The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-08-16 00:00:00

ING Mg OP ERA- NOUS e.

The long-promised novelty, entitled Cil Blas,
was last night produced with all the " pomp mid
circvsestance" which might have been expected
from the extraordinary note of preparation. Must
of our resders are well acquainted with the enter-
taining novel of that name, mid • raference to it
will enable them to trace the hero of the drama
through every t.articulsr of the greeter part of hes
MM. Gil Bias PINS KELLY), hawing set out
in quest of Isis fortune, falls in with the banditti,
who take him to their subterranean cavern, where be
finds a fellow prisoner Donee Itleacia (1116sChasiv),
with whom hr succeeds in making his escape to
Valladolid. Here the part of the hero is assumed
by Mr. PEARNAN, who finally succeeds in obtains
ing the fair livid of his beloved Dolma Merida.
This concludes the third act, and au interval of no
less than twenty-servo years is supposed to have
elapsed between that sod the fourth, whets Gil Blas
de Santilluae, high in office, is presented in us in
the goodly person of Mr. BARTLEY. Miss KELLY
again mak.s her appearance in the scene as the fair
and youthful daughter Antonia, who is beloved by
the Sovereign himself. Philip IV. His Majesty
assumes several disguises, and prove, the integrity of
Cif B!as, upon which temptation only serves to
shed a brighter lustre; and after lainesoing that it
is tint Ins fate to tiossrss Metonia's • cent heart,
joins her hands sill, those of her lover I los Gaston
(Mr. BROADHURST), and so concludes the piece.
Thin drama his certainly not disappointed the
expectations of she public, which must have been
highly excited, for before the curtain was drawu up,
the house was literally crowded. It has put iu re-
quisition all the talent and strength of the com-
pany, which are aided by the minor attractions
of gorgeous dresses and beautiful scenery. There
is an abundance, we had almost said, a su-
persbundatice of puns, many of which are excel-
lait, but some few might be safely omitted. The
hero of the piece is occompanied through every
stage of his eventful history by two personages, who,
SA the times change, also vary their occupations,
which indeed are not of a very hottest disrueter.
Th•se ere Picaro (Mr. %Valise's). and Ambrose de
Leticia (Mr. WiLetssoN), to whims the author
has given the utiumt KOs e fur the display
of their peculiar talents. We have all the
rich and whimsical quaintness of WittisisoN,
and the inimitable tomehslance and bustling vi•
vscity or WRENCH. Miss KELLY acted with
great sprightliness as the hero, but she was much
•saure delightful as the simple and tender-hearted
Antonia. Muss C•aew and Mr. PSARHAN warbled
with delicious berretnrs*. and Mr. BARTLEY, in the
coocluding act, exhhited a flue picture of sterling
integrity, uncorrupted by the smiles of fortune or
the alloiemsnis of power. We had intruded to have
made a fiw observations on the necessity of some
judicious curtadment, which, we are sure, is all that
is required to ensure this piece a very successful
HID, to which its intrinsic merit so justly entitles
it ; but we are 'pared the performance of that task,
for Mr. BARTLEY, iu Et.ROROCIe•g it fur repetition,
intimated that so desirable an improvement should
be effected previous to its second representation.
The scenery of the subterranean cavern was parti-
cularly admired. and the escape from thence was
managed with a fine isielo-dramatic effect.
The house, we before observed, was extremely
full; the light summer dresses of the ladies were
go agreeable relief to the more sombre cosionse of
the male part of the audience, who were liberal
(and justly so) of their smiles mid plat' tits.
The music, almost exclusively composed by Mr.
Moss, is pretty ; we subjoin one of the many songs
in the piece, which are generally distinguished by
a smooth versideatiou and tenderness of expres-
sion :

Ob! pleas/at eyes of so saw* light
Were newer made for she font ly et 11,
Anil the gentle fortherwl, ail 'nervy bright !
Beemers nut she hand's grey shadow well.
Sweet Isp.! sweet rose I. area, dew hesprent,
Are out to nod what Sorrow reads;
Nur are warm and pearly fingers meant
To coast bat rosary beads!

TIP Tt'S a tender glance for she azure ne,
That dyes it of ■ tenderer War,
And the rich mid melees curls that lie
On the glowing forehead adorn its hue;
A k s• so she rosy lip. is best—
Oh! better than all the midnight lore;
And the warm med pearly login pre*,
Drop rosaries on the flour.

Mr. HARLEY will commence an engagement for
three night• at the Derby Theatre ors Monday
mat.

The Provincial Music Meetings commence this
season with a grind festival of three days, in Read-
ing, at the end of this month, fur "which Mrs.
SALMON. Signora CARADORI, Miss GOODALL,
Messrs. VAI.GHAN, W. KNYVETT, DAWES, BEL•
LAMY, AMBROGETTI, Sir G. SMART. F. CRAMER,
Moat, LINDI.F.Y, NICHOLSON, ai.d, indeed, most
of our first.iate performers are engaged. We un-
derstand this music meeting is undertaken by Mr.
BINFIELD, the organist or St. Lawrence's church,
in which the morning performances will take place.
It is patronised by the Marquis aid Marchioness of
Dowssui Re, the Earl and Countess CaATEN, the
venerable Mahon of DURHAM, the Viscount and
Viocr.untess NEWRY, Lord and Ludy BOSTON, Lord
and Lady aimks Kai, and most of the nubility
and gentry re-tding to Berks mud the adjoining
counties.

On Sunday last an energetic and impressive ser-
mon was preached at Si. John's Church, Buxton,
by !Le Rev. V'ILLIAM SPENCER, A.M. in aid of
that excellent institution, the Buxton Bail) Charity,
when the aunt of 431. 181. was collected by the
Viscountess GOaT and the Right lion. Lady ELI-
ZABETH Fitzaoy, supported by the following
viz.—
llie Gort, the Right Hon. Lord John Fiisroy,
Ct isniiiher Nihon, Esq. Dr. Davis, T. J. Page, Esq. and
Ilcatock, Esq.

We have great pleasure in contradicting the
report, that Owem Ram E.g. of the firm of
LoscstAst, REM and Co. was one of the
passengers seriously iiijnred by the overturning of
the Belfast coach, on Thursday last. By u letter
received yesterday, we learn that this gentleman is
I,ow safe, in the midst of his numerous literary
hirtii, assembled in 61 Auld Heekie" to meet his
'j':;ly.—(Dalrlan Emma's': Journal.)