The Sun. — London, England, 1825-02-03 00:00:00

FRENCH PAPERS. ( Franz the Etcile dated Tuesday.) VIEN)M, JAN. 22. The Austrian Observer has the following article : Constantinople,- Jan. 4. " On the sth December the Egyptian fleet, with its trans ports, quitted the Bay o f m arr narissa, and sailed to Candia.— According to the most recent information, it is at anchor in the Bay of Suda, and seems not to have given up the plan of a , landiPg in the - Morea. As for the Greek squadron, they-have returned to their ports. " The Peloponnesus is' the theatre of the• most Violent dis order. The mn-nber of men who perished in the battle in _which young Colocotroni was killed is stated at - 1,000. The Chief, S' , :e.w.o, has been conducted to Napoli di Romania, with 60 other -prisoners ; but the-war has only assumed a more invete rate character. The partisans of Colocot:oni besiege_Tripolitza. `roe Government has sent for Goura, Commander at Athens, ?Ad who is more dreaded than a Pacha would be. He was on the point of attacking Negropont, and has orders to repair to to keep the discontented. in order. The blockade of Petra is raised, both by sea and land. " The President Conduriottis has retired to Hydra with his ; he has there addressed a pathetic proclamation to the dreeks, to exhort them to unite against the enemies of the Christian name. Another member of the Executive Council, Ataimaki Fotillas, has suddenly disappeared. Proceedings are going to be institu ted against him, because his absence renders' the acts signed by his two other colleagues null and void. We hear that he has returned to Napoli. The Gazettes of Hydra of the 3d-and 6th Decerriber exhort Colocotroni to prevent his certain destruction by a speedy sub mission. It seems ,from these papers, that the malcontents have employed, in fomenting civil war, the sums that had been remitted to them for the siege of Petra& The Govern ment, however, is at present taking the most energetic mea sures to stifle all the seeds of rebellion.* " Theodore Negri died at Argos on the 4th December. 'He -was a venerable man in many r es pects. At the beginning of the revolution the Porte desired to send him to Pasis on a di.. plernatic mission, but he stopped in the 3lorea tojoin the Greeks." TUNIS, Drc.cl9. One of those horrible scenes and acts of cruelty, sanctioned by the Supreme Authority, which have not been seen in Turkey for a long time, has just 'Tossed - here. A young Jew. merchant, inflamed by liquor . , met in a public walk a very aged Moorish woman., who was In a state like his awn. 'lle addressed a few words to her, which at the most called .1 . 9 r a •reprimand. The Moors who perceived it arrested both hint and the woman. The affair was brought before the Bey, who, disregarding the difference of age, the place—which did not even allow the passibility of the crime charged in the accusation—and with the conviction of the innocence of the two prisoners, pronounced the sentence of death on them both. The Jew, according to the barbarous usage of the country, as being of the most de• spised nation, was to be burnt alive, and his ashes to be cast in the lake, and the woman to be drowned. The`Jew thought to obtain his pardon by professing the Mus. sulman faith, but he only had a commutation of --the capital 'punishment. He was cut to pieces by the ferocious populace, to whom he was given up, and his property confiscated, though he hag left. a wife and children. Lately there were some fears of the return of the plague, -which was happily not confirmed. The American frigate Constitution, and the Ontario brie, cast anchor here a few days ago. They brought Mr. Coxe, the new American Consul-General, who filled that office fifteen years ago. They Bey has just resolved to diminish the value of the cur resit coin, to prevent the exportation of it. It is said that the value will be reduced one-eighth. ( Front the Journal des Debats of Monday.] MADRID, JAN. 20. The. note in which the English diplomatic agent an nounces to our Government that England acknowledges the in dependence of the three American States, was communicated she day before yesterday, to the Extraordinary Council of Mi nisters, to the Charge d'Affairs of France, and to the Mini sters of the Northern Powers. This note has spread alarm in the minds of all. Even the most prejudiced now look upon the Eris of Amerita as certain, and as more than probable a rupture ,:etween some of the Holy Alliance. At most, this declaration of England is nothing more than the natural consequence of the faults committed by our Minister and Government for the last eighteen months. What still more augments our inquie tUde is, that notwithstanding what has been said of the arrival i•t Peru of the ship St. Franlois d' Assises, and of the brig Achille, which sailed from Cadiz on the 13th January last year, the Government has not yet received the official news of their arrival in the Pacific. [From the Courier Francais.] PA IL: S., JAM. 30. ..The English Journals announce that the British army is going to be augmented, and the Ministerial Journal, the Courier, tepresses - itself with regard to the Cabinets of the Continent, in a irm and resolute tone, which shows that the English Go vernment does not much fear their discontent, and that it is quite ready to stand the consequence. What could the I P.ciiy Alliance do against England, and what good would it get by a war? On what point is there preparation to attack England ? (in w! - :at point is not England ready to rebut every attack, and to s;t with advantage? She has squadrons in all seas, and at the end oi . three months' war, not one of the Powers who should fight her would have a single ship floating on the sea. The English Go vernment would be upheld in such. a war by the opinion of the nation : would the Governments of the Holy Alliance find the same support in the people of the Continent, whose interests, svhose wishes would be with the cause which England would maintain ? Russia herself, with her million of men, her mi litary colonies, her sunken fleet, and her flooded capital, can abe undertake any thing against England, that long-lived Power, which is proof against a hurricane as well as a Coalition ? In this state of things, is war probable—is it paSsible ? Without doubt England will be cursed—will be bated—will, in an under tone, be threatened, but she will not be attacked. It is affirmed that the instructions of Prince ks;;olliOnski are not at all hostile ; that Russia does not wish fur war, and that she feels all the advantages of • immobility, of the European state quo, by means of which so many ancient aliases have been so conveniently revived, and so many new ameliorations destroyed. IVithout doubt, the honour of prin ciple, and , severity of tenets, would call for a war; butiprin cj?les and tenets are rigorously invoked and followed by Cabi nets, when they agree with. their interest and safety.; as soon as that agreement ceases, interest and safety take the upper hand. FRENCH FUNDS. Pattts, jam. 31.