Page images
PDF
EPUB

Such wickedness of soul thou prov❜st,
That now, at ev'ry step thou mov'st,
A curse attends, for none thou lov'st,
My Bony!

Still to pursue ambition's course,
Trample the rights of man by force,
Will but draw down a heavier curse,
My Bony!

But, by experience, well we know,
The firm brave spirit Britons show
Transforms thy hope to deepest woe,
My Bony!

Should'st thou persist, (the trial past)
With anguish and despair o'ercast,
Thy stubborn heart will break at last,

My Bony!

J. B.

APOSTROPHE TO ENGLAND,

FROM AN UNPUBLISHED POEM, BY W. HOLLOWAY,
Author of "Peasant's Fate," " Scenes of Youth," &c.

DEAR native land, of liberty divine !
Who prays not for prosperity of thine-

In times like these,-when storms on storms arise,
And call forth thy united energies?—

When patriots sigh, from principle, with me,
And heroes burn, to set fall'n Europe free,
From Gallic slavery-while thou stand'st at bay,
Like Carthage, dreadful mid the flaming fray!
For thee a thousand prayers the heav'ns assail;
And shall not British arms and pray'rs prevail?
Yes! if the Pow'r in whom the righteous trust-
The God who fights the battles of the just
Shall interpose, thou still shalt reign sublime,
Queen of the lands, and boast of latest time!

SONNET.

WHILST Swiftly o'er the dark autumnal sky
The billowy clouds in quick succession roll,
And from the trees the leaves unnumber'd fly,
Torn by the blast, which, roaring, shakes the pole,
The semblance just of human life appears;
For like the leaves assail'd by stormy blasts,
To brave distress, the wreched suff'rer fears,
And upon death a thought, full anxious, casts:
Still! tho' redoubled arrows sorrow flings,
And shaft on shaft successively returns;
To life-tho' wretched, eagerly he clings,

And from the verge in doubtful horror turns:
Till, struggling to avert the threaten'd blow,
Death ends his pangs, and lays the suff'rer low.

E

MEMORANDA DRAMATICA.

DRURY-LANE.

DEC. 15.-Mr. Wroughton, for the first time, performed Shylock; his conception of the part is extremely just, and he displayed, in the scene with Tubal, and in the trial scene, all that earnestness, force, and originality of expression which have so deservedly ranked him among the most sterling actors of the age. 29.-George Barnwell.-Mr. H. Johnston presented an animated and interesting portrait of this unhappy victim to meretricious seduction.

JAN. 2.---Mrs. Jordan, the darling of Thalia and of the public, made her appearance for the season in her favourite part of the Country Girl; and was received with that enthusiastic applause which always accompanies her return to the boards.

3.---CINDERELLA; or, the Little Glass Slipper.---A new grand Allegorical pantomimic spectacle, under this title, which was produced on this evening, has been performed upwards of twenty nights to houses crowded to the very ceiling; and its attraction will probably rival that of the mighty Abomelique.— We do not think that the English stage ever exhibited (certainly not within our memory) a more captivating entertainment of its kind. One of the stories of the nursery, [it will be needless to relate it,] which has amused the infancy, probably, of the whole present generation, and the impression of which on the mind, is scarcely ever eradicated by maturer years, is here recommended to the eye and the ear with all the fascinations of dramatic spectacle, embellished with true

taste, and arranged with classical elegance and precision. It may be regretted by some that the contriver of this ingenious ballet did not, according to the tale, attribute the success and triumph of Cinderella to the agency of the fairy world, instead of resorting to mythological aid; but the appearance of Venus, and her train of Loves and Graces in the island of Cytherea is so striking, the dances and the grouping so fanciful and picturesque, the machinery so magnificent, and their connection with the story so ingeniously interwoven, that we should be sorry if the piece had been conducted upon any other principle, especially as the allegorical effect of the representation is so much improved by this plan.--In short this ballet is calculated to please all ranks; for, with the advantage of a popular fiction, its decorations and accompaniments have scarcely ever been exceeded even on the stage of the Opera House. The author of this successful performance is said to be a young Oxonian, but his name has not yet transpired; the songs are much superior to the doggrel which usually disgrace our operatic efforts. The only blemish in the representation was the song sung by Grimaldi, and written, according to the books, by a friend of his, which, though not without a certain degree of merit, was of too base a metal to mix with a piece of such sterling value.

