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Of the other performers we have memory, pronounced bestial with the nothing to say in addition to our cri- long accent over the e, instead of the ticism last month; only that Bannis- short one. ter played Whimsiculo, instead of Russel; and Signora Storace Floretta, instead of Mrs. Mountain. Miss Lyon was as aukward as usual.

COVENT-GARDEN.

Miss Smith's Desdemona was very impressive, and was much applauded. Poor Mrs. St. Leger, what a laughable affair she made of the last scene; and when she plumped upon her knees to attest the innocence of DesSaturday, Dec. 19-Othello-Blind demona, we sorely feared the result. Boy. The great novelty of this even- Had Burke been alive, and present ing, and which drew a most crowded this evening, he would indeed have audience, was Mr. Kemble's first ap- exlaimed, "the days of chivalry are pearance in the character of Iago. gone"-for this unfortunate lady, after His reception was highly flattering, she was stabbed, was suffered to totter and his conception and performance to the sofa, unaided, unsupported, unof the character masterly. In the gay pitied, though those accomplished parts he was sufficiently easy without gallants, Messrs. Davenport and Cressvulgarity, and in the solemn he was well, were on the stage, and their forceful and impressive. In his col- hands free. Oh, for shame gentleloquy with Othello in the third act, men! where he first endeavours to excite his Monday, Dec. 28-George Barnwell jealousy, Mr. Kemble acted with great Harlequin in his Element; or Fire, animation; and his acting throughout Water, Earth, and Air. Oh! that we left nothing for the most fastidious were poets, and could sing the glories mind to wish. It would not be easy of Christmas Monday! Such hootto describe the sensation produced in ing, such shouting, such swearing, the house by Mr. Kemble's song in the and such equality of society, as nosecond act it seemed something so thing could equal. The boxes reunaccountably singular, and so un- minded us of a coach full of electors; usual, that they could only express baronets and butchers, dukes and their feelings by loud and good hu- dairy-men, in glorious community of moured shouts of applause: and it privileges, jostling and cursing side was the same on every occasion, where by side. In our opinion, the pantothe character had any thing of co- mime ought to have come first, for mic levity in it. At the conclusion, two or three unfledged clerks in a box near us, that had escaped from their othice time enough for half price, attempted to signify their presence by hissing, which was resented by the whole house by reiterated thunders of applause. We sincerely hope, indeed, that Mr. Kemble will often gratify the public by a display of talent as unexpected perhaps as it was excel

lent.

the first two acts of the play were completely a dumb shew; and it was highly amusing to see Mr. Murray and Mr. Claremont, Miss Smith and Miss Norton, walk on the stage, throw thir arms about, move their lips, and roll their eyes, and walk off! Towards the conclusion of the third act the storm subsided, and from thence we date our critical functions.

Mr. C. Kemble, as the hero of the play, was every thing we could wish. Mr. C. Kemble played Cassio well; In the unimpassioned parts he was and in the drunken scene surpassed easy and elegant; and in the tragic all commendation. Pope's Othello scenes he was forceful and energetic. was the triumph of lungs over sense: We mention with great pleasure and he bawled and ranted; swung bis peculiar praise his frantic manner arms about with desperate fury; and when on his knees, at the time that whined like a schoolboy. It was in- Milwood sends for the officers of deed a miserable performance. We justice. It electrified the house. cry shame upon him too, that he Miss Smith's Milwood was but an should pronounce point, pint, catch indifferent performance. She had like Jack ketch, and the o in front like too much levity, we would almost as in soft, instead of as in done. Mr. say, vulgarity.

C. Kemble too, by some trip of the The new pantomime succeeded.

If we are expected to pass a serious Lewis in Benedict, was excellent in judgment upon such exhibitions, we the light, airy, and vivacious parts; should say, that it did not please us but he failed, as he ever must, iu so well as its celebrated precursor, the grave and dignified. Why is Mr. Mother Goose. Mr. Grimaldi, who Davenport thrust into any part bealone gives effect and currency to yond the deliverer of a message? His these pantomimes, had nothing new heroic rage in the fifth act excited either in trick, action, or contortion: general laughter. he would not give what he had already given in Mother Goose, and we suppose he could not invent any thing new; the consequence was, he did not please so well. Many of the scenes were completely silly, parti cularly the thirteenth, containing the trio between a bookseller, pastry

This comedy has been acted twice or thrice at the other house, and we subjoin the following cast of characters at each, for the sake of comparison: Corent-Garden, Drury-Lane. Don Pedro Mr. Brunton. Leonato Mr. Murray. Don John Mr. Waddy.

