The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-01-05 00:00:00

DRURY-LANX THEATRE.

After the dramatic mortice of Fladden
o.l{ ekee's humorous farce of 77:e Prisoner at
Large was last night perf.rmeil, for the first time,
at this theatre. Poor O'fiELFU ! we never witness
the perfortnutice of one of leis production', with-
out larnentiug that lie who had coniiiiAtted so
much to the anissement of the public-.whose Cas-
tle of Wild Oats, Agreeable Sur-
prise, Poor soldier, Etc. Sec. are so often repre-
sesited—should have been suffered, in the de-
cline of a twig-protracted life, feebly to combat
with penury and disappointment. If we are not
misinformed, They order these things better in
France." There the manager of every tlwatre,
metropolitan or provincial. is obliged to keep an
account of the receipts of each eight's perform-
aisce—a portion of which is marked down to the
credit of the individual, or of the family of the in-
dividual, whose play has been performed. Titus the
descendants of RACINE, or of m MIMS. if necessity
oblige them to crave the boon, may look en the sorb
of their ancestor. as to a fund whence they may the.
rive, if not a competent, at least a respectable sauce
of subsistence. Hail such a principle Isere iidopitul
here. we should not, some few years since, have
heard of the distress of SHAKSPEAWS posterity.-
nor should we now have to state, what we have been
positively assured, that Igen was obliged to have
recourse to parochial assistance. "I be Meow cat
Large partakes of all the peculiarities of O'Keeeit'e
gemas. Its hnuiuur is broad and estravageneww.
mud we laugh heartily at incidents, rapidly pm.
duced, which, if they came tardily upon us, would
autioy by their intrinsic insipidity, or disgust by
their utter ridiculousness. The main incident of
the piece, the return of a young Nobleman, Lord
Esmond. from France, where he had long been im-
prisoned for debt. is derived, we believe.. from the
csrcuinstaiice of the late Earl of MAsSASEENN hav-
ing been incarcerated, for a long series of years, in
the Hostile, whence lie was liberated when that hate.
ful tomb of the living was destroyed, in 1789. The
chief characters are composed of Adelaide and
Rachel, the niece and daughter of Old Dowdle,
who, during the absence of Lord Esmond, acts as
his steward—of Mans, a rustic servant—and Jack
Connor, an honest gentleman farmer, beloved by
Rachel, but opposed by Old Doodle, Superadded
to these are a FreneA Count, to whom Lord Es-
nsond is indebted--and Frill, a coxcombical
servant, the rival of Mans in the effections of
Mary. a fair and frolicksome
The farce was extremely well cast. The humour
of Mr. MUNIEN, as Old Dowd's. now snappish
and ill-natured, but immediately afterwards cloy-
ingly kind, as interest operated on his temper, was
amusing. 'spirited, and natural. Mr. Russees, was
a very lively and facetious Jaelc Connor—mid Mr.
GATTIE appeared to advantage as the Otani.—
Mr. KNIGHT'S Mans may fairly rank with the
efforts of the tir,t comedians, in depicting rustic
simplicity, dashed occasionally with a spice of
rustic archness slid drollery. Mrs. OSGES played
the part of Rachel with great nainete--the more
serious character of Adelaide was rendered highly
interesting by Mrs. liontesow—and the pert lo-
quacite of Nary was described with couttneusurute
force be Mrs. Gams.
_ _

Tlin-farce WAS received in the best manner.

A great trotting match took place yesterday
morning on the Epping-road, between a plloway,
the property of Captain Hat.", and a mare belong.
ing to Mr. R&M. The distance was seven miles,
for 9.00 guineas. It was a neck-and-neck race, won
by the mare in twenty-eight minutes and font
seconds.

