The National Register.
London, England, 1812-05-10 00:00:00

THE NATInNAT. RF(ISTER.

MISCELLANIES.

A Court of Common Council was held on Tuesday, at Guildhall,
when the answer of the Prince Regent to the Address of the Court,
praying a redress of grievances, was ordered to be entered on the Jour-
nals.-The Act lately passed for improving the Navigation of the
Thames, was referred to the Navigation Committee to carry into exe

INDIA Houses—Tuesday a General Court of Directors was held at
the India Hduse, to take the final opinions of the Proprietors on the sub-
ject of the renewal of their t *hurter, when several Resolutions were
passed declaratory of the unanimous determination of the Company not
to relinquish any part of the privileges they enjoy at present.
The late performance of Dr. Crotch's new Oratorio of Palestine was
crowned with the m.)st brilliant suci•ess. The Rooms were never known
to he so full The Tickets were Al disposed of early on Tuesda morning,
but, until the Rooms were completely filled, the company would not he
refused admissioo.and many were afterward: disappointed of hearing this
performance. Every part of the Oratorio was highly approved, and at th •
conclusion the Composer w a loudly called upon to repeat the whole,
Which We hear he will do on Tuesday, May 26.
It is said, that many thousands of persons have, either by terror or
delusion, been induced to take the oath alluded to by Mr. Ryder in the
House of Commons, on Tuesday evening.
A very hot press tookplace on Thursday upon the River, when upwards
Of 3eo able hands were procured. In con-equence f protection being
withdrawn from the River Fencibles, who were disbanded on Sunday
last, none of them have since ventured to appear on the River ; the
whole of the business below Bridge, through this circumstance, is at a
stand, and the Baltic fleet outward._ is detained, not being able to pro-
cure the men necessary for the voyage. Efforts are making to regain
the protections withdrawn tram the Fencibles.
• 011 Thursday a Sparring Exhibition took place at the Fives:Court,
for the benefit of British Prisoner:, in France. The Court was in:i-
ntensely crowded at an early hour by the most respectable assemblage
ever before witnessed within its walls. Amongst the company were
twenty Nobkman, and many Members of the House of Commons;
and the receipts amounted to 1301. Police Officers were stationed at
the door to prevent mischisf.
BOXINO --.l'wo fighting men were pitted on a plat on the London
side of Uxbridge : Maltby, who beat Young Crib at Thisselton Gap,
weighs 13st 61b. and Cope, the latter of whom was introduced vt ith the
qualifications of tried and determined courage and bottom, with 13st.
lib. weight. He is of a respectable stock from Shrok.shire. The battle
drew together several thousand *spectators. and it had excited more than
common.interest. At one o'clock the pugilists shelved, and exhibited in
a roped ring, with Cropley second to Mal• by, and Padlington J nes to
Cope. Betting even on the event.—After a battle of 26 minutes, and
every Second *a = spent in real fightim,. Cope could not be got off h:s
secoPd's knee, when called, after the 12th round, consequently lost the
battle. The Winner is 4 very game man, whose appetite cannot easily
444 the disvlqtsi viery symptom of manliness,

DRAMA TIC REGISTER.

