The National Register.
London, England, 1808-07-31 00:00:00

HA Y.-M.4IINET.

On Friday evening n new Play, in three acts, called The
Africans; or, !Awe, War, and Duly, from the pen of Mr. Col-
an was represented at this theatre.
DR-41147'1S PIIIISONA:.

FarnMo (the Priest) r • ..Mr• Thompson.
Torribal
Madibuo
Sefico Mr. Young.
Demba Sego Julia ( King of Roston): Mr. Palmer,jun.
Daneiri Mr. Caries.
Henry Augustus Mug . Mr. Liston.
- . •
Feltrrwetl Mr. Grove.
Marrowbone Mr. Menage.
Bevixs 1
Daeina Mrs. St. Leger.
Salta Mrs. Liston.

This play is so exactly taken from a French Tale, written by
Florian, and entitled &lice, that the English author cannot
bring originality of plot among its pretensions to fame. It is an
imitation as servile, hut at the same time as elegant as the
A:Reid ; yet as the original was neither the Iliad nor the Odis-
sc.'', the beauties which it contains, do not shine with superior
lustre. The following is a correct outline of the fable:
1 orribal, Madibno, and Seiko are three brothers, who by their
labours support their mother Darina, an aged widow. The
Foungcst, Sclicn, is ahout to be married to Berissa, the Maho-
tan priest Faralho's daughter. The wedding day is arrived, and
preparations are made for the festival, when iladibao informs
his brother nrribat that whilst hunting he has perceived a party
Mandingoes lying in ambush near the town, but prevails upon
him aot to rouse the warriors till the marriage rites are over.
4)n Seiko's departure for the, mosque with Madiboo, his mother
;ibes him rg mantle, which she has woven, as a present for the
priest, and Tarrifinl is left to guard and defend her. The scene
changes to Farailhn's house, and we are introduced to Mr. Henry
Augnslms itng, ivory-turner, at N 0.25, Snow-hill, London,
but now one of Farmlho's slaves, whose amour with Sulfa, a
little black musical companion in captivity, gives birth to seve-
fat comic songs that great') enliven the play. The marriage
°ceremony is on the point of being celebrated; the benevolent
priest has, ;it the request of his daughter, liberated all his
siavrs : the bridegroom, the bride, and all their friends are as-
wheo loud shriekiiihnotince the approaeh of the Man-
dingoes. Distracted beltfrots duty and love, Salem yields at last
the representations afrlals iskcither, and leaves his mistress to
kisten to the assistance diliftiliitwaltur. The Maudingoes arrive
Ind set lire to the towty,.thd`Vontiagration of which, with the
shoots of the triumphant savages, forms a scene wildly grand,
that closes the first act.' IFlve days are supposed to have

elapsed before the seetad rising Of Ihe curtain. Torribut, Mud/.
bqo Selko, and their Mother have escaped, but as the comp of
'heir foes stood; at a short dirtancc from their retreat, they are
unable to procure food, and are famished for want. Seiko
leaves his mother and brothers, to seek among the dead for the
corpse of ilerisso and her father, and findino•'' two headless bo-
dies, one of which still bears the mantle he lead given to the
priest, he suppows th.tt both have been murdered. Then after
watisdering Eve days without taking any nourishment, he is met
Iffadibuo, who directs him to his mother, and very oppor-
tunely falls in with /hurl, Augustus :)lug, who has become the
couquet ing monarch's Secretary at War, and now roves around
the burnt town n ith a basket of provisions. Aludifroo obtains it
easily, and carries present comfort to his family. The three bro-
therssoon perceive that famine must ultimately destroy their mo-
ther as the rainy season approaches, and the enemy'scamp remains
Sled in their neighbourhood, in order to sell the slaves they have
made to Engl:sh merchants. Sakti proposes that his brothers
should sell hew, and with the „old support his mother. They
both refuse, but he insists, and is led by Mudiboo to the camp,
where Fettenocll, and other Europeans are bargaining for
slaves. On account of his colour, which, they say, does nut
anuounce durahic• strength, the merchants offer such a low price
for him that it is not accepted. At this moment, a proclamation
promising a reward of four hundred ounces of gold,
to whosoever should bring before the king, the man, who dur-
io the night had been seen coming front the tent of his Ma-
je,ty':i favourite female slave, that he may he punished with tor-
tow and death. S./ico instantly requests his brother to denounce
tO;ii tie c :'grit, threatens lu case he should refuse, to deliver