The Sun.
London, England, 1825-10-29 00:00:00

THE THEATRES.

DRURY-LANE.—The Comedy of The Hypo-
crite, in which. DOWTON, WALLA CK, HARLEY,
and Ilirs.DAvisost, exerted themselves to the sa,
tisfaction of the audience, was last night fol-
lowed by a musical Farce, entitled The Wedding
Present. The story is short. Florival (WAL-
LACE) has wounded. the nephew of the Count
• (MERCER) in a duel, and, fearful of the conse-
quence, absconds ire assumes a rustic garb to
escape from the soldiers, who pursue him. Ro-
rette (Miss KELLY) has married Martin (HARLEY)
whom she does not like, but is resolved to be
virtuous, and has been promised 100 ducats on
her wedding. As Martin pretends illness, in
order to watch her, and as it is necessary for her
husband to accompany her to claim the money, in
order to assist the escape of Florival she agrees
that he shall appear at the castle of the Count
(TAYLEURE). After some difficulties and per-
plexities, the wounded nephew appears, and
matters are of course settled to the satisfaction of
all parties. This is a light, playful, and
amusing Piece. It has the support of good
acting in the exertions of WALLAcri, HoasrE,
HARLEY, BEDFORD, bliss GRADDON, and
more particularly of Miss KELLY. The chief.
objection to the piece is that the plot com-
mences with a song, and as much of it is related in
the same manner, it is difficult to follow its pro-
gress. Singing is seldom distinctly. heard, except
in the music, and therefore should be introduced
incidentally and not as part of the fable. The
music is light and pleasing, and creditable to the
composer, Mr. HonNE. Mr. KENNY is under-
stood to be the author of the farce, and to have
presented it to th© theatre without requiring any
profit from its success.
COVENT•GARDEN.—The lively musical farce
No Song no Supper, which, from its intrinsic
merit, and the amusing variety of its characters,
as well as its appropriate and beautiful music, will
always remain a stock piece on the stage, last
night introduced Miss GOWARD in the part of
Margaretta. bliss GOWARD was deservedly ad-
mired at the English Opera House for her musi-
cal powers, and the spirit of her acting. Sha
fully supported her reputation last eight by her
lovely representation of the character, and was
loudly encored in 4‘ With lowly suit and plain-
tive ditty." She will doubtless prove a valuable
addition to this Theatre,

RAMSGATE, OCT. 9-8.

OPENING OF THE NEW THEATRE.

This improving Watering Place may he corni4
dered now as in the very zenith of its season, having, from the
healthiness of its situation, retained Its attractions much later
than anterior seasons, particularly since the increase of a public
amusement long wanted here, and which only opened on Mon-
day last—a handsome new Theatre, built by Mr. Paucur
SAvim., Proprietor also of the Margate Theatre, who has
evinced much liberality and taste in the construction. The
builders are Messrs. (ln:it ?Mr, Citavxw, and Wrrmrs rt, who
have evinced much skill in its completion. On the opening of
the doors, the lobbies were soon filled ; and the first prominent
feature on which the eye rests is the painted curtain, or act drop
scene, comprising architecture, drapery, and landscape, so ap-
propriately blended as to produce a beautiful effect. The front
of both tiers of boxes is a salmon ground, with broad gold
headings, which inclose a running pattern of the Rose, the
Thistle, and Shamrock, executed by Mr. Connor, of The Rath
Theatre. On the rising of the curtain, the whole Corps Den-
?antique were discovered in two semicircles, the whole flanked
by the Margate Military Band in full uniform, who attended
to assist in the National Anthem of " God save the King." As
soon a,s the repeated peals of welcome had been given to the
Manager and his Company, Mr. Savill stepped forward and de-
livered the following Opening Address :
" Oar present structure, though the work of Art,
We dedicate to Nature and the Heart,
Wherein we ask those social hours to pass
O'er which Reflection may suspend her glass,
The Stage should " hold the mirror up to view,"
Where men and manners pass in the review ;
Shew us life's journey, varied in its scenes,
Such as it real, and is—as Nature gleans—
Depict the mind, the passions—master-strings
Which move to action, and the issue brings
Of man's eventful life—which mirror veers
To distant climates and anterior years :
The manners, polities, and forms display,
Of other countries—of another day;
The page of History unfolds again,
Portraying " olden times" and olden men ;
Revives the gothic and the classic age,
Embodying the philosopher and sage;
Or, with a glance, recedes from Greece and Rome,
And brings imagination nearer home,
Where, in domestic scenes, Nie oft may trace
Our own epitome brought face to face.
Such is the Stage, whose study is mankind—
The traits and portray of the human mind.
Nature's wide canvass Time can amply fill ;
Lift tempts with every tint the Artist's skill •
And, shou'd our picture e'er exceed the troth,
In drawing Vice—portraying Virtue's worth,
Too are the judges of the Light and Shade,
Oar efforts to approve or to degrade.
The Public, who support the Public Stage,
Should be the censors of each living age.
Our gl-tss reflects the world, and, if not true,
Reflection, and Correction, come from you.
Our motto this—such may it ever be,..
Amusement, blended with Morality."

INPAMOUS DECEPTION.—It appears fromTrew-
man's Exeter paper, that false statements of the
death of Lord and Lady ROLLE have been for-
warded at different times to various Newspapers.
The Exeter Journalist says, " The author of
these paragraphs is perfectly well known in this
county, therefore here they fall harmless, whilst
the writer is held in contempt by all persons
and parties,—but to the relatives and friends
of those noble persons residing at a distance it
must inevitably cause great pain and anxiety
before the truth can be ascertained ; we are
happy to say that both those persons are in
good health, and within these few days have
done an act of beneficence. which, if we were al-
lowed to relate, would,if possible, raise them still
higher in the general estimation." So far our
provincial contemporary. For our own part, we
can only say, if the scoundrel who has been guilty
of this infamous deception is known, he ought to
be brought to justice, and visited by the severest
and most degrading penalties of the law. To
harrow up private feelings and torture an af-
fectionate heart with false alarms is a cruel,
unmanly act of wickedness ; to do this through
the medium of the press, which ought to be de-
voted to the circulation of truth alone, is a gross
insult to the public ; and to make an unconscious
Editor the agent in this detestable fraud, proves
an utter destitution of every feeling of honour.
Altogether the act is that of an assassin ; and it
is idle to talk of punishing its perpetrator with
mere contempt : his sensibilities can be reached
by nothing short of a cat o'nine tails.