The National Register.
London, England, 1818-09-14 00:00:00

THE DRAMA.

COVENT-GARDEN.
This Theatre opened for the season on Monday night,
with the play of 3facbeth, and the afterpiece of Thc
Miller and his ill en. The only novelty of the evening
was Mrs. Yates, a lady from the Dublin Theatre, whor
made her first appearance before a London audience in
the arduous character of Lady Macbeth. This lady
possesses a good figure and expressive countenance,
and her conception of the character and reading of the
text, were good, She throughout, however, discovered
a want of energy, or a failing of power of vice to fill
the extensive edifice, in which she, for the first time,
appeared on this occasion. She failed to impart to dei
character that boldness and decision which should mark
and distinguish the character of the ambitious wife of
the tyrant. When Mrs. Yates shall have acquired
more canfidence in her own powers, she may, perhaps,
do more ample justice to the character. The audience
were most liberal; and.olthough. there was nothing in
her perfbrmance to illicit enthusiastic applause, she was
well received throughout. Mr. Yoang played Macbeth,
and -was, on his appearance, received with an enthu-
siastie round of approbation, which did not subside for
several minutes. Mr. Charles Kcmble played Macdiff,!
and was greeted on his appearance as an ald favourite,
and as his merits deserve, The rest of the performers.
were also well received. Previous to the commence.
:tient of the play the house was well filled ; and on the
rising of the curtain the whole. vocal corps of the. theatre,
amongst whom we observed 11r. Duruset, Mr. Taylor,
Alr.'Tinney, Mrs. Bishop, Mrs. Liston, Miss• Mathews,
Mrs. Sterling, &e. were discovered rangedan the stage,
and the national anthem of "Gad liavothe King" was
sung, and received with the loudestnpplause. At the
Hall-price the house was .erowiled to excess, and the
first night ,of the season promised to the proprietors a
meet successful. harvtest.
On Wednesilay the musical play of Guy Mannering
was performed at this theatre, with tome features of
novelty in the cast of i.s characters, net -to be passed
over without notice. The most conspicuous of these
was the appearance of Mrs Yates, an the part of Meg
-Merrdies. The sudden descent from the sublimest
heights of tragedy, from the representation of a high.
souled being like Lady Macbeth, to a character so far
removed in its nature ..and conception, is a.dangerous
experiment for a performer to make. -who enters on a
theatrical career With a strong notion of dignity :.there
is something, ,however, so )udicioes in discovering the,
true sphere in which abilities marbe.exerted to effect,
and so much magnanimity in at once subsiding to that
level which the public voice appears to point out as the
true one, that a new claim is set up by such a pro-
ceeding to our admiration and esteem. Mrs. Yates,
perceiving that the high school of tragedy is not her
forte, therefore content to please by humbler efforts.
Her Meg ;terrifies is a fine performance; and though
in a different style from that of,Mrs. Egerton, the only
representative of that character in.i.London, and from
whom the town ,have formed their notions of .the anys.
terions gipscy, is full of excellent and well-discrimi-
nated passages. The. energy and passion, with the
occasional burst of tenderness, were the touches of this
singular vairtrait where the colouring was truest to
-nature; while the solemnity of manner, and the awe
she is supposed to strike into.the kilt/Melo, were in a
. great measure forgotten, or by not being marked with
sufficient strength, failed to justify the effect produced,
and to give the due reality to the scene. Mrs. Yates
will elways ra'sk as a useful and judicious actress, and
her style must command the attention, and occasion-
ally the admiration of the public. Theopart of Henry
Bertram, was assigned to Mr. Pyne, being his first
appearance in that character. this gentleman's talents
as a vocal .performer are by no means of the first class;
his vaicels tolerable, and his execution is passable,,but
in all,the higher requisites of taste, style, and-expres-
sion, be is far from being qualified to sustain .a leading
part in .our >national operas. Our English school of
singing isAlready sufficiently low in ..the estunation of
foreigners; but the introduction ef 'Mr. item in:sd.
prominent a situation is likely to tlepress'it still lower.
Miss Mathews appeared, in the part of Lisey Bertram,
. and succeeded .Better -than we expected ; simple airs,
however, arc ,not the style of singing in .which
this lady most creels, And her expression is very in-
.ferior to her execution. . Miss Foote played Julia Man-
nering in a manner tint sinplewing. Liston was as
amusing as ever.;,.. and Emery was nature itself. 'Die.,
house was well filled.

•
Sheridan's .mastor,piece, The School .for Scandal,
was pertiwined on .Thureelay night. A • Mr. FArren,
from the I)ubiin Theatre, nyttle his flebni befOre a Lon-
don audience in the character of Sir Peter Teazle.—
He is a young man, possesses agy xxl figure. an animated.
countenance, an easy deportint-it, a voice so remarkably
distinct and powerful as to fill this large Theatre with.;
out the least appearance of nitfictilty or effort; and, ad,
dud to all this, he has a perfect acquaintance with the •
stage. He sustained the character with an excellence
not witnessed ainee the d-sys of King. the original Sit
Peter.—The vloy was olt,y:"ther most admirably pet-
.
"liruitd, and t% aLiilk..‘lll6‘4✓ . aiCIL Cll W

THE NAiIONAt IirGISTE/1.

