The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-09-23 00:00:00

ENGLISH OPERA ROUSt.

gib managers of ibis pleasant little place of stammer
smusement have followetd the example of their neighbours'
of the Haymarket in reviving the Opera of lu hie and Turku,
00c of the first, and by no means the worst, of George
cpiman's dramatic labours. We have no intention to in-
stitute any comparison between the rival reproductions, be-
cause the public can so easily make one for themselves, and
st the same time double their pleasures by witnessing its
performane at both houses. They will find strong points
at each, and the sweet
and simple music of Dr. Arnold
pill bear the test of repetition.
With respect to the performance of last night, we are
happy to have it in our power to say, that the opera has
been produced at this theatre in a very effective manner,.
and with a cast of characters so strong, both in the acting
and singing department's, as cannot fail to render it a fa-
vourite with the frequenters of this theatre during the short
period of the season now remaining.
It has been the fashion for actors of considerable emi-
nence occasionally, and " for the nonce," to personate the
'oddity, hero of this piece ; and among others, we have
P
seen Mr. Young, on benefit nights, assume the character of
Wk. Mr. Cooper played it last night as well as it can
me deserve, or we desire ; and sung the incidental songs
(which is a kind of condescension on his part) more like a
geetlerhan than an actor. Sir Christopher Curry was well
played by Bartley, the evenest actor of the age, anti was
as hot as, Or last July—whichsoever you please.
Mr. Broadhurst is, the compass of his organ con-
d.dered, one of the sweetest and moat pleasing singers we I
know) executed the music belonging to his part in a very
delightful manner, and was particularly successful in the
introduced melody " I'd mourn the hopes that leave me."
Of Mr. Mathews, in Trucke, we have to speak in terms of
the most unqualified praise. The character fits him to a
hair. It is one of those humorous mixtures of the whim-
sical mad pathetic, in which this actor is always great.
The female part of the performers are entitled to as fa-
vourable mention as the others. Miss Paton transformed
herself into Woteski, and warbled
" Her native wood notes wild"
with great tenderness and truth; while her science
and execution were, as usual, unapproachable. Site
Played the part, which is a favourite with actresses anti au-
diences, muter( the black paint, with a great share of
archness and rtairek, and was sufficiently bewitching,
although u a pleasant contemporary says,
" The snow that whitened on her brow,
Fquick darkening o'er,
ades dim before
Vis blaze of day and Martin, now
IVers of Likratairt"
Miss Onward had little to do in the Chambermaid; and
Miss Noel sung the songs of Narcissa in an unassuming
and lady-like manner. The sweet sketch of the heroine
is delightfully filled up by Miss Kelly with the hand of a
mistress of her art. Her splendid personation redeems the
unworldly improbability of the plot, and prepares us for
the departure from the original in the catastrophe, which, i
Downes gratefbl it must be to the finer sensations of our
nature, cannot but jostle with our every-day notions of
" things as they are." But while we look at her we are
so lost in the contemplation of individual truth and power,
that we forget everything else, and only wonder how Inkle
could ever meditate the desertion of such a Tarim, without
feeling any surprise at the only astonishing part of the
story—their final and full reconciliation. Mitts Kelly is
the enchantress who reconciles us to these improbabilities—
leafs car willing senses into captivity, and persuades us
that nothing is, but what is not!"
Via have only to repeat the praise generally, which we
Tare already given in detail ; and observe, that the piece
went off with great eclat to a crowded house, and was an-
nounced for repetition on Saturday amidst loud demon-
stratiohs of pleasure and satisfaction.

