than Mr Stephen Kemble, whofe croak. ing was fuch

"That dogs barked as he halted by 'em."

Mr Cooke's next appearance was in Richard, and here I think his merit nearly centres--his figure fuits this "lame and unfashionable" character well---his features, which could not be diftinctly feen in Shylock, are expreffive, and in many paffages feemed pregnant with his "deep intent;" he however carricatured the bufinefs of the scene where he courts Lady Anne; that encounter is at once keen, and I hope, unnatural, but it may be burlefqued; in the foliloquies he thewed confiderable variety, his emphafis being correct, and his paufes judicious; his flattery to Buckingham in his affect ed fubmiffion to his directions, and his religious hypocrify with the Mayor (for there were no citizens) were chaftly excellent, fhewing a thorough know. ledge of the ambitious views, and the inhuman purposes the author meant this character to poffefs--his difdainful, contemptuous looks to Buckingham, who, after declining to undertake the murder of the princes, puts Richard in remembrance of his promifes for past fervices, were frickingly impreffive; he had not, perhaps, fufficient force in the scene where the "tell-tale women rail on the Lords annointed," nor the requifite plaufibility when he informs the Queen that he will marry her daughter. He had much natural interefting anxiety in his inquiries and directions before refting in the tent on the eve of the battle with Richmond; but, though he never loft fight of character through the remainder of the lait act, where the height of impetuous rage, diftraction, and defpair are neceffary, yet here, as in the laft part of Shylock, he was much exhaufted, being literally both hoarfe and feeble, when "daring to arms" the conqueror of the day.

The next effort of this performer, which I attended was in Iago. I have been fo long accustomed to the great exertions of Mr Woods in this deteftible creator of mifchief, that it is poffible I cannot divett myfelf of prejudice; but if I may be believed, our new competitor, does not excel him. Mr Cooke played it differently in many refpects, though in several inftances I was more pleased with the ingenuity, than

the correctness of his ideas; he had more fire in his expreffion, and gave it admits of, particularly in his princ the part a higher colouring than I the pal fcenes with the Moor, forgett that bis purposes are wrought by e treme cunning and an obfequious mod of procedure, totally different from any thing having the appearance bravery or open villainy; he had co fiderable eafe in the fcene with Defe mona after landing at Cyprus, and thofe with Roderigo; but be egregies ly miftook the text when he made a exulting exit, which is neither expre nor implied, when he is carried of b punishment.

For the fake of variety, Mr Coe next mounted Othello himself, » Woods refuming Iago. On his abilit in the part, I shall be brief; he wree elegance and dignity in appeara a courfe demeanour pervaded throng out, and his oratory by no me

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grac'd his caufe in fpeaking for h felf:" his love was unaffecting; his xiety and jealous agitation were conceived, but he wanted feeling tenderness in the moments of d and fondnefs: in the laft act, whe the moft rapid melting climaxes a wanting, he was totally overpowe and then

"His voice, in one dull, deep, ried found,

"Seem'd to break forth from a under ground."

I did not again fee this perform till the night of his benefit,, wher played Macbeth, though I have b told, that in the interim he reprefer Penruddock, and Sir Giles Overrea with much well earned applause. Macbeth his figure was not fufficiet commanding. He had confiderat merit, when he conceives his way marshall'd by a dagger previous to murder of Duncan, but there was lack of the requifite alarm and feat after perpetrating the deed, as well thofe neceffary pitiable tones of morfe and dread, in the fucceeding fpeeches of that fcene: His deportat was happily imagined, and finely po trayed, when Macduff enters, enqu for the King, where his countena was the index of great mental cort fion with the outward affectation of renity; nor does any actor" live

care not to guarantee this) and as on Mifs Biggs's night there was not much above L. 100, it was "for certes" not gallant to exact expences from her, while there were made a prefent of to Mr Cooke. Deceptions in their engagements must be a ftrong bar against capital performers visiting this city, which is both able and defirous to reward merit, and is therefore as well entitled to ftigmatize a manager for bringing performers from a diftance on fallacious pretences, as for making up the company with a parcel of execrable vermin, from every ftrolling party in the kingdom, which is the cafe at prefent.

I fhall conclude for this feafon, by obferving, that we'll know by next winter whether we are to be much better off than with Mr Kemble. The managers cannot have the excufe of want of time to select a company, and they have a whole harvest to decorate the theatre, as they have promised to do. If they fail in keeping this pro. mike, “they may chance to hear of it again." While fpeaking of improvemts, I cannot help expreffing fur prife that the price of admiffion should

continue to be the fame to both pe and boxes,--this is not the rule in a other theatre of confequence that know of, and there can be no proprie ty that it should be fo; why should certain part of the audience be accom modated to their utmost wish, even the most crowded night, for no mo money than another part pays for ftanding, belides being fqueezed in half their natural bounds? If the m nagers were to ornament the houk it ought to be, and bring a refpecta ftanding company, they would have good claim on the public for railing the boxes to a crown; and would by this notwithstanding of additional expen ture, be much in pocket; befides, that way, the houfe would hold me than L. 200, which would be a fut encouragement for eminent perform visiting this place, the amount of al nefit being not the leaft inducemen. I am, &c.

