The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-04-06 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.

The Opera of Drr Freischutz was performed at this
theatre last night. The novelty of the evening was only a
second-hand one, and consisted in Miss Paton's resump-
tion of her old character of Bertha, which had been per-
formed ad interim during her indisposition by Miss Ham-
mersley. It is neither our wish nor design to institute any
comparison between the respective performance of these
two ladies in this particular character, because one only of
the fair sirens is pro judiee, and we are likewise aware
how delicate an affair it is to discuss points of character at
all. However, this much should be said, that if the Ma-
nager contemplated an overflow to witness the re-ap-
pearance of the fair vocalist, the public had the good genre
and taste to disappoint him ; and that part of them
which did attend the Theatre manifested, by the mode-
ration of their manner, a very altered feeling, as it
regards matters of theatrical eclat. This is just as it should
be ; if there be any individuals disposed to speculate on
the frailties of their fellows, in Gaits name, and for the
sake of true modesty, let them be silently disappointed.
At least, let the public (which by the way is always right
in the long run) not; throw a strong temptation in the
way of persons already subject, by their situation, to too
many similar trials ; and we would add, let them not be
bamboozled into a real attack upon moral and virtuous prin-
ciple, by a pretended pharisaical deference for its interests.
We do not wish to be too explicit on the subject, but the
initiated will understand us. Miss Paton appears to have
experienced no diminution of her very delightful powers
during her temporary absence. On the contrary, we never
heard her give the grand scena that occurs in the second
act with more decided effect, as it regards brilliancy of
tone and scientific execution. It is a passage which requires
great and diversified powers for its successful performance;
there exists no singer whose abilities it does not task to the
utmost, and we are not aware of any on the English stage
more capable of doing it effectual justice than Miss Paton.
In the remaining pieces incidental to the character she was
I equally successful. In personal appearance Miss Paton
I seems somewhat thinner, and her face (as far as we can
judge of the complexion of an actress) paler than ordinary.
The pit and boxes, as we have already intimated, were not
fully attended, and the applause throughout, and at the first
coming on of Bertha, was unmixed, but of a very moderate
kind. Aladdin concluded the entertainments of the even-
ing.

On Monday the Duchess of Gloucester and the Princess
Augusta visited Lady Cremorne, at her Ladyship's house
in Stanhope-street, May-fair.
Yesterday the Duchess of Gloucester went to Blackheath
on a visit to the Princess Sophia Matilda.
On Monday night Mr. and Mrs. Canning had a numerous
dinner party at Gloucester Lodge, Brompton ; after which,
about half-past nine o'clock, the marriage ceremony with
Miss Canning and the Earl of Clanricarde took place, which
was performed by the Bishop of London. Among the
company present on the occasion were, the Duke of Port-
land, Lord V. Bentinck, Mr. Ellis, the Earl of Bristol,
the Ladies Harvey, Lord Howard de Walden, &c. After
the ceremony the happy pair left Gloucester Lodge for
Sudbrookc, near Richmond, the scat of Mr. Wilmot
Horton, to spend their honeymoon.
Sunday night Mr. Littlewood, a King's Messenger, left
town with despatches for Vienna.
Saturday night Mr. Crotch, the King's Messenger, left
town with despatches for St. Petershurgb.
Lord Ebrington and suite have arrived at Endsleigh
Cottage, on a visit to his Grace the Duke of Bedford.
Mr. Shaw Lefevre, as well as Sir E. Hyde East. is
spoken of as the new Chairman of the Hampshire Ses-
sions.

It is said that Sir C. Forbes (and not Sir T. Farquhar)
is the Baronet to be proposed to the electors of Exeter, on
a dissolution of Parliament.—Exrtcr Paper.
It is confidently expected that Lord Howick, son of Earl
Grey, will come forward as a candidate to represent the
county of Northumberland in Parliament whenever an
election takes place ; he will of course have the support of
the leading II hig
DOVER, Arni Majesty's packet the Fury,
arrived yesterday evening, bringing over Prince Esterhaz f
and suite, and reveral other passengers. His Grace the
Duke of Devonshire and suite arrived in the Sovereign,
Captain Hayward, the previous evening. Came in the
Sovereign, Hayward, from Calais, and amongst many
other passengers was Itoustan, Bonaparte's Mameluke,
being his second visit.
. . . . . .

if2e hear that an action is likely to be tried in the King's
Bench during the ensuing term, in which the parties arc
a Captain in the Navy, and near relative of one of his Ma-
jesty's Secretaries of State, and an officer recently serving
under him. The latter is plaintiff, and the ground of action
is an alleged false arrest, and close imprisonment for about
three months, by order of the Captain, whilst the vessel
was lying off the South American coast, in the autumn of
last year. Mr. Brougham is said to be retained for the
prosecution.

DISCOVERY "OE ANCIENT GREEK TABLETS RELA-
TIVE TO M sic.—The doubtful character of all known
accounts relative to the music of the ancient Greeks, and
the obscurity in which the subject is consequently involved,
render interesting, in a peculiar degree, the discovery of
two documents of high antiquity and unquestionable au-
thenticity, with the particulars of which we here present
our readers. The documents to which we allude are (we
1r:elf:I /ohlett, of a date 709 years before tile Christian era,
on which is engraved, in ancient Greek, an account of a
Music Feast at Epyrur (Corinth), in the third year of the
sixteenth Olympiad, or in the year before Christ, 709, by
Lamle, of Ilermione. An important addition to the his-
tory of ancient Greek music is thus furnished, interesting ,
alike to the antiquary and to the lover of the art, and
which throws mere light upon its nature and character in
those early ages, than all the labours of the numerous
writers upon this subject. A moat elabcratc account, with
the comments and historical memoranda ar•,ached, by the
celebrated l'rofessor 31nrchard, of Berlin, whose nephew,
M. Krautmann, was the fortunate discoverer of these in-
teresting relies of antiquity, is published in the last num-
ber of the Thirnivni-on.

The views of Holyrood Chapel and CI r.rtres Cathedral
at the Diorama have attracted a great ituadicr of visitors
during the last two days.