The Sun.
London, England, 1836-04-18 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.

A drama was performed for the first time on Saturday night,
with the title of Don Juan of Austria, and it is professedly a
translation from the French, we understood, by Mrs. Charles
Gore. The original is by Delavigne, and is written in that
popular author's best manner, which our English adapter has
successfully imitated in some parts of her version ; but in others,
her style presents a direct contrast. We have seldom heard a
piece more unequal in its composition—now and then in blank
verse, and here and there in prose—the language sovaetimes too
grandiloquent and inflated, and at others too mean and poverty
stricken. We conclude that the translation was a work of haste
in order to outstrip competitors, for the question in many of
these cases is, who shall be successful in getting a drama ac-
cepted, by being the first to thrust it, however crude its condi-
tion, into the hands of the manager of a London theatre.
There are, we apprehend, various symptoms of female composi-
tion in the version of Saturday night. Near the opening of the
drama occur constant repetitions of " lady-love," with semi-
sentimental accompaniments of the same sort ; but when the
heroine is known by most of the parties to be a Jewess, the
mode of address is naturally changed. There is, besides,
some affectation of the old style of dramatic writing,. for if
they introduce two or three such phrases as " It likes me
not," and " I care not, I," and such words as, "methinks,"
" perchance," " moreover," and " anon," not a few of our mo-
dern writers for the stage fancy they have caught every trick
of Messinger, if not of Shakspeare. If Mrs. C. Gore be
not entitled to the " mothership" (a word used in the
drama) of Don Juan of Austria, we have to apologise for
imputing it to her : we know her to be an extremely clever
woman, capable of doing much better, had she allowed herself
time even for reading over her rapidly-scribbled and hastily-
dispatched manuscript. We should then have had no ground
to find fault with the turgid elevation of some passages, and
the mawkish flatness of others. s The story is extremely in-
teresting, allowingf or certain improbabilities—such as that the
Emperor Charles V., after his retirement to St. Just, should
keep a boy about him (that is, a girl in boy's clothes) whom he
makes privy not only to all his own secrets, but to those of other
people, and whose advice he implicitly follows ; and that King
Philip H. of Spain and his half-brother Don Juan should be in
love with the same lady, and she a Jewess. This Jewess,
whose assumed name is Florinda, but whose real name is
Leah Sandoval, is the heroine, and she is at least the sixth
" Hebrew maid" who has filled a prominent part in French
dramas within the last four or five years, and three of them
have been introduced upon our own stage.
The plot, in a compressed form, may be thus narrated :
It is an historical fact that Charles V. had a base-born son
called Don Juan d'Autriche, and after the Emperor has aban-
doned his throne, and it has been assumed by his legitimate
offspring, Philip IL, the latter agrees to recognise his half-
brother, if he will take the habit of a monk and reside for
the rest of his life in a monastery. Don Juan is placed, for
preparation, under an old knight, named Quexada, but the
young man deceives his guardian and instructor, and pays his
addresses (which are accepted) to a 'very pretty lady residing
in the neighbourhood called Florinda. The main incident of
the first act is the avowal by Florinda that she is the Jewess
Leah, the daughter of Sandoval, who had been on one occa-
sion of essential service to Charles V. Nevertheless, this pre-
sents no insuperable obstacle in the eyes of Don Juan. Philip
H. arrives in Andalusia (where the scene is laid) under the
title of Count di Ory, to observe the conduct and proceedings
of Don Juan, and soon discovers that the young man's taste is
for " wine, women, war, and the woods." Each boasts his
"lady-love" the fairest (for Philip admits that he is a victim
to the passion), and a sort of waver is laid between him and Don
Juan on the point. They soon afterwards unexpectedly meet at
Florinda's residence, and after a wordy contest of some duration,
and a furious struggle, Philip H. sends off his rival, under guard
to a monastery, there to be kept close prisoner, while he re-
mains behind to prosecute his suit to Florinda. Of course
she, who is devotedly attached to Don Juan, rejects the King,
even when she is made acquainted with his rank. It happens
that the monastery to which Don 'Juan is hurried is that of
St. Just, where Charles V. was residing, and busying his
brains with clock-making. From some expressions dropped
by Don Juan, Charles V. becomes aware that he is his son,
and pitying his situation, he determines to aid him ifi his
flight from this place of confinement. Don Juan escapes,
and arrives only just in time to rescue Florinda from the hot
embraces of Philip 11. ; for her assertion that she is a Jewess
only serves for a moment to check the tide of his furious pas-
sion. Don Juan now learns for the first time that the Count
d'Ory is no other than the King, whose guards being sum-
moned on the instant, they seize Don Juan and Florinda. The
latter is handed over to the Inquisition to be dealt with as a
Jewess, and in the lost scene she is led in prepared to suffer
at the stake. At this juncture Charles V. enters ;he has
quitted the monastery (of which he has become Prior) in
order to take care that Don Juan is not exposed to the cruel ty-
ranny of Philip 11. Charles declares in favour of the mar-
riage of Don Juan and Florinda, but is met by the Grand In-
quisitor with the information that she is a Jewess, and there-
fore that the union is utterly impossible. This puts all parties
to a nonplus, but Florinda, who cannot live without Don
Juan, puts an end to the dilemma by snatching. the dagger_of a
soldier, who stands near her, and thus terminates her exist-
ence and the performance. Don Juan is left to live as well
as he can without Florinda.

