted to tear and destroy a piece of paper. One of th e officers forced it out of his konti. Upon collecting the fragments, it turned out to be a foreign bill, the third of exchange for 5001. It was dated perhadoes May, 1812, and drawn in favour of Messrs. Fra nc i s Gard en and Son, upon Messrs. Finlay, liannatyne and 00., London. T 0 several questions respecting the manner in which he 'be came possessed of this do c ument, he answered that he had got it on the proceeding night, in a tap-room in the Oallowgiste.— —(Gitiegose Chronick.) 1' 0 E T R Y. PROLOGUE TO NIGEL. MOM AY MR. YATES AND MISS. /DOTE. I:nter 4. Lady, follozacd by an Author in , a cloak and black silk -mask. A u7llOll-4 Bowing and pointing to the side of the Stage oppo.. rite to that on ?Mich they have entered. ) This way will bring you to your Box. LADY. Perhaps You're a Performer ? AUT. No, ma'am—mind the traps— 'Tis as an Author I have sought my fashion. LADY. I doat on Authors—genius is my passion. But why then masqu'd ? AUT. That I may not be known. LAux. What could you write and be so loth to own ? Nothing equivocal, I hope. AUT. In me You see —or, but for this disguise, would see; An unknown champion in the .Muse's field, But more consider'd still, as more conceal'd. A guest in Courts, in camps, in hells, in hovels— In short—the Author—of the Scottish Novels. LADY. Delightful been three whole seasons dying For your acquaintance.—Nay now, don't be flying— You'll come to me to-morrow evening —mind, Without your masque,—as soon as you have dined A little early party— Au,. Pray excuse me. LADY. 0, no excuses—now you cha'n't refuse me. Pledge me your word, or, in this public place, 1 vow I'll have that vizor from your face. At: T. I throw me on your honour then : not Betray me now—my name is ***** I • LADY. Dear, I'm so sorry. Atr T. Wherefore? LADY. That's the name On ev'ry body's tongue--I meant to claim A secret to myself.—And did you write The Play, then, we are come to see t o - n i g h t ? AUT. I'm not its Author; though I fairly own 'Twas . thmtigh my means tt came before the town. It's one of those old Plays, revis'4.l and clipt, Of which I've sev'ral yet, in manuscript ; And from whose scenes you may have sometimes read A blank verse motto at my chapter's head. But, as the same event of James's day Founds my new Novel, and thii ancient Play, The actors interweave such scenes of mine As come germanely to the Play's design. LADY. Then, this is not, as former Plays have been, The Novel shifted into act and scene ? AUT. Not for this Novel, you will find, had not, Like olome before it, a theatric plot. Ile not displeas'd then, pray you, nor surpriz'd, If, for a hovel closely dramittied, You tind a plain, old.fashion'd Play before ye, With the old freedom, varying from the story, And following only one great rule and measure, The slut to give a gentle audience pleasure. LADY. I wish no scenes but yours had been embrac'd Then I might praise, and not commit my taste ; But to applaud an unestablisled Poo— -1 may get wrong, perhaps, before I know it. Now Lady bight-blue, who's a first-rate wit, Said the last Comedy was quite a hit : Alias Sourby, who's it critic and blue stocking, • Said never any thing was half so shocking Which was Ito believe do protest, I never in my life was more distrest ! • AUT. To-night. at least applaud : and never fear lint that your smile will carry judgments here; E'en the cross critics may be half controurd— LADY. Let but the Critics know your Play is old, And they'll uphold you, be it but to force Those horrid, forward Moderns off' the course. AUT. Spare the poor Moderns ; lam of their crew. LADY. I es, Sir ; but all the world agree, that you, Unlike the Modems of onr tiresome race, 'Will come in time to have an ancient's place. Nay, more ; I apprehend, that it' the I'l4, Old as you call it, should succeed to-tlav anintltl suereed to-day; The house must thank, in tar the first degree, That Inotlern muse (long modern may she he), Who takes her name from first-born NVAVUHLEY EPILOGUE TO NIGEL. 57'6ICEN By ItItd.'CRATTEIU.EY• Here I am once again—Pray be seated—don't fidget ! I've something importan t —p ra y li s t en to Bridget -I I walk'd from Paul's Wharf, all along by Fleet-ditch, To Whitehall—where .1 met with King James—he's a witch ! Ile sees future destinies,mark'd on the globes : " Sit ye doWn, child," he cried. Then he twitched up his robes. " I'll tell you your fortun e ." Odd thoughts seern`d to strike lum. " You've got an old husband." "Yes !"