: ON Saturday, October 29, a new comedy, entitled FORTUNE'S FOOL, was performed for the first time, at Coventgarden theatre. Mr. Reynolds is the author, and the following are the dramatis perfonæ Haphazard, Mr. Lewis; fir Banber Blackletter, Mr. Quick; Tom Seymour, Mr. Fawcett; Orville, Mr. Macready; Samuel, Mr. Abbott fir Charles Danvers, Mr. Middleton; Mrs. Seymour, Mils Morris; Mifs Union, Mrs. Mattocks; and lady Danvers, Mifs Wallis. The fable is as follows: fir Charles and lady Danvers, on their return from Gretna Green, find themselves deferted by their relations. His uncle, fir Bamber Blackletter, is fo offended at the marriage, that he determines to difinherit fir Charles, and adopt his godfon, Haphazard. Mrs. Seymour, the mother of lady Danyers, is allo fo offended, that the talks of marrying again; and Haphazard having faved her life, the names him for her husband. Haphazard, who is Fortune's Fool, by a continuity of bad luck, gets out of favour with both parties; and, in the end, fir Charles and lady Danvers are protected by their families. There is an under plot, which confifts of fir Bamber's love for Mifs Union, and his determination to marry her, in confequence of her being in poffeffion of a Chaucerian manufcript, called Trickarinda.Haphazard, by accident, proves this to be a forgery, and Mifs Union meets with the contempt the merits. From this story it may be easily conceived, that much whimfical fituation and broad joke may be derived. The happiest hits of the author are at manufcript hunters and fresh water failors. Lewis' character is the rattle-brained hero of the piece. Quick, in the antiquarian critic, and Fawcett, in the great naval character, were much applauded. The comedy was most favourably received. It was preceded by a fupplicating prologue, and followed by an epilogue, in which Mrs. Mattocks depicted with great Spirit the maiden terrors of a parliamentary orator on his firft fpeech. She likewife reprefented with confiderable humour the attachment of Mifs Bull to her pug dog, whom the fhaded with a fmall umbrella from the fcorching heat of the fun, and covered with a fpencer and tippet during the chilling blaits of winter. The four legged performer, who was introduced for the first time on this occafion, contributed his share to promote the mirth of the audience. The new scenery of the play is admirable, particularly a view of the river and Wettininter-bridge from York-buildings, and the interior of the concert room at the opera houfe. ON Tuesday, Nov. 15, was performed, for the first time, at Drury-lane theatre, a new tragedy, under the title of THE CONSPIRACY. It is the production of Mr. Jephton, a name well known in the dramatic world. The Roman history has furnished the outlines, and the Vitellian confpiracy appears to be the groundwork. The following are the dramatis perfonæ : Titus, Mr. Palmer; Sextus, Mr. Kemble; Annius, Mr. Barrymore; Publius, Mr. C. Kemble; Lentulus, M. Caulfield: Cornelia, Mrs. Powell; and Vitellia, Mrs. Siddons. Vitellia, fecretly in love with the em peror, enraged at his neglect of her, and jealous of the charms of her rivals, under the pretence of revenging the death of her father Vitellius, who had been deprived of his right to the empire, and put to death by the Vefpafian family, foments a confpiracy to affaffinate Titus, in which fhe engages Lentulus and Sextus, who, enamoured of her, facrifices to her charms his friendship and duty to his fovereign. The Emperor, having, in compliance with the wishes of the fenate, refolved to marry, first defigns Cornelia for that high honour; but learning that her faith had been plighted to Annius, he generously refigns her, and names Vitellia as his em prefs. The nomination, however, comes too late, as Sextus had, in compliance with Vitellia's commands, already proceeded with the other confpirators to the firing of the capitol, and the alfaffination of Titus. The plot to destroy the em peror fails; Sextus is difcovered and fea tenced to banishment from Rome, bur ftill afcribes all the guilt to himfelt, while Viteilia, ftung by remorte at the expected punishment of Sextus, rak s poison, and difcovers her crimes to the emperor. She dies, and Sextus, no longer able to fupport the double lofs of honour and of love, kills himfelt. Such are the outlines of the piece, and throughout, the fame characterities are confpicuous which mark the other dramatic To the exertions of Mr. Kemble, Mrs. Siddons, and Mr. Paliner, the author is very much indebted. The play was well received, and will probably become a favourite. The prologue was fpoken by Mr. C. Kemble, and the epilogue by Mrs. Powell. HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. NOVEMBER I. N Saturday, the feffions ended