The National Register.
London, England, 1817-04-14 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

the whole was a fraud. We cannot sufficiently express
our disapprobation of practices of this kind. We are
surprised that the persons of real integtity, who frequent
the money market, do not adopt some plan, or devise
sonic regulations, for the government of it, which may
banish gamblers and fabricators of false news. We all
recollect the wrath that was felt and expressed when
the affair fir which Lord Cochrane suffered so deeply
took place ; and yet what was done then more than is
now so frequently done by others towards settling day?
Lord Cochrane's imposition was more operative in its
et-recta, hut the criminality, as to purpose and intention,
is exactly the same. There is no question, that if the
lie were properly investigated, the authors and propa-
gators of it might be detected. Who was heard to re-
peat it? and from wham at he receive the intelli-
gence ? Inquiries of this kind would lead to the foun-
tain head. We are sure, that if the Stock Exchange is
not purged by the Members themselves, Parliament
must take the matter in hand, and enact some law for the
protection of the fair dealers, or bona fide purchasers.
and sellers. The market for 3 rcr cent. consols closed
at 72/ fir money, and 731 for the May account.
The differences paid at the Stock Exchange on Friday
' and Saturday morning are stated to be to an immense
amount, on account of the great fluctuation of the
Funds. Only one considerable defaulter has been an-
nounced. Settling day being over, Stocks arc again
rising. Consols fir May at 12 o'clock were 734.
A rumour had been prevalent during Saturday and
yesterday, that the Speaker of' the House of Commons
still eontinued so much indisposed that he would be
unable to take the Chair on this day. It was even
reported, that Ministers had written to some of their
friends, stating this unpleasant circumstance; and inti-
mating, that the course usually adopted on such cm-
sions would be now pursued, and that an adjournment
would in consequence tele place: but at a late hour
last night we had not been able to trace out the rumour
to any certain origin; and we sincerely hope that Mr.
Speaker will this day be able to resume the discharge
of his high duties in the full possession of health.
The rumour of a dissolution of Parliament, after the
present Session, is renewed. The Easter recess termi-
nates with this week's holidays ; after which, Parlia-
ment will only meet fur about six weeks, when the dis-
solution, according to every indication, will take place.
It is said, that soon after the recess the Police Com-
mittee will make a special Report on the abuses which
grow out of the present system of public-house licens-
ing.
It is said, that the Committee of the Commons, now
investigating the Poor Laws, have adirpted a resolution
for extending the term of residence to three years, be-
fore a person can elnisn a parish settlement.
The Prince Regent is expected in town this day ;
and it is said that the Recorder will to-morrow make
his report of the convicts under sentence of death in
Newgate, previous to the Sessions beginning on NVed-
nesday at the Old Bailey.
We now hear that four Noblemen will be advanced
to the dignity of Dukedom. Two are, the Marquisses
of Stafford and Hertford ; the first will be the Duke of
Cleveland, the last Duke of Hertford, or Duke of Sey-
mour. The other two are said to be the Marquisses of
Buckingham and Cornwallis. The Dukedom of Bolton
will it is reported, be restored. Two families lay claim
to the title.—Evening paper.
The Duke and Duchess of Orleans left Twickenham
on Wednesday, to proceed on their way to France.—
They were to sleep at the Crown Inn at Rochester,
where 45 beds were engaged, besides others out of the
Inn. There were to be ten carriages, one of them larger
than a stage couch. which the Duke had built sonic
time since for the convenience of travelling. It carries
eight in the inside, and sixteen out. The Duke travels
in a curricle, drives himself, and is accompanied by his
principal Steward. The Duchess travels in a landau,
accompanied by Mademoiselle. There are twelve out
riders, one to each carriage, and two as couriers : it being
the intention of the Duke to enter Paris in the same
style as his late father was in the habit of doing.
The circumstance fur which we had been long prepar-
ed by the French journals is now asserted with more
confidence, and with greater appearance of truth: it is,
that the Duke of Wellington is on the point of return-
' ing to England ; and 'me of his more amiable offices
here is stated to be, the bestowing the hand of a Miss
Caton on Colonel Harvey. one of his Grace's Aides-de-
Camp : the lady is said to be from Baltimore.
We are extremely happy to hear, that it has at length
been determined upon to propose a tax of .20 per cent.
upon the property of all absentees.—Morning paper.
We learn with satisfitction that tie state of the Re-
venue improves, so that it is expected this quarter to
exceed the amount of the corresponding quarter last
year by .200,0001. The deficiencies in the Excise have
been compensated by an increase in the Customs. The
duties paid by the East India Company have been very
considerable. Government have been strict in prevent-
ing the Collectors of Taxes from retaining balances in
their hands. The rate of discounts is improving.
The CalerimPan Me err, !ays—" We understand
that the shawl trade in Glasgow has so much improved
as to enable the manufacturers to advance, their journey-
mens' wages 45. per wcek."

