Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

served throughout the performance. Great beauties frequently redeemed trifling errors; and sometimes in the midst of the most obvious misconceptions, a brilliant light would appear to illumine the surrounding darkness. Mr. Duff's principal fault appeared to be a misapprehension of the whole scope of the character of Macbeth, and a want of comprehension of all the emotions which are supposed to agitate him in many situations. Another error is to be remarked in the swelling utterance with which he gives familiar orders to his servants. The words,

"Go bid thy mistress when the drink is ready She strike upon the bell."

and, "Get thee to bed," were declaimed to the servants with the energy of violent passion. That difficult soliloquy beginning, If it were done, when 'tis done, was not understood clearly, and the meaning was indefinitely conveyed: but we have no further room to point out either particular beauties or defects,

The play of the Poor Gentleman, by G. Colman the younger, was excellently well cast, and admirably performed; and would have convinced us, if any confirmation were required, of the superior talents of this company for the representation of comedy, rather than of tragedy. Messrs. Bernard, Green, Brown, Dykes, and Hughes, were all excellent in their respective characters. Under this head we should not omit to mention the characteristical performance by Mr. Bray of Lord Duberly in the Heir at Law. The part we believe is new to him, and he surpasses, deducting a little for too much grimace, any performer we have ever seen enact it."

The tragedy of Manuel, we presume, does not require a description, either of its cha

racters or plot. The intrigue is not well designed by the author, and can claim very little merit in the unravelling. There is no uncertainty from the beginning, with regard to the real murderer of Alonzo, and we are, of course, not struck with surprise at the detection of De Zelos by means of the dagger.This play has many poetical, but not many dramatic beauties; and it is remarkable, that some of the most splendid passages, rather retard, than assist the progress of the fable, and are too declamatory for the develope

ment of character.

In consequence of such prevaling faults, it can easily be surmised that the tragedy would not excite much interest in the representation. It did not.

Mr. Duff did his best with the part of Manuel, and contrived to revive the impression of the character of King Lear, which produced an association by no means favourable to the character represented. There are expressions in this production obviously copied from Shakespeare and the old dramatists, and in situations where their value is very apparent. Mr. Brown grappled with De Zelos, and succeeded in achieving a conquest, and Mrs. Duff was also successful in Victoria. As to Torrismond, by Mr. Drummond, and Ximena by his wife, we have only to repeat that a natural mode of utterance will inform the auditor what the author intended; but that affectation of any sort is insufferable. In any play, but in a new one particularly, it is the duty of performers to suppose the audience never to have heard it before, and therefore the clearest conveyance of the sense is an absolute pre-requisite to their comprehension of its scope and character.

ART. 13. MONTHLY SUMMARY OF POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

EUROPE.

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

The foreign relations of Great Britain have undergone no change since our last, though report still speaks of some negotiation being on foot with Spain, touching the SouthAmerican colonies. His Royal Highness, the Commander in Chief, has refused to grant leave to any British officer to proceed to South America for the purpose of joining the patriots, and expressed surprise and dissatisfaction that such application should befmade. The prorogation of Parliament has been continued from the 25th of August, to the 3d of November. Manufactures continue to increase-wages have risen, and national industry is reviving. Manufactures of cotton and iron are particularly in demand. It is estimated that the consumption of cotton, for the year 1817, will amount to ninety-two millions of pounds; the consumption for 1816 is supposed to have fallen short of seventy-five millions of pounds. Cotton manufactures have been sent to India, and a GlasVOL. 1-No. 11.

gow paper remarks, "it is a flattering cir cumstance for our manufacturers, that the exportation of muslin to India from the Clyde, sold at such prices as to encourage a great extension of the trade; and considerable sales to fancy muslins have recently been made for that market." The harvest, also, is said to have been abundant, as well as of excellent quality. The tin and copper mine in the parish of Redruther, which had been suspended for two years, has begun again to be worked. This is the only mine in the country that has ever produced much cobalt, and from this, one stone has recently been taken, which weighed one thousand three hundred and thirty-three pounds. It is stated that there was imported from the United States of America into England, between the 1st of September, 1816, and the 1st of Sept. 1817, no less than four hundred and ninety-three thousand, five hundred and fourteen barrels of four, which, with the grain imported from the same country, would be sufficient to load two thousand seven hundred and eighty-six vessels of one hundred tons each.

9

Notwithstanding the disbursements from the treasury of Greenwich Hospital, which are necessarily very great, it has accumulated in the funds £3,760,000 of 3 per cent. stock. According to the books of the Hospital of the thirty-two thousand out-pensioners, now registered, from twelve to fifteen thousand are capable of active service afloat, and a further number, of shore or harbour service.