TIMOTHY PLAINEdinburgh, 24th July, 1801.

On account of the length of this a ticle, the notice of the other Pul places of Amusement, is deferred next number.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. April 16. The Chancellor of the Exechequer rofe, in pursuance of the notice he had given, to move the thanks of the Houfe to Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, and Admirals Lord Nelson and Graves; to Colonel Stuart of the 49th regiment, and to the Captains of the several hips, officers of marines, foldiers, failors, &c. in the North Sea fleet, for the gallant conduct, intrepidity, and fkill they had difplayed in attacking the Danith line of defence, in the roads of Copenhagen. He bestowed the higheft eulogiums upon thofe Admirals who had the conducting of this momentous enterprife, and gave every commendation to those who acted under their command. He ftated, that after the attack had been crowned with the moft complete fuccefs, Admiral Lord Nelfon wrote a letter to the Prince-Royal

of Denmark, ftating, that he fuld ftill be compelled to deftroy the Soc ing batteries. The Prince Royal with ing to know why fuch a letter had best fent to him. Lord Nelfon, in anfwer faid, that he was anxions to spare the further effufion of blood, he asked whether or not the batteries were dif pofed to furrender. His Lordship thes went on fhore, where he was receive with the most lively demonftrations of joy by the people, and he had a canference with the Prince-Royal, the na ture of which it would be improper for him to ftate at prefent. He fal that the victory which had been gais fhould be used with that spirit of ma nanimity and forbearance which ways became a nation who triumphed over its foes. He trufted that, under God, it wonld be the means of bringing about a peace, honourable in the highest degree to this country, and

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permanent all over Europe. The Chancellor of the Exchequer they made the motions fimilar to those of the Houfe of Lords.

Lord Hawkesbury feconded the motions; and a few very thort fpeeches were delivered by Mers Pitt, Grey, and Sheridan, all tending to the praife of our fleet, for their decided conduct upon fuch a great and important expedition. The motions were then carried nem. con.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer then moved that an humble addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, that he would be graciously pleafed to order that monuments be erected in St Paul's Cathedral, to the memory of Captains Moffe and Riou, who glorioufly fell on the 2d of April 1801, in attacking the Danifh line of defence in the roads of Copenhagen. The motion was carried

May 14 Lord Hawkesbury brought down a meilage from his Majelty, which was read by the fpeaker,, and is in fubftance as follows:

G. R. His Majefty taking into his moft ferious consideration the immisent danger with which the kingdom of Portugal, the ancient and natural ally of Great Britain, is threatened by the powers at war, and alfo the commercial regulations of the two kingdoms, and defirous of rendering her Majelty fuch relief as may be neceffary for the defence of her kingdom, recommends to his grateful Commons to cuable him to fubiidize her Majefty for the protection of her dominions against the common enemy."

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved that the nieffage thould be referred to a committee of fupply, and taken into confideration on Monday, when, the fum he would propofe would be 300,000l. to be paid by inftalments.Ordered.

Monument to the Memory of Ceneral Abercromby

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The Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir, I rife in 'confequence of the notice J gave the House on Friday laft, to propole to render a tribute of national gratitude to the memory of General, Sir Ralph Abercromby. On referring to the journals of the Houfe, I find, thit on an occafion fimilar in many refpects to the prefent unfean occa Vol. LXIII.

