The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-04-01 00:00:00

171EATRES.

DIVET-LAN I!.

Last night, a new Comedy, called The Wurld,
was produced at this Theatre. It is written by
Mr. 'KEN Nei', who has so successfully contributed
to the entertainment of the world. The prin-
cipal characters are thus represented :

CHARACTERS.
Oen lot
Fehe
Within lirßovoirrox
heifetz MATER/DS
Subtle
Solid PURNER.
Leiter DE CAMP.
Lady Bleenvield Mrs. JORDAN.
Mr& Barclay Powr.LL.
Ekon'', Barclay Mks Boyce.

The story tame priucipally on the characters of Cheviot
and Echo. The latter has bees lung kept out of the world
by the partiality of parents, and at length arrives in tools
in order to commence man of basitess, and pay his ad-
dresses to Lady Bloonitield, a young and fashionable
widow, whose father, • rich merchant, bad been indebted
to the father of Lam fir his prosperity. Young Echo, with
the butt natural disposition, is led to imitate every block-
head, and fall into every absurdity, in order to make • figure,
and keep well with the world. With this view be bu been
induced to abandon Eleallo, Barclay, an amiable girl, of a
poor family, to whom be had been attached in the country,
and whom be deserts in a state of adversity. Cheviot is a
ftrandhag, • dependent from his infancy on a Mr. Havenant,
a man of fortune, In Northumberlaud, who his placed him,
to be initiated in trade, with Subtle, a gambling and 'pecu-
lating merchant. The high spirit of Cheviot revolts from
the practices of his preceptor, and he therefore leaves his,
sad becomes anther. ratlterthati mutt to his protector for
farther assistance ; Dernmatielsaviog never adMitted Yids to
his presence, he disdains complaining to him, or cutlass to
be tumid as a here object of charity. He is discovered in
London by Withers, who had been his uccaduual visitor is
the country, and being taxed by him with the 'estimate's
of his disposition, eiders iutu a vindication of his feelings,
is which he throws some reproach on the parents who thus
deserted bins to • state of dependence so tepuguat to his
feelings. A variety of incidents, which it is nut our pro-
vince to ernustrate, occur, in which Cheviot engages the
affeetione of Lady Biseteleid, sad discovers Mit. Barclay and
Elsease, whom Echo had deserted, prisoners in the King's
Beach. Their 'nubble, as admirers of Lady Bloomfiehl, briug
them Into contention; and Cheviot, by • strong and planned
attack upon the feelings of Echo, rouses him to assert an
iairpeedesee of sentiment, and follow the laudable impulse
of he heart ; in coasegsence of which be shakes elf Isis
unfeeling and worthless companions sad advisers, and is
Teetered to kb Eleanor. Cheviot is ultimately discovered to
be the sos of Duettist, who, under the same of Withers,
bad visited blot as a stranger, sad who, principally to avoid
the odium of the world, as be woo the offspring of an illicit
attachment, bad sever avowed bleu but as an object of
charity. Mrs. Barclay is found to be his mother, who,
since she bad beet seduced by Davenant, had become the
wife of another. The parties all suet, and become region-
tiled, is the hour, and through the bersevulsat mediation
of Lady Bloomfield; to whom Cheviot, though leis pride
and poverty had bduee insisted him studiously to conceal
▪ pasesia, is now encouraged to avow it and the offend-
• psrtiss aekaustledge the evils of surificiag their peace of
sad the honourable dictates of conscience!, to the
*patios of • otbatidging world.
From this story the author has produced an ex-
, cellent comedy, itch in incident, wit, and good
writing. The interest is admirably supported
throughout, and the grave and the gay hap-
pily blended. The moral lesson which it incul-
cates, dwells upon the saeritices which the best
dispositions aniaduced to make to the opinion of
the world, and from thence the piece derives its
title. These errors in our thor.il system are dis-
played with great judgmest and comic humour.—
The character of Cheviot is finely drawn ; and
the seatitueuts and high sorsa of honour with
which the part abounds, do credit to the heart
and the head of the author.—Mr. 113Lttstort never

appeared to more advantage, or receive,' more
merited applause, than in this new character.—
The part of Echo also possesses much novelty, and
was admirably supported by Mr. BANNISTER;
who, in his imitation of Mr. Dauntless, the Bond.
street lounger. highly amused the audience.—
Mr. Matrums appeared, for the first time, since
his accident, and was ref-saved with loud and pro-
longed plaudits. lie was a most lively portrait of
the busy good-natured old Bachelor, who knew
everybody's business. Lady Bloomfield, a lively
amiable young widow, in love with; Cheviot. and
who is determined to bestow her hand and property
on this neglected child of fortm,e,wits filled by

