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looks, manners, and opinions, inimita-
bly represcuted. In his view of the
qualifications of an actor, almost every
endowment and grace under heaven
are comprized; but though not so
amply gifted, the aspirant resolves to
try, and sets out, with twenty pounds
in his pocket, for Dublin. On his
route he meets Ap Llewellyn, a fat
Cambrian, hunting for mineral waters
to reduce bis corpulency, and ever
enquiring, in a strange tone, "Am I
any thinner, think ye? I wish I were
thinner!" This personage figures pro-
minently in the after scenes, and is a
very novel and amusing character.
AtStratford on Avon we observed some
misplaced sensibility about Shaks-
peare, which is by no means in keep-
ing with the general scene, and had
much better be omitted; a laughable
song of the Market-day at Stratford,
with pigs, ducks, and children, in the
medley, being more consistent with
the general features of the perfor-
mance, and quite out of character with
the Shaksperian sentimentalism. Ma-
thews lands at Dublin, where a care-
ful carter offers to convey his luggage
from the shore. The fellow, however,
will say nothing but Whisht!—whisht!
-to any question or remark, till at
length the passengers declare that if
de does not explain himself, they will
unload their trunks "Whisht!-whisht!
spake softlier, I have just stole the cart
and horse!" We cannot say much for
the point of this story, and the next is
unfortunately very ancient, and rather
the worse for wear. Seeing a fellow
driving a pig, Mathews asks the bog-
trotter where he is taking the beast, and
the following colloquy ensues. "Spake
lower, your honour; pray spake lower."
"Why should I speak lower? I only
ask you whither you are driving the
pig."-" Spake lower." "What rea-
son can you have for not answering so
trifling a question?" "Why sure your
honour's as welcome as the flowers in
May, but I am afraid he'll hate me."

What then?"" Then he'll not go,--for I'm taking him to Cork, but I've made him belave he's going to Fermoy!"-On the Dublin stage our actor is partially successful, and in low comedy becomes one of Daly's Divartors, as the audience called that manager's corps. The wardrobe is described as very scanty, and a droll example is introduced of acting with one rufile, by changing it from one hand to the

other. The characters of several of
his associates here, are also drawn with
good effect; and two highly amusing
songs of an Irish Whist Party, and a
Volunteer Field-day add much to the
spirit of the scene. Other Irish cba-
racters appear in succession, genuine,
we believe, but unknown in England,
and excellent portraits of Cooke and
Suett. The latter has given Mathews
a letter of introduction to one Lolly-
pop Smith, which appellation he has
fastened upon him for releasing Dicky
Gossip from a tart-shop, where he was
detained in consequence of not having
a shilling in his pocket to pay for
pastry, which his son had unwittingly
consumed. A portrait of Curran plead-
ing in one of the Irish Rebellion causes
is next introduced, but certainly not
so successfully, as far as regards the
imitation of our late eloquent friend;
and a real Irish Song of "Croos-
keen Lawn" terminates his Irish ad-
ventures. From Dublin the itinerant
journeys to Wales, where he performs
for some time, and next engages with
the celebrated Tate Wilkinson, of
whom his personation is perfection.
Tate's abhorrence of rats, and oddly
interlarded conversation, his misdi-
rected letters and other droll incidents,
cause laugh to follow laugh in quick
succession. A very curious imitation
of a baby Roscius in Richard III. and
the introduction of Mr. Mark Mag-
num, with his bye-words ail that
sort of thing," and “ every thing in
the world." afford much amusement
here, until the successful Provincial is
summoned to a Town engagement.
In the London green-rooms he places
many well-known personages before
his audience; and in the last verse
introduces some of his own former
characters of the old Scotch Lady,
&c. &c. with all the earlier ellect,
which concludes the adventures of his
Youthful Days. In the third and last
part, he undertakes the characters of
Nat, a servant of all-work in a lodging-
house; Fipley, a dandy actor; Screw-
nerve, an old iniser; Zephyr, a French
ballet-master; Ap Llwyd, not grown
thinner, Mr. Mark Magnum, a non com-
pos Ledger, and Miss Amelrosa, a
young lady, who elopes with Fipley.
These are all admirable of their kind,
and Magnum's drunken scene, in which
he recounts his exploits as Steward at
a public dinner, is a superlative treat.
His picture of polite inebriety, and “all

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that sort of thing," of mistake, waggery, misadventure, and "every thing in the world," evinces the finest tact, and is combined with a fidelity of copy which must be seen, to be conceived.

