The National Register.
London, England, 1818-03-16 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL -REGISTER

LON DON :

MONDAY, MARCH 16; 1818.

A oba,nge of wind brought on Wednesday, a long

arrear of French papers, anti those of 'Tuesday and
Wednesday arrived yesterday.
The iiecruiticg Law has at length passed the Chain-
- ber •of Peers. The different Amendments proposed

were. got rid of by tho previous question, .and upon a
livision on the whole of the law, there were 06 for it,
and 74 against it
The conferences between the Duke of Wellington,

the French Minister for Foreign Affairs,. and the
reign Ambassadors resident at Paris, are frequent.—a.
A slight indisposition prevented his Grace frein being
at the .ICar'g's levee last Monday. It is said that he
will Tilt Faris on the 26th, and proceed first to Cam-
bray, from whence he, will repair to London, befori
!te goes to the C0w1:7055, Which it is said will be opened
on the Ist of August. _

Thr Paris papers say nothing•furtherrespeeting the
alarm at the Dukeof Wellington's hotel.
It 1: stated, that besides Lord Castleresgii,Abe'Diako
de Rica:is:a will also be present at the Congress of
Fw-
ereigns. The Congrev3, it is still said, will be held. at.
Dusseldorf The Emperors of Russia and Austria, and
the King's tis4a, after meeting at Vienna, were
. expected in p, oceed together to Frankfort, where.resi-
ileuesz Nyvt: erdparing fox,tE.:::n. After remaining aam.2'

• *.
TlTr. NATTfINAT,.II7GTSTM.

time there, they go to Dusseliorff. It is said, that,
amongst other things, there will be a question before
the Congress respecting Conventions oa the subject of
European Commerce. Other objects are also to be
discussed, which were not fully arranged at the Con-
gress of Vienna.

Accounts film • Sweden mention, that the Ambassa-
dors from Foreign Courts have been to Court to com-
pliment the new King upon his accession.
Spain seems to be ma►ing great exertions for the pur-
pose of sending a large navalsand military force to
South America. The Russian squadron will be joined
by a Spanish squadron which is in complete readiness.
The troops are already assembled in Andalusia.
The King of Spain has issued a Royal Ordinance in '
favour of Spanish subjects, who, having served in mili-
tary or civil capacities during the Government of the
Usurper, were banished the kingdom by a law of the
30th May, 1814. Many of the restrictions of that law.
are now removed, and the exclusion fron► returning: to
Spain is limited to those individuals who held superior
rank in the cause of the Usurper and Journalists, as
their influence, at the present momen:, may be deemed
inimical tc public tranquilli!y.

The Indemnity Bill was rcad a third time on Friday
night, and passed. Several amendments were proposed
but most of them rejected.
Parliament will adjourn on Thursday neat for the
Easter Holidays.

The Funds fell on V;Zedneiday, in consequence of
large sales on account of Liverpool• Houses. One bro.
.ker sold to the. amount of 200,0(X)1. in addition to sup-
plyirg the, demands of• the commissioners of the Sink-
•ing Fund. The orders from Liverpool for selling out,
were thought to have been occasioned by an apprehension
of a rupture between Spain and the United States of
America. We arc rather inclined to think, that the
true cause will be found to be, the rapidly increasing
demand for capital, to be invested is mercantile adven-
tures from that Fort to India andSauth America.

An article from Venice gives the outline of the Con-
stitution of the lonian Isles, a ratified by the Prince
Re„►ent. There is to be a Legislative Assembly chosen
by the. Electoral Body, a Senate chosen by the Legis-
lative Assembly, and the Judges are to be appointed by
the Senate. The elections are to be for five years, the
Lord Commissioner to have the power of convoking or
proroguing the Parliament, .but not of dissolviog it, ex-
cept by virtue of an order from the Government here.
Each isl:rnd.is to have a local government. The domi-
nant religion to be Greek Church—the language to be
Greek. .There is to.be a general printing establishment
at Corfu, under the immediate direction of the Senate,
and the superintendence of the Secretary General, and
no other printiug establishment is to be allowed in any
of the islands, without the permission of the Senate,
and the approbation of the Lord Commissioner.

