The National Register.
London, England, 1816-03-10 00:00:00

DR43I.ITIC REGISTER.

DRURY-LANE.

Massenger's Tragedy of The Duke of Milan was re•
vived, last night, at this theatre. 'As a drmnatic pro.
duetion, this piece does not possess much merit. The
interest is very slack, and the lan;:nag.. boasts huh:
strength or sublimity. In &to, from the conduct of the
whole, even with the improvements which it has re-
ceived from the correction of modern taste, we should
think it but little calculated to attract admiration, were
it not for the exertions and excellencies of Mr. KEAN in
the Duke. The time of the action is the battle of Pa-
via; in which the fortune} of Francis the first of Franc*
sunk at the feet, and his person fell into the power of the
Emperor Charles V. The l)uke of Milan, Sthrza, hay-
ing sided with the French, finds himself exposed to ruin
after their defeat. He repairs to the Spanish monarch ;
but, instead of suing for mercy, boldly avows his friend-
ship for the French King ; and leaves it to the Em..
peror to decide, whether he will make an ally of a man
who remains faithful to his friends in misfortunes. He
is pardoned ; but, on his return, his jealousy is mited
against his wife by his favourite Francisco, who inverts
the story of Poliphar, and leads the credulous Oorza to
stab the Dachess. he then becomes mad, timeying she is
not dead, and is at last poisoned by Francisco and his sis-
ter Eueeaia, whom he had seduced in her youth. Such
is the plot of this piece, which is unfolded with little art ;
but the truth and energy with which Mr. Kean expresses
all the varied feelings of his part, the abilities of Mr.
Rae in Fancisco, anti Mrs. Bartley, in Marcell: (or the
Duchess), impart attractions where the poet has planted
none, and caused this revival to be received with bound-
less applause.

An appropriate Address was spoken by Mr. Bartley,
in lieu of a Prologue ; in which praises were bestowed on
Mu.ssin.,ger which the phy itself did not seem fully to
justify.

ORATORTOS.—The lovers of sacred music were feasted
on NVednesday night, at Covent Garden, with a fine se-
lection from Handel, Haydn, and other favourite authors.
Brahma was received with great applause; as were also
Madame Marconi, Miss Stephens, and the other per-
formers, who most successfully exerted themselves. A
Concerto on the flute, by M. Drouet, premiere Flute de
la Chapelle du Roi de France, was highly and deservedly
applauded.

We hear the Prince Regent is expected in London on
the 13th, and that he will holds Levee at the end of the
ensuing week.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent has taken a
house at Brussels ; to which, it is said, he means tiffth-
with to transfer his establishment on a reduced scale, in
order to allow the Lasater part of his income to be ap-
plied to the liquidation of his debts.
It is said, that the rmovision for the establishment of
the Princess Charlotte and her Husband, Prince Leo—
pold, will be 50,0001. per annum; and that the marriage
of the Royal Pair will be celebrated in about a month.
Harcourt House, in Cavendish-squore, once the resi-
dence of the Princess Amelia, aunt to his Majesty, is, in
is reported, finally fixed upon for the town residence of
the Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold on their mar..
riarr. The Earl and Countess will leave the house im-
mediately, and upwards of a huddred workmen will be
employed in repairing and embellishing it in the aoursar
of next week.

The Imperial. Archdukes having taken their leave of
the Queen, Regent, &c. leti town on Friday to return.
home by way of Dover and Calais.—Then intend view-
ing Greenwich Hospital, Woolwich and Chatham Dock-
yards, in their pregress to Dover.
The Chief Barun of the Exchequer anti Mr. Baron.
Graham are about to retire, and Sergeant Vaughan anti
Mr. Burrow are expect:A to be the two new Judges itt
room.

The Lord Chancellor has appointed his son, the on.
John Scott, to be his Private Secretary, and Secretary of
Appeals and Injunctions, eke Suttees, nephew to Lady
Eldon.

We are sorry to learn, that the house of Messrs.
bottoms and Co. bunkers, its 14maborti-strent, stopped.
payment on Wednesdatv.
The brother or the late Viscount FitzwiDiem liar en-
tered a C'tv..rat in Doctor's Commons against the will of
his Lordship, by which he has bequeathed so large a pro-
perty to the University of Cambridge.
MILITARY AND NAVAL CLvns.--On Sarnrday sett-
night it was officially anttounzed, that a junction had
taken place between these establishments; the title of
course is no longer the sums: the club is r.ow denomi-
nated " The United Service Clul•." The I:i7cctors are
increased rixte:at in nalulier, and now ananmt to ihrty.
Of the highest military and oval characte,rs. In Lite
evening r. grand dinner vas givot at tho nub-house, iu
Albermarle-street.

P NOP E UTV TA X.•••••171C I .ontlon merchants anti bankers.
Petitions to both }louses ut learliutner.t vgaitst ti:' re-
newal. eCthis Tax, receive:l yutteratt:., the
several titinanntl names: In co:mega:nue of the tlehee
on this (loci:ion po.t•xtr:el in the House of
Commons, the petitions will rt::n:tit► fa signatures at the
Ilausiuu House Until Wedisealty.