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"Thus ends this strange, eventful history," and the only duty left to us is to deliver our critical opinion, "for we are nothing, if not critical," which we shall proceed to do very briefly, and very candidly. Were this the first instead of the fifth of Mr. Mathews' series, we should most readily hail it by every term of eulogy in our vocabulary, and praise the whole, as certainly by far the greater part of it, richly merits. But seeing what we have seen," we undoubtedly did prefer portions of last season's adventures to the present, and our principal objection now is, that we have not such tangible characters, if we may so express it, as Major Longbow, The Hon. Paul Pinnacle, and Miss Guffin. We well know however the difficulty of catering for the public, and the additional difficulty of providing unadulterated novelty. The new entertainment is solely from the pen of Mr. R. B. Peake; and we believe, upon all pre

vious occasions, there were two or three writers, this single authorship must, of course, therefore, have very materially encreased the arduous nature of an undertaking always sufficiently appalling.

Having therefore thus stated our' very trifling objections, we have far more pleasure in adding our encomium: as a theatrical treat, we recommend it to all our friends with a confidence of it's well meriting our eulogy, and well rewarding their trouble in making the visit; while a far better evidence of our private opinion is, that we hope to witness it's repetition very frequently ourselves.

On the Wednesdays and Fridays of the present Lent, Mr. Bartley's Ouranologia, or Astronomical Lectures, have recommenced, with very considerable improvements, both in their literary composition, and their mechanical elucidation. This exhibition is, we think, beyond comparison, the best of it's kind in the metropolis, both for matter as well as manner; and Mr. Bartley's style of delivery might be copied with advantage by very many beside Astronomical Lecturers.

PARLIAMENTARY REGISTER.

The days omitted were distinguished by no business of Public importance.

HOUSE OF LORDS. THURSDAY, FEB. 21, THE Lord Chancellor brought in a bill to prevent delay in the administration of justice, by enabling the Judges to open County Assizes, on the day after the time specified in the commission, upon declaring the cause of delay.

TUESDAY, FEB. 26.

The Earl of Liverpool proceeded to submit to their Lordships certain statements relative to the situation of this country. It appeared, by the comparative statement of the population which was before their Lordships, that between 1801 and 1811, there was an encrease in Great Britain, from 10,942,646 to 12,596,803,or in the proportion of 14 per cent. Again, between 1811 and 1821, there was an encrease to 14,397,677, being equal to 17 and two-thirds per cent. He thought it would be impossible for their Lordships properly to direct their consideration to the state of the country, with a view to discover the cause of the present difficulties, without bearing in mind this extraordinary fact, that the population had, during the last 20 years, encreased

more than it had done for a century before. He had next the satisfaction of stating, that the revenue of last year exceeded that of the preceding year by more than one million sterling; and this encrease was independent of the additional duties on articles liable to a greater taxation in the one year than in the other. The progressive encrease of the sums vested in Saving Banks, was also a proof of ease in the circumstances of a great proportion of that description of persons who were alledged to suffer from the pressure of distress, and the great progress of the encrease during the last year was on this account the more remarkable. The next point which he wished their Lordships to consider was, the state of the foreign commerce of the country, in which branch of trade there was an encrease in the exports of last year over the preceding, to the extent of two or three millions. For the amended state of the manufacturing districts, he would appeal to those noble Lords who were best acquainted with them, and he now came to the depressions which he was aware did exist in all the concerns of agriculture;

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and which existed in every other country in Europe as well as in this. He certainly did not mean to state this as a miatter of consolation to the petitioners, but as an important consideration with respect to the cause of the depression, which every country, whether manufacturing or agricultural, when all were at this moment equally suffering, and it was obvious that an immediate and general remedy was beyond the reach of their Lordships' power. He would also call their attention shortly to the growing produce of the revenue, which would atford evidence that the wealth of the country had encreased in a yet greater proportion, and that the chief evil of taxes in their tendency to fetter the growth of public resources had not been operative in our own case. The total amount of our exports for the years 1787, 8, and 9, was about £12,852,000; during the years 1819, 20, and 21, they were £40,146,000. The value of imports during the first-mentioned period was £13,000,000; during the latter £36,179,000. With regard to tea, the consumption had encreased in a greater ratio than the population. In the latter, there was an encrease of from 10,000,000 to 14,000,000; the consumption of tea had experienced an increase from 16,000,000 lb. to 22,600,000 lb. Another article of excise was candles, and in the year 1792, when there was a tax of one half penny per pound, the accounts for the years showed that the quantity so taxed and consumed was 49,900,000 lbs. In the year 1819, the quantity was no less than 83,559,000lbs. being an encrease of one-third beyond that of our population. But there was likewise another exciseable article, as to which there could be no fallacy, and which was one of universal consumption. In soap also the consumption had nevertheless gone on encreasing, and was in 1821, the last year, 643,963 cwt. In leather, bricks, and salt an equal encrease of consumption had also taken place; and Lord Liverpool came now to the measures which were proposed to alle viate the distress which it could not remove, The first was to reduce our establishments: the next to dispose of the surplus which the reductions would occasion. And here he was happy to say, that Government was enabled to propose a remission of taxesof more than a million. And he might be permitted to hold out the prospect of farther relief in future years, by the successive reduction of the interest on public securities, and the diminution of the expenditure in our establishments, occasioned by their magnitude during the last war. His Lordship concluded by moving for the finance accounts of the year 1821; which, after some few observations by other Peers was agreed to without a division.