Pooa Laws.—A Requisition to the Mayor of this city
kin progress of signature, requesting his IVorship to call
a public Meeting for the purpose of taking into considera-
tion the propriety of petitioning Parliament for the intro-
duetion of a mollified systern of Poor Laws into this ooun-
try.—Cork Southern liepwr ter.
A Gstospi—The neighbourhood of Christ-church,
illackfriars-road, has been the scene of much bustle, after
night-fall, the last two or two evenings, in consequence of
as idle rumour which has spread abroad, that an appari-
eon is to be seen in the church-yard, wandering about
among the tombs. On Tuesday night a vast crowd of per-
sons had assembled by the aide of the burial-ground, look-
leg with great anxiety for the supernatnral being making
its appearance ; when a wag who was passing, perceiving
their eagerness to behold a ghost, called their attention to
the reflection of the moon beams upon a white headstone,
telling them at the same time that they might see a shade,
if they were disappointed in seeing a 4irit. The greater
pan of the people dispersed on hParing this remark, but
many of the most credulous remained behind. _ _ _

thircu Lea Pis an° swo x.—On the morning of Saturday
last, this town and neighbourhood were visited by a smart
southerly gale, which did not, however, cause any consi-
derable damage. During its continuance, a curious phe-
nomenon was exhibited. The Shannon, which forms in
winter, at our bridge, a dangerous cataract, and rushes
ander it with a loud roar, had, on this occasion, the course
of' its waters so far suspended by the fury of the wind,
that its channel beneath the bridge was ao perfectly dry as
to be crowded with persons attracted thither by the novelty
of the scene. This spectacle, which was without precedent
in the memory of the oldest inhabitant, was principally
owing to the very shallow state of the river, in that part,
from the unusual drought of the summer, and the circum-
stance of the wind having operated directly against the
stream. There were some pieces of coin of an ancient
date picled up, and also some, which being adapted to
:talent times, were more highly prized by the vulgar
Eader.---Ifildulte Herald.

A nun named James G'avin has been apprehended in
Waterford by several pol cc-officers from England, on a
slurp or having.been cone rnul in a murder at York some
Lott sins. He was brought to the head Police-office,
Dullin, on Satunlay morning, and has been since trans-
mitted to England. _

SZTR•OIDIS APT EIIItGLAItY.—A daring burglary and
robbery was effected in the house of Edward Williams. Esq.. MN
21, ilatscheater-street, on Tuesday night. The family were ms the
eve of leaving town for the country, and had packed up in two
large trunks an immensity of wearing apparel, which trunks were
tein the lower part of the house. The family retired to rest be-
tdwelve o'clock. Stokes, the watchmen of that station, on pass-
ing the house. found the area gate secure, and knowing that the
house was uninhsbited, and the door only on the single lock, he
having an extrannlinsry presentiment that a robbery would be
eamaskted on his station that night, considered that this house,'
haring but imperfect fastenings, would be singled out, he therefore'
under the door some strews, in such a manner that if the
doer was opened he would discover it. During the night he was
oecepied taking some charges to the satchboune. and on going
about three o'clock to the empty house, found that the straws had
fallen, therefore the door must have been opened ; but all was
quiet, sal be observed no lights, and being at a loss how to act, he
'Placed his murk untkr the door and walked round his

. - .-....-
• in. on returning again his suspicious were fully con.
eed, his mark was withdrawn and the doors had evidently
ngtin opened. The watchman became alarmed, and re-
ahined near the house until about five o'clock on 11'ednesilay 1
when, upon some of 3lr. servants getting up,'
tout d the house had been broken into from the rear, and
•so trunks robbed of a variety of articles; they gave the alarm,
snl in the course of the morning it was discovered that the robbers
mad tr•etTscd the drawing-room and ante-chambers, the parlours.'
vzo. al the lower parts of the house, and had taken, besides the
tiro large trunks of clothes, a bundle, containing dresses, a gold
stub and appewtages, worth about 150 guineas. end 404 i°
h..aitles some silver plate. A message was sent to tin'
?Ivy-lc/tone Office, and Stowell, an active officer, was sent to
"3",1n0 the premises. Upon hia thawed in he found that the en.
".n .e of the thieves was through the uninhabited house into the
:oil, from which they climbed over the wall, and were at once in
''e yard belonging to Mr. Williams's house. They then got
m,atia trap-door into the kitch-m, and from thence into the other
ear.i of the horse. Tice ttulka were found removed to a room u
'
,Is. 31r. Ilawlinson observed it was a piece of very culpable
4iitunte to leave an uninhabited house' so to.ally defective of]
ge.athinan who lost his life bonaa istol-shot
I i
on TuAtt ty. as stated, VAX originally ger of an eaten-
' 31ancliever house in the City, who afterwards realised an
• ....Ist:oh:et fortone, and built a (louse at Edmonton, where he
/lis antagonist, Mr. 9—r—w--d, was formerly a hop-
who lately retired from business. The parties were
• Wand. and the disagreement was a family one.
The Proprietors of 'the English Gentleman having offer-
• • ever evatuttout,iy (:t being for a charitable subscription). the
~! the kind persons whose timely donations enabled me to ex-
. .:.! tan young and respectable women from custody, and restore
to to their former pursuits, that of conducting a seminary, I beg
• I shall avail myself of the columns of that Paper on
r.•!ay next, the :sth invent. Wm. Joxas,
• Ilcnch Prtson, Sept. 21, 1023.

