The Sun.
London, England, 1806-01-23 00:00:00

TUT E FAIILE.

At the opening of the Piece, the Prince of China, in a short
accidental interview with Celinda;- sister to his friend and
compani,in Koyan, is captivated by the powers of her voice,
the beauty of her person, and the simplicity other manners.,
Celinda feels for the Prince a reciprocal passion. Thd
Emperor of China convenes his. Mandarins fcr the , pur-
pose of soliciting their approbation, that his Son . might
travel, to glean from Turkish, and film Christian States,
a knowledge of their palities, arts, and manners ; which ob-
tained, the Prince -prepares for his tours in which he is
to be attended by leis friend and monitor Kept); the lat-
ter, at the intreaty of his mother Mindoro, (when she N
informed they are to visit England) consents that she,
together with his Sister Celinda, disguised as a Page, lest
her sex might throw temptation in •the way of the youthful
Prince, should he the -companions of their travels ; this party,
with the Prince's Page, and a shipwrecked Irishman, are the
'characters from whichthis L)rama takes its title; and the first
Al concludes with their departure from China. At the open-
ing of the second Ad the Travellers are arrived at Constanti-
nople, and presently introduced at the Palace of the Grand
Vizier. The beauty of the women, theirdancing and singing, -
fascinate the amorous Prince, and, unconscious of error or
offence, he breaks into the Haram ; the indignant Vizier re-
sents this innovation of their Turkish laws, and brutally im-
prisons the innocent Chinese. Through every athon Celinda
watches the Prince with the tender, yet jealous ardour of sin-
cere affection ; and by stratagem, and the fascinating powers of
her voice, she releases him from prison. The Travellers aban-
don the furkish dominions in disgust ; and the next Aa pre-
WINS them to our view in Naples : the Prince and his suite
are received in the Palace of the Duke of Posilipo ; music is
the general theme, and Koyan, who is a distraded admirer-of
the science„catches each improving grace, according to the
polish of each different nation--a similar passion pervading
the breast of his sister Celinda. The proud Duke is attached
to the widow of a Neapolitan Margins, by birth an English-
woman, whose lively maimers attract the warmest attention
of the youthful and undisguised Prince of China, which cre-
ates a jealousy in the mind Of the Duke, increasing to such'
a pitch of desperation, that, in the fourth Arl, we find him
hiring assassins to murder the unstispeding • Prince, whose
life is saved a second time by the fascinating charm of mu.
sic, through the interference of Celinda ' • and the Duke him-
self becomes the victim of his own dark plot In the .com-
mencement of the .7th A et, the Travel lets are nearly wrecked on
the British Coast, but by the humanity of a veteran, Admi-
ral, and his pld Sailing Master, they reach the shore, and are
hospitably entertained by the generous Seaman, whh congra-
tulates himself on having an opportunity of returning an
obligation which he once owed to the humanity of the Chi-
nese. Here the story of former adventures is recounted,. and
the Admirai is recognized to be the husband of Mindota, and
the lather of the twins, Koyan and Celinda. The Pristeee
discovering his first love, in the person of his assumed Page,
who had twice preserved his life, resolies to repay her aftee•
tion with his hand and heart. -The Marchioness (who, dis:,
gusted- at the intended ass isiination of the Prince, has -as-.
companied the Travellers to England), with a promise.of her
person in marriage, rewards the attettion of KOyan, and thc
Piece Cencludes with an animated compliment to the British
Constitution.

