The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-12-23 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

Of all the many popular dramas which have been hewn
into a theatrical shape out of the abundant materials of
the Scottish novels, there is none whose attraction has ex-
perienced so little abatement as Guy _Mannerly. This
arises partly from the wild and romantic interest of the
story, but in a still greater measure from its dramatic and
musical facilities ; from the singular richness, force and
humour of some of its characters, the gentle and winning
innocence of others, and from the tone of heart-touching,
pathetic, and beautiful music, with which it is so deeply
and charmingly imbued. Dominic Sampson, Meg Mer-1
rifles, Dick Hafferick, and Dandle Mamma, are amongst
the most original personages of the modern stage; and '
performed as they have been by some of the lead-
ing actors of the age, they have at length come to be
identified with our notions of whatever is excellent, and
are regarded as the touchstones of all new candidates for
theatrical fame. The music, though less original, is not
less beautiful, and we are wont to dwell upon it with a
fond recollection of the exquisite grace, skill, pathos, and
power with which which Miss Stephens and Braham have
been used to give it. In a great degree, therefore, the po-
pularity of Gay Manner* is a difficulty thrown in the
way of new performers; they must stand a comparison
with the best comedians, and the most distinguished voca-
lists en the stage. Mrs. Bum) may indeed outstrip Mrs. Eger-
ton in the vehemence of her gesticulation, and the melodra-
matic grandeur which she flings around the romantic witch
of Derncleugh ; but con Mr. Brown come within a thousand
miles of the singularly-exquisite portrait of a terminus and
heartless smuggler, which we recollect. as exhibited by
that clever actor, Tokely ? Can Sherwin, natural and im-
pressive as he is, be compared with Emery ? Can Mr.
Harley tell steps with that wonder of the stage—the non-
pareil of ugliness and humour—the inimitable Liston ?
And, finally, ought not the friends of Mr. Sapio to tremble
when he ventures to tread in the steps of &ahem ? Mr.
Sapio is, most assuredly, an accomplis.ted artist,—a delicate,
tasteful, and beautiful singer. It is no disgrace to him to
say that he is inferior to his predect ssor ; yet, of all who
are now on the stage, no one approaches to him more closely.
Accustomed hitherto to the less arduous vocation of concert
singing, he has not entirely mastered all the difficulties of
his new pursuit ; he has not learned to accommodate him-
self to his present condition; hence there is an uncertainty,
an inequality about mist of his performances. Some
portions are really excellent, others are really bad.
The confidence which bears him onward to success
at one moment, deserts him in the next at a point
scarcely above mediocrity. This was very manifest
in the Seraskier, and had net entirely disappeared
from his Henry Berfram of last night. Although Mr.
Sapio sustained the reputation he had previously won by
his performance of last evening, yet we can hardly say he
enhanced it. In the English airs he was excellent, but in
the Scottish, which are the appropriate songs of the piece,
he was not equally fortunate. There seemed to be quite a
deficiency in his mode of pronouncing the Scottish words,
and occasionally a disposition to sink them altogether, Mr
.he sake of the harmony of the air. This was remarkably
perceptible in that celebrated song, " Scots wha hat." Mr.
Sapid) was encored in it, not without some opposition, how-
ever, but it was one of the most unhappy specimens of his
art we have yet heard from him. There was a languid-
ness in his articulation, which quite weakened the fine,
bold, and manly spirit of the air, and the independence of
the sentiments with which this song so beautifully abounds.
Brabant has made this song so peculiarly his own, that it
is a venturesome undertaking for even so successful an
aspirant as Mr. Sapio to attempt it after hint. The song,
howev,r, occurred at the close of the opera, and much
allowance should be made for the great fatigue which Mr.
Sapio had previously undergone.

IVe are sorry to state, that Mr. Canning is confined at
the Foreign Office, by an attack of gout.
Lady Nugent, we are sorry to learn, is much indisposed,
at her seat, Lilleys, Bucks.
CORNWAI L COI NIA' ELI:CTION.-.-1t is generally un-
derstood (says our correspondent) that Sir R. R. Vyvyan
will quietly walk over the ground, Mr. Pendarves having
given up the contest.—lresfera Luminary.
The Rev. J. 11. Fisk, of Bracondale, has given Soo/. as
a donation to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. Sir
George Smart has also presented 20 guineas to the same
excellent institution. _

The Itev. V. Walker, of Slingshy, has been presented
to the perpetual curacies of Sleights and Ugglebarnby;
the 'eta living is in the gift of the Lord Archbishop of
York.

On Wednesday last, the Rev. Nathaniel Co!rile, B.A. of
St. John's College, Cambridge, was instituted to the
lidated Rectories of Great and Little Liverutere, Sudbil,, on
the presentation of Nathaniel Lee Acton, FAT of Livermore
Park. _ .

- -•-•
It is said that the City of London have resolved t
their rights of church patronage in Ireland, where, it in
well known, they possess extensive estates, upon which la:
valuable benefices. It is also reported that the Irish Com-
mittee have presented a clergyman, the son of an Alder-
man, to a living of upwards of 20001. per annum.
ExETZR, lice. 20.—The festival which took place last
week in this town, was .Towned wi,li the greatest sine, ss.
Madame Cateltni was in tine voice during the whole live
performatices ; and to her great attraction is owed the. un-
rec.:Amite(' success of a festival given in the winter, and in
a concert-room, which, although extremely large, and in
such a very unfavourable season, was crowded at each per-
formance, and never was such a concourse of equipages
witnessed before in lixett r.
RIOT AT THE LIrI.RPOOL TIIEATRE.—Extract of a
letter from Liverpool, dated I) T. 21 :
" This outrage continued on Wednesday Inst. and assumed a
more violent shape than on the previous 3!iiiidav ; a koile, penny-
pieces, and other missiles, were thrown at tlis pinlOrniets, the
scenery. and the curtain, and the whole tune which should have
been devoted to attention to the performance of tie afterpiece, was
occupied in riot and outrage. The Managers had publicly an-
swered 31iss Cramer's • Appeal,' showing her statement to be
erroneous ; to this Miss Cramer -epbed ; and this step induced
the Managers to publish the whole of theircorrespontience with the
lady. 3ltach tumult was expected on Friday, the last night of the
season, being the heaetit of the veteran Banks, the Stay Manager,
and partner of 3lr. Lewis in the Theatre. In the afternoon of that
day it was publicly announced, that Miss Cramer had sent an
apology for Ii r conduct to the Mamoters, which they hail accepted,
and wished her to join in the national anthem of • tiod save the
King,' which it always sung on the company bidding their annual
Farewell.' 'f apology, and the Matiarers' anawer, were read
by 31r. A'andenhoff, at the end of the play, and received with great
applause. Miss Cramer uppertred and took a part in ' Clod Save
the k ing,' and ' Rule Britannia.' 'The audience manifested a dc-
sure to forget the tun:lilt, end forgive the cause of a, and the cur-
taut' drodropped, • thr the last terse this season,' in the ntid.t of warm
expres!ions of approbation at the termination of such utatraY.ouv
and mischievous proceedings as had 15, two nights disgraced the
Omuta of the Liverpool audience."