—rive per Cents. opened at 1031. 15c., and eldsed at 103f.25c.—Bank Stock, 1,0781. —Neapolitan Rentes, (Valconet's Certificates), flflf: 75c. —Royal Spanish Loan, 1823, fiGif.— Exchange on London, one month, 2Sf. ; three. months, ,24!. Essc.—( Cours Anthentique. ) • All that can he inferred from •the account of the intestine troubles of Greece is, that the Tusks, perceiving, after .lour disgraceful campaigns; their inability to subdue the Christians Iy force, employ corruption to divide them.—Note of the Editor. 'MEXICO. The American Papers have brought us the' Address of General VICTORIA. President of the United States of Mexico, to the Congress; on his taking the oath required by the - Constitution. It is a most sensible document, and breathes forth the purest patriotism without any pomp or parade. The following is an extract : " For my part, I will always respect right, and see duty fulfilled. Our holy religion will neither wear the mournful garb of superstiticn, nor shall -she-be exposed to licentious ness. Independence shall be•sealed with my blood, and Liberty lost but with my life. The union between all the inhabitants of the Republic, will be firm and unalterable—persons and property shall be sacred—and thus will public confidence be established. The form of federal government, adopted by the nation, must be maintained with all the vigour of the laws. 'rhe nation shall be enlightened, and sound morals diffused through out our territory ; its strongest support.shall be the liberty of the press. My care and vigilance will be directed towards the organization and discipline of the army, and due regard for the soldiers of the State—objects which are as interesting as inde pendence itself. The Mexican flag shall float on the ocean, and over our shores. Friendly relations with Foreign Powers will he cultivated, with the attention required by our political exist ence, and by the good name of the Mexican States. Nor shall any means of prosperity and greatness be neglected." The first dividend in MAnsu and Co.'s bank ruptcy, which was expected to have been five shillings in the pound, is reduced to three and ittur pence ; the remaining - assets being kept back *to meet the claims of the Bank of England, should they be established. THE ARMY• RESTORATION OF THE THIRD COLOUR TO TILE SECOND (QUEEN ' S ROYAL) REGIMENT OF FOOT. On Monday, the 31st of January, the Third Colour was re stored to the 2d Regiment of Foot, or Queen's Royals, by Major-General,Sir 'Henry Torrens, Adjutant-General of the' British army, in the presence of a numerous assemblage of dis tinguished visitors, among whom were several officers, who, on various eventful occasions, had commanded the regiment. At a quarter past one o'clock, Lady Torrens, accompanied by Colonel J. Macdonald, Deputy-Adjutant-General, Lords Darnley and Clifton, Colonel -Sir A. and Lady Christie, Ad_ miral Sir R. Morsom, Major-General Barham, Earl of Dal housie, General. Mundy, General Ramsay, Sir John Brown, Archdeacon Torrens, Mrs. Colonel Williams and sisters, Misses Cooper, Mrs. John Knight and daughters. Misses Cuyler, Mrs. and Miss Mundy, anti the Misses Crawford, with other distinguished characters, -proceeded from the Go vernment'House to the Parade, where this fine regiment was drawn tip in line, dressed in their summer: uniform, withhavo nets - fixed.; the regiment immediately formed square, within which Lady. Torrens presented the colour, which was received by Ensign G. D. J. Raitt, and said —" May the Lamb (the badge Of the-corps) plead for mercy in the hour of victory."— The regiment immediately presented arms, anti. the band struck up " God save the King, Sir Henry addressed his fine regiment in the following elo quent and appropriate speech : " It is with his 'Majesty's gracious .approbation, .that the colour is now restored to you, which-was presented to the regi ment by its Queen, when the corps was originally formed in the year 1661, immediately after , rite- restoration of Charles H. to the throne of his ancestors. His Majesty Charles 'II. was then pleased to confer upon thefe'd - regintent of the line the appella tion of the Queen's Royal Regiment, anti her Majesty Queen Catherine, in order to give greater effect - ao. the distinction thus conferred upon a corps taken- under' her special protection, was graciously pleased to present it with a third colour, bearing the emblems of the Paschal Lamb, which, as a Portuguese Princess, was the crest of herown Royal Family. The third- colour (which was green, in honour of her Majesty) was in possession of the regiment for 90 years, -and appears to have been lodged in the Royal :Hospital of Dublin e when.dhe regiment was on that duty, in the year 1750, where it 'has 'been recently found in a mutilated state; and his present Majesty having been graciously pleased to command that it shmlid be restored to the regiment the gratifying task of faithfully copying it, and working it for you, with her own hands, has been claimed and,performed by Lady Torrens. The Paschg Lanib was originally granted in this distinguished manner to the corps, as the adorning badge of the regiment; and olthough the colour has happened to be in disuse,.yet the 'constant possession of the badge has ever pre served to the regiment the appellation