Claudio

Antonio

Dogberry

cook, and trunk-maker: this and some
other parts (which were afterwards Benedick
judiciously omitted) excited consi-
derable disapprobation. To criticise Fe
Mr. Dibdin's songs, &c. (for he is the
avowed author of this piece) would be
to elevate the ditties of Shoe Lane to
a literary rank.

Hero

Mr. Holland.

Mr. Wroughton.

Mr. Eyre.

Mr. C. Kemble. Mr. H. Siddons.
Mr. Eiliston.

Mr. Lewis.

Mr Davenport. Mr Powell.
Mr. Munden. Mr. Dowton.
Mr Simmons. Mr. Wewitzer.

Miss Bolton. Miss Mellon. Beatrice Mrs. H. Johnstone. Mrs. Jordan. Saturday, Jan. 2.-Rule a Wife and have a Wife-Harlequin. Mr. Kemble's Leon is a piece of acting well known. It is perfect. His representation of the simple, yet shrewd Leon, in the early part of the play, was as charicteristic and as excellent, as his dignified, energetic, and manly demeanour, when he

"casts his cloud off and appears himself." We have rarely been more delighted than with his general performance of this evening. He seemed to be quite himself, and delighted every auditor with a display of chaste and impressive acting.

Wednesday, Dec. 30.- Much ado about Nothing-Harlequin. This admirable comedy of Shakspeare's was performed this evening for the purpose of introducing Mrs. H. Johnstone to the London audience after a lapse of two years. A recent do mestic circumstance respecting this lady, placed her in an unpleasant situation. When she came on she was received with mingled applauses and hisses. She was much affected, and burst into tears: she came forward to the audience and wished to speak, but was not suffered; yet an energetic action of her hands accom- Lewis played with undiminished panied with an expressive look, seem- excellence in the Copper Captain, but. ed to say that she was injured. May why he and Miss Smith pronounce it not be so? and if so, we sincerely confessor with the accent on the first sympathise with her. Why, indeed, syllable we know not. In Estifania it may be asked, is such rigour to be Miss Smith did not please us at all: exercised towards her alone? It was her comedy is mere declamation. some time before the play was suffer- The rest of the characters was sadly ed to proceed, and throughout the supported. Miss Waddy played Marwhole evening, whenever she came on garita! We need say no more. Mr. or went off, there were some who Brunton was as stiff and inanimate as hissed. We cannot but advert to though his new family honours sat the character selected by Mrs. H. aukwardly upon him: and we would Johnstone on such an occasion: recommend Mr. Claremont, when he Beatrice! one that is full of all sorts of dresses for his character to inspect sarcasms against marriage; one that is full of licentious raillery about matri. monial duties! Was this accident, or was it meant as a gauntlet of deliance? The audience, however, séized upon every expression that could be turned against her in an ing utan manner.

his apparel closely, and not suffer a pesterior rent to offend our eyes every time he swung his robe aside. To Miss Smith too, we would observe, that eve glasses were probably not a fashionable appendage round the necks of Spanish ladies some two or three centuries ago.

Upon the above quotation we wish

Monday, Jan. 14-Mountaineers- same may be said of his monologue Harlequin. When Voltaire was asked with the miniature of Floranthe and why he had not commented upon the subsequent scene. Corneille, he replied, "It is of no use, I could only write at the bottom to offer one remark. of each page, beautiful, pathetic, har"Despair burns high within me, monious, sublime." So might we do And its fire serves me for heart, to keep with Mr. Kemble's Octavian: we My clay in motion." might pronounce it grand, awful, pa- So Mr. Kemble delivers it, but we thetic, and sublime. Certainly, no- cannot help thinking that it should be thing in dramatic skill can surpass heat; and the context authorizes this it. It is a character so peculiarly supposition. It may appear ridicu calculated for the display of Mr. lous to contend about the reading of a. Kemble's powers that it seems des- passage from a living author, who by tined to exist only with himself. His a word, could decide the matter: but wild look and frantic gestures-his we know nothing of Mr. Colman, rapid transitions from extreme rage nor have we any means of knowing to tears his utterance of particular his meaning: we can only say, therepassages-and his conception of the fore, that if he wrote heart, it is an whole, may safely be pronounced one inelegant and unpoetical expression. of the finest specimens of the his- There is another passage too, of this trionic art, ever perhaps presented to play, that has always appeared to us a British audience. In form, counte- ridiculous: Octavian rushes upon nance, and genius, nature has exclu- Bulca in Maley, unarmed, and yet sively appropriated this character; exclaims, and till another Kemble arise, we must never hope to feast our minds Thy turban'd head shall roll a trunkless ball upon a true Octavian, when the pre- Upon the ground for crows to peck at." sent one shall fade away, which we ter- The other characters of this play vently hope is yet a far distant event. were pretty well supported this eve Amid a constellation of beautiful ning. Miss Smith played Floranthe, passages, it is difficult to select one; and is an excellent figure in male atyet perhaps the finest of the whole tire. Miss Norton was interesting in evening was the following:

"Prove but my weapon true,

Zorayda; and Mrs. Liston and Blanch"They shall not part you:-for I know ard played Agnes and Sadi. Mr.

what is When worldly knaves step in, with silver beards,

To poison bliss, and pluck young souls

asunder

Oh! wander, boundless love, across the

wild!

Give thy free passion scope, and range the
wilderness!

Crib not thyself in cities,-for 'tis there
The thrifty, grey philosopher inhabits,
To check the glowing impulse in his child.
Gain is the old man's God: he offers up
His issue to't-and mercenary wedlock

Murray ranted through Bulcazin Muley with as much ostreporous voCiferation as need be, and in many instances quite mistook his character. It was absurd to see him in the second scene, after bidding Ganem go, and then commanding him to return, speak the subsequent lines with hi look directed toward him, instead of being bent upon the ground and ruminating. When, therefore, at the end of his speech he exclaims, "Dull, thoughtless hound, why art not gone?"

Murders his offspring's peace. They mur--the spectator is apt to think that

dered mine

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motion."

he knew he was there long ago. This gentleman was very badly dressed too.

Mr. Kemble has repeated the character of Octavian three or four times since to overflowing and admiting audiences.

It were vain to attempt to convey by Tuesday, January 12.-The Wanlanguage any idea of the manner in derer; or, the Rights of Hospitality which Mr. Kemble uttered this: it (first time)-Harlequin. This play is must be seen to be felt; and when the avowed production of Mr. C.seen, it can never be forgotten. The Kemble. It is a translation from thie UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. IX.

G

French. In the original it was called that it were extended. Mr. C. Edourd en Ecosse, and was founded Kemble played the hero of the piece upon the circumstances of the rebel- (Sigismund), and played it in a very lion in 1745. It was performed in impressive manner: he was particu*Paris with great applause; but Bona- larly excellent in his first interview parte, fearful of any thing that might with the Countess (Miss Smith).excite even theatrical compassion for This lady also did great justice to her fallen regal splendour, and fancying part; but she dressed it in a manner that the Parisiaus drew a parallel be- little complimentary to her taste. She tween Edward and the exiled Bourbon looked more like a respectable houseprince, forbad its further represen- keeper than a countess. She should tation; and the author was sentenced remember that her figure is naturally to Cayenne, but his fate was mitigated, small and unimpressive, and therefore we believe, at the express intercession she ought to neglect no external aids of Madame Bonaparte. We have heard which may contribute to give it dignity that Mr. C. Kemble originally intend- and effect. Fawcett, in Old Ramsay, ed to present it on a London theatre (an intended Scotsman, but without as the author wrote it, but that the the dialect of his country, a rara avis Lord Chamberlain refused to license in terra,) gave a specimen of chaste it. Alas for political wisdom! What and excellent acting.

is now to be feared from the misfor- The first act was eked out by a dance tunes of the Stuart family being by the Miss Adams, and the Corps de wrought into a play? In consequence of this, Mr. C. Kemble adapted the incidents, with considerable dramatic skill, to a Swedish story. The events strictly apply to the Pretender's situation when wandering through the Highlands of Scotland.

Ballet. The prologue was spoken by Mr. Brunton, and contained some allusions to our magnanimous ally the King of Sweden, but it was not well written; nor was the epilogue, delivered by Miss Norton, who is made to promise a kiss to any one who catch The only fault of this play is, that her. This invitation may perhaps be it is too short: it is scarcely longer accepted, should there happen to be than some modern after-pieces. The some evening a gay son of Neptune, interest is forcibly preserved through- Alushed with wine, in the stage box: out the whole, and the spectator wishes then, woe to Miss Norton's lips!

THE NEW PATENTS.

the wind and weathering most admirably.

