The National Register.
London, England, 1818-09-06 00:00:00

THE DRAMA.

ENGLISH OPERA HOUSE.

The new farce called' afinateuri and Actors, bas be-
come, as we anticipated; completely popular, and will,
no doubt, run for the remainder of the seaann. The
'Souse throughout the week has been crowded in every
part. On Monday their Royal Highnesses the Duke and
Duchess of Kent, and 11. It. H. the Duke of Sussex
honoured the theatre to see the new farce, the whimsi-
calities of which created excessive mirth to the Royal
Party, as well as to the whole audience. The nelo
dame of Tiro Words was performed also, and Miss Kelly
gave the delight in it which we are always prepared to
receive from her very distinguished talent.
On Wednesday evening, the musical entertainment
of the Boarding House was extremely well acted, and
Harley, with the eccentricities of Peter Fidget, kept
the audience in a roar of laughter.
On Friday night, the comic opera of The Privateer
was repeated. A hand-bill was awned at the doors,
stating that Miss Kelly laboured under violent indis-
position, and interceding with the audience in behalf
of Miss Carew, who had kindly undertaken tested the
part of Sophia Dove, at a few hours notice. It is but
justice to remark that this accomplished young lady ac-
quitted herself so well, that if it had not beep for the
sight of a book in her band, the audience would not
gave discovered that she had not .previlusly played
the part. In the whole of the music (though at so
short a notice) she was completely perfect. Miss Carew
is a powerful acquisition to the English Opera, and
every lover of a sweet voice, and scientific execution,
added to a modest yet elegant deportment, must regret
the want of foresight in the Covent Garden manage-
ment, in allowing so much talent to escape their notice.
We congratulate Mr. Arnold upon her engagement,
which, we understand is for a considerable period.

In consequence of the stulden indisposition of Hiss
Kelly, the new opera, culled The Rendezvous, which
was to have appeared at the English Opera, yesterday
evening. was, we understand, obliged to be postponed
until Wedneeday next.
The interior improvements and decorations of Covent
Carden theatre, which have been carried into effect
tiering the-short recess, were on Friday night submitted
to the test of the full light used during performances,
and the inspection of a few friends of the proprietors,
invited for •the purpose. The chief alteration is in the
fronts of the boxes, the proscenium, and the ceiling, all
of which are of a soft salmon colour, which harmonizes
admirably both with the deep crimson, the prevailing
hue of the, bores, and with the ornamental gilding dis-
played on its surface. The drop-curtain used last year
is, we understand, withdrawn, and another, before
only in occasional use, exhibiting a Grecian temple,
with the stautes of the great dramatic poets, to be sub-
stituted. The theatre opens, we are happy to observe,
with a promise at least of greater excellence in every
department of thp histrionic art than can be matched,
taken collectiv.elOnring the modern dramatic era.
Mr. lncledpn s arrived in Liverpool from America:
He has realised,. it is eald, by his Trans-Atlantic expe-
dition, n pat{ ard s of p Q 001::
MR. DowToo.---We are sorry to state, that as this
popular Actor, who is on a visit twhis friend Mr Leigh,
at Bexley,,Kent,,was amusing himself on Wednesday
morning in shooting, a spark entered his powder-horn,
which exploded on his right hand. Fortunately, how-
ever, it occasioned no other injury than a general and
severe execniatiorrof the skin, which is already in as
favourable a state as could be expected.
Mr. Kean returns from his trip to the Continent
through Holland; but his arrival in -London is not
expected until a few days before the General Meeting
of Proprietors of Drury Lane Theatre, in October.
The Drury Lane Sub Committee continue to assem—
ble daily, to form the -necesnary arrangements for tiro
opening of the Theatre. Besides the play from the
pen. of Mr. Walter Scott, .which is, forthcoming, a
trageity by Miss Ann Porter bas also betel accepted,
and will speedily be produced.
Mr. H. Kemble, the son of the Manager, who is to
appear in Romeo on the opening of Drury. Lane Thea-
tre, was intended for the Chtirch, but quitted the
University for the Stage.
The Lady who is to appear on the opening of New
Drury, in 'the character of the gentle Juliet, is Mrs.
Mackenzie, who a -few years ago performed some of
the late qrs. Jordan's parts, ;...4 a juvenile dramatic
prodigy, at Covent Garden 1 heatre.; she was then
Miss Nludie.
Mr. I I Harris has arrived from the Continent, to
settle the final arrangemcnts for the opening of Covent
Garden 'rite ore ; and Public win probably be in-
deute.l to his !rip for soak, -,ovcitics of a superior and
CO, tly tleseription,dn ttnc emrse ,if s:nsor..
'rlic!re Art' Sqrt`e IlliSiakt•i, it s..e•ns, in the accounts
given of the distribution Londo.i eerforiners Neither
.bihnstone. no Knight, it is now stated, are to quit
Drury 'theatre. Nir is it trite tit Dawton is
enko,it I by Eillstoo for his Olympic Theatre.
+Allston has expcutLd 2,0001. in decorating the
theatre.

