The National Register.
London, England, 1818-01-05 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDEN.

A new Tragedy in these times is so great a novelty
that it naturally excites considerable interest, not only
among those who are called play-gping folks, but also
among those whose regard for the interests of literature
males them anxious about every addition which is
made to our stock of national poetry. This feeling suf-
ficiently accounts for a numerous audience at this house,
on Thursday evening, to witness Retribution ; or, the
Chiff?ain's Daughter. The story is supposed to be in
the fourth century. The following are the most strik-
ing features of the plot :—Yarancs, King of Persia
has two sons Chosroo and Homed, who are both en-
amoured of Ziinra the chieftain's daughter. I lanzed is
the favoured lover, but Chorroo considers himself cer-
tain of success, from the power he possesses over the
life of her father Sullies, whom he has recently taken
prisoner in an expedition against one of the mountain
tribes. The rivalry of the two brothers, one impetuous,
unprincipled, hesitating at no means to effect his pur-
pose, the other less powerful and more virtuous, and
aided by the love of Zimra, occupy great part of the
drama ; but the interest of the piece, rests in an equal
degree on Varanes, who, agitated by the conscious guilt
of having murdered his brother and preaecessin. Sapor,
confounded and perplexed in all his actions by the fear
of discovery, joined to the mystery in which the event
is involved, exhibits a fine moral le-son, and afForas some
striking opportunities for the display of talent, to which
Young did great justice. The outline of the plot is
sufficiently simple, but is involved in its conduct in
much unnecessary intricacy : except in the first act, the
events do not tallow each other by a nice adjustment
of cause and effect, and there has been an evident de.
sire to spin out the materials to an undue extent.
We are yet unable to judge with accuracy on the
merits of the language, but we suspect it is better fitted
for the closet than the stage. There are many things
which to the eye of the spectator appear like deviations
from nature, as well as from dramatic unity and effect,
we trust they appear so, from the dialogue having been
but imperfectly heard. For instance, no good reason ap-
pears to justify the sudden return of Suttees to reason, in
the prison scene in the fifth act. The supposed mur-
der of the King, by his son Chosroois involved in much
obscurity. The order for the death of Zimra, Homed,
and Sullies seems most unnatural, and the sscceeding
scene, were these persons dispute about taking prece-
dency in death is faulty both in mutter and manner.—
We do not mention these as important failings, nor
are we quite sure that they are failings at all, we only
mention the effect which they produced upon us, Aids
an acquaintance with the text would probably have re-
moved. In our next number we shall enter more at
length into an examination of its merits.
The following is the list of the drain:ids pers:me
Varanes, King of Persia Mr. Young.
Chuang, s ( Mr. M•Cready.
1. his BoneHamed..
Abdus, a Persian Lord Mr. Egerton.

Had ~ his son
Suthus, a captive Chieftain Mr. 'ferry.
Sohrab, the King's Chau:berlain
liodad, Confident to Chosroo Mr. Coiner.
Devah, Slave to Cho.rou Mr. .1 (Allies.
Zulus, daughter to Suthts Miss O'Neill.

SMALL Pox.—ln the general bill of all the christen.
ings and burials from Dcc. iO, 18 t 6, to Dec. 16, 1817.
The report of Deaths occasioned by the Small Pox, is
one thousand and fifty one, which is au increased num-
ber of six hundred and fifty three, as stated in tits
preceding annual report
A poor sailor in distressed circumstances, a few
days ago was sent to the Small Pox Hospital at Pancras
in an advanced state of confluent Small Pox, from
Cannon Street Road, St. George's in the East, but ha
was so much exhausted, that he died a few minutes
after his admission. This is much to be lamented, as
we know that Patients arc admitted every day anti
hour, by a recommendation signed by a Governer, and
all requisite intOrmation is given at the Hospital to
any person who may apply.
Lord Courtenay, since he left Eng-lantl, has received,
by the sale of his property in Ireland alone, nu less is
sum than 650,0001.

PINE ARTS.

Mr, WAISTS WAISTS PICTURE of DEATH os the PALE HORSE.

l'r has 'elders if ever fallen to this lot of the critic, the
amateur, or the simple gazer, to contemplate a performance
of Art on various accounts so interesting, as this picture : A
subject at once so grand, so terrific ; so wild, so mystical, so
chimerical; a representation to which, of all that ever came
from the bands of an artist, a key, is perhaps the most iodise
peusible. A thorough knowledge of the scriptural test from
which it is taken can afford but a very faint idea of the pic-
ture by which its illustration is intended. Such indeed is the
obstruseness of this part of sacred writ, that it seems rather
adapted to afford the artist who should be hold enough to
venture upon it, scope fur the exercise of' the most unbounded
talents, than any usitted purpose of instruction or edification
iti a religious puiut of view. Sonic will be ready to condemn
the choice of uur venerable President, who after having in.
(bilged in themost benign and interesting representations which
the inspired writings afford, could at length fix un a portiou
of Scripture, so poi lemons, so apocartyptieal ; while others
will applaud the boldness of an imagination, which after hav-
ing accomplished all that could be done in the historic de-
partment of the art, has dared to soar beyond the ordinary
sphere of human conceptions, and grasp a subject intirely
allegorical, in the delineation of which the most fervid ener.
Ries of his capacious wind have been called into action. Of
this latter opinion we are persuaded will be by far the greater ,
pit of those who visit the painting of 'Mr. West ; nor will it
be forgotten that it is the work of a veteran, in whom the
order of nature seems to be invested, who rises in excellence,
in proportion to his advance in years, and whose late produc-
tions have been the astonishment ohmic country, as they here*
after will be of the civilized world. Some yeais have elapsed
since the original sketch of this picture was pi-minced, and
ouch was the admiration in which it was held on the Conti-
nent where it was exhibited to the cognoscenti by Mr. West,
that lie could have disposed of it at almost any sum nhieli he
chose to fix as its price ; but he as as unwilling that his coun-
try should be deprived of this favourite effort of his genius,
and formed the resolution of painting the subject on a large
scale with a view to the present public exhibition. Were it
not a Waal ions filet, it would 11.11ily appear credible, that our
worthy Professor painted this picture when verging towards
bus tioth y ear ! --a time when among the generality of those
who advance so tar in life, many arc scarceiy alde to Wield
even a spoon for the taking their daily sustenance : but the
pencil is still firm in his hand, his fancy is vet vivacious and
fertile, the powers of his mind have nut suffered the least di-
minution.

