The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-01-02 00:00:00

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After making a few preliminary ohaervallons on
She effect of the Suspension of the Habeas Corrine
Act its repressing the freedom of speech, Mr. Sit EP-
BARD thus proceeded:—
I have been given to understand, Mr. Vice-Pre.
Ildeut, that you and the ether Gentlemen, who
Amy, from the time of its first institution, so ably
lasawlected the detail of the concerns of the Concerts
Irk Society, deemed it proper to defer oar collo-
.mary annual meeting, on account .of the lamented
death of the Princess Charlotte of Saze-Cobourg.—
Geatlemen, this testimony of respect to departed
worth meets my sincere and hearty approbation.—
Conviviality and seriousness are incompatible a ith
each other; and, whatever may be the dictate of
Ohilosophy as to the equalizing power of &ath,
whatever even may be the sentiments of religion as
Ile Mae equal insignificance in the eye of the Almighty
date high and the low, the rich and the pour, yet I
apprehend that no man of ordinary mind can behold
the spectacle of a young female, cut off in the
spring.time of her expectation, and hurried in a mo.
went from the steps of a Throne to the dark recesses
of the grave, without being affected with serious, and
even with melancholy reflections : I will not, how.
ever, Gentlemen, pursue this train of thoughts; nor
will I occupy your time in attempting to pronounce
a panegyric on the virtues of her Royal Highness.
I am well aware that my abilities are unequal to the
task. But may Ibe permitted, in reference to this
,topie, to make, in passing, a remark which bears
' immedletity on ourselves end the nation at large;
namely, that the manifestation of general feeling
which ensued upon the death of this Princess Cher.
lotte constitutes a most direct and palpable contra:
diction to the base calumnies which have been uttered
in Parliament and elsewhere against the People ci
this country, as being dialoyal, and 11114111eCteil to
the illustrious House of Brunswick. Gentlemen,
the burst of grief excited by the sail event to which I
am now alluding, was as universal as it was Tonle-
neous. On that occasion Britain did not " hear
shoot the mockery of woe" merely for, the sake of
form and ceremony. No, Gentlemen ! the symbol
of their habiliments was a true index of the genuine
feelings of their hearts. And what a striking—what
an important lessen does this circumstance convey to
those who may profit by it, if they are wise ! For
it clearly and fully evinces that, if the Members of
the illustrious House of Brunswick comport them-
selves in such a manner that they may justly be
pointed out, as patterns of public virtue and of pri-
vate worth, they will be hailed with general applause
while they live, and will be sincerely and deeply la-
mewed when they die.
Gentlemen, the author of the celebrated Letters
of Junius, whosoever he was, or whosoever he
may be (for it is within the compass of possibility
that be may he still alive)—this distinguished writer
was accurately acquainted with the history of his
country, and well usiderstood the tone and temper
of they public mind of England : and he has said—
and he has said well anti truly, 66 Loyalty, in the
heart and understanding of an Englishman, is a ra•
aortal attachment to the guardian of the laws. l're.
judices and passion have sometimes carried it to a cri-
minal length ; and, whatever foreigners may imagine,
'we know that Englishmen have erred as much in a
mistaken zeal for particular persons and families, as
they ever did in defence of what they thought most
dear and interesting to themselves."
Gentlemen, I think I see something of this in the
lamentations which have (seen uttered on the death of
the Princess Charlotte. On that truly melancholy
occasion, the language of many worthy individuals
has been—" The hopes of the nation are extinct!"
Gentlemen, entertaining, as I do, a most unfeigned,
and most profound respect for the virtues of the de-
ceased Princess, I must confess that this style of
speakings has affected use with plin and concern. I
say nothing of the libel which this language insinuates
against the illustrious father of the deceased; that I
leave to be animadverted upon by those who affect to
style themselves bit friends. I dwell in thought upon
a libel which it scents to convey against another quar-
ter. flow long, Gentlemen, shall we delude our-
selves ? How long shall we 'utter ourselves to be
led astray by the meteors which successively arise
above the political horizon—meteors a hich blaze for
a few passing momies's, and then disappear for ever?
I maintain, that the hopes of the ii tint are not ex-
tinct, whilst the nation contains an intelligent, in-
dustrious, and virtuous population. Oh, Gentle.
men, may we live to see the day when the People of
these realms, instead of idly looking up to Princei
and Princesses, as the guardians of their Liberties,
will fits their hopes upon themselves and upon their
ow"ii constitutional exertions, to ascertaiii, and, if
necessary, to vindicate their own rights and pull-
,
leges.
Gentlemen, if we wanted a lesson upon '1)(1414'
jeot, we have a staking sod oaeful one hi what is lioie
passing in the kingdom of Wtrteraberg. The last
King of that country conducted his reign ulmn ihe
highest principles of German despotism. His yoke
was indeed a heavy one : and, Gentlemen, such ter
his subjects as were weary of its weight looked iiis
for relief with fond hope and expectancy to what',
they delighted to term the rising virtues of the Prince
his son. And during the life-time of his father, that
young man certainly professed himself to be 'the
friend of the People, and the advocate of popular
rights; but no sooner did he ascend the throne time
he forgot his ancient principles—he discarded his
former advisers—he adopted the maxims of his father;
and he has of late carried his despotism to such.
length, that, in defiance of the rights and privileges of
I 1 the States of Wirtemberg, he has proceeded to lay
Coast Excitation
. grievous imposts on his People, at his own arbitrary
.., . . -
since Monday i the trade Jet. f.—But little fresh Whea
trade -heavy Shia ramming at that di.? •
will and pleasure.
prices.—Bertee 2s. cheaper. and very dull st.le et that redisc• Gentlemen, the People of Wirtemborgh are oh-
don, particularly for the middling and inferior qa.slities.—Oats • ,
are also la. lower. -la Peas, Below, and other articles ao al- jeca of compassion,. They never enjoyed the benefit
termite]. of a free Constitution. We need not be astonished,
IMITAIFIELD MARKET, Jan. 2.
then, if, in these critical times more especially, they
Tn auk the Offal, per stone of Olb..
Beer ... 3.. Od, to 4s. 4d. I Head of Cattle this day s went astray in their search after this blessing. Hap-
Weems -U. 0.1. to ss. Ild. Beasts . 570 , pily for us, the People of this country are differently
If 6
cal ... 4s. 6d. to .. OJ. Sheep sod Lambs
21"
Past —AL lid Oa. to 5.. . Calves
Lu , arcum nc ste ed. We are entitled to a free Constitu.'
i
Limb —Os. o.t. to O. 04. Pie* 204 lion, won by the wirdom, the toil, and the blond of
HAY-MARKET. our ancestors. And if the People of this 'country,
Hay
Clover
Straw

