The National Register.
London, England, 1819-01-04 00:00:00

All IZ LATE 411.1.MkTY.

The following' a 'the sketeb of a speech of Sir John
Cox H;ppei‘lcy, Hart. on seeonding the Address of Cen-
dolence to.the Prince I.egent, at the Somerset County
Meeting at Wells, a few days since. The extract of
the letter read by the Baronet is understood to have
been communicated to him by General Taylor, treasurer
to the late Queen, and private Secretary Ma-
jesty. Sir J. llippesley expatiated at some length upon
the exemplary virtues of her paste Majesty. and particu-
larly in reference to her est:aided charities. He was
more strongly impelled to this act of justice, because
he scrupled not to utlmit,
.that at one period of his life,
when he had fewer nivantagee of authentic infernal.
non, he had himself in some degree partaken cf un
erroneous opinion, which had been but too prevalent,
respecting that estimable part of her .Majesty *s charac-
ter, which ut the present l:our was universally recog-
nised, But (as he observed) growth and progress of'
error were irreparable from the imperfection of our na-
ture, although its influence woe not reproachful to the
understandkg or the heart. He woad beg permission
to advert to a very recent and pointed testimony, derived
from the best authority, that on this messier* could be
adduced :—" The chanties of the Queen (Sir J. Hip-
pesley reading a letter) have been most extensive, al-
though wholly free from ostentation. Ido not believe
that, during the whole muse of her residence in ►his
country, the close of the year has produced a pecuniary
balance in her Majesty's favour: and there is actually
a debt which must be provided fir out of the sale of
personals. Indeed, I ant convinced, that the loss of
her Majesty, as a kind benefactress and a supporter of
objects deserving her bounty, will unfortunately be
best appreciated by the distress of numbers who looked
op to her for every resource. There is in Bedfordshire
one charity, to which alone her Majesty has paid annu-
ally five hundred pounds, for more than fifty years
Such is is the grateful testimony drawn from the moot
authentic source. To a single charitable institution, a
sum exceeding twenty-five thousand pounds has been
devoted by her Majesty's beneficence. The royal jewels,
the appropriate decoration and appendage of the Queen's
exalted station, constitute the only fund from which
the debt of about 9,0001. incurred by her extended
charities is to be livid:tied. The remainder is divided,
I think, among the royal progeny.

Mr. Banting was appointed by command of the Prince
Regent to value and divide the private property, wl•ich
it to be equally distributed between the Princess Au-
gusta, the Princess of I-lease Hombourgh. the Duchess
ot• Gloucester, and the Princess Sophia. The valuation
of the property at the Queen's Palace, Windsor Palace,
and Froginore House, is nearly completed. On Men-
day, Lord Arden and General Taylor, the executors to
the lute will, met at the Queen's Palace, to proceed with
the prescribed arrangements ; the chamber of her lute
Majesty, which had been sealed upon her demise, was
opened. At two o'clock Mr. Szrgeant Vaughan, and
Mr. Hart, the late Queen's Attorney and Solicitor Ge-
neral, attended the Executors at the Queen's Palace,
to make the necessary legal arrangements for the Ex-
ecutors to act upon and prove the will. Tuesday the
Executors attended at the King's Mews, Charing
Cross, to view the carriages and horses of the late
Queen, previous to their being sold. The Royal Arm:,
except the supporters, are obliterated from the car-
riages with paint the colour ot• the pannels. Wednes-
nay morining five of the horses were shot on account
their age, being between 30 and 40 years, to prevent
their tailing to the work of dust carts. We :lin:J(1
have thought that scam: better mode of disposing of
these old servants might •.avc suggested itself: a spare
meadow might samewhere have been fourth where
these nnima!s tni.:;,ht have had their former labours re-
paid by 3 li Ile gratuitous enjoyment.
The jewels of the late Queen were removed from
the Haul; of England to !,c io.l),.cted by the Executors,
and valued by Mr. Bridge.