The Tavistock canal, which was commenced fourteen years ago, and forms a communication with Temar, was opened on the 25th August. It has cost £70,000. Upon the opening of it, a company of three or four hundred persons, in boats constructed of sheet-iron, passed through the tunnel, a distance of a mile and three quarters under ground, beneath a ceiling of solid rock, at a depth of four hundred and fifty feet from the summit of the hill, accompanied on their passage by music, vocal and instrumental.

A Syphon has been recently invented, to be used, instead of pumps, for the purpose of watering ships from a tank vessel. It is two feet and a half in diameter, and discharges twenty

tons of water in an hour.

The Bank of England has declared itself ready to pay cash, from the 1st of Oct. for all its notes dated prior to the 1st of January, 1817; and has also agreed to receive the notes of the Bank of Ireland the same as its own. The Irish merchants heretofore, have been obliged to pay ten per cent. for the difference of exchange.

Ireland, in addition to her recent distresses on account of the scarcity both of food and Jabour, and probably in consequence of that scarcity, is now suffering from the ravages of an epidemical fever: among the victims of the disease is the celebrated Mr. Justice Osborn.

The number of emigrants that sailed from Belfast for America, between the 17th of March and the 21st of August, is dated at two thousand one hundred and fifty-nine.

Died.] At Plymouth, on the 31st of Aug. Sir John Thomas Duckworth, G. C. B. Admiral of the White Squadron, Commander-inChief of Plymouth, and M. P. for New Romney. He was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral of the Blue on the 14th of February. 1799; was made a Vice Admiral on the 23d of April, 1804; and Admiral, on the 31st of July, 1810. On the seventh of February, 1806, he commanded the detachment of seven sail of the line, two frigates, and two sloops, which engaged. in the bay of St. Domingo, a squadron of French ships, consisting of five sail of the line, (one, the Imperiale, a three decker,) two frigates, and a corvette, which he entirely defeated after an action of two hours. Some years since, a pension of £1,000 per annun was settled on him for his services. His only son, Colonel Duckworth, was killed in Spain, under Wellington.

FRANCE.

The election of deputies took place in France, in September:-the citizens were eager to exercise their new-found right of

[blocks in formation]

A royal ordinance has been issued, for the purpose of forming, what are called majorats, for the hereditary peerage. A majorat is an hereditary fief. No individual except ecclesiastics can hereafter be called to the house of peers, who has not obtained the king's authority to form a majorat. These majorats are divided into three classes; those attached to the title of Duke are to consist of property of not less than thirty thousand francs, annual value; the majorat of a Marquis or a Count, of not less than twenty thousand francs, and that of a Viscount or Baron, of not less than ten thousand francs, annual value.

Archbishop Talleyrand Perigord, Duke of Rheims, not the celebrated statesman, Talleyrand-Prince Benevento-has been appointed to the See of Paris.

Some disturbances are said to have broken out at Lyons, but subsided without the interference of the military. Marshal Gouvion St. Cyr has succeeded the Duke of Feltres, in the War department, upon the resignation of the latter; and Count Mole has been appointed secretary of the Marine department. Marshai Marmont has been appointed to the command of the eighteenth military division, of which Lyons is the head-quarters. Marshal Davoust, Prince of Eckmühl, has taken the oath of fidelity to Louis, and has received a Marshal's baton. The Count des Escotais has been appointed agent of the marine and commerce at the Cape of Good Hope, where he is to reside. The King has issued an ordinance for bringing into actual service the officers of the old army, who were upon half pay. The public sentiment is said to be undergoing a change, on the subject of religion, in some of the departments, in consequence of the exertious of Catholic missionaries. The French papers state, "around Nantz and Bourdeaux, nothing now so much attracts the attention of travellers, as the daily pilgrimages of repentant and converted atheists to crosses, erected by themselves to expiate their former crimes against religion. It is anticipated that the effect of this change will be favourable to social order and morality.

General Debelle, whose sentence of death was commuted, by the king, into imprisonment for ten years, and who was confined in the citadel of Besancon, has received a free pardon. It is said that he owes his liberty, as well as life, to the intercession of the Duke of Angouleme, who allowed him, out of his private purse, a pension during his imprison

ment.

In consequence of the revival of manufactures in France, among other raw materials, iron is in great demand; this may also indicate a preparation for a state of national defence. Among other articles, French blue is said to be now manufactured at Paris, and of a quality superior to the Prussian blue. Although in some parts of France the drought has been excessive, yet, on the whole, the crops appear to have been abundant, and of a

good quality; a farmer in the neighbourhood of Neuville reaped more wheat this year on two acres and a half, than he reaped last year on ten acres. The French frigate La Fleur de Lis has been recently burned at Toulon, supposed by design; this vessel had been prepared for a voyage of circumnavigation.

