The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-11-30 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

A new after-piece, entitled Hafed Me Gheber, was last
night produced at this Theatre. The subject is taken f..oin
Moores exquisite poem of the Fire-worshippers, but the
dramatist has materially changed the plot of the poet's talc,
and has preserved but little of its original beauty and interest;
while,
_for the powerful language of the bard, he has sub-
stituted a dialogue of his own, tame and insignificant. Inven-
tion, whether in Trageily or in Melo-drame, is the noblest,
and should be the chief, effort of en author who writes fur
the stage ; but when he adopts the story of another, it will
be at least expected that lie give it a new or more interest-
ing feature. Tilis be Sot been done by the author of
Haft d the Weber ; and those who 'lave perused the beau-
tiful and pathetic tale of the poet, cannot but regret that it
should be so completely " shorn of its beams. The plot
of the Melo-drame is made to differ materially from the
production on which it is founded. Hafid Me Gheber
(Mr. Wallach) loves the daughter of his determined foe,
Al Hassan, the Arabian Prince (Mr. Archer). }MM
(Mrs. West), is taken by one of the officers of Ha fed,
and is sent hack, unharmed, to her father. The
persecuted followers of the Gheber are betrayed in the
hiding-place by the traitor Feramarz (Mr. Terry), whom
the dtamaus• makes the preserver of Hinda, and the rival
of Hr/ed. The Gheber then, under the name and dis-
guise of the Prince of Circassia, gains admission into the
palace of Al Hassan, where he is discovered and impri-
soned. He subsequently makes his escape, joins his fol-
lowers, and prepares to give battle to his foes. In the con-
flict that follows the traitor is slain ; but as the curtain
fell (accidentally) before the termination of the piece, we
were unable to ascertain the fate of the other persons of
the drama. We presume, however, from appearances,
that the Dramatist is a grater lover of poetic justice than
the poet, and that tile conclusion is greatly to the comfort
of all parties. The performance was not given out for re-
petition, and we suppose it will share the fate of its melo-
dramatic predecessor, The Flying Horse.

Tie Dueness or Gi.occsar in.—The report of her
Royal Highness's health yesterday war" The Duchess
has passed a bad night, and is not so well to-day." The
Princess Sophia visited her Royal Highness yesterday.
THE DCCIIESS OE RICHMOND AND TIIE LADIES
LENNOX.—Casty Blaney has, as usual, been the scene of
a -atonal hospitality, since the commencement of the winter.
Her Grace the Duchess of Richmond and her daughters,
were among the last party of visitors at Lord Blaney's,
and were so well pleased with their reception, that their
visit was protracted longer than heel been intended. There
was a large and brilliant party every day to meet those dis-
tingu'ahed p nouages ; and nothing which the proverbial
munificence, taste, and hospitality of the Noble Host could
procure or supply, were wanting to render the festivities
every thing that could be desired. The Duchess and her
party left the delightful mansion on the 20th instant, for
Sir Thomas Pakenham's. Her Grace was greatly pleased
with her tour through the North, which was marked by
the warmest attention and kindest respect, from all classes.
The Noble party were entertained for some days at the seat
of the Earl of Caledon in a splendid style, whence they
proceeded to Castle Blaney.—Dsdifin l'aper.
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland lies appointed Sir C.
Henry Coote, Bart. to be Colonel of the Queen's County
Militia, vice Lord Castlecoote, deceased.
Sir C. Long had an audience of his Majesty yesterday.
Lord Manners made a very pointed allusion, on Satur-
day, to the manner in which his decrees are treated b! the
House of Lords. He particularly adverted to the cese of
Blake and Foster. His decree was, he said, in that in-
' stance, set aside without any explanation of the grounds
upon which it was reversed. This was the more extraor-
dinary, as he had a communication with Lord Elton,
which assured him that his Lordship supported his view of
the case. On the whole lie considered that he had just
cause of complaint, &c. .Ifarning Reg•ister.
Mr. Kean played a round of characters at the Belfast
I theatre last week.

Mr. Liston appeared as &iillie Nicol Jarrie at the Dublin
Theatre on Thursday last.
The paragraph ins Morning Paper of yesterday, stating
that when the affairs of the banking-house of Messrs.
Chambers and Son are arranged, Mr. Mathias Attwntal
would join Mr. Chambers, jun. and Mr. Hamlet, in the
formation of a new banking-house at the west cud of the
town, is totally without foundation.
A few days ago, as several ladies were sitting in the
drawing-room of Mr. Coles, statuary, of Portland-road,
Mary-la-bonne, they were alarmed by one of the raves of
glass being broken, without any apparent cause, two of the
ladies being near the window at the time. A bullet was
soon afterwards found on the carpet, and in a short period
a stone, of small dimensions, came in with anitzing ve-
locity. Information was given at the Mary-la-bonue
Office, when Winans was despatched to make inquiries.
The officer, after viewing the place where the ball and
stone entered, was of opinon that they were thrown by an
air-gun, or somesuch similar instrument. The family has
been in a state of alarm eve, since.