The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-11-27 00:00:00

THEITRES.

OLYMPIC.

Thisintmesting theatre uightly presents a trineded
nod ekgssit aodieuce : tudeed it possesses every
attractive quality. The course of entertainment*
is *elected with great judgment. They are full of
life and spirit, and as such admirably adapted to
dispel the gloom sad dulness of the reason. The
perforasers are well adapted to, their seveval parts,
and qualillest by their talents to display the merits
of the pieces to the greatest advantage. The boxes.
ware last week graced by many persons of dis-
tinction.

• ADELplif.
The increasing fame of the Damietta if Errors
drew mgetbet a numerous and very respectable an.
dienceonstSaturday eight. There can scarcely he
a more agreeable relaxation then to witness per-
fornisoces of .this char icier. The story of Jupi-
ter's amours with Alcinena. is repdrred in some
passages of the Burkina with the tereeness of the
original Greek. In other parts the play of broad
modern humour comes in to the relief of those who
may relish less the complex and elaborate wittiness
of antiquity. Justice Gripus, who, iu judging
which of two is the true Amphitryon, awl is so
anxious in the conflict of evidence to put as end to
the production of proofs on one side. that he may
the more readily conclude his sentence upon
than, and yet after all is left in doubt ; ibis, we
say, is a generic character, which, though sketched,
more than two thousand years ago, is yet so strictly in
keetlinx with stature, that one might almost imagine
it hit nit for a representation of some things which
have litely taken place its the House of Lords.
Iltet there is yet another charm in this admirable
little piece—it is embellished with some of the
cli.iicest music written within the list fifty years ;
and however odd it tray seem to witness the con-
jonctton of the old comedy with the light music of
MOZART, the intimacy is natural amid agreeable to
the audience. It is true that the whWe of the
music is coaise parody general. but the mind of
ate auditor, possessed of the will or disposition to
be pleased, may as easily tolerate a few graceless
rhymes. for the sake of listening to good music., as
the titter ignorance of the verses in which .we are
generally kept by those who figure in peifornt-
slices assuming so. be more classical awl me-
thodic. The manager, who, as we learn, is
also the author, is entitled to great praise for
liritiging forward this piece, and lie is hereby re-
consuiesideil to renew his visits to the sante trea-
sury of excellence from which it is drawn. If he
cam contrive to adhere still more closely to the
origni4l. so much the better. The performers all
deserve high connucintation, opecially Mr,.
TENNANT (late Mrs. V•UGtIAN), whose brill.' nt
vocal science added. in no trilling degree, to the
attraction of the entertainments. Mr. Cowt.Ev, as
Mercury, iu the disguise of Sonia, was very happy
iii the delineation, as was Mr. WILKINSON. in the
real Swift, and Mrs. GoblEltsALL au Amphitryon.
We would recommend the substitution of the foal
chorus in Midas for the air of Apollo's last song,
winch is used as thefina/e. A great deal of 'excel-
lent dancing succeeded, among which the cele-
brated Demo no; not the least applauded.

FIRE. IN OXFORD UNIVERSITY.

Oxford, Friday Nigh?, Ten o'Clock.
EXTRACT OW ♦ PRI•ATE LETTER.

I have to inform you that the rooms of Mr. Salway (an
under-graduate of Christ Church) were discovered to be on
fire this evening at a quarter past seven. The devouring
element soon made a rapid progress, and would unquestion-
ably have led to the most pernicious consequences, had it
not been for the prompt arrival of the Christ Church engine,
and the indefatigable exertions of the members of that
Society, amongst whom we noticed Messrs. Houk, l.ongley,
I:yawn/it, and Calmat, to whom great praise is due for
their well-timed assistance. The Aunts have now entirely
sulKided, and we are happy to add, that the damage was
confined to the suite of rooms occupied by Mr. Salway.