The National Register.
London, England, 1811-11-03 00:00:00

'FIII7. NATIONAL RE(IS I ER.
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DR A M ATIC REGIS l'Elt.

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LYCEUM.

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The Clandatine Marriage was, on Mendor, exceedingly well
performed. Lord Ogichy was admirably sustained by LOVE-
GROVE. PENEdN, in Stirling, was very ''respectable, and
Iti4rLvt~; in Lovewell, threw a spirit and animation into the part,
of which, till then, I did not think it susceptible. While actors
for very doubtful merit, are industriously sought for at all the
Provincial-Theatres, and those who in the country can only play
second rate parts, are brought to support the tip top characters
its London, it is really singular, that an establiShed favourite, like
Mr. Mecvm, should be kept so much in the hack ground.
WewiT z a's Canton, and Pats:ries Brush, with Mrs. SPARKS'S
,pies. Heidelburg, were, as usual, all that could be wished.
On Thursday a Play was performed, which the Managers
Impudently called a New Comedy, but which, in fact, is only
The Spaniel Curate, of BEAUMONT and FceTcnea, altered.
snd in some measure, adapted to the taste of modern times, by
s Mr. CLARKS.
It would be wasting time to go into themerits of this perform-
s:nee at any length, as the greater part of my Readers are pro-
bably already acquainted with the Piece I have mentioned. It
has more of regularity than the original, but it has also more of
sameness. It is less indelicate than it was, but at the same time,
unfortunately, it has less of humour. I cannot compliment the
Author much on the address with which he has man2ged his
last scene. Without exception, it is the most clumsy, awkward
piece of business, that modern times has produced. Upon the
whole, with many faults it has considerable merit; the faults,
fbr the greater part, belong to Mr. CLARKE, the parts which are
entitled to praise, to BEAUMONT and FLETCHER. G.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

SlR—The following address was said, by some of the Daily
:Papers in which it appeared, to have been delivered to an audi-
ence by a certain Theatrical Proprietor. For the words " Ladies
and Geet/emer.,7 which occurred twice, I have substituted
1. Soldiers ;"'and the other few words in italics have been in-
serted for the original ones omitted. We have often been made
to believe, when political or stock-jobbing interests were in view,
that different speeches which have been published, were those of ,
J3trunapart -e, spoken on some occasion or another, but which have
afterwards appeared to have been downright forgeries. How
the Histrionic Proprietor could have stumbled upon such a
fustian composition, or if it really is an original production of
Napoleon, I shall not pretend to decide ; but I have given it for
your insertion as a curiosity, and to show. how easily fabrications
may take place ; as with so few substitutions, and so little allow-
ance, the address will appear a speech of Buonaparte to his armies
in Spain, previous to the commencement of the rainy season.
Soldiers—l have the pleasure of offering to you my annual tri-
bute of gratitude, not only for your countenance on this occasion,
but for your general patronage to the establishment during the
season. If it should seem that of late I have only partially aided
the interests of my Spanish war by my personal appearanc.e upon
the Peninsula, 1 can with truth assure you, that I have still
watched its progress with. unremitting care and solicitude ; and
that I have endeavoured to submit to your judgment the best Ge-
nerals, and the best entertainments which liberal remuneration
could procure. Of my Generals, some have been thought worthy
of the adoption of the patent kingdoms,and many now rank among
the brightest ornaments of the kingly race. It will he at all times
highly gratifying to me, to make these wars, under your pro-_
tection, an honourable passport to such distinction. The en-
suing month will be devoted to the benefits of my Generals,
whose interests I. commit with confidence to your attention.
The caznpaign must then be closed for a few days to enable us to

make preparations for new enterprizeT, and to effect some mate-
rial alterations for your accommodation and comfort during tha
winter season. 1 trust, Soldiers, when I tell you, I have nut the
slightest intention of quitting this concern, that you will do me
the justice to believe, that neither exertion nor expense will be
spared to ensure a continuance of the support, which it is not
only my duty to seek, but one of the highest points of my am-
bition to deserve•