The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-04-24 00:00:00

DRURP-LANE THEATRE.

The comic opera "of The Lady or the Mayer
(an altvratioo, v..e believe, of CHAIM/4 JOUNWN'S
Custom (f the Manor), was last tti.ght revivesk. lu
our opinion it searcrly deserved inch en linnottr..e?.
The plot is involved in ohsourity—std dulness is
the preponderating qiiality in shy fir the greater.
number of .ernes. its redeeming virtue. me sonic
keen strokes of satire, levelled at fashionable ekes
few mood eomic sititationS—and a great numbs r
of airs (original, selected, mud 'of it mixed ktrirl
neither entirely tezw, nor altogether boirowedi
of considerable merit. The tso principal
racters are those of Young Weldo..n, a thought:.
less rake, whose love of pleasure and biloyniicy
of spirit, have survived his fortune--.and tiles;
7'olonly, u dashingwidow, who, in the moist
of I, woods and wilds," is constantly sighing after
the fashionable atmosphere of 14)11410o, owl prac-
tising those coquettish arts, which she had learned
when immersed in the pleasures of the guy world.
Next to these, Sterno!d, a plain, blunt farmer,
whose knowledge of town manners has taught him
to fly front them, takes precedence. The other
persons of the drams, though essential to the car-
rying on of the plot, are mere lovers—and, secun.
dem mien, utter their complaints and raptures in
thrilling ditties. They sing us into a good humour
—if they were obliged to speak, it is not impros
bable that they would drive fis into a bad one,
The piece hai been very ably cast. Mr. fleftteir
was in excellent spirits, and made Young Wildman
a very entertaining fellow. flii courtship of Cicely
si-.-partieularly the song with which it coacludes—
was st diverting. The song could not be given
wore humorously, and was deservedly encored.
Miss Kst.t.tr's 11114. Townly partook largely of that
mischievous archness, by winch her comic perform-
ances are peculiarly characterised. Fier first ',retie
with Wihlman, where she acts the simpleton—hitt,
under cover of rusticity, gives hint a few sharp
touches—and those scenes in which she eactinitets
Wildown and a young officer—were sus-
tained with inimitable effect. Miss IlYttNe. was the
Lady tithe Manor. As an actress, her abilities were
not put to the test—but, as a singer, ht r power's wet e
frequently called forth—and she- exerted them with
too much taste, feeling, and juriguletit, not to se-
cure the unanimous applause of the Ilex
first song, " Daughter of l'roth," one
of the prettiest compositions in the uirce, she exe-
cuted in a style of surpassing sweetness. Nor can
we forget the appeal to Afardo—'. ! Ah,
turn, my only dear!" in which art and nattire—
science and passion—were exquisitel e•iiihiiird,
and formed a beautiful whole. Mr. T. Comer:, as
Sir John Manly, sang with great freedom and bitch-
iness. Mrs. BLAND, as Cicely, had bei• rod pretty
airs (one of them, the Scotch air, •• Down the
burn Dacy Love,) which she sang dele.tlitfully.
The original music, by Mr. l-loox, merits a very
high degree of praise. Many. of the symplusuiea
are really beautiful. The opening churns is a cont.
position of extraordinary merit. We remarked, in
the progress of the piece, it few imitations of
Italian, and one or two of Scotch, musii.. They
were judiciously introduced, and had a good effect.

Mr. MATHEWS resumed his performance at the
English Opera House, last night, nit!) extraordi-
nary eclat. The house was crow-lied to excess
with a brilliant audience. His performance is be-
come quite the rage.
MATTES OF MONEY.—There are sonic tpleiotic
persons who would insinuate that our Royal Al.
fiances are courted for the lucre of English guineas.
But in the case of a late alliance, we ate nstured,
the Gentleman brought over with him the snot of
two hundred pounds, and a letter of credit for one
hundrtdonorr, if wanted.

We do nut remember a time when a spiiit fur
building and improvement was so geranal nod so
conspicuous in Stamford as it is at present ; there
is scarcely a street in which the builders sr.- not
at work for several individuals. The Marquis of
Eirrut contributes largely to produce employ-
ment ai!cl activity.
The supporters of Lord LONSDA LE turn said to
have doelared .• they bad no wish to brio); in two
:%leinbets, but were ready to support ally italepen-
dent Gentleman of the county who would only vote
us they wished hint." What could be more lade-
imuitne than this ?
A most wanton and unfeeling outrage was come
tnitted in the church-yard of Si. Mary at the Wails.
Colchester, on Tuesday morning last, beta ern the
hours of three and four, by sonic malicious personas
in throwing itown and breaking eleven tomb-stoner.
A writer having somewhat grossly abused ; nw
other, was asked by his friend, what ellirct it had
produced ?-4( Great effect," said the writer, lie
„ailed. me a raseal."—., Well," replied his friend,
and did that produce no effect upon you ?"
Oliver is matched for 100 guineas t 6 fight a countryman,
whose name is not known, and a deposit has been made.
The countryman challenges all the world, although he bas
sitter yet appeartd in public.
R. Arcs, a formidable pugilist, who last beat Ballard,
was wretched at Reynolds's, in Drury-lane. on Wednesday
night, to tight Nesdliam, a butcher in Clate:starktt,- on
Ttiesda) week.
Dolly smith and Jack Jacobs will fight on the LIMP day.
The roll -.r:ag alarming circumstance happened ‘.n
Tuesday aft.rtiono, between four and five o'clock
As the Bishop of Landau's carriage was crossing from Par.
liamentestai et to New Palace-yard, a horse'in haring., also
appeared to have escaped froiw.some vehicle on the odor
rtith: of %Vestminster•bridge, was 'union; Through Ttrido.
',weft, with giftt speed, towards the 111111 e place, and
not being perceived by the 'coachman in tune to get me 4 of
his way, the horse came with sack violence agaipst the side
of the Bishop's coach as to break ill is ph cc,. Fortitiestriy
the pl. i Sioas in the carriage IL *gird unhurt, .kept the
Bishop's youngest son, who was slightly struck in the face
by the p'oise's head projecting ihreiregh the !woken door.—
The horse was very seriously cut in she head and chest.

On Tut-miry week some beg!;ars called itt the
house of Mr. %VM. NLEDHAAI. near Et:eh-L.ll, to
Charity, but tieing tinned Hway nitlimat
they were heard to use thrt;z4,..olog ,„„i
in the course of a few h.turs afterward., :11r.
ont.pretnises were discove ell to be in lisitais,

the whole of his leet ccur'. crop 01 Corp %US er;•-•
tleAroycd.—(Tyne Mercury./ •