The National Register.
London, England, 1814-10-02 00:00:00

melody, and (lad in all the magnifieerice Of wild and appro-
priate scerrry, these materials produce a most interesting
-drama. The characters are
.well drawn: the-style is simple
and .easy, the sentiments just and natural. No attempts at
w:t reveal the want of it in their au Affecting in its
serious parts, it is not disgusting in its light ones, but dis-
plays that rustic pleasantry which may be called the comic of
nature, •nnt of farce. Its situations are all happy, and in Use
Highest degree interesting. It is scarcely possible that the
feelings should be more powerfully affected than they are in
the scene in which the dumb boy, chasged with the course
of murder, has only the eloquence of his eyes and gesso's.'
to vindicate his innocence. •His aecusers arc the friends of
the murdered, •eager to avenge his death, and possessed of
proofs that strike with all the force of conviction. His defen-
der is the olst woman who has sheltered his infancy,aed whose
assertions may be considered as dictated by par tiaiity. His
interpreter is an artless girl of fifteen, who does not conceal
her love, and is therefore equally interested in giving a fa-
vourable turn to his answers. The Pantomimic acting of
Miss Booth in this scene, the rapid changes of her countenance,
the speaking expiesion of her eyes, the elegance and
eloquence of her gestures can never be stupassed, were most
ally supported by the trembling eagerne,s, the vary ing
emotions, the love inspired intelligence of Miss Foote, who
reads Florio's 30111, now with anxious fear, and now with ex-
ulting. joy. This young ladv,• throughout her part rendered
her beauty only a secondary consideration, and put so much
grace, feeling, and nature, in her acting, as to touch every
heart. Mrs. Davenport also di:played much force of feeling.
Her hopeless defence of the Boy when he is first accused,
her unshaken confidence in his imioceirce and the enertsy .
with which he urges the presumptive evidence which
transpires against Manaire at the very moment 1.1,Ti0
is led to the scaffold, were bursts of a superior CX-
crilence. Liston, in Blaise, was, as usual, hresistably
thoxigh chastly comic. Abhott, in Captai.l Aulnyi, led U 3
to regret that the part did not open a wider field to his ex-
ertions. Farley, in Vallaire, ably depicted the torments of
jealousy, followed by those of remorse ; and Barrymore,
Egerton, and all the performers, without excepting the
Dog, exerted themselves most successfully.
The Music, by Mt. Bishop, possesses inure than common
expression. It powerially assists the pantomimic parts of
the piece. Bowesn the first and second acts, and before
the curtain is raised, it continues the story in the most in-
telligible manner, and narrates the murder of Captain Au-
bro. The fatal pistol is heard, followed by the groans of
• the dying, and the precipitate fiieht of the assassin. If the
Music, lice the Piece, be not an Importation, it does great
honour to Mr. Bishoo's invention and taste.
The scenery is appropriate and beautiful. It is classically
illustrative of the age in which the action of the drama is
Placed. The last scene represents a cataract of real water,
' surrounded with rocks, and surmounted with a fragile bridge,
is full of wild grandeur and sublimity.
The " Forest of Bondy" is likely to prove as popular in
this metropolis as -iu France. It was received in the most
favourable manner, and announced for a second representae:
tion amidst redoubled peals of applause.

It is a si►►gular fact, that the contract price of the best ox
beef furnished to the military in the county Of Middlesex,
is but 6d. per pound, and in many of the other counties,
from 4d. to sd. per pound, and vet meat of like quality can-
not he pi °cured in the London markets under 10d. pa;
pound.