dier. of public affairs, should tend to attune Romeo and Juliet and The Poor Solthe heart strings of the nation to universal harmony of sentiment and exertion. Mr. Incledon has provided not only the fuel that feeds, but the breath that animates, the patriot flame. We need not refer to antique examples of the patriotic power of song;-in all times and in all countries, the voice of music made the most animating appeal to heroic souls. Who that has not acknowledged its power, Martem accendere cantu? Who that is conscious that a patriot heart beats in his bosom, but must feel, That when our country's cause provokes to arms, How martial music every bosom warms! Such is the tone and tendency of Mr. Incledon's exhibition; and we observed, with pleasure, the numbers and the applause by which it was witnessed and received. We subjoin the following, as a specimen of the spirit of the songs, which comes recommended by the music of Shield: THE ENGLISH MAN OF WAR. her coast, And Rome could her temples and palaces Yet what was a trophy, or fine gilded car, war? Whilst courage will strengthen the nerves In the castle of England, a stout man of war. wave, And mariners combat their country to save, The Wheel of Fortune introduced Mr. Kemble at this theatre for the first time this season, on Friday evening the 18th, and he was received with a tribute of repeated applause; and, as usual, he was every thing in the part the author or auditor could wish. Mr. Liston, for the first time, succeeded Mr. Munden in the part of Governor Tempest; upon the whole he filled the character respectably, though not to perfection. Miss Brunton played Emily Tempest with evident symptoms of improvement. C. Kemble performed the younger Woodville. The performers, in general, were well received. cett, Taylor, and Incledon exerted In the Escapes that followed, Fawtheir respective powers with complete satisfaction. DRURY-LANE.-This theatre opened on Thursday the 17th. The "pure, classical, and rational" season, which Mr. Wroughton promised us in his last parting address, commenced with Wycherley's "classical and rational" comedy of the Country Girl, as it is "purified" by Garrick. The spirited performance of this play, and above all, Mrs. Jordan's Peggy, opened the theatre with a perfection of old comedy, from which, we hope, the novelties of the season will not detract. The only difference in Mrs. Jordan's inimitable powers, with which ber long theatrical cessation struck us, was the additional zest which that absence gave her to this evening's per formance. Mrs. Jordan's Peggy has nice imitation of low breeding, a delicate archness of low cunning, and an accurate perception of humour, that must be looked for in vain in any other actress. a HAYMARKET, Sept. 5.-Wheel of Fortune, Music Mad, and the Irish Widow. This evening Mr. Young played the character of Penruddock, and we attended at the representation with considerable expectation. Truth compels us to say, that we were disappointed. Mr. Young's manner was not at all in unison with the senti COVENT-GARDEN.--This theatre ments or feelings of the recluse he peropened on Monday the 14th, with sonified. He had too much of indif morning star On the castles of England, the stout men of war. ferent levity about him; and too Music Mad is an extravagant, nonlittle of that marked and severe aus- sensical interlude, founded upon an terity, which a state of solitude has a idea that would better suit an Italian natural tendency to inspire. Those than an Englishman. who have seen Mr. Kemble, or even Wednesday, Sept. 9. Beggar's Mr. Elliston, in this character would Opera, Lover's Quarrels, and Animal feel a great disappointment in Mr. Magnetism, for the benefit of Mrs. Young. Passages, which have hi- Gibbs.-She had an excellent house. therto been delivered in such a man- Inciedon played Macheath with his ner as to impress the audience with accustomed excellence, and after the the idea of a gloomy misanthrope, play sung the Storms Mr. Young too were uttered by Mr. Young in a way recited a foolish story (which, he, that provoked the laughter of the however, is pleased to call a pathetic house. We allude particularly to his tale) of the "Idiot;" but not all his reply to Weazle out of the cottage attempts at pathos could stop the risiwindow, "a lawyer! then I'll speak," bility of the house, when he so affect&c.; and where he asks the attorney ingly pronounced how long it would take to starve a man to death in a cold frosty night? These speeches should be delivered in a sarcastic manner, and not in that pleasant good-natured way as though he were bandying jests with his attorney. "And she fell sick and died." The nature of the tale is too ridicu lous to be told, and the language is suited to the subject: we cannot say "materiam superabat opus." We hope ward such miserable nonsense. Mr. Young will not again bring for In that interesting scene with young Woodville too, where he narrates to him his father's villainy, the solemu Mr. Taylor also this evening gave effect which is well known to be pro- cellent: they are perfect. his Imitations. They are indeed exduced by Kemble's acting is totally His look, lost in Mr. Young. He is too vehe- manner, gesture, attitude, so comment, too forceful; neither does his pletely spoke, that before he uttered a replication to the young man, when he word the audience knew whom he was denounces to infamy and death the about to personify; this was particu man who had wronged Penruddock, larly the case with Kelly, whose vile have the necesary awe, from Mr. singing and most uncouth action he Young's not pausing before he pro- mimicked with exquisite success. nounces the word "father," and the Tuesday, Sept. 15.