The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1810-02-05 00:00:00

A,YCEUM THE Intß.

We visited this Theatre, on Saturday. to nitwits
the fret representation of Riches ; or, The Wife and
Brother, a play founded on Massincita's t'ity
Madan. The word "founded" is used in the bills,
though, from the phraseology and language of the
days of Ben Jenson being retained, cud from the
trifling deviatious from the original, the term
" altered" would certainly be more applicable. The
plot is sunple, and consists in the suppositious death
of Sir Jchn Traffic, in order to humble the pride
of his wife, theltaugbty City Madam, and to try
the character of his brother Lake, a vile hypocrite,
who, having dissipated his fortune, is found, at the
opening ache piece, a humble and abject depeod-
ant upon leis brother's bounty. In the early acts.
the pride of Lady Traffic., the affectionate forbear-
ance of her husband, and thedia , i ~, ulating submis-
siveness of Luke, are peortrayed with good effect.
Sir J uhis Traffic introduces two suitors to his datigh-
ter% and, from the intemperate opposition of his
lady, who will hear of no one of lower rank than
nobility to address them, a quarrel ensues, which
determines him to employ the stratagem of giving
out that he had died by his own hand, and left his
entire and immense wealth to his brother. The effect
of this change of fortune gives a different colouring
to the remainder oft lie play. Master Lake'sdemoniac
disposition Gurus forth in deeds of cruelty and op-
pression to all, and particularly to his brother's
wife and children, tiow in their turn becu, e de-
pendent upon him. Lily Traffic's reformation iv
wrought by this means ; and the re-appearance of
Sir John restores her, amended, to her former state,
and puts an end to the misused power of his brother
Luke. This is the giand outline of the Play, of
which the inferior parts are tilled up by the two
daughters, whose characters are not very promi-
nent ; their lovers, a plain Euglish 'Squire, rod
the son of Sir Morris Lacy, a rich merchant—Sir
Morris Lary, a penurious old butler, • pert wait-
ing-meld, and two rascally clerks.
Throughout there is a marked discrimination and
distinction of character. In prosperity, nod in col-.
versity, those of Lady Traffic and Master Luke ore
preserved with the utmost consistency, and evince
the author's intimate knowledge of human nature.
The ungovernable pride of the former i moie the
result t f iadulgeuee, aed the easy cotnpliames of a,
fond husbard, than of • disposition radicals) bad.
Her nformation is therefore naturally wrought by
bet mind being recalled to a due sense of her situ-
ation. and the excitemeat of proper feelings, when
reduced to dependency on the will of a tyrant. On
the contrary. Master Lake's humility in ailveisity is
on abject, and his tow•ie so ready to make hewn!.
less profersions, that we are prepared to expect,
under a change of circumstance, that he ell: be-
come as oppressive as he has been mean, as revert/4e-
ful as he has been submissive. Yet, %ph ali this,
the character of disimulebon is so well kept up,
that it is not till some time after he has con-
vinced himself of the rigidity of :cis vast poi-
Sessions, by gloating on the gold and treasures
left by his brother, that the mask is compts ely
thrown off, and ha bursts forth in his natural shape
--a human devil.

The amine degree of coasistency sad regard to
nature pervades all the other characters. Sir J.
Traffic, is, from first to last, theiplait, sensible mer-
chant.—Sir Morris Lacy, the same, with less die-
aiusination • the danghteer.are well-disposed. and,
in advereefertune, their goodness of heart becomes
ni more pram than in their more prosperous State,
wheu the little fern' weaknesses, the drwre of
admiration, end ready ear for flattery, were the sure
results of immense fortunes end
.paternal
iudul-
genre. The 'oven are young, impetuous, and
unsuspicious ; the 'Squire a little in..re rough and
unpolished than the bleschatit. All thii is strictly
in mature, and the swittineuts delivered by three'
respective characters, though many of them are as
complete clap-traps as the most ingeniuus of our
modern plarerights could iuvent, Bow so inartiti-
cially from their nature and situation, that they
compel admiration, without seeming to be lugged
flu for that purpose.
From what we have said, it will be apparent
that our opining of this play is very fivourab:e,
yet there are one or two objectionable pints,
which, with trifling alteration, might easily be avoid-
ed, The iutroaliction of the two suitors is too
abrupt, and the depravity of modern manners
gave an unfavourable turn to certain very innocent
expressions on the part of Sir john, which, though
they might he strictly consistent with the honest
simplicity of 16t0, savour too strongly of the bor-
dello to suit the knowing galleries of 1810. When
these and a few other exceptionable parts undergo
revision, the Play shall have our unqualified ap-
probation. The language is the age of MAUI N•
OCR ; in many passages highly impressive, mid,
in all, elegant or ample, as befits the speaker.—
Lake's intercession for the forfeited debtors is very
fine. There is also a good deal of stage effect, and
even though we are prepared for the derrovenrear, it
is managed in restriking a wsy as to affurd consider-
able pleasure. The characters were well sup-
ported ; Mr. RAYMOND, as Lake, was eminently
successful ; and Mrs. Eowts, in the imperious wife,
gave much satisfaction, anti war loudly applauded.
Mrs. Went and Miss latter looked divinely in the
two daughters, who have little else to do hut appear
lovely. Mr. Powett, in Sir John Tragic ; Mr.
Da CAMP, in 'Squire Hared/ ; Mr. Waxficu, an
Young Lacy; Miss SCOTT, Mr. Pastor, &c. &c.
were all respectable.
The perforate .ce was received with almost gene-
ral applause, and the only hissing we heard seemed
to be more directed against Ali sentiments of Lake,
than any thing else. This is w ut as consistent as
it would be to hiss Othello on account of the vit.
lainy of Ingo. or The Merchant of Venice, fur the
revengeful erutlty of Shylock.—A very spirited
Fialogio• war delivered in an admirable manner by
Mrs. EDWIN, and the play was announced fur re-
' petition on Monday, by Mr. RAYMOND, amid
thunders of approbetion.

The "%farchioneas of BATH and daughter arrived
at Wouttuir on tia:urday

Mr. PoNSONBY ',ay. a grand dinnpr, on &dor-
day. a. the 1 tdrr of the 'hp...at..., to
uloot4 La Toache, Mr. Halsey, .Nir Calcr4ll, Sir Otwahl
Musk!, Mr. Hon% mir M 317111 Mr. C....r50114h,
Gummi %Nutmeg %tube., Mr 81,4..7, Mr. ilium", Carew
dist indshie, awl the Mva. F. 4. netts..