DRURY LANE.
This theatre commenced its performances for the
season on Saturday evening. The play selected was
Romeo and Joliet ; the hero and the heroine were -both
represented by perlimmers venturing on their first essay
before a London audience The parties are young and
the undertaking was one of the feeblest representa-
tions of those two characters ever exhibited on those
boards. The name of the lady who played Juliet
is Miss Moody. The Romeo was Mr. H.iCtnable, a
gentleman who, at least by birth, and relationship, bas
a claim to-be a great actor. He possesses a fine voice,
and his countenance, for a youth, is manly and expres-
sive; but his defects
_ere of a nature very difficult of
cure—he discovers an utter want of elegance and re-
finement of manners, so essential in this part, and ap.
pears to have no idea of what relates to conception of
character. The experiment of rediscing the prices of
admission to this theatre has, been adopted, and from
that, or some other cause, every seat itt the house was
occupied at an early hour.

ENGLISH OPERA HOUSE.
On Fridareveniug this favourite place of amusement
was crowded to witluess the revival of the Burletta of
Midas, which kac always been well received. by thepub-
he, but the manner in which it was performed on Friday,
gave it the interest of a aevrviece, and in conse-
quence, received the well-merited and unanimous ap-
probation of the audience. Pearlman sung in his usnul
style of excellence, as Apollo; and Miss Carew? had a
fresh oppurtunity of displaying her sweet voice, and of
enchan'ang her hearers by the exquisite and tasteful
meatier in which she executed the delightful airs of
Daphne, in all of which she received the most rapturous
applause.
Aimless:mid Aclars.has been performed eery „even-
ing, Bed, notwithstanding the , opening of Covent
Garden, (which might naturally besupposed tosoperate
in some degree against this theatre). has had the affect
of attracting most fashionable area crowded houses..
Indeed, the whimsicalities of this little piece are such,
as to render it utterly impossible to witness it without
being put into great good humour; and, as the play
bills truly state, those who love to laugh, must see it, to
be fully. .acquainted with its effects. The actors, having
become quite "at home" in their parts, enter more
fully into the spirit of the author, and the piece seems
to increase in the
,public :estimation every time it is
performed.

A Theatrical Fund,fon the support and-relief of old
and infirm Actors and Actresses, is about tot* este.
blished at Liverpool, upon a plan nearly similar to
those of Drury .Lane and Covent Garden theatres.
The whole of the old east front of the King's Theatre
is now taking down, and is to be re-erected, to corres-
pond with the other part of the building.
The Grand Duke Michael, brother to.the Emperor
otßussitt, arrived at Lillymaria Hotel, Liverpool,.on
Wednesday se'nnight, with his usual attendants. On
the following day, accompanied by the Mayor and
several other gentlemen, he visited the Exchange, the
News-rooms, -the :Docks, • that stupendous mass of
machinery the Patent Cable Manufactory, St. Philip's
Church, &c. From thence the party proceeded to the
School for the Blind, where. the officers and several
members of the committee .were in waithfg to _receive
his-Imperial Highness and suite, and to conduct them
through .that adotimbleiostitutiatc.„ After inspecting
the numerous branches of manufacture in which the
blind are employed, his Imperial Highness was con-
ducted to the apartment where the musical pupils were
practising ; and the peculiar mode pursued tur instruct-
ing them in music (the instructor himself being • ,
wise blind) seemed particularly to attract his Imperial
Highness's admiration, which was much increased
when, upon entering the music room, the Imperial
Russian anthem of "God save the Emperor" was
struck up and periormed by the pupils. His Imperial
Highness, we understand, presented the sum of 251.
to this excellent institution. He left the town on
Friday week about one o'clock, for Northwich and.the
salt miacs.
The Grand Duke Michael, en -leaving Liverpool,
proceeded to Kidderminster, Worcester, Gloucester, and
on Monday night arrived at Cheltenham. He put up,
at the Plough inn, where the Recorder of London, who
was occupying the best rooms, politely gave them up
to his Imperial Highness The next day the Grand
Duke showed himself to the curious,t,hrong from
*Window of thetnn, and afterwards went with his as-
Ondants to the Pump-room. • His Imperial Highness
smelt and tasted the.watar, but not liking it, would net
drink it ; his attendants, of course, were seised with
an instantaneous disrefish for Ake beverage, cud rejected
it with appropriate minks of disdain- His Imperial
Highness, however, though he did not happen to like
the water, was exceetlingly,stnack with the ingenious
laboratory of Mr. ,Thompson . and exprasseti. tlgh de-
light at..tbe dithoreat . scientific-processes fix preparing
the salts. He afterwards visited the School of Indus-
try for the education of girls, and finished the day's in-
spection by spending an hour at the Assembly-rooms,
which were of course tfirmeged to see the illustrious
traveller. At two 0 clock his InTerial HighnesA left
Chelteuhan, :Ur Lath, where he arin.ekt at 0 o'clock.