TWELFTH NIGHT.—G. CARROLL, in gratitude
for past favours, and desirous of promoting the
hilarity of the present festive season, has the bounce of it
bisjuvesdie friends, now at home fur the Christmas
Holidays, that be has provided for their amusement a set
of Twelfth-Night Characters, which will be Riven to t►em.
gratis, at either of his Fortunate Inter, Officem, No 19,
Curnhill, or 26, Ozfordatreet ; where No. 2,367, the Ticket
which was draws a Prize of 30/1001. is the present Lottery,
w.O

The increasing demand far MARSHA r. Rorl
Coburg Pocket Cabinet, for 1819, enables the
Proprietor to annonnce, that the Third Edition, with addi-
tions, is now published, containing Memoirs and Anecdotes
of the Queeti—Eleven beautifnl Copper-plate Engravings—.
Portraits of her late Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte—
Prince Ltupold—Views of Claremont, Ike.—Some
*hewn sled Memoirs and Anecdote of their Royal High-
nesses, &c. elegantly bound, with gilt edges, only 'ls. 6d.—
Marshall's Cheap Pocket-hooks, price only Eighteen-pence,
contain. Eight Select Views--List of Members of the New
Parliament, Esc. can only be purchased et Kimmel-es
Lottery Office, 1, Hulbert, Bars, and no where else in
London —N.B. All the Pucket.buoks for 1819-11eposi-
tuner—Reset.* tioirrentr, &c. Almanarks.—A variety sent
to choose from to any part of Luutlun, free of expense.

At this season of the year, when accidents upon
the ice may Ise expected, it will not be amiss to re-
miud our readers, that livery case of suspended
ani-
mation from submersion is not necessarily fatal. If
the body has not remained under water too long, in
mauy instances the spark may he raised, and the
vital flame rekindled. In such eases the experi-
ment is proper and humane ; and we would sug-
gest that rational menus should he persevered in for
!was or three hours, or till there be no prospect of
success. An instance of this kind occurred at Go-
formal yesterday week: a child, three year. old,
walking upon the ice, sunk into the water, and af-
ter sonic interval was discovered and taken out, ap-
parently Iliad. Mrdieel assistance being promptly
obtained, by the perseverance of continued Prier-
butts foe nearly three hour., life returned, and the
patient gradually and entirely recovered.
Moni.oy last an Inquest was held at the Orkney
Arms. Taplow, by Mr. Pt. annoy, Coroner, on View
of the body of.luttw WHITE. The evidence went to
prove that the deceased was found, on Monday
:tight, on the Bath-road, between the Orkney Arms
and the Bell and Crown, with his throat cut. lie
was immediately removed to the above Inn, where
his wound being dressed, be was sufficiently well on
Tuesday to -..knowledge that he inflicted the wound
liiin•elf. lie stared that he had been a sailor, had
been discharged, and bad spent SOL on his family,
who hail treated Inns ; that he fell asleep
ate the Jitch where lie was loom!, and oil waking
felt their ill usage so severely, that he resolved to
kill himself. Ills recovery front the effects of the
wound appeared certain; lint I/11 l'lltSdPly lie bccanie
delirious, arid coritioueil in a 1141itle stele till
I:ridav, whirl' lie expired. Verdict,,Vici/froor the
effect 'j i•fiarminiAtion to Ilse brain.

