his preservers by honour, and obtains have evinced a noble defiance of exthat pardon which rewards his filial pence; and the performers, as usual, affection by mercy. This little piece, did ample justice to the exhibition. from the simplicity of its incidents, We make no doubt but that it will and the beauty of the music, which prove very popular. was by Mr. Kelly, met with every suc Paulina Miss Kelly Mistress of the Revels Miss Feron. For this piece the public are indebted to that ingenious mechanist Mr. Johnston, of Drury-lane, author of several popular pieces, viz. Cinderella, The Lady of the Rock, The Sleeping Beauty, &c. &c. He has, unquestionably, been somewhat indebted to Mr. Monk Lewis for furnishing him with some incidents, in the nature of a story, upon which to hang his scenery; but he has suffered that gentleman to predominate a little too much in the first and second parts of the performance. As it is now exhibited, it forms one of the most interesting, magnificent, and ingenious spectacles we ever witnessed. The machinery is complicate and skilful beyond a parallel, and is so aptly introduced and ingeniously worked, that it confers that kind of credit upon Mr. Johnston, which far o'ertops the ambition of the ordinary stage mechanist of the day. It raises him to something of the dignity of mechanical science and invention, and we shall scarcely think ourselves in danger of a smile, when we pronounce him to be a man, whose genius would have elevated him to very conspicuous utility and notice, had he not been condemned to waste and dissipate it in pantomimes, melodramas, and plays. It is sufficient to pronounce the Wood Damon to be in the first rank of those spectacles with which the town prefers to be amused in the present day, The managers April 12.-This evening, a new Co medy, by Mr. Cherry, called A Day in London, was performed for the first time; the characters of which were as followsJack Melange Captain Import Sir George Dapple Mr. Bouvere Sir Sampson Import Briers Issachar Jones Serjeant O'Sullivan Willow Lady Mary Import Mrs. Sickle Jane Maria Mr. BANNISTER Mr. DE CAMP Mr. RUSSELL Mr. H. SIDDONS Mr. CHERRY Mr. RAYMOND Mr. WEWITZER Mr. PALMER Mr. JoHNSTONE Mr. DoWTON Fable, Mr, Sickle, a rich Glouces tershire farmer, arrives in London; and at the inn encounters an old friend Mr. Briers, a hop merchant in the Borough, to whom he recounts the motive of his visit to the metropolis; from which we learn that he has married a second wife, a young woman, whose vanity and ill temper have banished his son and daughter, in search of whom he has undertaken his present journey, The farmer conceives he has some clue to the retreat of his daughter, as she was brought up with her foster-sister, Lady Mary Import, who is now married and resides in London. Mrs. Sickle, who is of a remantic turn, supposing her husband to have journeyed into Westmoreland, takes this opportunity of visiting London, under the protection of young Willow, a platonic cicisbeo, but arriving at the same inn, she is surprised by her husband. Sir Sampson Import, a very rich banker and a city knight, has entered into a second marriagewith. the daughter of a ruined peer, without a portion, a woman of benevolent and polished manners. Mrs. Sickle, the farmer's wife, is removed by young Willow from the inn into a private lodging, where he throws off the mask of friendship, and assumes the professed lover. Deceived in the confidence she had placed in him, and in dignant at his advances, she flies the first time at this theatre. It is the house, and rushes into the street. In same which was brought forward at this dilemma she is encountered by the Marchioness of Abercorn's festian Hibernian serjeant, who had just vities at the priory, at Christmas, 1805. returned from the house of Sir Sainp- Plot.--The scene lies in Germany, and son. Jack Melange, a generous ec- the piece commences with a view of centric fellow, offers pecuniary assist- the Black Forest, wherein Count Onsance which is rejected by Mrs. Sickle, worth and a chosen hand of warriors in which he is surprised by Briers, of are in the act of searching for the cave whose daughter Melange is a professed of the banditti; Count Onsworth just admirer. Briers misconstrues the mo- returned from a glorious campaign, tives of Melange, and enters the house galiantly offers his services to destroy in search of Willow, determined to de- or secure these desperate marauders. mand satisfaction for the injuries of In the next scene appears the captain the farmer. Mrs. Sickle here accepts of the banditti and his first lieutenant; the good offices of the serjeant, who the conversation, until the arrival of conducts her to the house of Sir the gang, turns upon a late division Sampson, where she is most honour of plunder, the exploits of the preably secreted and protected by Lady ceding day, and their intended operaMary, from which circumstance se- tions on the following evening. The veral embarrassments arise, to the in- robbers, by means of their emissaries, jury of this generous woman's fame. learn that the king