at the Old Bailey, when four capital convics received fentence of death. The fefLions were then adjourned to Wednesday, the 30th inftant. NOVEMBER 5. Yesterday, at a court of common council, the report of the committee on the high price of flour was prefented, and Mr. Birch moved to agree with the committee, to apply to parliament for the erection of mills, in order to counteract the prefent combinations. A long debate took place, after which the question was agreed to. NOVEMBER 10. Yefterday, a proclamation appeared, authorizing the iffuiug of letters of marque, and general reprisals against the subjects of the king of Spain. NOVEMBER 11. at what is called a cock and hen club." The men being moftly armed with cutlaffes and knives, made a defperate refiftance, and wounded feveral of the peace officers in fo fhocking a manner that one is fince dead. Three of the ringleaders were taken into cuftody, and underwent an examination before the magiftrates in Hatton-garden, who committed them to Clerkenwell Bridewell. On Saturday night died in St. Bartholomew's hofpital, of the wounds he received on Thursday night, in Cow-cross, Mr. Brewer, beadle of St. Sepulchre's parish without; he has left a widow and fix, children. The unfortunate perfons continue dangerously ill. NOVEMBER 17. On Monday night last a riot, very little inferior to that which occurred at Cowcrofs, took place in Proad-street, St. Yefterday evening, a moft horrid enor- Giles' a number of people were defpemity was committed by a gang of villains rately wounded, fome of whom now lie at the Saracen's Head, Friday- ftreet: as dangerously ill. The affray originated at David Jones, a strong and active young the house of one Stack, a publican, whofe cman, was returning from the inn where houfe for many years has been the refort of he had delivered his goods, hearing the the lower and most abandoned clafs of cry of thieves! thieves!' he ran, and Irifhmen. They were all taken before fecured one of them, when two more of Mr. Bond at the Public-office in Bowthe gang came to his affiftance with cut-ftreet, where they underwent an examinalaffes, and mangled Jones in a dreadful tion. The publican was committed, and, and fhocking manner, fo that his life is as a farther punishment, will be deprived defpaired of. Two more porters have of his licence. been dangerously wounded, another received three stabs in his fide, but, fortunately, had a book in his jacket-pocket, which faved his life, as it was pierced in three different places nearly through; the villains at the fame time crying out, thieves and murder!' fo got clear off. This is inferted as a caution to tradelmen, not to fend out goods after dark. NOVEMBER 14. On Thursday night, an affray took, place at a public houfe, in Cow-crofs, near Smithfield, between a party of contables, watchmen, &c. and a number of diforderly perfons of both fexes, affembled NOVEMBER 19. Copy of a Circular Letter to the Lieutenants of Counties on the Sea-coaft. My Lord, Whitehall, Nov. 5. 'As it would add materially to the difficulties which already oppofe themselves to any attempts which it is poffible the enemy may be induced to make upon our coalts, if the live and dead ftock of individuals, refiding near the fea-coaft, were cas pable of being inftantly removed and fecured for the benefit of the proprietors, I ́ am commanded to recommend it to your lordship to exert your influence in caufing to be made out, as fpeedily as poffible, an account of the live and dead stock, in fuch of the parishes of the county of Suffex as are within ten or twelve miles of the fea. written for the ufe of the London Corres ponding Society.' Mr. juftice Afhhurft addreffed the pri foner in a long speech, in which he point • With respect to the mode of making out the account required, I take this op-ed out the falfehood, calumny, and perportunity of tranfmitting to your lordship nicious tendency of the libel, the object of the form in which it has been executed by which, he obferved, was to bring into rethe voluntary exertions of the gentlemen proach, and overturn, the wife and most of the county of Dorfet; and thall beg to excellent eftablishments of the country. fubmit it for your lordship's confideration The prifoner's plea, that he was not the and adoption, unlefs where it may be author of the libel, could not in the leaft found neceffary to deviate from it, in con- avail him; for the publishers were much fequence of local circumstances and fitua- more dangerous and criminal in the eye of tions. the law, than the authors of libels, becaufe they diffufed the calumny all over the country. After feveral other judicious remarks, the learned judge pronounced the following fentence, viz. That the prifoner be imprifoned