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3ee Bellamy advance with form so neat,
And happiest turn to give each varied treat;
Her Portia's pleadings, and her Pickle's wiles,
Nobly demand, and nobly win our smiles.
In blooming youth next sprightly †Ward appears,
Whose sweetness charms us, and whose humour cheers.
Tayleure with decency performs her lot;
And let not lively Hatton be forgot.
Whatever else the ear with discord fills,
Is harmony divine to squeaking Mills.
Jackson wants parts to shine in opera scene,
For poor's her voice, and languid is her mien.
And then appears a vile, uncomely race,
T'insult an audience, and a stage disgrace.
Thus have I aim'd, to honest candour true,
To give to each the praise or censure due.
Chester, December 18.

CASATOR.

Theatre Royal LIVERPOOL.-Our theatre closed on Wednesday, 24th Nov. being the last performance, previous to the alterations that are to take place for our new managers, Messrs. Lewis and Knight.

We contemplate the change with pleasure, and have no doubt, from the spirit and liberality which have been conspicuous in their conduct, we shall never have reason to alter the opinion we have already formed. The benefits taken collectively amount to more than any former season, and when I state that 28 benefits at this theatre amount to £.4500, every candid person must be convinced how much managers have it in their power to gratify the town, without injuring themselves, by proper appointments, good scenery, dresses and orchestra.

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This night closed what we call the London season; immediately after we were gratified with Mrs. Jordan's performance, in most of her favourite characters. She was, of course, a very powerful magnet, and filled the manager's coffers. Her benefit, when she took Child of Nature, Wedding Day, and Three Weeks after

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This gentleman performed but three nights.

Mr. Mattocks performed on this evening in the Word of Honour.

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Mr. H. brought out a tragedy called " Idela," written by Mr. A. Simeon, Junr. of this town. We cannot speak very highly of its merits; however, the purpose was answered, by bringing the old man, who is in a bad state of health, a.very good house.

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Mr. Young presented his audience with the Voice of Nature, for the first time. After the play, Mr. Y. came forward, in the name of the manager, (who, he said, was prevented from making his bow, in consquence of a sudden domestic calamity, which had called him to London) to return thanks to the inhabitants of Liverpocl, for the great support he had experienced during his management, &c. The address was sufficiently neat and appropriate, and Mr. Y. concluded with expressing the gratitude of the performers in general, and of himself in particular, for the liberal encouragement which they had received at their respective benefits.

Theatre Royal PLYMOUTH.-MR. EDITOR,-In answer to the erroneous and malicious remarks made by a correspondent, subscribing himself" Lounger," on the Plymouth theatre, its performers, &c. &c. I beg you will have the goodness to insert the following simple statement of facts; the admission of which into the Mirror I am entitled to expect, from the public declaration made in your number for September, 1801, and from the laudable custom you have adopted, agrecably to the spirit of British justice, of hearing counsel on both sides.

Raising the prices to the separate performances of Mrs. Siddons and Mr. Kemble, when in this part of the country, was never considered imposition.Is it, then, reasonable to suppose that it should on account of Mr. Cooke, a character as high in theatrical fame as any on the stage? Believe me, Sir, the inhabitants are too liberally inclined to reward merit, such as they witnessed in this gentleman, to feel dissatisfaction at the advance of one shilling on the boxes, which were, in a great degree, taken before he arrived, and crowded almost every 'night during his stay; consequently several, from neglect of early application for places, were obliged to go to other parts of the theatre, anxious to behold his excellence, in every character he represented,

I will now speak of Mr. Lovegrove and Mrs. Forbes, to whom every person here attributes the article inserted in your last. They joined the company about the middle of the season, From their own report, we were led to suppose that they possessed talents of the first order, consequently, previous to their arrival, several plays were cast, in which their names were inserted for principal characters, but it was soon found that their merit was of a very inferior kind, so much so, that not only the proprietor, but even the inhabitants (who are extremely good natured on these occasions) were greatly dissatisfied with their performances, and of course it was but seldom that their names were announced in the bills.

Miss Grant, however, merits all the praise which Mrs. Forbes has lavished on herself; she is, indeed, not only a pleasing actress and a good figure, but an amiable character, and an exemplary daughter.

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The theatre, scenes, &c. are in excellent condition. Mr. Whitfield Junr. (now in London) with other artists, made the necessary repairs at the commencement of last season.

Plymouth, Dec. 14, 1802.

An impartial

OBSERVER.

We have inserted this article the more readily, since, from the attempt to disguise the hand-writing, apparent in the former communication, the motives of the writer, whoever he be, are at least somewhat suspicious. The parties accused in this letter, we trust, are superior to so dishonourable an artifice, and will have the liberty of vindicating themselves from the charge.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Tuesday, Nov. 23.-At a quarter before three his Majesty came to the House of Peers, with the ceremonies usual upon such occasions. The Usher of the Black Rod summoned the attendance of the Gentemen of the House of Commons, who immediately came below the bar, with the Speaker at their head. To the Lords and Commons assembled, his Majesty then addressed from the Throne the following most gracious speech :

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"It is highly gratifying to Me to resort to your advice and assistance after the opportunity which has been recently afforded of collecting the sense of My people.

"The internal prosperity of the Country has realized Our most sanguine hopes. We have expérienced the bounty of Divine Providence in the produce of an abundant Harvest ; the state of the Manufactures, Commerce, and Revenue of My United Kingdom is flourishing beyond example; and the loyalty and attachment which are manifested to My Person and Government afford the strongest indications of the just sense that is entertained of the numerous blessings enjoyed under the protection of Our happy Constitution.

