The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-11-15 00:00:00

tHELDENIt4M I'IIEAtRE.

On Tuesday evening, after • most successful
season, Messrs. ABBOTT and FABIAN concluded
their theatrical campaign, under the same favourable
auspices as marked its commencement; our distin-
guished amateurs giving the powerful attraction of
their performances its Sit Cymbeline,
tor the first time undertaken by them ; and in the
amusing farce of The Lady and the Devil. Cols-
eidering the great difficulties with which the- play is
encumbered, we are free to confess that we were but
little prepared for the masterly style in which it was
brought forward. In the costume, throughout, the
most minute attention was evident ; the processitins
were all well managed ; and it is but justice to say,
that every individual laboured to the utmost of
their ability to keep the interest of the scene alive.
Of the hero, Leonatars Posthumus, it might be suffi-
cient to say, that in Colonel Beaxemtv's represen-
tation the character lost none of the dignity or pas-
sionate sentiment with winch it is so deeply im-
bued. There are few indeed who appear to us so
thoroughly conversant with the inspired beauties
of SHARMAN& as Colonel Baauet.LT, or so sen-
sible of the value of simplicity in illustrating that
text which has been but too frequently perplexed
end confused by the elaborate display of learning
end local knowledge in its professed commentators.
Capt. A. Bietteetec sustained ladies° infinitely
better than any thing we have seen him perform, al-
ways excepting Sir John Falstraff—and that is
saying much. The celebrated and foist difficult
chamber scene mis right welt played. Mr. DAW-
*INS, was not only quaint but highly humorous as
Cluten ; rod we uwu that Mr. B•Nags, whose forte
we have always considered to be low comedy, star.
printed us by the impressive manner in which he ac.
quitted himself as the faithful Pisanio. Of Mr.
Aieorr, as Gniderirts, it would be impossible not
to make most favourable mention. His quarrel
with Violets was excellent, and much applauded.
Mr. GLADSTAINRS gave the language of Belarius
with energy; and the advantage of seeing every
performer perfect and well grouped, was manifest,
and creditable to Mr. KIIIINgTIi, the prompter.
Miss SHITHSoN appeared as the interesting Ineogen
—an arduous undertaking for the professed and
admired votaress of Thalia; but her efforts pro.
cured for her the warmest approbation of the
audience, and the tribute of sympathy infinitely
more valuable then the loudest plaudits—" the
silent tear that fall* for others' woe." Mrs. Cossoa
played the Queers. The Lady and the Devil
followed—Colonel BelitLISY assuming next(
"Pik/love, with the happiest success; and Mr.
DAWKINS, his trusty Jeremy, in which he kept the
merriment of the audience at its height. Mr.
Tuomeoott played Signor Rafael, as he does every
character of the sort, well. Miss COOKS did more
fuse Zephyrina than we had expected ; and Mrs.
WOOLDS, to aid the evening's entertainment, op.
peered as the Regress. The moon behind a cloud,
er seder an eclipse, never excites our wonder; bet
we cannot bear to see a fine countenance obscoied
by so dingy a veil, even for • moment. The house
was the most crowded of any during the season,
which has just terminated, and the audience coin.
prised nearly all the fashion, grace, youthfulness,
end beauty of this gay town. Between the play
and farie Mr. ABBOTT came forward, and took his
leave of his Cheltenham frieuds iu nearly the fol•
lowing terms :
" Ladies mid Gentlemesp—At the drier of one dramatic
mamas I come forward to poetic easeomary tri but, nf thanks
See the latiering; support with which the theatre has been
hemmed ; and however customary such ark mowledgmesis
may MO may seaters bonesely to my that In ibis particular
iusisece they do mot arise solely home as set of duty, but
from the genuine impulse of grateful feeliegs. With your
permission 1 will give a brief narrative of the cirrnmstanees
committed with the sperotasloo of Mr. Farley sad myself. I
believe the treaty for this theatre was sot coorluded more
than • moth brim the opening—a very, very short time to
make those arreogewienta necessary to eniere your palrasage
—the building itself deprived of every thing that could lessen
oar difficulties. But from the warm sad liberal support
held out to us, we braved she &tigers, and launched
ear bark fa &dewily: we &owl no angry el. meats to mottled
sitrh, but sailed on prosperously, cbeered by your approba.
Hon. In our efforts to merit the favour so highly prised, our
company was principally composed of performers wbu bad
stamped their names on the boards of metropolitan theatres;
the coneneencemest of the Load.. compotes naturally de-
prived us of these powerful auxiliaries, and is the ewer-
geocy of the mooniest we were obliged to obtain such suleati-
tuies as we could God, recommended by the judgment of
persons on whom we placed some reliamee, mid may l be
permitted to say that if they have mot been se fortunate as to
receive your undivided approbation, their situation ban
been one of no small difficulty; vete.aas sad raw revisits
jumbled promiscuously together—Hume claiming to be "em
the *WA" and others requiring a stif to support them—yet
all equally zealous to merit and demise that Reward the
actor looks for—public approbation. 1 gladly seise ibis
opportunity of acknowledging the mere then hied &sea:Mice
we have received from Colusiel Berkeley,sed these amateurs
who have so powerfully cooperated with hie inedesvoters,
in establishing a taste for the drama in this tows: to thvlr
diatiognished seal, backed by such generous friends as the
theatre has Iwo graced with during this armee, are we en-
tirely isdebtrd for its success. Now that the bodies,' is
about to pass into other hands, in nanreqwesee of a demand
made by the Trailers fur an 'sierras, of rest, which in jos-
flee to ourselves we are obliged, however rehectantly, to
decline, I trust that • corresponding feeling will be exhi-
bited ors the part of the public, sad that Cheltenham may
bout of as respectable a rompsay some, provincial theatre
Ito the kingdom. I am iudebted to the proprietors of Covent-
garden theatre for the opportunity of them acknowledging
the great personal kindness, Malik:hip, aud weenies ohm
to me, for which permit me to offer my most respectful
thanks; and I am desired by Mr. Farley to express his
WO( ere regret at not being able to be present ow Ibis awe-
sron—he unites with me in wishing belittle, baptisms, sod
prosperity to our friends mid pause's, sad meat respeetfelly
we bid you farewell."