of the Queen's Royals, because the badge was the personal crest of her Majesty ; and I shall only endeavour , tupoint cut to you how well the regi ment has served the country under the influence of a banner thus rendered interesting and memorable, from the ancient and illustrious character of the , royal gift, and from the association with that event which has mainly contributed to uphold the glo rious reputation Of the.corps r amidst all variety of services, and which,'l am persuided i -will ever-continue to hand this reputa tion down, untarnished; to the latest posterity. '" The regiment was first employed in forming the garrison 'of Tangiers, Which fortress was then attached to the Crown of Great .Britain,. as a part of .the Queen's dowry, and, as being -the Queen's-regiment, its services appear to have been applied in an appropriate manner to this object. It returned to Eng -land about the time of James the Second's accession to the throne, and the 'first great and signal service in which the corps was employed was in repellingthe efforts of the Duke of Mons mouth to wrest the throne from the reigning Monarch. Upon this occasion the Queen's Royals participated in the memorable battle of Sedgemoor, fought in- the y earl 6115, and the discipline and valour of the regiment were then so celebrated, that the very name of Kirk's Lambs conveyed a sound of terror to the enemy, I and- served to keep those of the West of England in awe, who were inclined to join the standard of the usurping Duke. The regiment under its banner as you now see it, next appears to have been employed in Ireland—at the relief of Londoh derry, in 1689, the battle of the Boyne, the siege of Athlone, in 1690, and at the battle of Aughrim, and the siege of Lime rick, in 1691. Soldiers have nothing to do with politics ; and therefore 1 only advert to those unhappy times of national dis sension, to show that the regiment took a share in a succession of great military exploits, that it was true to discipline and to its banner, and that, amidst all the conflicting circumstances of that memorable period, it never lost sight of its obedience to its officers, and its devotion to the State. The Lamb appears to have been distinguished again under the command of King William, :in French Flanders, from the year 1692, until the termination of the famous siege of Namur, in 1695, and in 1704 to have home a part in the memorable battle of Men ' helm, under the great Duke of Marlborough, of immortal memory, where the glory of the British arms was raised to the pitch of exaltation, never equalled until the modern ex ploits of our armies have shed even a more brilliant lustre around the British name throughout the world. The regiment was also in all the subsequent campaigns *Of the Duke of Marlborough —at the battles of Ramifies in 1706, of Outlenarde in 1703, Malplaquet in 1709, and at the sieges of Lisle, of Tournay, and Nismes. On all these occasions die Lamb, as you now see it before you, accompanied the corps, and it is, therefore, a source of pride to us all who wear the uniform of this ancient regiment, that the colour which has been the companion of so many glories, should not be restored to the possession of the corps ; and that it should dies show that the distinguished character of the regiment's ancient services has rendered it worthy of those modern laurels which it has gathered under the command of the great Abercrombie in Egypt, and of the thriceuimmortalized Wellington, in the glorious and successful contest on the Peninsula, to which the ordinary colours of the regiment bear ample testimony. " Upon this occasion, soldiers, I would willingly say no thing of myself; but the present moment is so intimately as sociated with my affctions, as connected with her who has worked this colour, and with my military pride, as your Colonel, in seeing your ancient banner again committed to your charge, that I should really be devoid of the feeling which ought to actuate a man and an officer so fortunately situated, if the scene did not elicit some expression of the sentiments which weigh upon my heart. I should fail, however, in any attempt ,to say all that my feelings would dictate. But I must assure you, that I look upon it as one of the most distinguish ed events of my life, that I have had consigned to me, as your Colonel, the gratifying duty of carrying into effect His Majesty's gracious commands, that this honour should be re stored to the regiment. From the moment I attained the proud station of your Colonel, I have laboured for your honour and advantage, and for your standing, as an old corps ought to stand, in the estimation of the country. While I have life I shall ever endeavour with the same care to watch over your in terests, and although my rank precludes me from accompany ing you upon your destined service, my heart shall be with you, and it shall form a principal feature in the comfort of my future life, until we again meet, to hear that your conduct keeps pace with your ancient reputatioa, and to learn, whether in quarters or in the field, whether it relates to your moral duties in social life, or to those against the enemiesof your country, that your behaviour fulfils the hope and expectation which is raised by your present high state of discipline." . The regiment, with Adjutant-General Torrens at their head, then marched past the flag, saluting.; the grenadier 'Company moved forward and formed in front of the flag, and when the whole regiment had passed; they marched with the flag to the left wing, the band playing the Grenadier's March. Ensign Raitt holding the flag, then stood a few paces in advance of the colours e -when. the whole- regiment presented arms ; Lady Torrens then left the ground, and the regiment dismissed. It is not, perhaps, too much to say, that the Queen's Royals are,. at this moment, a military spectacle ; in discipline, con duct, and efficiency, they can hardly be excelled. During the last twelve months a corporal punishment has not been inflicted in the -regiment, nor could a stronger testimony be borne to the affection and interest their Colonel has ever evinced for his corps, than