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COVENT GARDEN.

This theatre closed for the season on Thursday the 16th of July, when an appropriate address of thanksgiving for the past, and fair promises for the future, was delivered in the usual style by Mr. Fawcett. In comparison with its luckless and mismanaged rival, this theatre is generally believed to have closed under the most happy auspices; but we fear those who are behind the curtain will not hesitate to confirm us in our positive belief of the impossibility of a theatre of such magnitude, with such an innumerable list of performers of all descriptions, and such a consequent burthen of expense, being attended with real success under any circumstances whatever.

"Mole ruit suá.”

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

This lively little theatre opened on Wednesday, the 15th of July, with the celebrated comedy of The Poor Gentle man, when Miss E. Blanchard (daughter of Mr. Blanchard of Covent-Garden, and who, we believe, had but once before appeared in public at her father's benefit) made a very successful debut in the character of Emily Worthington. This young lady has many claims to public favour, and we doubt not will one day prove herself a valuable acquisition to the thea

trical world. The natural and not un

pleasing timidity, which could not but be apparent, on Wednesday evening, will doubtless give way by degrees to the fostering encouragement of an approving audience; and we have seldom witnessed a fair debutante whose exertions were upon the whole more warmly received and encouraged. An easy, graceful, and not undignified manner, an animated and expressive countenance, joined with a tolerably judicious conception of her author, cannot fail to secure to Miss Blanchard that lasting favour and approbation from the public to which her promising talents seem so justly to entitle her. The part of Ollapod was indifferently sustained by a Mr. J. Russell, who is, we believe, an old stager new revived. Too much bustle and grimace, and a want of genuine humour and vivacity, rendered him almost unequal to his task. He seems, however, likely to improve, and the audience appeared much disposed to applaud and encourage him. The other characters were judiciously cast, and ably supported, and the whole

went off with great spirit. The Blue Devils and the Day after the Wedding, followed with their usual success.

A new comedy, in three acts, called Nine Points of the Law, or Possession, from the pen of Mr. Jameson, was produced on Saturday evening, and received with very general applause. The plot is as follows:

still living in a precarious state of health,
An old miser, Mr. Feeble, supposed to be
but in reality"
months before the commencement of the
gone to his account" some
play, has left a will declaring his niece, Ara-
bella Seymour (Miss Matthews) heiress to
his large property. Crafty (Barnard), for-
merly a clerk in his service, having caused
the funeral to be performed privately, re-
tains possession of the house, and, under
pretence of orders from his master, refuses
admission to all his relations, having formed
a design for acquiring, by means of a forged
will, the wealth of Feeble for himself. Mrs.
Chubby (Mrs. Davenport) and her son, Pe-
regrine Chubby (Tokely) relations of Fee-
ble, hearing no tidings of their kinsman, ar-
rive in town for the purpose of ascertaining
his situation, and of being ready on the spot
in the event of his demise. Arabella Sey-
mour is a governess in the family of Lord
Liquorish (Russel), a widower, where she
is persecuted with the addresses both of his
lordship and of his son, the Hon. Mr. Hair-
brain (Jones). Anxious to escape from their
solicitations, she writes to her uncle, Feeble,
requesting to be received by him, and sets
off for London by the Gloucester mail.-
This letter is opened by Crafty, who deter-
mines on getting her into his power, and by
marrying her, securing the property by a
safer method to himself; he employs an
emissary of his (Liston), a gentleman re-
duced to a rogue by hard drinking, to meet
her at the inn, and bring her to Feebles
house. Lord Liquorish, as soon as he dis
covers Arabella's departure, writes express
to Mr. Precise (Terry), a police magistrate
to apprehend and detain the lady on a
charge to be afterwards explained, and fol-
lows her to London. The Hon. Mr. Hair-
brain, of course does the same. In the
coach with Arabella arrives Miss Sarah Sy-
billina Scribble (Mrs. Gibbs), a blue-stock-
ing, who comes to town to superintend the
publication of her last new novel. Mr. Hair-
brain enters the inn-yard just as Arabella
has engaged a hackney-coach to go to her
uncle's house, and bribes the coachman to
let him mount the box with him; in his im-
patience, he drives off without " honest Jar-
vis," and contrives to overset the vehicle
close to Feeble's door. Arabella here dis-
covers him, but, alarmed at his impetuous
behaviour, escapes by another street, hav.