-This theatre impressive solemnity with which this closed this evening for the season with word ought to be uttered. Upon the Mr. Young's Hamlet, and Tom Thumb. whole it was a frigid and uninteresting The house overflowed with an elegant performance; and, though Mr. Young company. It has been a season most possesses abilities that may make him flattering to the proprietors and maa useful actor, we are persuaded he nagers, both as to the receipts and the never will rise to any distinguished approbation of the public. At the eminence in the profession. We close of the entertainments, Mr. Fawwould advise him also to attend to a cett addressed the audience in a neat most unseemly method which he has and appropriate speech, which was of contracting his mouth into a received with repeated plaudits. wrinkled oval upon every occasion. AS MEMOIRS OF REMARKABLE PERSONS. Alderman Sir WILLIAM STAINES. age, made a voyage to Portugal as a S his rise to that dignity from a common sailor, and was taken privery humble station in life has soner on his return, and carried to a given birth to much conversation and French prison, where, after remaining enquiry, we have traced the birth place six months, he came over in a carof this worthy man to the parish of tel, but so changed and emaciated St. George, in the Borough. He was that his own mother at first could born in 1791. His father was a stone scarcely identify his person. He af mason; and young Staines, at an early terwards served an apprenticeship to UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL, VIII. 2 K a stone mason, in Cannon-street; and bours, mechanics, &c. Among these it was probably during this period a peruke-maker lately resided, who that, being at Staines or Egham, had shaved his worthy friend and pahe was induced to go into a chand- tron during a period of forty-two ler's shop, kept by a female, and years. Sir William also built the from the craving of his appetite to New Jacob's Well up the passage in call for rather more than his purse Barbican. The almshouses, though could answer for. His apology and he belonged to the Carpenters' Comthe simplicity of his appearance, how- pany, he put into the gift of the paever, was such that his creditor soon rish of Cripplegate. As in conforgetting her first emotions generous- sequence of the rise of Sir Willy forgave his imprudence. The alder- liam Staines from a state of comman, it must be observed, so far from parative obscurity, the latter was not forgetting this trifling act of benevo- unfrequently referred to: a rumour lence, sought the poor woman out in of a prediction, the consequence of a the decline of her days, and allowed dream, was as frequently attached to her an annuity for life. it. This, it is said, occurred to a After Mr. Staines was out of his clergyman's lady at Uxbridge many time be married, and took a chandler's years since, where the singular subject shop and coal-shed, in Philip-lane, of the same was then at work as a London-wall, where, after returning stone mason. The story runs, and it from his labour in the evening, he was never denied by the worthy alder used to carry out coals. His next ad- man himself, that, going up the ladder vance was to that of a little master in one day while the parsonage house the stone mason's line, and, about 1760, was under repair, the clergyman's lady was so fortunate through the encou- accosted him and told him she had ragement of a friend to obtain the job had an extraordinary dream, viz. that of repairing Bow steeple: this busi- he would certainly become lord-mayor ness was executed with so much satis- of London. Flattering as this apfaction, that he was afterwards em- peared to Mr. Staines, it was then conployed in raising a scaffold for St. sidered by him as dreams generally Bride's steeple, which was struck with are; and it was not, till he was made lightning, in 1763. The Scotch pave- sheriff of London in 1796, that this ment also being introduced about the dream returned to his recollection. same time, he was engaged in paving The clergyman's spouse was dead, and several streets, and was soon after ap- he himself had become old; he, howpointed mason to the city of London, ever lived long enough to be nomiwhen he occupied a house and mason's nated sheriff's chaplain, but