A third Report has been presented to the House of
Commons, by the Commissioners appointed to inquire
into the duties, salaries, and emoluments of the seve-
ral officers, &c. of the Courts of Scotland. It is cola-
fined to the Sheriff and Commissary Courts, in the
constitution of which it recommends a variety of im-
provements, the must. important of which is, that in
place of four Judges in the Commissary Court, at a sa-
lary of 6001. each, -as at present, there shall be only
one Judge, with a salary of from 1,2001. to 1,5001.
who shall be bound to devote his exclusive attention
to the duties of the office.
The following Peers have signed a very strong Pro-
test against the Indemnity' Bill, drawn up (it is said)
by Lord Erskine :—Lords Erskine, Auckland, Vassal
Holland, King, Montfinwl • the Earls of Rosslyn, Car-
=mon, Grosvenor, and Lauderdale; and. the-Marquis
of Lansdowne.

PARIS, MARCH B.—On Sunday night last (the 4th
inst..) a fusil having been discharged the Champs
Eiysees, behind. tee Duke of Wellington's hotel, the
guards instantly went to the sentinel at the bottom of
the. garden, • who declared that he had been attacked by
several persons who wished to get into the hotel, and
that one had ill treated him greatly. The Duke or-
dered 100 francs to be given to the soldier, •whe, being
carried before General Despinois, was forced to confess,
after a long interrogatory, that it was all a story, and
thatit•was .he ',who fireasoff his gun through fear.—
He was forthwith sent to the military prison at Mon-
taiga.
French papers to the 16th are come to hand. ' The
Duke of Wellington, who has been slightly indisposed, it;
said to have fixed his departure from Paris for the 26th
inst. His Grace is evieeted to proeml first to Cam-
bray; and thence to Limdon, before he repairs to the
Conoress•ef the Potentates at Vienna.
Prince litugene Ikauharnois has @Ai to'Abo.Kier cf
}'rums his ho z,:!, situated in the Rue dc
for the.sursa: 300,000 francs.

'MARCH 11

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL..

Friday .a Court of Common Council was he for
the purpose of receiving the report of the Select Corn-
mittee, on the order of the: House of Commons, respec-
tiag the City's income.and expenditure, and other bu-
siness.

A motion was made and agreed to, that Mr.
Woodthorpe, jun. should wear the usual dress of the
town-clerk.
Mr. Dixon had iz kis hand the report of the com-
mittee, on the order of the House of Commons, on the
city expenditure. The order was, that there should be
laid before the house a statement of the revenue of the
eity of London• for five years, Specifying what related
to quit rents, tolls, becuests, &c. royal entertainments,
and prison expenses. The order bad been referred to
a select .committee, which had met as. soon
.as possible;
and he should then move that. the report should be
read.

The report was then read. It stated, that thinking
the ,abject of great importance, the committee•had
quire(' and obtained the attendance of all the officers
of the corporation, except the Common Serjeant, who
had been absent on the home circuit. That, having
considered the subject, they were vf opinion that an ac-
count such.as ordered -should be prepared, in order to
be presented to the house. He thought it was the wisest
way to comply with the report, for, if they did not
it would be imagined that there were some reasons for
the concealment of their accounts. The worthy gen..
ticman moved, that the Court agreed with tne report,
and that it should be referred' back to the Committee
to 'Prepare-the accounts accordingly.
Mr. Pearson said, be should propose an amendment
to the motion, which wase--that the Court were of
opinion, that a statement of the annual accounts of the
Corporation for five years should be prepared, but tint
the Court felt it its dray to present a respectful re-
monstrance to the Commons house of Parliament
against such parts of its order as related tp the account
of the receipt and payment of the annual produce, and
the .title to the principal of the other property vested
in the Corporation, which wns what they could not
submit to without an infraction of their. chartered
rights.
Mr. J. Davies wished the public to be infoymed of
the real eircumstastees of the case. •Fle considered the
conduct of a MeMber of .the honourable House, with
regard to the City expellees, as most improper and il-
liberal. Was there any. real impropriety discovered ?
Was there any fault to find with the City's expences?
No man dared to say so. Accounts were required' by the
ce•der that were totally irrevalent to the avowed pur-
pose for which accounts were at all 'required.
Sir T.. Bell ;eosin favour of giving an account of all
expenditure which .originated in Parliamentary grants.
.Mr.',Waithman said,, that some endeavours were un-
doubtedly made to produce a schism betaveen the City
andvSouthwark ; but he hoped such a thing would not
succeed. It was highly tube reprobated to see their im-
providence, if• ther.bad been improvident at all, which
had been exercised in support of government principles,
found fault with by the supporters of government them-
selves. He thought it would be as great an abuse to
ask them for their titles to any thing, as to ask the
Duke of .Bedford to pioduca the title-deeds of his
estate.