ZDnirrirrrliZ
' r • iro;fr• 6,• •
Stl4—Having ?cession to be In Lopatin, •I
Was
readjug le year Paper a to* days back; when I per.;
coked la it a latter signed I' A CONSTANT Reawitt,w
led having, as a Magistrate of Sasses, ;n interest
the 'Wire and prosperity of the County, I was
natorally indeced to lend my attention to this letter,
whkb, I foetid, related to a circumstance,, so much
talked of in that county ; I mean the same of Sir
THOMAS WILSON havieg bees omitted in the ISM
Consnainion of the Peace, hosed, a little time back,
by Lord SHEPPIELD, who has been appointor! Vice-
Lieutenant, in the absence of his Grace the Duke of
RICHMOND.
I have not the honour of an acquaintance with
either Lord %memo, or Sir TIIOIIAS WILSON, nor
do I at all know the merits of the (motion ; hut I
know that common conversation; for some time hack,
has attributed to his Lordship a little injoatice towards
Sir THOMAS WILSON in this respect. The Letter I
allude to birds, and I behove it is well known in
the county, that 'arks. differences exist between his
Lordship end Sir THOMAS ' • and the writer proceeds
to state, I believe (for I have not the Letter hofora
me), that he cannot suppose that those differences
would cause any interruption of public justice.—
Knowing so little of the parties, but by common re-
port, I beg leave to add that I cannot' myself coo.
seise that any Nobleman would so far derogate from
his rank, as to allow his private disputes to interfere
'with his public duty; more particularly, when It a "
pears to tend so much to the injury of a rumor raydr;
and family, and, according to all accounts, of a moat
unblemished character.