FRIDAY, MARCH 8.

The Seizure of Arms in Ireland Bill and the Importation of Arms in Ireland Bill were read a third time and passed.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MONDAY, FEB. 18.

The Marquess of Londonderry moved, "That the Report of the Agricultural Committee of the last Sessions, together with the petitions laid upon the table during the last and present sessions, stating the extent of agricultural distress, be referred to a committee, to inquire into those distresses, and to report their observations to the House." which was appointed, and consisted, with very few exceptions, of the same members who composed the committee of last session,

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 20.

Mr. Hume presented a petition, signed by 4000 inhabitants of the town of Preston, Lancashire, and it's vicinity; requesting the interference of that House, to mitigate the punishment at present inflicted on Mr. Hunt, and concluded by moving." That the petition be brought up," which was read and ordered to be printed.

Lord Archibald Hamilton rose to move, that the reports of the select committees upon Scotch burghs should be referred to a committee of the whole House, when after

some debate the House divided:
For the motion,
Against it,

Majority, Against it

THURSDAY, FEB. 21.

46

81

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Lord Althorpe brought forward his promised motion on the state of the country, and concluded by moving a resolution, that the plan of relief proposed by ministhe country, and did not meet the justice ters had disappointed the expectations of of the case, and moved an amendment, when after considerable debate the House divided

For the original motion,
For the amendment,

Majority,

FRIDAY, FEB. 22.

126

234

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Mr. Hume moved that there should be laid before the House the returns of the amount of the wages, of victuals, wear and tear, and ordnance for the seamen and marines to serve in his Majesty's fleet, for the year 1822, previously to going into a Committee.

Mr. Croker said that this was the first moment in which, during the space of more than 160 years, the vote of the Navy Estimates had been opposed, even in it's preliminary stage, and after exposing the false calculations of Mr. Hùme at very considerable length, the House divided

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For the motion, Against it, Majority,

60 167

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The Chancellor of the Exchequer rose to propose an object for the adoption of Parliament, the effecting of which had always been looked upon as afford. ing a most striking proof of the great resources of the country, and of the extent of public credit. The reducing the interest of the 5 per cents. which would have the effect of giving relief to the extent of £1,150,000 per annum. The amount of stock on which the proposed reduction was to operate was £140,500,000, and was composed of the navy 5 and the Irish 5 per cents. It was proposed by his Majesty's ministers that the stockholders for every £100 at present receiving an interest at 5 per cent. should receive £105 stock, bearing interest at 4 per cent. The individuals who consented to this exchange would continue to receive 5 per cent. interest until the 5th of July next, but after that time they would receive only 4 per cent. upon the encreased stock then in their hands, which encrease would yield an additional interest of four shillings per cent. All that government had a right to do, was to force the holders of stock to accept payment of their capital at par. They had no right to compel them to accept the proposed terms of transfer; that must be entirely a voluntary act on their part. But the terms which were proposed to them were so favourable, that it might be reasonably concluded that the greater part of the stockholders would accept them. In the confidence that this great operation would be completed, he had proposed to the House the repeal of the malt-tax. He concluded by moving his first resolution for carrying into effect the project, the particulars of which he had stated.

Several Members spoke upon this question, which was ultimately carried without a division,

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and moved the appointment of a committee to enquire into the particulars stated in the petition from the Corporation of London, which was lost by a Majority of 128.