has despatched a Mr. Bonv ere, the partner of Sir Samp- powerful body of troops to secure son, proves to be the younger brother them, and destroy their retreat. A of Lady Mary, who, on his return from council of the banditti is held, and a the Indies, had adopted that mode of plan formed, by means of which the observing his sister's conduct, on which count is surprised by the captain and (the affinity unknown to her) he had conveyed to the cave of the robbers. In often ventured to comment with an searching him they take from his perasperity displeasing to her feelings. son a whistle, which is placed on a shelf The piece concludes with the rescue within his reach, if he were not ma of Sir George Dapple's estate by the nacled. On this whistle depends his generous interference of Melange, life. By a previously formed agreewith a conviction of the purity and honour of Lady Mary, the marriage of Jane and Captain Import, of Melange and Maria, and the reconciliation of the farmer and his wife. ment with the party under his command, it was settled that if any unfor tunate adventure occurred, by which he might be separated from them, he had only to use his whistle, by means The intention of the author is to of which they would know of the shew the folly of old men marrying place of his confinement and fly to his young wives, and the unpleasant si- rescue. In this scene is introduced tuations it naturally produces. To a silly clown, who was formerly a effect this he has brought forward too prisoner, but is now kept as a servant great a variety of persons, many of to attend on the robbers. The count whom have no connection with the plot, so that the attention is distracted and the interest of the whole lessened. This comedy, after being three times performed, has been withdrawn. COVENT GARDEN, March 20.This evening the Oratorios, for the Lent season, concluded at this theatre, with the first part of Haydn's Creation and two miscellaneous acts, consisting of pieces selected from various composers. Mr. G. Ashley led the band with great ability through the season. April 10.-This evening a Farce, called Whistle for It; or, The Cave of the Banditti, was performed for the employs many stratagems to induce the clown to restore him his whistle, to this application the clown refuses to assent; the count then describes the excellencies of his whistle, and endeayours to persuade him to try its effects; this the clown at last agrees to, but from his queer grimace and unsuccessful efforts, much laughter and applause are excited: the clown howeverfinally succeeds-the count's party appears, and the robbers are surprised and secured.. The overture is extremely pretty, and the whole of the music, which is by Lanza, possesses great inerit. OPERA-HOUSE, March 16.-This she has to execute, and the graceful evening a concert took place at the manner in which she triumphed over great room in this theatre, for the be- them, were sources of high gratificanefit of Pio Cianchettini, a child seven tion to the skilful few; and her exyears of age, born in this country of quisite delicacy and emotion in the foreign parents. This boy has distin- touching passages, equally affected guished himself by his performance the untutored multitude. This was on the piano-forte in many places on peculiarly felt in the influence over the continent, and acquired the title the heart, which she obtained in the of Mozart Britannicus.' He is one second act-"Per questa amare lu of those few instances of early powers, grime." It produced a rapturous burst that as a performer and a composer of applause; and, at the end of it, a deserve the attention of the public; chaplet of laurel, with a copy of verses, and he has been endowed by nature was flung on the stage from one of the with a very extraordinary genius for upper boxes. The spectators of our music. He not only plays with great theatres are not accustomed to this execution, but with such taste and kind of compliment, and though a expression as cannot be taught, but must result from himself. He generally excited wonder, and afforded pleasure to auditors fully able to ap[reciate his merits. April 14. This evening a new historical ballet, called Le Siege de Troye, was produced; it was got up under the direction of M. Rossi, the design and execution of which do him much credit. number of voices in the pit (chiefly foreigners) called out to crown her with the laurel, the ceremony did not take place. CONCERT OF ANCIENT MUSIC, March 11.