." How do you like ham ?" " Um."—" Speak."—" Pretty middling : confess if I must, " He's not like old Port, Sir, the better tOr rust : " Time mellows our win e ; that improves ev'ry hour, " But husbands, kept too long, We apt to turn sour."' " Odd's fish ! you're a wag, girl, take Taper and pen." Then he stalk'd up and down :-twitcli'd his robes up again,, And thus, deeply vers'd in the planets' decree, Foretold London's fate in the year twenty-three. " Young Ensigns in whiskers, and Dandies in stays, " Will nitldety nod it in cabriolets: " O'er pavements ill mended, will kick up a clatter— " If their necks alone were in danger, no matter ! " A frost will make noses on new year's day tingle ; " A new Marriage Act will keep bachelo r ' s "While Homer's Achilles, without boots or gaiters, " Will stand in Hyde Park to astonish the skaiters. " (heat folks will be gadding to Paris and Rome, " They'd better by half spend their money at home. " Covent-Garden will keep up her scenic renown, " And one Sleeping Beauty will wake half the town. " But," (here he look'd grave) " in that year twenty-three, " She'll make a stage play of my Jewels and Me, " SIIAKMAIIE sere d DEkillY, our great predecessor, " Broug6ht on in a crib, like a pig on a dresser.) • " indemtacris"--(and here he look'd graver) " And yet—if you ask it—they'll t reat me w i t h f avour ." "Ah ! Sire , " replied, you may f a il i n yonr. pl an . " You don't know the Pit !—lltit do what I can." (To the Audience.) Then, Sirs, by your hands, prove I've 'meet' no fiction, And verify bonnie King James's prediction. A ItellEttY.—On Saturday last, the 18th inst., a subscription prize, a silver snuff=box, was shot for by the Royal Company of Archers, at their butts, Archers' Hall, and won by John Colin Wilson, Esq. Writer to the Signet. • SUDDEN DE.4.1'11.-011 Monday afternoon, Mr. IJUCKMASTER, a respectable coal, merchant, re • siding in Oid!street-road, was conversing with his chief clerk, and giving directions to him to have a quantity of coals conveyed to a customer on the following day, when Mr. 13. suddenly exclaimed, " Oh, Loan I what is the matter with me ? I never felt so before," when he fell down and instantly expired. Ile had previously enjoyed au excellent state of health. MELANCHOLY Accr.orwr,Duncan Macgrigor was for many years in the employ of one of the contractors on the Lochaber, or west end of the Caledonian Canal. He was a stout, good.hu. ruoured, blunt fellow ; on able worker, and a faithful servant. Setting out, at a very early hour, from Corpach, to visit his wife and family at Appin, and to celebrate with them the New Year's Day festival, an occasion so joy. pus to the Highlanders, owing to the darkness of the morning he missed the path, and fell over one of the Canal locke r then half full of water, and was unfortunately drowned. He had about him at the time some small articles, as a New Year's gift to each of his - little ones, six in num.. ber ; he was happy in figuring the joy of the little group on his arrival ; and when their hopes of his coming were raised to their height, they were withered ; his untimely death was announced, and they were desolate.—(Seetsmon.) _...„1,.., , i, i i .,,,- *T ..1,) II ~,. 41. ~. ' I rf- .4. • 4.... , ,,).,..;'1. e4 , ..Ac' . --4 4 A40 1 7:;•'' 0 './. ~ i iwt,.., t $, ; , 1- 0 . . ~,, .± .=„0 ,1,...- ,Nip • , < ft . T ' Wit l . • . : 4 - 11 Eit Or 157.-• 4 " f 4 t • • . _ ..,_ ,0 , -• .. ... t.,-..v.v..• - , ... a .,N) 41 • flb b - s ~, N l e . 1, 01 0,+, , e IX' , THE ARMY. I It is understood that Lieut,.General "Garr Lord Beresford, G. C. 8.. ha., been appointed Lieut.