THE NATIONAL. REGISTER

AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR AUGUST.

The average produce of the Wheat Harvest is al-
ready so well ascertained, as to demonstrate that it will
fall short of that abundance which was expected; de-
fective, however, as it may prove in quantity, the qua-
lity is found generally superior to the Wheats of last
year; and those from drilled clover-lays to exceed those
sown on fellows considerably in weight. Barley and
Oats have turned out the most failing crops almost
ever known ; as have also Beaus, and every other article
of the pulse kind. From as accurate calculation in
several districts, it appears, that the general produce of
Soft Corn has scarcely given back the seed that was
sown. The failure of Clover is general, and the young
Clovers have suffered much by the drought. Turnips
and Coleseed have planted well in the fen parts, which
had the benefit of partial showers ; but, in most coun-
ties, little or no vegetation of either is observable hut in
furrows. The general deficiency in the Potatoe crops,
it is feared, will be severely felt. The feed of the
gracing counties is not only burnt up, but in many of
them the cattle are destitute of water. Hay, which
proved but a slight crop, is fast diminishing, from the
necessity of applying it so untimely for the support of
stuck, and is therefore daily advancing in price ; and
when the shortness of straw, and probable want of
green crops, is also considered, the most experienc:d
te,riculterists are at a loss to devise means for the e s
sus-
tenance either of flit or lean cattle, throughthe winter.
Lean Beasts are fallen much 'in price, and are expected
to be much lower. Sheep and Lambs, from the great
losses in the flocks lust spring, are scare e, and command
high prices. The prices at Smithfield are lietter..for
prime Beef, Mutton, and Veal.- The Wool Market 'is
stationary at last month's prices. Store Hogs are
cheaper, from the scarcity of shack feed. Good Cart
Colts fetch more money.

CONIMISGIONTMN OP `BANKRUPTS.—A -plan has, it
is said, been submitted to the Lord Chancellor to pay
the Cammissionerr in future by fixed salaries, instead
of their taking fees for each sitting, as the practice
hitherto has be.m.

The Commissioners of the Northern Lights arrived at
Portsmouth in their yacht on Thursday week, having
visited the Breakwater at .Plymouth, and the new
works at Cherbar.4. They sailed again on the follow.
ing day, on their .return to Leith.
The object of Mr. Gelatin's mission to this country
is to negociate a Commercial 'treaty between Great
Britain and the United States.
Mr. Clark, Purser of the Northumberland, arrived
on Wednesday at Earl Bathurst's Office, with dispatches
from St. Helena, whith were immediately forwarded
to his Lordship at his seatatt.Putney.
The Duke and Duchess of Clarence were to quit
Hlnover, for some time, on a .visit to the Queen
Dowager of Wirtemberg.
His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has com-
muted the sentence of death passed upon Wm. Evison,
who was convicted of forgery at the Old Bailey in June
last, .to that of transportation for life.
Saturday week the Grand Duke Michael sailed from
Dublin fur Holyhead, on a visit to the Marquis of
Anglesea.
A meeting of the advocates of a Radical Reform and
.Universal Euffrage is intended til take place at twelve
o'clock to-morrow in Palace-yard, at which Hunt is to
preside. The meeting is called .by a Committee, of
whom "E. J. Biandford ' is Chairman, and "James
Watson, Secretary."

A Morning Paper -seys, " Mr D. W. Harvey, in
consequence of being elected a Member of the House of
Commons, declines offering himself :It the next election
for a Common Councilman of the City of London."

Thirteen thousand firkins of Irish butter have been
landed at Portsmouth within the last month ; the price
is upwards of 1425. per cwt.
• -

A calculation is made in im article from Frankfort,
that it will cost the labour of ten long years to make
the strong post of I..l.renbreitstein " impregnable."
The .Ilent's punch, of which the composition is
champaigne, mixed with various liqueurs, with a small
portion of an infusion of green tea, which is the only
?enter used in the mixture, is now .the favourite be-
verat,,e, during dinner, of all the higher order of Dan-
dies.

L MIBTAICE. —The aratb of M. Perrier, of
the • Royal Academy of Sciences, has oecasioued a
strange mistake.. The Secretary of the Royal Sehiety
of Sciences happens to be also named Perrier. At a
recent meeting of the latter body, the Chevalier
entered with a countenance wo-begone, took his place
among his brethren. then solemnlrstood, drew forth a
manuscript from his pocket, and with a voice of the
deepest sorrow, begun n funeral oration 4‘ upon his
deceased friend." What was his surprise, when the
" deceased friend" stood up from the President's chair,
which he filled (the panegyrist was so blinded with tears,
as not •to observe him sooner), 'act:lined the honour
about to be conferred or him, thanked his friend in
the warmest terms, and proposed, a ~idst roars of
laughter, to adjourn the reading of the.oration sine die.
—Paris paper.

