The Sun.
London, England, 1837-01-05 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.

The performance of last night introduced Mr. Lytton
Bulwer to the public for the first time as a writer for the
stage. No one who is acquainted with his powers as a
novelist, or has marked the energy, the spirit, the pathos,
and the refinement characterizing his numerous literary
productions, could doubt Mr. Bulwer's qualifications for
appearing as a dramatic author. The only question is,
whether, in the present instance, he has judiciously selected
his subject. " Perhaps few subjects," he observes in his
preface, " can be found more adapted to the skill of the
dramatic poet than the love and the repentance, the fall and
the atonement, of Madame de la Valliere." That these
'would prove most fruitful materials for the construction of a
dramatic poem may be readily conceived ; but we are far
from considering them fitting for that particular species of
dramatic poem which is composed for scenic representation.
At the commencement of the first act we find Mademoiselle
de la Valliere at her paternal chateau, and, by the end of
the same act, at the court of Louis ; in the second act is
the declaration of love by the King, and her flight to the
convent ; in the third the intrigues of the Marquise de
Montespan are begun, and brought to a successful issue.
It is evident that these rapid transitions must tend
materially to weaken the general effect. The prin-
cipal variation from the original stcry is in the two
last acts. Bragelone, in the narrative, dies of a broken
heart on hearing of the infidelity of his betrothed ; but
here he is supposed merely to have spread the report of his
death, and to have r.4sumed the monk's cowl ; presenting
himself to the Duclaess after she has been rejected by the
King, to urge her final retirement to the seclusion of a con-
vent. This character of Bragelone, which may be said to
be Mr. Bulwer's exclusive creation, since in the original he
is a very subordinate character, is by far the most success-
ful delineation in the play ; and being entrusted to Mac-
ready, was the medium for a seiries of sterling points, which
told with all the force that expressive language and acting
could prcduce. The passages we subjoin from his inter-
view wit's his betrothed in the first act, were delivered with
exquisite feeling and truth ; and equally effective were his
appeals to the Duchess de la Valliere in the fourth act,
his rebukes and warnings addressed to the King. Nothing
ever surpassed the effect of his tone and gesture in the
words--

" Beware, great King, the Present cries aloud
A prophet to the future. Wake ! beware."
Anss Faucit, as the Duchess, performed her very trying
part with much grace and propriety. She scarcely, how-
ever, invested it with the pure simplicity so essential to the
true developement of the character, especially where ten-
derness and love is the theme ; but in the impassioned
scenes she was very successful. The following lines were
exceedingly well given :
"Go Louis, go. All glorious as thou art
Earth's Agamemnon, the great king of men,
Thou wert not worthy of this woman's heart."
Farren in the part of Lauzun, the witty, intriguing, reck-
less courtier, did not seem to be in his element, nor to take
a correct view of the character, which surprised us, remem-
bering Lis admirable and discriminating style of acting in
Bertrand et Raton. As Mr. Bulwer observes-4. Lauzun's
gaiety was not animal but intellectual ; but Farren rather
reversed this order, and threw more of the coxcomb than
the refined and courtly intriguant in his delineation. Van-
denhoff, as the King, had not a very promising part allot-
ted to him; but at least he might have given to the great
Louis something more of dignity and regal bearing. We
could wish to have seen Charles Kemble in this character.
The play did not reach its termination till about a quarter
past eleven. Pruned it evidently must be, if it is to retain
Possession of the stage. The third act was heavy, and caused
considerable impatience. Several scenes of it must be
omitted, besides which we would suggest the retrenchment
of the entire part of the Marquise de Montespan, and that
the lads, who personates her should, like the Queen, be
dumb throughout. This alteration may be effected with-
out detriment to the piece. The greater part of the singing
at the conclusion, which has nothing to recommend it,
should also be omitted. The scenery is, for the most part,
well painted, especially the anterior of the cathedral ; and
the dresses are tasteful and in good keeping. On the fall
of the curtain there was a long contest between the ayes
and noes, in which the former had a decided preponderance,
though the latter were very persevering. After a time
Macready and Miss Faucitt came forward and were loudly
cheerea,. The following are the passages in the first act
alluded to above

Sweet girl, my youth has passed in camps ; and war
lath somewhat scathed my manhood ere my time.
Our years are scarce well-mated : the soft spring
Is thine, and o'er my sutrmer's waning noon
Grave autumn creeps. Thou say'st I flatter 1"—well,
Love taught me first the golden words in which
The honest heart still coins its massive ore.
But fairer words, from falser lips, will soon
Make MY plain courtship rude.—Louise ! thy sire
Betrothed us in thy childhood. I have watched thee
Bud into virgin May, and in thy youth
Have seemed to hoard my own I—l think of THEE,
And lam youthful still The passionate prayer--
The wild idolatry—the purple light
Bathing the cold earth from a Hebe's urn ;
Yea, all the soul's divine excess which youth
Claims as its own, came back when first I loved thee !
And yet so well I love that if thy heart
Recoil from mine—if but one single wish,
A shade more timid than the fear which ever
Blends trembling twilight with the starry hope
Of maiden dreams—would start thee from our union,
Speak, and my suit is tongueless !
MADEMOISELLE DE LA VALLIRRE.
0, my Lord !
If to believe all France's chivalry
Boasts not a nobler champion—if to feel
Proud in your friendship, honoured in your trust—
If this be love, and I have known no other,
Why then_

BRAGELON E.
Why then, thou lov'st me 1

MADEMOISELLE DE LA VALLIERE.--( Aside.)
Shall I say it ?
I feel 'twere to deceive him ! Is it love ?
Love l—no, it is not love !—( Aloud.) My noble lord,
As yet I know not all mine own weak heart;
I would not pain thee, yet would not betray.
Legend and song have often painted love,
And my heart whispers not the love that should be
The answer to thine own : thou hadst best forget me !
I3RAGELON E.
Forget !