Mr. Dixon .and Mr. Pearson Implied, -the later at
considerable. length ; and, after observations from Mr.
-Alderman Wood, Mr. Alderman 'Atkins, and several
other Members, the. Court divided ; when there were—
For the Amendment, 4.s—..Against it, 86—Majority 9.
After the divition, another Amendment, forthe Select
Committee to consider further the orders of the House,
and to-take such advice thereon as they should see fit,
and to make a further 'Report, was moved and finally
agreed to.

'Finneyitchn is alleged to have Jed the two boys,
Spicer and• Kelly, into the crime of uttering f)rged
Bank notes, was on Friday brought up to Marlborough
Street a second time from the, House of Correction, be-
fore R. Baker, Esq. Sir N. Conant was present, and
the examination was secret. Thar Bank Solicitor was
not present. The charge against the prisoner was for
uttering forged Bank notes, and he was remanded till
next Friday.

Some tolerable idea, of the iriAng oast of a suit in
Chancery, may be found from the following fact.--
There is now for hearing in that court a Bill, the
expencee of which for stamps and engrossing alone,
amount to the sum of £BOO !! I

The Archdeacon of Bath is to have, it is said, de
livinh cc Deptfi)td, vacant by the death of the late
Rev. Dr.Burney.
There•was wrneeting of 'Tea-dealers at the Ind:a
House on %Vudesday last, after the Tea-sales, on the
subject of the' injurious reports in circulation respect-
ing the adulteration of tea. After some deliberation,
the dealers determined to form a 'Committee, who
should act as circumstances required, and, as the first
step,. should learn of the Excise to what extent tl;e
alultertition of tea hatl «me within their inowledge.

JEN'

.MARCH 16

THE DRAMA.

KING'S' THEATRE.

An Opera, called 11 Barbiere di Sivigna, was per-
formed on Tueihay •night 'at this-theatre, for the first
time in this country. The plot is the same as the well-
known comedy of that name, by Beaumarchais, •vrhich'
forms a first part to Le Ilariage de Figaro, and from
which our play of the Spanish Barber was also takeni
The mtisic is by Rossini, a young composer of extraor-
dinary merit, .now living, who enjoys great eelebrit}t.
in all parts Of the Continent. 'This opera is the first
specimen of his composition which has been submitted
to the judgment of an Engish audience: taken as a
whole, perhaps, it bears marks of haste, .and still mere
or extravagance; but we are persuaded that all persons
who have carried the study of music to the least degree
hfrefinement, must have been delighted and astonished
by she occasional touches of genius, the variety and
original it* of his style The general character of Ros-
sini's music is extreme ornament, the perfect reverse of
what is called the simple atL it ; but his resources in that
line, and the fertility of his invention, seem almost
unlimited. It is passible that its effect may lessen l.y
frequent repetition ; the first impression, however, is
delightful. The particular pieces with which we were
most struck were, a song by Rosins (Mad. Fodor)—
" Vaa wee poco a;" another by Basilio (Angrisani)
descriptive of the effects of calumny, " La cabonia c
un venticello ; a quintettnear the, end of the first act ;
and the latter part of a trio in the second, •begienin.o
with the words " Zitto, Zitto, piano, piano." The
new. singer, Signor Garcia, is a great master of his art,
and plays with its difficulties in a manner that is truly
surprising. His voice is a pure tenor, somewhat on the
decline, but of great flexibility, strength, and compass.
His style is the florid, and carried to a degree which
probably has never been exceeded ; but his singing is
tlle perfection..cf that style, and considered as a mere
v.:titbit ion of-art, cannot bn: preduce. h4h gratification
To try Signor Garcia as. a sentimental singer, would
be to destroy his merits altogether. He disclaims that
school, we apprehend, upon principle, and should be
judged only by those laws on which he has formed
himself. The character of Count Abnaviva, which
signor Garcia performed in this opera, requires a good
actor as well as an accomplished singer ; in both =-
slims he did it complete justice.
The piece was represtnted with great spirit through-
out; the part of Barfole, by Ambrogetti, deserved pe.
culiar commendation : we have seleom.witnesseLbetter
acting.