The performers, particularly Mr. Byrne, to whose taste and skill, no doubt, the ballet part of the performance is considerably indebted; his most astonishing boy, Oscar; Mrs. Mountain; and Miss De Camp, the Cinderella; exerted themselves with all imaginable effect. The mechanism reflects infinite credit on the inventor, Mr. Johnston.

COVENT-GARDEN.

DEC. 13.---The English Fleet in 1342---a comic opera by Mr. T. Dibdin: the music entirely by Mr. Braham. The portion of history upon which Mr. Dibdin has founded the opera, is not only very interesting in itself, but it affords, without any violation of consistency, an opportunity for those patriotic sentiments and allusions which an English audience are always so fond of applauding, and which, in the present circumstances of the country, are so peculiarly applicable.

When the Count of Mountfort, in the course of his attempts to obtain possession of the Duchy of Britanny, in opposition to Charles of Blois, nephew to Philip king of France, was imprisoned in Paris, an event which seemed to put an end to his pretentions, his affairs were immediately retrieved by an unexpected incident, which inspired new life and vigour into his party. Jane of Flanders, countess of Mountfort, the most extraordinary woman of the age, was rouzed, by the captivity of her husband, from those domestic cares to which she had hitherto limited her genius; and she courageously undertook to support the falling fortunes of her family. No sooner did she receive the fatal intelligence, than she assembled the inhabitants of Rennes, where she then resided; and, carrying her infant son in her arms, depicted to them the calamity of their sovereign. She recommended to their care the illustrious orphan, the sole male remaining of their ancient princes, who had governed them with such indulgence and lenity, and to whom they ever professed the most zealous attachment. She declared herself willing to run all hazards with them in so just a cause; discovered the resources which still remained in the alliance of England; and entreated them to make one

effort against an usurper, who, being imposed on them by the arms of France, would, in return, make a sacrifice to his protector of the ancient liberties of Bri tanny. The audience, moved by the affecting appearance, and inspirited by the noble conduct of the princess, vowed to live and die with her in defending the rights of her family: all the other fortresses of Britanny embraced the same resolution: the countess went from place to place, encouraging the garrisons, providing them with every thing necessary for subsistence, and concerting the proper plans of defence; and after she had put the whole province in a good posture, she shut herself up in Hennebonne, where she waited with impatience the arrival of those succours which Edward had promised her. Charles of Blois immediately sate down before the place, with a great army, composed of French, Spaniards, Genoese, and some Bretons. The countess, after a most vigorous defence, and after performing prodigies of valour, apprehended that a general assault, which was every hour expected, would overpower the garrison, diminished in numbers, and extremely weakened with watching and fatigue. It became necessary to treat of a capitulation; and the bishop of Leon was already engaged, for that purpose, in a conference with Charles of Blois; when the countess, who had mounted to a high tower, and was looking towards the sea with great impa tience, descried some sails at a distance. She immediately exclaimed: Behold the succours! the English suecours; no capitulation. The fleet, which had been long detained by contrary winds, entered the harbour, and having inspired fresh courage into the garrison, immediately sallied forth, beat the besiegers from all their posts, and obliged them to decamp. Of these incidents, as related by Hume, Mr Dibdin has composed the serious action of the opera; the comic characters and situations are of course of his own formation; but he has connected them with the main plot with great address, and has so judiciously balanced the pathetic and humorous scenes, that the effect of the whole is very striking, and such as to afford the audience the highest satisfaction.

