The National Register.
London, England, 1815-05-21 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL -REGISTER.

DBAMATI REGISTER.

COVENT GARDEN. 1
Farce, called The Fortune of War, was on
• produced at this Theatre. As it was under-
from the pen of Mr. Kepity, the author of
Wind, Love, Law and Physic, &c. the public
Irepared itself for an amusing performance, and
means disappointed in the expectation.
igue of this little piece arises principally from
rs of old Gruntrum (Mathews) a German far-
,tich such another personage as the English Mr.
He is in want of a helpmate, and is resolved
iappy woman shall be one widow Dusseldorf
(enport), the step-mother of ildela (Miss Foote).
being more famous for the extent of his appe.

the powers of rhetoric, engages his nephew,
young poet (Jones), and the lover of didelal to
is cause with the widow, an office of which he
iself in a style of the most ludicrous bombast,
)usty antiquated girt finds the more irresistible,
(eves that it is on his own account he pleads.
•,e, when discovered by the introduction of the
draws down upon the young orator the full
widow's indignation, accompanied by her re-
e him the hand of his mistrcsc. By now join-
,vectivei against his nephew, Gruntrum easily
mpression upon the susceptible heart of his

. -
id even gains her consent to lead her to the

,ame day. But just at this conjwicture, the
thrown into alarm by the approach of hostile
in the confusion which ensues Gruntrurn is

a fortress as a state prisoner :—he here meets
Id acquaintance Vanderscamp, who k become a
'nemy's, and whom he has the simplicity to aid
is escape. In the mean time his nephew, in-

)y accident to the Governor of the fortress—
'mei fortune to please—is allowed to volunteer
Izardous and important service, to the success of
-alour mainly contributes ;—finds the father of
► was supposed to be dead, in the person of an
and obtains, of course, his consent to his mar-
his daughter.
. very imperfect sketch of the plot of this farce.
.ly entertaining and essential incidents have
.ted ; but this is of the less consequence, as the
'le production does not so much consist in the
the ease and spirit of the dialogue, and the lu-
`,tire of the situations into which the different
are successively brought. These were alone
inure success, but which was doubly received,
•tive exertions of all the p rformcrs engaged.
.nd Jones in particular had characters which
II scope for their various excellencies. Listoe
ich to do, but what he had, no on could have
io well. Miss Foote alone has a right to com
part which has been assigned her is quite nn-
this promising young nctress, and calculated
•oduce negligence in her, and a mistaken esti-
Ler talents on the part of the public.

DRURY LANE.
Ballet called " Tarn Love out of the Door,
come in at the Window," was perform:•cl on
Aat this Theatre. Its title was a faithful ex-
the plot, for Mr. goclifort, its composer: had

n.*

taken good care not to exceed th• capacity f ..•• t•xt.
That the story Was barren and uninteresting, may there-
fore be easily anticipated. It will seem less crerlible, how-
ever, that in the chief characteristic of a Ballet, 'hi, piece
should have decidedly failed. There was in fact ,carcelv
any dancing. With such performers as Misc Smith, who
unites agility with grace, and young Mr. D'E;.;rille who
made his first appearance that evening, and promi.:es, with
attention, to become one of Terpsichore's SUCCV‘Sf4II
votaries. Surely Mr. Rochefort might have ven-
tured to introduce a better pas de demi than he has
done. The music is pretty, but chiefly selected,
and the scenery boasts no variety. On 'Wednesday Mr.
Bartley confirmed his fame, and his suoeriority ever ail the
modern representatives of Falstaff, by his performance of
the rougish knight in the Merry Wives of Windsor, whea
love, founded on interest has taken possession of his soul
and blinded his usual quickness of perception. Unlike
the rest of his competitors, lie never sinks into buffoonery
or vulgarity. With his immortal guide, he imitates,
without caricaturing nature. Rich and varied in bit
humour, he is just in his action, spirited in his mariner.
Never disgusting, he always pleases and amuse. If we.
were to particularize any passage, we would mention, the
recital which he makes of the manner in which he u-as
conveyed out of Mrs. Fora's house, amidst foul linen,
and thrown into the Thames; and as one of the most
striking 'n any performance, that in which lie receivee
Mrs. Ford's last letter. Disgusted with the unfortunate
result of his intrigues, and perhaps suspecting that his
mistress was in the plot against him, his pride and resent-
ment are in arms. He will not at first receive the letter,
then beats it pettishly with his hand, whilst he half reluc-
' tautly opens it, and pretends to read it with total indiffer.
ence. By degrees the contents revive his pride and his
confidence : a complacent smile harmonises his features,
and be closes the perusal with all the bursting exultation
of gratified vanity, which once more betrays hire
into the snare. During all this, the actor was en-
tirely left to himself : all his beauties were his own,
for the poet had not put a word on his lips. But the
varied expression which he threw into his manner and
countenance was far more powerful than language, His
merits were rewarded with enthusiastic appinuse.

The other characters were most ably supported by their
representatives..

The Govenor-General of Berg, Count Gruner, has fo.r-
mally contradicted the Proclamation published as his in the
Moniteur, declaring it to he "one of Buonapartes numerotA
lies." It was originally published however in the Brussels p.t-
pers, ft om which it was copied iu our prints long before
was given in the Paris Journal;. _ . _

.•
Mr. C4nning is now rcturming in reedy from his Noll-
gnese Embassy, which he has resigned ; an arrangement
formed for his admission into office.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT Or KING'S Ia:NCII.--Tifunsokv, MAY. 14.

WARNE!? U. JtoNrs.

wai an action of crint eon. The plaintifl was n Mayer in
the army, and the defendant a Captalo. Ft ton the evii:ence it ap.
potted that Nlajur Warher %%a% inallied to lii.. %ifeiu 1.304, atw44
alter which he Wit!. called abroad by liir proleNsion, 1 1 I re till wed to
l'Or, and had aincc h‘ed ou the moat affectionair. lttmi with hie/.