The National Register.
London, England, 1809-01-08 00:00:00

VIE NATIONAL REGISTER.

ge..erous as to withhold from merit the praises to
a It Is enti led. To this we will nnl, reply, that if
our p ,es the few errors which we think he has
committed; in order to i relte it other authots from rende.--
• ing themseti es obnoxious io the same censure, our hands
on Thursday flight granted him their warm support. if as
the Epilogue hints it, this comedy be • the jirgt which the
author wrote, we give liiin credit for very promis:n
talents ; but if it be Hie production of a veteran writer we
would rather can it it retreat from, than ltrh advance toWards
perfection.
The ptologue, which was 0%0416111y well delivered b)
Mr. Mathews, told us something about our having fre-
quently met. with old tharailfes in new comedies; and we
therefore expected to banquet at last on novelty; a dish
which has not for many years gratified the public appetite.
We were, however, disappointed. We were introduced to
imany characters it is true, but strongly suspected, and, in-
deed, were convinced that we had had some molimpses of
them before on the stage; except, perhaps, of that which
Johnstone admirably represented—an honest attorney,
who assumes the appearance of a rascal. But this is not,
we much fear, a copy from nature, it is a stretch of the
imagination rather than the result of observation. It
'hews men as they ought to be (dropping the appearance
of rascality) and not, unfortunately as they ate. There is,
perhaps, some novelty too, in giving the attorney a think-
tnr, clerk ; but as notwithstanding his reflecting powers
and disposition, he still remains a faithful echo to his mas-
ters sentiments and a slave to his will, even when it ap-
pears evil, nature may be said to have been followed more
closely than in the delineation of the character of the ho-
nest Hibernian Cornelius O'Detlimus.

The plot is iuteresting, but contains many incidents ga-
thered from ancient and modern plays. They arc, however,
so artfully disposed as to wear the appearance of novelty,
although it cannot boast its reality. They arc like
views of spots well known to us, and which though par-
tially disguised by the introduction of a tree, or the omis-
sion of some of their less important features, cannot fail to.l
strike oar recollection, whenever we bestow an observing
glance upon them. The explanation of the Secrets"
may be found in many novels, yet it is not too easily anti-
cipated;
as our expectation of novelty hinders us from
mhinking our surmises can be right. A good natured, and,
at times, passionate husband, and a nervous, but artful wife,
a strict economist. and a household tyrant, form, not the
first characters of the comedy, but those to which it owes
its name. We will now unfold some of the chief incidents
of the piece.
In it we find a young and innocent girl, not unlike Ms-
.?" in John Bull, seduced by a rich lover, who, however,
marries her secretly, with the intention of deceiving her by
.employing a false priest and treacherous witnesses : but
whose designs are frustrated, by the honesty of his attor-
..ney, who provides a real priest. We see the same titled
-laver pay his addresses to Ellen, a baronet's daughter, a
'tick heiress of twelve thousand a year, whose affections
•are placed on his cousin, a sailor, who through love for-
-sakes his ship to visit his niistress. On hearing of ber ap-
proaxhing marriage with Lord Austincourt, he 'steals
into her house to reproach her for her unfaithfulness. '
—Here, a quarrel similar to that of Donna nolante, and
in " The !Fonder," ensues between the jealous irri-
.tated lover, and his wrongly suspected mistress, who re-
•tiresiiia anger. In asi.bsequent meeting she conceals bim in
her music room on hearing her fathers voice, and the wise
parent !ravine learnt that the sailor was lurking near his
mansion to see her, locks her up unconsciously with him and
her maid. His friend, Mr. Faulkener, long thought dead
but who had lived for many years disguised in the neigh-
'bourbood with an only /laughter, now calls upon him, ad-
vises him not to marry his Ellen to Lord Aatincoirt, and
is on the point of retiring, when the Baronet, desirous to
present him to his child, unlocks the door, and finds her in.,
sotripaoy Clarks. dustincourt, the rolookted sailor.

JAN:

—A scene of confusion, and conjugal itri& ensiles between
the Baronet and his lady, who accuses him of having wile
liegly introduced the young adventures' into the hots&
From thence we are transported to the Attorney's
where we learn that Charles austineoures father being left
guardian to fiord Auslinconri, had ventured 14,000/i of hia
money in a commercial concern which had failed, Lord .4.
who wished to bribe his victiin, and her father into silence,
with that sum, requests its reimbursement, as it had been
expended without his knowledge. His guardian implbres
his mercy, but his suit is rejected with scorn, which
awakens the sluraberiag powers of conscience, and he then
declares before .Fanlkener, who had in vain required he
should wed his seduced daughter, Ellen and her father,
her mother-in-law, and the Attorney, that having a son of
the same age as Lord auslineuort when he became his ward,
he had yierded to the impulse of ambition, and IlUbstituteid
his owu son instead of the right heir, who till then had ap-
peared under the name of (harks Auslincourt. 'Cornelitit
O'bedinuss then informs the company that the person who
had married the no longer Lord A. and Faulleener was a
real Priest, acknowledges himself fur a witness, as well as
his clerk, and leads her in triumphant to the arms of her
husband, who suddenly repents, and takes her to his ho.
som. The real Lord .lustincourt, of course, obtains the
hand of his Ellen, without any further difficulty, and thsi
piece closes. •
The dialogue of this comedy is highly commendable fa
its purity both of meaning and style. It does not sparkle
with ban mots; it is not grossly familiar; it is easy and
elegant, frequently energetic, and enriched with just hnlt
pleasing imagery. Nor is it totally devoid of wit, though
it is completely free from the affectation of it. The chit•
racters, though not new, are well delineated, and hatipili
contrasted. The plot is well conducted, though the two
first acts are rather laorptid ; and its greatest defect is its.
length. Some of the situations are well imagined, many
scenes highly comic, and some though pathetic, not too
much so for a comedy.
Encouraged by redoubled peals of epplause, ail the
Performers displayed the whole extent of-their abilitlea.
Mrs. Jordan, in the part of Ellen, looked'better thani she
has done for many years; her vivacity was as natural and
as graceful 'as ever. Mrs. H. Siddons, In the garb of
deceived' innocence, united beauty, modesty and sim.
plicity, with an energy and justness of action which .
made her performance truly delightful. Dowton and
Mrs. Harlowe, as man and wife, were excellent.—
Yet we thought once or twice we perceived Dowtoei
&attires courting the approbation of the galleries. This
happened in the scene in which he attempts to master his
wife, and as it is the fr.rst symptom of earicatutimanid
which we have ever observed in him, we hasten to inform
him of his danger, in order that he may guard pgainst
its farther advance. Elliston gave due spirit to the cha,
racter of an open-hearted but passionate sailor. Johnstone,
in Corodius OaDedintus, came up to himself in Dennis
Brulgruderry. Mathews, as the pondering clerk, raised
his part in the comedy to a higher station than it else would
have occupied; and Messrs. Wroughton, Holland, and
Powell, in Faulkener, Lord Auithecourt, and his guardian,
attained unusual excellence.

The epilogue entertained us with the keetmesq, not the
length of an author's ear. It contained nothing re-
markable, and the plaudits which it obtained, were de.
served by Mr+. Jordan who spoke it.
Man and Wife was announced for a second representa..
tiou amidst a thunder of applause, and shouts of bravo I

times vituriz.

Last night the season of Operas commenced. The thett-
Ire has been refitted with great carp ; the bores new-
papered and painted, and the benchests well as chairs re•
newed.

A new Comic Opera, entitled, La Capriecksa Peititet.,
Fioravanti, introduced the new Prima Buffo., Signori

• . .
happened in the scene in which he attempts to matter his
In it we find a young and innocent girl, not unlike Ma-
, .ty in John Bull, seduced by a rich lover, who, however, wife, and as it is the bit symptom of coricatutimania
h
marries her secretly, with the intention of deceiving her by which we have ever observed in im, we hasten to inform
him of his danger, in order that he may guard gainst
.employing a false priest and treacherous witnesses : but
whose designs are frustrated, by the honesty of his attor- its farther advance. Elliston gave due spirit tothe cha,
ney, who provides a real priest. We see the same titled '
racter of an open-hearted but passionate sailor. Johnstone,
in Coroelius O'Dedimus, carne up to himself in Dennis
lever pay his addresses to Ellen, a baronet's daughter, a
Brulgruderry. Mathews, as the pondering clerk, raised
'tic* heiress of twelve thousand' a year, whose affections
•are placed on his cousin, a sailor, who through love for- his part in the comedy to a higher station than it else would
have occupied; and Messrs. Wroughton, Holland, and
-sakes his ship to visit his mistress. On hearing of her ap-
Powell, in Faulkener, Lardiitaltneourt, and his guardian,
proaxhing marriage with Lord Austineourt, he 'steals
Into her house to reproach her for her unfaithfulness. attained unusual excellence.
The epilogue entertained us with the keetmessi net the
—Here, a quarrel similar to that of Donna rialanle, and
li,li.r. in " The !Fonder," ensues between the jealous irri-
length of an author's ear. It contained nothing re-
tam! lover, and his wrongly suspected mistress, who re-
markahle, and the plaudits which it obtained, werd de.
•tires,in anger. In aimbsequent meeting she conceals him in served by Mr+. Jordan who spoke it.
her music room on hearing her fathers voice, and the wise Man and /rife was announced for a second representa.
lion amidst a thunder of applause, and shouts of bravo I
parent !ravine learnt that the sailor was lurking near his
scansion to see her, locks her up unconsciously with him and —.........
her maid. His friend, Mr. Faulkener, long thought dead tlNc.'s rii Atm:.
but who had lived for many years disguised in the neigh- Last night the season of Operas commenced. The theg-
-bourbooll with an only -daughter, now calls upon him, ad- tre has been refitted with great carp ; the bores new-
vises him not to marry his Ellen to Lord Aginconrt, and papered and painted, and the benchests well as chairs re•
is on the point of retiring, when the Baronet, desirous to newed.
present him to his child, unlocks the door, and finds her in , A new Comic Opera, entitled, La Caprieefose Postitet.,
lowan, !A Itl Clarks duesinceasrit the roduuhted sailor. bx Irioravanti, introduced the new Prima Buffet Signori