Aln JOE.DA"N with the most faseinatiti4 sweetness'
and vivacity. In the scene where she visits the
Barclay family in prison, the silvery sounds of her
voice thrilled through every bosom. Mrs. Powett.
and Miss BOYCE were extremely interesting in
Mrs. and Mass Barley. Mr. Wan 1, iiroN, al-
ways correct and judicious, gave every (Meet to
the part of Dartliatat, the slave of prejudice. The
&moment was highly wrought up, and produced
great interest. The comedy was received through-
out with the most rapturous applause, and an.
nounced for second representation amidst repeated
" braros !" and acclamations. Mr. De CAMP
spoke the Prologue extremely well. The Epi-
logue was admirably delivered by Mr. ELLISMN.
It possessed great point, and excellent allusions to
the title of the Comedy—The World. A niore
brilliant or crowded audience we never witnessed on
any occasion.

COVVIIT-OARDEN.

The Comedy of The Max of the World way,
last night, performed to an overflowing house. It
was succeeded by a new Burlesifue Melo-Drama,
taken from the 'French of Monsieur MARTAIN-
vaLLE ; and a comic conversation, supposed to posy
in the box-lobby between the author, box book-
keeper, and one of th,• audience, is introiliaccd, by
Prelude, to inform the Public what species of farce
they are to aspect—from this we easily anticipate
a travesty after the manner of Tent Thumb the
Great. or Chromoshotoothologos. The followinb
is a sketch of the plot
The piece coruscates with a view of a castle, where Sir
Hildebrand, is mock heroics, informs his coorrlasst, Nicholas,
that a sorcerer has robbed him of hie daughter, his nephew,
and his castle--the recovery of these, and the subjugation
of the tsrsot niggard, form the ground-work of the succeed-
scenes, in which we ere presented with every species of
pageantry sad splioulesir visually exhibited is pieces of a
more serious nature; istiospersed with robbers, enlivened
with t ARS and spectre., and finis►ing with a combat sad
condagratitio. The music accompasying the action is in
the sane .-stirlesque style, as are also the wont, of the soup.
Mrii.cs Simmons, Earley, cud Blanched, are the heroes ;
Mrs. Gibbs and Mrs. Liston the heruidta, abuse tragi-comic
adventures div.rsify the piece.
the idea of this Pir ce is borrowed from The
awl tin! style and execution art• iu the man-
ner of Tons Thlllllb, but greatly inferior iii merit
It w.us a dangerous experiment : id though not,
flat:cruiLfly rveLived, its fate 4:acceded the genera!
expect ativn.

VOW?? 6P COMMON COI:WM 11iiitcW 31.

The Court WU Itliembied, this rimy. in conse-
queace of a requisition signed by Messrs. Waitir
wan, Gocethehere, sad Quin, to take into

deratiou the pro;:riety of petitioning both Houses
of the Legislature on the rejection of the Bill for
preventing the grant of offices in reversion, by the
Upper House of Parliament.
After the disposal of some private Petitions, the
Lord Mayor aoquainted the Court, that the Depu-
tation from that body had waited on the King with
the Address, to winch His Majesty was pit acd

to return his most gracious answer, which Mas thou
read.

Mr. W•ITUtt t N proceeded to the particular oh-
ject of the Meeting, acid eontinented with
. .

-derable acuteness on the objections which he had
heard against that wholesome measure for restrain-
ing the grant of offices in reversion. It seemed

to be forgotten that the prerogatives of the Crown
were originally ib-rusted for the ultimate benefit of
the people, and, of course, when such prerogatives
warred with the public intermit, for which they were
created, there wus an end of their lawful exercise.
tincli apprehensions wen% under the present state
of things, totally idle. The Court had to recollect
the great increase which the Crown must have,
from the enormous amount of the public debt,
from the severe •pressure of taxation, and from the
considerable addition made to our naval and mi-

litary establishments. Under circumstances,
where the influence of the Crow• was.

awirmatiwas with tbs. proseet 'fiats. 'manta-
demble, some of the wisest Statesmen of the