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Theatres-Haymarket, and English Opera.

ing first made her arrival known to Crafty, who follows her, and leaves his door open. Meantime, Liston, who had been to the inn for the young lady, returns with Mrs. Chubby, whom he had mistaken for Arabella, who thus gains admission to Feeble's house, and closing the door, refuses admission to Crafty on his return from the ineffectual pursuit of Arabella. Alarmed at this exclusion, which threatens destruction to all his nefarious schemes, he applies to Mr.

Precise for a warrant to remove Mrs. Chubby, whom he represents as a mad woman, from his house; but is there, on some secret information possessed by Mr. Precise, him

self detained in custody. Miss Scribble is apprehended by the police officer, and brought to the office by mistake for Arabella, on the charge made by Lord Liquorish. This gives rise to a very whimsical scene of equivoque, the literary lady mistaking the myrmidon for a messenger from her printer. Mrs. Chubby quitting her position on account of some street uproar, in which her son Peregrine is engaged, Arabella, Mr. Hairbrain, and Lord Liquorish, in succession, enter the mansion of Feeble, from whence, by a warrant granted on Crafty's representations to apprehend all found within it, they are all brought to the police of fice, where the denouement takes place: the knavery of Crafty is exposed; Mr. Hairbrain and Arabella, now discovered to be a great fortune, are united; and Miss Scribble, delighted at acquiring so many hints for the plot of her new novel, is quite reconciled to the rubs she has met

with.

This production of Mr. Jameson bids fair to become a permanent favourite with the public. The curtailment of some tedious scenes, and the total erasure of certain indecent allusions, which

were received with the disgust and disapprobation they well deserved, have, we think, finally ensured its suc

cess.

Mr. Warde, an actor of considerable merit, appeared, on Friday evening, in the character of Leon in Rule a Wife and have a Wife. We regret that our present limits will not allow us to do full justice to his talents (which are of no, ordinary stamp) by a more minute detail of his particular merits. We shall

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not, however, fail to lay them before our readers in our next number.

The old favourites, Terry, Liston, Jones, and Tokely, with Mrs. Davenport, Mrs. Gibbs, and Miss Matthews, are upon the list of performers for the season, which, though it must be short in consequence of the undue encroachments of the great theatres, cannot but be altogether a successful one.

ENGLISH OPERA HOUSE.

This delightful seat of genuine dramatic entertainment opened on the 20th ultimo, and continues to present novelties, in which variety is perhaps, the most prominent feature. Mrs. Henry Kemble and Miss Carew have been peculiarly successful in their respective debuts; and the plaintive sweetness of voice for which the latter is so excellent, bears a very happy resemblance to that of her inimitable model, Miss Stephens. She was received with universal approbation by a crowded audience, and merited well the bursts of applause by which her judicious aud effective style, both of singing and acting, was honoured in her performance of Clara in Sheridan's unrivalled opera The Duenna.

The Indian Warriors continue to attract crowded houses; but this we must attribute more to the novelty of the performances than to any pleasing effect produced by representations purely national; which, though perhaps justly descriptive, are yet void of grace, and must, we apprehend, cease to attract, when they are no longer upheld by the only one feeling which they are calculated to excite, viz. that of curiosity.

and the operatic interlude of Doctor The burletta called the Bull's Head, Bolus, are among the new productions. They have been favourably received, but though uncensurable, they contain little that deserves approbation, and still less that requires comment. We should hail with feelings of real satisfaction and delight, a new legitimate opera from the pen of Bishop, whose talents in this respect are so well known, and whose efforts have been already duly appreciated by the public.

DIGEST OF POLITICAL EVENTS.

GREAT BRITAIN.

