The National Register.
London, England, 1815-08-06 00:00:00

TUE NA.T4ONAI. litbaTF.R.

Contrast has not been wrongly considered one of the highest
sources of no old gratification. Otherwise, how could we ex-
plain the taste of the times ? In the midst of stupendous events,
(-alcohol d to ao akin all the energies of the passions and to swell
the oOtol pith exaled Woiliter, it would be natural to expect that
:i,ocitts and ideas should imbibe a portion of moral grandeur,
most ;oat star roil tor of our manners and feeliNgs, the stage, should
7sitlrc/ 11,)littill! hilt what is great. impressive, arid elevated. Yet
moo on Mole at our modern theatrical prodoctious and discover in
them those eharac•teristics ? Their sole aim is to divert, not
inortiot, y play with the imagination, but never affect the
litoirr. The hoonoor of a pantomime, and the bustle of a farce, arc
girds rigid to the paillos of the Tragic Muse, and if the dramas of
same illustrious binds still retain their place on the stage, they
ewe that privilege to the opportunity which they afford to a few
super-emilicot performers, of displaying all the excellencies of the
lOstriso.•ealt. In fact, were posterity to judge of the present retie-
ratiotetrom the nature of its dramatic pieces, it would describe tis
as a ligbulieedeil, sportive race, amongst whom the powers of the
fool .operreolid the sensibilities of the heart.
The catise of Ibis seeming contradiction is to be fennd in the
rTeasure which contrast yields. In the midst of grave cirein-
*latices, of gigantic exertions abroad, and heavy horthens at home,
see want to be enlivened, nut depressed. One authors tbllow, in-
stead of attempting- to direct, the public bias, and farces and ope-
ratic pieces, are almost the only dramatic novelties of the age.
•iNtioingst the pleasing specimens of this sportive kind, may he
rooked a new mnsiral farce, entitled, My Aunt, which, on Toes-
day last seas iirodueed it this theatre. It possesses the necessary
qoalifications of bustle and sprightliness in an eminent degree, with
tire ley- common merit of simplicity of plot.
•A «ilsivonng ottioer called Doshoit, (Wallack) on his way to an
aunt ( FirltieWl`) whom he has never seen, to marry her pro
itei.r,(e ( Miss Poole) with whom he is only acquainted by having re-
ceived her picture, stops at an inn, within a few miles of her man-
sion boost.. and meeting with sharpers, loses all his money, his
watch horses and cierricle at play in the course of the night. The
next morning Capt. Ft:neat (Pone), who es the fottimate lover of
ilahhairs intended wife, at rives at the same inn with his servant,
RoWc( llarlevl, He there. finds his friend whom he knows not yet
as his rival, net sunk io despondency aid despair, but laughing at
Lis own ruin, and stating that of all that lie 'possessed nothing re.
mairted hut the portrait of his mistress, elespoi led of the brilliants with
which it was mounted He shows that portrait to Vincent, who is
near bete himself, but rescued by the presence ofiniod of his
servant. pretends that lie should like to possess it on account of its
likeness to a lady whom be leered. Dushall retbses to sell, hot offers
to play for it. Vincent accepts. and in a few minutes is reduced to
11w very state in 11441 he fennel his friend, who, to soothe his mis-
fortunes, makes him a resew of the miniature, and piepares for the
Mau ion house. Mrs. Corbett (the aunt) has meanwhile heard of
ter nevliew"s losses at play, and conies to the inn w itli her protegee,
to remove and forgive him. At her arrival she finds l'ineent in ex-
actlyy the oaiu a situation iu IA Dashalt had been reported to be,
vet y naturally mistakes the former for her nephew. At the in-
stigation of his servant. and with the consent of his mistress, he fa-
vours the deceit, and is on the point of succeeding, when, during his
absent!, to order the I ady's eat riage, Deshall enters intoxicated with
good fortune and with whir, and without knowing his aunt, whom
la torus into ridicule as an old maid, or his mistress, whom lie calls
a rustie,lets the whole secret escape. Vincent at Isis return is con-
formica, but the aunt, irritated at her nephew's motile, reproves
his ingratitude and fashiouable vices, and consents to the enion and
happiness of the lovers.
Thus concludes a little piece, in olderh much smartness oldialogne
and excellent acting ale displayed. It is from the pen of Mr. Ar.
wild, and dies not disgrace his former productions. The music, by
Addison, is pleasing and tasteful. Wellack g,tree a finished portrait
of the light, but not had-bearted rake, under his various turns of
femme. This young peereirmer has not disappointed the expeeta- •
liens of the public. He is now realizing the promises which his
first efforts held forth. His acting is chaste, elegant, awl spirited.
It abotiods with natural touches, and expresses•with equal fidelity
the warm feelings of the heart, and the polished extravagance of
fashionabls lite. Halley was excellent in !tattle. Without imita-
tion, his perfOrnianee frequently recalls the fe (jellies of our best ,
comic actors to our minds? probably because. he draws at the Wine

Fotireer, wit awl nature. The rest of the performers did full justice
to their respective parts, as well as the public to the merits of the
piece, which has since been repeated every night with♦ unabated sac.
ceas.

HAYMARKET.