The intention of the, Author of this Piece, ac-
cording to the opinion-of most of the diurnal Cri-
tics, has been.to give the musical Composer an op-
portunity of shewing the peculiar taste of different
countries in the art of, music. This, however, does
not appear to us to have been the principal design of
the Author, however he may have co-operated with
the Musician, but to exemplify the laws and manners
Of the various.countries throtigh which The Travellers
proceed, in order to have an opportunity of giving a
decided pre-eminence to the institutions, customs,
and principles, that cliaraderize t=reat Britain.. Of
,China we see oi;ly thetnagniticence of its Court and
gardens. We find despotism and cruelty in Turkey,
jealousy and assassination. in - Italy; and finally we
meet with' the blessings' of real freedom, the just
prerogatives of the monarch, and the secure privi-
leges of the people. In pursuance of this objea, The
Travellers are led into various scenes, as the fable
details—some of amusement, some of interest, and
some 'of danger. • The idea of making a Prince
• travel, in order to enlarge his knowledge of man-
kind, and to increase' hiS political information for
the purpose of improving the system of his own
Government, is obviously derived from Dr: JOHN,
SON'S Rassela 1, and the Author of the Piece deserves
great credit for being the first to employ the hint
for a dramatic purpose. He has afforded adthirable
scope for a. splendid and diversified spe&acle, and the
liberality of the Managers has abundantly_ seconded
his views. - There has hardly been a dramatic pro-,
duaion for a long time which has abounded More in
magnificent variety.
The Fable is by no means devoid of interest, though
it is expanded to a tedious length. The CharaCters
have. nothing peculiar, but they are in general well
eMployed. The Author seems to have intended to
charaCterize the Prince by simplicity, but this sim-
plicity unluckily bears the appearance of levity and
libertinism; for; like the Sailor in the Song, he finds
a mistress in every Port. He is, indeed., in love
with Celinda, whom he supposes he had left in
China, but her image does not prevent him from
paying his addresses to every new beauty. This pro-
pensitytakes from the respect and dignity of his
character; and as the Piece so very much exceeds
the boundaries of all similar productions, in point of
time, every thing of this libertine kind 'should. be
lopped ,away.
The Prologue deprecated all critical considerations
respeating the unities, and it is necessary also to be
equally tolerant respecting the manners, of the Coun-
try, particularly of China, where it would be impos-
sible for a Prince to obtain the liberty of travelling.
Many of the sentiments uttered by the Prince breathe
a spirit of philosophy and virtue, and his charaCter
upon the Whole is calculated to conciliate the good
opinion of the audience. Next to his cheratter is
that of Celinda, who indeed is almost the prime
movement in the dramatic machine.

The Author has introduced many passages strong-
ly expressing 'llose patriotic and, loyal feelings which
will always be well .received -by Englishmen ; but
some of them may be well omitted. .In the inferior
characters the humour is rather too broad, and some
are too coarse. The characters are very well, adapted to
theerformers. EI.LfSTON gave wallllness,expression
and variety to the Princy. Mrs. MOUNTAIN sung and
of ed admirably in Celinila. We never saw her, to
so much advantage before. JOHN STOKE, in the
Chilese Irishman, had full scope for his peculiar
humour. BitAnAm sung: with all his usual skill,
and was highly applauded. DowToN rand
STER, in the concluding scenes, atly supported the
chara6ters of a British -Admiral-and inferior Tar.

The Author of this Piece is Mr. CHERRY, a re-

speth!d Member of the Theatrical Community.—
lhe Composer is Mr. CORRI, and he has shown
great taste, fancy, and science in the rnwic.
The Theatre was crowded, and there was as great
a fitr4ggle for seats n we ever wtineibed. ;gale

Itece wts itify -*tit rec ed thfdiigtraat, Ziut it :410.
prottaned to such a degro, plrticularly as racist tit'
the Solig-s were eitecireci, that ?he 4pii-itg of thS.
Audience were exhausted;

EuxsTbs; artliotteed the (3p)et' i for t idpetitiori
eveuing with unanimous Uppbuse.

POEt IIY.

follm•Virls elegant and pdthetid• fribLitt_ to
departed Worth and Beauty was written by Mr:
JER I C; kr m, a name deservedly of high distitiCtioo
in the poetical world: •

TO TFIE MEMORY or Tit& iAtt
, MRS, DUFF:

'Po this sad grave no common grief invites; .
No stale display uf sandlimoniorts rites
Domestic Virtue here, a drooping bands
Around the hallow'd sPb't despairing Stand !
And here their lov'd departed Mistress mourn
From the PIO Youth of her atredion torn ;
Torn froni gay life's short scene, in morning's bloc:int,
To feed the jaws of the relentless Tomb !

Ah I when she fell beneath Death's tyrant pow'r
Thd polisled world then lost its beauteous firJw'r !
In whose blest frame were happily combin'd
The feeling bosonl and th' it lumin'd mind :
A spirit finely totich'd by NA tUitet hand,
Prompt to petfctm when yr/true gave command:
Prompt.cin A ffliaion's wound to pour relief,
And bind the bleeding artery of Grief:

FA I 12Sti eXclaim'di *hilt bursting tears ran :".'e7;
" My prime, my stedfast fav'rite is no more "'
ArF CT lON, to the bosom still more deaf,
Shrunk at th' event, and dropp'd het warrnest tear-:
cox rais'd het sacred hand on high,
And said, " See I N NGC Z.; i aseend the sky

