The National Register.
London, England, 1812-07-19 00:00:00

JULY 19•

LITERATURE.

TO THE EDITOR.

SlR—Since you have done my Latin Epigram " the
Kisses," the honour of insertion, and some of your Sub-
scribers that of translation, I take the liberty to request the
same favour for the following, which is a counterpart of the
first

EPIGRAM.

Millia snipe lieet dederim tibi Basia, Clitoris
I/num si reddas, plus erit ecce satis ;
Idiraris quod vic repetam, pro minibus, unum !
Ba,iutu at Ulalpl a to initiinostra valet.

Temple, July 13, 1812.

1 remain, Sir, &c,

DRAMATIC REGISTER.

cots N r GARDEN,

This Theatre closed, on Wednesday night, for the season,
with Ifamlet and Torn Thumb. Before the commencement
of the latter, Mr. C. KEMBLE came forward and spoke an
Address, which we cannot give without requesting the Ma-
nagers, if they did not intend sheer mockery, to tell us who
are the " modCin dramatists," whose efforts they pretend to
have so liberally• encouraged. In the whole course of a
season, prolonged, to- the pre jndice of the Summer Theatres,
much beyond the usual time, they have performed one new
coniedv ! Thus far extends the encouragement they have
gi%vn to " modern dramatists," unless they consider, as spe.
ciineni of the regular drama, the Virgin of the Sun, and all
the hippo spectacles with which they have loaded their stage.
'Let them have due credit for what they have done, in the
revival of SHAKSPEARE'S plays. In their choice of pieces,
and the style in which they got them up, they deserve appro-
bation; but let them not covet the praise of encouraging
young genius, for fear they should be laughed at by an en-
lightened public as impostors.
The following is this remarkable Address :

" LADIES AND GENTLENIFN,
" I am desired by the Proprietors of this Theatre, to return you
their. sincerest Thanks for the very liberal marks of your favour be-
stowed upon them during this Season.
" They have endeavoured to merit such distinguished support, by
producing on their Stage. the most admired works of the British
sics, by encouraging tl►e efforts of the. modern Dramatists; anti to
.combine with solid Instruction, mirth—and recreation, they have not
refused the aid of Pantomime and Specatcle. ' • •
" To please the various tastes of the British Audience has been,
and ever will be, their highest ambition.
" Some of the brightest o:maments of the Stage have lately retired
horn this Theatre. Their loss must be always regretted, and the Pro-
prietors are aware that d►ligent at►ention can alone repair it. They,
however,confideittly hope that you will find at Covent-garden, ❑ext
Season, a company of Performers whose talents will mer►t the conti-
nuance of your indulgent pAronage, and they arc prepared to nicer
_their newly-rebuilt sister Theatre with such a fair and open competi-
tion, as will ensure you an undiminished stock of theatrical entertain-
went. The Performers, Ladies and Gentlemen, beg leave to express
their heartfelt gratitude for your long-experienced kindness, and they
humbly take their leave till the 7th of September, the time fixed fur
the re-opening this 'llleatre.

Remarks on Miss Johnson in our next,

BRIGHTON, JULY 15.
On Tuesday evening, to an auditory passing thin, we witnessed the
representation of the lively Comedy called, The Busy Body, and sel-
dom have we seen a perfininance on the whole more deserving of a
favourable report. Mr. WRENCH, the acting Manager, was the Mar-
plot. His blunders, the natural consequences of an insatiable curio-
-511, ardent spirit, and a never dying desire to serve his friend, un-
aided either by courage or prudence, evinced the strong and versatile
powers of the actor, and procured him the plaudits of all present.
Sir Jealous Traffic was very ably sustained by Mr. BENNETT, and Sir
Francis Gripe had a respectable representative in Mr. 0w EN. Hot:
LAND acquikted hi:nself with spirit and good sense, as Cha:los, and