in the houfe of correction at Cold Bath-fields, and there kept to hard labour for the term of two years, and, at the expiration thereof, enter into a recognizance in the fum of 500l. for his good behaviour for feven years. With respect to the mode in which it is propofed to remove fuch live and dead tock, in cafe it fhould be neceffary, your lordship will communicate with the commander in chief of the district in which the county of Suffex lies, and will concert with him fuch previous meafures for this purpofe as may be judged requifite. The meeting which I have defired your lordship to call on the fubject of my circular letter of this day's date, will afford you an opportunity of fubmitting this letter to the confideration of the deputy lieutenants and the magiftracy of the county of Suffex, and will confequently lead to the immediate adoption of fuch measures as shall be necessary to enable the return to be made, which I am perfuaded your lord hip will be of opinion is fo much to be wished for. I am further to inform your lordship, that the lords commiffioners of the treafury have received his majefty's 'pleasure, that they fhould take fuch previous meafures as may be neceffary, for defraying any expences which may arife, in confequence of fuch poflible removal of live and dead ftock as I have fuppofed, as well as of any particular loffes which may eventually be occafioned thereby. Although this circumftance is fuch as muft obviate every possible objection to the meafure, I am, nevertheless, confident, that all those whom it may concern, would, exclufively of every perfonal confideration or motive, join with the utmost alacrity in the execution of a measure which has for its object the general fafety of the country, I have the honour to be, &c. NOVEMBER 20. NOVEMBER 22. On Saturday, was apprehended on board the Sanfpareil guardship, at Spithead, by Inwards and Brown, two of the officers belonging to the police office, Hattongarden, William Dunn, one of the perfons concerned in the murder of Mr. Ed-s ward Brewer at the watch house in Cowcrofs, and fafely lodged in Bridewell, Cold Bath-fields, on Sunday afternoon. This day, William Arnold and William Ryan were committed to Newgate, by William Bleamire, efq. for the wilful murder of David Brewer, at Cow-crofs. NOVEMBER 24. Perfons exempted from fervice in the fupplementary militia, are as follows, viz. Articled clerks and apprentices, having been fuch before the 20th of Oct. 1795. Poor men having more than three children born in lawful wedlock, under ten years of age, or infirm-Gamekeepers enrolled to ferve in purfuance of any other act to be paffed in the prefent feffionsPerfons having ferved perfonally, or by fubftitute, in the exifting militia-but no perión who has been discharged from the army, or any volunteer corps, or who has ferved in the prefent militia as a fubítitute, is exempted-Note, Deputy lieutenants and juftices of the peace, at their first subdivifion meeting, after they thall have received the lifts of men liable to ferve, as directed by the act of 26 Geo. III. cap. 107. are to make a duplicate thereof, and to amend fuch duplicate, by inferting the names of all men liable to ferve in the fupplementary militia, leaving out fuch only as are exprefsly excepted by the act, of which a return is to be made to the general meeting. Perfons exempted from ferving in the provifional cavalry-Officers and privates in the army, militia, and volunteer corps, or thofe ferving by tubftitutes; members of the univerfities, clergy men, teachers of private congregations, medical gentlemen, conftabies or other peace officers ferving for any parish or place, articled clerks before Oct. 20, 1796; feafaring men and perfons employed in any of his majesty's castles, forts, dock-yards, ftorehoufes, &c.-perfons free of the watermen's company; inferior officers of excife, and who respectively fhall not be charged to the faid duties for more than one horfe. Many counterfeit guineas are now in circulation, dated 1790. They are easily diftinguished by having a pale look, and a peculiar flat and leaden found; they are of a proper weight, and in every other refpect well executed. COMMOTIONS in IRELAND. CAMDEN, And whereas we have alfo received information, that on Tuesday laft, the ft of November, a confiderable number of armed men, affociated in the aforefaid treafonable confpiracies, entered the town of Stewart ftor in the county of Tyron, and cut and maimed feveral of the peaceable inhabitants of the faid town, who had refufed to join their affociations, and who had agreed to enrof themselves in corps under officers to be commillioned by his majefty, for the prefervation of the public peace, and for the protection of the kingdon against