The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-06-22 00:00:00

IiNCLISII OPERA.

The imainiet campaign commenced, at this
theatre, ou Saturday evenings It opened with all
exhibition perfectly slew to tis—ssid, we believe,
equally in to every European ode. Oar readers
may recollect to have area, within the few Ls'
week% a number of American Indian Worth.r..
habited in the rude costume of their emintry,
perambulating the metropolis. These children of
the Wilderness have been engaged by Mr. Austria),
and, on this occasion, made their first appear.
ante, as powerful auxiliaries to the ballet corps.
To give theist an opportunity of displayisig their
mode of commencing and carrying on war—
m, their manner of concluolnig peace—a shot'
bullet divertissement has.been produced. The weave
it laid on die borders of the %Vyassiloit and
Seneca territory—and the ballet opens with a dance
in hallow of the approaching outdid,' of two lover%
whose parents have conseided to their union. The
gentleman has, however, a rival, who, tieing de-
feated to an attempt to carry away the infrilded
'aide, culls in to his assislauce • party of &omen
'odious, who enter the Wysiodott country, wlwre
the lovers reside, and, idler a short conflict. coat
theta off. The lady is handed over to the au-
thor of the mischief, and her lover is tied to the
stake. At this critical moment, a body of Wpm-
dote Indians arrive, defeat their opponent% and
rescue the lovers. The Senecas now propose a
truce—a council is held—cunt the ironies smoke the
" calumet of peace." This is au °white of the
business —we shall now endeavour to detail the
Indian unaware:. %Ve were el/prised of the ap-
proach of the Senecas by the war-whoop—a cur,.
gregation of discordant sounds, which it is not very
easy to describe. The noise produced by the filing
of saws, or the grindiog of knives, is, compared
with the war-whoop, " most eloquent music." And
now the warriors appeared, clothed in the furry
vestments of animals—their faces painted—their
head. ornamented with feathers—end bandits
of feathers attached to their knees. There was, we
think, more of the grotesque than the horrible is,
their appearance. Alter the war-whoop we expected
something infernal. But, with a very little o Itera-
tion, the groups would have bees, mistaken for
Pan, and a party of Satyrs. The Chief, who is
rather taller and more muscular thou lois Witmer.,
was still further distinguished by braes bracelets.
and several other brazen ornaments. They now
struck up the mar-soag, which grates must un-
pleasantly on the ear—and concluded the decla-
ration of war by • dance. The figure is
couth, but is* evidently subservient to rule. The
Chief, beating a small drum, formed something
like a keg, took the lead, and the warriors,
sionally uttering shrill cries, and raisuog their tyre
to heaven, the arrows in their quivers at the same
time loudly rattling, moved after him, with !time
activity than grace. In the comforts between the.
Wyandotte and Seneca*, which followed, a good
deal of agility was exhibited—but the stage was
not sufficiently large to afford full scope for a dig.
play of their activity. in advancing and retreating.
We were a good deal amused with the propositions
for a truce. The Chief °reach party appeared on.
attended on the stoge—and, after a short convenia.
tion, retired. They immediately after returned, at
the head of their respective tribes, who, in rotation,
deposited their arms on the groom!. Ily this means
surprise or treachery is prevented. since a ilea, ly
equal number continue armed, on each side, Distil
the weapon. of both parties are laid down.
They now aqustted, in wand council, un the stage
—their bow., &c. being placed hewers. diem—
and so curious a body of senators we never World.
The two Chiefs, unlike the leaders in our House of
Commons, had all the conversation to themselves.
They4ppeared to have • mortal avermis to long
speeches—and the tribe., who listened attesotively
to their laconic observations, did not intei runt their
consultation by bursts of laaghier—load chef, awl—
iaeasant coughing—or ally of those strung demists-
'truth/as of feeling, which ore tolerated in noire
civilised popular assemblies. The terms of peace
having been agreed ton, tobacco was called for. A
portion was inserted is, that part of a tomato,* It,
which resembles the head of a hammer, hollowed fur
the purpoie, and being lighted, the Chief of the Se-
nacos smoked a little, and handed it to the Chirp' of
the Wyandotte. The ceremony concluded with a ge.
mend shaking of hands. The !odious then retired to
the side of the stage, and witnessed, with singular sa.
tisfaction, a pus de deux by Miss ATtarr and Mr.
ST. ALBIN. They then advanced to the middle of
the stage, where they deposited their arms, round
which they executed the dance of peace. This, the
concluding scene. had a very picturesque effect.
The turps de ballet were lightly figuring, is, the
European et) le, on each side, while the warriors, in
their rough habiliments, their faces begrimed with
paint. exhibiting • thousand ludicrous contortions.
occupied the centre, It was one of SALVATOIL
Roses banditti scenes placed in a richly-moa-
n:muted frame. In the Indian sports, we were sur-
prised and gratified by the skill which the warriors
evinced in firing arrows at a mall target. They pa-
raded in • circle, and each man, as he faced the target.
discharged his arrrow. Nut a single arrow missed the
object at which it was directed. In this travel ex-
talkie°, the battles and songs are ingeniously
interwoven in the action of the ballet. The
customs of some of the most remote tribes of Ame.
neon Indians are represented truly and correctly.
The War Soag, War Whoop, and Death Dance,
were wildly characteristic ; and, although not strict-
ly dramatic, we cannot condemn the mingling of
historical and national illustration with an amuse.
taunt. The warriors are good-sized men. Their
costume prevented our judging of their formation.
Their countenances appear to be fiat and disagree.
able. The ballet was extremely well received--and,
as it brings ander the observant eye. in the midst
of civilization, some of the modes and habits of
savage life, the caution will. doubtless, attract at.
tent .
The comic opera of Free and Easy, and the
farce of The Bee-Hive, followed—but presented
no alteration iii the cast of characters since last
season. We hailed, in column. with Ilse audience,
the return to these boards of several jo-ily-desere.
ing public favourites. Miss KELLY. hlr. and Mrs.
W. S. CIMAITERou, Miss Lotrx, Mr. BARTLEY,
and Mr. kiAlakY, received the moist flattering
marks of applause thootighout the evening.
The saloon is fitted up most tastefully. It is di-
vided by rows of totes aud flowering shrubs, juts