THE Saturnalian season has passed over with less of novelty and confusion than might have been expected, or than the factious anticipated. Here and there some changes have taken place, but it

requires no extraordinary skill in political augury to foretell that things in the ensuing Parliament will go on pretty much in the old course. The bellowers of sedition, indeed, swagger with no little confidence, and would be courage

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ous if they could, because the representative system of London has undergone an alteration favourable to their views; and the Borough of Southwark, with marvellous consistency, has rejected a gentleman of approved worth for an adventurer whose only claim to distinction lay in his apostacy. Thus the stream of metropolitan representation exhibits a picture somewhat like an overflowing of the Thames when the contents of the fruit shop and stable roll along together, and the latter, in proud exultation at being seen in such good company, may be supposed to exclaim

Lord how we apples swim! But as a relief from this disgusting spectacle it is satisfactory to observe, that the city of Westminster has made one advance to the redemption of its credit by putting Sir Samuel Romilly at the head of the poll, and compelling the demo cratic Baronet to win even the second place by a hard fought struggle, in which every nerve was strained and artifice employed to ensure a victory that appeared doubtful even to the very close of the contest. The triumph, therefore, of the "Pride of Westminster" is somewhat similar to that of the old general, who was just saved from defeat and capture by an accident in the ranks of the enemy, and when complimented on the occasion he observed, that such another victory would be his ruin. Considering, however, the degraded state to which this regal city has so long been reduced, we cannot but congratulate the friends of good order and sound principles on the advantage that has been already gained, and the assurance which, if properly improved, it holds out of complete success in the event of a new election. It is evident that the nonsensical jargon of reform has lost its influence, except upon those who are either willing to be deceived, or who have some covert designs which they dare not openly proclaim, and of whom it may be said, as of the revolutionists of a former ageThey bawl for Freedom in their senseless mood,

Yet still revolt when Truth would set them free;

Licence they mean when they cry Liberty, For who loves that must first be wise and good.

MILTON.

But though the dæmon of mis-rule, whose name is Legion, previous to the dissolution of Parliament, went over the land disseminating poison through the medium of lectures and inflammatory tracts, happily the people at large have

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been far from shewing any alarming symptoms of revolutionary mania. In different parts of the country a noble stand has been made against the empirical pretenders to political wisdom, and that, too, in places where another kind of disposition might have been apprehended. Bristol has set an illustrious example in returning an upright member who had declined a contest after receiving an uncourteous dismissal from the party by whom he was originally supported, but who, it seems, took it in dudgeon that he should presume to vote according to his conscience without waiting for the direction of a junto. At Liverpool, also, the decision has been no less flattering; and thus the two principal commercial towns in the kingdom have given an ample refutation of the hackneyed calumny that government gains parliamentary majorities solely from corruption and its influence over rotten boroughs. More we could say upon this important subject, but at present we have neither room nor leisure for the discussion.

SPAIN.

Matters are come to an issue between

this country and the United States, the latter having now completely thrown off the mask by the seizure of Pensacola, which General Jackson took forcible possession of on the 21st of May. The Americans make a great parade on this act of aggresion, but how far they will have any reason to boast of it, time must shew. What effect this event will have upon the European powers it is difficult to guess; but the state of things in that part of the world, and the frequent capture of British vessels by pirates, has at last attracted the attention of our go

vernment.

The following is a copy of a circular order to our admirals on foreign stations. It will be seen that Spain and her Insurgent Colonies are equally recognised as competent authorities in this document. This, indeed, distinctly appeared in the Jamaica trial for piracy.

"June 8, 1818.-Whereas we have received information, that under colour of hostilities subsisting between his Catholic Majesty and certain provinces, or parts of provinces, in Spanish America, divers armed ships or vessels, not belonging to and fitted out and set forth in the dominions of his Catholic Majesty, or the said provinces, or parts of provinces, but having, or pretending to have, commissions of war or letters of marque

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Incidents in London and Middlesex.

from his Catholic Majesty, or persons assuming to exercise the powers of government in the said provinces, or parts of provinces, in Spanish America, have committed divers piratical acts and outrages against the vessels and goods of his Majesty's subjects, you are hereby authorized and required to issue instructions to the commanders of the ships and vessels under your orders, on credible information of any piratical act or outrage, committed on the high scas on any British ship or goods, by any such armed ship or vessel as aforesaid, to seize and de

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tain such armed ship or vessel, and send her,together with her master and crew, in safe custody to England, or to some port in his Majesty's colonies, where a court is established for the trial of offences committed on the high seas; together with such witnesses as may be necessary to prove the act so charged to have been committed by such ship or vessel, in order that the master and crew, who may have committed any such piratical act or outrage, may be dealt with according to law."

