The National Register.
London, England, 1817-03-17 00:00:00

COVENT G RDEN THE ITRE.

Saturday Shakespear's tragedy of Cymheline was
produced at this Theatre, in which Mr. Booth per-
formed, for the first time, the character of Leonatus
Posthumus. Mr. Kean not having hitherto undertaken
this character, Mr. 13ooth's opptments, (if any remain),
were deprived of one of their strong objections, that of
accusing him of being a mere copyist. He went
through this character, which, it must be confessed, is
a somewhat arduous one, with all the energy and feel-
ing required to give it effect. On his first entrance,
he was received with loud and continual shouts of ap-
plause ; and in all the most striking pasasges of the
piece, those applauses were repeated.
The chief novelty, however, . was the introduction
of a Miss Costello to a London audience, from the
Cheltenham Theatre, in the character of Imogen. We
have no room fitr remarks on the person of this actress ;
and still less inclination fin- severity of criticism on her
acting Her voice is by no means eminently calculated
fur the extensive range of so large a Theatre as Covent
Garden ; and she does not appear at present, to have
acquired the art of adapting .her voice, such as it is, to
so numerous an audience. Miss Costello, however,
was received throughout, if not with enthusiastic ap-
plause, at least with sufficient tenderness and respect,
unmixed with any very sensible marks of disapproba-.
t ion.

But the chief burst of popular enthusiasm seemed
rewrved for Mr. Young, as locleimo. In whatever
character this most chaste actor appears, be is always
dignified and correct. To attempt any delineation of
his performance on this evening, would be only to re-
peat what all enlightened admirers of the Drama al-
ready feel for Mr. Younq—unmixed approbation.

COBBETT-ANOTHER WHITE FEATHER.

At the lite Hampshire Meeting for addressing the
Prince Regent ou his escape from the attacks of some
of the " Sovereign People," Messrs. Cobbett and
Hunt were completely driven from the field in
which they had basely thrust themselves to sow
their usual profligate seeds of discord. _But what gives
this meeting any interest connected wi.h these redoubt-
able Rethrmers, in the circumstance of, Mr. Lockhart,
M. P. having actually. sent a challenge to Cobbett, who
had most wantonly and daringly insulted hint. We have
no roonvfor the letters which past between these gentle-
men ; but we beg leave to inthrm our readers (if indeed
such intbrmation could be required by any one truly
acquainted with the genuine character of all such swag-
gering bullying gentry as this same Hampshire Farmer)
that Mr. Cobbett, after much equivocation, hesitation,
and 'shuffling, refused to fight at Winchester ; but inti-
mated his willingness to " have some fun" with Mr. L.
in town. This intimation, however, was given in such a
manner as left no doubt Stri to Cobbett's real intentions ;
which, as he now ackonwledges, we.reWn. t to fight at all,
and these are the reimns by which:he now justifies his
conduct If he had fought Mr: L. he would sure
to be hit one time or other.-24, Be should have to
forfeit s,oooL—fid, 1-Te had written vgains► the practice
of duelling--and 4thly, .aul lastly, he had business of
"more importance"- in town.--But truly anti in fact,
Mt. C. durst'n't lights; theugh he evidently gave his
insulted antagonist clearly to understand that he would
fight him.

The Prince • Regent gave a splendid farewell • enter-
ment on Monday to the Grand Duke Nicholas, and a
numerous party of distinction, at Carlton House. Tues-
day the Grand Dnkc partook of a grand public break-
fast. given by the Ditke of Devonshire at Chiswick.—
In the evening his Imperial liighness dined with the
Drake and Duclicss of. York, and on Friday he. set out
to embark tier Ostend.

It.IIILITARY REDUCTIONS.—The 100th regiment has
been ordered `to this country trims New Brunswick,
and on its arrival is expectud to be ream-el—Orders

have been giver. lire thederov trwps un4l, companies of
the under-tocationetl regiments, which have been order-
ed Iv'me from India, being inuoolintelly aiscoutinttetl.
viz. .44th light dragoons, 25th ditto, 19tli foot, Stith
foot, 21 Batt. 18th foot, 80th and SGth lint, ditto,

liir W. Burroughs and Mr. Harvey arc candidates
forCnichester, in the nx►n of Mr Thornton resigned
The election commences on Monday morning next, at
nine n'tlock.

A recent fill of part of the clilUat Reculver has
brought to light a Roman gold coin, of the lower Em-
pire, in a fine stute of preservation, also a large pin of
the purest gt4d, with an ornamented .head, having a
pearl and an emerald attached to it.

PUBLIC MEETINGS.
....-

CITY OF WESTMINSTER.

Vim.lay a numerous meeting of the inhabitants of West-
minster, was held in Palace-yard, pursuant to requisition, to
take into cousiiteration the propriety of presenting an humble
Address to the Prince Regent, praying his Royal Highness to
remove from his councils and confidence those Ministers who
appeared unwilling to adopt any measures of economy or re-
trenchment, but determined to drive a suffering and starving
people to despair.—Major Cartwright proposed the Address,
seconded by Mr. Walker, and carried unanimonsly.—Sir k.
Hardett, in reply to thanks voted him, said, .t oils the first
time in his life, that he had advocated a change of Ministers,
because he had found, that such a change seldom produced
any change of measures; hut it did appear to hint at present.
that in order to stop the career of tyranny, which was now
commeneed, it had become necessary, as a first step, that tho
Ministers and their hills should lie dismissed together. They
consisted of a trimuphaut faction of the oligarchical party
and borough proprietors, who held the Crown in as complete
a thraldom as they held the subject.—Lord Cochrane re-
turned thanks at considerable length, after which the meet-
ing dissolved.
COUNTY OF BUCKINGHAM.

The County Meeting at Aylesbury, on Wednesday last, was
very numerously attended by the Nobility and Gentry of the
County of Bucks. The business of the Assizes did not ter-
minate till near three o'clock, immediately after which, the
High Sheriff, Mr. Carrington, took the Chair, and opened the
business of the Meeting in a very neat and appropriate
speech. —A fter the Requisition had been read, the Mar-
quis of Buckingham rose and addressed the Meeting in a
very forcible speech, replete with loyal and constitutional
principles. His Lordship then proposed a series of Re-
solutions, and an Address to be presented to his Royal
Highness the Prince Regent, congratulating his Royal
Highness upon his escane, and expressive of their in-
dignation at the outrage offered to his Royal Highness, upon
his return from opening the Session of Parliament.—The Earl
of Bridgewater, after complimenting the Noble Mover of the
Resolutions and the High Sheriff, who so ably tilted the Chair,
seconded the Resolutions. They were then severally pro-
posed and carried unanimously. After the High Sheriff had
left the Chair, the same was taken by the Earl of Bridge-
water, when the thanks of the Meeting were unanimously
voted to the High Sheriff for his conduct on the °erasion.
The Rev. C. J. Blonitield then moved the thanks of the Meet-
inn, to the Noble Mover and Seconder of the Address, which
motion was seconded by the Rev. Sir George Lee, Bart. and
carried unanimously, upon which the Marquis of Rockingham
and Lord Bridgewater severally returned their thanks.