,~~

CHESHIRE ASSIZRB, 4. 31.
Marti AT ATOcKPOIT.. • • •
Jacob Ifineheliffe • was -indicted fur linkfisgo an—the
14th July, and on divers etlictdays, at Stimkpoti ua.
lawfully, &c. endeavoured to raise and create inensteseu
tions, riots, and tumults, •for disturbing. the Xing'
peace, &c. and for having unlawfully, wickedly, and
maliciously incited divert; inhabitants of Stockport and .
neighbourhood, unlawfully, riotously, And tumultuously
to =edible, to disturb the peace, &c. The seetmd
count charged the defendant with unlawfully, mali.
ciously, &c. intending again to disturb the peace, Btr_
and to cause other insurrections, &c. Iwo other
mints charged the offence in different ways.
The Attorney General addressed the Jury on behalf
of the prosecution.
Mr. Cross, And Mr. Williams, were for the rawness.
After the evideuce had been gone through to prove
the case, the substance of whichis given in the Judges
charges,
The Chief Justice, in an able and impartial manner, •
summed up the whole to the. Jury, saying, among other
things,—" You find this lawless mob, proceeding to
break into a house, where some unprotected females had
ffed.for succour and shelter. Guil.knonts, Gentlemen,
what might have been the result had .they succeeded
in their attempts; the defenceless inmatesivoce shriek-
ing and calling for assistance,whilst the men *lw were
in the house were *mon their knees, imploring the
protection of :1-k-oven !—The object of the mob is
clearly defined it was to compel Mr. Gartsidc to di.....•
charge his servants, and intimidate them from working.
Gentlemen, it is, impossible to look without
aim at tbeconsequences which may resultfrom these CMS.
spiracies, if they being speedily stopped. An alarmiiNg
riot has taken pine, which might have terminated
fatal consequences it.l,he aid of the military had not
been called in. Stones are. brought from a distance by
bays, foe the men. to amid in . the werk of mischiefs-
there is an mien amongst the whole :of sbc, toszuk;
turers which is preserved by
The Jury ininsodiately found the-Prisoner—Gasp.
Joseph Baker mask. fund guilty of having ems.
mittad the same Am" but to a ntuall3ess degree Qf
criminality.
The Cbieltaustioadrit passiairsaa tepee, addressed .the
prisoners, and observed, --441thess, never was it case of
greater aggravation before a-Covrt. Scarcely a year
has elapsed, when persons in your situation, esperiane..
ing distress from causes that, were .unavoidable, And
could not.he controlled, received the prompt assistance
of-the wealthy portion of the community j and mow,
when prosperity again begins to shine ,outhe manufac-
tures of the country, you avail yourself of its re-appear-
ance to extort front-your umster‘such.wages as are not
required by present circumstances It appears from the
testimony of Mr. Gartside, that even girls can earn
from twelve to fifteen shillings per week—boys also as
much, and men twenty-seven shillings per week. It
cannot be doubted, but what there is ample work- for
all those inclined to honest industry ; so that a man
who has two or three children, may avenge. a weekly
sum, fur superior to what many,foniilies enjoy placed
in very different cirurastences in lfe, and infinitely

•;,

above that remuneration which is given to those who
hazard their lives in the defence of their country. .The
breaking into.a dwailiug house, with intent to.commit
an injury therein,. is .a . capital offence, and this fact.
has been proved3o-you. Xou, I. sin sorry to ohlerve,
have st;so _ proved, that an Kngjiglimen could be:found
base enough to 'threaten the safety pf a,women ; for,
at the moment when themtimen were rescued from their
danger. they were praying to :Heaven for: protection
front your designs. 'Taking, therefore, all the cirouue
stanc.4 .of your. case into coasideratien, the Court
judge, that you be imprisoned an the Common Gaol
for.the Term of Three Years, and pay a Fine of One
This sentence it mercy to you • for within
its walls you will have.time to redect apd repent
your past depravity.
"With respect to you, Joseph Baker, there are fea-
tures in your case not so aggravated as in that of the
other prisoner ; but it reay, perhaps, be a seasonable
caution to you, and to others, to know, that in the riot
which. disgraced the city of Lyndon in 17130, wally
persons sabred the dreadful sentence of the law, against
whom no other facts appeared,, than that they wore the
cockade of the mob, or were heard shouting. lf,
therefore. in the riots in which you have been engaged,
a capital offerice had been committedon any at the days
spedtied, your life would pow have bean forfeited to the
offended laws ofyour entry. The Court, dtstin,gnish•
ing batman your case and that of the prisoner frktich-
elide., sentence you to imprisonment in the coma= •
Gaol for the specs of One Year,. and that ray also
pay a fine of one shilling."
On the sentence being..pawed, Hinelicliffe appeared
deeply affectt..4l,and shed abundance of tears.
The Lord Bishop of Chester, and the Viscount
Belgrave, were in Court during these important trial's.

The number of foreigners wbo had arrivel at
la-Chapelle, up to the 27th
i_ote;ttst, was 1,91 R. 'fbe
L,-urrista of the tton-ot is to, c.r.toibt, dtt:ito6 tiltt
t lueu.