The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-04-25 00:00:00

MIL THELWALL'S LECTURES.

toosidering the mintier in which these Lectures, diroogli
four successive courser, *ere attended hi the wiutrr, and the
enthusiasm with which the suggestion of their probable re-
newal afte► the Easter holidays was received by the thronged
sod respectable embrace of the last evening of the coaclual-
iag course, it may appear a little exteaordinary that the pro-
mise has been su lung delayed. A contemporary print ex-
plains the mystery, by stating that the leisure hour. of
Mr. T. hive been devoted to a tuitional puem that has been
many years in coutemplatioa. Oratuty and Poetry have
been au rarely cultivated by the same Klaus, that an opinion
has eves p►evailed that they are incompatible; though, per-
haps, fu► no bette► reason than that orators have been in ge.
'trial tuu busily engaged in the whatnot and contentious
scenes of active life to lad opportunities fur the lonely
thought sod tranquillizing meditation indispensable to poetic
enthusiasm; while poets have haeu Lou Mulch absorbed iu
that meditative sensibility that shrinks from the tumult of
active exertion to cultivate the talent of popular &denti-
tion. If Mr. T. is in reality is. the habit of 'Assiut through
these unwonted transition" of charact!r sod occupation, it
ream that the visitations of the muse) and the dreams of
poethossuus reputation, she isow again to be saisproded foe
oratorical exertion sad appeals to contemporary acclaims-
!lug an alternate course of scientific lectures, on impede •
meats of speech, and of critical, on Shakspeare lad the
Drama, bring ansuented to comsismice on Friday next. The
Prospect.", of which we ha's received ■ copy, promisor •
very particular attentioa to " the lung.unacied, but soul.
thrilling tragedy of hang fear:" and Tate, dud the mulcts.
ten and amentlatore of oar immortal hard, seem to be
threatened with no very gristle castigation:

About forty of the prisoners capitally convicted
at Lancaster A.sites, wade an attempt to estlope
from the Castle, on the in g of their receiving
seutence, and if the phut had not happily lwen
frustrated, in all probability the I,OKb CHIEF
liAttoa would hare been word the painful duty
of passing orsitence of death upon so many fellow-
creatures. The plan was well laid, and very ucarly
executed %slats discovered.

