The National Register.
London, England, 1811-04-28 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

greater number of real objects of compassion are forced to
beg in the streets.
We see wretches in the most deplorable state still anxious to
live, though a man in health would have no hesitation in saying
that to die were better. In like manner we see persons in the
most miserable condition shrinking from the idea of going into
a workhouse, though a person at ease would think the state of a
parish pauper greatly to be preferred. There is a feeling in hu-
man nature which makes us cling to liberty as to life, under al-
most any circumstances. For this feeling, though common to all,
' we do not make proper allowances. I heard a pious christian
(who is also a great reformer) very lately exclaim, with great
warmth on seeing a beggar by the door of his pew--1." Is it not a
shame that these vagabonds should be allowed to walk the streets
as they do, and even to infest our churches."—" Oh ! yes," I
replied, unable to suppress a sneer at his piety and patriotism,
"it is indeed a shame that in a free country, cripples should be
allowed to breathe the fresh air like men who have their limbs
entire, and beggars be suffered to go to a place of worship as if
they had souls to be saved like people who pay taxes."

I am, &c. &c.

DRAMATIC REGISTEI?.

CO VENT-GARDEN.

X. X.

On Tuesday a new comedy was produced at this theatre un-
der the title of 66 The Gazette Extraordinary." The op;nions of
the merits of this piece, as expressed by various writers in the
daily papers, are so. much at variance with each other, that the
public are quite in doubt whether they ought to like it or not—.
whether they ought to welcome it with their applause, or to
hunt it from the stage with their hisses. This indecision is,
however, on visiting the theatre, dissipated in a way the most
gratifying for the author, as those who will not acknowledge it
to be good, cannot but admit it is not very offensive, and while
they resolve to censure, think they have nevertheless a right to
laugh and enjoy the performance, as well asthose happier mor-
tals who having no great pretensions to taste think themselves
perfectly justified in calling that good which affords pleasure.

Placed in this situation I have but the dismal alternative of
taking one side of the question in opposition to those who main-
tain the other, or by attempting to steer between both excite
the pity and derision of all parties. Under these circumstances
the former evil may appear the lesser of the two, I believe
I shall have the temerity to brave the latter. Regardless of
what others have advanced, I shall presume to offer my own
opinion, andthat, though hut the opinion of an humble individual,
may perhaps he not wholly unacceptable to those who are dis-
posed to be impartial, as while it is not worked by friendship or
by interest•on the one hand, it will be found uninflamed by
hostility, or by disqpointinent oo the other.
This comedy is said to be from the pen of Mr. Hor.mAN,
and really there is a something in it which almost inclines me
to give myself credit for sufficient dis;:ernment to have dis:.o-
vered it W as the production of an actor, if I had not received
this is,formation. The characters and the situations alike tended
to impress this idea on my mind, though, had I been informed
it was f;om the pen of Mr. RE YNOLDi, o 1 that it was the pro-
duction of Mr. MORTON, I might have been very differently
affected and plumed myself perhaps with equal justice on my
sagacity in tracing the plagarisms it contains to some other cause-
than that of its being the work of an actor,
The plot of 64 The Gerr.eite Earaordinary" boasts nothing
remarkably striking, and (which is more unfortunate) nothing
remarkably new. The outline has no extraordinary merit, hut
the manner in which it is filled is entitled to considerable praise.
Episodic characters are, however, awkwardly attached to it,
which hang like disjointod limbs on the dramatic body, un-
thought ofwhen out of sight, complained of as offensively in
the Way when seen. These may have their use in heightening'

the situations into which the more important personages of the
drama arc thrown, but in themselves they form a just subject
of complaint. They ought to have been more connected with
the main busines of the piece, or they ought not to have been

brought so forward as they are. The play would have been
much richer, if the labour thrown away on the inferior charac-
ter had been bestowed, where the author wished attention prin-
cipally to rest. The attempt to render the minor characters
respectable is very injudicious. It serves but to swell out insig-
nificance and make it proposterously conspicuous. This, while it
detracts from the importance of the leading characters, has not
the effect desired by the author, as after all the parts thus labour-
ed "are never worthy the talents of peformers of merit. This, I
ant sure naust be clearly seen in Sir Harry Asper, and the acting
of Mr. JONES.

Throughout the comedy we are frequently reminded of some
of our old stage favourites. " Love in a Village"—" The Man
or the World"—" The Care for the Heart Arhc," &c. &c. fre-
quently dance before our eyes. The same thing may be said
of the characters ; they are, however, so well disposed of that we
f)rget to complain of their not being new. It is indeed but justice
to Mr. Ho to" say that in almost every instance where
lie has taken a hint from others he has improved on it. This
does not often occur in dramatic literature, and if It did pia-
garisms would soon become respectable.
Several well worked up equivoques occur in the course of the
piece which go off with uncommon spirit. The situations these
produce, are highly comic, and the scope they afford the talents
of the actors contributes greatly to the success of the piece.—
The interest excited, is not very strong. " The Extraordinary
Ga%ette" does not barrow up our feelings With apprehension to
delight us by dissipating our fears, but the embarrassments
which arise make the audience look forward to theeclairissemnit,
not with trembling anxiety, but with pleasing impatience. We
frequently laugh as we proceed towards the end, and we have
the satisfaction of feeling our mirth is rational, as it is never
excited at the expence of morality.

With respect to the language, if it is not all that could be
wished, it is far from being so contemptible as it might he con-
sistently with the spirit in which many of the dramatic produc-
tions of the present &I are written. It is never disgraced by
stale jokes and wretched puns ; but in many parts it boasts
more than common point. The sentiments are good, and fre-
quently adorned with images of a very pleasing nature, express-
ed with great felicity. Yet there is, I must observe, a want of
variety in them, particularly in the first act. lam half inclined
to suppose Mr. 'Hot MA N wrote this hart of his work in a garden ;
as to characterise his ideas in his own way, they all seem to owe
their existence to hu4bantkil, to spring from the same root, and
derive nourishment from the same sqi/. Matured by the same
inn, though the branches expand in various directions, the leaves
which adorn them are in appearance nearly the same, and the
fruit which they bear knows no difference of ftivour ; yet I must
do him the justice to say its nature is such, that it does not ap-
pear as if it came from, or was destined for the nursery.
The characters were very ably sustained. FAwci. r-r, in a
Bustling Doctor, was excellent. MUNDEN, in a good-natured
old gentleman, display( d infinite humour, and convulsed the
House with laughter, without having recourse to bulfu' niry.—
JuNr.s and YOUNG, deserve great prai,e ; and all the female
parts were exceedingly well played, although we have great
fault to find with Mrs WES ro N, who appeared in the character
of a Dowager, but could not find in her heart to make herself
look like an old woman.