The chief parts were thus distributed : Charles V. by Mr.
Pritchard, Don Juan by Mr. Dale, Philip 11. by Mr. Bennett,
Dom Quexado by Mr. Tilbury, and Florinda. by Miss H.
Faucit. It was a considerable advantage that all the prin-
cipal performers showed themselves equal to their parts, so
that the drama was acted very uniformly. The interest was
well sustained, and the story developed with considerable in.
genuity, but for this we are indebted to Delavigne, who, we
think, is usually happy in this particular. The applause was
" unmixed with any base alloy" of disapprobation, although
one or two scenes were too protracted : several of the situa-
tions were so good that even if the piece had been much
worse represented they would have gone far to save it. As
it is, it is likely to have a successful run. Perhaps the
shortest part is that sustained by Miss H. Faucit, who, not-
withstanding, was so circumstanced as to be the centre of
attraction whilst on the stage. There were several morsels
delivered by her in a manner which would have done credit to
any actress. We noted down the following as most happily
spoken
" There is no gem in India's costly mines
So precious as a tear 1 If shed for joy,
How rich the zest it gives to human bliss—
If sorrow be the source from whence it flows,
How soothing to the sad and broken heart ;......
And when the sinner weeps, with joyful haste
Back to its native spring the sacred drop
By angel ministers is borne to Heaven."
The play was given out for repetition on Monday, with con-
siderable applause.

COMMISSION DE LUNATIC° INQUIRENDO.—A
commission was opened in Dublin on Monday, to inquire into
the state of mind of the Right Hon. and Rev. Maurice Lord
Hartland. The jury, after hearing the evidence of the
Surgeon-General, and two of his Lordship's domestics, were
unanimously of opinion that he was of unsound mind, and in-
capable of managing his own affairs ; that he became so on the
15th of February, 1830. The father of the present baron had
three sons, two of whom are dead since 1819. The estimated
property of his Lordship is 6,0001. a-year, clear income—the
jointure of Lady Hartland 300/. a-year. Her Ladyship was
Miss Hume, and was married in 1813, and has had no issue.
The petitioner is Major Denis Mahon.
Up to the Ist of April the British Legion in Spain
had lost forty officers, and upwards of seven hundred men,
principally from sickness.
A sailor of the name of Barnet Burns, who has
lived eight years in Now Zealand, and who was partly com-
pelled and partly found it convenient to be most perfectly and
beautifully tattooed, intends on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday
evenings next, to give a lecture or discourse, at the Old Town
Hall, on the important use which might be made of these
islands to the advantage of this country, together with a detail
of the condition and habits of the New Zealanders.—Ports-
mouth Paper.
AFFAIR OF HONOUR.—A duel took place on
Saturday between C— R and F— H— N Esqrs.
There is " a lady in the case." Mr. R. gave Mr. N. some
offence, who demanded satisfaction. An apology was offered,
but refused. Mutual friends having been appointed, the par-
ties met near Harwich, in Essex. Mr. N. first discharged his
pistol in the air, and Mr. R. fired in a similar madner. Ano-
ther hostile meeting. being contemplated, both .gentlemen
have been bound over in 1,000/. each to keep the peace.
A FEMALE SAVAGE.—Yesterday morning the
following savage and revolting act took place in the New-
road. A man named Spencer, residing in Phillip's-buildings,
Somers-town, chanced to have an altercation with Sarah Sta-
pleton, a woman with whom he had for some time cohabited,
when the latter in a most violent rage, seized his right ear
with her teeth, and having bit more than half of it off, threw
it way ; it was subsequently picked up in the area of a house
nearathand, by Sergeant Cooper, of the S division, who
narrowly
escaped having his thumb bitten off by the fury, on
her road to the station-house in Phoenix-street,

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

NEWMARKET FIRST SPRING MEETING,
Newmarket, Sunday Afternoon.
The following horses, engaged in the course of the ensuing
Meeting, are in training here : •
THREE-YEARS-OLD.