INCIDENTS, PROMOTIONS, BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHS, &c. IN LONDON AND MIDDLESEX;

With Biographical Accounts of Distinguished Characters.

Bulletin of the King's Health.

"Windsor Castle, July 4. His Majesty has been very tranquil through the last month, and continues to enjoy good bodily health, but his Majesty's

disorder is undiminished."

Thursday, July 23. The accounts circulated last night of the Queen's health were somewhat alarming. Her Majesty was more weak and seriously ill the whole of yesterday, for want of repose, than she has been since the commencement of her indisposition. The physicians are constantly in attendance, and the whole of yesterday there was a continual intercourse of messengers between Kew and Carleton House.

In the evenings the thermometer is generally at 76 in the metropolis. In the sun it is upwards of 80-West India heat.

A commission has just passed the Great Seal appointing and authorizing an inquiry into the best means of preventing the forgery of Bank notes-the members, Sir Joseph Banks, Sir Wm. Congreve, Wm. Courtney, esq. Davies Gilbert, esq. Jeremiah Harman, esq. Governor of the Bank, Hyde Wollaston, M. D. and Charles Hatchett, esq-the first sitting took place on Tuesday, July 21.

The road from the Strand to Waterloo Bridge will soon be occupied on each side with handsome houses quite up to the bridge. Those nearest to it will be erected upon arches, which, on the west side, are now nearly completed.

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It will be satisfactory to a respectable body of British merchants to learn that the sufferers by certain confiscations of merchandize at Bourdeaux, in the year 1814, are to be indemnified to the amount of 400,0001. in virtue of an agreement that has been lately signed by the agents of the respective governments.

Accounts recently received from Pompeii report the successful progress of the excava

tions, and that another amphitheatre has been discovered more distant from the city than the former.

A turtle, weighing upwards of 600lbs., from the Island of Ascension, was sent on

Friday, July 17, to the Prince Regent.

The English and Welsh returns to the new Parliament, include 123 new members.

A meeting has been lately held at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, on the subject of licensing public-houses, when a speech was made by Mr. Beaumont, inforced by several other gentlemen, on the evils arising from the monopoly to which the present system gives rise. A number of resolutions were passed, expressing the opinion of the meeting, &c. " since beer might be sold at 5d. per pot instead of 6d.-and the extra charge was considered as equal to a tax of 10 per cent. on the labourer's wages."

There will be a greater number of petitions for undue returns to the next Parliament than for many years past. Among other places, Nottingham, Hythe, Petersfield, Grampound, Wootton Bassett, Colchester, Ipswich, and Edinburgh are mentioned.

The present year is the third of a series of ten in which the moon will prove most beneficial to farmers for reaping, &c. from 1816 to 1825, inclusive. A previous statement had travelled over the kingdom, with an error in the figures. From 1826 to 1834, not 1838, as reported, the moon will be unpropitious.

A Society has been formed in London for promoting the enlargement and building of additional churches and chapels. The amount of donations already received is approaching to 50,0001., with about 3801. in annual subscriptions.

It appears from official accounts that there has been an increase of the revenue in the year ending July 5, 1818, (under the heads of Customs, Excise, Stamps, Post Office, Assessed Taxes, Land Taxes, and Miscellaneous Items,) compared with the year

1818.] Promotions, Appointments, and Ecclesiastical Preferments.

ending July 5, 1817, of 3,046,6691.—and on the quarter an increase of 1,120,6451.!

A mis-statement has appeared in most of the newspapers with respect to the circulation of Bank tokens. At the time the act of last session for continuing the payment of Bank tokens till the 5th of July was passed, a power was reserved of repealing it during the session. An act was subsequently passed to continue the operation of the former act till the 5th of January, 1819; they may therefore be received in payment for almost all purposes till that time.

A new source of trade to the West Indies has recently been opened, by the invention of a mill for carding and cleaning old blankets, however dirty and ragged, producing thereby a comfortable stuffing for bed-tickings, for the use of the Negroes. Thus an article which has hitherto been considered as of trivial value,will now produce from 6d. to 8d. per pound of the collectors who perambulate the streets.