EARL STANHOPE's, for certain important Improvements respecting the Form, Construction, and Manner of They shall also ride very easy at building and fitting out Ships and anchor, be uncommonly lively in a Vessels for the Purposes of Naviga- rough sea, and also in a head sea, and tion, and for counteracting and dimi- shall be what is technically called exnishing the Danger of that most mis- ceilent sea-boats. chievous Invention for destroying Ships and vessels by submarine Bombs, Carcases, or Explosions. THE patent states that the object of the invention is to construct ships, &c. which, as far as possible, in the nature of things, shall unite the maximum of advantages with the minimum of disadvantages; and especially with respect to such ships and vessels being constructed so as to be capable of sailing very fast, on every point in which ships generally sail, and shall likewise, when properly rigged be capable of sailing very near

They shall also draw less water than usual with vessels of the same number of tons, and are yet good sea-boats. It is a very important fact that the resistance of water increases gradually and regularly as the depth of the water increases, although in a less rapid ratio; so that the minimum of resistance to the progressive motion of ships and vessels, cannot be obtained, but upon the principle only which shall prevent them from descending into that part of the fluid, where the unalterable law respecting fluids would cause the resistance to be

greater than at a more moderate depth. but the stern gills when acting in proTo construct ships and vessels of a per combination with the head-gills small draught of water with a maxi- are highly useful. The head-gills mum of advantages, is a high and are admirably calculated to assist a important problem, which Earl Stan- ship in weathering or putting about hope to the best of his belief, thinks rapidly in critical situations, where no has never been solved by any other time is to be lost, while the head and person. The further use of this in- starboard gills may likewise act in convention is, that these ships shall have junction. A parallel motion sidethe excellent property of making less ways may be given to the ship, which lee-way than others, and shall have will make her weather so incomparathe lateral resistance to the lee-way bly that in certain confined situamore mechanically and more advan- tions she might be saved, when othertageously applied than in any other wise she would be wrecked. And ships, &c. of any draught whatsoever; even in certain cases when the ship besides the advantage of not being might otherwise become quite ungomade to heel, as in certain situations, vernable, through the loss of part of when heels are used, which from their her masts or rigging, the gills may be nature, are always unscientifically used to prevent her from sheering in placed too much below the center of that very dangerous manner, which gravity of the ship or vessel. Ships, without such assistance she might do. &c. thus constructed shall notwith- This would even save a vessel upon a standing their comparative small dangerous lee-shore. draught, have sufficient stability to But besides these gills, &c. as apcarry proper sail, and roll and pitch pendages, the nature of Earl Stanless than others. They shall also be hope's invention consists in a new form capable of keeping a true and steady and construction of vessels, and a new course, and of being turned readily scientific combination of proper horiand rapidly out of their course by zontal and vertical ship lines; and in means of the rudder, or the gills here- a new method of rendering a ship, after to be mentioned for that purpose, when properly rigged, capable of sailand shall also be capable of coming ing uncoinmonly near the wind, and about well, in stays. And if properly weathering in a manner superior to rigged, shall, when sailing near the any other ever practised. The prowind, be capable of having their long per mode of accomplishing the last avis kept in, or nearer to the intended grand object, is by means of the very course, than has ever yet been accom- extensive head and stern ship-planks plished by any other method whatever. invented by Earl Stanhope. It is also Ilere a number of figures are intro- a circumstance very fortunate, that duced for the better illustration of the the very form and construction inwritten description. vented by him is likewise the exact The gils in which the principal form and construction which is the difference appears to superficial ob- most scientific, and the very best for Servers, are the very reverse of rud- ships and vessels exclusive of gills. der. A rudder, it is observed whe- Hence ships constructed in this mode ther of the common sort, or of the his Lordship proposes to call Stanequipollent species, is a thick instru- hope Weatherers, for the sake of disment, generally made of wood that tinction. Ships thus constructed may works on an axis which is vertical; be deepened in their holds, increased whereas a gill is a thin plate of stiff or varied in the length of the midship metal, not more than three eighths of body: and by continuing the oblique. an inch thick and works on an axis, sides of the ship higher up, or otherhorizontal or nearly so. A gil might wise, the breadth of the deck may be also be made of wood or any other so increased as to bring her within strong substance, but metal is prefera- the statute dimensions of one foot in ble; that which the founders call breadth for every three feet and a half strong metal, should have the prefer- in length. Upper works may also be ence; this is composed partly of pure made when required, and all the decks ropper and partly of grain tin. The may be made exactly level, by combad-gills are of the most importance: paratively raising the middle of the

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