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

The tragedy of The Jew of Malta, altered from.
MARLOWE'S original, was last night performed. for
the firat time, at this theatre. Of MARLOWE'S
faintly, hide is known. We learn from ‘Voon's
Athens, Oxoniensis, that he studied an successfully
at Oxford, as to obtain a degree in that University.
Soon after he had completed his studies, he oime
to London, and was empl.nyed in the double cops-
city of player and dramatist. We have no record
of his abilities as en actor--but, as a poet, he has
bequeathed us ample means for the formation of
an accurate judgment. In all his plays a rich vein
of poetry--a hold originality of idea—traits of am
ardent and powerful mind—are clearly perces,-
tilde. But the extraordinary subjects which lie
chose to dramatise—the horrible characters which
he draw—the butcheries by which moat of hie
tragedies are disagored—hmeiong Consigned them
to the shelf, lie tirade the stage a slaughter-house
—and, if he rarely troubled his audience with a
mural lesson, he took care they should have plenty
of murder. Correct taste must have been at a very
low ebb indeed, when such play, es Doctor Faus-
tus—Len's Dosiision--and The Jew of Aloha
(is it was originally produced by the author),
were not only endured but admired. Had MAR-
Lows been happier in the formation of his plots,
his works would, at this day, have tilled a very high
rank on the stage. But the Cidtivated mind revolt,
from subjects full u( Istirror, and characters debased
by the worst vices, It is iii.vints that they are set off
by the splendoer'of poetry. It only excites our regret
that genius should be so basely prostituted. Were
we to credit sortie of Matts.owe's historians, who
have depicted burn as a wretched Atheist, we should
be inclined to think, that sketches of his owes cha-
racter are to be found:in until of those drain, by
him. But we are rather led to believe, that
principles have been attributed to him. by the
enthusiastic religionists of his day, on account,
perhaps, of the greater liberality of his sentiments,
which did not belong to him. That lie lived
luxuriously, there is no doubt—that lie died mi-
serably, in r " fewd quarrel," there is as little.
The Jew of Malta. as now produced, is sof-
tened down considerably. The clmmeter of Ba-
raboo. the Jew, was evidently written in com-
pliment to that intolerant feeling. which too long
existed against the Jewish race. A feeling as ab-
horrent to true rtitgiuti as it is to sound reason.
To religion—becatise religion teaches utsiversal be-
nevolence; to reason, because a moment's reflection
must sheer, that, if you wish to make a man a
vii-
laiu, the beat mode is, continually to 'trove to him
that you think him ,one. In these days. however,
we look at such a picture merely as a represents.
Lion of human Immo'', perfectly abstracted from
any idea of sect or religion.
The rave of the tragedy, as the name imports, is laid
la Malta. The Turks, who hare long held the Maltese in
ribjectiou, it oit an armament, under the conimaad of the
Suites' Calyniath, for the perform of dessaiding the pay-
ment of a tribute, of which a mosiderslile armor is due--
Fernese, the Governor of Malta, semmons the Jews, and
commands them to furnish the tribete-money—esek iadivi.
deal of that *adios being called ma to subscribe half his
property, wader the penalty, in cosset refusal, of having the
whom seised. Sambas Si first Arrows, hat afterwards profit's
ooe.lialfof his wealth. The Governor rejects hes offer--slirrets
the whole of his property to be confiscated--and tramfornal
his house into a Muniery. Baratta% who, when suamosoired
to attend with his brethren, guessed that a part of bioakelies
would be demanded, took the precautiou of secreting vast
Rosen, its yr gold and precious stones in hi. home. To re-
, giver their, he prevails on his (laughter, Abigail, to. pre-
Mud conversiou to the Catholte faith. and by this stratagem
to procure admission to the tMw asmaery, where, snider a
certain board, she would Iliad his. treasure bidden. This
retinue succeeds, and Deraliss once more appears as the
rich Jew of Malta. He now pious the means of revenging
himself WI his enemies. Lodutritk, the sun of the Go-
vernor, and Dos Matthias, a young Nobleman, are both ena-
moured of his &tighter Ahigait. He artfully inflames the
passions of the rivals, and, by a forged challenge from Ludo-
wick to Mailbags, incites them to a duel i they both fall ia
the combat. Abigail, who is tenderly attached to Matthias,
learns that her father has caused his death, and takes the veil
it earnest. overcome by grief, she soon after dies, having
previously confessed to Father Barna:dine the knowledge
which she had obtained of her father's cruel cutidoct. The
friar, palmistd of this secret, waits on Birabas, who, twits
certain biota, perceives that bis crime is discovered. Ttse
friar's death is, therefore, necessary, sud he is strangled by
Ithatoore, the faithful slave of Rarebits, though not before
the &edict:see, as is she case in the original. Bellaniire
courterau, now appears on the scene. She wishes to share
the riches of the Jew—and, fur that purpose', she mon-
barite a stroug affection fur Itbamore. He is flatter-
ed by such a conquest—awl, determined to live splendid-
-Ir, writes repeatedly to the Jew for money; as
the slave threatens, if he be refused, to unfold his master's
clones, is regularly remitted to him. Rarebits determines
on revenge. He visits the coactesaa in the disguise of a
minstrel, and poisons the wine, while Wetmore, bellamirn,
and her bravo, MAIM Itorzo, are carouritig. Prior to this,
however, Ithaintire, who had o,lrook deeply, has discovered
to the courteous and Philia borso, the crimes which Ilinibas
had perpetrated nosh hi. assistance. They hasten to the
GaTertiur, and impeach amebas, who is condemned to die.
The poison now operates tin his victims—aid,sowtafter they
have accused the Jew, they expire. Becalms has cunningly
swallowed a narciitie--and, appearing to he dead, is thrown
over the walls. He is not; hoirever,serionsly hurt--and, when
lie awake., he offers to conduct the Turkish troop, who are
besieging the place (the Govern's, haviag ultimately refused
to pay the doisim) into the heart of the town. This be
dues—and, fur bis treachery, is sppoisited Governor. He
now proposes, fur a large rum of money, to dellier the
Turks into the heads of Fernexe, his predecessor--so offer
which the latter gladly accepts. Harsher proposes to feast the
Tairkish suldien, in • budditag outside of the town, moiler
tibitheonsbustibles are placed. Theseus a certatti signal, are
to be fired, and thus are sbe unsuspecting Turks to be motored.
The Sultan Coining!) aud his officers be invites In the cite;
del, where he couusels Fermat to butcher them while they
are banqueting. Peewee seemingly etiosseats, but, when she
Turkish gueits appear, be safe to ihni the plot, and, at
the same mimeos, a, asks of Maltese troops who were pre.
yiusislt Morvailed; Matte eppeaninee, sud Sambas falls
by a diachargi from their teen. The Tiirkish troops are how-
ever, destroyed by the thin-=sadCalrowash sad by slicers,
sow without resource, are retained by Ferassie seise:nage*.
This tragedy has been judiciously altered. To
bring it forward at all was a dangerous under:.
titkistA ; but, the most objectionable parts hating
beets omitted—all reference to the poisorting, by
Barobus, of an entire nunnery, together with the
ribald remarks on ousts mud friars, basing been ex.
'lunged—the death of the Jew, who, in the original,
Is made to Nil into a boiling cauldron, being less
hors Oily produced—it now poisestirs strong claims to
public support. The character of the Jew is drawn
with great nitre. Every sentence lie utters is full
of nerve and vigour. He is the soul of the puree--
Mid. imprint.% frequently on the scene, the tragedy
rattly lags. Baru is a port precisely in Mr.
Eith'e bile. It seems as if it were written fur
litm—aud he played it to the, life. filliallhaS is
souther 6hyluck—but Wore sweeping and deter.