The Sun.
London, England, 1837-01-20 00:00:00

C VENT-GARDE T FIEATRS..

A new drama, in two acts, entitled the country Squ.;re ;
or TWO Days at the Hall, was produced here last nig'it.
It was understood to be from the pen of Mr. Charles
Dance, and, although the *applause with which it was re-
ceived was mingled with a few hioses, and its success for a
time doubtful, it ultimately went off in a most triumphant
manner. This success was mainly, or we may with More
justice say, solely, owing to the exertions of Farren, as
Bcoadlands, the country squire. The charaeer of Broad-
limds is undisguisedly borrowed from that of the Oht
Country Gent'eman, in the ancient ballad of the ,same name,
which was revived and became so popular a short time
ago, before the ears of the -public became stunned with the
wearisome monotony of the now universal Jim Crow. Ilia
splended hospitality, the fond attachment to ancient sports
and manners, the kind-heartedneis and eccentricity or
the good old squire were exceedingly well pourtrayed by
the author, but without Farren there would have been no-
thing new in the character. It is. one we have met with
scores of times, in ballad, play, and novel, but never before
did it come before us with so much truth and freshness as
last night. The old gentleman, who, like his prototype in
the ballad, has

" An old estate,

And keeps a good old mansion at a bountiful old rate,
With a good old porter to relieve the old poor at his gate,"
is a batchelor, but has two nephews one of whom (he who
shall turn out to be the most deserving), he intends to
make his 'heir. The one George Selwood (Mr. Pritchard),
a London merchant of the most undoubted honour and in-
tegrity, is at first the old man's favourite. The other,
Horace Cornelius Selwood (Mr. J. Webster). is an ex-
quisite of the first water, towards whom the Squire che-
rishes a sort of aversion on account of the foppishness of
his manners. The first is, however, too much attached
to his mercantile pursuits, and too little fitted to enjoy,
the charms of a country life, to accept of the old man's offer,
and he flatly refuses to become his heir upon condition of for-
saking the town, and becoming a county magistrate and
fox-bunter. The other nephew, Horace, has no such
scruples, and his uncle sets about earnestly to discover
whether, under the mask of affectation and effeminacy,
some good and sterling qualities may not be hidden. In
this research he is not disappointed ; and, having laid many
schemes to discover his real character, he is delighted to find
that he comes out triumphantly from every trial, and that the
apparently empty and conceited fop is, in reality, a gentleman
the most extended sense of that much abused term, and
full of the noblest qualities both of head and heart.
Squire Broadlands has also two nieces, who, of course,
at the conclusion of the piece are respectively made
happy. One of them, Fanny Markham, (well sus-
tained by Miss Vincent) is a wild girl, not unlike
Diana Vernon, and rejoices in riding, shooting, and other
masculine amusements. Her horse having run away with
her, she is saved from imminent peril by Horace Cornelius
Selwood, who, by his undaunted courage and fearless hu-
manity, lays the foundation of their future attachment. Hav-
ing been himself humanized by his uncle, he in a very short
space succeeds in womanizing the beautiful horsewoman, by
making her forego the rough sports of firing pistols and
leaping five-bar gates, and taking to embroidery,
music, and other feminine accomplishments. All this
she does for love of him, and in a marvellously short
space of time becomes a natural leader of her own sex,
instead of an awkward imitator of the other. It may be
icen from this slight sketch that there is but little plot in
this piece, and furthermore, that what little there is, cannot
boast of much originality. There are also some subordi-
nate characters, the omission of which altogether would
tend much to its future success. But the beautiful acting
of Farren would have saved a piece more full of imperfec-
tions than the present, and the author ought to be gratefu
to the actor for having infused so much grace and originality
into a character which the efforts of preceding writers hat\
worn almost threadbare. At the fall of the curtain Farren
was loudly called for, and, amid unanimous applause, an-
nounced the piece for repetition.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TA T TEE SALL' S-YESTERDA Y.
THE DERBY.

Three bets only were made, viz.-9 to 1 agst Lord Jersey's
Brother to Bay Middleton, to 501.-1,000 to 25 agst Mr. Os-
beldeston's Pocket Hercules—and 500 even between Mr. Os-
baldeston's Mahometan (brother to Mussulman) and Mr. Scott's
Misfortune (broth& to Emigrant)-8 to I offered on the field—
and 18 to 1 asst Dardanelles (take 20 to 1). That business
is so flat at present is attributable to the departure from town
of several turf M. P.s, with the double inducement of escaping
the " prevailing epidemic," and preparing themselves for the
ensuing campaign.

LEAMINGTON GRAND STEEPLE CHASE.
This Steeple Chase is exciting great interest in the sporting
world. The list of entries closed on Saturday last, and con-
tains twenty-one of the first-rate nags perhaps in the kingdom.
The 'race is to terminate so as not to exceed two miles of this
town, and is to come off the day before the Warwick Spring
Meeting. The stake will amount to 725/. The following arc
the horses entered :
Marquis of Waterford's Monarch. Lord Macdonald's Captain Bab,
Lord Willoughby's Puzzle, Mr. Newman's Valiant, Mr. Anger-
stein's Negociator, Captain Lamb's Vivian, Captain Lamb's Bea-
trice, Mr. Baring na. by Manfred, Mr. W. Russell's Scripton,
Mr. Talbot's Mount Eagle, Mr. Coke's Flacrow, Mr. Mostyn's
Warwick, Mr. Knaresborough's Dan O'Connell, Mr. Marshall's
Foreigner, Mr. `S'allie's Creeper, Captain Williams's Bittern, Mr.
Sadler's Laura, Mr. Badcock's Hector, Mr. Lambden's Jerry, Mr.
Baggersly's Bright Eyes, Mr. Clifford's Countess, sister to Grimaldi.