I notice this, simply on public principle ; for
surely such a man, if his character he as is represent:
ed, ought not, opou slight grounds, to have been
struck sot, with apparent disgrace, hem the Magis-
tracy •an office which I have experienced to he at-
tended with Enoch plague, anxiety, and trouble. I
submit, therefore, Sir, for the sake of the Noble
Vice-Lieutenant', own character, that some satisfac-
tion should be Owen, not In Sir TIIONAS IViisom
only, as an individual, but to the rest of the Magis-
tracy of Susses, and the Public in general, for the
act referred to in the before-mentioned letter ; other-
wise the Magistrates, who are, to-day, acting as
such, may to-morrow be implicated in the same ap-
parently disgraceful situation.
I do hope, and indeed feel assured, that the cir-
cumstance must have occurred accidentally from for-
getfuloess, or from some clerical error.
1 beg leave to subscribe myself, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
A SUSSIA tiIAGISMATE.

Dee. SO, 1817.

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.

Thursday night a new Tragedy. called Retribution; or.
The Chieftain's Daughter, was performed for the first time, and
received very favourably by the audence. It is said to be the
production of a young gentleman of the name of &hum -
The date of the Tragedy is supposed to ke in the fourth cen-
tury ; the scene is laid in the Royal Palace of Cbesiploon, the
then capital of the Persian dominions. The piece opens on she
anniversary of the accession of Varanes (Mr. Yount:) to the
throne; his elder son. Chosroo (Mr. fiI•CnEADY). returns
triumphant from an expedition against one of the rude tribes
which inhabit the Carpnehisnr Mountains; among his captives is
the Chieftain of the Tribe Sadie. (TERRY). whose dolueloter
Zimra (Miss O'NEto.) bad been previonsly carried oaf by Chos-
roo, but had been rescued from him, and was now protected and
concealed by Hafted (Mr. C. K Ensue). the younger brother of
Chasms. These two brothers now dispute, and successively
obtain possession of the captive Chieftain and his daughter.—
They are delivered by Varanes to his virtuous son Hawed. but
are again forcibly seized by Chosroo. who is found to possess a
strong and mysterious hold over the netiln . of his father. .which
arises from his knowledge of some fearful crime, of which the
latter has been guilty. The violence of Clow roo against the cap-
lives, and his latent designs of treason aguisig the throne. are
discovered by Vanities. who seeks Chosroo, when surrounded
by his armed slaw& awes him into temporary fear, mod ma-
mmoth him to desist from his purposes; Chosroo, boss ever.
whose love is indignantly rejected by Zimra, confines her and
her father in separate dungeons. Ilafis (Ansor). with his fa-
ther Abdas (Mr, Etterrna), and the King s Chamberlain, &A-
rab (Cannon), had, in the previous part of the Play. found
Vanities senseless, and on his recovery had heard fall from him
frantic expressions, which convinces the former of these, Hans,
an impetuous young man. that Varanes bad mounted the throne
by the murder of has brother and predecessor. Sapor ; he insults
Hamed wi h the charge, who dying to his father, Varanes. to
enquire into its troth, finds it confirmed. flamed, found by
Cbosroo standkg over his fainting father. is charged hs him
with the murder of Varanes, whose body is carried off. flamed.
together with Sutbes. charged also with treasonable designs. are
on the point of being led to execution. notwithstanding the
prayers and entreaties of Zimra, when it was found that the
body. brought in as that of the King, is. in fact, that of a
slave, who bad been commissioned by Chosroo to destroy him;
the life of the King having been saved by 1104. w hileendea-
vowing to rescue Soothes and Zimra. Vtuanes now re-appears,
orders Chosroo to execution ; discovers *s Retribnoion" for his
own crime in the misconduct and guilt of his von, and dies ex-
hausted and heart-broken. Named and Zimra mount together
the throne of Persia, and the curtain falls.

The style of this production is of a very florid cast,
there is some poetry to be found, particularly in the
first act; and that, though the general effect is to of.
fend the taste, there are occasional proofs of talent
which reflect credit upon the Author. The plot is
not remarkable for striking situations, though some
of them are not without interest ; but we were a
little surprised to find, that one of the principal inci.:l
dents should have resembled so closely as It did a
scene in a tragedy so recently produced as The
Apostate. The story is not connected with much
art • and is not a little unnatural. A King who had
killed his own brother ; a son who conspires both
against father and brother, and sentences the latter
to death saintly; nay, who curses his father on
being justly sentenced to death by him, are circum.
stances rather too much in the taste of the German
School. The performers exerted themselves as usual,
but Mr. Youno'S part is too declamatory, and Miss
O'NEres not sufficiently prominent. Mr. MAc-
READY, as the villain, Chosroo, acted with consider.
able spirit. The scenery and dresses are very
splendid.

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