The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-09-01 00:00:00

TILUTRZ OF THE EMPRESS,
(AT PARIS )

The Shnfliers, by M.. Picard, has been curtailed in
the manner generally thought necessary to the suc-
cess of the work; and the better to conned those
striking features which require to be eqtt illy sup-
ported throughout the piece. The incidents are
well imagined, and excite frequent bursts of laugh-
ter, from which it is impossible for the speCtators
to refrain. The piece is altogether well performed,
and much admired by the public, who sea it repeat-
ed with pleasure. '
Some days after the representation of The SA:seers,
the same theatre brought forward The Ginniaaant,
a work hitherto but little known of Pont-de.Veyle,
which swatted the spe&ators principally by the
merit of novelty. The anion is rather tedious,
though there are some excellent comic touches ; but
many of the scenes are agreeable, and written with
much ingenuity and spirit; it is very well got up,
and may be reckoned among those pieces which do
not attrad a crowd, but which never disgust a
spedator ; which are not run after s. ith avidity,
but, when seen, are generally termed a good spectacle.
A first representation appeared lately at the
same theatre, and a new piece was announced for an
early day ; a sufficient proof that an assiduous atten-
tion is considered as the most certain guarantee of
success. The title of this new piece is, All the Same,
te, The Aversion, and answers the double name in
the person of a young man, who has been well re-
ceive,' in a house by the name of Dorval, and is
banished from the same house by the name of Cell-
court; which he had occasionally quitted. Under
this last name he had been falsely accused of some
satirical remarks against a female wit, and is the
objet of her invincible aversion. But, under that
of Dorval, by applauding a comedy, he gains the
confidence of his enemy, the heart of her daughter,
and obtains the assistance of the waiting-maid.
Unhappily, in one scene, and very happily in ano-
ther, he is known as Celicourt by the uncle of his
young mistress, and by the notary who draws up
the marriage.contraft. These incidents and mis-
takes are concluded by a surprised signature, a forc-
ed consent, and an acknowledgment of the old
dislike.

This piece rests principally on some comic ideas,
which are often treated 'in a manner adapted to the
scene, but it is entirely destitute of the necessary de-
velopements. The scenes, the charaCters, the situa-
tions, are hinted at, and glossed over. Nothing is
described, nothing is finished; in short, this piece
resembles what is usually called a sketch. We
cannot tell what elle& it might produce, if the parts
were well filled, hut it appears to us very deficient.
However, we owe to truth the acknowleJ'ment
that this work has succeeded ; that the applause,
were warm, the acclamations numerous, and the
symptoms of disapprobation very rare ; that the
public universally demanded the name of the au-
thor, and even insisted on his appear ,nce. We lit-
tle imagined the motives of this enthusiasm, when
M.'Picard came forward to announce, that the little
piece just performed was the first essay of a very
young man of the name of Justin. After a declara-
tion so modest, we must not delay our belief, that
those of the public who had called so earnestly for
the author, bad a previous knowledge of the title
by which he claimed their indulgence ; and we con-
sent to yield to those applauses as an encourage-
ment, where it is impossible for them- to expeft our
suffrage. In truth, if we adhere to our eharaaer
of faithful historians, and if we report all the opi-
nions which we have co lefted, we must speak w ell
of those speklators, who regretted having been called
on to judge such a mut, d'ervoi, and who manifested
evident concern that M. Picard had not waited for
more mature fruits, more advanced strength to the
author, and a more considerable proof of his ta-
lents.

To conclude :—in this piece of a very young man,
a very young beginner makes his appearance in a
charaner which is become extremely rare, that of
lover : his name is Merville; he promises tolerably,
and belongs to the comedy, where he regulates the
parts that each person is to take, according to the
estimation of their abilities. This beginner has an
agreeable stature, a figure not very rezular, but ex-
pressive and anive he has much volubility, some
fire, and too much anion to be graceful or steady ;
but he has one excellent quality, he is extremely
watchful of the stage, hears well, m.srks the
prompter with intelligence, and speaks with a just
and animated accent. He will, no doubt, merit
advancement.

Tuesday afternoon, an apprentice to Mr. Gi i-
tem printer,• Salisbury-square, bathing in the
Thames, in diving off one of the barges, struck his
head against the bottom, and although he rose to
the snrface, he was so much stunned by the blow as
to perish before any assistance could be rendered
him. The body was found on Wednesday, and
taken to St. Saviour's Bone-house, for the decision
of the Coroner's Inquest.