The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-01-02 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.

Last night the play of The Stranger was per.
formed. This drama. like toady (Alters if the
same school, owes whatev, r power of ph. a-i:,g it
possesses, rather to the affected elevation of its sr.'.
tiruents, the strangeness of its clonaet,-.1., the
strength of its situations, and the ei-rit. of it- ir..r.
formers, than to any more genuine nod intro in
excellence. The principal persons 111 it are, in ot;i•
opinion. representatives of individuals, ant
species. Alrs. halter's remorse mid wmichril-
uess
are, linked, the general and nu: oral coti.e.
gnomes of a fall from innocence and virtue.:—
" When lovely woman stoops to folly,
And finds too late that men betrty,
What charm cau soothe her melancholy ?
What art can wash her guilt as ay 7"
But whether the almost angelic purity with which
she rises limn her fall be true to general tia,tue,
and whether her restoration to the arms of an in-
jured husband, to honour, and to happiness, he a
gond moral lesson for the stage, we shall I,:lve to
the consideration of oar readers. However, 'ii-s
O'NEtt.t.'s representation of the frail heroine ii cal-
culated to sink every other feeling in those of admi-
ration and 'pity—resignation to merited ssiffeii:.g
seems so humble and sincere; self-condemnation
for errors so keen and exquisite as to blot lint all
her failings. In the passage where Baron Mein-
fort inquires whether she was married, I.er on., er
was so expressive of acute and heart-rending
as to produce a succession of plaudits. Tht,
scene between Mrs. Hailer and the Siranrr
duced on both sides an exhibition of power- of first-
rate excellence. Mr. YQUNG COMMititicated to th •
part of the Stranger an ample proproi.on of the
oddly mixed qualities of which it is caininiundi.d.
In some scenes lie might pass for a Ttsto , in
others for a HERACLITUS. Mrs. (hula's !stEnt•
Lion of Clarion., was highly laughable.
The play, and afterwards the new l'annuniin.,
obtained the greatest approbation from a fuil house.

The party invited to meet the Duke of WEL-
LINGTON at Hatfield, the nolil= chateau of tie
Marquis and Marchioness of SALISBURY, Nt Chrrtw
mat, were, the Duchess of WELLINGTON, Altv-
quis of Dous°, and the other branches I.f the hi-
mily ; together with all the fansiiieis of (lit., i.tet!,4t
in the vicinity, including Mr. iIitAND, of the
Hoo, and Mr. GILES.

Prince LEOPOLD left Coiling on the 3d tilt for
Seric-Weiruar, to meet the Emperor of Hum..

Yesterday the Earl and Countess of HAacouttx
left St. Leonard's Hill, for London.
We have authority to state. that the paragra:ol
in the Newspapers asserting that a work on Cr'.
mina! Law. left by Sir SAMUEL ROMI 1.1. Y.
preipirilig for the press by Mr. BaouG:iv.i and
Mr. Wittswiw, is totally destitute of fouls
The following Latin distich expresses the .op-
posed value of the stout called Jucub's Pd/ u', to
the Scottish nation :

44 Ni &Hat fatmen, Scot i peoeunque locatum
luereuicot lapideo, square teuentur ibidem.

COUTTS, the Lady of THOMAS COUTTI'
Esq. banker, has with her accustomed lieisevolelire,
lately transmitted to her tenant, Mr. WitiTrfic.An,
her annual present to the poor of ‘Vtiodham Walter.
Essex. consorting of the following article., to be by
him distributed. vit.

600 !hi. of beef; 400 quarter's loaves; 300 lbs. of rugar ;
300 oz. of tea • 242 'Wicks of warm clothing.
awl one I.l,illtaig to evity revulsive lo purchase ale fur
tlitir Christmas dinner. Mrs.*COUTTs has also or.
tiered Mr. WRITIttI %Et to pay two shillings
week each. to g 5 of the most distressed tOusilito
during the three wiuter

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