The military prison in the Savoy is about to be taken down, and a new one erected for the reception of deserters in the Bird Cage Walk. Until the building is completed, a sloop of war is to be moored off Whitehall stairs, for the safe custody of the prisoners. Among other decorative repairs in the House of Commons, a new stair-case leading from the upper lobby to the gallery has been recently constructed. An additional small door has been opened in the centre of the gallery, for the accommodation of those who report the debates. These improvements will give greater facility in clearing the gallery, on divisions, and to the strangers in returning to their places.

Promotions and Appointments.] CHAS. DAWSON, esq. to be consul for the Provinces of Biscay and Guipuscoa.

Rear Admiral DONALD CAMPBELL, to succeed Rear Admiral Harvey, as Commander-in-chief of the Leeward Islands.

Ecclesiastical Preferments.] Hon. and Rev. JOHN NEVILLE, A.M. of C. C. College, Oxford, to be one of the chaplains in ordina-ry to the Prince Regent.

The Rev. J. S. SERGROVE, L.L.B. of Emanuel college, Cambridge, and Sunday Evening Lecturer of St. Margaret, &c. Rood Lane, to the rectory of Cooling, in Kent.

Births.] In Carey street, Lincoln's inn, the lady of David Pollock, of the Middle Temple, esq. Barrister at Law, of a daugh

ter.

The lady of G. Trower, esq. Montague place, Russel square, of a daughter.

In Upper Seymour street, Viscountess Torrington, of a son.

The lady of Thos. Briggs, esq. Essex street, of a son.

The Hon. Mrs. P. Pleydell Bouverie, of a daughter.

The lady of John Winter, jun. esq. of Hunter street, Brunswick square, of a daugh

ter.

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At his house in Gloucester place, Portman square, the lady of W. G. Johnston, esq. of a son.

In Park lane, the Hon Lady Bethell Codrington, of a daughter. Married.]

His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, to the Princess Adelaide of Meiningen.

R. V. Richards, esq. of the Inner Temple, to Jane, only daughter of M. Chalie, esq. of Walworth common.

Rob. Hope, M.D. and F.L.S. to Mrs. Davies, of Upper Cadogan place.

The Rev. D. Lewis, to Miss H. Warwick, both of Twickenham.

Lord James Stuart, brother to the Marquis of Bute, to Miss Tighe, only daughter of the late W. T. esq. of Woodstock, Kilkenny.

S. Phillips, esq. son of the late B. P. esq. of St. Mary Axe, to Maria, eldest daughter of L. Samuel, esq. of Mansell St. Goodman's Fields.

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Solomon, eldest son of S. Peele, esq. of Tottenham Green, to Anne, second daughter of Dr. Wm. Babington, of Aldermanbury; and at the same time, T. Hanson, second son of S. Peele, esq. to E. Helen, eldest daughter of Dr. Babington,

On the 8th of June, at the residence of Sir Wm. Acourt, bart. Envoy Extraordinary at the Court of Naples, C. H. Smith, esq. naval officer, of Malta Yard, to Miss M. Gerrans, niece of J. B. Murphy, esq. of Burton Crescent.

Mr. T. R. Alston, of Bishopsgate street, to Eliza, eldest daughter of J. G. Saggers, esq. of Crosby square.

Mr. James Finch, to Sarah, eldest daughter of Mr. Thos. Baker, of Market street, Horse Ferry road.

W. Roffey, esq. of Mead place, Lambeth, to Miss Lackin, of Rochester, Kent.

H. Weston, esq. eldest son of W. W. esq. both of the Borough bank, to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of R. Kirby, esq. of Kennington Green.

A. C. Willock, esq. of the Horse Artillery, to Miss Dawes, of Foley place.

The Rev. Edw. Vardon, to the eldest daughter of Mr. Henry Gaitskell.

J. Henderson, esq. of Ludgate Hill, to Miss L. Selsbe, of Walworth.

W. T. Brande, esq. of Albemarle street, secretary to the Royal Society and professor of chemistry to the Royal Institution, to Anna Frederica, second daughter of Charles Hatchett, esq. of Mount Clare, Surrey.

R. Stratton, esq. surgeon in the army, to Miss Lincoln, of Upper Seymour street, Portman square.

Archibald Ewart, esq. surgeon on the Madras establishment, to Miss A. Scott, of Pall Mall.

Died.] At the house of John Hodgson, esq. in Red Lion square, Sarah Maria, wife of the Rev. R. Worthington, of Swindon, near Cheltenham.

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