- General of the Ordnance, vice Lieut.. General Sir !tilde:brand Oakes, Bart. G.C.B. deceased. Tile Medina transport, hound from rion*y.to Livtrpool, with the last division of the 6.5 th regiment of Infantry on board, has put into the Cove of Cork short of provisions, and with her rudder much injured. A detachment belonging to the 54th regiment of Foot will arrive front Albany Barracks, at Chatham, on the 31st instant, and will subsequently proceed to Gravesend, to embark for Madras. A detachment of the 13th Light Dragoons has received orders to march from Maidstone to Chatham, on the 31st Inst., preparatory to its embarkation at Gravesend for Madras, about the middle of next month. Commissions signed by the Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Cumberland. Edward Stanley, Esq. to be Deputy-Lieutenant; Philip Henry Howard, Esq. to be ditto ; Militant Hartley, Esq. to be ditto; Thos. Hartley, Esq. to be ditto; John Harrison, Esq. to be ditto ; John Littledale, Esq. to be ditto ; Richard %Vett*, Esq. to be ditto ; Edw. Wm. Ilasell, Esq. to be ditto; George Troutbeck, Esq. to be ditto; John Ponsonby, Esq. to be. ditto ; John Wilson, Esq. to be ditto ; James Spedding, Esq. to be ditto; Skeffington Lutwidge, Esq. to be ditto; Henry Lo wt h er Clerk, to be ditto; Thom as Harrison, Clerk, to be ditto ; Alex- Scott, Clerk, to be. ditto. Commissions signed by the Lord . Lieutenant of the County of Westmorland. Royal Westmorland Regiment of Militia—Jas. Bell, Gent.. to be Ensign. NVestniorland Yeomanry Cavalry—Charles LtMus Lawson, Gent. to be Cornet. MERCANTILE SHIPPING. DEAL, JAM. s,W.—Put back by adverse winds, and remain In the Dow ns , th e N or f o lk, G rey, f or Madras itud ' Calcutta. POUTSMOUTIT. JAM. 21k—Wind S.S.W.-.:—Arrived his Majesty's ship Seringspatarn from the West Indies; and his Majesty's ship Redwing from ditto ; Mulgrave Castle Ralph, from the Downs for th e - Isle of France, &e. S a il e d the Martha, Strachan, and Bridges, Johnson,_ both for London. lavEstPoot., JAN. 2d.--Sailed the Bencoolen, Kirkwood, for Calcutta. FAL 310 i/ TII, JAN. 27.—Wind E.—No arrivals or mailings. The Pandora, Conyear, from Bristol to Newfoundland, hay arrived at Ilfracombe, after having been out 17 weeke. MELANCHOLY SHIPWRECK. The brig Venus, Captain Simon, from Newfoundland came into the harbour of St. Helier yesterday morning (Mon - day, the 13th inst.), having on board nin e men , t h e surv i v i ng part of the crew of t h e ship 'Windermere, of Liverpool, Samna Cole Lyon, master, which foundered in a heavy gale near the coast of Ireland, on the Bth instant. The Nirindermere was a tine ship of 367 tons hurthen, with a crew of 21 men and boys ; she was bound from Old Calabar to Liverpool, laden with palm oil, ivory, red-wood, and had on board Er een hundred dollars in spectre. On the Bth January, at ten, r.st., being in 60 deg. N. lat. and 14 W. long., in the midst ui a violent gale, the vessel shipped a heavy sea, which tore the ringbolts from the deck, carried away the boats, .and split the lee-gunwale; it also carried away part of the stanchions, and the ship tusking a great deal of water, the pumps were kept constantly going. At eleven o'clock, a tremendous sea struck her again, which hove her on her beam ends, carried away her foremast' and bowsprit, and wash e d the master and eight of th e crew Over .: board. She immediately filled, but the remaining pan of the crew having cut away the main and mixer masts,, she righted. In a few minutes more, the decks were forced up by the pres sure of the water underneath ; and the crew, now reduced to fourteen; were obliged to t a k e re f uge on he poop. In the course of the night two more hands were washed overboard, and next day one boy died through exCessive cold and fatigue. In this horrid situation, straining every nerve to maintain their hold against the fury of the waves, which threatened every moment to ingulf them, t h e miserable remnant of the crew remained without any sustenance whatever, until the lOth instant, when at twelve o'clock, the brig Venus, of Jersey, hove in sight, and with a praiseworthy humanity every effort was made to rescue the unhappy sufferers front their perilous situation. lint here another difficulty pre , rented itself, for the Venus had lost her boats, and had other wise been .materially injured in a previous . gsle ; the only me thod therefore of escape, was by swimming, and the assistance of ropes thrown towards the wreck, by which Means about three r.itt. nine men at length got on board the Venus, two more being drowned in the attempt. Nothing could exceed the at tention of the matter and crew of the Venus to the unfortunate sufferers; they gave them up th