the proud appearance .it made on this interesting occasion. The men were entertained with an excellent dinner at the expense of -their distinguished Colonel; and Lady Torrens, and-a large party of-her friends, visited them while dining. In the evening, a splendid ball was given in 'honour of the day, at the Bull Inn, Rochester, by Sir Henry Torrens and the officers of the regiment. It was attended by the Earl of Dal housie, Earl and Countess of Darnley, Viscountess Powers court, Lady Eliz. Bligh, the Hon. Misses Wingfield, Lords Clifton and Ramsay, the Hon. Miss Huth= General and the Hon. Mrs. Monday, Miss Monday, Mrs. and Miss John son, Miss Crawford, Mrs. John Knight, the Misses Cuyler, Sir A. Barnard, Mr. Smith, Colonel Fearon, Colonel Burgoyne and Officer° of Engineers, Sir John Browne and Officers of Cavalry depot, Lady Browne, Hon. General Ramsay, Colonel D'Aguilar, Mrs. D'Aguilar, Colonel Macdonald, Archdeacon Torrens, , Commissioner Cunningham, Admiral Moorsom, &c. The ball-room was fitted up with great taste, and supper -served in the best style. The Queen's embarked yesterday for Bombay. Few corps left their country with higher reputation. It is a most extraordinary circumstance, that the Ensign Raitt, who received the colours on this occasion, is a descend ant of the officer who was Ensign at the time the flag was laid aside. There has always been one of that family in the regi ment eversince.it was first raised. FOR THE SU'. THE DRAMA-(LETTER VI U 1 Mn. EDlTOR—Haring briefly reviewed the history, and noticed the declension of our dramatic language, I now proceed (but with slender hopes of suggesting a remedy for the long-complained of evil,) further, to compare and con trast the opinions of our critics on the subject. The Author of the Letters," after pointing (with perspicuity and force, hi disputably,) as the prominent error of our dramatists the adop tion of a poetic for a dramatic style, seems to consider that, by leading and fixing their attention to the existence of the fact, and by a consequent recurrence, on their part, to the diligent study and practice of the Shaksperian diction and phraseology, the desideratum may be found, and legitimate tragedy pro duced. With this conviction constantly in his mind, our critic, either forgetting, or wishing to slur over the impracticability of the att , mpt, boldly pens the lbllowing daring demand " Let any dramatist produce such another play as Macbeth or " Othello, and if the beau-monde do not dine an hour earlier 44 on the sights of its performance, I'm no prophet: if our " Lords and Commons, with their virtuous dames and dough " tern, do not quickly displace the bloods and Corinthians, the " idle "prentices, flashmen, nymphs of the pillow, and all other " persons of dubious morality, who now occupy the seats " in our theatrical syna ,, ogues, I'll never set up as an oracle." To call (Glendower-like,) for more Macbeths or Othellos, is a task.of easy performance. But that the likeness of these spirits, (quitting the " vasty deep") will obey, anti appear before us in personal attendance, we reasonably may be permitted to doubt of. Evidence, ocular and oral at least, (and hardly that) will be necessary to prove to us the power and skill of the geomancer. To copy after Shakespeare, is the common cry of many of our modern critics ; yet it is expressly in this very copying, that the main difficulty exists. 46 Were Shakespeare again to be called into existence, himself could not imitate his former self. He would indeed be great at any period, or in any country, but lie would not be that Shakspeare who wrote in the days of Elizabeth and James." The progress of civiliza tion, of the arts, of criticism, of taste, of the language of society, the march of improvement, of refinement—all, would forbid it, and concur in rendering it impossible. A language, -Sir, -cannot retrograde. However slow may be its growth ; however deliberately it may climb towards matu rity ; however long it may linger and wanton at its strength ; age, imbecility, and degeneracy must overtake it, and change its character at the last. To its youth it can never return again, nor adopt, or partake of, the errors and excellencies of that pe riod. The Greek tongue advanced but lit- e in refinement after the time of Pericles—the Roman, " wantoned at its strength" in the age of Augustus. Look at the prose writings and cor respondence of the most illustrious of Shakspeare's cotempo ranes, of Raleigh, the Bacons, Cecil, Throgmorton, Walsing ham—and of that linperial blue, the pupil of Roger Ascam, Elizabeth of England herself; to that primitive and imperfect state, by no possibility, can the English tongue again revert. There is, to be sure, a remarkable dissimilitude in the fate (as well as the merits), of the poetry and the prose of that age, and of the succeeding one. Take Milton as an example. His prose style appears stiff, pedantic, and is now obtelete : whilst his L'Allegro, and II Penseroso, and Comus, are gems of the rarest water. Nothing of their kintl, in the history of our poetry, can compare with these earlier and animated effusions of Milton's Muse. Time (that has proscribed his prose) has passed over them without injuring their beauty, or *lading the magic tints of their colouring. Like a picture of Raphael's or Titian's, they boldly stand forth the challengers of posterity, demanding, yet defying, competition. To copy Shakspeare (but not successfully) has been the occa sional task of names, high at different periods in the annals of our dramatic literature ; but to copy after Shakspeare will not create dramatists, more than to copy after Milton will produce epic poets. It is now a long time since Nicholas Rowe wrote his tragedy of Jaue Shore " in imitation," as the title-page informs us, "of Shakspeare's style." How like to Shakspeare, every itinerant Roscius can tell. Since the appearance of Bowe's srnlilcc imitation, many other copyists have started up, upon whose pictures, unfortunately, a much less favourable judgment cannot be pronounced. Miss Millie has, in some instances, succeeded better titan Rowe; but, unluckily, her plays, being deficient