The National Register.
London, England, 1815-12-17 00:00:00

DEC. 17.

pendent on his late captive ; the virtuous, who were
doomed to death, have it in their power to pass the same
sentence on their oppressors : and all this is effected by
such simple means, that while the change excit s astonish_
went, it does not seem greatly to outrun probability.
Nothing could exceed the satisfaction of the audience at
the winding up of the Play ; and it was announced for re-
petition amidst one general shout of" Bravo !"
We undf rstind that the public are indebted to the Hon.
Mr. Douglas Kinnaird for the revival of this long neglect-
ed play. I'he alterations he has made have great merit,
and the general arrangement is altogether satisfactory, lie
has judiciously called in the assistance of music ; and the
skill and science of Mr. Cooke are happily displayud in
the selected pieces, and in the original compositions, whicis
are here introduced. l'he powerful assistance of Mr. Lin-
ley has al‹) been called in ; and the opening glee and
chorus, and the air—

" In every woodland dale and bower,"
furnish specimens of harmony highly creditable to his taste
and ability.

ADDRESS,

VrRITTEN By J. HORHOUSE, ESQ.-SPOKEN BY MR. POPE, PREVIOUS
TO THE REPRESENTATION OF " THE MERCHANT OF BRUGES; OR,
BEGGARS' BUTT."

Whet e Macedonia's madman, foil'd, withdrew,
Where Rome's triumpha,it eagles never Hew,
Beyond the realms for ancient pride assign'd,
In worlds Ambitioti ne .e, hop'd to find,
Far to the settiog an l tho rising day,
Britann:it's boan ss e 'vire spreads away;
o'.!, either sphere her standards ?oat
And Art aid Se:en .e.spriti4 oeneath their shade:
And whet Tune rank our vitit.sh'd state.
With all m ht.s7 names that once were great,
Still shall the language live, and leave behind
One trophy of the lords of human kind;
Eac't conquer'd clime retain their yoke, and each
Submit, for ever, to the master—Speech :
Onr s tg..!s stiil, and still (ter poets reign
In inathy ehquence and lofty strain ;
S,iil to the farthest age, the latest hour,
Your wide dominion last in Shakspeare's power.

Ye; then, Nvh.)se breast the generous wish inspires)
To leave your sans the language of your sins,
Leav,t uni apair'd the bright inheritance,
The tini:th'd work of freedom and of sense,
Think how this living organ of the age,
Demand; 'your cue, demands your patronage;
Your care, lest a ..!-,isurpar.:: p:ac'd
By sister Fashion on the ihruiw of Taste,
Of native eloquilice, the grace and force
Corrupt, and poison at her purest source.
Your patronage, since Wisdom's accent falls
Lifeless, that echoes but to silent walls!
in vain Thalia, at her idle helm,
Rules undisputed in an empty realm,
Whilst we, her servants, unrequited, share
The thankless toil of duty and despair.

'Tis all too little, that your critic eye
Discern our scenic monsters, and decry,
Boys, hears, curs, cavalry, may meet your scorn,
Yet one ;ping more remains—let MEN be bow.
Let Punch and Pantomime be brush'd away,
Agreed—on this condition—thar a play.
Ah! let the Drama s voice, though long repress'd,
Still find an echo in your patriot breast ;
Here let that once-loved voice he heard, and here
Awake the genuine smite, the genuine tear.
Here Shakspeare, Jouson, Fletcher, yet be known,
Here moving Massinger be still your own:
Rowe's piercing passion, Otway's tender scene,
gain be cherish'd, as they once have been.

Nor sparkling dialogue, nor pleasing plot,
With Congreve, Vanbrugh, Farquhar, here forgot;
Nor Sheridan himself deplore the fate
Of wit unfelt, and nature out of date.

As yours the duty, then he yours the pride,
To patronize the labours that yen guide:
Your judgment only can protect our zeal,
The PEOPLE are a Barron's last appeal.

[THE EPILOGUE IN OUR NEXT.]

COVENT-GARDEN.

flf

Tuesday night, a new piece in tire acts, called " Smiles
and Tears ; or, the kVidow's Stratagem," was produced
at this Theatre

Lady Emilia, a young widow, has for her intimate
friend Mrs Belmour, also a widow, and engaged in a law
snit with Sir Henry Cholmondeley, in which she is likely
to lose her whole fortune. Sir Henry has by chance •net
Lady Emilia at a masquerade, where he has become ena-
.noured of her figure, wit, and vivacity, without haviiig seen
her face ; and at length writes to her, soliciting an in•er..
view. Lulu Emilia, being herself astached to Colonel'.
O'Donottglain. determines to introduce Mrs. Ileinmar to
Sir Henrg, as La iy Emilia ; but aware that she will not
receive him, she writes to Sir Henry, thut she will admit
him under the assumemed name of Grenville; and prevails
on Mrs nclmour to receive his visits in the name of ['arty
4.;everal interviews take place between Sir IL
and Mrs. B who conceive such a mutual attachment, that
when the stratagem is diacov-red, each agrees to put an end
to the law suit, by a matrimonial onion. Another stratagem
is conceived also by Lady Emilia, to restore Fitzharding
to reason, and his own daughter fo his affection, both of
which had fallen sacrifices to the misconduct of Dclaval,
ho had seduced Miss Eitcharding, and then deserted her.
such is the outline of the plot of Smiles and Tears,
which, we understand is the joint production of Mr. and
Mrs. C. Kemble. The language and sentiments are good,
and some of the scenes interesting. The concluding scene
is au imitation from that of the Winter's Tale. Fitzharding
ho believes his daughter dead, is shewn her picture which
excites all his paternal affections. The living form rushes
from the imaginary canvass into his arms, and the curtain
dr bps. The author is evidently well acquainted with stage
trick, but is deficient in the true dramatic art of delineating
the passions naturally. however interesting on the stage,
it never happened that the victim of seduction quitted her
betrayer, and resigned her child to his care, to watch
over the pbrenzies of an injured and enraged parent; nor
is confirmed madness cured by a sudden impulse, as gout is
said to be driven away by a fright, and ague by a plunge
into cold water. The Irish Colonel is an overcharged cha-
racter, as dramatic Irishmen mostly are ; and we thought it
in many parts much overdone by Mr. Jones. Lady Einifia,
and Sir Henry, were well acted by Mr. and Mrs. Kembie ;
the former of whom is the best representative of a finish-
ed gentleman on the stage, perhaps the very best since
smith and John Palmer. Young was a good theatrical
maniac, and Miss Foote a beautiful and interesting repre-
sentative of the heterogeneous compound of female frailty,
virtuous sentiment, and filial piety. This comedy is said
to be the joint production of Mr. and Mrs. C. Kemble.
The Epilogue was spoken by Liston, in the character of
Goosequill, a poet. The following is a specimen of the
versification :
" I'll buy Mrs. Goosequill a Frenchified bonnet,
And wikik to Blackheath—but I wust not walk on it."