The National Register.
London, England, 1821-06-03 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.
On Monday night a new tragedy was produced
at this theatre, called Damon and Pythias, founded
on the well known historical story recorded of the
two friends, in the lite of Dyonysius, the tyrant of
Syracuse. The story must be too familiar to most
of our readers to require any lengthened detail, as
the historical facts are closely adhered to by the
author.

The scene lays at Syracuse, and opens with the
intrigues of Dionysius with the soldiers and the se-
nators for the subversion of the republic. He suc-
ceeds, after having met with violent opposition
from the unbending patriotism of Damon, a senator
(Mr. Macready), who, after much lofty, but ineffec-
tual declamation to the senate, determines to save
his country by killing the usurper. His attempt,
however, is frustrated, and he is doomed by the
tyrant to a public execution. Pythias, his friend
(Mr. C. Kemble), who has returned from the wars
to become the husband of Calanthe (Miss Dance),
has returned lust in time to save his lllc, endangered
by the licentious soldiers of the tyrant, and the work-
ings of powerful friendship are pourtrayed in the
character of Pythias through several scenes. In
the midst of an cpithatamiuns he hears of the doom
about to be executed upon his friend Damon, and
rushes from his bride in time to meet him on his
way to the place of execution, and an affecting in-
terview takes place, in the midst of which Damon
laments that he is unable to obtain a short respite to
enable him to see his wife and son before he suiliast.
Pythias supplicates the tyrant for the respite, which
he grants, and sets Damon at liberty, on condition
that Pythias shall suffer in his place if he do not
return before the hour appointed fur the execution.
Severe! affecting interviews take place between
Damon and his wife, and Pythias and his bride
brought about the endeavours made to obstruct
Damon in the performance of his engagement, and
the doubts cast upon his honour. He triumphs,
however, over all, and arrives at the moment that
Pythias is about to suffer in his place, when the ty-
rant, in admiration of the constancy of the two
friends, bids them live ; and thus ends the tragedy,
happily without any blood being shed.
There is a great deal of elevated declamation in-
terspersed throughout the piece, which, although
replete with striking situation, is somewhat deficient
in plot, and some of the scenes went off rather
heavily. The last scene, however, is highly wrought,
and the novel termination drew down the highest
applause.
There was much powerful and excellent acting
thrown into the character of Damon by Mr. Mac-
ready, and every justice was clone to the author by
Mr. C. Kemble, Miss Dance, and Miss Foote.
With a few curtailments, it has been repeated
with an accession of applause and efli:ct, and pro-
mises to become a favourite stock piece.

Saturday last, two fellows in a cart, with some
ware, and drawn by an ass, stopped at the house of
Mr. Froggart, a farmer, near the windmill, Kilburn,
and in the momentary absence of the house-keeper
one of them entered the house, and stole a gold
watch. The woman immediately gave the alarm,
a pursuit took place, and the fellows were overtaken
at West End. Oa their being searched no watch
was found, but one of them acknowledged that it
was thrown into a pond, where it was recovered.
A number of ancient ornaments, among wIlLh
were a cross, a brooch set with stones, and several
beads, were dug np last week near Guilton-mills,
in the parish of Ash, in Kent; two gravei were also
discovered, with the Inouldred remains of the persons
interred. In pursuing the excavations several spears
were found, but so completely nxydized as to be
incapable of being removed ; on the attempt they
crumbled into dust.

A number of euunterf it half crowns, impressed
with his present Majesty's likeness are in circula-
tion, and well executed. When sounded, there is
a sort of tinkling in the sound, by which they may
•be discomed. The surest mode of detecting then),
gs to unti an indention with the sharp point of a
knife, anti apply aquafin-tis to the place. If they
are spurious, the liquid so applied will immediately
become green.

Funeral of the late Mr Samuel Ilarmer_al
Thursday evening ut live o'clock, the mortal remains
of tl. unfortunate Mr. [farmer, who wits shot by
his wife on the evening of the 24th tilt. were con-
veyed from his house, No. 6, Weston street, to the
burying-ground of St. Olave's, in To.dey-street, fior
interment, fidlowed by an immense crowd. The
deet'ased's father and father-in-low %v.:re the print.-
pal mourners, Mrs. H. being so ill as to be wholly
unable to attend. It being apprehend.-d that there
would be some riot, owing to the eolketion of soul
a numerous body of p..ople, a strong division of the
police were stationed at the Hat and S'c2,trs
public-
house; Lut happily there w;ls no tieLti of their
asbibtance.