-The sixth concert took place this evening, under the direction of the Earl of Dartmouth. The selection was principally from Handel. The novelty of the night was the first appearance of Miss Hughes, a pupil of Bartleman, who, through some embarrassment, displayed considerable vocal powers, and executed some of Handel's most difficult music with good effect, her style of singing being excellent, and reflecting much credit on her master. The first scene commences with a view of the Wooden Horse; the historical facts follow with the greatest precis on, accompanied with the most bautiful scenery, the finest music, and executed by the most captivating ballet company perhaps in the world. Andromache, the fair widow of Hec- The seventh concert was on the tor, received much interest from the 18th of March, under the direction fascinating Parisot. Mademoiselle of Earl Fortescue, and the selection Nora, from the royal theatre, Lisbon, was again principally from Handel, made her debut in the part of Creusa, several of whose divine pieces were the wife of Eneas, and received the given in the finest style by Mrs. nost flattering reception. Madame Vaughan, Mr. Harrison, and Mr. BarLe Presle was the fair Helen, and Miss tleman. Cranfield, Venus. The scene where The eighth concert was on the the burning of Troy is introduced, 8th of April, under the direction of was honoured with reiterated plaudits. the Earl of Wilton, and was chiefly April 16.--This evening Madaine Ca- selected from the compositions of talani gave, for her benefit, La Morte Handel. Mrs. Vaughan, Mrs. Shipdi Mithridate, by Portogallo, an Opera, ley, Messrs. Harrison, W. Knyvett, which combines more musical beau- and Bartleman, displayed great exties for a performer than any that we ecution, and were rapturously apknow, and it derived new charins from plauded. her power and taste. The difficulties STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. ORD MELVILLE IS RE-ADAMITTED to a seat in his Majesty's Councils. Important as are the transactions of the last month, this event is to be observed, as forming an ara in British politics. Whatever may be the sentiments of various parties, whatever may be the views of op Next in importance to the re-admis posite factions, this event is a feature founded; whether delinquency will in the history of the times, which men be pursued into its retiring haunts, of all parties, of all ages, and of all and order re-admitted into the public ranks, ought to attend to. LORD accounts. Whatever may happen, MELVILLE IS RE-ADMITTED whatever may be the judgment formto a seat in his Majesty's Councils. ed by others on the strange transacThe dismission of Lord Melville tions of the times in which we live, from a seat in his Majesty's Councils we shall retain our respect for the miis not to be confounded with the trial, nority on Lord Melville's trial, with which took place in consequence of whose judgment of the case we do in the detection of the breach of the law every article concur. of the land, in his office; for the dismission preceded by a considerable sion of Lord Melville to a seat in his interval that trial. The votes of the Majesty's Councils, are the facts House of Commons led to this dismis- that have come to light since our last, sion, and these votes were passed, af- respecting the extraordinary change ter Lord Melville had been heard in that has taken place in administration. his own defence; and for our own parts, The stopping of the bill for allowing nothing that happened during the the king to use the services of our Catrial altered the opinion which we tholic fellow-subjects was the first had previously formed from his own warning that the nation had; and words, and the words and avowed ac- from long debates in both Houses, in tions of his colleague and agent Mr. which the king's name has been very Trotter. The right of his Majesty to improperly brought forward, the call whom he please to his Councils, whole of the transaction has been deno one can dispute; but we may be velo, ed. Lord Howick, it seems, oballowed to regret a circumstance, tained a reluctant consent from the which in the present times may be king to introduce a bill into the House, followed with great inconvenience. similar to that passed in Ireland in Whatever might have been the 1793, respecting the Catholics. In faults of the late administration, it the interval between this consent and cannot be denied, that they endea- the second reading of the bill, which voured to avoid, as much as possible, certainly was not exactly the same as some notorious faults of the Pitt and that in 1793, the royal mind was much Melville administration; namely, a agitated, and certain persons were trelavish expenditure of the public mo- quently at the court, who were not ney, and inattention to the public ac- friendly to the late administration. Counts. They were assiduously em- It is not difficult to widen a breach ployed in correcting those great faults, already made. The objections to the in detecting the public peculators, in bill could not be surniounted. The endeavouring to do justice to their ministers consented then to withdraw king and country, in points in which the bill, but this was not completely both have been so essentially injured. satisfactory. They were required The re-admission of Lord Melville in- to pledge themselves that they would to his Majesty's Councils will, we fear, not hereafter agitate the question. To throw cold water on the excellent this pledge they would not give their plans formed in this respect, and re- consent; and they were all sent a tard the operations of our financial packing, turned out, and made a commissioners. For how can it be laughing