The National Register.
London, England, 1809-07-02 00:00:00

LYCEUM THEATRE.

Menday night this Theatre was opened on thelagreeable plan
of repre,;•nting English Comic Operas ; and we trust it will he
cherished by the public as a most valuable species of entertain-
ment. Under good auspices it may be made the means of cul-
tivating. and improving our national taste, and of sheaving that
in scientific hands our language may he adapted to the sublime,
as well as to the playful in music. The Theatre itself is un-
commonly neat, and on :t scale which enables the actor to com-
municate his expresion, both to the eye and ear, without that
distension of lungs and features that is so disgusting in the over-
sized theatres, to which we have been, by nn impolitic monoply,
so long condemned. I fere the slightest gesture is remarked—
the lowest whisper is heard ; and therefore ail the finer inflex-
ions of the voice—all the varied workings of the countenance,
have their full and just influence upon the heart.
The CAinlic Opera with which the Theatre opened, was en-
titled, "Up al/ Night." We do not know the author of the
words. The music is by Mr. P. King. As a Drama, it has
little to recommend it. The fable is extremely slight, the cha-
racters common, and the business uninteresting; but there is a
vein of good humour runs through the whole, that keep: alive
the attention ; and the songs are introduced naturally and hap-
pily. The great novelty to the English audience nose Mr.
Phillips, a young vocal performer, whose fame had ex-
cited a lively expectation of superior talents. He cer-
tainly has endowments to recommend him to the favour of
the people. His voice is flexible and clear, his stile chaste,
and be has the never-failing charm of articulation. lie siags to
the understand lug. Langttne I: not sacrificed to a flourish ; and
hi- cadences are riven with a simplicity that strew genuine taste.
- defects arise from imitation. He copies a good model, in-
deed ; but like all imitators he has seized on the worst parts of
his original. lie has caught the jerks of Mr. Braham. But,
we trust, he will get confidence in his own powers, and study
his art with passion ; for his road to excellence now is open and
ens V

hunt her new candidate for public favour, a Mr. Horn, has
not equal pretensions. Ills voice is feeble, though sweet ; and
his, manner uncultivated. Mr. Smith's fine voice was power-
fully displayed in a seaman's Fong, and Mr. Dowton was ex-
trewly comical in a sung heginaing—" Old Ham was a lawyer
so grim.'' It was irresistibly lau,y,hable from his admirable act-
ing, and was universally enchored. The charm, however, was
lost by the repetition ; for it was impossible that the actor
could bring his features back to the gravity of his outset, nor
could the spectators fed main the [uprise of his humour. Mrs.
Mountain sun a'd looked gracefully ; and Mrs. Orger per-
formed her sprightly character with great ease and playfulness.
Of' the 'noble we can only say, that its merit has long stood
the test ; for though delivered to us under the mask of new
stotoloination, there isscarcely a pri;inge which a musical ear
cannot assign to a former author. Perhaps Mr. King could not
fireciscly distinguish het wecn what he invented and what. he
remembered; hut, however, it is brought together in a way that
passes muster, and we forgive the plagiarism fur the sake of the
pleasute.

L.4IV REPORTS.

coulur OF EXCIIIQUER.

SEDUCTION.

STR.INGE V. GORE.

This was an action brought to recover damage; for the loss of
service, Itc. sustained by the plaintiff, through the seduction of
his daughter. The damages were laid at £3OOO.
Mr. lMuncey opened the case as Council for the plaintiff.
client was a respectable watch-maker at Kingston, and the
flrfeutiatit, who had acconiplished*he ruin of his daughter, %VHS
a Captain in the army, w ho happened to be quartered at Hamp-
ton-Court, which was only a short distance from Kingston.
sotue time before January last, the defendant found means to
introduce himself into the society of Miss Strange, who was
then only fourteen years of age, in fact, a girl come from board-
ing school. Gentlemen of the Jury must he well aware how
susceptible the mind of a girl at such an age must be, and how
liable to be influenced by the warm professions of ardent affec-
tion. Accordingly all those arts were had recourse to by the
defendant for accomplishing his purpose with this unfortunate
young woman. She was plied by letters, breathing the most
ardeut pmsitso; all the arts of httripe were set at work, till at