The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-05-28 00:00:00

COPEYT-GARDEN

Overwhelmed as we have been by new and splendid
melo-dramas, and unlucky as we have been in our attempts
at putting forth a single genuine tragedy, worthy of retain-
ing a station for two seasons together, It is quite refreshing
to hear even the name of a new comedy announced, al-
though the recollection of our former failures makes it
a doubtful kind of pleasure to go to see it. Our appre-
hensions damp our hopes, and we go to the theatre as if
we were about to witness some desperate and unavoidable
disappointment to one whom we Wish well to, but cannot
in any way assist. Such were our feelings last night u
we entered this house ; and a new comely called Charles,
the Second,or the Merry Monarch, was not calculated to'
subdue them. The very name brought with it associa-
tions of a nature to alarm our fears: for it as much as
hinted that the maners of the piece were not to be of our
day, and which alone ought in our judgment to be the soh-
jert-matter of new comedy, at least the most prominent
feature of it; and then it excited in us a painful sensa-
tion, lest the author should, in having chosen his time, also
have taken his characters from an age when morality was a
bye-word, and a bold unblushing profligacy the order of
the day. We were, however, in all these matters most
agreeably deceived; but before we say anything of the
merits of the new play we will give its plot, which is a
very simple one. The Dramatis Persona' are—
King Charles the Second - - Mr. Kembie.
Lord Rochester . - . Mr. Jones.
Edward, a Page . - • Mr. Punnet.
Captain t'opp, - Mr. Fawcett.
Lady Clara, . Mrs. Eaurit.
Mary (Copps Niece) . • • Miss M. Tree.
The plot is this :—The Queen of Charles the Second, feeling
herself much neglected by his Majesty, in consequence of his noc-
turnal rambles, devises with Lady Clara, her Majesty% confidante,
a stratagem by which she hopes to disgust her husband with his ire
regular coarse of lite. Lady Clara, to whom Rochester is paying
his addresses, consents to his proposals, on the condition that lie
will assist in the plan. Rochester agrees, and learning from his'
proccgi., Edward, that he is in love with Mary, the niece of Cap-
tain Copp, landlord of the Grand Admiral, at Wapping, he deter-
mines upon, and succeeds in, inducing his sovereign to attend him
thither in the disguise of a seaman. The King falls into the snare
laid for him. Arrived at the rendezvous, he pays his addresses to
Mary, whom Rochester, from the information of the Landlord,
discovers to be his own niece ; and that Nobleman, when the mo-
ment arrives for executing his purpose, privately withdraws, hav-
ing first left his Sovereign without a penny in his pocket. In this
dilemma, Charles, when called upon for the reckoning, and unable
to discharge it, gives up his watch to the angry Landlord, who,
from its appearance, suspecting it to be stolen. goes out to ascertain
that fart ; and Mary, accompanied by Edward, (who has come to
the Grand Admiral, under the disguise of a singing-master,) visit
the King. They magnify the danger he is in, and finally assist
him to escape. Copp having learned that the watch belongs to the
King, waits upon his Majesty the next morning, to deliver it up.
At this interview, Charles discovers the trick that has been played
upon him, and resolves to be more circumspect in his future amours,
I and Edward obtains the hand of his beloved Mary.
It will be readily seen, that here is but little scope for
the display of character; and we cannot suppress our
vexation, after all, that nothing better was afforded us ;
for though we acknowledge the smartness of the dialogue,
and the situations and incidents in this new comedy, we
are convinced they exhibit a power sufficient to produce
something much better, and altogether more deserving
of the age. Mr. C. Kemble was a better sailor than sove-
reign ; but this was because he had more to do in the for-
mer than the latter. In the scene at the Grand Admiral's

at- Wapping, where he and Rochriter, in the disguise of
sailors, are drinking tea with the old Captain's niece, the
acting was quite complete. The name of Rochester is just'
just then accidentally mentioned, at which the landlord
bursts forth, with a " I)—n Rochester!" and, on
his repeating it, and adding, that he was the greatest
of villains, Charles, for a time, forgets his masquerade,
and says, " erlain this, it is our pleasure. ' We
liked this incident, and so did the audience; but we
did not like the explanation that followed, for it unlit-
vaned the whole plot, and every thing that happened after-
wards was as well known as if we had book in hand. We