GRAND PIGEON MATCH FOIL A SILVER Cur.—The great
handicapped match for a very superior silver cup and cover,
given by subscription, took place yesterday in the inclosure at
the tack of the fled House Tavern, Battersea-fields. Nct-
withstanding the very unfavourable state of the weather, the
attendance of amateurs was very considerable and the cr ck
shots oft in day were all present. The match was open to a►t
England, and in order to afford each a chance of fair play, it
was handicapped by distance ; those who had won public prizes
being at 21 yards rise, and those who had not, at 21 yards dis-
tance. Their weregs many as 20 candidates, at seven birds
each, charge limited' to two ounces. The black fence, the
darkness of the day, tind the drizzling rain, prevented any thing
like extraordinary shooting. Mr. Bromley, the gentleman who
won a cap here about six months since, won by killing six birds
out of his seven. The shooting was very good.
GREAT MATCH AT LOWER 'TOOTING.---The Pigeon Match
made at Mr. J. Almainc's, the Mitre Inn, Lower Tooting,
came off on Wednesday, and was but indifferently attended. It
was decided in favour of Messrs. Toby, Edwatds, and Hodges.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

SPAIN.

MALAGA, JAN. 2.—Since ten o'clock last night we have
experieleed a most dreadftil storm from the East, and at
this moment we have to lament the loss of four vessels,
three wrecked on the coast, and the English corvette
Orestes dismasted. Some damage has been sustained by
the khips in the harbour and the English frigates and brigs
)1. wr ; the Tyne and Jascur are in danger. The gale
continues, and as soon as we rcceivc particulars of the losses
we shall publish them.
ESPAATERO'S PROCLAMATION.
" BILEOA, DEC, 26.

.',.2.l(liers,—The pride of 30 rebel battalions has been
humbled your bravery. Many prisoners, '25 pieces of
artilTery, rnosb,- of heavy calibre, vast quantities of ammu-
nition, an immense ,:)ark, brigades, magazines, and hospitals,
arc all the prizes of you,' valour. The heroic town of Bil-
b its warlike garrison th:l not believe that it was its Jibe-
rat s who at the break of day. on the 25th crowned the
.;eights of Bandcras, and had repiOsed from Olaviaga the
iiberticide hordes.
‘. When I addressed you from Pertuolette I promised
to lead you to victory ; you offered to Spill your blood
prodigally. You have kept your promise, and I mine. It
remains to reward those who had the opportunity of distin-
,suishing themselves, and those you will soc in the general
orders to-Morrow.
" Comrades !—Great and of the highest advantags are
our exploits, and deserving of every gratitude. Let us
prepare to gather the fruits of this memorable battle, after
nartial actions for forty days. Prepare, for new triumphs
a vait you. EARTRO."
Thee pieces of cannot; were taken afterwards.

The Phdre do Bayonne of the 14th instant gives no
news from the environs of Whoa. It appears that the un-
avourable state of the weathe: has compelled both Carlists
And Christinos to preserve a sort of armistice. The Phare
has also the following :—" The mai; which left Madrid on
tlie Ist instant for Andalusia, was stoppt:d between Madri-
dejos and Port Lapiche, by 14 mounted rol,bers. All the
for La Mancha and the despatches of Ecija wzre carried
off." A letter of the 9th from Collioure, in Catalonia,
saaei
eycns
s—c:ra`o'n
fdAl‘t pa:tnarsielaisnsatii?oha,aisys
been‘v brought,is
dsrlalogtgaebndy accountone
throughof tthhhaiest the Go-
sotwr streets: tss

The Duke of Bedtord, tue Earl of Burlin,gton, Ear
,spencer, Lord Scagrave, and. several more of the libera
Ours, have added their names to the list of Stewards at
the Middlesex Reform Dinner.
The new Bishop of Ripon, Dr. Longley, held his
irst ordination in the cathedral church of Ripon on Sunday
last. On Monday his Lordship consecrated the re-built
chapel, and also the new burial-g ound at Arkendale, ire
the parish of Knaresherough. and preached a most elo-
quent and impressive sermon to a very numerous and atten-
tive congregation. Next day his Lordship consecrated an
Jatire new ,chapel at Brearton, in the same parish, and con-
' mrated the burial-ground there. The Rev. Mr. Dun.
combo preached on this occasion, and gave a most excellent
and appropriate sermon.
Inc last dike years' expenditure on whiskey
iit
Ireland amounted to I 8,900,09(V. which sum would af-
'niA nine guineas for each family (tar four persons in each
Fa uily allowing the rpulation to be 8,000,000 of :outs.