in plot-work and action, are un suited for stage representation. But that so acute an ob server as the critic on our kft should class the plays of Messieurs Clienenvix, Coleridge, Maturin,Wilson, Cornwall, and Milman, ' as 44 written in avowed and elaborate imitation of the ancient models,"l- is matter of no small portion of astonishment. The tragedies of some of Anne of the above-named writers I do not remember ever to have seen exhibited, either on boards or in print. But the Bertram of Maturin, the 3lirandola of Barry Cornwall, and the Fazio of Professor Milnian, resemble as much the Orestes of Euripides, or the Agamemnon of his pre_' decessor, as they do the ancient models of the English drama, I. e. they have little in common with theni except scenes, acts, and a dramatis persaMr. Itlirandola and Fazio,: on the con trary, are prime samples of the school of the poetic-pure; so unlike indeed to the great originals they have been said to imi tate, that they already meditate seclusion and retirement from the stage, imperative alike from the effects of constitutional weakness and d ebili ty ~ and the symptomatic approaches of pre mature age. The successful imitation of the language, and other excel lencies of Shakspeare or of his cotemporaries, is a subject of study as difficult of attainment as that of composition in a fo reign tongue. And what native of this Island could pretend, in their own language, to catch the graces of Fontaine, or the purity of Voltaire's style ? the tones of Tasso, or the energetic phraseology of Schiller ? Or (to return from this excursion), let any one try for a length of time to imitate the ease, simplicity, sweetness, and idioinatical turns of Addison's prose compositions, who has been used to the more correct, latinizett, laboured, and diversified style of the present day. He will not find the task easy to o'ermaster ; yet it presents not a tithe of the difficulty that writer would have to encounter who undertakes to produce a modern tragedy, on the true model and imitation of our earlier dramatists. It costs but a few words to ask for " another play like Othello," and to tell us, that there is an appropriate lan guage for the drama, distinct from common poetry, and exclu sively its own. But when our poetry for so long a period has ceased to be dramatic, and our taste become more refined, where is the desideratum to be found ? " Give me a dramatic language, and I will give you a drama," may safely enough be the consistent reply of the aspirant to the critic. " You have Shakspeare and his cotemporaries"—exclaims the impatient Castigater—" follow them." " lint you have said," (rejoins the Aspirant), " that no dramatist, Greek, Roman, Briton, or other, but Shakespeare alone, seems to have had the true knack of dramatic language, or to have caught the pure essence of dramatic spirit. , And you have characterized the tragedists of ' our middle ages,' Addison, Young, Rowe, &c. as wooden witted Thespians ;' asserting that the language of their plays is little more that of real life than a clock is a human being, or its vibrations pulsations, or its strokes words.§ And you have further asserted, that Joanna Baillie is a woman, and that no woman can write a legitimate tragedy. How then, Sir, do you expect the Dramatists of this' day to achieve that which so many , of their predecessors—names illustrious in our literary annals— have attempted, and attempted in vain ; and which Shakspeare alone of all mankind, as a gift of nature, possessed ?"—" Talk not of attempts"—(ejaculates the Flagellist)—" just tempt the public with such a play as Julius Caesar, or even Venice Pre served, and if the public reject or condemn it, then let the pub lic be gibbeted as those who have turned the theatre into a riding-house, and the stage into a Pandemonium."ll -" But," (again replies , the Aspirant) " in this altered and improved age, is it not demanding too much to expect our Dramatists to write with the correctness of this, and the force and origina lity of a ruder time ? To please is an intricate anti'difficult task. Managers expect one thing, the critics another, the public a third, and—" " Force and nriginalimanagers and critics, what are they!" (tlituatlera out the angry Dennis)—" write me such another play as Macbeth or Othello, and if the beau- Another Macbeth or Othello !—No, no, Mr. Lacy, less than that must satisfy the desire and cravings of our ambition.—An other Macbeth and another Othello ! As well may we ask for an- • Fourth Letter to the "Dramatists of the Day." I am not writing an answer to :Ur. Lacy's " Letters." nor a defence of the " Dratnatists of the Day;" but really if Mr...L. pursues so circuitous a route, (which he has done in his "Theatricals of the Day"—Londun Magazine Dec. 18240—t0 attack and " berattle" our living Dramatists—loading them with . the sin of a heavy responsibility, of which they (poor souls) are as guiltless as the accuser, he will subject his criticism to the im putation of that malady, himself besprinklded (perhaps justly enough) on the tragedy of poor 11aturin—Id. eat—if Ber tram be mad, Mr. L.'s criticism, in the latter instance at least, is hardly sane. Farther, in passing, Mr. Lacy (though an alarmist) need feel no app re h ens i ons as to th e f ate o f th e " qua drupeds,, ' or the evil example of the "school monstrous." — They will live, like other fooleries, their " short and stormy hour," to give place to more of a similar description, provided ' legitimate drama, upon the whole, preponderates, which I hope it does, and will continue to do : let us not too fastidiously blame even the Olympic exhibition of " Dapples and Du crows,"—" The Cat, &c. -1- Edinburgh Review, No. 72, page 41r. . t - I yet confess a partiality for F a zio. With a style ornate, and pitched, from the beginning, on a false key, there is in many of the scenes both nature and pathos. After all, Fazio is the " best feather" in the cap of the Professor. Fazio will be read, when his Sacred Dramaticals are forgotten. § Vide, Fourth Letter to the " Dramatists of .the day." Vide, Theatricals of the day. other Eneid, another Jerusalem Delivered, or a second Paradise Lost. These, indeed, are the proud edifices reared by the hands of genius—imperishable monuments, which future ages are to gaze on at .a distance, wonder at, and admire ! These are the beauteous surviving offspring of the most gifted of mor tals—of those who, like a spark of etherial tire, like a meteor, Munn but once in a thousand years. PROT.