Lord Exeter's f. by Sultan, out of Dulcinea
Lord Chesterfield's filly by Emilius, out of Rowton's dain
Mr. Osbaldeston's f. by Velocipede, dam Fickle, by Smolensko
Mr. Houldsworth's ch. f. Destiny, sister to Despot
Mr. Osbaldeston's f. by Velocipede, out of Streamlet
Mr. Grant's b. c. by Emilius, out of Seamew
Mr. F. Caldecott's b. f. Zingaro
Lord Lichfield's Elis
Lord Jersey's Brother to Nell Gwynne
Lord Jersey's Brother to Mahomet
Lord Jersey's Brother to Riddlesworth
Lord Chesterfield's c. by Zinganee, out of Babel
Lord Chesterfield's c. Weighton
Mr. Thornhill's c. Eric, by Emilius, out of Shoveler
Mr. Osbaldeston's f. by Humphrey Clinker, out of Pousette
Mr. Osbaldeston's c. Ebberston, by Velocipede
Sir M. Wood's ch. c. Tournament
Lord Lichfield's c. The Captain, by Zinganee
Lord Lichfield's 2Ethiopian, by Memnon, out of Agalia
Duke of Portland's c. by The Colonel—Thebes
Mr. Scott's ch. c. Gladiator, by Partisan, out of Pauline
Lord Exeter's b. c. Muezzin, brother to Beiram
Lord Berner's ch. c. by Lamplighter, out of Camarine's dam
Duke of Grafton's c. Calmuck
Mr. Houldsworth's b. c. Centurion, by Emilius
Lord Albemarle's br. c. slulberry
Mr. Ridsdale's b. c. Vandenhoff
Mr. J. Robinson's ch. c. Whaley
Mr. J. Day's c. The Shah
Mr. W. Chifney's The Athenian
Lord Tavistock's f. by Royal Oak, out of Leeway
Mr. E. Peel's Post Haste
Colonel Peel's The Professor, by Zinganee
Lord Chesterfield's f. by Emilius, out of Katherina, by Woful
Mr. Greville's Marmalade
Sir M. Wood's ch. f. by Bustard
Sir M. Wood's b. f. by Bustard, out of Flatterer's dam
Lord Exeter's b. f. Toga
Lord Tavistock's f. sister to Oak Apple
Mr. Cooke's ch. f. Tertia, by Emilius
Colonel Peel's f. by Emilius, out of Garcia
Colonel Peel's Zenana
Mr. Houldsworth's ch. f. by Vanish, out of Fortuna
Lord Albemarle's br. f. by Velocipede, out of Lunatic
Mr. Ridsdale's b. f. Volant, by Velocipede
Mr. Ridsdale's b. f. Olinda, by the Colonel
Mr. Chifney's sister to Marcus
Duke of Portland's c. by Brutandorf, out of Souvenir
Mr. Batson's b. c. Taishteer
Mr. Greville's b. c. Martello
Lord Berner's b. c. by Lamplighter, out of Spinning Jenny
Lord Tavistock's c. by Royal Oak, out of Aurora
Mr. Houldsworth's ch. c. Vathek -
Mr. Henry is a subscriber, but did not name.
FOUR-TEARS-OLD AND UPWARDS.
Mr. J. H. Peel's Uncle Tohy
Mr. Sowerby's Rioter
Sir M. Wood's Amesbury
Lord Lichfield's Ascot
Mr. Ridsdale's Coriolanus
Mr. Ettwall's Revenge
Lord Chesterfield's Hornsea
Mr. Mostyn's Birdlime
Mr. Cookes's Sheet Anchor
Lord Warwick's Pelops
Mr. Sowerby's Bodice
Mr. S. Stanley's Tiber
Lord Verulam s Perrot
Lord Exeter's ch. c. Aurelius
Mr. Ridsdale's Luck's All

