The Sun.
London, England, 1822-02-25 00:00:00

THE THEATRES.

KING'S THEATRE.— This Theatre was, as
usual, crowded on Saturday night, and with a
large proportion of the fashionable world. The
Opera was the Barone di Dolsheim, which seems
to increase in favour as it become more familiar.
The new ballet of Les Pages du Due de Vendome
followed, and that, too, increases in favour. The
dancers exerted themselves very ably, and were
requited with abounding applause. ALBERT and
Madame ANATOLE entered into an emulous and
gratifying competition, and were duly distin-
guished.

DRURY-LANE.—On Saturday last a new Comic
Opera, entitled The'Veteran ; or, the Farmer's
Sons, was brought forward at this Theatre.—The
following is a brief sketch of

THE FABLE.
The scene lies in an English village and its neighbourhood,
where a party of soldiers are stationed, near the Mansion of
General Van (M r NDE lc), who has two daughters—Rosa,
(Miss FORDE) and Isabella (Madame VEsTins).' Rosa pos-
sesses an admirer in Captain George (HARLEY), who carries
on his suit by letters. Isabella ridicules her sister, who in re-
venge permits her lover to make an attempt on the heart of
Rosa. Under the disguise of a coxcomb he begins his ap-
proaches. She acknowledges that her heart had been touched,
fast as it is revealed to her that the conquest had been achieved
by the man whom she had ridiculed her sister for admiring.—
But the wound is not deep enough to be severely felt, and Rosa
is content to see her sister united to Captain G eorge. An under-
plot is formed from the embarrassments of Farmer Franklin
(PowELL), whose son Jonas (KNIGHT) enlists, to rescue him
from his difficulties, in the regiment of Captain George, who
turns out also to be the son of Farmer Franklin. Jonas has a
mistress (Miss POVEY), to whom he is united.
As this is the period of theatrical chews, pro-
cessions, ST..c. • a drama calculated to produce
a moral effect, r*ther than to please the, eye, is
entitled to public favour. The new Opera has
certainly no striking novelty of character, or
strong interest in the plot, but it presents cha-
racters which, being purposely suited to the
actors, give scope to their respective talents, and
therefore excite attention and produce merriment.
Such are the characters assigned to MuNnEm,
HARLEY, FITZWILLIAM, and KNIGHT, and they
fully accomplished the intended effect. The
fable and most of the incidents may be traced
through other well-known productions of a si-
milar description ; but as the general effect is
amusing,and intended to excite moral impressions
as well as to divert the passing hour, an elaborate
criticism would be useless. It is sufficient to
say that it evidently pleased the audience, for it
received their warm applause during its progress,
and their decided consent when announced for
repetition. Mr. KNIGHT, the Actor, is the
avowed author of this piece, and his brothers
and sisters of the Sock resolutely exerted
themselves in support of it. It is no praise to
KNIGHT to say that he was zealous on an
occasion so interesting to himself, as he is
always so, from a sense of professional duty.—
Miss FORDE, who came forward for the first
time, is a pleasant animated girl. She possesses
a powerful and extensive voice, which with more
practice will place her• among the first musical
favourites of the public. Her echo song was
very successful, and was encored. Her acting
was sprightly and natural. The music of the
piece in general is lively, and well appropriated
to the words. Upon the whole, if the piece is
not formed of durable materials, it affords tem-
porary amusement to a mixed audience, and gives
exercise to moral and benevolent feelings.

It is rumoured in the political circles in Ire-
land, that the Marquis of LONDONDERRY is to
be elevated to an Irish Dukedom, with the pro-
mise of an English Earldom. It is also said that
one or two Irish noblemen, who have exerted
themselves in the suppression of the present dis-
turbances, are to be created Peers of Parliament.
We believe this rumour, as far as it relates to that
distinguished nobleman, the Marquis of LONDON..
DERRY, to be wholly unfounded, but the eminent
public services both of his Lordship and the
other noblemen alluded to, most justly entitle
them to so distinguished a mark of Royal favour,
and the presence of the latter in the House of
Lords would, we think, be highly serviceable to
Ireland, as they must be, from their generally re-
siding on their estates, and from their personal
exertions, at this moment, intimately acquainted
with the state of their country, and consequently
well able to suggest efficient and certain means
of relief.

COMMERCIAL REPORT,
FROM THE 18TH TO THE 23n OF FEB. 1822.
Foreign Produce meets an increasing demand ; the prices of
the preceding week are fully maintained, and in several in..
stances some improvement has resulted ; this is the case with
Plantation Sugars, which are from Is. to 2s. per cwt. higher;
Browns 555. to 595.; Middlings 60s. to 655.; Good 67 to 73 ;
Fine 745. to 60s. Refined Goods may be stated at the like ad-
vance, as well as Coffees.—Pimento has attained 10s. Id..—ln
the early part of the week Tallows were flat, and Yellow Candle
was depressed to 555. but they have since been in active request
for, duty paid, at 535. new, and 525. old.—Soaps are also at a
corresponding improvement. The great speculators are san-
guine of an increased duty, which is indeed strengthened by
what fell from the Chancellor on Friday night.

EXECUTION' FOR Munnra.----At an early hour
this morning an immense concourse of persons as-
sembled at the usual place in the Old Bailey, to
witness the execution of William Abbott (aged
64), for the wilful murder of Mary Lee, under
circumstances of peculiar barbarity, on the 9th
inst., in the parish of St. Giles. After his con-
viction, he was removed to a cell on the women's
side of the prison, and having swollen legs, he
was not ironed. In consequence of there not
being a condemned Sermon in cases of murder,
the Reverend Ordinary of the prison was inces-
sant in his endeavours to awaken him to a due
sense of his enormous offence ; this, however, was
not attended with that success which could have
been wished. During the greater part of yester-
day he appeared sullen and dejected, frequently
declaring " I never intended to kill her ;" at the
same time coolly smoking his pipe. Towardsl
evening he betrayed symptoms of compunction,
and was inclined to pray ; about eight o'clock
Mr. Sheriff GARRATT proceeded to the room
where the prisoner was, and he having been
pinioned was led to the scaffold ; he expressed
much disappointment at the bell not tolling, and
frequently called out " Lord Jesus, receive my
poor miserable soul !" On the scaffold he pointed
to a woman in the crowd, and said, " There is
the woman that swore away my life." A few
minutes after eight the drop fell, and, after
hanging the usual time, his body was conveyed
to St. Bartholomew's Hospital for dissection.