& US. SEAMAN'S HOSPITAL SOCIETY. Yesterday the Annual-Meeting of the Sub scribers to this laudable and excellent Charity was held at the Office of the Society, 19, Bishopsgate-street. The Chair was taken precisely at one o'clock, by %Villinni Manning, gs q . M.P. Mr. MANNING said, in the absence of the great officers of the King's Navy, he felt honoured by being their Chairman, and would do every thing in their power to promote the interests of the Society, and further the business of the present meeting ; however, if any one of those great officers should arrive, he should be happy to resign the honour to him. The Society, he trusted, though its funds were rather contracted, would suc ceed according to its very great merits; and, when better known, must be appreciated by every liberal mind. They had to regret the loss of a worthy Member of their Committee, Mr. Blackman, during the last year ;an he had to inform them his place had been filled by Captain Dundas, a Gentleman whose character and worth were well known, andi then whom a better choice could not have been made. _ _ Mr. HARLEY, the Secretary to the Society, then read the Report of its proceedings, from its commencement in 1821 ; and after giving an account of its funds and the details of its expenditure, chewed the numbers that had been received and relieved by the Charity since its foundation. It is astonishing what immence good has been done by such comparatively slender means, without distinction of clime or country; and, as the fol lowing statement will chew, there is scarcely a nation or country on earth that is not indebted to this humane and admirable ki,o- ciety. Statement of the Numbers on the Books of the Society, from October 24th,_ 1621, to February Ist, 1825 ; 1821 1822 1823 1824 - 413 - 718 Of this Number there are— Englishmen - - 1939 Scotchmen - - 431 Irishmen - 351 Frenchmen - Germans Russians Prussians Dutchmen - Danes and Norwegians - 36 . S 6 Swedes - Italians - Portuguese - Spaniards - East Indian• 69 - 20 - 939 - 1249 Total received 3369 West Indians 6'2 British Americans - 30 United States - - 39 South Americans - 10 Africans - - 9 Turks - - 7 New Zealander* - 3 New South Wales - 1 South Sea Islanders - 19 Chinese . Born at Sea - - 5 3191 - 171 Stepney - 3369 Total on the Books of Registry Out of this Number there have been— Cured and Discharged - Obtained Ships - - Ships provided by the Society Absented themselves Conveyed to home - - - 30 Expelled for bad Conduct after being Cured 23 Died - - . - - 151 Under Cure, and Convalescent - - 113 - 1418 . 13313 - 230 3369 Besides this there have been 170 completely Clothed,and 656 supplied with Shoes and Stockings. After the Report was read, Captain JONES R.N. begged leave to propose, 'that there port then read should be printed and circulated by the Committee. This was seconded and carried. After which, the following; resolutions were quickly and suc cessively carried :—Proposed by Captain EDGE, R.N. That the thanks of the meeting be moved to his Most Gra cious Majesty, for his universal benevolence and patronage of this Society. That the thanks of the meeting be given to its Illustrious Vice-Patrons, for the zeal they have always shewn for its suc cess and prosperity. Mr. If •It col; lIT, we understood to say, felt deeply for the interests and welfare of the Society— but there were three or four Hospitals now completely destroying one another. The Cor poration should promote an excellent Institution by appro. priating to this Charity those funds that were of comparatively less use elsewhere. _ _ _ _ _ Captain Tit t.tiwn, R.N. moved the thanks of the meet ing to the Right Honourable Lord Melville, the President of the Society. The thanks of the meeting were then given to the Vice-Pre sident, and the Membefs of the Committee. Mr. HF.Avzsi DE proposed, seconded by Captain Wr.bolf, R.N.—That the thanks of the meeting be given to Drs'.3l4Kin lan and Roberts, for their humane luta able attendance on board the Grampus. Alderman VENABLEs proposed the thanks of the meeting should be given to Wm. Williams, Esq. M.P. their Treasurer, for his zealous and continued services to the Society. Mr. Wit-Lusts returned thanks. He was deeply interested in the welfare of the Society,which should always command his best services. He eulogised the merits of the Charity, and con cluded by saying, when they were better known and appreciated they would have no reason to complain of the smallness of their funds. As it is customary that six members go out annually, the following Gentlemen were proposed as new members of the Committee in their places, and elected without a dissentient voice :—Sir F. Ommanney, M. P., Sir W. Kay, Bart., V. T. Rivaz, Esq., G. B. Whittaker, Esq., A. Chapman, Esq., H. Gaitskill, sq. Mr. Fitatiels said, having now gone through the routine of business for which they had assembled, he begged leave to call their attention to one vote more, which, he was as sured, would be felt by every one of the meeting—That their thanks should be given to their worthy Vice-President for his many services to the Society, and for the able and excel lent manner in which he praided at that meeting. Mr. WlLLiAsts took the Chair, and the Resolution was carried unanimously. Mr. MANNING returned thanks. He felt extremely obliged by the honour done him. He should do every thing in his power, every thing that it became a member to perform, to promote the interests of the Society. They were deeply obliged to- the Officers of the King's Navy—they had always their strenuous support--they had both their countenance and their money. They (the Navy) had hospitals of their own—they had nn need of this Institution—yet they supported it with all their zeal and power. He was afraid they were not quite as active in the City of London ; he feared they were riot known to them there; there were no set of men more liberal on other occasions than the merchants and hankers of the City of London. He trusted they wouldk n ow them better. Th e Society was but in its infancy ; and he should again repeat, it owed much to the Officers. of the King's Navy. He con cluded by again returning thanks.