Mr. Calcraft brought forward his mo tion for leave to bring in a Bill for the gradual repeal of the duty on salt, when after considerable debate, the House divided. For the motion, 165 Against it, Majority,

169

FRIDAY, MARCH 1. In the Committee of Supply, the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated his intention, as soon as the finance accounts of the present year were arranged, to propose a Committee for the purpose of simplying the public accounts, In that Committee it would be open for consideration, whether any new mode of arranging the Sinking Fund ought to be adopted, and they would then consider whether the surplus of the five millions was to be applied to the reduction of taxes, or should be suffered to accumulate at compound interest.

Sir J. Osborne, after stating that consi derable reduction had been made in the contingent expenses of the Admiralty, moved that there should be granted to his Majesty the sum of £57,616 16s. Id. to defray the expense of the Admiralty Office during the present year.

Sir M. Ridley moved a reduction in the vote of £2,000 being the amount of the salary of two of the Junior Lords of the Admiralty.

Sir J. Sebright looked upon the continuance of these places as convenient for his Majesty's Ministers; but the House, as the guardian of the public purse, was bound to have them reduced.

Mr. Bernal, Mr. Maryatt, Lord Al thorpe, Admiral Harvey, Mr. Gipps, Mr. Ellison, Sir C. Cole, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Lord Londonderry op posed it, and the House divided, when there were,—

For the amendment,
Against it,

Majority against Ministers

182

121

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On the motion, that there be granted to his Majesty the sum of £31,304 1s. 6d, for defraying the expenses of salaries and contingencies of the Navy Pay-Office for the year 1822, Mr. Hume proposed a reduction of 25 per cent. from the whole of the salaries, which was lost by a large Majority.

MONDAY, MARCH 4.

Mr. Gooch wished to know when the remission of the duty of Is. a bushel on Malt should take place, and whether it would be extended to the stock in hand.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, it was his intention to take off the duty of 1s. per bushel from the 26th February,

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reached it's final destination on the Continent, and concluded by moving a resolution to the following effect,-"That it is the opinion of this House, that the respect and solemnity which by ancient custom have been observed at the funerals of the Queens of England, have been, at the funeral of her late Majesty Queen Caroline, unnecessarily and indecorously violated."

Mr. Hobhouse said, it did not appear that the Queen had wished the funeral to be private. "Obey the injunctions in the Queen's will" was the cry when it suited the purpose. Troops ought not to have been sent. A lady in attendance on her Majesty had entreated that they should not, and foretold the consequences.

Col. Cavendish said, the soldiers were pelted as soon as they appeared. His Hon. friend would not deny that soldiers, whatever might be the distinction of civil and military, had a right, when attacked, to defend themselves.

After much debate, in which the assertions of the motion were wholly refuted, the motion was negatived without a division.

CIVIC REGISTER.

1822.

Right Honourable CHRISTOPHER MAGNAY, LORD MAYOR.
JOHN GARRAït, Esq. ALDERMAN
WILLIAM VENABLES, ESQ. ALDERMAN

COURT OF ALDERMEN.

SATURDAY, MARCH 9.

A Special Court of Aldermen was held this day when the Chamberlain reported the surplus in hand of the Orphans' Fund applicable to the discharge of the debt, which being read, the Court directed the sum of £23,200 to be paid off and discharged, and instructed the Chamberlain to take the requisite measures to inform the parties interested therein. Commissioners of the Court of Requests for the month of April next were appointed. The Chamberlain laid before the Court sundry Orders he had received from the Select

..

SHERIFFS.

Committee of the House of Commons upon the Orphans' Fund, for various accounts, which were read, and the Chamberlain directed to make the Returns required.

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

THURSDAY, MARCH. 21.

At the Court held this Day, which was most numerously attended, Mr. Favell moved a vote of severe censure upon Sir William Curtis, for the observations of the Hon. Baronet in the House of Commons reflecting on the Court of Common Council, which after a protracted debate was carried by a large majority.

LONDON GAZETTES.

SATURDAY, FEB. 23. Members returned to serve in Parliament. Borough of Blechingly.-The Right Hon. Francis Levison Gower, commonly called Lord Francis Levison Gower, in the room of the Hon. William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, commonly called Marquis of Titchfield, who has accepted the Chiltern Hundreds.

County of Montgomery.- The Right Hon. Charles Watkin Williams Wynn.

The King has been pleased to grant to the Rev. James H. Monk, Bachelor of Divinity and Regius Professor of Greek in the University of Cambridge, the Deanry of his Majesty's Cathedral Church of Peterborough, void by the death of the Rev, Dr. Thomas Kipling late Dean thereof.

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