I.l7'ERdar GLIANINGs.

XXXIV.

Some OF ARC. site CREMATED MAID OF ORLEANS.—
Of this extraordinary female no genuine picture exists.
The oldest is in the town-hall of ORLEANS, and it was not
painted till the year ISM, nearly a hundred and thirty
years after her death. The common Lorraine physiognomy
is given to her, without the addition of any mental ex-
pression.
The birth-place of JOAN or Atte is now public property.
The spot was purchased in the year 1819, at the joint
expense of the French Government and the department of
Vosges. The house is enclosed within the precincts of
a school, that has been founded for the iastniction of
the countrywomen of the heroine of I)omrcmy. The
house had, for many years, formed part of another dwell-
ing,
and only three chambers, of small dimensions, could
be distinguished. These rooms have beers the frequent',
subject of pilgrimage, and many a collection of curiosities
boasts a fragment of its beams and panels. The architect
appointed by the Government in 1818 has unmasked the
edifice, bx demolishing the ruins that encumbered it,
restoring to the door-way the arched moulding that had
originally belonged to it, and replacing the chimney-piece,
which had been removed into the adjoining house. The
house now stands isolated, as it should do. A fountain is
also there, accompanied, the French say ornamented, by
an alabaster statue, the work of a M. Lit GENDRE HERM.,
who bears the august title of Professor of Sculpture to
the Academy of the Fine Arts at Lyons. Painting also
has lent her powers to ennoble the residence of the
Maid. In the room wherein people have chosen to sup-
pose
she was born her. picture hantrs ; it was presented to
the place by his Majesty Loris XVIII. She is painted
in an oratory, dedicated to tAr. Virgin, before whose image
she is kneeling; and she partly rests on the sword which
it is imagined she consecrated to the deliverance of her
country. The painter is M. LAURENT, a Parisian artist
of some merit.

Ever since the revival of letters, Joss or Aac has been
the theme of French poets. Heroics have been vociferated,
■nd elegies written; the brief monody, the lengthened
tragedy, have commemorated her virtue and sufferings.
Poets of other countries have sung her praises. The ;d-
-u-deers of Scsiii.l.Eß need not be reminded of his Jungfrau
von Orleans. England too has "done her duty," and the
earliest aspirations of SouTII EY°S muse, in the freshness of
its republicanism, are devoted to the immortality of the
matchless " Maid."—Unisersal Review, No. iv.

ARCIIIIII9.IOI. LACD.—The DIARY kept by this unfor-
tunate Prelate, is extremely curious, as showing that the
weakest superstition may be allied with a mind otherwise
of strong powers, and with a character of which all the
qualities are fervent and full of energy. Levi), it appears,
did not at all suspect himself of superstition ; he even
thanks God that he is exempt from it, and this at the very
moment that he is most manifestly under its influence, and
is in the very act of putting this feature of his mind upon
record. The following passages nre extracted from the
edition of his Diary, published by lICNRY WII•RTUY, in
1695:

" 169,3. Dec. 14. Sunday night, I did dream that the
Lord Keeper was dead ; that I passed by one of his men,
that was about a monument for him : that I heard him
say, his lower lip was infinitely swelled and fallen, and he
rotten already. This dream did trouble me.
" 1625. July 3. Sunday, in my sleep his Majesty King
JAMES appeared to me. I saw him only passing by swiftly.
He was of a pleasant and serene countenance. In passing
he sew me, beckoned to me, smiled, and was immediately
withdrawn from my sight.
" Sept. 4. Sunday. The night following I was very
much troubled in toy dreams. My imagination ran alto-
gether upon the the Duke of BUCEINGMAM his servants
and family. All seemed to be out of order: that the
Duchess was ill, called for her maids, and took her bed.
Gon grant better things._

Sept. 26. Sunday. That night I dreamed of the mar-
riage I know not whom at Oxford. All that were present,
were clothed with flourishing green garments. I knew
none of them bgt Thomas Flaxnye. Immediately after,
without any intermission of sleep (that I know of), I
thought I saw the Mellor of. IVORCISTER, his head and
I shoulders covered with linen. He advised and invited me
kindly, to dwell with them, marking out a place, where
the Court of the Marches of Wales was then held. But
not staying for my answer, he subjoined, that he knew I
could not live so :neanly.

" 1626. Aug '23. Friday. Two Robin-red-breasts flew
together throne& the door info my study, as if one pursued
the other. Thit sudden motion almost startled me. I was'
then preparing a sermon on Ephes. iv. 30, and studying.
" Jan S. Epiphany Eve, and Friday. In the night I
dreamed, that my mother, long since dead, stood by my
bed, and drawing aside the clothes a little, looked pleasant-
ly upon me; and that I was glad to see her with so merry
an aspect. She then showed to me. certain old man, long
since deceased; whom, while alive, I both knew and
loved. He seemed to lie upon the ground; merry enough,
but with a wrinkled countenance. His name was Grove.
While I prepared to salute him, I awoke.
" 1639. Feb. 12. Tuesday night. I dreamed that K.
C. was to be married to a Minister's widow; and that I
was called upon to do it. No service-book could be found ;
and in my own book, which I had, I could not find the
order pr marriage.
" 1650. Jan. 24. Friday. At night I dreamed that my
fither (who died forty-sit years since) came to me ; and,
to my thinking, he was as well, and as cheerful, as ever I.
saw him. He asked me what I did there? And after
some speech, I asked him how long he would stay with
me? He answered, he would stay till he had tne away
with him. I am not moved with dreams; yet 1 thought
fit to remember this.

SPORTING INTRLLICENCIf
(Br EXPRESS.) EXPRESS.)

DONCASTER RACES—WznatzsDAY, Max Nunn.

Such was the extraordinary attraction of the races yes-
terday, that the road from Doncaster to the course was
crowded with equipages, in a continued line, for upwards
of an hour anti a half, and the extensive paths on each
side were lined with well-dressed females and others, jour-
neying to the course. In the town, the streets might be!
compared to Holborn and the neigh houri ng avenues thronged
with passengers on their route to Bartholomew fair. At
an early hour in the morning the betting,men assembled in
groups.in different parts of the principal streets, where they
kept till the doors of the new betting-room were opened,',
whets a rush took place, and it was filled to excess in a few
minutes; indeed, not a twentieth part of the subscribers could
get in • those remaining outside then assembled iu c7usters,
as on the Netvmarket-heath, which in some degree impeded'.
the passage of tbe,ntimerous baroucbee, coaches, &c., and
thus it continued till about half-past twelve o'clock, when
a great many of them moved off to take their stations in
the grand stand. 'The course presented a picture of unex-
ampled grandeur, and seemed as if the noble and wealthy
of the land had concentrated here, for so magnificent an
assemblage of rank, beauty, and fashion, is not within Ihe
recollection of the oldest,man on the turf.
The balls are very numerously attended, and are pro-
vided with Collinet's incomparable band; and that all
classes may be amused, the theatre is opened, and gaining
tables out of number provided ; the latter are to be found
at the new betting-room, private houses, and even shops,
several of which are apprbp';lated to the same purpose, to
determined is the spirit of gambling. At the hazard tables
the run has been very great, and enormous stuns have
changed pockets.