—The meeting was then ad journed. THE CORN EXCHANGE. It has been long a matter of complaint amonzst private undertaking, and the time e m i m t w it a te s e, e c r o ee n t s e i d sti h ng av m e mostly of many of the most respectablepoaseasi impossibility. onris, The Old Standsol hilldet Corn e o o r rc n no t rE r n a x d 3c e ilaar t n h kg a eet t o it nh s e e a s for which it was intended; a t w h ma e se d ae i i ffi rl teaccutaelldtmy almost getting years t t a i n n g a go as a . increase of business has immenseren olmbdafuerarCtgnee:frgntechlnfna3iceeuptlrtyrohB;frliro:ltrwrttaathmlis:eseivgaecipsitttiuoearPdntor business extremely difficult.— The Committee exercise an unbounded controul over the Exchange, and accommodate with stands only those from whom they apprehend no competition. Several meetings have been held by gentlemen who are interested, for the purpose of adopting some measure by which the public good, as well as the private ben Tiie e y fi t a of gr e t e h d e t g o e n m e r a a k l e body r proof o c s o a r r f t a o c t nt r e s C m () h m t b t t e e e a d t v a a n enlargec e d the E x change, which now only contains 68 stands, to a size adapted to the accommodation of all who are at present fa voured with stands, and of all who have been for several years ineffectually employed in endeavouring to obtain so eligible a place for exhibiting their samples. They argue, that if the monopoly were removed, every one who has corn for sale would be sure of getting a market price for the commo dity, and the public would have the option to judge be tween a very extensive variety of the article. They assert, that so strong is the prejudice in favour of purchasing in the Corn- Exchange, that a cornfactor who has no stand in the market has in [many instances been obliged to sell at upwards of 6d. a quarter less than he would have got had not the monopoly been in the way. A respectable factor, who sells upwards of 100,000 quarters of wheat in the year, has suff'ered considerably by this decisive check upon competition. Although the rent of a stand is no more than 101. a year, he would willingly give 1,0001. to obtain possession of one on such terms. The Com mittee have hitherto rejected the proposition, and declare that the market is sufficiently large for the business of the metro polis. It has therefore been determined to apply . to Parliament on the subject, and the question is to come on in the present Session. • \\ . _ Y i ) b.: - .. 7 \ Yr (IP . , MASONIC NOTICES FOR NEXT WEEK. ENGLAND. Monday, Feb. 7, LONDON. Nos. 5, 10, 27, 89, 213, 210, 289. Committte Boy's School, at 7. COUNTRY. No. 20, 64, 72, 102, 143, 191, 202, 219, 267, 311, 360, 368, 759, 372, 398, 423, 493, 502, 503, 509, $67, 632, 638, 644. Tuesday, -8, LoNnox. Nos. 12, 23, 62, 100, I'2B, 290, 300, 367, 421, 479- Co uNT as. No. 24, 67, 87, 130, 138, 145, 211, 263, 292, 840, 427, 604, 626, 640, 663, 714. Wednesday, -9, LONDON. Nos. 3, 11,.16, 19, 29, 47, 96, 237, 257, 3341 353, 435. COUNTRY. Nos. 159, 213, 215, 232, 314, 344, 440, 442, 447. 478, 543, 647, 661. Thursday, - 10, I,oxnox. Nos. 6, 18, 25, 34, 79, 194, 271, 299, 301, 326, 338, 499. COUNTRY. No. 110, 111, 115, 153, 172, 178, 269, 278, 364. 397. 531, 549, 591, 657. Friday, - 11, LoN•Dox. No. 275. Co uN TRY. Noy. 53 , 282, WM . • • • Saturday, - 12, LONDON. COUNTRY. No. 412. • NORTHUMBERLAND. NEWCASTLE-UPON:TYNE LODGE, NO. 26. Freemasons' Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Jan. 27. Ever since the province of Northumberland was honoured by a visit from the Grand Master of England, his Royal High ness the Duke of Sussex, in the .4uturrin of 1822, the annual installation of Officers for the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Lodge, has taken place on the anniversary of his Royal Highness' birth-day (the 27th January), instead of the festival of Saint John, which heretofore used to be the case. By this new re gulation the pleasing and gratifying recollection of the past is most agreeably brought to mind, and the Installation Dinner is rendered subservient to a double purpose, namely, the greeting of the Worshipful Vaster and his Officers in their new appointments,—and the Cup of Homage (on his birth day) to that Illustrious Prince, under whose liberal and foster ing auspices the ancient and honourable craft of Freemasons , in England, have attained a degree of grandeur and prosperity hitherto unknown in any other country in the world.—At ele ven o'clock, a.m. tha Brethren assembled, on the day above .mentioned, at Freemasons' Hall, when the following Men - bers of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Lodge, No. 26, wero in stalled in ancient form, in the presence of the Right Worshi?- ful Provincial Grand Master for Northumberland (Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bart. M.P.), and the Officers of the PTOYin dal Grand Lodge : Brothers Matthew Bell, Esq. (Woolsington) W.M. ; Loraine, Esq. (Kirkharle) S.W.; John Davidson, Esq. (At well Park) J.W. ; Rev. John Parkin, A.M. Chaplain ; lho.!* Hall, Lecture-Master; Henry Ransom, Secretary; Jas. Bell , Treasurer ; James Calbreath, S.D. ; James Sparke, J.l). Robert Nicholson, S.S. ; Edward Redhead, J.S.; James Cl'7 der, Inner Guard ; Thomas Hogg, Tyler. After the ceremony of Installation was performed, the usual homage in saluting was rendered the Worshipful Master b/ all the Brethren in Conclave.—[Those other rites which th 6 ` laws of Masonry interdict the _publicity of, either icriptorf 'or orally, are of course withheld.]—The Worshipful Masai' (M. Bell, Esq.) then rose to make his acknowledgments for the honour that had been conferred upon him a secona• time, by placing him at the head of the Newcastle-upon - Tyne Lodge.