e i r b e d s , an d S hared their chithe a w i t h tern ; the foremost in these offices of humanity being Mr. Nicolle (sera to Judge Nicolle, the owner of the Venus), who fortunately happened to 1w on board. The fol , lowing is a list of the crew of die Windermere, the owners of which are Messrs. Chas. llorsfall and T. Tobin, of Liverpool. Drowned S. C. Lyon, master; James Fox, surgeon T. Smith, carpenter ;W. tienesti, steward ; Foster, Joseph Joiner, C. Tear, coopers ;- J. Middleton, s u il nia k er • W. Mu th), O. Bennet, D. Wolf, and C. Grocott; seamen ; R. Wade, and C. O'Brien, boys. Slemivors—J. Sproul, chief mate; J. Mackhrt, second ditto; W. T. Lyon, Clerk ; T. Casson, boatswain ; IL Roberts, cooper • T. Fick, carpente r ' s mate ; R. P erry, W. Harvey, and C. t Hood, seamen.--(Jcrsey arithsh Press.) CORN EXCHANGE, JAW. 29. • - --- The quantity of Corn on board of ship is considerable, sod an eil'ectual thaw haying taken place, the River will soon be navigable. There will be little or no business done here to day, and prices may be considered as last quoted ; but on Friday there is no doubt that business will be resumed in. the regular way. 110 P iNTELLiouscr. souTuwAmx, . J AN. 117.—The Hop trade here is totally at a stand, there is no deman►t whatever, we are thertlbre unable to give you any account of our prices, further than we do not consider them much lower (if any)• than they were befige Christmas. Yesterday forenoon, between 10 and 11 o'clock, three of • the prisoners in Sri — dowel' contrivcd to effect their escape by taking advantage of some excavations, and other al terations making by the workmen employed in erecting ,the additienal tread.wheel machinery. The criminals, however, did not long enjoy their newly-acquired freedom ; for, by the in trepid and praise-worthy exertion* of a gerideirian resident in New-street, Canonotte, who observed them shortly aftelthev had dropped from the boundary wall of the nrideweli, ono of them With inunediatelY sectored, and another Waif at the *tine tittle retaken by a private of the itnyal Seats Greys, who accidentally happened to be passing, and to whom the gentleman commie i cated thealarm. Both prisoners made a desperate resistance, and one of them drew a knife from his pocket upon the soldier, vrto, nevertheless, gallantly kept hie hold, and wine ether pettier,* having by this Hine lent their aid, the prisoners were carried to the Canongate watch-house, and thortly afterwanls returned to their old quarters, to enjoy a little farther exercise upon the tread-mill. The third fugitive was apprehended upon 'the High-street, in the coarse of a f e w h ours , by one of the of terra of olice, and in like manner recnrernitred to his form e r ebecio and laborious occupation.. (Riiiiribure Courant o lan. ) CORONER'S I NQUEST. --A rt itiquegt 10i us held yesterday afternoon, at the vestry-room•ef St. John's,. down, before Thos. Shelton, lisq. coroner, on the belly of Jae. War:barn, a Seaman. It appeared from the eviderseca of Air. Dailey, master of the smack ('atherine, of l'eele, 1)4404011re, lying at llorselydnwn, and ‘Vm. Greenwood, t rc. mste, that on Saturday night the deceased and a boy went to bed es niell in their cabbie in the forecastle. The mate went the next morning to the forecastle by order of the muster za call the boy ; lie pulled back the hatchway . of the forecartle and called the boy several times, but mewed no answer; he then called the decearted, but still received no anomie'; he> then went down into the forecastle, and proceeding tie to thelvy's cabin, pulled back the elide of the cabin, and foundbioieolihing and gasping for breath; he then proceeded totliedireesseW*ra. bin, pulled back the slide, and found hirnnuite3leed rind cold ; the boy was then taken to St. Thomas's itotopital, lehem be re ceived every ettention ' and is likely to recover. The demweft was conveyed ashore to S c. John's church. The bey, after be teat taken to the hospital, told the Captain .ttac the titTeAsetl 1 , 44 kindled a fire in the fereetunle, in a *MA .ot, end then they both went to bed. When the mete went deem the forecastle " he sinth something very strong, like euiplitir. The Jury, after viewing the body, ~, e utreea verdict.... That the de c e ase d di e d by ettitocation."