ROYAL ACADEMY.
-....____

Last night the Lectures at the Royal Academy
were 'conned. Mr. Tuateett comaueuced his
course on the Rules of Perspective.
The Learned Professor commenced hyilluding
to the importance of a knowledge of the aides of
Perspective to the Student in Art, though he nt
the same time admitted the uninviting nature of this
branch. of study. When its parts consisted in the
erratigement of mathematical lilies and tangent.,
and the application or geometrical rules, it was evi-
dently a study which had no popular attraction,
and which must alone interest the Student. front his
firm conviction of its utility anti necessity. He
recollected well the information which he re-
ceived when a Student at the Arademy. and
the observation of Sir Joenue REYNOLD', that the
time and season of instruction was at all times
in force, and that it depended solely on the
Artist to Make it operative end useful for him.elf.
The Rules of Perspective were most resential for
in Artist ; it had been always held as an axiom,
that a picture which was correctly drawn uccord-
jog to geometrical rules, was much more entitled
to prone as a work of merit, than one which pos-
sessed good colouring, but was deficient in the
forms and effect which perspective could alone fur-
nigh. It was a remarkable fact, that when in
Athens, Putrnes and ARCHIMEDES were both etn-
cloyed in thawing the form of a statue meant to be
placed on an elevated pedestal, and to commemorate
a public character, the drawing of ARCHIMEDES
was universally admired, while that of PHIDIAS
was at the moment disregarded. The former had
all the geometrical lines admirably arranged, and
adopted to the closest and most fa.tidious inspec-
tioo—the latter hod, from his deep knowledge of
perspective, so formed his figure, ati to produce the
effect intended for a work of Art, from the elevation
at which it wee to be seen by the public—the con-
sequence was, that when both statues were made and
placed on the pedestal intended for their reception,
theme by PHIDIAS was universally admit ell, and that
by AECHIMIDES rejected as wholly nu& for the
purpose. This adaptation of parts, so as to pro-
duce effect by perspective, was observable in the
celebrated Monte Cavallo Figures, which were el-
evated to attract admiration from the height on
which they were placed. The Learned Professor
quoted the late Mr. Opus's opinion of the merit of
the ftehool of the CARRACCpl—that had they NW.
ceedesi in uniting. as they intruded. all the beau-
ties of the preceding masters, they would have put
to the blush the admirers of 'Deny of the ancient
works. The fine work of JULIO ROMANO, repre-
senting The Hears giving Proveader to the Horses
of the Sus, would not be less beautiful, by be-
ing in its drawing more true ; nor would the
celebrated work of Tice Tranefiguration be less
admirable, if it had some of the chiara-seuso
of the CAULACCIS. The Learned Professor then
touched a little on the principles of Architec-
ture. and introduced some fine drawings of the
College of Physicians, in Warwick-street, of
Bloomsbury Church, and other public buildings
in the metropolis; he particularly dwelt upon the
architecture of the Admiralty. sod appropriately
described it as remarkable for nothiug but a union
of incongruities. The Professor concluded by
impressing upon the atteution of the Student the
imperative necessity of his being well grounded
in a knowledge of the Rules of Perspective—to
know how to elevate, to compress, whereto be short,
and where to be prodigal in the application of or-
nament, was, he said, one of the first advantages
which an Artist could possess.
Tbis Lecture was very well attended. It would,
we presume, be a very desirable object if the
Learned Professor of Perspective, who is on-
doabtedly the first landscape painter in Europe,
would, io his Lectures, refer in a more particular
sommite to the admirable drawings with which lie
illustrates his inks; he would by that oxen, ren-
der his discourse touch more clear and nide-
oatory, Mr. CARLISLE, in his Lectures upon
Anatomy, eqessionally places himself before the
skeleton or the living subject, and points out to de-
sionstretion the principles it is his object to enforce.
if Mr. Toast* would take the seine trouble oc.
cssiooalty before his drawings, the Student would
derive incalculable benefit from this alteration
io his practice. At present many of his best
precepts are hastily delivered, the drawings
which illustrate them as hastily pieced on and
removed from the board, and the whole busi-
ness of the Lecture goat through like • matter of
course, and as if the audience were already fully
ecguainted with the subject. Mr. TWINES knows
too weU that the Students have much to learn, which
I he is tellable, and we are sore willing, to teach
I them.

The Su►rey County Ball, at the White Dart,
GutWm& last weak, was must numerously and
fashionably attended.
Five vessels, the Bleulathe. Duchess of Bedford,
Anne, George Cninsing, and Mona►ch. osteirohly
bound for Cayenne,havearrived in the Downs from
the River; each of these Allis has 200 passengers
on beard, consisting of Dicers, &e. hound to the
coast of Guiana, with the intention of joining the
Insurgents its South America.—(teuderbury Paper.)

It is understood that the Parliament is hot to be
opened by the PRIMO& itifiliNT in person. The
notice of the death of her Mast Excelleht -MAJESTY,
which must be a topic, makes it lit to be intrusted
to Lords Commissioners.—f Evening Paper).

As there is on idea of opposing the re-election of
the late worthy SPEA MOS, it is expected that be will
be presented Ao the COittmis•iouers for approbation
on Friday, the second day of the (Meeting; and,
vonsequently, the new vents will forthwAh be moved.
They will be numerous; and; in several instances,
the motions will be truly interesting, particularly
that for Westminster.

Cauriorr.— A let of felloisa, having the appea►-
ance of porters, of late Italie but too well succeeded
in practising • fresh mode of imposition on the
public, but fortsinately the plan has keen detect-
ed. "I'tley in general stand ut Ike corner of
Mreets much freqtleuted, carrying 14 kllot on their
shoulder', and spratsi on; and if they see a
pervo i c•rrming • bundle, or any thing else, they
aid: for a jour to carry tlt, property, which frequently
is given to Owns, and they endeavour to make their
,tet%ilit Ivltlll4