Tht7 Lord Lhant•ellorlas Ocelacc.cl, Lis intention to sit
in the Court of Chancery on Tue.,tlAy next, to beiir
banlai,pt petitionx. 'fir John [.cash, the Vive Chan.
edlor. will not sit till the Dith rout. that being the
lint seal I.),r;:re Hilary Tenn.
On Tues.lay, beite,; the cloy to whieit Far

was prorogue,! h the iZoyai %vitt, o:its
pruloraue, of Lodi llous, to hoL:r the writ read
for u titrthcr prorogation. "rite Commissioakr:s on this
oct-.isioa were, the 1.1. rd Cizar•-enor, Lcrd Visrothtt
Nit.lville, anti Lord Viscount :t...illnotith. The Coto-
mons appeatLil at :ite tr:r of the I•100,.e Of Lords ahtitit
It quarter ploa two. l'ney were reprtsmited by
I>yson, I:iebtnan, scver.ll it'd:ix:rot of Ow Home
of Co.ititious. The writ wive read I:corogli';'..i; the lit,r-
iiatilctit to the 11,th is t‘l,ol both 11, u::es ;,re to
meet for the b• • (!ort;lntotsil:(
withdrew, i•yi the I,ori!- .•i.tiely :Ojouri;eti.—
The Lit;•il .iiir at. • • :it be pretty Well
covenui Irina the .''tic's 0: i•nt attack of the

„.
liroug!,:tin, it 1A Nail's, I`. to 11:(7Ve a' 13111
in the en••=ni;:•r :bat • 'le tnibject.vf the•
ki.ve been r un tiid euP «t t-1
tile 'l.huo!s. . • 1.. •

JAN.. 4

Tll E DRAMA,

DRURY LANE THEATI2F..

On Iklonday night the tragedy of Is wis per-
formed at thL, Theatre tin- the first time these three
yaars. The part of the heroine of the piece was as-
signed to Mrs. W. West. The galleries and pit were
fall at the rising of the curtain, but the confusion Of
Babel seemed to have pervaded the former. The holi-
day gods appeared to have viAited the Theatre, not fin-
the purpose of list.ming. but with a pretleterinination
neither to hear themselves, nor to suffer others to do so.
From the connuencement of the tragedy to the filling of
the curtain; tha canfosion of sounds WAS unremitting;
scarcely a sentence uttered on the stage was audible to
the auaietm. The whole perfiwmance was dumb show.
Under these ei.tunistane;:s, it, is not to be expected we
can speak of the verfininance. As far as we may pre-
; some to judge, loan the fetv sentences which we could
at ;ntervals partially hear, frs. West aequitted herself
of the task assigned to her, under all there disadvan-
tages, in a manner which added to her credit us nu ac-
tress, and would, but fin- the eircmustances to which
we have alluded, have proved highly gratifying to the
audience Mr. 11. Kemble played thrum, but was even
more indistinct than Mrs. \Veld.

The Tragedy was firllowed by the, new Pantomime,
the opposition to which commenced with the rising of
the curtain. Major NPNaughten, the Gentleman
who addressed the audience on Saturday night, and
against whom, it is said, M r. Bradbury hurled defiance
by shaking his fist at him, again declared his opposi-
tion to the piece ; but his voice was drowned by the
applause of the pit and galleries—the Major soon idler
quitted the Theatre, observing, he would leave the
piece in the hands of the public. Mr. Bradbury, on his
appearance, was called on for an apology, but did not
notice the call, and several pugilistic conteststook place
between his friends and opponents. It is but justice to
him to bins to say that he exerted himself' in a mast as-
tonishingmanner to deserve applause. The uproar and
confusion between the contending parties became so
great, that Miss Tree, in consequence of sudden indis-
position, arising from alarm, in the midst of her dance
fainted, and fell lifeless into the arms of those on the
stage at the• time, who fiartunately caught her. She
did not appear for several seems afterwards; and, when
she did again come Ihrward, it was evident she was
scarcely able to support herself. When the curtain
dropped, which it did amidst a din of approbation and
opposition, there was a loud call for the Amager.—
Mier some time bad elapsed, Mr. S. Kemble came
forward, and addressed the 'audience to the following
effect:—" Gentlemen, I regret extremely that, being
absent from the Theatre, I was not able to attend your
first call. What are now your commands with me?'
(From the Boxes, " Withdraw the piece ; it is a shame
and disgrace to the stage."—From the Pit, " No, no,
it is only tile Dandies who disapprove of it, and not an
English Public !")—Mr. Kemble resumed : " Gentle-
men, it is the wish of the Proprietors and the Managers
of this House to please. They have no object but your
pleasure and satisfaction; the piece has been advertised
.or to-morrow. Will yeu permit its repetition? It may
be so altered as to men your approbation."—(Cries
front the Boxes, " Na. no, withdraw it now "—Fro.,
the Pit, " Try it again ; never mind the Dandies !")
—" Ladies; and Gentlemen, could I ascertain what are
your wishes, they would he immediately complied with.
I understand I%lr. Bradbury has unfintunately given
you offence; is it your wish he should come Mrwartl ?
he is most ready to do so if you desire it.—(Cries of
" I ye.;. Let him come ii:rwartl and apologise.")—
Mr. Kemble Lowed and retired, and soon after Mr.
Bradbury appeared. The noise was now tremendous.
After a time, however, be obtained a hearing, and ad-
dressed the audience as follows:—" Gentlemen, I un-
derstand I have Len so unfortunate as to incur your
displeasure. May I ask in what ?.' No answer.—
" Bravo, Bradlatry," from the Pit, and an appeal to
the Dentlies to soy what he had done. A Gentleman
from the boxes said, " Rene ruLr Saturday night.'