The principal betting races of the week are the Portland Handi-
cap, 2,000 guineas, 1,000 guineas, and the Newmarket Stakes. In
the former the following are expected to run :—The Rioter, Sheet
Anchor, Revenge, Pelops, Tiber, Hornsea, and Birdlime. For the
2,0(X) guineas—Brother to Nell Gwynne ( winner of the Monday's
Riddlesworth), Muezzin (winner of the Tuesday's Riddlesworth),
Calmuck, Whaley, and two or three others. It is said that Eb-
berston will not start, and doubts are expressed about Elis. The
1,000 Guinea Stake appears to rest between Toga, Marmalade (who
met in the 500 sovs. match last meeting), Destiny, and Zenana ;
but the race to-morrow, in which Toga and Destiny are engaged,
will probably shorten the field. The 300 Sovs. Stakes on Thursday
is reduced into a very narrow compass, only Aurelius, Perrot, and
Luck's All, being here. The former is the favourite. The start
for the Newmarket Stakes will be governed by the running for the
2,000 Guineas Stakes. No change in the betting.
The weather has latterly been more favourable, and the ground
is now in good order for running.
The following are the fixtures for to-morrow :
Fifty Pounds; for four yrs old, 7st. 21b ; five, Bst. 31b ; six and
aged, Bst. 91b. Last three miles of B. C.
Duke of Grafton's Ulick, 5 yrs
Mr. E. Peel's Uncle Toby, 6 yrs
Lord Chesterfield's Glaucus, 6 yrs
Mr. Forth's Famine, 5 yrs
Handicap Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, for three yrs old an I up-
wards. T. Y. C.

Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, for three years old ; colts Bst. 71b. ;
fillies, Bst. 41b. T. Y. C. The winner to be sold for 200 sovs., &e.
Sweepstakes of 100 sovs. each, h. ft., for three years-old fillies,
Bst. 41b. D.M.
Duke of Beaufort's Esmeralda
Lord Exeter's f. by Sultan, out of Dulcinea
Lord Chesterfield's c. by Emilius, out of Rowton's d.
Lord Jersey's Odessa, sister to Ishmael
Mr. Osbaldeston's f. by Velocipede
Mr. Houldsworth's ch. f. Destiny, by Sultan
Sweepstakes of 100 sovs. each, h. ft. TALK
Mr. J. H. Peel's Uncle Toby, by Cain, 6 yrs, Bst
Mr. Sowerby's Rioter, 5 yrs, ist. 61b
Sir M. Wood's Amesbury, aged, 7st. llb
Lord Jersey's Nell Gwynne, 5 yrs. 6st. 111 b
Match, 300, h. ft. A.F.—Lord Lichfield's Ascot, Bst. 81b, agst
Mr. Ridsdale's Coriolanus, Bst. 21b.
. .

This match, we understand, will not be run. The Handicaps
close this evening in the usual way.
Amongst the arrivals are the Earl and Countess of Chesterfield,
the Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter, Lord G. Bentinek, Sir J.
Shelley, Hon Colonel and Mrs. Anson, Mr. Irby, Mr. and Mrs. C.
Wilson, Mr. S. Stanley, Hon. General Grosvenor, &c.
The meeting is expected to be fully attended. Lye has arrived
to ride Birdlime on Wednesday.

BATH SPRING .RACES-THURSDAr.

The Durham Park Handicap Stakes of 10 sovs. each, h. it., with
a Purse added, for horses of all denominations. Gentlemen
riders. One mile and a half and a distance.
Captain Whalley na. Bessy
Mr. Hobson na. br. g. Harold
York Stakes—A Forced Handicap of 5 sovs. each, with 20 added.
Heats, one mile.
Mr. Lambden's Ace of Diamonds... 1 0 2 1
Hon. S. Herbert's Burlington
Mr. Hughes's Woodman 0 1 0 3
Mr. Houldsworth's Felix 0 2 1 2
The Doddington Park Stakes of N sovs., h. ft., for hprses not
thorough-bred ; four yrs old, 9st. ; five, lOst. 91b ; six, 1 Ist. 71b ' •
aged, 12st. ; a winner of the Pillerton Tally-Ho, or Billesdon
Co low, before the day of starting, to carry 71b ; if any two, or
either twice, 101 b. extra. Two mile. Gentlemen riders.
Mr. Hobson's Challenger, 4 yrs
Mr. Reeve's Rufus

BETTING AT
CHESTER TR
5 to 1 agst Jupiter—taken
5 to 1 agst Red Royer—taken
7 to 2 agst Billinge
8 to 1 agst Usury
9 to 1 agst Stockport—taken
10 to 1 agst The Stag
10 to 1 agst Tamworth