foreign invafion: And whereas we have alfo received information, that in further profecution of the faid treasonable purposes, many large bodies of men have affembled, and arrayed themselves, and marched in military order, and with military mufic, through feveral parts of the faid districts, under the pretence of faving corn, and digging potatoes (though they far exceeded the numbers neceffary to be employed in fuch fervices) to the very great terror of the loyal and faithful fubjects of his majesty. And whereas fuch treasonable outrages have caufed well-grounded alarms in the minds of his majefty's faithful fubjects, and are of the most dangerous and pernici ous tendency. Now we, the lord-lieutenant and privycouncil, being determined to maintain the public peace, and to afford a protection to all his majesty's loyal fubjects, and immediately and effectually to exercise all powers with which the conftitution has invefted us for these purposes, do forewarn all perfons of the danger they may incur, and on their allegiance charge them to defift from fuch treasonable practices. Whereas we have received information, that divers ill-affected perfons have entered into illegal and treafon abte affeciations, in feveral parts of the counties of Antrim, Down, Tyrone, Londonderry, and Armagh, to fubvert the eftabinbed government of this kingdom, and for effecting fuch their treasonable purposes, have af faili ated divers of his majefty's faithful and loyal lubjects, who have endeavoured, and threatened to asialli, ate all others who Thall endeavour to detect or fupprefs their treafon; and in further profecution of And we do hereby ftrictly charge and their defigns, have endeavoured to deter command all mayors, fheriffs, justices of his majelty's loyal subjects from enrolling the peace, and other peace officers, and themielves under officers commifhoned by all officers civil and military in this kinghis majefty for the defence of this kingdom, and all other his majesty's loving dom during the prefent war, by maiming fubjects, as they tender their allegiance to and d-ttroying their cattle, and by affauit his majesty and their own fafety, to use ing and wantonly wounding one perfon, their belt endeavours to prevent, and avowedly because he had enrolled himself, where that cannot be done, to difcover and and by threatening aff:ffination against all bring to justice those concerned in the perfons who thould fo enrol themselves; aforefaid practices; and to prevent and and in further profecution of fuch their difperfe all treafonable, feditious, or unpurpofe, have, by te orious and other il lawtul affemblies; the neceffary orders Jegal means, endeavoured fecretly to pro having been already iffved to the feveral cure ammunition and other warlike ftores, officers of his majesty's forces in this and particularly that feveral evil difpofed kingdom, to be aiding and affifting to the perfons lately broke into one of his ma- civil magiftrates in the execution of their jetty's ftores in the town of Belfast, in the duties for that purpose. county of Antrim, and thereout took and carried away ten barrels of gunpowder. Given at the council-chamber in Dub Jin, the 6th day of November 1796. James Lalane, and James Craig, of Miles'-lane, Cannon-ftreet, merchants. William Parker, of Ealing, Middlefex, fchoolmatter. John Eader, of Taylor's-buildings, Iflington-road, bricklayer. William Bruere, of Hatton-freet, London, merchant. William Stow, of Stowmarket, Suffolk, fellmonger. Jonathan Tucker, and John Tucker, of Exeter, merchants. William Wilcockfon, of Weybridge, Surry, corn-dealer. David Gordon, of Kent-road, Surry, paper-ftainer. NOVEMBER I. John Sheringham, of Great Marlborough-ftreet, Westminster, paper-stainer. Thomas Cunning, of Caftle-ftreet, Leicester-fields, carpenter. William Walter Proffer, and Robert Cotter, of Fenchurch-freet, wine-mer chants. Robert Baker, of St. Peter's-hill, London, ferret-w weaver. William Powers, of Market Harborough, Leicestershire, inn-keeper. Charles Wheeler, of King-street, Westminfter, grocer. Mercy Foxcroft, and Elifabeth Foxcroft, of Nottingham, milliners. Robert Burton Cooper, of Birmingham, army accoutrement-maker. William Cock, of Castle Cary, Somerfetfhire, fhopkeeper. George Aldred and John Bowell Fowler, of Ipswich, Suffolk, corn-merchants. NOVEMBER 5. William Hunt, of Coleman-street, fadler. John Fillinham the younger, of Wardour-ftreet, Soho, coachmaker. William Habgood, of Dufour's-place, Westminster, carver and gilder. William Barber, of Aldgate Highftreet, butcher. Walter Davies, of Bartholomew-clofe, linen-draper. John Southern, of St. James'.ftreet, Piccadilly, bookfeller. John Kerred, of Hackney, bricklayer. Samplon Freeth, of Birmingham, mer” chant. |