Among the rarities at Paris, is a girl, who, though seven years old, is but eighteen inches high, and weighs only six pounds. She is well proportioned, and converses with ease and intelligence.

Died.] At Agan, recently; Madame Susanna Toussaint, Louverture, widow of the celebrated General Toussaint, of St. Domingo, aged about 50 years. Her character was estimable. She has left two sons-Placide and Saint Jean Louverture. The latter was placed in an English Academy, in 1804, where he has been educated at the expense of the British Government; he is about twenty years old. His elder brother remained in France, with his mother, and completed his studies at the Colonial College of Paris, where he received the rank of Chef d'Es cadron. There was another, Isaac, the oldest, who died some twelve years ago, in Belle-Isle, whither he was exiled. He was a captain in the French army at the time of his death.

SPAIN.

tary prince of Tuscany will marry the prin cess Amelia, daughter of the king of Sax

ony.

His Holiness the Pope and the King of France have entered into a convention for the advancement of the interests of the Roman Catholic Religion.

The old king of Sardinia is said to have taken the habit of St. Ignatius, and dedicated himself entirely to the duties of religion.

A fatal fever prevailed at Messina, in August last, on account of which, vessels from Sicily were refused pratique, at Malta, i. e. admission after having performed quarantine. It is asserted that the Lake of Canterno, called also Porciano, totally disappeared on the 24th of July, after a violent detonation. A large opening has been discovered at the bottom, through which probably the water ran into the crevices of the adjacent mountains.

SWITZERLAND.

The funeral obsequies of Madame de Stæl from Geneva, on the 28th of July. Her rewere performed at Copet, not far mains, at her own desire, were deposited along with those of her father and mother, Monsieur and Madame Necker. The ceremony was attended by great numbers from Geneva and its environs. In her will she

made many beneficent appropriations to the poor. She left, it is said, above a million of dollars.

NETHERLANDS.

spected in September; it is nearly 90,000 The army of the Netherlands was in

Accounts from Spain state that the new system of taxation is very popular, as well Messrs. Eustis and Gallatin, Ministers from as productive; that vessels are constantly arthe United States, are at the Hague, charged riving richly laden from Lima, Vera-Cruz, with the negotiation of a commercial conPorto-Bello, Carthagena, Havana, and vention. They have presented their credenManilla; that the crops are plentiful, and tials, and the king of the Netherlands has that manufactures and commerce are re-appointed commissioners to treat with them. viving. The army and navy are said to be The conferences have begun. punctually paid, as also the dividends due to the public creditors. It is stated that 11.000 picked troops are ordered to hold themselves in readiness for immediate embarkation to Buenos Ayres, to proceed against the insur gents; and that the shipping is to be furnished them by the French Government, in consequence of an arrangement with the Court of Madrid. Ferdinand has ordered that all military men taken in arms, in South America; all spies, all instigators to rebellion, and deserters from the royal standard, shall be tried by Court Martial, and promptly punished. All other offenders to be tried by civil process, but execution to take place according to the summary method of military law.

On the 21st day of August the queen gave birth to an infanta, who has been christened by the name of Maria Isabella Louisa.

ITALY.

Two marriages have taken place in Florence, which will draw closer the relations of four courts. The prince of Carignan, of the blood royal of Sardinia will espouse the Archduchess; Maria-Theresa, daughter of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, and niece to the Emperor of Austria; and the heredi

strong. Emigrations continue from the countries on the Rhine;-the emigrants shape their course for the southern and western parts of the United States of America. Seventeen distinguished French emigrants have been recently compelled to quit the Netherlands; just as the general order issued, Count Regnault St. Jean d'Angely, arrived to depart, and it is supposed he will retreat at Antwerp with his wife, but was obliged to Russia.

In the latter end of August and the beginning of September 140 vessels arrived at Amsterdam,, laden with wheat and rye, chiefly from Russia and Prussia. Many albeans, oats, and peas. The crop of potatoes so came, laden with buckwheat, barley, in the Netherlands is uncommonly plentiful. It is one hundred years since the cultivation of the potatoe was introduced into the Netherlands by the bishop of Namur.

The action brought by the Duke of Wellington against M. de Buscher, the editor of "The Journal of East and West Flanders,” has been decided to be not maintainable, and the Duke has appealed.

Vaccination has made such progress at Amsterdam, that out of a population of 200,000 souls, not one was attacked with the small pox in the first quarter of the year 1817.

