The National Register.
London, England, 1820-12-11 00:00:00

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TIIE NATIONAL REGISTEII

ST. MARY, ISLINGTON.

TO TUE EDITOR.

Sin,—This is the age of discoveries by land and by
water, but I have to request you to publish one of the
most astonishing discoveries of the age, which has just
been wade by " The Vicar, Churchwardens, and other
Inhabitants of the parish of St. Mary, Islington."
A "LOYAL ADM MIS" is in progress through that parish,
the concluding paragraph of which runs thus :

"We lament that these efforts have been but too suc-
cessful; and, while we are deeply sensible of your Ma-
jesty's solicitude for the welfare and happiness of your
people, we profess it to be our decided opinion,—that
religion and loyalty constitute the only basis of rational
liberty; and that the preservation of the blessings we
enjoy under your Majesty's Government is to be expected
only in the proper discharge of oar duties as good Chris-
tians and good subjects ; in the union of all classes around
your Majesty's throne; and in a firm determination to
second your Majesty's endeavours, by a faithful and in-
trepid support of those laws, and that constitution, by
which we" (i. e. the aforesaid Vicar and Churchwardens,
whose names I subjoin) " have toy been so eminently
distinguished among nations."
sow, Sir, as an inhabitant of the parish of Islington, I
cannot but know how " eminently distinguished" these
gentlemen have recently contrived to make themselves in
their own parish; but I have yet to learn, and I request
you to inform me if you can, how and where they " have
long been so eminently distinguished among nations."
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
AN ON INHABITANT.
Isliogion, December 9,1820.

To oblige our Correspondent, we have searched in
"La lisle des Cons &litres de 1' Europe, pour l'Anne 1820,'
and have not succeeded in discovering in it, either of the
four names annexed to his letter.—En.

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.

On Saturday the Play of King Lear was revived
at this Theatre, for the purpose of introducing a Mr.
Vandenhoff to a Metropolitan audience, in the cha-
racter of Lear. This gentleman has occupied the
first line in several Provincial Theatres, and has, at
Liverpool particularly, been an-especial favourite.—
In selecting the character of I.ear for his debut,
Mr. Vandenhoff has only shewn a just estimate of
his own qualifications, fur although it has long been
esteemed the bow of Ulysses, ,lie appears to be one
of those masters of the art, who possess the power of
bending it.
Mr. Vandenhoff's person seems to be of the-middle
heighth, and his features are capable of much ex.
pression : his voice is clear, and possesses considerub e
compass and variety. In pourtraying the wounded
feeling of the insulted and indignant parent, he was
eminently happy, but we thought him not quite so
succes.ful in depicting the dignity of the Monarch ;
the affection which he displays for his daughter
Cordeba, when experience has taught him her true
character, war, in the highest degree natural and
affecting.
Still, however, we cannot but conceive, that the
drama afford:, many characters much better adapted
than Lear, for notwithstanding the many touches of
genuine pathos and beautiful poetry which it con-
tain:, it cannot be denied that this tragedy is, upon
the whole, somewhat heavy ; a circumstance which
is certainly unfavourable to a debutant, and we think
there are many others plays in which Mr Vandcnhoff
might have produced a much greater effect, for his
relcption, even under this disadvantage (for such
we really think it) was of a very flattering descrip-
tion ; and at the conclusion of the piece, when Mr.
C. Kemble appeared to announce the performance, a
loud and general call was made for Mr. Vandenhotl;
who immediately came forward, and• informed the
audience that the tragedy would be repeated on
Monday; this intimation was hailed with repeated
shouts by the majority of a numerous and respecta-
ble audience.

Mr. C. Kemble. in Edgar, fully sustained his re-
putation, and all the other performers acquitted
themselves respectably : Mrs. faucit having been
attacked by a sudden indisposition, her character
was read by Mrs. T. Hill.

An old driver of ailigences, named Gerke, who
now occupies a farm called Bonaforte, a short dire.
tonce from Mundell, in the kingdom of Hanover,
is now in possession of a remarkable Lorse, which
daily attracts the attention of foreigners. In 1812,
when the French army returned front Russia, a fa-
vourite young mare, which Bonaparte constantly
rode, and which was a present to him from the
Schuh of Persia, was brought to Bonaforte. The
officers of the stables, in the rapidity of their march,
left the mare behind with Gerke. She remained
eight years with him, and is now considered the
most beautiful Arabian ever seen. The mane de-
scends to the ground, and she is peculiarly
!trength and agility'