The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-03-26 00:00:00

ENGLISH OPERA NOG.►E.

Mr. Matthews was age* de Algae last evening. et
this theatre, to a crowded asat-mbly of visitors. The abi-
lities of this actor are well known and appreciated ; for years
he has succeeded, by his single exertions, in amusing and
gratifying his auditors, and his extraordinary powers are
still unimpaired ; still he attracts and delights by the versatility of
his talents, the freshness of his humour, and the exquisite effect of
his mimicry. His Trip to America has been lortganticipated. The
public have been anxious to behold a portrait of our brother Jona-
than and to know in what manner the sketch would come from one
who is well known to ridicule every body and every thing; but with
so much pleasantry and good feeling as, at least, to place a feather
on the poisoned shaft. We do nut think our trans.atlentic brethren
will think themselves flattered hy, or feel obliged to, Mr. Mathews.
for his " lecture on their peculiarities, charaaers, and mannen
yet he has so mingled his sly hits at his own countrymen, with the
pikes at Jonathan s expense, that we doubt whether Jonathan will
complain of his treatment, or at all regret the apourning of the
prying traveller in the new world. Mr. Mathews commenced his
entertainment, or " lecture," as he tams it, by informing his .01-
to that since he was last " At Home," ha ha been abrmd, and
is now happy to Had himself "At Home" again. Like Christo-
pher Coluinuus he had visited America, and bite him, had been
instigated by the yellow fever, that is to say, a fever for yelkia
boys; but in one respect his case was different from that of the
discoverer, who met with an ungrateful reception when " A t
Home." The vessel in which Mr. Mathews embarked was hail-
ed when off New York, and he had his first lesson on Atnaican
peculiarities. "Is the fever at New York? asked the Captain
of the packet. " Yes, I guess," was the reply. " Is it fatal ?"
"Very fatal, I +vela's." " Are there many dead ?" " A great many,
I calculate." Mr. Mathews's chief travelling companions are Ja,.4
Topham, and his cousin Bray, the forma of whore had come r.,
years of indiscretion, and had been sent to America to be ke out
of harm's way ; the latter is a sort of guardian, with short breath
mad short legs, who worships the wit of cousin, and every toonit.:t
exclaim*, • that boy 'II be the dqith o' me." On their landing.
they meet with a specimen of American innkeepers, an old gentle-
man with curiosity in his eye, and a afar in his month, who iuforms
them 'us four o'clock, and they ahaYtd have arrived sooner if they
wanted dinner; at length he sends them wine, which Jock To,.
ham pronounces to be mulled " Day and Martin," while Pis
cousin, who sits with his mouth half cocked, ready to explode as
soon as his relative speaks, bursts out into a laugh, and declares
" he never heard that afOrt." Mathews then relates hit visit to
Baltimore, where he vas well received. On his arrival, many of
the first people called on him and left their cards, an attention
which was paid him in several other cities. Ile then tells 'some
amusing tales ; among others. one of as (Fishman in the steam-
paket, who was astonished to see a number of turtles an the deck,
.