MADEMOISELLE DE LA VALLIERE.
I am unworthy of thee !

DRAOELONE•

Hold 1--.
My soul is less heroic than I deemed it.
Perchance my passion asks too much from thine,
And would forestal the fruit ere yet the blossom
Blushes from out the coy and maiden leaves.
No let ME love ; and say, perchance the time
May come when TIIOU wilt bid me NOT forget thee.
Absence may plead my cause ; it bath some magic ;
I fear not contrast with the courtier-herd;
And thou art not Louise if thou art won
By a smooth outside and a honeyed tongue.
No 1 when thou seest these hunters after power,
These shadows, minioned to the Royal sun,—
Proud to the humble, servile to the great,—
Perchance thou'lt learn how much one honest heart,
That never wronged a friend or shunn'd a foe--
How much the old hereditary knighthood,
Faithful to God, to glory, and to love,
Outweighs an universe of cringing courtiers
Louise, I ask no more I—l bide my time I

scantily
The King of Bavaria remarking, in his daily walks
!h
rough Munich, how dressed were the great num-
"ra of boys returning from the various charity schools, was
gave
ranch struck at the circumstance, and immediately
his
°rlers that more clothing should be provided for them. at
remate expense. In this way more than 600 florins have
,exPended.—Frankfort Paper.
,expended.—Frankfort
due total number of individuals arrested and con-
Gated to
the Prefecture during the year 1836, says the
.rzehtteedes Trib.un.aux, exceed 20,000.
appear in the next
Gazei brevet, it is understood, will
and te• Sir William Gomm, of the Coldstream Guards,
Majotrilee:elroansels above him, will all be promoted to be
1 The Majors now to be made will include
all the Captain; of 1822.
the
n Herefordshire, "at the approach of eveningf on
andvigal of the Twelfth-day, the
to farmers, with their
walk
rvants, meet together, and about six o'clock out
a field where wheat is growing. In the highest part of
the grßned twelve small fires and one large one are lighted
e
pledge theatteadants, headed by the master of the family,
these occasionrn—s.Panl in old cider, which circulates freely on
when a general shout
-. circle is formed round the large fire,
and hallooing takes place, which you
hear answered from
Sometimes 50 or 60 of
all the adjacent villages and fields.
This being finished, tbethese fires may be all seen at once.
e°lnpany return home, where the
housewife and her maids are preparing a good suppemr.iddlAe.
large cake is always provided, with a hole in the
After supper the company au attend the bailiff (or head of
the oxen) to the wain house, wh ere the following particulars
are observed :—The master, at the head of his friends, fills
the cup (generally of strong ale), and stands opposite the
first or finest of the oxen. He then pledges him in a curious
toast ; the company follow his example with all the other
oxen, addressing each by his name. This being finished,
the large cake is produced, and, with much ceremony, put
on the horn of the first ox, through the hole above men-
tioned. This ox is then tickled to make him toss his head ;
if he throws the cake behind, then it is the mistress's per-
quisite ; if before (in what is termed the boosy), the bailiff
himself claims the ptize. The company then return to the
house, the doors of which they find locked, nor will they be
opened till some joyous songs are sung. On their gaining
admittance a scene of mirth and jollity ensues, and which
lasts the greatest part of the night."

DEATH ofaSENIOR KING'S COUNSEL

and FATHER of the ENGLISH BAR.

We regret to announce that John de Grenier de Fon-
blanque, Esq., died yesterday, in the 78th year of his age.
This gentleman was acknowledged on all hands as a pro-
found, skilful, and eloquent lawyer, and a perfectly consis-
tent politician. Mr. Fonblanque had always been admired
as well in pleading as in society, for the urbanity and polish
of his manners, and was, we believe, the only lcgist whose
principal work (the Treatise on Equity) was cited in the
courts as an authority during his lifetime. In the meridian
of his career, Mr. Fonblanque was designated for the fu-
ture Lord Chancellorship. His mind remained unimpaired
to the last, and he contemplated the close of a long life of
labour and care with the truest resignation. The deceased
was a Benchcr of the Middle Temple, and formerly Mem-
ber for Camelford.

During the time the Whigs were in office in 1806 and
1807, Mr. Fonblanque enjoyed the esteem and confidence
of the heads of the party. He was one of the very few
who stood in the breach when political freedom was in the
greatest danger. In his case was exemplified the remark
that they who brave the brunt of the battle seldom share
the reward of the victory. Mr. Fonblanque was, we be-
lieve, the author of the celebrated letters of the Prince of
Wales (George the Fourth) to his father en the subject of
his exclusion from the army, generally attributed to Earl
Moira. While the Prince was a Liberal, Mr. Fonblanque
enjoyed his entire confidence. He has left behind him sons
worthy of his name, who have inherited with his spirit his
high talents.