The National Register.
London, England, 1820-11-19 00:00:00

THEATRICALS.
.7!0-

COVIRNT-GARDENefiIe success which the exertions
made at this Theatre to obtain the public approbation
fully deserve, appears likely to crown their indefatigable
zeal. On Tuesday a new tragedy, called Wallace, was pro-
duced at this house. It is Wooded on the memorable
portion of Scottish history, which regards the contests
of Wallace against the English power ; the envy of Scot-
land's Lords towards the lowly born but triumphant
warrior and patriot ; and the final destruction of Ifiillace
by the treachery of Monteith. History, however, is out
closely adhered to ;—bui the alterations and additions
are such as were deemed requisite -to the adoption of the
story to the stage. We Deed not follow the author
through the plot. The character of iVallace was allotted
to, and ably sustained by Macready. Wallace appears,
at that period of the Scottish story, when he had been
appointed Reg sit; and the envy of the Thanes and
leader; of the army shews itself while they are in coun•
ca. His oiler to resign such honour does not improve
their peelings; but the occasion affords the actor an op-
portunity, of which he availed himself, to deride the
littleness and jealousy by which they are actuated.—
Wallace has also good room for display, where a mes-
senger from Englafid's Edward presents himself to the
leaders, calling on them to acknowledge that King; and
when he afterwards proceeeds to speak of the " rage"
which their disobedience might still arouse in that
Monarch's breast. hlacready was extremely happy in
the style in which he indignantly taunted and threw
back the threat held out, to beware of the Sovereign's
rage. Wallace is married to llekti (Mrs. Bunn), but the
marriage is not publicly known ; and Belem was belneed
by two other personages, who are also Wallacis com-
panions in the field, namely Douglas (Mr. C. Kemble),
and Monleith (Mr. Abbott). The first, boweter. acts
with heroic disinterestedness, deploring kis fate, but de.
voting his life to befriend both Wallace 'and Heim. The
other. Monteith, is finished treachery and villatiy. On
Wallace being driven back into the northerwand moun.
tainous parts of Scotland, after reverses in the field,
Monteith finds him, and learns the secrets of his situ-
ation
and his forces; and he then betrays he hero to
" proud Edward's power. This last a 1 Juilsive
iil
treachery from so warmly professed a (ft . • strikes
deep into the warrior's heart ; and with s and
memory, he loses for the time all desire fur further ex.
istence. Nor does Monteith shrink from avowiug,-,kik •
deeds, he boasts of them to the deceived IViillace ; and
and lie afterwards exults before Helen how he had de.
craved her lord. When endeavouring to bear her off,
however, poetic justice was inflicted on Monteith by the
arm of Douglas; and the death of that traitor to friend-
ship rescued the author front a very perilous situation.—
But Wallace is in chains, and is led to the block, re-
fusing life on conditiou that be wiaild forswear his .
country, and ackodwledge King Elward. The con-
cluding scene was most appalling, possibly too much
so; as Wallace is seen to tnount the scathild, and Betas
afterwards approaches, she is supposed to behold the
fatal axe inflict its mortal blow. Ste then falls into the
arms of Douglas.
The curtain fell amidst loud end mint decisive marks
of approbation, and the tragedy, which is front the pen
of a very young man, named Walker, has been lepeated
with increased effect. We have nu doubt of its becom-
ing a standing favourite.
DRURY LANE TnEaTaz.—While the manager of
this theatre cannot, or will not furnish any thing
worthy of criticism, he contriver to add to ilte unpopular
Belong of the public by all the means in his power.
( From oar Bowsfreet &part)
" On Thursday evening three young men who
gave their names Hill, Greene, and Davis, were brought
to this office in the custody of Lewis Lewes, a con-
stable from Drury-lane theatre. The officer had appre-
hended them in the act ot distributing a great number of
hand-b Ils, tending to cause a distornance io the two.
shilind gallery of that theatr., and throwing a great
number of them intd the pit. The hand-hill was headed
" God save the Queen," dated Thursday, N.A.. Id,
1820, proceeding with au address tu_the audience, as
follows :

" The audience are respectfully inflamed that the
following new sung, with new music, called ' Cod
save the Queen,' has been sent to the leader oi'ilte baud
in this theatre; and, should it be requested by the
audience, it is presumed it will be perforniad."
" Four verses followed, each ending with ' God save
the Limo':
" l'he prisoners had beets examined before Mr. Birnie
in the manager's room, that inigistrate ha ppentrig to lie
its the theatre. Davis said lie was a carpenter, and knew
nothing of the oilier prisoners., Hill and Greene, but
happened to sit near them, and assisted diens to distri-
bute the bills. Hill and Greene said they were printers,
and were apprentices to NIL Coe, Little Carter-lane, St.
Paul's whose name appeared at the bottom of the hills.
" The prisoners were not detained in eu-to ly, or re-
quired to find bail; but after sigoilig the account they
;4iVe of thrnlsehea, &c. they were discltarged, leacilita it
to the managers to prosecute thew, Ur ,NI r. Cite, die
printer."
Now we would ask of that model of sapiency, the
stipendiary magistrate, or of the sui PROPR lEl'Ol4
of 1./mu-lane theatre, in his soi•re moments, if the)
can he discovered, of what Ca INI E thoue three youna
wen hail been gitiby. %Ve ardently nape that means
will he taken (to tvhich we shalt 111,kt gladly
to cum nice tin se gi• unleme ), bytiages (or lake WWII.
ti
soinelil, the lair slurs a linrise a 111111 k being
dragged out ul a tlicatr.., till some aggression, which it
recottnizes as au olicuPP, has beett, euninljued. Out the
commencement of his lease we wished and loped I'm tla.
success ut the LUAUS adeco " THE PRUPRitfOK