"In My intercourse with Foreign Powers I have been actuated by a sincere disposition for the maintenance of Peace; it is nevertheless impossible for Me to lose sight of that established and wise system of policy by which the interests of other States are connected with our own; and I cannot, therefore, be indifferent to any material change in their relative condition and strength. My conduct will be invariably regulated by a due consideration of the actual situation of Europe, and by a watchful solicitude for the permanent welfare of My people. You will, I am persuaded, agree with Me in thinking that it is incumbent upon Us to

adopt those means of security which are best calculated to afford the prospect of preserving to My subjects the blessings of peace.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

"I have ordered the estimates for the ensuing year to be laid before you; and I rely on your zeal and liberality in providing for the various branches of the public service, which, it is a great satisfaction to Me to think, may be fully accomplished without any considerable addition to the burthens of My people. "My Lords and Gentlemen,

"I contemplate, with the utmost satisfaction, the great and increasing benefits produced by that important measure which has united the interests, and consolidated the resources of Great Britain and Ireland. The improvement and extension of these advantages will be objects of your unremitting care and attention. The trade and commerce of My subjects, so essential to the support of public credit, and of our maritime strength, will, I am persuaded, receive from you every possible encouragement; and you will readily lend your assistance in affording to mercantile transactions in every part of My United Kingdom, all the facility and accommodation that may be consistent with the security of the public revenue.

"To uphold the honour of the country, to encourage its industry, to improve its resources, and to maintain the true principles of the Constitution in Church and State, are the great and leading duties which you are called upon to discharge. In the performance of them, you may be assured of My uniform and cordial support; it being my most earnest wish to cultivate a perfect harmony and confidence between Me and My Parliament, and to promote to the utmost the welfare of My faithful subjects, whose interests and happiness I shall ever consider as inseparable from My own."

DOMESTIC EVENTS.

Citizen Coquebert has lately communicated to the Philomatic Society of Paris, a very simple process for taking a copy of a recent manuscript. The process is the more interesting, as it requires neither machine nor preparation, and may be employed in: any situation. It consists in putting a little sugar into common writing ink, and with this the writing is executed upon common paper, sized as usual; when a copy is required, unsized paper is taken, and lightly moistened with a sponge. The wet paper is then applied to the writing, and a flat-iron (such as is used by the laundresses) of a moderate heat, being lightly passed over the unsized paper, the copy is immediately produced.

BALLOONS.-Citizen Olivari, a physician from Paris, arrived at Orleans, on the 11th ult. with the intention of making an aërostatic voyage, on the Mongolfier principle. He made two unsuccessful attempts to inflate his balloon, but on the 25th he essayed a third time. Having attached to his balloon a wicker basket, he put into it different combustible articles, for the purpose of keeping up the fire in the chaffing dish, which was placed between the boat and the balloon. He then ascended, after assuring the Administrative Authorities present, that no danger need be apprehended on his account. He rose with such rapidity, that he disap

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peared in three minutes. About an hour afterwards, the Mayor of Fleury, which is a league distant from the place of ascent, was informed by a labourer, that a man had fallen from the air, near the spot where he worked. This intelligence was immediately communicated to the Mayor of Orleans, who repaired directly thither, and discovered the body of Citizen Olivari. In the neighbour hood were found some particles of the basket. It is supposed that the fire consumed the sole support of the unfortunate Aëronaut. Some sparks from the chaffing dish, no doubt, fell among the too combustible materials that were employed, and made Olivari the victim of his imprudence, or rather of his inexperience.

In the comparison of the expence of carriage by iron rail-way roads with that by canals, it was found, that the former, notwithstand ing its cheapness in comparison with carriage by common roads, is nearly three times as great as the expence of carriage by canals.

The damage lately done by fire to the works for making a tunnel under the Thames, have been completely repaired. The water from the springs is now excluded by a curbing, and the formation of the tunnel proceeds rapidly.

We have to record another dreadful murder, which equals, in point of atrocity, the one lately perpetrated on Hounslow Heath. It was committed within these few weeks on Salisbury Plain; and, from the similar manner in which it was effected, it is not at all improbable that the same persons who were concerned in the horrid transaction of Mr. Steel, have likewise been engaged in this diabolical and sanguinary outrage. The person on whom this shocking murder hes been effected, we understand, is Mr. Benjamin Harding, formerly an inhabitant of Portsmouth, and the circumstances of this inhuman affair are as follows:-A gentleman crossing the plain with his dogs, was attracted to a spot of ground where some new earth had been turned up, and at which his dogs had made a stop. On lightly moving the earth, he discovered the body of a human being, which apparently had very recently been buried, and which he justly concluded, from the marks of violence that appeared on the body, to have fallen a sacrifice by the relentless and bloody hands of daring miscreants, and deposited there to prevent a discovery being made.

An inquisition has been taken at Wolverley, on view of the bodies of Richard Jennings, his wife, and his daughter (an infant about eleven years of age.) It appeared that these persons inhabited a house hewn out of a rock there, consisting of three rooms on the same level; and on Friday night, Nov. 25th, the wife put some charcoal to burn in a pan in the room were she, her husband and daughter. slept, and where there was no chimney, in order to warm it, as she thought it damp; that the husband and daughter went to bed, and his wife, it is supposed, sat up to smoke her pipe, which was her constant custom; the lodging-room door was shut. The neighbours next day not seeing any of them, and the house door being locked with the key within side, and at night the same, and also on Sunday: morning, it was then concluded something had happened to them; the door was consequently broke open, and in the lodging-room (which was with difficulty entered on account of the sulphureous smell) where these unfortunate persons lay, a very melancholy scene presented itself; the wife, partly undressed, lying upon the floor dead; the daughter dead, and the father nearly expiring; but the admission of fresh air revived him, only to survive till the next day, without being able to give any account of the sad accident.

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