APRIL 14.

An article from Vienna states, that several couriers
had lately passed througli that city from Constantinople,
directing-their course for almost every Court in Eu-
rope. We shall' not be surprised to find this notifica-
tion followed up by inteiF•gence that the 01.1 Govern-
ment of Turkey is Ittaelsell on all sides by its former
vassals; for an article front Trieste informs us, that the.
rebel Pasliaws arc following up their advantages.
Prince Henry of Prussia, it is said, is about to visit
the lonian Lies, accompanied by several men of science
and artists.

The University Debating Club, held at the Red'
Lion Inn, in Cambridge, having been dissolved by the
personal interference of the Proctors, by command of
the Vice-Chancellor, a petition against this interfer-
ence, signed by several 'Masters of Arts and Noblemm.
as Nletabers of the Club,. has been presented to his
Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, as Chancellor
of that Universi.y.

A Moniing Paper says, " A letter has been received
from young Watson, who has arrived in America, to.
;,;ether with a shoe-maler, in whose apartments he was
secreted in the neighbotirhood of St. Paul's, at the timt.
the Bow-street Officers, and others sent in search of
him, were pursuiN, phantoms. lie declares that he
had no previous acquaintance with the person who ef
forded him an asylum, but claimed his protection, de-
pending entirely upon his honour, humanity, and kind-
ness. lie laments the injury sustained by Mr. Platt,
and gives the particulars of the resistance of that gen-
tlemen, and other facts connected with the outrages
commit.ed on the 2d of December."

COnHrTT.—The effects advertised fir sale in the
Hanic Chronicle and Courier which we alluded to on
Monday were seized for rent, by order of Gen. Sir. J.
Kempt, on a farm which Cobbett rented of him, consist-
ing of an excellent mansion and 106 statute acres of
good lard Cobbett had resided in the mansion until
lately, when he removed his family to a house standing
en his own estate, and with them all the furniture ;
and a ten• days before he left the country, removed Lis
wagy;ors and other implements cf husbandry, and also
his wire::, the latter on a Sunday morning : no dculot
all this was to prevent Sir James distraining. them for
rent. The fine estate, which formerly bore great crops,
had not an acre of it sown with nny kind cf grain, nor
was there a pennyworth of any thing left but what was
contained in the advertisement, and greatest part of that
actually removing when the distress was made. The
sale was postponed because the Sheriff, who has taken
possession of all his property on his different firms under
executions, has, as is usual in such enses, given an un-
dertaking to pay the Value of such effects as were dim.
trained, in part of payment of the rent due. There is
very little property, however, on any of his premises,
and all his farms are said to be heavily mortgaged."
—St.,,