• .
• ,• -

445

POW ELL gave equal satisfaction as Sir George Airy. Mrs. FIRER ETIIM
is an actress of very super;or talents—and she lost notl.ing of her well-
acquired theatrical reputation, in her dclineitii n of Miranda; and
we do not wish to see lsabinda more interestingly personified than it
was by Miss SIDNEY. This young Lady is a stranger in this part of
the world—and, we hear, to the Stage altogether ; and if SO, certvinly
holds forth the best promises of future excellence that can possibly be
imagined ; particularly in the higher walks of Comedy. Her figure
is symetral and lovely ; her action is tinconstrai•ied ; and the tones of
her voice are peculiarly harmonious. Tu these advai t this young
Lady adds a set of fraturei fascinating and replete with expression ;
and front the just emphasis and good sense with which her words are
invariably uttered, sho vs a mind that has been cultured and improved
by education.

II NE ARTS.

BRITISH INSTIIUTION.

Study from ATature—J. RLCNAN.—The hurry of get-
ting up a newspaper is so great, that articles of interest,
and which, in justice to merit, ought to appear, are fre-
quently overlooked or forgotten. We think it necessary to
state this, to account for our having so long omitted to notice
the performance now before us, which it was the more in-
cumbent on us to do, from the delight which we have fre-
quently derived fr,mi the versatility of Mr. KEENAN'S talents.
The truth and energy which mark this artist's performances,
extort admiration and command a;•splause; and whether we
contemplate the delineation of age in the Picture before uF,
or the charming infittnine group which appeared in the late
Somerset House exhibition, we are equally struck with the
powers of the artist, and the facility with which he follows
nature through all her varieties. •
The above interesting study is a portrait of an aged man,
whole benignity of countenance fixes attention at the first
glance.—On a closer inspection, mingled with benevolence,
an air of wildness is discernible, which gives the whole com-
poition a strikingly sublime effect. The colouring is very
rich, but managed throughout with admirable address. The
original, we understand, is a benevolent recluse, who, after
twelve years of solitude, came a long journey on foot to
Windsor, in the persuasion that the Almighty had delegated
toshim the power of restoring his afflicted Monarch to the
prayers of his subjects: On his arrival at Windsor, he was
at first treated with derision, but his subsequent deportment,

though strange, was such as to grin him universal respect.
The result of his errand it were u&eless to state. Under all
the circumstances, however, it was well judged of Mr.
KEENAN to present the public with a likeness of so extraor.
dinary a character, and the ability, fidelity, and spirit with
which he has executed his task, arc in no instance second to
the original design.

Mr, WEST'S PICTURE of " Christ hea the Sick In the Telvie:* The
Subscriptions for the Print of this Picture, continue to be received at the British
Gallery, where the Picture, and a Proof trapres.ion of the Etching of the 1:::1,4-rdv ing,
will be exhibited till Saturday next. 'Ytte price of the Pri.iti to Subscribers
is Pi% e Guiiu' each: one !Witn be paid at the time of Subsci bing, and the re-
mainder ou the delivery of the Print.—N. B. Prioit. resit' og• to the conutry may
transmit Al. per post, to Mr. Gre.i, the Keeper at the British Gallery, Pan-Mall.
Loudon, for which a receipt will be immediately re.-tur::e,:.

At length the grand desideratum of the. Laughing Philocopher,
" The Spirit if Irish Wit," has made its appearance, under the power..
ful incantations of Tegg, Booloellei, No. 111, Chcap,ide ; who, in this
Work, has shown his power of '' Calling Spirits front the vasty deep,"
Aye, aad they have " come" too ; and many a Boa Mot, tAilona
stroke, and Devilish Good thing—the genuine effusions of Ilthcruian
wit and humour, (in which none can excel the natives) are here res-
cued ifolll OblIV101), mid destined in these gloomy •imes, tat tu.kle tho
risible muscles of John Bull, and " set the table in a roar." W.• ale
informed that the Publisher has contrived to lwis r into his aid on
this occasion, the talents and eccentricities of several men ut
.genaine
wit, humour, and jocularity ; and therefore the lovers of laughter
way expect, in the pero,ul, a high seasoned boa bout/c.