The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-01-09 00:00:00

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:71EATRE.

COVENT-RIRnEN.
The serious opera of Artaxerxes, compressed into
two acts, was last 'sight performed at this theatre—
and, frequently 83 the piece has been represented
within the ,two or three last seasons, it attracted a
very crowded ontlience. Mr. BRA HAM sustaitir4 the
character of Arbaces. In order to give novelty to
the opera, the principal air* of which, it wits
imagined, hod become so familiar to the ',oldie ear,
that tliey had lost their " power of illessinv," three
new crimpositions were iiitroduced by Mr. BRA II AM.
We have, on Many occasions, expressed our strong
disapprobation of the countenance which has been
given to the introduction of new mneic in our most
finished operut—a MrateM which has generally de-
stroyed the unity and harinnoy of the original piece.
The compositions thus brought forward rarely har-
monise with the style of the old airs—and, in many
instances, the words are utterly at variance with the
situation in which the character who utters them is
supposed to be placed. The experiment of last
night has not tended to reconcile us to this growing
abuse. In the first act, the music of illozsrr's
dUetto, " Ah Perdona," to which Engli•li words
have been adapted, was executed by Mi.s Srf-
olitult soil Mr. Bitstism. It went off
although It was undoubtedly well song. But, thou 41s
all excellent compositinei, It is of a character very
different from the music by which it is swims:idea.
A few eveitings since, we 'lewd the original per-
formed by Madame FODOR find 'Mr. BRA P. AM,
and the effect ails i•n•cellent. There was then 110
foil—the softness of the [taintn language was sial-
plowed, Hs it were, with flee peculiar genius Of the
compositiiiiilllll tl.e anion leas tXqui-itrly har-
monious. In act two. the intartetto, " Alifd as
the Moonbeams," eves iiitrodoced. It was ....gni-
surly piing, by Miss STEPHENS. Mrs. Bisiiiip„Slr.
DiuttOstr, and Mr. BRAMAN—Hurd was hollowed
with an encore. Bat, we object to it; on recount
of the situation its which Arbaces is then placed—
and, still more, Isecaust., by its introduction, we
lose the fine sir. " f/y! son ideas, fly!" on every
note of which, swivel, sung rtlibs sirptiEN., we
hive dwelt with delight. It is also proper to re-
mark. that the secand part of the riiiiiitetto C. not
of a pensive character—and curtninty strain+ at all
approaching to liveliness ought to be hatiklirti,
when a lover, a friend, a brother—fur Arbiierr
appears in those different relationships—is order-
ed to die. TiOwards the conclusion of the Opera,
Mr. BRAHAM introduced a sf•ena„ whit It ap-
peared to possess more spirit than harmony. It
was little stashed. Mr. BRA HAM, on the whole.
was not Po successful is lie generally is. Owing,
perhaps, to indisposition, there was not so gloat a
display of spirit and animation—of strength of tone
and brilliancy of execution—es we haie been ac-
customed to witness in his performances. His best
effort was, " Water parted_ front the Sea," which
he sang most tastefully. Miss STEPHENS was the
3/sadone of the evening, and bore away the palm
of excellence. In this part she first delighted the
town—and, we verily believe. were she to repeat it
twice every week during the season, the house
would continue to be filled to hair her. She was
last night (to apply to her the phrase which is bird-
fancier would use when speaking of one of the
feathered creation) "in glorious song." She
threw into the shade all the rest of the dm-
ta4fii persona—and astonished those. who, front
• the beginning of her professional career. admired
her talents. In voice, taste, and science, site left
the heart nothing to desire. All her songs elicited
the most fervent applinow. Two of them, " If o'er
' the erne! tyrant, Lore," and " The Soldier tied."
' were repeated. The plaudits which followed the
latter interrupted the performance for severs!.
mii.utes. Mr. UL RUSE? is a pleasing Artaxerxes.
He executed part of the recitative brantifitllt. His
• soug " Fair Sintira," wra very sweetly given, mod
bas much applauded.

FORTUNATR VOUTH.—The correct delineation
of this extraordinary character, by Miss SCOTT, ut
the Sans Pared. has attracted all ranks of society.
Since his introduction to the stage, the house has
filled to an overflow.

A few weeks ago the Rev. Joint PREsCOTT, late
hector of Rciiingt 1111 l was instituted by the Lord
of LiNcoLN to the N'icarage of Ninth
Siniiircoles, on the presentation of the Right lion.
CitiiiiEs BATHURST, Chancellor of the Duchy of
Lancaster.
. .
Qii Fridny last the.Drin. and Rev.. AUGUSTUS
gEpW.O4II) HOBART, brother of the Earl of. puut-
twen.olontas, was inducted into the rectoey of
Renitigton, mar Roston, to which lie lied been re-
cently iiiptituted by the Lord Moir') of LiiFnot,p,
on tkie presentation of the Right Hop. PREDBRICIE
JOHN ROBINSON, of Noctoo.
W. A. MA nocxe. EN. one of the Members for
Boston, has very seasonably and generously ordered
a large quantity of coals to be distributed among
the poor firemen of that borough; and the Hon.
P. R. D. BURRELL, the other Member, hap, with
great liberality, directed a considerable supply of
bread to be given to each poor person residing
within the parish of Boston, and the hamlet of
Skirbeck Quarter, to whom such a donation will be
acceptable.

The firpeditiort, [imam minter, from sew-
ca. sit!: to St: Lu'cia; wai totally lost neur Aberdeen
'on, the 4th iiithant, and it is feared all the crew are
' &owned.

Csptaio REID IS appointe?l to command the
Drive► sloop of war, on the Clyde station.

Ou Wednesday there was a General Meeting of
the Suletcribers to Lloyd's Coffeeshouse, to consider
'of a Resolution Tor gloating a cum from the Funds
'of the Society, for the relief of the sufferers by the
late lire at St. Min's, Newfoundland.

.
It mini he in the recollection of our readers, that
the striped reason for incrcioing the ineum'e of the
heatis,of the Excise department wits the inereii,ed
rfuties.. Now fur an example :—the Auditor !Pr.
the Tc* lot% since that,-time, but given to. him
the+ ace of Receirer-Qcneral of the Genera( Past
OfSce (ride ilea 400 k), nod yet, with• extra
offlce,.he re' rs months out of twelve 110 Orin.
fifty miles from Linirlou, and is very pro-
nlinent feature in that