The National Register.
London, England, 1821-10-01 00:00:00

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.

From the tardiness of the arrangement in the first
instance, and from an error in the filling up Our ticket
of admission in the second, we have hitherto been pre-
vented visiting this Theatre, which was openvd for the
season on Monday last. We shall not, of course, hazard
a Critique on performances we did not witness, hut front
report we know that the Theatre has been brushed up
(hiring the recess, and that Al r. Young, who is re-en-
gaged, has played Hatntrt and Rolle. We should falsify
the opinion recorded on our files if we did not express
our admiration of Mr. Young's acting—he is always
h;ghly respectable, frequently excellent—and if he had
never appeared before the public but in Cassrius, his the.
atrical fame, from the remembrance of his performance
of that single character, would have been of the first and
most unquestionable class: but one perfignier cannot he
made in constitute a company---the attempt to do so
ruined Drury-lane under the Committee, and rendered
Ellision, the Lessee (or as lie chuses to designate himself
"The Proprietor") unable to meet his engagements.
Why, then, is the dangerous expetitnent to be made
here? Why has Mr Charles fiemble been allowed to
withdraw himself?—why did he not personify •• the
Prince of Dcomark?"—His Handel has all the point—
the excellence of his brother John's portraiture, with
the addition of the fire and elasticity of comparative
youth—he is a performer the Theatre cannot spare—an
actor whose absence we hope the public will not tole-
rate. Where is Mr. Win. M'Cready—how is it possible
tri find a substitute for him—and can the Theatre afford
to SHELF Rob Roy, Henri Quatre, and a dozen other
piers, the representation of which is not possible with-
out him ?—We have always felt a great prepossession in
favour of Covent-Garden Theatre, partly perhaps Irmo
personal feeling, but certainly more nom the superiority
of its performances over loose of the rival establishment;
and it would be with great regret th,it we felt obliged to
confess that there ceased to be a ground for our par.
tiali ty.

A letter from St. John's, Porto Rico, of the 2d
of August, sava--" A dangerous plot was discover-
ed on the 24th ult. the day previous to its intended
execution, amongst the slaves in this quarter of the
island. Their plans were laid with much cunning
and the most profound secrecy, and every prepara-
tion in their power made fin an extensive insurrec-
tion on the night of the 15th. The conspiracy, as
fin as it is yet discovered, extends through several
of the most extensive districts, but it is believed to
be much more general. Many of the chiefs are al-
ready taken, and the trial and execution will be very
summary. From the measures taken by the gover-
nor, who is a vigilant and excellent officer, to detect
the remaining ringleaders, and secure the general
tranquillity, nothing further is to he apprehended."
Accounts from Batavia to the 224 of May suit*,
that between the 30th of April and the 9th of May,
1,200 per: ans died at Samarang of the cholera mor-
bus, out of which number 158 were Europeans—
At Batavia, during the same period, 2.50 died, of
whom 101 were huropeaus. Eleven vessels sailed
for Bombay, Bengal, and Madras, in consequence
of the great mortality caused by the disorders.
FEVER IN SPAIN.—By the tinnier posts the epi-
demic disorder in the east of Spain was under.:tood
to be declining, but the last mail states that those
favourable prospects had been reverted. The fever
has broken out again at Barcelona with fresh and
very alarming symptoms. All connexion nith Bar.
cellonetta had been studiously cut off and it was
hoped by that precaution that the town might be
saved ; but it had made its appearance within the
walls, with symptoms equally fatal , and on the
12th inst., which is the date of the last letters front
Barcelona, the panic-struck inhabitants were flying
from it in all directions. Even the municipal au-
thorities and military force, whosc presence must be
so essential in such emergencies to preserve order,
partook of the panic, and were leaving the city.—
Those whom business compelled to remain at their
pests were in hourly expectation of being declared
in a state of incommunieltion with the rest of Spain.
The fever is described to be of the most malignant
kind, and very taw of those who had been attucktd
with it escaped. At Tortcsa, on the Ebro, the fevtr
has also made its appearance.

The Government have ordered all the telegraphs
between the Admiralty and the out-ports ut Eng-
land to be put in perfect repair.. The old manner
of communicating is land aside, the new mode being
considered infinitely more expeditious and comprk-
hcnsive. By the change of system the question given
at the home station will only l•e known to the officer
who presents it, and to him who hot receives it at
the distant port. All persons intermediately em.
ploved will only have to make the fire-simile of the
first signal and the returns, which may La received
in Baleen minutes, at the distance ut seventy-two
miles, if the weather be favaurabic, The workmen
are busily employed at the Admiralty, at West-
square, and usher place,. It as conjectured this
repair is for the more speedy comanmicatiou ut
intelligence during his Majesty's absence un tl.•
Continent.

Sir Colin Hackett, the new Lieutenant G tventor
of the island of Jersey, %c.c.s sworn in on Monday
last, with the uNual ceremony, io 41:e presence of
the Roy.ll Court.

soo