This address, which was delivered with ext►eme
effect, sod evidently under the influence of very
strong feelings, was received throughout with the
warmest marks of favour. and frequently interrupted
by the applause of the audience. The intimation of
the theatre !leasing into other hands, was received with
evident surpr.re anal regret; but we are most happy
to state, that an arrangement has since been made,
whereby the management will be continued for
three years in the hands of those Gentlemen who
have proved themselves so worthy of public favour
and patronage, and who have done so much in one
season to restore the drama to respectability.--
I Cheltenham C'lrroniele.j

A gentleman offered his friend a pinch nut of his
box, which he said he much regarded, haviog been
in ilia family an hundred years ; his friend, thankiog
his, sold, " I am not lir the habit of taking snuff.
but, as a curiosity, must have a pinch out of your
marry box."

~•

lov

1.4* EiLiCatick.
`COVEY OF CHANCERY, Lupin**. Ism,
NOVIMIIIIL 14.

This 'minim( his Lordship corns into Court at
twenty minutes past ten o'clock.
Mr. Howie* ',Wird to tower if the Court -had
been put into poiesersinn sir the Lord Chief Justice's
notes in • trial of Margin. and Marley," as, if
that were s*, he was anxious that • dry Might be
appointed ctonvement to his Lordship to have • mo-
tion made for a new trial, bet-mese some Gentlemen
from the Coinmon Law Bar, were engaged to assist
on that occasion.

ilia LORDSUIP replied, that he had not got such
holm but he would send to-day to the Lord Chief
Justice for them ; and if he received them, he
would to.inorrow morning appoint a day for it.
His Lordship also stated, that lie had got sent to
him horn the Court of Law notes in a case
" Perkin.," but lie did out know for what par-
po•e.

None of the Learned Gentlemen present recol.
lecied who were engaged in that case.
His LORDSHIP wished the Counsel present to
info,m their Learned Friends who were absent, that
the Court was now furnirlied with bitch note., that
the cue might not have to stand over any longer.
His Lordship further said, that he would gore
judgment on Saturday iu " Mackay and Todd."
The COURT then began to take motions. and one
motion wet opened which woe not of much public
iiitereat, but which occupied the whole morning.

COURT OP KING'S BENCH, Worruimnsa,
Teavasiuy, NOVI:MOM 14.

THE ZING V. RUtIaNNA WRIGHT.
The Defendant, accompanied by two male and
three female friends, and carrying an infant in her
arm., came into Court.
Mr. Guatny then rose, and moved the judg-
ment of the Court on the Defendant for a libel.
The CHISF JUSTICS read his notes and the libel,
which was contained in a letter to Di. Wade, of
Bristol.

The Defendant having no aff►davits to put in.
was desired by the Court to offer what she had to
ob.erve in mitigation.
The Defendant then proceeded to read to the
Court • long written address, in which she declared
tl►at what she had now to offer was not in mitigation,
but in justification. She declared that the Jury by
whom she was tried were grossly ignorant.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY said he was convinced such
• charge o►► • Jury of the city of London was on•
founded.

