The Sun.
London, England, 1830-02-24 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

A new Drama, on the plan of that performed at the
Coburg, was produced here last night. It is entitled Past
and Present, or the Hidden Treasure. The plot is as
follows, and embraces three acts, or, as they might more
properly be called, three separate dramas :—The first com-
mences shortly before the French Revolution, and takes
place in the hotel of the Marquis de St. Victor (Mr.
Coorsa) at Paris. The dangerous nature of the times is
described in a conversation between La Rose (Mr. Fax-
REN), the valet of the Marquis, and Cate! (Mr. ArrxEN),
one of his tenants, and a farmer of Normandy. The
Marquis, who sees that some convulsion is about to take
place, orders La Rose to have a strong box made for him,
in which he deposits the family jewels, and a considerable
sum in gold, which, with La Rose's assistance, he con-
ceals in his chateau, and swears his faithful servant never
to reveal the place of its concealment but to one of his
family. Julian (Madame VESTBIS), the son of the
Marquis, at the age of seventeen, has falle❑ in lose with
his cousin Celestine (Miss FA CCITT), who is intended
by her relations to become the wife of this Count
rle Florrille (Mr. JONES) on the morrow. Julian is
about to quit home to return to his college, and in his de-
spair, he applies to the Count for advice, concealing
from him the name of his mistress. The Count at once
advises an elopement, points out the best means of avoid-
ing a pursuit, and, to ensure the success of the plan he
counsels, lends him his own carriage and horses. Julian
profits by the advice and the offer, and persuades his cousin
to accompany him. When the trick is discovered, th•
laugh is turned very much against the Count, who vows
revenge, and consoles himself that he lives in a country
which is blessed with a Bastile, and where the second cou-
sin of a duke cannot be outraged with impunity. At this
moment news is brought that the people have risen, the
cannonading which ended in the destruction of the Llastile
is beard at a distance, and the act so concludes. The se-
cond act begins four years after the former, during the
reign of terror, and is laid in the pi iron of the Conciergerie
at Paris, where the Marquis and his friend the Count
are confined. From this period time drama takes a
stride over a period of six-and-thirty years, to 1529.
The Marquis has fallen during the revolution. His son
Julian, having attained the rank of Colonel, had been
killed in battle, leaving an orphan son, who is a pupil
in the military school, and who having finished his edu-
cation, is about to join a regiment at Bordeaux ; but as he
has been fascinated by the charms of Rosalie Catel, (Mrs.
NEWCOMBE), whom he has met at Paris, he determines to
take Normandy in his way, for time purpose of visiting
her at the house of her father, a substantial manufacturer,
living in the immediate vicinity of the ruined chateau of
St. Victor. La Rose, now a man of ninety years old, is
residing in the adjoining lodge with his grandchild, Marie
(Mrs. ORGEA), his faculties withered, and his memory
decayed. Ferdinand, the son of Julian, (which part is
also played by Madame VEsTats) arrives. The sound of
his voice recalls La Rose's half-fled recollections. The
chateau is about to be sold, in order to be pulled down
and to be substituted by a cotton-manufactory. Ferdi-
nand's suit is likely to be rejected by Rosalie's father ou
account of his poverty. The Count in a moment of im-
patience wishes time chateau in flames ; the sound strikes
upon the old man's ear, and, mistaking the wish for its
accomplishment, the excitement of his terror enables him
to indicate the secret panel behind which the hidden trea-
sure is concealed, and that being thus discovered, the piece
ends. Mr. FA RILEN, Mr. JONES, and Mr. HARLEY
sustained the principal characters of the drama, and each
of them performed his task very skilfully and agreeably.