LYCEUM.-THE DEVIL'S BRIDGE.-

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2q

The fertility of the Operatic an Melodramatic muse is not yet el-
hausted. Scarcely had she sprung mines on the Covent-Garden Stage
and filled it w itl. the din of war, when she extended the sphere of her
magic power to the Lyceum, and as horses could not manoeuvre with•
effect on so limited a field, contented herself with the blowing ep of it
bridge. To make up, however, for the deficiency of quadrupeds, hhe
interwove more sense and interest in her composition, clothed it in all
the charms of melody, supported it with the powerful talents of
BRA HAM, Mrs. DICKONS, Mrs. BLAND and Miss KELLY, and gave it
he attractive name of The Devil's Bridge, a grand and operatic Ro-
mance, in three acts. Wednesday last, her production was ushered into
public n )tice. and suppoi ted by public favour, it has since continued to
be acted and to please. Like most of our modern dramas, this Opera
contains many escapes, but these are novel and skilfully managed with-
out straining probability too far. A young Piedmontese Countess (Mrs.
DICICONs) had married a Sicilian Nobleman (Mr. BRAHAM) secretly, on
account of the enmity that subsisted between her mother, a haughty
Marchioness, and the family of the Count. Recalled to take possession
of his estates by the death of his father, he had been captured by *
Corsair, before he knew that his marriage had produced a son, and
after spending five years in captivity. returns to the neighbourhood
of his wife's habitation, disguised as a painter, and sheltered under
the report of his death, to ascrtain both her conduct and her fate...
—A boy, whom he sees at the inn where he takes up his lodg-
ing, recalls her features powerfully to his mind, but the impression
is Soo-1 dissipated on learning that in three days she is to marry Banos
Toralvi, ( Mr.RAY Mo N D) a man supposed to have murdered his first wile
trough jealousy. Here the action of the piece begins. To avoid the
odious match the Countess flies at night from her mother's castle is
Marer/WS (Mr. LOVEGROVE) inn, where her son resides, and her hus-
band now dwells unknown. Scarcely is she arrived, when the Barn*
iToralvi and his suite, on their way to the castle, seek shelter from the
' .torm under the same roof. After much embarrassment and a narfaw
escape, the Countess and her son set off before day-break, with the good
Marcelli, for Antonio's cottage one the other side of the Devil's Bridge.
• lhe child, overpowered with fatigue, is laid to rest on a bank and falls
asleep ; meanwhile pursuers from the castle overtake the fugitives, and
Rottzvina (the Countess) has only time to conceal herself in a cavern.
!Marcelli denies having had a fema'e in his company, but the calls of
the child for its supposed aunt, on being awakened, betray the secret
without revealing the place of her concealment, and both are taken to
the castle to be examined. Busavina, ignorant of their fate, seeks for
them in vain ; and is at last led to Antonio's cottage by a young Rustic
(Mr. ROVEDINO, jull ), whom she meets with Marcelli's sister. Mean-
while Baron Toralvi has discovere.l Count Yellin° in the Painter, and
carries him by a secret way to the castle, where he plunges him into a
dungeon, and orders him ro be murdered. His rescue at the moment
the dagger was raised to strike his breast is skilfully managed; and the
scene in which Marcelli is examined by the Baron, and in which the
child innocently contradicts the tale framed by Marcelli for the occa-
sion, is well planned, and perhaps the most interesting in the piece.
Both are set at liberty, and join the Countess at Antonio's cottage, where
Perna° also seeks a refuge, and has no sooner fotnid his wife and his
child, when his pursuers, with the Baron at their head, appear at the
top of the bridge. At the moment they are about to pass it, Marcell!
sets fire to the powder magazine which Antonio kept to supply hunter*.
amongst the tips. The bridge is blown up with the Boron and his
suite, the rocks are shattered, a rain of crags torn by the force of the
explocton choke up the torrent, and the fugitives, now safe, render
thanks to Heaven for their deliverance.

The seriousness of this plot, is relieved by the contradiction of Mdr-
eelli's jealous wife (Mrs. BLAND), the passion of his foolish servant
(Ox►Si:RRY), for his sister (Miss KELLY), and her love for a young rus-
tic (Mr. ROYEDINO,.jun.) The Music is composed by Messrs. BRA•
HAM and Hoax, is generally good. The Overture by the latter, con-
tains some pretty passages. Some of the songs teem with expression
and melody, and• possess a melancholy sweetness that Ateals to the
heart. These were sung by Mr. BRARAM with ni 're than usual
simplicity and taste. Most of those that fall to tile share of sirs.
Picito NI are more brilliant, but perhaps less pleasing. Tberrequite a

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