. C()VENT.G ARDF.N.
On Thursasi was produced a new Musical Play; en-
titled Rob Roy Afacgregor ; or, Auld Lang Syne,
foontled on the novel of Rob Roy. The works of this
Author are so highly dramatic, the characters are so
powertully drawn, and the scenery and circumstances
au interesting, that the .leading incidents have always
h•en transferred to the stage with. the greatest effect.
These exquisite productions have not only given rise to
a new era in Novel writing, but in Operaksniting also,
promising to relieve it front its entire dependence on the
music, by imparting great interest to the fable ant: cha-
meters. This: is the cause with.the present, of which
the following is a' hasty' sketch.
" The scent lies in Ste:eland: during-the. time when Macgregor
and a powerful }tarty. were . endeavouring •to restore the Stuarts.—
" The house of Osbaldistone and Co. Crane Alley. Londoa,'.' (so de.
siguated by Mr. Oren, their clerk) is described as being of itnmenre
consequence in the entrunerciid world, but whose Affairs are throw;
into confusion ;front the circeunetenee. of ,tats. Francis.Osbaldittone,
(the son) having a greater inelinationefor poetry than trade, which
occasions his father to send hint to liisenoclee Sir Hileielf;and. in
Northumberland. and to take his cousin. Rarhleigh•Oebriklietont in
tis place, who, in a shim time. contrives to abscond with. large
reies of money belonging to the h government papers.
which he seites for the put pose of adv cause of the Stuarts.
with whom be is connected. In the to e, Frank has beep
gaining the Affections of Diana Vernon. reifies with Sir flikle-
I rata, thereby defeating the hopes of eh, who hail been her
miter. The play commences with thejou ey of aseis, (Blanchard)
a junior partner of the house, in pursuit of Radileigh, (Abbot) who
ie understood to be in the, iiigtdands. These particulars he commis.
r.icates to a travelling competnen, who no other than Rob Roy Mac-
r6-or, (Mann:tidy ) and in close eerrospendence with Rasliteigb and
the rebels. Frank, (Sinclair) is also apprized of his father's embar-
rassment. and they proceed together to Glaegow. Arriving there,
he is told by a strorepse, that it is not safe for him to reineio in Glac-
e:ow, and urges him Fr accompany him where he will meet with a
rarrise. lie coneente. nail is conducted to the prisen. where he
'inns Owen. who hail been arrested at the secret instegetion of; Patlas
Their,cenference is ieterrupted by Bale Nadt Jazz, c, (Lis-
t ea) who comes tee visit Owen whom he knew. He rcengbiz::s
gregx, in the sttengoe, but em the SCOte of relanuaship. titc. de-
e:Mrs to apprehend him. •.'ttaeg regor at the entreaty of LEeee Vex.
nee, (Miss Stephens) who his pewee over him in consequence of
their mutilate onnexioa with the Stuarts, undertakes to procure the
restitution of O.dintilirturie and Co.'s papers, if Frank and the. Bail!
:it will acoompaey him to the Highlands. Before they eel out,
Frank and Resider it meet by accident, and fight, hut are interrupt.
cd by Macgregar, who pacts them. Raseileioli, incited by disap.
pointed love and ambition. turns reeegade, and betrays lita.-crecJr,
on his arrival hi the Highlands, who is taken prisoner. by the
troops, but afterwards soppes ; while his elan, beaded by Heat. his
wife, (Mrs. Egerton) .gain a victory over another patty. It will be
proper to mention that Diane has concealed her farber, Sir Fre.ierick
Vernon, (Egerton) untihthis period, when the treachery of Rase.
1.0, who was powered. of the secret, rendered it necessary they
should escape to the. Ilighlends. Raebleigis discovers them here also,
and lays a plan for their apprehenvinii, which is fortunately over-
ht'ard by Dnagal. (Tokelyeerte of Macgregor's clan, whose ingen it
icy had been of essential eceeine on several occseions. Accordingly.,
Sir Frederick, his daughter, and Frank, are apprehended to;
in a cave on charge of trimenn, -tr. Ala reg,ir and his elan rush in,
disperse the soldiers, and fles/sierek is etedi..mel to the heart by Mac-
. grror himself. The end is ensily force:too e-The Osiviliiistoire
pets are rota/yd....F..7-A snri 'Willa are ulired.anri Rey Roy Mac-
_ .
gregeir Cc„_, e i i j eacc iierin his native hills.

