The National Register.
London, England, 1812-05-31 00:00:00

MAY 31.

our etcnAltums. Every body knows, that his manner, which is pecu-
liar to himself, is full of floridity and sweetness ; that !use colouring,
rerhaps the most forcible of the English school, never fails to pro-
duce a most admirable effect; that his imagination is abundant and
fertile; and his genius fraught with all which is worthy of imitation
in ancient and modern lore. These assertions will find their best proofs
in the numerous Drawings, Sketches, and finished Pictures, which
constitute his Gallery.
Several have been exhibited before, and yet the pleasure of seeing
them again is increased by the opportunity of comparing the fellow-
offsprings of the same pallet. Who would not be deligkted in looking,
over and over again, at the attentive child "Iffred listening to the Songs
of the Bards, from the mouth of his beautiful mother Who could ever
be tired of playing, in imagination, with the ./qfittet Bacchus; or of
telling his beads with the Manic at his Devotions? The Reproof of
Henry 111. to the remonstrating Prelates ; the Death rf .Tantes 11. at
St. Germain en Laye ; the compartment of the Achillean Shield, where
the mental powers of Mr. WESTALL conceived, as FioNsza did, and
executed with the boldness of RUBENS, Will always, and infallibly,
excite admiration. His Sleeping Bacchante, surrounded with all the
brilliancy of blooming nature, would keep awake for many hours, any
one who has taste. But when we enter the small room where his l'ic-
ture of DiotiTSRYS AND DAMOCLES is exhibited, what impression dues
it not make upon our mind ? The frightened courtier at the unexpected
sight of the pendulous dagger—the wreath of fresh roses just fallen
from his head—his attitude, where expression detracts nothing from
elegance—the majestic and austere look of the King—the beautiful
fonris who attend upon the ephemerous happiness of Damocles—the
costly vases, the amber caskets. the golden chair, the tasteful and
classical ornaments of this superb Csenactilurn, blazing with all the
glow of Sicilian splendor; and, above all, the magic colouring of the
magnificent vests and draperies, which does not look like light reflect-
ed, but has the inimitable brilliancy of light itself transmitted through
pieces of the finest stained-glass ; every thing contributes to the general
effect, which is truly wonderful, and gives to Mr. WI:Al-ALL a new
claim to that tribute of admiration, which he has long been in the ha-
bit of receiving at the hands of an enlightened Public.

*.• The Observations upon the Exhibition at Somerset House in
our next.

DRAMATIC RI GISTER.

LYCEUM.-6, HOW TO DIE FOR LOVE."

Most of the pieces produced at our theatres for the List ten veers,
have been either translations or imitations, and if we are to judge front
their number, the prohibitory Decrees of France have had no effect on
the importation of dramatic trash. Operas, melu-dramas, farce., al-
most every kind of theatrical entertainments have rained down upon
our stage, from the neighbouring country, and French authors have
been more successful than Napoleon's boasted warriors ; for whilst these
have been kept aloof from our shores, the former have both invaded
and taken possession of our land. Neither has France alone a right to
boast that she supplies our stage. Germany, before her, sent us all her
wild combinations of strained sentiment and unsound morality, and oc-
casionally still intrudes upon us some of her lesser productions ; for a
faint revival of taste having banished her horrors from our stage, only
her fooleries are now admitted.

Among the latter may be reeked the new Farce callcd " How to Die
for Love!" represented the week before last for the first time at the
Lyceum Theatre. It is a translation of one of Kotzebue's most mo-
dern and harmless plays " Blind Gelader," and contains many ludicrous
situations and the bustle generally expected in such pieces.
The plot turns upon the singular resolution of Charlotte (Miss KELLY,)
who is besieged by two lovers, to prefer him only who shall remain the
longest upon the demesne of the Baron, (Mr. Pt NSori,) hence arise nu-
merous artifices between Bloomingfleld (Mr. WRIENCii,) and Turnwit
De aftste,) and their servants Trap (Mr. K ran tur,) anti Trick (Mr.
OESERRYO to induce each other to quit the premises. At length a
mock quarrel Is excited by one of the parties, which is seriously adopted
by the other, when they both fire, and Tarawa falls ; upon which
Bl99,llingfeeld, who supposes his rival mortally wounded, escapes to save
hits life; during which time the Baron and Clairton,: come to enquire into
the nature of the fracas; when Tur,ituit, hearing that Blooming fold had
Passed the boundary, jumps up elated, and claims the hand of Cht‘rlol tr

33.5

'1 his piece which was produced fur Miss KELLY'S benefit, but which
has since kept possession of the stage, excites much laught.-r ; and COn-
sequently gains too much on the good humour of the audience not to
prove attractive. It afforded a good opportunity for the display of the
excellent comic abilities employed in it, and as it offers no particular
points to censure, so it deserves but the general praise of being amusing.