The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-05-18 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDEN I'HE,4TRE.

List night ■ new tragedy was prndueoil for the
fine tune on the London boards. called Virginias ;
or. the Liberation of Rowe. This play was °rig,.
utlly tir"right out at Glasgow. and the. high 1,1)1,m-
-b:thou which it there experienced (iring repeated
repreventations, induced the 11:11171gMr of this lionae
to tiailvplasit it to a more genial "oil. The experi.
meta we. attended with the moat ample suceess,
which, we feel confident, will be a source of gratifi-
vaiiiiii lo all our readers, when they are informi'd that
the author, Mr. SHERIDAN KNOWLES, is a relative
(... the late Mr. SHERIDAN. a name which must
ever be dear to British literature and eloquence.
The principal characters were represented as fol.
low

Appiss nalidius Mr. Anson..
Virginia' Mr. MACRIRDT.
hairs Mr. C. K EMBLZ.
Claudius Mr. Comly OR.
Niceties Umtata:. Mr. TIRRT.
Nnrivetorius ..
Spoilt, Oppiss Mr. 'Mum
Vibilanam Mr. JC►►►Rlts.
Murex.
Pnblius.
J'i►giria N'iss FOOTE.
Servia ... Mr+• FAUCIT.

The tragedy is founded on those well-known cir-
cumstances in Roman history which led to the over-
throw of the Decemvirate, hut with that occasional
varillion, and that invention of others, which are
justifi,:d by the example of the first dramatic
writers. The story opens at the point of time when
dipping has been re-elected to office, and closes
with his destruction. Virginias, discovering the
existence of a mutual passion between his daughter
and /edit's, affiances them to each other, and im-
mediately after, in company with his intended son-
in-law, sets out to meet the foes of the Republic.
Skeins Dentatus is sent nfter them by the chief
Decemvir, and assassinated by his creatures, in con-
sequence of his hostility to the tyrants. While
Virginia's is boiling with indignation at the dis-
covery of this foul deed, he is summoned to
Rome (where the interveniag events recorded
in history have takes place), to defend his
daughter from infamy sad ruin. He flies and
protects her honour by the secnflee of her life.
The %re:duets of the effort, however, unseats his
to, and he for some time presents an example
of what has been considered the most dreadful
spectacle to the mom of human suffering—that of
mistiness produced by lbe weight of calamity. In
the bright of his fury and mental alienati (((( s. he
rushes into the prison to which the revolution
in affairs had consigned the author of his wrongs—
rietnands his daughter, at his bands--pounces on
m--drags hiss off in his grasp, and strangles
him. 'llse last scene discovers the hapless pa-
rent brooding over his lifeless prey, unconsci-
ous of the presence of his friends and relatives ;
and it is isot till the mourning /cifirs presents the
urn to. him which contains his Virginia's mortal
remains, that recollection returns, and reason
HOUTIN her away. Restored remembrance brings
her train of bitter keliegs to his tortured heart,
and in ao agony of sorrow he throws himself into
slue anus of hisdeughter's affianced husband, and
the play concludes. This plot, it will be perceived,
bus much of that simplicity which runs through
the excellent works of our elder dramatists, which
characterises one of the best tragic productions of
the modern day, and which the ancient critics con-
fetti' to be obsoletely essential to perfection in
this species of writing. The incidents have the
moat intimate connexion and depeodance nn one
am,ther. mod every event contributes something to
the progress of the fable and the workmg out of
the catastrophe. The chief characters are strongly
drawn, and their differences very well marked. The
Prii;itnents, in almost every instance, just, appropri-
ate, and tt ue to nature, are frequently distingushed
by a flow of true passion and tenderness, or the
hunts of a rich genius and a truly poetical mind.
The diction is perfectly free of all affectation sod
overwrought attempts to strike and produce tffrct
by mere sound. It is perspicuous and easy, and
often elevated by the addition of beautiful and
expressive imagery. Almost every scene supplies
situations highly affecting. Some of those in the
but acts are most fearful and terrific. We might
instance that in which the distracted Virginias con-
fronts the imprisoned tyrant, menaces him with
destruction, and after the heart-sickening pause,
stud deadly suspense which frenzy allows, flies on,
and hurries him off to execute his purpose. The
drama, in short, abounded in the qualities proper
to awake the tear of pity and sympathy, or the
thrill of fear sod horror, sod was accordingly
sitneesed; from beginning to end, by the audience,
with the deepest feelings of interest and anxiety.—
Great justice was done to the excellencies of the
piece in the performance. Mr. MACREADT'S Vir-
giffirs was one of the most vigorous, nervous,
powerful pieces of actin, we have ever beheld.
We think the stage affords no parallel to his picture
of madness: in the prison scene, to which we have
before adverted, it was actually appalling. It was a
subject of regret that a great degree of hoarseness
interfered. particularly towards the conclusion, with
Mr. C. KEMBLE'S delivery of a part which his
countenance and manner proved he had so well
conceived. Mr. Anaurc's representation of Ap-
piss Claudius, was correct and judicious. MISS
FOOTE played Virginia, who is a model of what
woman ought to be—innocent, gentle, lovely in
mind not less than person, with • pleasiog
softness, and sometimes with touches of ten-
derness sod impassioned f•-liug, which held
bath a promise of powers a' yet little ceded into
exercise. Mrs. FAUcIT Stied SeiCia thrombi), and
spiritedly. Her appeal to the multitude against
Appins' decision was a tine specimen of vehement
anal imlignant elocution. In the course of the per-
formance a very great number of passages elicited
warm proofs of admiration. At the fall of the cur-
tail' the applause was DOI 1, and the" tragedy
was given out for repetition to-morrow (this) night
amidst acclamations.
The Prologue was spoken by Miss S. BOOTH.
Tile Epilogue by Mies Baurrox.

Sir WALTER SCOTT travelled at the rote of ten
miles ao hour on his return from L lon to Scot.
NO, to be in time to see his daughter married on
the 30th of April, considering May an unlucky
month for marrying, the unfortunate Queen MARY
haying been married iu May.

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