A Morning Paper persists in believing►that the son's
name standing at the Stamp Office, Cobbett could not
be responsible for the Stamp duties, consequently could
not have fled on that account. But the son's name stood
only for the Register, but not for the pamphlet, which,
though the same thing, was contended to be a different
one. No bond of any kind was given for the pamphlet.
And the Government which has been so much calum-
niated, on account of extents in aid, the oppression in
extorting the property tax, the general rigour in col-
lecting the revenue, could not have allowed Cobbett
to keep thousands of the public money in his pocket,
off'e•nding, as he had done, under a long warning,
with all the evil consequences before his eyes. It
would have been proved that the money went into Cob-
bett's pocket, and as the Government filllows the pub.
lie money, seizes it wherever it goes, it would have been
taken from his pocket had he not run away with it to
America. After fighting all Cobbett's quibbles for a
longtime, at lust the Solicitor-General gave a final opini-
on, process in the Exchequer was ordered, in a few days
Cobbett would have been arrested for 18,0001. penal-
ties, a letter was sent to him calling on him peremptorily
to came and make oath to the numbers printed, and to
pay the stamp duties thereon, in which case the penal-
ties would have been abandoned. His person would
have been arrested in a short time. immediately on
receiving the letter, Cobbett gave out he was going to
the country on an election scheme, and he drew consider-
able sums of money, under that pretence. Within a week
after the letter had issued Cobbett disappeared.
DON Qt•lXoTTU.—Among the curios fitets connected
with the Spanish Inquisition, and of which knowledge
has been obtained through the late events and revolu-
' tion in the Peninsula, particularly through the French
• opening the archives of the Holy Office, it has proved,
that the immortal Cervantes was bitterly persecuted by
this Trilmnal ; as well because of the rival ship of a
certain conteniiswary Author cloathed in an Inquisitor's
gown, as owing to the very strong satires played off in
his novel of Don anixolle. The story of the Enchanted
Head (part Y, chap. lxii.) ridicules the ignerunm of the
Inquisitors; the arrest of Don Quixote and Sanchp
(chap. lxviii.) describes the mode of seizing culprits by
the Inquisition ; while tine beautiful allegory of Altisi-
dora (chap. lxix. is the picture et' an "lido da Fe.—
Numerous other passages relate to the same subject.

APRIL 14.

THE DRAMA.

KING": THEATRE. THEATRE.

That highly celebrated Opera, the Don .luan of Mo-
zort, was, after being announced for many weeks, at
length brought forward on Saturday evening. So
111116 has already appeared in the papers on the musi•
cal history and merits of this grand composition, that
little of the critics duty remains to be performed. We
can but place oft record what had been so generally an-
ticipated; and on the present occasion we have pleasure
in stating, that the success of Don Juan was eminent
and complete. The acting throughout was just and
spirited; the music was delightfully executed; and the
new seen c decorations were picturesque and splendid.
Ambrogetti acquimd himself with extraordinary energy ;
and with respect either to vocal or dramatic action, we
have rarely seen any performance more powerful than
his, from the opening of the second act, to the conclu-
sion of the supper 'zone, where the Annie and a hest
of devils beset Don Pcdro's murderer. Naldi's Lepo-
rello was a piece of comic and assured extravagance,
which relieved the sombre complexion of the crimes
upon which it WAS employed. Crivelli was correct
enough, but overpowered by superior organs. Some of
the airs by the female performers displayed much taste
and feeling; and the noble, and often terrible and thrill-
ing, harmonics were poured forth by the assembled corps
of singers with masterly precision. Among the deco-
rations of the Opera must be noticed the striking view
of the Cemetery and Equestrian Statue in the second
act, where the shades arc managed with unusnal depth
and softness, and the moonbeam is thrown with prodi-
gious effect upon the ghastly figure of the horseman.
The story may be comprised in the following state-
ment :