being yard in Barbican. The idea of Bow too infirm to do the duty, Sir William church being the means of Mr. Staines engaged the Rev. Dr. Gregory, and making his fortune, had inade such an generously paid both these gentlemen. impression on his mind, that when he But still a second prediction is said became lord mayor he had this church to have been delivered concerning represented in painting in the back this worthy magistrate by another feground of one of the pannels of the state coach. Mr. Staines built the dwelling house which he long occupied in Barbican, next door to the chapel of the Rev. J. Towers. About 1786, he began to execute his benevolent design of establishing some almshouses, nine in number, which he built on both sides of Jacobs-well passage; these bear no inscription, nor have any thing upon their exterior to distinguish them as usual from other dwellings. Their tenants were in the first instance some of Sir William's aged workmen, and afterwards several of his poorer neigh male sybil, who, many years before the event, expressed her persuasion that Mr. Staines would be lord-mayor during a period of turbulence and scarcity; that we should be at war with France, but that during his mayoralty peace and plenty should be restored. The latter part of this prediction has proved grossly deceptive; for, though the alderman lived to see the peace of Amiens, plenty has not yet succeeded it, though he expressed a hope that bread might again be sold for 9d. the quartern loaf. These dreams, however, supplied the subject of them with fre quent matter for facetious conversa tion, while contrasting his present si- bounty, she has not been averse to vi tuation with the former part of his siting some of the poorest habitations life, and which he generally treated in and about Golden-lane. And when with a vein of pleasantry. This he those humiliating badges of poverty, had many opportunities of exhibiting, the soup-shops, were established in as for many years successively, instead Sir William's neighbourhood, though of adventuring upon a country house, he distributed that assistance with &c. like an old fashioned trades- others four or five years before it be man, he used to smoke his pipe every came common, it was not his general evening among his neighbours, at the rule to compel those who received it Jacob's Well. A trait that does equal to come to his house, or lose their honour to his head and heart occurred time by mobbing at a door: but to during this period: a neighbour who prevent both these inconveniencies, had failed in business, he presented he sent his servants with his alms to with one of his almshouses to live in, the houses of those who received them, The poor man, after this, happening After the worthy alderman removed to be at the house, and going into the from Barbican, in 1803, he had a town. kitchen instead of the parlour where, house and yard, near Millbank, Westthe alderman was, Sir William ap- minster, and a country-house at Clappeared to be much offended at this ham, where he paid the debt of nadistinction, insisted upon his sitting ture, on Thursday, Sept. 10, 1807, in the room where he then was; as- revered by all that knew him or were sured him he had not bestowed that acquainted with his virtues. It should favour upon him to degrade, but to have been observed, that since Sir advance him in life, and would hear William's mayoralty, in 1801, he reof no apologies on the subject. In sided at Clapham, where he married Yorkshire, it was said that Sir William the widow of a medical gentleman had also founded a charitable institu- who had retired some years from tion. His charity was by no means business, and resided near Sir Wilostentatious any where. His cook liain Staine's house. His remains who afterwards became his lady, like were interred with great ceremony himself never forgot her original; for, and a vast concourse of people, in in order to distinguish those who the family vault at Cripplegate, on might be the proper objects of his Saturday the 19th instant. STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. THER HE fate of two expeditions has the Danish fleet, and seized the capireached us since our last report. tal; what would have been the lanOne has terminated in the highest guage of our newspapers upon this possible degree of disgrace: what subject? With what vehemence of utepithet shall be given to the latter? terance would his conduct have been On this latter subject opinions are reprobated in parliament! How lavish very much divided, and those persons would every one have been of ignomihave been very much at a loss who are nious epithets on the French nation! in the habit of applauding every thing Our expedition to the Baltic has that is done by command of our own succeeded. We have taken possesgovernment, and as vehement in their sion of the Danish fleet; but, at what censures of every thing that is done by cost? A capital in flames! Three days Bonaparte. Now, suppose that Bo- bombardment! Our