day declared that increasing influence a great evil,
and were employed in devising means to check its
inordinate advancement. He quoted Blackstone,
Hume, and Montesquieu, to corroborate the clan-
gers which the Constitution would have to contend
with, both from the extent of the public debt; and
from the probability of the Legislative Power being
rendered much time corrupt than the Executive.
Under such a conviction that Court had acted in •
the year 1779, when it returned its thanks to the
Peers who voted for the diminution of the Execu-
tive Influence. Ile requested the Reinembrancerto '
read the orders of that period, torther with the
answer of the Duke of Portland, oue of the Peers,
who dreaded the danger of that enormous iudu-
ence. (The minntes of the proceedings were then
read, and also the letter of the Luke of Portland,
in which that Nobleman placed uncommon stress
upon the absolute necessity of diminishing the
great and growing influence of time Crow-n.) Such
was then the opinion of the Noble Lord, now at
the head of His Majesty's Councils, and ytt it was
astonishin.,7 to find, that even lie, with all the in-
fluence of the Ministry, was unable to carry
through the upper House of Parliament so mode-
rate a measure as that for restricting offices in
reversion. It was Aso irrecoterilable with the
outward support given Icy Ministers to that 'lieu-
sure, to find amongst its most active opposers,
Lords Arden and ktedesdale, the brother and
brother-in-law of Mr. Perceval, the Chancellor of
Lie Exchequer. He considered such opposition
to the wishes and wants of the people unwise and
injudicious. Indeed, corruption had so pervaded
the legislative ranks of this country, that it was a
matter of wonder to hint how the people could so
long ailostly salmis toSheispwition. Peersokall 1
ranks pensioned, and Commoners hying out large
sums of money to purchase seats in Parliament !
bi this avaricious age it were hard to attribute any
other motive but time hope of repaying themselves,
with interest, drawn from the public labour and
exertion. He cited whole families of public men,
for the lust :-veaty years, drawing 30 and 40,0001.
a-year from the public burdens : and he had
heard of a Peer, who, with a fortune of "now .
per annum, was mean enough to accept a pension
of 3001. a year for his daughter. After a number
of strong and argumentative observations, Ise con-
cluded by moving, .‘ That the Court should pe-
tition both Houses of Parliament, expressive of its
regret at the rejection of the Reversion Bill, and
stating the necessity of carrying it, and all other
means of public retrenchment, into immediate
effect."

Mr. Deputy GOODREMERE briefly seconded the
motion, and expressed a hope, that the Coert
would evince the true feeling of patriotism, by
declaring in favour of those measures which were
best calculated to draw forth the energies and
unanimity of the country.
Mr. Sheriff SMITH considered this entirely a
question depending on its own immediate merits.
Therefore he was unwilling, though holding an
official situation, to give a silent vote upon it. Ile
was ignorant of the motives which could have in-
Humored the Douse of Peers to reject the Bill,
but he was persuaded the rejection neither tended
to support the dignity, honour, or credit of that
branch of the Legislature.
Alderman GLYNN was friendly to the motion,
because he thought the grant of offices in reversion
lialde to great and wanton abuses. The repeal was
no infringement of the prerogative, because, in his
opinion, it was more the intcrest of the Crown to
have the grant of such offices in possession, rather
than in reversion. Still he could not approve of
many of the observations with which the worthy
Commoner prefaced his motion. The surprise ex-
pressed b% hint at the patience of the people, was,
in his opinion, a very precipitate and dangerous
remark.
Mr. NV AtTilM .1 N, in explanation, did not incline
to shrink from his opinion. lie was one of those
who felt it the duty of the people to take a lively
interest in all public measures, and to watch with
jealeusy, and resent with strong remonstrances,
every attempt made upon the true interests and
most sacred rights of the Constitution.
Mr. (luta eloquently detailed the numerous
evils emanating from the exercise of such an masa-
lutary power as the grant of offices in reversikm.—
When he saw how they were bestowed, and con-
inhered how the Throne was h ,sieged by legions of
hungry sycophants, he wits forcibly reminded of
the story of Sir Francis Wronghead, who had a
Suailay livery to fit servant:, of all sizes. It was
thus in places of reversion : men were apprnated
to places, without any reference to talents. charac-
ter, capability, or even the power of actually per-
fa:oin the ordinary lunctions. lie adverted, in
a l'oreiblo ma:l,tor, to the example of Franco,
where tin: sordid and oppressive venality of the

privileged classestrant plea upon every privileitotthe
people, and finally subverted the throne itsulf.. I
contended that such grants operated powerf: 7
agaiiist the splendour and dignity of the Crown, y
depriving the Sovereign of the IfiCallS of coufein. ti
offices upon those who evert alone worthy- to enjoy
them. The ob,ertation of 31ontesquien was la-
mentably exemplified in the fate of the late 'lever-.
salmi Bill, where, in opposition to the injunctions of
the Sovereign hints. lf, and in disregard of the
wishes and pilitinns of the people, the Hereditary
Counsellors of th.' State scouted from their House
that. measure which had received the dtionimouo
support of the representatives of the people, and
which was the earnest of those acts of public economy,
so peculiarly called fbr by the severe burdens and
unparalleled patience of the people in cheerfully
acquiescing.
Mr. DIXON, Mr. Kv.uete, and Mr. WEAVEL,
supported the motion, without at all plet.ging
themselves to any party. views.
The motion for petitioning was then put, sod in
a most crowded court was unawisecnntly curried.
The only City Representative who attendee was
Alderman Comae. Mr. Aldermen Bieca retired
before the motion was put from the Chair.
The l'etition was ordered to be fairly transcrib-
ed, and presented to both Houses by "the Sherif*
attended by the Reinembrancer.