fion which equally operated upon the joy and regret of the Houfe-I mean, Sir, when the account of the death of General Wolfe, and the fuccefs of the British army, were made known to the country, the first proceeding of the House of Commons, was to pay a tribute of regret and juftice to the memory of the General the country had loft, before it expreffed its gratitude to the army. It is my with to imitate what was done upon an occafion in which the British army gained a victory, and the country had the misfortune to lofe a brave general. On the merits of that great and diffinguished man, who has been loft to his country in his command in Egypt, it is unneceffary for me to expatiate. His me rits are known to every one who hears me'; they are defcribed by his fucceffor in a manner that does honour to the feelings of his heart, and thew that, if British fentiments can be relied upon in enabling him who is actuated by them to render eminent fervices to his country, General Hutchifon will prové a valuable fucceffor to the great man who preceded him. Of Sir Ralph Abercromby I wish to abstain from laying more than that he closed a long life of honour with a death of glory. The breath of calumny never reached him. He was justly honoured by the officers affociated with him, and the folders under his command. I am inclined to rate Sir Ralph Abercromby among the first military characters that ever adorned the country. His end boré a ftriking refemblance to that of General Wolfe. I will only add, that his Majefty, with that gracious difpo fition, which he has ever manifefted to do honour to thofe who have ferved him faitifully, and by their exertions have benefited the country, has directed that the standard which has fallen into our power thould adorn the monument to be erected to Sir Ralph Abercromby, to preferve the memory of his fervices. It is a #triking circumftance, that this ftandard will remain till the lateft poterity, at least as long as a fragment of it can be preferved, as the teftimony of the bravery of a man who never drew his word to fubyert and deftroy, but to fave as well as to conquer. I trust that fuch may ever be the principles which will actuate the juftice or the country, and

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that

that it will ever be bleffed with fuch men as Sir Ralph Abercromby to carry them into effect Without indulging in any unreasonable exultation over the enemy, which at all times is unmanly, we may furely, Sir, feel an hon eft and becoming English pride, at an event fo glorious to the country. There is not a man who must not feel that every exertion of the army adds to our domeftic (trength and fecurity. Let us, however, always call to mind; let us never ceafe to repeat, that the great object of military exertion is the attainment of an honourable and permanent peace; and let it be underftood to be the folid purpofe of government and of parliament, as it ought to be of the people, not to let any victory, however gratifying, induce us to demand more of the enemy than is neceffary for our own fafety and curry; and, on the other hand, not to fuffer that any degree of difaster thould induce us to accept of lefs. If fuch was ever to be the cafe, we fhould miferably under-rate the facultics, energies, and powers of the country; we fhould render unprofitable thofe victories which are its glory; we thould vilify and degrade the refources of the country, the best of which are to be found in the unconquered and unconquerable mind the people poffefs in fo eminent a degree, and which, when wifely tempered, is the fource of all that is good and great-the guardi an of private honour, the pledge of public worth, and the belt prefervative of the glory, profperity, and happinets of the country. I wish to have it underflood, that the fentiments of admiration I exprefs are applied to the whole of the army and navy. I fhall forbear to fpecify all who merit parti cular mention. I move, Sir, "that an humble addrefs be made to his Majefty, moit humbly defiring that his Majefty will be gracioufly pleafed to give directions that a monument be erected in the cathedral of St Paul, in memory of the ever-lamented commander in chief of his Majefty's land forces, Lieutenant-General Sir R. A. bercromby, knight of the most noble order of the Bath, who, having fur mounted, by his valour and confum, mate ability, the obstacles oppofed by a powerful enemy to his landing on the coaft of Egypt, and who, after having fuccefsfully established thofe dif pofitions neceffary for the further ope

rations of the army under his com mand, refifted, with fignal advantage, a defperate attack of the chofen and veteran troops of the enemy, on the 21ft of March laft, when he received early in the action, a mortal wound, notwithstanding which, he remained on the field, animating by his com mand, and encouraging by his exam ple, the brave troops under him, till their valour had achieved the victory of that memorable day-and to affure his Majefty that this Houfe will make good the expence of erecting the faid monument."

Sir James Pulteney seconded the motion, and paffed a high eulogy on Go neral Abercromby and the army.

May 19. The Chancellor of the E chequer moved the third reading the bill for removing doubts with gard to the eligibility of the clergy a feat in the Commons Houfe of a liament, and the bill was paffed, ordered to be carried up to the Lord

20. The Chancellor of the Exch quer brought down a message from his Majesty, ftating, That his Maje having taken into his royal confidera tion the fignal merits of Gen. Sir Rap Abercromby, during a long life spent the fervice of his country, had thought proper to confer upon his widow, L» dy Abercromby, the title of Bara Abercromby of Aboukir, and as la Majefty was anxious; that her L fhip fhould have an annuity of 2000 per annum, which should defcend the two next male heirs of Gen. Sir Ralph Abercromby, recommended to his faithful Commons to make provi fion accordingly.

Mr Addington moved, that the com fideration of the message be referred to a committee of the whole House.

Mr Addington ftated, that certam taxes propofed for the fervice of the year had been abandoned. The first of these was the tax propofed upor printed goods, which had been given up in confequence of remonstrances from all the great manufacturers of the country. This tax had been takena: 140,000l. The next duty which had bee abandoned, was that upon pepper es ported, and this relinquifiment bad taken place from the measure being på titioned against by the Eat-India com pany. This tax had been estimated to to produce 92,000l. Making together a fum of 232,000l.-To make good this deficiency, he fhould propofe

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