think the Captain should not have informed us so soon
who his niece was. Mr. Jones per‘armed the dissipated '
Earl very well. Fawcett was exceedingly humorous and
pleasant as the honest Landlord of Wapping. We fear,
however, for the fidelity of the picture in these degenerate
days. Mrs. Faucit, as Lady Clara, had but little to do, but
that little she (lid very agreeably. iVe, at the first, felt
some shuddetings for this lady, when she began to laugh
and mock at matrimony ; but the author, we found, knew
his part better, and not one double entendre fell from that
lady's lips. We thank him for this. Miss M. Tree's Mary
was that of a sweet innocent girl—nothing very striking,
but perfectly engaging, and, as we think, performed in the
most natural manner. She would do better were she not to
stoop quite so much ; but this is a fault, we perceive, in all
female singers, and perhaps one not to be blamed,for we pre-
fer it a thousand times to that bold and unfeminine attitude
which the tragic Ladies are so apt to assume, even in parts
the most untragical, and which suits not at all with the
amiability of their st`x. Miss Tree sang two songs ; the
last was the best ; it was encored, but there was nothing
remarkable in the music of it, nor, indeed, throughout
the piece. Mr. Duruset is too stout and tall for a
page, but he can sing, and he was therefore necessary.
file duet between him and Miss Tree was tame, though
not altogether uninteresting. We could not help remark-
ing the impropriety of making Miss 'f ree sing her serond
song in his Majesty's palace, while she and her uncle were
waiting an audience. This should be avoided. And if the
latter part of the last scene was somewhat curtailed, and
Fawcett would he less ridiculously shy at his first being in-,
troduced to his Majesty, and a little less rude after he had
overcome his bashfulness, we think the new comedy of
Charles the Second, or theMeri ;a King, would deserve fre-
quent repetition to as crowded houses as that of last night,
which was certainly a complete one. The piece was well
received, and on its being announced for this evening the
applause was general. The entertainments of the evening
were concluded by the farce of the Irish Tutor and the
Miller and his Men.

FUNERAL of the DUCHESS of DEVONSHIRE.

I From the Derby Mercury of Wednesday.]
The remains of her Grace the Duchess of Devonshire
were landed at 1/over on the 17th instant, and were brought
to Devonshire House on Tuesday, the 18th, at a late hour
in the evening.
The necessary arrangements having been made for con-
veying the body of the illustrious dead to the family vault
in All Saints Church, in this town, the procession left Pic-
cadilly on Saturday night, and arrived at Loughhro' yes-
terday evening. Ile funeral procession reached Derby
this morning, about eleven o'clock, and proceeded imme-
diately to the cemetery of the Noble House of Cavendish,
in the following order:—
The 17ndertaker.
Two Mutes.
Plume of Feathers.
Two Mutes.
Two Horsemen, in mourning garbs.
Coronet and Cushion,

carried by s Gentleman uncovered on Horseback ; the Horse richly
caparisoned, led by two Grooms.
THE HEARSE,
with Escutcheons, most beautifully painted on Velvet.
Two Mourning Coaches, containing the principal Domestics of
the deceased.

Two of his awe the Duke of I.7;;;;ltire'sServonte on lionebsek,

His State Carriage, drawn by ;aHorses, closed the procession.
The remains of the deceased were met at the church
door by the Rev. C. S. Hope and the Rev. C. Hope, jun. ;
and on the entrance of the procession the notes of the
organ were heard pealing a solemn dirge, and heightening
the effect of the impressive scene. The coffin was then
placed in the broad aisle, surmounted with the plume of
feathers, the coronet and cushion being stationed at the
head, and the mourners occupying the seats on the right
and left of the body. The sublime and mournfully touch-
ing Burial Strvice was read by the Rev. C. S. Hope, in his
usual appropriate and affecting manner. At the conclusion
of the Limit), the plumes and pall were removed from the
coffin, which was covered with crimson velvet, richly de.
corated with ornaments of gold, and inscribed with the
name and titles of the deceased. It was then borne slowly
to the vault, followed by his Grace the Duke of Devon-
shire, the Hon. G. Lambe, Mr. Foster, and Lord Hervey,
as chief mourners, and by a train of attendants, whose
feelings were greatly moved on the melancholy occasion.
The Funeral Service being ended, the processhm re-
turned in the usual order.