The Earl of CaattisLs has exerted hiS
,poetical
genius with great success in an elegiac tribute to the
memory of the immortal NELSON. Its Lordship's
produCtioni indeed, manifests a true poetical Spirit,
as well as a laudable fervour of patriotism.
MODERN IMritOVE ME sTs.—A very erroneous idea
is entertained of the taste now so prevalent in this
Country, in respeft to the improvements in 'House-
hold Furniture.. The vulgar conception of the an-
tique seems to convey an opinion, that, the more
heavy and ponderous in. weight and appearance the.
article is, the sponger it bears similitude to the
sublime specimena of antient sculpture. The error
alluded to arises from mechanics implicitly copying _
antique models, without adapting them to the Si-
nations they are calculated to be placed in. Nothing
is a more- convincing proof of the truth of the re-,
Mark, than the vast numbers of ill digested designs
lately introduced in the mansions of several of our
Nobility and Gentry. - To correct these blemishes in
the regions of taste and refinement, shall be our en,..
deavour, by pointing out, with a critical .nicety, their
monstrous incongruity. The Pablio Institutions now
on the tapis will go a great way towards remedying.
these evils. We are -given to understatd, that .thero,
are two mouses now fitting up for.persons of distince
tiett, on. a more' perfeet..andaciontifically arrimgeet
plan than any heretofore thought of, and that they
will, when.finished, not fiud an equal at this
in Europe, for-chasteness in the arthitedural -orna-
ments, and elegance in the finishing:. The style of
famishing these houses, Which will hereafter behe,.
standard of taste, is to be wholly after the Grecian.'
Costume. The tables, chairs, commodes, libraries,
&c. are to be made of the finest mahogany, inlaid
with ebony, and decorated with scientific carved or-
naments ; they will consist principally of wreaths
of foliage interwoven with bas-i-elievos in groupea
and single portraits. The carpets are to be made.
with a plain ground, and Slightly decorated with th-
liage and ornaments en suite with the furniture.
The bedsteads are to be made only moderately high.i.
the pillars-of which are of mahogany, carved and in-
laid with ebony ; the curtains and draperies to be
wholly designed after the Roman banners. The
whole of the mirrors to be decorated with ornaments
in bronze, in frames of plain -mahogany. T4e
Stoves in each apartment to be composed of bronze
and steel, made very low, and. aafing upon a new
reverting principle, at the 'same time simple and
complex. Every-apartment to have antique branched
lights suspended from the cieling. •
The report that there was an impediment in the
way of Mr. THELMISSON'S advancement to •the ho-
nour of an Irish Peerage is, it seems, wholly without
foundation. His MAJESTY •is empowered ,by the
Asa of Union to create an Irish Peer on the ex--
tinelion of three Irish Peerages, and three are ex-
tint, viz. the Earldom of Ross, the Viscountry of
BATEMAN, and the Baronetcy of I.loLaus.,
• The 4th Dragoon Guards marched' into Pietshill-
Barracks on MOndayi in the room oi` the 7th, who,
have marched for Ireland.

Last week three Troops of the list Regiment of
Light Dragoons, commanded by Major .SPEAIIMAN
arrived at Newcastle from Woodbridge.
Monday morning the first division of the Inver-
ness-shire Militia marched #om Edinburgh Casty
for Dunbar Barracks. The 3d Battalion of the 27cIt
Vogt, commanded by Major KLYN9E, were expected
on Monday from Dunbar to replace them.
The 25th Regiment of Foot have marched froin
Fermoy to Kilkenny. The 82d Regiment have re-
ceived orders to march from Cork to Carlow.

Owing to the heavy rains, on Thursday, the river
Aire overflowed, and inundated the houses on its
banks. The streets on the south side of the bridge
at Leeds, were covered with water, in several places
upwards of a yard deep.
On Monday se'nnight the Woollen Cloth Fair was
held at Ayr.. There was a good supply. It sold
about eight per cent. below the prices given last
Fair. On 'Wednesday there was a great show of
horses. Good-horses- of every description gave
traordinary prices, and sold readily.. •
Died on Tuesday evening, in the ,7th year of
age, PETER PERCHARD, Esc': Alderman, and hap
Lord-Mayor of this City. The various public situa-
tions in which he 'Was placed were lilted by hien
with integrity and 'honour. He was just and
right in his a&ions, faithful and firm to his K. Ug
and Country, and the calmness and re:ipation
which he met death proved him to be a true and,
sniceie Christian.