MANCHESTER.
ADP: CUP, P.P.
112 to 1 agst Altamont
12 to 1 agst Turban
12 to 1 agst Oswald—talc. freely
15 to 1 agst Jacob Faithful
16 to 1 agst Lady Moore Carew
18 to 1 agst Hectie—taken
20 to 1 agst any other

The Hayes Steeple Chase was won by Mr. Bryant's Red Deer
(owner), beating Air. Elmore's Young Grimaldi (Bean), Mr. An-
derson's Albino (Weston), Mr. Tilberry's Presto, Mr. -'s Upas,
and Mr. Seffert's Billiard Ball. The race was contested at a very
severe pace between the first two, and won by a neck only.
The Burton Steeple Chase was won by Mr. Ball's Creeper
(owner), beating Mr. Cooper's Pompey, Mr. Flavell's Robin
Hood, and Air. Barton's Intriguer.

HUNTING IN THE NEW FOREST.
We are enabled to give our sporting readers a slight de-
scription of the week at Lyndhurst, in the New Forest. The
sport commenced on Monday with Mr. Wyndham's fox
hounds ; they met at Poulton, the seat of Mr. Sloane Stanley,
they found at Amberwood, and killed at Ampworth, after three
beautiful bursts of twenty minutes : the field was numerous, and
the sport highly satisfactory.
On Tuesday his Majesty's staghounds met at Bolton's Bench,
where a field of sportsmen and others assembled to the number
of 2,000, and such a scene in the quiet town of Lyndhurst was
not remembered by the oldest inhabitant. A hind was first
found and ran severely for 20 minutes, when up got a fine stag,
which ran at the best pace for one hour and ten minutes, which
made the time occupied in running one hour and a half. The
noble animal was safely taken near Beaulie'n, and we under-
rtand he will be conveyed to the Royal Hunting Establishment
at Ascot. The Royal Pack, as usual, were greatly admired,
and it must have been most gratifying to the Noble Master to
hear the encomiums passed on the hounds by so great a number
of scientific gentlemen, among whom there was but one opinion
as to the merits of the hounds and severity of the run.
On Wednesday the foxhounds met at the Manorhouse, and
unfortunately chopped a fox in his kennel. A second, was,
however, found, which ran for half an hour, and was lost near
Lyndhurst.
Some notion of the bustle and excitement in the forest
during the week may be conceived when we mention the fol-
lowing names of gentlemen (masters of hounds) who were on
the spot ; viz.—the Earl of Erroll, the Duke of Beaufort,
T. A. Smith, Esq., the Hon. Morton, the Hon. G. A.
Craven ; Messrs. Villebois, Nicol, Errington, Wyndham, Hor-
lock, Hall, Taylor, Yeatman, Hankey, Satchell, and Sir John
Coped To give the names of whole, or even the majority, of
the leading sporting gentlemen who were also present is ut-
terly impossible, we therefore content ourselves by mentioning
that among the number were Lords A. Fitzclarence, Uxbridge,
Brudenell, and Alvanley.— Windsor Express.

Sir Peregrine Maitland is to proceed to Madras as
Commander-in- Chief.

The Strand Theatre opens positively on Monday,
the 25th. Thd company consists of Messrs. Hammond,
Mitchell, Moss, Attwood, Archer, Simpson, Benson, Hill,
Cooke, Ranson, Searle, Doyne, Mrs. Nisbctt, Miss Beresford,
Miss erguson, Miss Stoker, Mrs. Tayleure, Mrs. Ager, and
Miss Daly. The opening pieces are Jerrold's Schoolfellows
Come to Town, and a new burletta by Leman Rede.
Painter of Ghent, a serious one-act drama, by Jerrold, and in
which he
he
Strand,plays by Mr the h hero,.
Mark Lemon.
Mrs. neewfoan.rcetta called P. L., or
No.
Mrs. Sharpe, who came out a few nights ago at
Drury-lane as Lady Macbeth, has been on the stage nearly all
her life, and is the daii,ghter of a celebrated mimic and comic
performer—Lee Sugg. She married, and went to America,
where of late she has been playing inferior parts in comedy,
tragedy, and afterpiece. Her sister is married to Racket,
who was in this country, and played at the Haymarket, two
years ago.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

GUILDHALL.

At this office, --- Crosby was charged with a fraudu
lent trick to obtain money. This was a common case
ring-dropping. So eager was the prosecutor, a respectahl<
looking female, to purchase the jewels so fortunately fowl('
that she pledged her silk cloak to buy them.
The prisoner was fully committed for trial.