The National Register.
London, England, 1808-04-03 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL ItEGIiTER.

by Lady Bloomfield's jealousy of Miss Barclay, is united to her
Ladyship, with the consent of he.r father, Mr. Social: and the
piece concludes with a confession, that the approbation of our
piece concludes with a confessloti, that the approbadon of our
Wfl conscience is ill sacrificed to the opinions of The World.
This play has More merits and fewer faults than we remem-
ber to have seen in almost any production of the present time.—
The plot is protracted, it must be confessed, to a very unneces-
sary length ; hut one or two representations will shew how it
may he curtailed with advantage. It does not abound with tra-
gic situation or farcical incident ; but it affords much rational
amusement, and will leave a still pleasanter impression on the
mind, when it shall have been judiciously pruned.
The characters are all natural, and those of Dauntless and
Echo have the further merit of novelty. Dauntless is au attor- '
hey, whom every body dislikes, but who is sts abominably ins-
pudent that nobody can shake him off : and Echo's peculiarity,
which is by no means without its prototype in real life, consists
in an assumption of other people's follies. By the bye the name
of Margin is particularly well adapted to a vender of modern
books.
But the principal merit of this comedy consists in its dialogue,
which, as far as it is possible to decide, without reading the
play, we believe to be infinitely superior to that of any modern
piece, except The Honey Moon alone. The satire, the illustra-
tions, and the remarks, are keen, striking, and correct. The
sentiment for the most part is poetical without show, and We-
re,ting without romance.
Plays, like men, when really good, may he said to have a
double existence : for after their form has vanished, their soul
continues to live. To The World we earnestly is ish a long career
upon the stage: and when its course shall be terminated there,
it will probably be translated to immortality in the closet of the
man of letters.
Mr. Elliston, of whose acting in genteel comedy we so fre-
quently have occasion to record our admiration, here supported '
and even encreased his just fame : and Mr. Bannister, in Echo,
was so chaste, so humourous, and so natural, that no praise,
except perhaps the gratitude of an author, can adequately pay
him for his performance. Mr. Mathews was comicaily quahit,
and of course entertaining, in the representation of Index: and
Mr. Palmer and Mr. De Camp gave a great deal of character to
their parts. Miss Boyce deserves particular praise for her un-
affected sweetness in Eleanor ; and Mrs. POwell has a part as
much beneath her talents, as the character of Lady Bloomfield
is above the skill of Mrs. Jordau ; lio, Ilrou4ll she is sure to
charm in her representations of nature, always displeases in her
performance of tine ladies, because those are thin:vs of art.
There are a Prologue and an Epilogue. The Litter is from
the pen of Mr. M. G. Lewis, and consists in a collection of lively
puns upon the words " The: sVoritf."
The Play was received with the loudest and longest applause ;
and the Epilogue was saluted with proportionate marks of tire
public favour.

HINTS TO COMMERCIAL SPECULATORS.

A convoy is appointed for theships bound to Brazils, upwards
of forty sail of vessels are at this time readyloaded with British
manufactured goods for South America, . awing . them are seve-
ral Portuguese vessels lately arrived in -
the
ports from
Oporto and Lisbon. We sincerely hope the adventures wiU
turn out advantageous, and with respect to ihe " returns," there
is no doubt of their coming to a good market at home, as the
cotton-wool of that country is perhaps the finest ef4he world ; of
this article alone were exported, from the Brazils to Portugal,
annually about 140,000 bags; of sugar, 28,000 chests; of iadigo.
about 1200 serous; and of bides, 1,200,000 with horns and tal.
low in proportion. lt will be necessary for speculators to ha -
very careful in the quality of the British manufactured goods
they ship for the Rio de Janerio, as none will sell there, but of
the very finest qua.litV ; and it is the very contrary in the other
parts of South America, where every kind of coarse goods, such
as we usually send to our West India lolanda, meet a ready sale.
Tallow from that quarter of the globe, will, no doubt, finds
ready sale, particularly at a time, when it is impossible to im-
port it from Petersburgh. Their indigoes will not suit this nuir-
ket, being too flinty and come at a touch dearer price, in pro-
portion, than those of other countries. Buenos Ayres hides have
been sold from 2d. to 60. per lb. weight.
Svosa.— WI respect to the market for sugar, it still con-
tinues very dull indeed, the prices of raw sugar may be called
from 555. to 795. per cwt. according to quality ; lumps from 51.
to 51. 6s. ; powder loaves from 41. 18s. to .61. ls. ; and single
loaves from 41. Its. to 51. 6s. per cwt. In the course of this
_month we may evpeet a Jamaica and a Leeward Islam! fleet to
arrive, with, no doubt, a large quantity of this article, and we
hope, prior to it, that the market will he still better than at
present it is. Fine Jamaica Ruin is worth front ss. 6d. to 6s per
gallon, and Leeward Island Rm.:, from 4s. 2d. to ss. per gallon.
COTTON.—This article is rather flat in the market except
the Brazil wool, called Nlaranams and Pernembucco's, which
have advanced in price nearly 2.1. per lb. and they are nom
worth from 2s. to 2s. 31d. per lb.
The prices of British plantation Coffee may be called from
41. 105. to 61. 10s. according to quality. If this article caald be
shipped for the Continent at this time, it would bring nearly
100 per cent. profit. and, notwithstanding all Bonaparte's plans
against our commerce, this very article has found its way iota
France, Germany, and Holland.
Tg 4.—The prices of all kinds of Wack Tea, such as Bohr*,
Congou, and. Souchong, have advanced nearly 4d. per lb. Hy.
sons and all kinds of Creen Teas continue in price as usual.
Writ continues to advance in price, and tine old Port capitol
now be purchased under the enormous price of 100 guineas per
pipe. Claret, is plintty in the market, and that of good quality
cells from t;3/. to 901. per hogshead. Good old Sherry is rather
scarce, and that of fine pale coloured Wine brings 901. per butt.
Old 'Madeira from the. East indica, brings 125/. per pipe of 110