Don Juan is a dissolute nobleman, a libertine of the higher
class ; regardless of the impediments, moral or divine, that
impede the gratification of his passions, h. commences his
career with an attempt to violate a lady of beauty, wealth,
and rank. Her fatht.r, Don Pedro, conies to her a<si,ia■ce,
and receives a wound from the libertine th:.t oho; tie termi-
nates in his death. The hero then proceeds the 'ltch a va.
ricty of adventures, all having the same objei t and at length,
to avoid the comequeiters of an unfortunate dilemma in
s.vhich he has placed himself, lie takes refuge in the een.iitery
in which the remains of Don Pedro are di ',mired. If( re
commence, the terrific part of the teem,: a %mind ft out the
Ecptestrian Statue excites his attention ;—it is the warning
•iacc of the figure of Dim which tell, him, that before
the dawn his mi►lh will hat e all end; it denounces the v CH-
pane of beaseit for his da►ing to disturb the ...pose of the
dea I ; and says it waits for vengeance on the impious man
who deprived hint of life. Don Joan disre:ards these threats,
and invites the spectre to stopper. The invitation is accept-
ed. Afterwards, at a splendid banquet, the guests are ills.
torbrd and terrified by the entrance of the ghost of Don
Pedro, clad in complete white armour. The spirit, in its
torn, invites the libertine to *upper; this invitation is like-
wise accepted: and Don Juan, presenting his hand to the
figure, is instantly seized a ith a mortal terror; his conscience
his awakened, and he is at once distracted and stung with
remorse. Dlemons arise, bearing fiery torches, a flaming
abyss opens, into which he ii precipitated, to receive the
punishment due to his crimes.
Such are the materials of the drama.

DRIIIRV-LANE.—Montlay evening a new naulo-drama
was presented at this Theatre, called The Innkeeper's
Daughter. It is founded on the wclLknown ballad,
" The Maid of the Inn."
Mary, the heroine of the piece, Miss Kelly, is in love with
Richard, a young sailor, Mr. Wallack, who is associated with
a band of smugglers. The piece opens vs ith the burning and
explosion of a vessel of the smugglers ; one of whom, in re-
ven;e, murders the Conger, in consequence of whose infor-
mation the vessel had been taken. Richard meets with
the murderer, soon after the deed was !trip( trated,
nail at his solicitation, assists hint to convey away the body
In the mean time Mai y, to win a wager, and spew her WWII
of fear at ghosts, goes to the close of an old abbey at mid-
night to pluck a slip of yew. The smugglers pass at the time
with the body of the Guager, and tic hat of Richard drops
off. Mary CoIICCIOS herself, and perceiving that a notriler
has been committed, hot not recognising the persons of tio•e
who passed her, carries off the hat, and .► presumption of the
guilt thus fails on her lover. The Drama, however, does not,
like the hallad, cm! here. Richard i. apprehended ithd con-
fined, but connives to escape ; and in the mean time proofs
are hrunght forwai .1 cf his innocence, or rather of the guilt
of Harold. The latter nips him to fly in a boat dining a
violent storm; in the hope that he, and with him all elite to a
discos cry of the murder, would en lost. 'l•he• boot
sinks; but Richard chugs to a rto k, and is rescued liont it
►v the efforts of his mists ess thus the piece end•.

The intereq of the piece is strong anti well kept up,
though it but slightly approaches to the terrific effect
of the ca!a.,troplie the ballad. The characters arc
drawn not with much power, but with tolerable cor-
rectness. There xvai a sufficient number of pistols
missing fire, and hair-bre:oth escapes, according to the
approved receipts tin- ludo-animas: which, together
with n little amusement from .the Gauger (Hughes)
a Dutchman (T. P. Cooke), and a busy foolish Justice
of the Peace, won it amAlerable popular favour, and
it has been since repeated with increased applause.

COVENT-o,la N.—OTI Miday night, after the
play of - 7p/the/int., a new ineloAraine, flaunted on the
well-known story of Robia3ms Cratoe, was brought kit
at this Theatre. It professed to be founded On that Dart
of the story which had not previonsly been dramatised,
and which involves the hhtory of the Buccaneers The
piece possesses a great deal of interest. The characters
were well adared for reresentation, and ably per.