The National Register.
London, England, 1819-05-16 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

DR urtrwrs rzrzATRS.
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A new Tragedy, called the Carib Chief, was on Thum-
' day night produced at this House. It is from the pen of
Mr. H. Twiss, and it experienced an uncommonly
gracious reception.
Tiveleene is laid in Dominica. The chief interest of
the story hinges on the sufferings of Onsereeh (Kean), a
Carib Chieftain, on account or the loss of a wife and
daughter in warfare with Europeans; his consequent fu-
rious hostility towards white men, whether they api•eared
as friends or enemies, and his efforts to be revenged.—
Civilized exertions to reduce his native land present the
means ; and the re-appearance of the French Coininander
Montalbtrt, (Bengniigh) who had destroyed the Chief-
tain's Wife. and torn, him front his infant daughter,
affords unexpected opportunity of satisfying direst hate.
Montalbed was united to Ciatadilia, (Mrs. West) a lady
of,lndian origin, arid one whom he hail gained by basely
representing her betrothed lover, Treinsis (Mr. Henry
Keinble), to be dead ; arid these the Carib Chief, and
by the fortunes of a sort of irregular warfare, vets into
his power, but not till illontalberi had %loin Mniack
(Holland), a native Prince. Effort, to rescue them are
made by (I). Fisher) Malock's p: test, and licalukratic
(Miss Boyce). Moniathert had escaped, but Claudia/A
was about to be led to the pile to be sacrificed. No re-
lief appeared, and attemp.s to delay the ceremony only I
aroused OnsereaYs fairy, who sets as if his wife's spirit
chided hiin for deLly. Thine is gained, and Mortitttert is
declared to be coining with assistance. Omerrals hinnies
Cfaudina to the pile ; the sacrifice is commenced ; line
victim bl ens ; and it such moment, by some jewels
that had dropped from her person, he discovers iu Clam-
dina his °wail caughter. But the knowledge comes too
late, for the death-wontid had been given. ilfraritatti
a,ipeais egain. Ornarak endeavours to stab bun, but is
prei cruet], and he then hills himself. Montalto 1, who
had exciled no auxiety for his continued existence, is
left aloe. '

Such is an imperfect outline of the plot. The charac-
ter of antreuh is consistently and ably se. tamed ; and
that of Medina in the filth act is supported with great
ability and interest. Its dramatic excellence is wrought
to llighest pitch, and the catastrophe is managed
with fist rate skill. It was the most etT(ctive thing of
the kind we ever beheld; and such was the anxiety
kindled by jet jutl,ctous management, that pity posses ed
every heart on finding that Cleudira breathed her last iu
the arms of a long lost parent. The Per ormersi Kean
and Mrs. West, exerted themselves most ab:v. The
fi,.ry, broken-hearted Indian, who scants all reliance on
European promise and Chriatiati mercy—who remem-
bers the wrongs that had been heaped upon hint—who
only lives to be ietenged, was embodied with great
energy and nature by Jr.N Kean. His filial scene was
one of afflicting, appalling interest. The affliction and
agony on discovering the jewels seemed to snake his
heart-strings leap from .their places ; and his grief, on
finding that the dying Claudine was really his elanaliter,
appeared to merwhelin the Chieftain's SOUL ' The tran-
sition fruni this destroying inflow to ungovernableinly
on again belt Wiling Atuestulbei, the cause of so niuc.i
rat u, was marked by c haractet ist ie rugged ness of passion ;
and aver iwaving stabbed himself, the style in which,
with his last breath, he cursed illontalteil we, peculiar
and excellent. The hissing tones that followed the curse
gave terrific reality to the acetic.
The other cliaiiieters merit u,o particular notice, even
if we had opportunity to speak of them. With respect
to the. latigu..ge of the Play it rarely itrdidged in boldness
of thought, vigour of expression, or beauty of imagery ;
its general merit was that of smoothness and appropri-
ateness, sometimes, howeser, being raper too colloiluial
or quaint. These the author can easily correct, as the
audience marked the passages for him.
The Play. on the whole, was uncommonly well re-
ceived ; and the felicitious character of the catastrophe
warmed the audience into studs enthusiasm, that tinhoil:!,-
hat Mr. Kean was aMINed to allllollllCe it for repetition.
We love to pay respect to merit, hat not at the expense
of our own consistency ; and we would therefore ask,
whether it is very consistent with "dramatic proprieties'
to require a dead man to step form and atteounce a
Play