fleet having surnaparte had marched an army into rounded the island of Zealand, cut off Holstein, thence passed it over into all supplies to the unfortunate inhaZealand, had burned two-thirds of the bitants from the rest of the Danish city of Copenhagen; and, in the sight dominions. Taken by surprise, and of the flaming town, had issued from left to their own energies, they were the citadel a manifesto to all Europe; placed in a situation the most singular that he had been driven to the work perhaps that has occurred in history, of destruction from the fear that the We expressed our fears in our last, English would have violated the rights that a brave people' would not easily of neutral nations, taken possession of yield to our terms, and our apprehen sions were increased by the supposed and promises of leaving the island magnanimity and courage of their on the surrender of the fleet and crown prince: but the crown prince naval stores were held out. They did not share in the calamities of his were not accepted; and, for three most faithful subjects; he was not days, the citizens suffered their town then in the midst of them, to encou- to be on fire, before any message of rage their efforts, or to administer con- surrender was sent from the place, solation; he left his capital to the de- Having suffered so much, they may fence of its citizens. The expecta- excite wonder at giving up at all, and tions that we had formed on his sup- not burying themselves, their town, posed prowess and magnanimity have and their fleet in one horrid ruin. been completely foiled. They surrendered at last, and every What passed in the interior of the brave man must pity their distresses. town, during the three horrid days of How will this action be felt on the conflagration, we know not; nor what continent of Europe? We are its led to the final surrender of the place. deliverers, or at least we have held The state of the inhabitants may be out this language to an afflicted conmore easily conceived than described: tinent. But what capital has suf for our own accounts relate, that when fered so much from the conquering the citadel was surrendered to us, the arms of Bonaparte, as Copenhagen town was in such a ferment, that it was from the hands of its friends? It is thought expedient to leave it entirely a serious subject for the feeling mind to itself, and not to suffer any English- to reflect upon here is no oppor man to enter the place. Probably no tunity for an Englishman to beast: small party opposed the surrender; whatever may be our party in dothey, who had lost their all in the con- mestic politics, our national cha, flagration, would be desperate; they, racter is now at stake: we may make who had property to lose, would feel what justifications we please, the an anxiety to preserve it. All the decision is not in our hands: imviolent passions must be at work; partial posterity will fix its stamp and rage, indignation, and despair on the bombardment of Copenwould have full scope. The history hagen. May neither we nor our of this transaction, given by a Danish children rue the day on which it pen, will fill the mind with horror; was begun; and when the avenger and the English name will not be re- of blood from the Almighty calls peated in the island of Zealand for upon us, may our city of refuge be ages without the bitterest execra- able to protect us! tions. On the justice of the transaction If the British army and navy have many doubts may be started: its exgained no laurels by this transaction, pediency or policy may be more safely one species of honour cannot be de- agitated. The surrender of the fleet nied to them. They had the most un- and naval stores was the avowed, and welcome task to perform, which can indeed the whole object of the expebe imposed on the military charac- dition: and the step is asserted to be ter: and this task they have per- necessary, because otherwise Bonaformed, as far as their orders per- parte would have taken possession of mitted, in a manner as mild and con- them, and would have possessed the ciliatory as could be expected from an means of destroying our trade in the invading army. The dispatches of Baltic, and of eventually invading the commander in chief call the our country. That Bonaparte would Danes the enemy: but they were have done this is conjectural: but let treated as such only when in arms; us suppose that he would have atand the moment they ceased to re- tempted it, and succeeded in his atsist, that moment hostilities against tempt; that is, Bonaparte would them ceased. Our force was too great have added to the strength and influto be resisted by the peasantry on the ence that he has acquired, that of the island, and very soon its fate depended kingdom of Denmark. The question on the conduct of the metropolis, then is, whether this supposed acces Before a ball was fired into the place, sion to his power, with the decided terms of capitulation were offered; hostility of the Danes to him, is ba |