I-

BARTHOLOMEW FAlR.—This annual City festival of
noise and confusion began on Thursday with all its
gaudy splendour. The Lord Mayor proclaimed it very
early. The fair is much larger than usual. The exhibi-
tors of wild beasts exceed by far any thing of the kind
before known—there are no less than twenty lions to
be seen. Seventy years ago this fair lasted a fortnight
—now it is wisely restrained to four days.
SUICIDE PREVENTEM—A French cobbler had re-
solved to commit suicide, and, to make his exit Ono
more heroic, prepared the following memorial, in writ-
ing :—" I follow the lesson of a great master, and
Moliere says,
When all is lost, and even hone "
He had just written thus far, and applied the tats.
instrument to the carotid artery; when suddenly re.
collecting, he stopped, and cried to himself, Eh
but is it Moliere who says so?—I shall arAte sure---1
shall be laughed at." He now got Moliere, read a few
comedies, and returned to his usual occupation of mend.
ing shoes. I•
The Duchess of Richmond has taken,one of the new
houses in %Waterloo Place, facing Carlton House, where
she intends to reside during the absence of the Duke.
We are given to underitand that the alteration in the
plan of Bartholomew Fair, which hay added so inuch•ty •
the accommodation and convenience of the public, and

given so much general satisfaction, is the design of Ur.
Pearkes, the Clerk of Smithfield Market
The Irish have their Donnybrook fair, as we hire
our Bartholomew fair ; Al it is, like our own, the
resort of all the refuse population of the metropolis.
The Grand Duke Michael, from a wish probably to
see society under all its forms, visited this scene.on '
Thursday se'nnight, and n•as much gratified with the
amusements, which the Irish editor is careful to tell
us, were as usual " knocks down for k►ve," and cut •
heads, with the never failing accompaniment of picking
pockets. The Irish editor thinks these diversions a
certain remedy against treasons, stratagem, suds voils.
We are sorry to differ from such high amble* ; but
we really think, from his showing, that Dontrybmok
fair is no better a school for virtue than that abominable
nu►sance which is now infesting Smithfield. • •
On Thursday morning, as one of then►ten belonging
to the Lord Mayor was driving a earl, containing three
pipes of port ►vine, along Cheapside; one of•them bur..t ;
and the whole of Queen-street, sit. fisr as his Lordship's
house, was immediately s►rerming with wine on both
sides. The first person who attempted to derive any
advantage from th 6 accident was a butcher's boy, wlus
happened to he passing•with en empty tray. In this
be :received about two -gallons of the liquor, which was •
immediately amnk off:by a numerous hand of' -topers •
who surrounded hiin, with as much eagerness as if it
had been served up.in glass or silver. Some Irish la-
bourers were soon attracted to the spot, and; though
the driver urged on the hones as sitsickly ache could,
they contrived to fill their hats with the' wine ; an.t
many of them in consequence were enabled to renew
the humours of Patrick's-day. The cask was nearly
emptied before it reached his Lords Lip's store* in Queca. •
street.

On 'Friday last, the'cottage of It labourer, in the pa-
rish of Writtie, was broken open in the day time, and
a sum of money, amounting to upwants of fifty guineas
in gold, taken from' it. *VVe are ba! py to learn that a
malt has been apprehended under strung suspicion of
being guilty of the burglary, and committed for further
examination ; but it excites equally our surprise and
regret to. find, that so many peraossin the lower sta-
tions of lite still persevere in keeping .large aims of
money in their cottages, in this unsafe and unprodue- •
tive state If this money had been invested in the
Savings Bank, the owner would have been probably,
fur some time past, in the.receipt of a regular interest
arising from it, the capital would have been as safe as
the Government of the country can make it, and a •
fellow Christian would not have been tempted to com-
mit this atrocious crime* It •has always struck us, as
one of the principal advantages which distinguish these •
excellent institutions, that in proportion to their sue-
.cess, they will diminish the temptation to the crime
which has become so frequent, of breaking into the •
cottages of the poor ; and we• still hope to see the
time when every man, wiawe industry and independent -
spirit prompt him to lay .by part of his honest earnings,
willhave the wisdom to carry it npllady. as it accrues, •
to the Savings Bank natrest to hits—C'helmaford
C/irwd le.
_ _ _

On. Tnesday iennight an inquest was had at Ant- -
ton npnn Trent,' before Sir J. D. Fowler,• on the body
of a child of about three years of age. whose death
was occasioned by 'eating • a quantity of the seeds acs" s
plant tolled " Stramoniuni:' or Thorn apple. -The •
deceased and some • other children had been amusing
themselves with plucking off the fruit, and tossing. it
to each other, when one of the apples, which had *pp .
trod upon, discovered to the gittle infant the AO* is
ivida crukliedne'nibeill
contained ; she immediately put some in her mouth,
and finding them rather. sweet, esahte
in
q'hi'b'usrti:nit'rittecilsttlyr:n:(leitti"hntel:tinlmituill°f:tcte:gwirit;;te:lllf:etne'tihdneCtal)f}nmr‘::fhpeebsivicdel;rowyna,eslitteiiireltrioPiiciFfP.l-4it:llmeri.iaits
little were than eighteen hours. •