GERMANY.

The Elector of Hesse, and the Hanse Towns, have acceded to the holy alliance. The Austrian Government has forbidden the exportation of warlike stores to any country in a state of insurrection. According to the last returns of the Austrian army, there are, of principal officers, 456 generals, and 380 colonels. of which, 321 generals, and 163 colonels are unemployed. The infantry consists of 58 regiments of the line, 21 battalions of grenadiers, 17 frontier regiments, 1 regiment of Tyrolese chasseurs, 12 battalions of chasseurs, and 5 garrison battalions: the cavalry is made up of 8 regiments of cuiras siers, & regiments of dragoons, 7 regiments of light horse, 12 regiments of hussars, 4 regiments of hulans, and a corps of horse gendarmerie in Lombardy: the artillery comprises 5 regiments of artillery, a corps of bombardiers, and 19 corps of garrison artillery: of engineers, there are 6 generals, 30 staff officers, 102 superior officers, and corps of sappers and miners. The Austrian corps forming a part of the army of occupation in France, consists of 6 regiments of the line, 2 battalions of chasseurs. 2 regiments of dragoons, and 2 regiments of hussars. The Austrian corps stationed in the Kingdom of Naples consists of 3 regiments of infantry of the line, and a regiment of dragoons. The last corps was expected to return home in October.

The Grand Duke of Mecklenburgh, Strelitz, was married on the 12th of August, to the Princess Maria, daughter of the Landgrave Frederick of Hesse. Mass has been celebrated throughout Austria, in thanksgiving for the abundant harvest of the year. DENMARK.

The Danish government is said to be mak ing great exertions to re-establish a navy; which at present, with the exception of some light vessels in the West-Indies, consists of the Phoenix, sixty-four gun; Princess Charlotte, sixty-four; a new ship just ready to launch, seventy-four; three new frigates, each thirty-six; three brigs, fourteen; and the keels of two more have just been laid, one to be a seventy-four, and the other a sixtyfour gun ship. Denmark has obtained a loan, at Genoa, of 3,000,000 dollars.

[blocks in formation]

will finish at Soederkoeping, an extent of thirty-six Swedish miles. The expense is estimated at 7,500,000 crowns; more than half the canal is finished, and the whole will be completed in six or seven years.

RUSSIA.

The Emperor Alexander is performing a tour through the southern provinces of his extensive empire. He pays great attention to his army, and reviews his troops three or four times a week. He has augmented the pay of both officers and soldiers. He is also increasing his navy. Great improvements also have been made in St. Petersburg since the Emperor's return from his travels. The Emperor, indeed, seems wholly occupied with public affairs, striving to develope, as fast as may be, the resources of his empire, and bring his means under his control. He has determined to make Helsingfors the capital of Finland, instead of Abo, and accordingly has issued orders for all persons connected with the Government to go from Abo, after the 1st of October, to Helsingfors. This town, hitherto the capital of the province of Nylands, has a commodious harbour in the Gulf of Finland. commanded by a powerful fortress The mother of the Emperor has presented to the young queen of Spain the grand dec. oration of the Order of St. Catharine, and the Emperor has appointed the Spanish minister of foreign affairs (Pizarro) Chevalier of the order of St. Alexander. The Russian Envoy at Brazils is said to have taken offence and left that country.

The differences between the Turks and the Russians, it is said, are likely to be amicably arranged, and a negociation is on foot, by which it will be agreed that the sublime Porte do permit all vessels to pass the Dardanelles upon paying a moderate duty. Mr. Pinkney, the American ambassador at Petersburgh, is treated with great distinction, and it is supposed that very important negotiations are in progress.

A Prussian Princess arrived at St. Petersburgh, on the 2nd of July, under an escort of forty thousand soldiers, for the purpose of solemnizing her nuptials with the brother of Alexander. Before the ceremony could take place, however, it was necessary for her to make public renunciation of the religion in which she had been educated; in doing which, she is said to have fainted twice. Her age is about eighteen years.

On the 21st of June last, the ground of a village, a short distance from Abo, suddenly sunk to the depth of many fathoms, and took with it twelve houses, which were so entire ly swallowed up. that no trace of them remained. A Similar event occurred in the same place in 1755 and 1786. This phenomenon is ascribed to the swampy marsh upon which the village is built, and to the river which flows through it

TURKEY.