nir, NATIONAL REGISTrIL

These, and subordinate incidents, ,form a most inte-
resting drama. It will be seen by those who have read
the Novel, that it adheres as clasely as possible to the
original .plot—the most matutial,sittenitam.heing in. the
character and matinere sof Diana 'Vernon, who is trans-
formed front a masculine, hunting-loving lady to what
Miss Stephens *usually is. There is, however, a de-
gree of complexity in the fable which will render it
rather confused to those who arc not .previousiv familiar
with the story. As un acting play, we think. it supe-
rior to Guy Mannering,.,as possessing greater interest,
and affording an opportunity for the display of more
powerful actings in this respect,. it receives the great-
est assistance from the performers. Macready '4. Rob
Roy is excellent ; it is forcible; natural, and pleasing.
+Abbott has little to do in Bashleigh, but that little is
very good. Liston is quite at house in the Badge.—
His adventures in the Highlands aro irresistibly amus-
ing, andvhis favourite exclamation, " My conscience !"
has frequent/y a mose ludicrous effect 'We would re-
commend
him not to spoil the termination of a beau-
tiful glee, " by setting on some quantity of barren
spectators to laugh"—he doubtless remenber's Hamlet's
advice on those occasions. Mrs. Egerton's acting needs
no other praise or illustration, than the bare informa-
tion that Helen Macgregor is a bold, indignant, in-
jured woman, of the Meg Merrilies school. Miss Ste-
phens, in Diana Vernon, is pleasing, and that is all
required of her as an actress. But her singing is in-
deed beautiful. Her most. successfulagarts were the
duet .with •Sitiolair—"ahte you leave me,naw in sor-
row," than which we have seldom beard any thing
snore delightful, and the air, " A Fiighland Lid my
love was born." Buth were rapturously encored.—
Sinclair sings " Auld Lang sync," charmingly, as, in-
deed, he does the whole of' the airs entrusted to him.
Of the Music generally, we have only to observe, that
the,greater part consists of old and favourite Scottish
;Aids, and frequently the words of Burns. We by no
means complain of this, either as rewards the poetry or
the music, fur in the present state of'° both, it is ten to
one but we gain considerably by the plan. The ori-
ginal Music (chiefly Glees and Chonesses) is by Davy
and Bishop. We were much pleased with the Finale
of the seeoad act—" Tramp, tramp, o'er moss and fell,"
and with the Clan's Lament, by the late Mr. Reeve,—
,The 'Overture is by Davy, and though we are ready to
give it all deserved praise, yet it is certainly inferior in
effect to that of Guy Mannering. The air of Boy's
Wife is again introduced, in our injudiciously,
as it is afterwards sung twice during the play. The
scenery is truly beautiful, especially the views in the
Highlands, that of Glasgow -Bridge, and the cr.ve..by
moonlight.
The principal defect .of this play, is its.tva.nt. of ori-
ginality.—lts pretensions to public favour are built on
Guy Mannering. We have the same kind of scenery,
and the same kind of music. The incidents are of
course different, but the style and conduct are very
similar. Both „begin with a glee in a public house,
and both end with a Scotch air in a cave. Frank
Gebaldisione walks in and out just after the fashion of
Harry Bertram—the Baillic's "my cons:it:rice !" steps
into the place of, "•Prodigious I and lichen Macgregor,
though not exactly a Meg Merrilies, once or twice re-
minds us very strongly of the latter. We cannot help
noticing that an appeal in Miss Stephens's verse of the
chorus uttnade in the singular number, recommending
Rob Roy on the score of personal favoier3. 'llk is not
correct, either as respects the performer or the public,
and ought not to have, bNii introduced.
T.he. play would bear curteLlatent, especially in the
first act, which is much too lung.

WesimouTH,l.ALtnci: 1:1!.-This • morning Prince
Leopold, accompanied by Dr. Stockniar, walked ou
Smalmoutli Sands, thmenuch favoured spot for the recre-
ation of our late degply regretted Princess Charlotte.—
His Royal Highness afterwards crossed the ferry, and
proceeded to Portland Reach, • the /ate scene of woeful
disaster. The Prince occupied same time in eAtrvey-
in., this extraordinary production of nature,: which re-
sists the most furious tempests. The summit and mag-
nitude of this great barrier excited the wonder and
astcuishment of his Royal Highness, at its awful ap-
pear;:nce. The Prince, on quitting the ferry, return-
ed in his etan.ia:?:e, which was in waiting, and arrived
at tho King's beige at four o'clock.
The _Doke of: Clarence visited :Miss Wykeharn on
Sunday so'nnignt, at Thaine Park,: and passed the
greatest part of Cie day at the lady's mansion. -Om!.
Friday the Duke went to Portsmouth, to see his yor-g-
-' cst son put on board the Spartan frigate, as a 1111C:ship-
man.. -

The Princess cf Wales .has a eause.,ir_ Chancery
itg3l,lost Earl' Liverpool and Count ~.tant.'..cr, esecuturs
nailer the will of the Inte.Duk2 of:. T. hilt
brother ; she sues than for .tno, pr-uissory notes of
15,0001. each, drawn in 1814. br,lne Duke in her fa•
your; her executors have card for an inspection of
the notes.

A Neapolitan Abbe,..Tanelli, has discovered in th,:
Royal library, at:Naples, a manuscript of Dracontius, a
poet of the sth century. It contains ten small I;ceins
hithext4 unknown, upon mytly,logical subjects.