The National Register.
London, England, 1813-04-18 00:00:00

?52

MRS. SIDDOXS.

1118. Enrrdn—As a lover of the Drama, I was one of those who
mourned the retirement of Mrs. Sddons. I regretted that age and irs
infirmities, rendered it necessary for so distinguished an
accompanying
ectress to withdraw from the stage. When she- came forward to read
fer the benefit of Mrs. am y, I was ansong those who eagerly sought
elle more opportunity of gadrig on the departed fitvourite of Melpo-
mene. On dint accrosion soy admiration was equally divided be:weeit
the benevolence which prompted and the talent w hich supported her
exertions ill the cause of distress.
I If in delighted to see she has again come forward with the same praise-
worthy feeling. I rejoice to see her so active in the cause of ben -
colenee, for it is impossible to suppose that any other new ive could Atoin
bring her krfore the public. It cannot he imagined that with a fortune
so immense t) be thought sufficient (yen by herself—it cannot, I will
maintain, he for a moment imagined th• t she *could come forward pro-
fessionally for the purpose of adding to the wealth she has already
ama'ssed. Bene,t lessee only could induce her to resume those labours
to w'hich it was understorrd she had bid ass eternal adieu.
1 am, however. curious to know, to what pull: rdar charity or chari-
ties ~he jooposes to give the produce of her readings.- This, I think,
fire ju.tiee hcisell, ought to be publicly stated, its order etfect,,ailv
to silence those malignant individuals. who would fain rmke the Piddle
believe, that .Acarice has, in part, been the cause of her thus (pitting
redremunt. I hope she wiil take this hint and guard against such
taisrepresentation. She 'nay ha unwiding to do so, from an apnre-
bension that this would appear like ostentation. Let her, however,
rememher, that it will serve those who she wishes to relieve, by in-
ducing the Public mwe curdiulty-to come forward, and her Objections
vat vanish.
Feeling, as lam satisfied you will, with me, that Humanity alone
can have induced Mrs. Siddons to offer herself again to the notice of
the Public, I trust you will not refuse this letter a place in your va-
luable Journal. lam CO!Itidt•OI you will arhrit. there can in reason
Ise no difference of opinion on the subject, and that it would be as
ridiculous to think that Mrs. Siddens has come fora and merely to add
to her wealth, us it would he to s .oirese, that she heisel h:id set on those
ridiculous persolis, calling Co-in-eh: es a " Committee, w by are making
themselves the laughing-srssc k t'te town, to petition her to return to
the Stage. I um, Mr. Editor, yours, &c.
Aprill6, 181 S. CANDOUR.

BY a, statement printed by order of the House of Lords, 1
the following- was the British naval force on tke American
stations, on the lst of February, viz.—Newfoundland, under
Sir T. DUCKWORTH ; one sloop, one brig, and two frigates.
Noth America and the West Indies, under Admiral Sir J. B.
WARREN; 11 ships of the line, one fifty, 53 frigates, two
troop frigates, 38 sloops, 12 brigs, and smaller vessels.
VALIDITY OF SCOTC ir D ! YORC ES.---.olll' readers will re-
collect, that in the case of W. APLoLLY, who was convicted
of bigamy at the Lancaster Assizes, the Twelve Judges de-
cided, that a divorce obtained in Scotland could not be
pleaded in bar of an action for bigamy in England, when the
marriage took place in the latter country. The Scotch
Judges, i. e. the Commissaries for Scotland, upon a revision
of the whole business, and after again hearing Counsel at
great length, have unanimously adhered to their former sPn-
tence of divorce, finding that " according to the Common
and Statute Law of Scotland, if their be no collusion between
the parties, or other valid exception against the pursuer's
right of action, adultery committed in Scotland is a legal
ground for divorce, without distinction as to the country
where, or form in which, the marriage was celebrated :
Therefore find, that whatever may be the views whieh the
law of England takes of the indissolubility of marriage con-
tractedXnere, or whatever effect the decrees of this Court
pay receive in foreign countrks, ,all such foreign views and
consequences, especially where, as in the present case, these
are distinctly adverse to the settled dictates of the law of
Scotland, can have no effect in regulating or influencing the
slocisioni of this Court." . -