Intelligence from Constantinople states, that the Kiaya Bay, or minister of the interior, has been suddenly sent into exile the cause is

not known. The celebrated Servian chief, Czerny George, has been apprehended at Semendria, and beheaded. His skin was stuffed with straw, and sent to Constantinople. This man had given the Turks much trouble in their wars with the Servians, and he had always received encouragement from Russia. The reason of his going to Semendria was that he had left there, in his flight from Servia some years before, the sum of 50.000 ducats, and he went in disguise to recover it, and escape to Russia. A pretended friend, however, betrayed him. He was known to be an imperial Russian general, and was decorated with the order of St. Ann. It is thought, therefore, that Alexander will revenge his death, and protect his family. This extraordinary man was born about the year. 1770, not far from Belgrade, and rendered himself memorable by the struggle which he maintained to free his country, Servia, from the yoke of the Ottomans. His figure was tall, but spare, and he wore a quieu which covered his whole back. His appearance differed from that of a common peasant in no respect, except that he always wore a dagger and pistols. His violent and stern temper early displayed itself, and hate for the Turks seems to have been born with him.When quite young, meeting a Turk in the street, who told him in an imperious tone to get out of his way, or he would shoot him, Czerny advanced upon him and laid him dead at his feet. After this he fled into Transylvania, and became an officer in the Austrian service, being then only 18 years old. Here, however, he did not long remain, but returning, in disgust, to his native country, he headed aband of robbers, at the head of which he severely harassed the Turks: he in his victory, sparing neither sex nor age. The Turks, in retaliation, condemned 26 Servians to death, and collected troops to attack Czerny's band; but the oppressed Servians, from all sides, flew to his standard, and the Turks were repulsed. His father renounced him, and set out for Belgrade to deliver him to the Turks. The son used every persuasion to make his father desist, but failing, shot him. On this account he obtained the name of Czerny, which means black. Though destitute of education, knowing neither how to read nor write, he had great gifts; he well understood the conduct of troops, and how to animate them in battle.

ASIA.

EAST-INDIES.

Since the fall of fort Hattrass, the British troops have taken, it is said, eleven other forts, which leaves the whole country entire ly at the mercy of the British.

It is said that Lord Moira, as soon as the season would permit, intended to invade the Marhatta dominions with 80,000 men.

The frontiers of Madrass, northward and westward, are infested with large bodies of freebooters, who have laid waste the whole province, and exercised the greatest cruelties

upon the inhabitants, cutting off their noses,
ears, fingers, &c. A major, with a detach-
ment of 300 men, met 10,000 of these maraud-
ers, and killed 800, and captured 1000 horse,
without any loss.
AFRICA.

The plague continues to spread its ravages in the Barbary states. At Algiers 80 died in a day. The superstitious Turks saw, with unconcern, persons momently falling dead. around them, but did nothing to arrest the dreadful malady. The Turks are all predestinarians.

AMERICA.

SPANISH AMERICA.

VENEZUELA.

Morillo has been driven from the island of Margarita, and is now at Cumana. The patriots are triumphant at present in the province Guayanna, and it is expected they will soon advance upon Carracas, whither Morillo is preparing to proceed. Amid confusion and distress, the stagnation of business, and the enormities of an atrocious warfare, the cause of the Independents seems to be slowly gaining ground.

CHILI.

By the last accounts from Chili, it appears that the independents have had a battle with the royalists, and were victorious. The royalist commander, Sanchos, who commanded at Talcaguana, the sea-port, had received a reinforcement of 500 men from Lima, which augmented his army from 1,400 to The patriot commander, Hevas, 1,500 men. had about 1700 men, having been joined by 200, part of the 1000 who went with general O'Higgins. The royalists made a sortie with their whole force, but were completely defeated, with the loss of 160 men and three

pieces of cannon, The Lima squadron was still at Talcaguana, for the purpose of taking, as was supposed the royal troops to Peru.

MEXICO.

Colonel Perry and Major Gordon, who had been despatched by General Mina, with forty-six men, to proceed to Nachitoches, were attacked on their way at Cow-pens, near Labidie, by 300 Spaniards, or according to the Spanish Official, by 100 men, and entirely routed;-twenty-seven were killed, the remainder wounded and taken prisoners, except two, who fled. Perry and Gordon are killed.

General Mina, after having erected a small fort at Soto la Marina, left in it Major Pierre of New-Orleans, the patriot Bishop Mier, and 200 men, consisting chiefly of inhabitants who had come to his standard, proceeded himself, with 300 to 1000 men, into the country toward St. Louis de Potosi. The fort has been reduced by Arredondo, who, also, despatched a colonel with about 3,000 men, of whom 600 were cavalry, after Mina. Upon coming up with Mina, a battle ensued, and the royalists were repulsed with heavy loss. Mina proceeded on to join a corps of

« AnteriorContinuar »