The Sun.
London, England, 1801-10-30 00:00:00

PLOT.,

The Scene lies in London. The serious part of this Co-.
medy arises from the extravagance of Lady,Melmoth, the see
cond wife of Sir Herbert, and who had been his Ward. By
indulging
,in every fashionable excess she had induced her
husband to squander away all his property, and his only re-
source for paying his debts and supporting her expences, is to
persuade his son Leonard, the issue of his first marriage, to con-
sent to cut offthe entail of the family estate. Leonard, a gallant
naval officer, is so alle6tionate a son, that he is readily disposed
to assent to this desperate proposal, but is persuaded to re-
fuSe it by Georgians, his father's Ward, between whom and
Leonard a tender, attachment prevails. Leonard therefore, in
stead of complying, expostulates with his father dnd the
latter considering the refusal as the result of selfish' artifice,
dismisses his son in anger. - At. length Creditofs seize on the
whole of Sir Herbert's property, and he is obliged to secrete
hiniself. Lady Melmoth, under all her fashionable extra-
vagance, possesses/an excellent heart, and is brought by
distress to the most agonizing remorse. It appears that, in
an interview between Sir Herbert and Leonard, the former,
with a pistol in his, hand, had threatened, to dispatch himself
rather than avail himself of his son's consent to cutoffthe
'entail on the condition of parting with Lady Melmoth. Leo-
nard, apprehensive of desperate consequences, endeavoured
to get hold of the pistol, but in the struggle it is discharged
upon himself. This event gives encouragement to Malcour,
an insidious friend of Leonard, and who had been a former
lover of Lady Melmoth; to hope that his dishonourable views
on her would succeed. He therefore resolves in case Leo-
nard, who is said to be in extrethe danger, should die, to ac-
cuse his father of the murder, unless Lady Melmoth will
listen to 'his licentious addresses. Sir Herbert, in the ago-
nies of parental affection and _ remorse, 'determines to see
his son, who is at Malcour's house, and obtains admission in
the absence of Malcour, who had ordered his servants to ad-
mit nobody to Leonard's apartment: Sir Herbert, however,
prevails upon the attendant to let him pass. Lady Herbert
also goes, to Malcour's house, to express her contrition to
Leonard before he dies, but is unfortunately encounteted b
Malcour,who urges his dishonourable suit, but is rejected with
hornir: Lady Herbert faints on the spot, _oppressed by the
exaggerated recital. of Malcour, imparting the death of Leo—
nard, -and the probable conviction of her husband. At this
period Sir Herbert and Leonard appear, detea the perfidy of
Malcour, and witness the virtuous affliction of the Lady.—
Leonard, it seems, had. been only slightly wounded in the
arm. Leonard then readily oilers to relieve his father from
his distresses, by consenting to the legal sacrifice required of
him, and the prospecl of the future is happiness. Such is
the serious part of this Comedy.
The humorous part of this produaion relates to Tom Tick,
a pleasant fellow, who is always running in debt, and engaged
in some generous enterprize, Peter Post-Obit, a legacy-
hunter, Dr. Infallible, an advertising quack, and Caractacus
Shenkin, a simple Welc.hman, proud of his pedigree, but
content to assume a livery.
,Post-Obit, by his anxiety for a beque4t is deluded into an ob-
ligation to be responsible for all Torn 'nek's debts, as well
as to assign to him his right over Georgians as -one of her
guardians. Tide consents, to her marriage with Leonard,
who of course readily obtains her, as Sir Herbert is the, other
guardian.
As this Comedy is the produCtion of Mr. RAY'.
NoLns, the Public of course will rather expe4 face-
tious extravagance, than a regular drama. This
Piece is full as eccentric as any of his former works,
and hardly less amusing. It would be in vain to
look fOr probability, for the Author'. has never
thought that an essential, or, indeed, a necessary
quality, in his dramatic compositions. It is 'alto-
gether an amusing jumble, with some scenes of
pathos, very interesting, but urged to an extent
unsuitable to Comedy. But if the austere and fas—
tidious Critic may find much to excite his censurr,
the whimsical excesses of the Piece. will often, in
the midst of his chUrlish soleninity, ensnare him
into a smile.
, To the credit of the Play, it must be said, that
its serious anti comic incidents, all tend to sup-
port the interests of virtue, to discountenance vice,
and to " shoot Folly as it Flies."
'Dr. Infallible is a proper lash upon the Empiric-I
of the day, who prey upon the unwary, and roll in'
affluence: Our Dramatic Doctor, however, instead
of dealing' in 'poisoisOus'potions, onlythears his Pa-
tientS with British, ::f'ir'sts.
Through the Piece AI the absurdities of fashion-
.
Able
,life are held in t dicuie ; and if it does not rank
high in draniatic excellence, it is full of laughable
extravagance, ,and very well adapted to the taste of
the times.
LEWIS, MUNDEN, MURRAY, SIMMONS, H.
JOHNSTON, KNIGHT, Mrs. GIBBS, and Miss MUR-
RAY powerfully supported the Piece by their
'spedive exertions, and all displayed a._considerable
share of merit.
The Prologue contains tome good lines in favour
of former Dramatists, and an apology for the pre-
sent author. The Epilogue, which obviously comes
from Mr.,ANDRE WS, had some good hits: at the
present style of female dress, at Gus, Crops, Sea-
gulls; from the- raiaterlng places, lame ducks, &C.
This Epilogue was well delivered by MUNDEN.
o-
The Piece was anndunced'for tonight by LE Wls
with the warm approbation of a very numerous
Audience. -