The National Register.
London, England, 1813-02-21 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

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524

DRA M A TIC REGISTER.

DRURY LANE Tilt TRE.

Last night, for the first time at this Theatre, was perfamn-
ed the Opera of •" The Devil's Bridge." Although this
piece is superior to most of our modern operas, yet the inci-
dents generally are so much out of the range of probability,
bat they seldom appear natural ; they possess, however,
considerable interest, and the language in some parts runs
consideraMy above mediocrity. LovEGROVE, RAY-
MOND, PYNE., Miss Et LY, and Mrs. DicKoNs, severally
exerted themselves with the happiest effect, and BRAHA M im
proves in his acting daily. Several speeches in his character
were loudly applauded, and his singing, as usual, was honoured
with repeated plaudits. The scenery is beautiful. particu-
larly in the last act, where is presented a view of the Devil's
bridge. At the end of the Opera Mr. BRAH A M came for-
wat d and announced it for repeti!ion ou Tuesday next.

FE

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would not treat hsr with hatsb reproof, or chilling scorn,,
even in decay.—nut when that vivacity and humour which
distinguished her youth, are seen triumphant over age, we
should think a critic might admire without dread of having
his judgment arraigned, and without danger of being accused
of good nature, or suspected of gratitnde.
With these ideas which (however old fashioned they may
be) we are not ashamed to avow as ours, it was not withut
pain and surprise that we witnessed the undeu severity ith
which she has been treated by some of her critics. Time
certainly has not wholly spared her, but be has left much of
what we have been accustomed to approve. Her perform-
ance of some parts she has sustained, may occasionally be
complained of, as bordering on that strength of colouring
which offends by its coarseness, but

take her all in all
We scarce shall look spoil her like again;
and her acting still furnishes a treat to the lovers of genuine
Comedy. Her Pragy and her Nell (though her figure is
certainly not exactly what we could wish), are entitled to
no common praise, and in all her characters we mark that
fire and animation which sears have as yet vainly attempted
to extinguish. which first made her a favourite with the
public, and which misfortune has not been able to sub-
due. We shall not pretend to follow her through her seve-
ral performances. That, of:en as they have been criticised,
would he unnecessary if not impertinent. Wet therefore
dismiss her for the present, just observiwz, by the way, that
however we may have sympathised with her griefs, we can
hardly help rejoicing at any circumstance which restores her
to the London Stage.

JORDAN'.

The fo!lowing observations appeared a few days ago at the
conclusion of a critique on Mt s. Joa DAN, in one of the Morn-
ing Papers :
We must now leave Mrs. Jordan. The Managers of a Theatre are,
of course, in some measure, excusable in Inii.ging If„ ward any :hew
that attracts a crowd, and we have no idea that they are likely to be
restrained in this object by any voluntary zeal for public decency hut
are there no other persons concerned ? Is not the public forced to find
the al:ei native for this degraded woman's appearance in the decline of
ei•her in her own rile artvice, or in the viler breach of stipula-
tion by those who slimed never abandon her to poverty ? IVe cannot
believe that the latter is the ease ; and if the former, what share of
public approbation should be permitted to one, for whom it is impos-
sible to lee! any share of personal respect ? whose sons and daughters
are now strangely allowed to move •among the honourable people of
England, received by the Soveteig,n, and starting in la appetite far
reptl patronage, while their mother wanders, and is allowed 'to' wan-
der, from barn to barn, and from town to town, bringing shame mi the
art which she practises, and double shame on those who must have it
in their power to send her back in penitence and obscurity ?"
We should not have thought it necessary to giye place to
the above extract, had not Mrs. Jordan herself replied to it
in the terms as under :

TO TUE EDITOR Of THE MORNING HER ALE.
SlR—Though I did not see the Morning Print that containtsd the
paragraph d to in your liberal raid respectable Paper .4 yester-
day, yet I wut not left in ignorance of the abuse it poured out agaii.st
me ; this I could silently hove xtthmitted to, but I was by no ariwirs
aware that the writer of it had taken that opportunity of throwing
out insinuations. which he thought might be injurious to a nu less ho-
nourable than Illustrious Personage. •
In•the love of truth, and in justice to his !loyal Highness. I think it
my duty thus publicly and unequivocally to declare, that his liberality
to toe has been nettle and generous in the highest degree ; but not hav-
ing it in his power to extend his bounty beyond the term of his, own
existence, he hiss, with his accustomed goodness and consideration,
allowed me to endeavour to make that provision for myself, which an
' event, that bolter icelings than those of inteiest make me hope I shall
never live to see, would entirely deprive me of.—This, then, Sir,
E toy motive tozr. returning to profession. lum too lwppj in basing