stock to the opposite party expected, that a public delinquent and the public at large. should be prosecuted with much vi- It was not to be expected, that the gour, when a person has been re-ad- ex-ministers should bear calmly this mitted into his Majesty's Councils, dismissal, and return to their respecwhose conduct has not only not been tive occupations without some atin these respects without suspicion, tempts to harrass those who had taken but has been declared disgraceful by their seats. The usual mode of par a number of the Peers of the realin, that liamentary skirmishing followed, would suffice to make up more than which brought on pitched battles in four of our common juries. Time will both Houses, and in both Houses the shew whether our suspicions are well ex-ministers were completely defeat ed. In these contests the public took Commons to seize in person the five no part. Neither party could rouse members, the unhappy monarch them to an active interference. A placed himself in a situation in which few addresses and petitions were got the law cannot suppose our sovereign up on the idle question of No Popery, to be. He might have offered perand the danger of the Church; but sonal violence to a member, and liave they evidently did not convey the been personally resisted; and the sense of the nation, which saw no rea- latter act is an act of treason. Had son for this alarm, and saw no grounds he ordered the seizure of these five for making any clamour upon such a members; however improper the act silly occasion. The disasters in 1780 might be, it might have been con contributed not a little to this spirit, stitutionally performed; but the perand disappointed those wicked men, sons who performed the act woud who, for the sake of the temporary views of a party, would not hesitate to throw a state into confusion; and be sides, the ex-ministers had not, during the time of their being in power, given ve y strong indications of attachment to those national questions which had been so much the theme of their speeches when in opposition. have been amenable to the laws of their country; and the person who advised the king to the measure must have justified it, or received the pu nishment due to the offence. whether that, or any other question, had occasioned a difference between the king and his ministers, is of no importance. A difference certainly existed, and in consequence the king turned off his servants, and provided new ones. The maxim then, that the king can do no wrong, cannot be too much che rished by those who love the consti tution of their country; and we The ground of the attack upon the should have regretted the debates upnew ministers was, that the demanding on the personal act of the king, if of a pledge, by the king, was uncon- they had not tended to throw light stitutional, and that to consent to such upon this subject, and to point out a pledge would have been contrary to cicarly the boundaries of the king's their duty as privy counsellors. The true, useful, valuable, and just preroquestion lies deep in our constitu- gative. The question of the Cathe tional history, and deserves to be tho- lies must now be put out of sight; roughly understood by both king and people. For their interests, and not for the sake of any disputatious gentleman in either House, for the sake of any factious adherent to any party, with a view to places, pensions, and offices, or the reversion of them, it should be thoroughly investigated. The turned-out ministers would inBy the principle of our constitution sinuate that in this the king had done the king can do no wrong. This wrong, and that he had demanded a maxim is a very good one: but it pledge, which honour and their oaths, must be properly understood. It does as privy counsellors, forbade them to not mean that the person who wears give. That the king has done wrong the crown is free from the infirmities we deny; for by our law he cannot do of human nature, and is a divinity up- wrong. Whom has he injured by on earth; but he can do no wrong in this act? Who has a right to comany act in government. And for this plain? The holding of the offices, plain reason: the king can do no which these ministers held, was enwrong in an act of government, be- tirely at the king's discretion, and the cause in every act of government power of nominating to these offices there is a person or persons between cannot be placed in other hands; for the king and the individual, oppress- whoever has the power is essentially ed by any authority, who are amena- and virtually king. The king, in this ble to the courts of law for their con- instance, exercised his true, useful, duct. We must distinguish between valuable, and just prerogative; and an act of government, and a personal with this exercise the lords, commons, act of the king; and the want of this and people at large, have nothing to distinction was one great cause of do. We say plainly and positively, Charles the First being brought to the nothing to do; for if in the appointblock By going into the Ilouse of meat of new ministers, any things |
