The Sun.
London, England, 1808-02-26 00:00:00

THE THEATRE.

Covent-Garden.

The new Play of The Wanderer, which was very
well acted, and very much applauded, was followed,
last 'night at this Theatre by a new musical Farce,
entitled-ll'ho Wins? or, The WidOw's Choice. '1:116
story is soon related, though ,it is so ingeniously
cqnstruEted as to keep the audience in suspense, and
fully to obviate an anticipation, of the catastrophe.
A whimsical old man, who bad acquired a fortune
by gaming, left fifty thouland pounds to his niece,
the Widow Bellair, on condition that she marries
one,of his two nephews, lambic Ertempore,- a poor
Poet, and Caper, a rich Merchant. The choice is
to_ be determined by the highest throw on the dice,
and if she shOuld refuse. the winner, the nephews
are to divide the legacy; but if they both.rejeet her,
she is to inherit the whole. The Widow, being un-
acquainted with her two Cousins, assumes the dis-
guise of her servant, Lisette, in order to ascertain
their reape6tive chara6ters; but lest she should be
discovered by her picture, she orders it to be re-
moved, and has that of an ugly old houSe-keeper
substituted. ',.Ettempore, on the first view of the
latter *trait, is disgusted, particularly as he had
conceived a great partiality for the supposed Li-
sette.--Caper, who is only intent .on gain, is
rejoiced to find, by-the picture,: that the Widow
is so ugly, hoping that she will' be refused by Bx-
temptire, and that he'shall secure her and her fqrtune.
'Extempore, resolved not to marry so disagreeable an
object as the portrait represents, readily sells the
claim .which the dice had given him, to caper for a
thousand pounds*. Soon atter he is undeceived, and
'finding tl:3t his favourite,' the Supposed Lisette,'was
actually his cousin, the Widow, he is almost distract-
ed at the loss. The Widow, who is much attached
to him for his disinterestedness, is also very.unh3pllY,,
butt recolletline- that she kid received some gallant
advances from Caper at Cheltenham, throws herself
in his way, in her proper attire ; finding, 'however,
that she cart niake no impression' on his sordid na-
ture, she,extracts from him a written rejection of her
suit;:addresied to A.- B. This paper she afterivards
produceS,, and declaring that A. B. signified Arabella
Beltdir; she claims the whole fortune, upon thus
proof that both nephews had ref,ased her, and finally
gives her:hand to. Extempore.
Though this Piece is' not quite :of so bold and
dashing a descsiptiod as the other Farces.frorn it*
avowed author, .Mr. AwriniiAm, yet it is by no
means less entertaining. the' fable has not the
probability of real lite, it is not too egtravagant, but
is.calCulated to give good scope to the performers,,
and to afford great entertainment' to the public.-•-•
The Author has appropriated his charatlers very sue.
cessfully. FAWCETT is excellent in Extempore; his
bravura song was admirably given, and so wag MP'
o,tfler'WhitllSlE4l song about the comparative advert.,
tages 'of .Learning and Leather. LISTON also was
excellent in Caper, and his dancing accompaniment
to the ,eir was highly diverting. The
'Widow ..had 'an animated represenhitive in Mrs.
C. li.eStaLe.., who sang with great skill, and
who,"a6led with great humour. -By the
way, there is .1101illg in the piece 'to render it
necessary that the character should be a widow, and
therefore the author might as well have gyen her to
her fortunate cousin in a state of simpio teripeonce.;,
11111risrd.
,Lfttosrrnoe mh4and4r tawi re,
well
which
trowdeucheed thisvein,fiers
piece, and which is the only one in, it that is not
original. Mrs. ,tasrott sung it very well. The
music is the best that Mr, COND'ELL has yet produced;
and considerably increase his reputation. as
composer. The sestetto in the first hit is a compo.l
.sition of admirable contrivance and charader.--.-The
air whiefi,.,Aie.:. C. ii.EisoLE, sung wililc. Lirrolf
danced; was,grand and beautiful, and the whole dis-
played lasiulh ie and expression.---,The piece
applauseeaitedtncnce,
throughoke, apo wis attw
ineonucencoefd
a. t':,errytlitlitsimeeveronuitstgauwdiiettlig:teh.e hear!), coneqPi

ARiUOROI.7.GII.,STR E.ET.---YeSierday six Journey,
men Cabinet-Makers it 'the eutPloyof Mr. Oxen'
ham; of Oxford-Street, of the names of Paliqns
Matthews, .4lattochs, Oliver, Smith and
were charged. with.cw ipiting together, and plvvent-
Mg a Man of the name of Thomas Dawcsi by
threats -. and intimidations, from working in ti"
Prosecutor'slt appeared in evidence that
the complaining, after having.,..been engaged by
the .Proie.cittor, carried his' chest into the Wor‘k-
.olol),. when he. was asked' by the Defendants if
,he'belonged to any Society; and on being ill"
lorirted in the. negative, and that he was an indi-
-1714am,.
Vidual: wliti.'stood alone, the Defendants ,informed
him that lie would not be allowed to work there.
Whilst the complainant was gone to dinner, his
tools were rendered 'useless, so that he could not
proceed to work, and
.besides, having been subjea
to the threats and intimidations of the men, lie WO
deprived of his employment: It was- urged in de"
&nee,- that the complainant was a joiner, and cow.
tegdentlyibe-workmen did hot think him a proper
person 'to work -ainongst them, who had, serve,!,
their tithe a 4 cabinet-makers. The NM/041'31
observed, that if Mr. Oxenlitun had"chosen IQ b
his shop with carpenters, his men. hadright
'to object .to such a Measure. It generally' 1)01)/w"
that \vvheri a conspiracy existed in a shop, °
it
undatta.ken
Wio benefit the journeymen, but IP Eli
instsAce-it a-s!•' malicious, as it could not be 59P",
pOsed tliat a loitie; could 'rival he Vertigmance ct
a Cabinet-ma'ke'r.. The Defendants were severally
conviaed'and sentenced to-six.wePki irnprisOnweot
each. no legal d

COIW 4XCIIANGE .F&B. 26:-.-41111.4ay there.are
feW arrivals of Wheat, ,hut the 84pply at h","d
more than adequate. to the cleirt4o.; Very, few 1i
Samples; other qualities are: betlvy sale, 'at rather
less pricetsrley likevOse; Malt and Pease vary brit
little ',Olid Beans are lower ; there are tolerable
supplies of Oats, which 'trade supports "our- last
quoted prices ; sales of Flour as per currency 41,11-
hexed.

Wheat 44S it S6s a 7os pd Tick Beans - Oa a 57S '.l
rinewup - - yAi- a 75$ 2e. ()its , ~. 2,8$ 2 328 a 304 `'i'l
White Pease ,
RY! ~. ,. A"lp s3s od Poland ditto 37$ a 3 ''' °O,,
OneW.' 4 -40 - a.4os od 1 Potatoe - ..' —6 24 11 !
malt - ' '•
O6s'a 'As od 1 Kaye Seed - 281 a 3i I to od
ail
1539aq6136 od Fine Flout 50 a 6
Grey ditio . -.56i.ca 625 od Seconds - - sos 3 53'
P
14°14 (Oldi , Sto a 6os od
c'a
. _