The triumph of public liberality at this theatre, has been attended
with gratifying consequences. Had the efforts of a party prevailed,
it is now evident that they wid() have repressed the elevation of
real merit, and deprived the metropolis of a valuable performer in
the very first walks of the drama. We are theta:ire much► indebted
to that confitleuce in its own abilities which tine genins alone can
feel, and which enabled Mr. Meggctt, by a manly appeal to the
sense and justice of the audience, to procure a fair hear►ng, and a
second opportunity of displacing talents which qualify him to bold
a distinguished place in the public estimation.
After having justified, in Octavian, the hopes which he had ex-
cited in Richard M. Mr..Meggett has now surpassed. in Str Ed-
ward Mortimer, those to which his performance of Octavian had
given birth. His genius seems to have recovered its tone, and the
more lie proceeds, and meets with encouragement, the high( r does
he rise in excellence. Deeply impressed with the spirit of the cha-
racter, alarm and snspicion never ceased to haunt his mind, to sit
in his watchful eye and changing countenance, and to tremble on
Ids ton.•ne. The straggle of a soul which tries to keep down, not

indeed the conscioncness of guilt, for it overpowers almost all its
fatuities, but its outward appearances, were depicted with 1111C0111.
mon eneigy and truth. And when he perceived he should fail, when
he saw that his own agony would piove his betrayer, the convulsive
laugh of nature half yielding to despair, was terrifically just. His
last sacrifice of justice to the vain hope of retaining the rood opi.
Mon of the world. when he falsely charges Wilfort with theft, was
one of the most difficult and one of the most successful passares of

his pe•rformanre. Its effect was powerfully telt, and owned in a
manner, wheel', however enthusiastic, did not surpass his flf serts.
O►ic of Mr, Meggett's good finalities, is docility. Whatever
limits have been pointed out in his acting, he has endeavoured to
correct. He has generally been wirecessfnl, but, in some instances,
has, perhaps, gone beyond the necessity of the case. Thus, the re-
dundancy of his action has been occasionally curtailed into a total
inactivity of limbs, which, without offending, weakens She force of
the sentiments or passion which lie has to express. Variety of
tones, when judiciously used, is a powerf►►l auxiliary ; but excess
spoils the effect. Mr. Meggett's judgment should never resign its
influence over the inflexions of his voice. These are only tr,A.►g
imperfections redeemed by solid beauties, and which we only men.
tion, in order that they may be entirely removed. Criticism, the
common lash for incapacity and folly, changes its nature whttt it is
applied to real talents. It then becomes a faithful glass, in which
genius ran at once discern its beauties and its defects, in order to
retain the one and discard the other.

IVe are happy to find that our old friend Dowton does not retire
from the London stage. The new Druty Lane Committee have
•ignalised the rommencement of their power by dismissing to many
of the established favourites of the public, that had be been added
to the number we have lost, we know not to whom the Town
could look for tolerable entertainment in the ensuing season, for
which an increased price- is to be required. Mr. Raymond's long
and meritorious services are understood to have availed liiiu no-
thing. Elliston leaves the Theatre in disgust ; and the only man
we have had for some years wig° could successfully assnme his cha-
racters (Wrench). is not re engaged. Mrs. Edwin, one of the
most distinguished votaries of Thalia, is dismissed ; and Mrs. Glover,
equally useful in comedy and tragedy.. shares the same fate. Gallic,
a very respectable actor, is dismissed, at the same time, with many
other performers of merit.—Welike novelty, but we grieve to see
those wim have so low/ laboured fur our amusemeni removed to
make way for its introductions.

Of all disorders to which the human frame is liable, there
are none but what may be ascertained by the appearance of
the morning urine. Nothing can be a greater proof of this
curious fact, than the amazing number of painful, lingering,
dangerous, and complicated diseases, that have been per-
fectly cured by the celebrated Dr: Cameron, who is con-
sulted every day till three o'clo-ck, at his house, No 34,
Ilerner's-street, Oxford-street, and practices by examining
the above•mentioned fluid.


THINATIO'

ARMY l'N FRANCE.

(PRIVATE LETTER.)

44 PARIS, JULY 25.—The whole of the British army, con-
sisting of the troops of the United Kingdom, Belgians, Bruns:
vi ck e rs, and Hanoverians, were yesterday reviewed by the
Duke of Wellington.
d' From the immense number of spectators which covered
on each side the whole line of march from the village of
Neilly to the point at which the troops filed back to their en-
campments, it may he concluded that the British are re-
garded with superior interest by the French people. On no
occasion has there appeared such a concourse of spectators
since the occupation of Paris by the Allies. The several di-
visions proceeded. at an early hour, from their quarters to
the bridge of Neuilly, a village beyond the Champs Elysees,
and within about two miles and an half of Paris. The Duke
of Wellington, with his Staff, and attended by the Prince of
Orange, and several British General Officers, attentively
examined the state of the several tegiments of cavalry, in-
fantry, and artillery, as they came up. About half-past
eleven the whole army had passed in review, in the presence
of the Emperors of Austria and Russia, and the King of
Prussia, Princes Blucher and Platolf, the Count d'Artois,
the Duke de Berri, and several Generals of the Allied Army.
The Duke of Wellington, with the Allied Sovereigns, then
proceeded from Neuilly, through the Champs Elysees, to
the Place de Louis XV. where they halted for the purpose of
seeing the troops file off, in their presence, back to their
quarters.

" The appearance of the British cavalry was truly magni-
ficent The regiments of British guards and hussars were
particularly admired for the unostentatiously martial air of
the men, the infinite superiority of their horses to those of
the Continental cavalry, and the complete manner in which
they were had in hand by the men.
" It created some surprise among several persons present,
that there were neither lancers nor cuirrasseurs in the British
cavalry, though employed in all the armies of the Continent.
The cuira's does not, 1 have been told, produce the least
embarrassment or inconvenience, and must certainly protect
the wearer effectually against sabre wounds, in those parts of
the body where a wound is most likely to he mortal.
" The trains of artillery, which successively appeared with
their respective corps, were regarded with the highest admi-
ration, particularly for the excellence of the horses, which
were equal to those of the cavalry of any other army. Lord
and Lady Castlereagh were walking in the gardens of the
Thuilleries and through the Louvre without the least form."

AUG. G.
REVIEW OF THE BRITISH