7Nlr. Bruaury retamle.l, ''G cutlet:mu, I ilLehde soleu;a-
ly, I would not wiil.thtly oftead any individuel. and
pm ignorant what I have dune." The s.toe (i-ntienn:n
from the LONCS i iteeiiv c!,m. yob •' The (:er.l k man
whom you iashilied Ia: ht.l.teu the Tla ;die." Mr.
Bradbur: reAthned--" inz,nlu:l that Gentlemial,
he can defend hin,Feir; I:aii Ivan ready to uleet or
any man living."—llt le the 'T.-, ;.: LLealne E;) great,
that he could ebt.,in no further and a quantity
oforange reel t,cinl thrown at bin), he bowed ulid re-
tired. The cry for Manager xyas rehumed ; but
1: r. KtmLle diA Lut LITLar, llicaue was min:
after cleared. _

Thc new l'lltitt.titin.t. wvs :Tait] performed at this
Tl•Littre iinht ; but the tvert• nut
rtt t.t.tittd 11.:.t tbty t., iciet to be picweti with it, and

ito ttletilibil, iu elivohiti(li to ti•(:ir will, bud pr: iir.rctl
no dieuge in their n r.t its defects. Dtainl,..
the artutts rot (If the (riettrunce, the
len i.s t 11;. NE,
the pm% iot:s night ; s t.O L: the u t.
niGre tlttitheAl. 'll.c I 4:1N.r.',0r,
I.e ‘I vs eullcd,) wos s.t I.:s tl tit tke t.l j c uti.t of :Lt

THE NATTONAT.

Clown, awl to his Motio, a the -enemies of the Panto.
mime kinked as the signal of the deebive conflict. The
Nlanuger was loudly cal:el tier, but Mr Bradbury (the
clown) made his appearance beflire him, with something
that seemed like a horsewhip—for whom intended
(unless tar the Chieftain) we cannot tell. After a pro.
tiision of bows, and a genuflection with which he sup.
pealed u hearing, he was o..liged to retire among it
storm of hisses, without being able to utter a syllable.
The Manager was again loudly called fbr, but did not
arrive till upwards of a quarter of an hour. l)iiring
this interval several orator:, started in different parts
the house as candidates fir pubfic or playhouse favour.
The Chieftain maintained his post, and employed very
vehement oratorical gestures, which we believe were
his only figures of speech : be was answered by a fe-
male orator from the lower gallery, whose hands up-
peered as eloquently active to till parts of the house, us
her tongue no doubt did to those who were near her.—
She at first poured a volley of on very savoury expres-
sions upon him, masked by a large straw bonnet ; but
afterwards, disdaining to take My:image of this cover,
she threw it usiAe, and .encoantered kr antagonist
without any. dyfen.dve armour. After a great deal of
confusion and tumult, Mr. Kemble at last came on
the stage, and after beseeching a hearing, which be
did not obtain, announced, us we understood, that the
Pantomime should be withdrawn. The Chieftain gave
the signal of triumph by waving his hat, and the au-
dience soon dispersed.