The Defendant said one of them had displayed
bis ignorance.
Mr. Justice BATLEY said, if that were so, it did
not justify a charge of ignorance against them all.
To revile the Jury could not do her any service.
The Defendant proceeded to read a declaration
of her religious tenets, denying the Divinity of our
Saviour, and said that, like that great reformer, she
was made a subject of persecution, and her Judges
and prosecutors resembled the Jews ■nd Judges of
our Saviour's time. She proceeded at some length
iu this style, objecting to the truth of the Christian
religion, when
Mr. Justice BEST interposed, nod objected to
the course which the Defendant was pursuing.
The Defendant still persisted.
The CHIEF JUSTICE then admonished her to
adopt a different course. If she persisted in the
course which she was now taking, the Court must
exercise the power it possessed, and proceed to
judgment._

- The Defendant went on, regardlesa of this eau.
tiou.—" I have beer' charged with a libel on reli.
Rim, and disturbing the price of the King. How,
by libelling the Christian rehgi,m, can I hove di..
turhed the peace of the King, who does not"--
Mr. Justice BAYLItIf" We mit sit to hear
you make such observations as these, which are
wholly irrelevant to your case."
The CIIIII JUSTICS—" Mrs. Wright, will you
attend to sue.—[The Defendant was endeavouring
to force • hearing by raising her voice.] —You are
injuring yourself ; we cao't sit here rod suffer the
'chi/jou of the country to be reviled, or the truth of
Christiaitity to be &med. Can you, as you go on,
omit those offensive ports? or, if you wi.h, the Court
will remand you, and make an order for your com-
ing on a future day, in order to afford you au op.
portunity for reconsiderotiou." _ _ _

The befendsid, without attending to his Lord-
ship, proceeded with her 'eliding.
Mr. Justice BAYI.SY—" Mrs. Wright, are we
to understand that you refu►e to accept the iodul-
geoce offend you by his Lordship ?"
Mr. Justice BIST—s• Dou't you think, Mrs.
%Vright, you had better read it over. By the man-
ner in which you read, it appears to me to have
been written lur you, and that you are ignorant of
its contents."

The Defendant—'° No ; I have read it through,
and it contains my sentiments."
Mr. Guam ay submitted, that so the Defendant
had avowed her object in reading was justification
and not mitigation of punishment. she was not en-
titled to read it, otherwise a Defendant might con-
sume the lime of the Court fur a whole Term.

The Defendant (In a loud voice)—" No. Mr.
Gurney. I don't want to consume the time of the
Court; I hove a right to goon with my defence, and
I expect their Lordship.' titivation: I will go
through my book."
The Clll6ll JUSTIC4—" No, you will not, if the
subject matter be improper."
The Defendant said, nothing hot force should
prevent ber reading her Look through; and after •
abort pause she was proceediug--
The Class Jussics—" Mil. Wright, why will
you not take advice? %Ye cannot suffer this:"
~
The Defendant—" lord, yes ato piti) to
hear. mid you must hest.
The CHIEF JUSTICE—" This is too sseeh."
Mr. Justice Jitairt.ttr—" We west not hear front
any one that which is improper. You had better
addrtos yourself so mitigation of punishment."
The Defeadaut—" You prevent sue making my
defence by 'ltem repeated interruptions. You will
not hear me."

Mr. Justice BATI.tr-a-" We are ready to heir
allyoe esti properly offer for air cons deration.
The Drfendont hrr reading, cn.iliq-
io to kilich the
.tittOlf the Christiso2l.9l
-Tbit Jillitgiloool4 We csaapt.4l 11111,
. .

Prw'•w7-414

111111•1111

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mr. •-•'"

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to proceed in this coarse. Voo •ill drive to to
adopt one of two courses—etther to ivreeeed imme-
diately to judgruent, or to order you to be remand-
ed ■od brought up ou a future day, when he hope
you will be advised to adapt a different course."
The Defendant —" Then you condemn cue with.
oil hear 's% my defence."

The CUM" illtITIC6—" No, we are ready to
hear your defence, but that which yea are now
doing is an uggrattation of your offeuce."
The Defendant-1, I will read my book through,
I em determined, unless 1 am prevented mud taken
sway by force."
She then proceeded to read:
The Cuter Jurrlce—'" This leaves us only one
coarse to adopt. Let the Defendant now stand
committed, and be brought up for judgment en the
fourth day of beat Term."
The Defendant—" Give me my elold. • I am
denied the opportunity of tucking ay defence i 1
am refined a heerit.g."
The Defendant then, with her attendant friends,
quitted the Count.
Mr. GURNEY observed, that the abject of the
Defendant and her advisers appeared to he to ob-
tain • publication of doctrines which they could
publish in no other way. He trusted, if there were
ally persons present who from inclination would aid
their purposes, they would from prudential motives
be restrained from doing so.
The Cutter Jotelet —4. Certainly, Mr. Gurney,
every one will understand that they mine publish
that whieh we decide •s improper to utter without
subjecting themselves to prosecution."

kiissidatiMe

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