—The Worshipful Master's speech was in evert respect pertinent and masonic, and drew down the greatest aP2' plause. The Lodge, on the termination of the Address, ar al then closed according to ancient form, till four o'clock, the bout , of meeting for the Festival. PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE NORTHUMBERLAND. At half-past one o'clock the same day, Sir M. W. RIDLE'r, Bart. M.P., Provincial Grand Master for Northumberlan d-, held a Provincial Grand Lodge, at Freemason's Hall, New— castle-upon-Tyne, which was opened in ample form, prior to, the c.ppointnient of officers for the year ensuing. The folloWS !lig are the office-bearers in the Northumbefland Lodge:— Brother Sir MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY, Bart., M. R. V. Pr. G. M. Brother* Sir Charles Loraine, Bart: D. Pr. G. M.; C u tliber c Ellison, Esq., M.P., P.G.S. W.; Robert Thompson, P• ii Treasurer ; Charles I .arkin, P. 0. Registrar ; Thomas Brown' P. G. Secretary ; Rev. John Collinson, P. 0. Chaplain ; Th° s ; Hall, P.G. Supr. of Works; Geo. Dod s worth, P.G. Director 0 ' Ceremonies; John Walker, P.G.S. Deacon; Jas.A rch bold, P. J: Deacon; Henry Ransam, P.G.•Sword Bearer; Robert Niel)°, 'son, P.G. Standard Bearer ; Henry Munro, P. G. Organi' t. Robert Robson, P. G. Usher ; Matthew Bell, Dixon Brow n ' John Lambton Loraine, William Kirkley, Henry Ilewitsotl, William Loraine, Jun. William Linskill, John Davidsey, P. G. Stewards ; John Anderson, James Gibson, Francis T 3 l t ' for, James Bell, James Spark, Edward Redhead, Newcas l , on Tyne Lodge, No. 26 ; J. Todd, Lodge, 534, John B A R Lodge 535, P. G. Assistant Stewards ; James Pringle, P. ' Pursuivant ; Thomas Hogg; P. 0. Tyler. When the ceremony of Installation was terminated, t hg , • Ri g ht Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master delivered A to • address in very appropriate and eloquent terms, on the 5t ..4 . 5 of Masonry in this country, pointing out the intrinsic bol; of those principles of the craft which sought to establish universal dominion of philantliropliy and benevolence. good Mason, like a virtuous man, was Dever remiss in P! duty to God, to his neighbour, nor to himself. 'The prioc i i plea of Masonry were • equally ,social and instructive : Au what could be more magnanimous? they inculcated the fee` ing of the hungry, an d t h e , c l ot hi ng o f t h e na k e d !—The t? • W. Grand Master ~took: oecasion, in the course of his speec„h" to point out som e i mpo r tant regu l at i ons f or t h e f uture advan r c i,,, !Dent and prosperity of the Provincial Grand Lodge. greatest attention was paid to the address throughout, the 1 1 °, Speaker.was:frequently applauded, and he resumed the s' e ,, rated Chair amid th e mo s t cheering proofs of approbatl °P i , The LOdge was then closed in ample form, and with sola: r , prayer by th e o ffi c i at i ng Ch ap l a i n , t h e R ev . B ro . J o hn P`', l kin, A.M. The hotel of Bro. Richardson, known by the a , of the Three Indian Kings, was the place appointed for dinne r ' and it is but justice to say be had made the best arrenf e l ; ments to give satisfaction to the Masonic Body. The t 3 he displayed plenty of excellent fare, and the Apret of t. viands, with all the et eceteras, bespoke the talent of the Olt! ' officer of the kitchen. The wines and the desert gave ellu e , J i satisfaction. Sir M. W. Ridley, Bart. presided, suppor t , ! on his right by Bro. Sir Charles 'Loraine, Bart. ; and ie . his left by Bro. Matthew Bell, Esq. Oni the removal of cloth, the Chairman gave ‘ , The King—our Illustrioef, Patron"—(drank with the honours of Masonry and tle'd t ening applause").—" The Grand Master of England' his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex—Many haP i r o ; returns of the day to him !"—(Drank with Masonic is ta nours and the most enthusiastic applause, which continue4,l o , some time.) "The Duke of York" and "The Duke of L rence" were the next in succession. Several routine toasts P, lowed, when Brother Bell, Esq. rose, and in very neat ter proposed the health of the Hon. Baronet in the Chair, P. 0. M. for Northumberland. The Chairman made his knowledgments at some length in his usual felicitous maylt,a observing, that he never felt more happy than when honone with the approbation of his kind friends in Newcastle, while "0 endeavoured to be useful to them, either in a public or pril id capacity. [We regret that want of room prevents our gill ,rt more of the Worthy Baronet's Speech.] The next toasts ti l o t followed were " Lord Dundas, the Deputy Grand Master o England," and " the Marquess of Tweeddale, Grand Iga s ' t o f for Scotland ;"---both of which were drank with the honours „f Masonry. The Chair then gave " the health of the Master the Newcastle Lodge," which was very handsomely prefeal i j Brother Matthew Bell, Esq. rose to return thanks, which he u op in a very pleasing manner, observing inter alia, that he felt, ir e honest pride in avowing, that he anxiously endeavoured to sq o ' A l his general conduct in life by those principles of benevolence 3 ' .. " sociability, which were the leading doctrines of MasonrY' l d (Applause.)—On th e h ea lth of th e D e p u ty P r o v inci a l Gra i i e Master being given, Brother Sir Charles Loraine, Bart. C ° j," and addressed the Meeting at some length. He sincer e a thanked them for the.honour they had done him, and he coo e with truth as sure th em , th a t as f ar as l ay i n hi s power-,pia should endeavou r t o a d va nc e the prosp er ity o f th e anc i e nt t il. honourable 'Fraternity in Northumberland.—(Applause.)" a f variety of Wags followed—among which were " the Duß e a pe Leinster"‘--" the Vice President," (J. L. Loraine, Esq.)-- ! ' e s Vice President returned thanks in a suitable speech, and 'fi tsi f loudly appl a ud e d. The spirit of the Meeting was admirs",;, sustained by the unremitting exertions of the Lion. Chaitere In the cour se of the afternoon severa l exce ll en t songs it',., e o j sung, which contributed equ a lly t o hil ar ity an d h armon y ; ~" the evening was spent throughout with that order and dc — pi rum whiCh have ever characterized the meetings of this anPe and honourable Fraternity. 1