This theatre, so fertile in novelties, added on Thurs-
day night :mother to the long list of its new pieces.
The title, and the poem from which it was taken, gave
promise of a treat to the lovers of meld-Brame. The
story upon which it was founded, is Walter Scott's
.11araztun. The incidents in that poem are in our
opinion sufficient to afford full scope to the contriver of
mrlo-dramatic romance. The whole of the incidents
in last nights drama are those which.may be found in
that poem ; but sonic of the most interesting are omit-
ted, and nothing new is substituted. In fuel, the nu-
thor (or, us we may better call him, the transposer,
Mr. Stephen Kemble, us we understand) has taken it
for grunted that every one of his auditors was well ac-
quainted with the story of 211 a, mien, and he accordingly
threw slew of its leading incidents together, without,
we must say, any other connection than th;tt whilt
.their memory might supply. The piece opens with
the trial of Constance (Mrs. Orger), ftr running away
from her convent, and a cons luent breach of her reli.
glints ov. She is condemned by the Prior and his
tesistant
,judges, but by as lucky interference is relieved
from impending starvation by Clara Fitz-Clare (Mrs.
W. West) She is then, by one of those sudden true.
sitious which are only fimnd in dreams and romances,
made the page of Marmion, whose betrothed bride she
bud previously been ; and after a few vapouring
speeches, which mean nothing, she is withdrawn from
public view till the lust scene, when she is introduced
time enough to bemoan tie deuth of her supposed
faithless lover Mantuan (Mr. H. Kemble). The
details of the piece arc too numerous and too un-
digested to be put into any compact form lisr our
readers. Suffice it to say, that the general names are
retained as in the original. There is Marmims (Mr.
H. Kemble), Dc ;Idiom (Mr. Hamblin), Con.aanee
( rs. Orger), Clara (Mrs. W. West), the ilo.l (Mr.
H. Johnston), and so through. nearly the whole emu-
kepis.. The story in substance is us tb!lows: Marmion,
who had won the affections of Con-ctaner, sees a more
wealthy prize in Clara Filz-Clare. Without re-
linquishing his love to the former, who had, it should
be observed, tbilowed hint from the convent walls, he
pays his addresses to the latter, and is supported in his
suit by his Sovereign, Henra. II: has a r.Val in the
nth ohms of Clare, in De Wiliam; and in order to get
rid of him, he impeaches hint of treason. • They tight,
and Dc Willon is wounded, (sepposed mortally.) 3/ar-
mintr then sets out on 4 mission to Scotland, and is
accompanied by Conalanre, in the disguise of u page.
lie is aware of her presence, and trests her on his
fontney to sonic priests, %vim discover her sc:•ret, and
brim, her hefbre an ecclesiastical tribunal, and with her
trial :he piece opens. 1)r It meantime. recovers
from his wounds, no one knows lbw, and accompanies
Marm!yu us a guide into Scotland, in the'disguise of a
i•atincr. King A:lw,', notwithstanding his friendly
re,•eptinn of Mat mion, continues Isis hostile preparations;
he leads his troops over the bonder; Marmion is pre-
thred to dispute the passage—the battle of Flodden-
I:eld is fought—Marti:ion killed—and ;:onsianee comes
in just time entaigh in receive his lust breath, and an
assurance of his love. From this outline it will be
seen, that there were incidents sufficient in the story
to have worked up a tolerable melo-dramatic rem:nice:
hut for want ef skilful usraugetnent, the author hrs
railed in exciting much interest. %1 hatever e,t teeth
existed in ths .picee was dne to the performers,
who, to do them justice, made the best of their parts.
Mr. il.- hemble did his best in 31 ormion, though we
coetiss the taste of the inana;,ets had been better minc-
ed itt ::signing tl.at character to Mr. H. Johnston,
Iwe talents were ! brown :may in tile part of the
I, tat. a:llAm' lam evcr, teuee the trust of thatehta-
tsettr, 1; his ge mint ,t'eintish cielt ct, and 1144

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