Some of the music is delightful, particularly the trio between Braham, Storace, and Mrs. Atkins, in the first act; the air of Love and Glory, by Braham; the duo between him and Incledon, All's well ; and the sort of French catechism, in the last act, in which Storace so charmingly displays her peculiar nauveté as a comic actress. We were not much pleased with Munden's songs; but the chorusses were in general grand and impressive. The managers have been extremely liberal in the decorations and scenery. Various other novelties will be noticed in our next.

PROVINCIAL DRAMA, &c.

Theatre WOLVERHAMPTON. This theatre opened on the 23rd of Decem ber, with the "Poor Gentleman" and the "Farmer," for the benefit of the national fund at Lloyd's; but, the night being extremely unfavourable, the inhabitants had not a due opportunity of evincing their patriotism. Our manager (Mr. Hoy) was the first who set an example of this kind, and has given the receipts of the first night in every town to the same excellent institution; an institution, which, when the present race of men are buried with their contentions, will remain the distinguishing feature of the age which gave it birth, and shall long H-VOL. XVII

be quoted, as an example from the history of man, to scare the ambition of ty rants, and animate the defence of nations. Since our last season, the venerable Shuter and our old comedian Fox have made their final exit from this sublunary scene. They were both, as my former communications can testify, comedians of no common powers, and have long contributed their aid to lighten our cares, and excite our pleasurable affections.

Alas! where now's the droll,

Whose ev'ry look and gesture was a joke
To clapping theatres and shouting crowds;
And made e'en thick-lipp'd musing melancholy
To gather up her features in a smile
Before she was aware; ah, sullen` now,

And dumb as the green turf that covers him!"

We have this season a very agreeable addition to our company, in Mrs. Bar nard, (formerly Miss Mills) Mr. Hatton, and Mr. Webber. Mrs. Barnard, to a very excellent figure, unites a discriminating mind, that infuses into the cha <racters she represents that effect of light and shade which is the soul of acting. Mr. Hatton is a very able successor in Mr. Fox's line; there is much rich acting in his Scrub, which may be seen with pleasure after the inimitable Quick. Mr. Webber succeeds Mr. Shuter, and has evinced-much ability in the characters he has hitherto sustained. We were glad to hail our old favourite, Archer, after his metropolitan flourish. Mesdames, Dawson, Gibbon, Edwards, and Chambers, continue favourites in their respective lines. Mrs. Gibbon displays much graceful acting in pantomime, in which she deservedly takes the lead. Mrs. Dawson #is a very interesting figure in genteel comedy, and if she excites less admiration than others, she commands more esteem. Mr. Dawson's fort is eccentricity of character, in which he cannot often indulge: his Village Lawyer is a choice morceau which seldom comes to our share. Mr. Gibbon is entitled to muck praise for the industry with which he studies his parts; his acting is always wellmeant, and frequently forcible and empassioned. Mr. Young has youth in his favour, and that is all which we see at present. He either wants power or confidence; if it be the latter, he is on a good road for preferment; if the former, it is not in our power to assist him.

CIVIS.

Theatre BOSTON, (America.)-I have been a constant reader of your valuable publication, and I will endeavour to compensate for the pleasure it has afforded me, by giving you an account of our theatricals. This town contains but about twenty-seven thousand inhabitants, yet the theatre is always well supported when the company is good.

Before I enter into a description of the theatre, or a criticism of the performers, it will be necessary to state to you that I have seen the theatres of London, . Dublin, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Leeds, and have witnessed The talents of all your principal performers. The theatre in this town is re'markably elegant; the scenery is very good. The house will hold about two "hundred and forty pounds sterling, at the following prices: first and second rows of boxes, four shillings and sixpence ; pit and third row of boxes, two shillings and threepence; gallery, thirteen-pence halfpenny. The management of the theatre is very well conducted by Mr. C. S. Powell. I will now enumerate

« PreviousContinue »