7-1177

s, ~....:.~._. __. ._. s

3Y i

now cease to entertain hope or anxiety on the subject
for the theatre appears to be every day becomusit *de-
servedly
unPoPular. and its rival thews, by the brilliant
audiences it boasts, how correct is the public appreciation
of their comparative merits.

We have already announced to our readers the•
arrival of satisfactory intelligence from the Deal
Party of Settlers at the Cape of Good Hope, and
have now the further satition of stating, that
letters, dated " New Deal, 23d of August" last,
have been received
previous accounts confirming in every respect the
; we have been favoured with the
perusal of one of these letters, which states " that
the party were all well, and have no doubt of do.
ing well; they have already on their grazing
grounds 25 bullocks and cows, have sown their
bread corn, have cabbages, planted out, radishes
(of seed carried from Deal) fit to pull, peas and
beans up ; a division of the party attends solely to
fishing, which employment produces them enough
to keep the whole.
The first anniversary meeting of the Seamen's
Friend Society was held on 'foetid iy at the City of
London Tavern. Lord Gambier took the chair,
and stated the object of the meeting, which was to
disseminate religious sentiments among seamen, and
keep up a 'stock in different naval stations fur the
use of seafaring persons. A number of naval of&
cers attendtal, and gave several instances of the
subordination and benefit derived by commanders
of ships from the constant use of prayer among the
crews. A latge subscription was entered into, and
several resolutions adopted to promote the object of
society.
• .

Discovery Ships.--The Lords of the Admiralty
have printed, lithographically, a chart of the track
of the Hecla and Griper, on their north-west ex-
pedition. Some copies of the chart have been dia.
tributed among their friends and men of science,
which convey some information respectingi the di.
mensions of Lancaster Sound. Measured by the eye,
without reffirence to a scale,st appears to be about
one hundred and fifty miles lon7, and from twenty
to twenty-five miles broad. On leaving the Sound,
die ships proceeded about one hundred miles to the
southward, and then returning to the point from
which they had diverged, proceeded in a direct line
to the west. Notwithstanding the attempts to decry
the value of the discoveries that are accomplished or
contemplated, much commercial benefit has already
resulted from the navigation of these trackless seas.
The confidence acquired by the experience of Cap-
tain Ross, has this year induced the whalers, who
had been intimidated at the horrors of the higher
regions, to venture, as was suggested, to the mouth
of Lancaster Sound ; and the consequence has beam.
that they have returned with fuller cargoes than
were ever known.
It is a most lamentable fact, that while a strong
military force is keyt up in a time of profound peace,
at a monstrous charge to the country, the police is
totally inadequate to contend with the bands of
organised ruffians that infest the streets, to the peril
of our property and lives. I'hii yearly cost of a sin-
gle regiment of cavalry would, applied to the increase
of the pulite establishment, be more than sufficient
to remedy this evil. There is, however, unhappily, .
DO more specious pretext for the intervention of the
military than the inadequacy ot' the civil power, to
strengthen which would render the calling out of
soldiers unnecessary, and deprive the town of that
display of the pomp and glitter of arms, which is so
admirable and solid a substitute for the old-fashiontal
bourgeois security the metropolis once enjoyed.
A Frankfort article states, that news had be
received from Berlin which had caused a •
sensation in that part of Germany. The r ape vr
Alexander is said to have withdrawn fir• Eng-
lish the privilege which they have %alien° exclu-
sively enjoyed, of supplying Rteaii with clothing,
and to have conferred it on umpuily of Prussian
manufacturers. " This c ~n of the Russian
Monarch will (it is sail the new life to the cloth
manufactures of Silesia and the oe her countries of
Germany. It is calcu:ated that England will lose
by the change several millions." There does nut
appear to be sufficient authority for this intelligence
to entitle it to much attention.
In consequence of Sir W. Scott deciding in favour
of the right to inter in iron coffins, the corpse of
Mrs. Gilbert, which has been kept unburied by the
parish of' St. Andrew, Holborn, since March, 1819,
will be buried in a pate wrought-iron coffin at St.
Andrew's burying ground, Gray's lain-lane.
In York Consistory Court, on Thursday the ed
inst. a suit of divorce was decided, which had been
instituted by Mrs. Millicent Killingly against her
husband, both residing at Nottingham. The plea
tif the wile was ado licry, and the fact bang admitoll
by Mr. Nichol', the dvtiaidittles advocate, the Court
pronounced tiar the divine*,

It is reratul in the purlieus of Carlton House,
that a very extensive ha of prom ~.iuos in tie
Peerage, applying to the late Avg P,A;rs, will aii-
pcall immetinitely.

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