This gigantic production of transcendant genins is taken
from the sixth chapter of the Book of the Revelation, where
the opening of the seven seals is described in the vision of the
Apostle John. The results of the opening of the first five only,
is depicted in the painting, one of which lids been added
since the production of the miginal sketch. These form so
many distinct parts of the snb,jvet, but they are all so har-
monionsly blended by the skill of the artist, that almost every
fiptre which he has intriulneed scums necessary to the form-
ing of one grand representation. The most prominent cha-
racter is, of course, the mighty King of Terrors, seated on a
fiery steed, terrible in aspect and impetuous in his course,
dealing destruction round, and boding death and devastation
in
" mom beating the tot ch of discord, with a monstrous progeny
" of the reptile world,"
" All 11'1)(14601u things
Abeminable, unititerahk, and worse
Than fables yet have feign'd or fear conceiv'd,
Gorgon, and Hydras and Chimeras' dire."

the Ministers of Mil, who had " power given to
'• them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword
"and with hungcr and with disease, and with the beasts of
66 the earth."

A secondary character in the picture is mounted on a
White horse, and appears to represent the Messiah, but not
es
its the last pictorial work of our artist, " the meek and
lowly Jesus," nearing with resignation the acorn and hatred of
the scoffing multitude ; but this King of Kings going forth
" Competing and to Cowper " to bruise the head of the
fterpeait, cud finally to put all things nnder his feet. This
figure, and the horse on which he is seated, are painted in
the finest style, with exquisite taste and harmony of colour.
The horse is of walk %bite, to distinguish it limn the pale and'
more fishd coloured animal which bears the lignre or Death.
It may he observed of these figures, that however necessary
to the making out the subject, they have rather thin sheet
ofillivpriiiist Cis eye from * imittemplat 000 (tithe principal elm.
teeter, cud the intoresting groups towards the centre of the
piettite.
The character next in iinportatiee, is the man on the Red
horse, who is represented as a warrior armed with " the great
sword."—•• Hs is advancing in the same direction as the
6. the, eby intimatiog that those wars which have
" 4CC(11111.4111eil the progress of the Christian Religion, mod of
" which lie is the type and emblem, are a part of the Divine
"scheme for effje wally diffusing it throughout the whole
" earth. The horse in this instance is caparisoned as a was-
" horse, but those of Death and the !Messiah, ate withiont reins,
" being guided only by the will of their riders. A prophetic
" vista beyond this character, slims in one division the Ro-
" mans, under Titus, returning with the spoils of Jerusalem,
" and in the other, Crusaders contending with Saracens."—
The rider on the black horse is a subordinate character, and
is thrown more into the back ground. lie is represented as
pushing fors. at il, bearing in his baud a pair of balances, and
possesses a most energetic and expressive countenance. A
donu stie gionti in the lideground exhibits sonic line slid de.
hcate touches of the pencil. ((Ink the situation in w hick tiny
are Oared, (iVetWltililiCil by the destructive career of the
grim t) tam, powerfully escites the feelings, by the reflection
VW neither youth, branty, wealth, nor talent can esi ape the
rases's nettle fell destroyer, who, by his mr!rcile.s shafts,
1•• r et. all ranks, and who entertains neither pity nor coinims
elan for any of the children of met,. 'flue action of the father
in this group will call to toe mind of the spectator, N
gale's Nlmituiient, the celebrated work of Rotibilliar, in %Vest-
mitister . His attitude bears a close resemblance to
flat of the iiititre of King Lear in a former composition
of Mr. IV.PNI.N.

Aini,kt a intuition:ins as,emblaze of figures, for the most
ptt t rzgri.itely painted, ate two persons representing; re-
/UMW and tle,,snr. Thee ate Inzbi) rhAracteristie, and but
too fort ib'v trntiud for ,periat,ti of the numerous objects of
inkt•ry anll sf re lc lit dni we sit in the habit W.
seeing. ( ihaiik• in the vigilance of wit psikli officers) in our
walk. threttOi the of the metropolis. A 1111111 at one
end of the picuie, who t. ere sealed iting his jave-
lin at a li-:lB,:tri,earril to n tort of these remarks, to hear
am' trrttablance to thi or N4puleon ; but 4 COLII-