The Sun.
London, England, 1825-02-03 00:00:00

various eventful occasions, had commanded the regiment.

At a quarter past one o'clock, Lady Torrens, accompanied
by Colonel J. Macdonald, Deputy-Adjutant-General, Lords
Darnley and Clifton, Colonel -Sir A. and Lady Christie, Ad_
miral Sir R. Morsom, Major-General Barham, Earl of Dal-
housie, General. Mundy, General Ramsay, Sir John Brown,
Archdeacon Torrens, Mrs. Colonel Williams and sisters,
Misses Cooper, Mrs. John Knight and daughters. Misses
Cuyler, Mrs. and Miss Mundy, anti the Misses Crawford,
with other distinguished characters, -proceeded from the Go-
vernment'House to the Parade, where this fine regiment was
drawn tip in line, dressed in their summer: uniform, withhavo-
nets -fixed.; the regiment immediately formed square, within
which Lady. Torrens presented the colour, which was received
by Ensign G. D. J. Raitt, and said —" May the Lamb (the
badge Of the-corps) plead for mercy in the hour of victory."—
The regiment immediately presented arms, anti. the band struck
up " God save the King,
Sir Henry addressed his fine regiment in the following elo-
quent and appropriate speech :
" It is with his 'Majesty's gracious .approbation, .that the
colour is now restored to you, which-was presented to the regi-
ment by its Queen, when the corps was originally formed in the
year 1661, immediately after ,rite- restoration of Charles H. to
the throne of his ancestors. His Majesty Charles 'II. was then
pleased to confer upon thefe'd-regintent of the line the appella-
tion of the Queen's Royal Regiment, anti her Majesty Queen
Catherine, in order to give greater effect -ao. the distinction thus
conferred upon a corps taken- under' her special protection, was
graciously pleased to present it with a third colour, bearing the
emblems of the Paschal Lamb, which, as a Portuguese Princess,
was the crest of herown Royal Family. The third- colour (which
was green, in honour of her Majesty) was in possession of the
regiment for 90 years, -and appears to have been lodged in
the Royal :Hospital of Dublinewhen.dhe regiment was on that
duty, in the year 1750, where it 'has 'been recently found in
a mutilated state; and his present Majesty having been graciously
pleased to command that it shmlid be restored to the regiment
the gratifying task of faithfully copying it, and working it for
you, with her own hands, has been claimed and,performed by
Lady Torrens. The Paschg Lanib was originally granted in
this distinguished manner to the corps, as the adorning badge
of the regiment; and olthough the colour has happened to be
in disuse,.yet the 'constant possession of the badge has ever pre-
served to the regiment the appellation of the Queen's Royals,
because the badge was the personal crest of her Majesty ; and
I shall only endeavour, tupoint cut to you how well the regi-
ment has served the country under the influence of a banner
thus rendered interesting and memorable, from the ancient and
illustrious character of the , royal gift, and from the association
with that event which has mainly contributed to uphold the glo-
rious reputation Of the.corpsramidst all variety of services, and
which,'l am persuidedi-will ever-continue to hand this reputa-
tion down, untarnished; to the latest posterity.
'" The regiment was first employed in forming the garrison
'of Tangiers, Which fortress was then attached to the Crown of
Great .Britain,. as a part of .the Queen's dowry, and, as being
-the Queen's-regiment, its services appear to have been applied
in an appropriate manner to this object. It returned to Eng-
-land about the time of James the Second's accession to the
throne, and the 'first great and signal service in which the corps
was employed was in repellingthe efforts of the Duke of Mons
mouth to wrest the throne from the reigning Monarch. Upon
this occasion the Queen's Royals participated in the memorable
battle of Sedgemoor, fought in- the y earl 6115, and the discipline
and valour of the regiment were then so celebrated, that the very
name of Kirk's Lambs conveyed a sound of terror to the enemy,
I and- served to keep those of the West of England in awe,
who were inclined to join the standard of the usurping Duke.
The regiment under its banner as you now see it, next appears
to have been employed in Ireland—at the relief of Londoh-
derry, in 1689, the battle of the Boyne, the siege of Athlone,
in 1690, and at the battle of Aughrim, and the siege of Lime-
rick, in 1691. Soldiers have nothing to do with politics ; and
therefore 1 only advert to those unhappy times of national dis-
sension, to show that the regiment took a share in a succession
of great military exploits, that it was true to discipline and to
its banner, and that, amidst all the conflicting circumstances of
that memorable period, it never lost sight of its obedience to its
officers, and its devotion to the State. The Lamb appears
to have been distinguished again under the command of
King William, :in French Flanders, from the year 1692, until
the termination of the famous siege of Namur, in 1695, and
in 1704 to have home a part in the memorable battle of Men-
' helm, under the great Duke of Marlborough, of immortal
memory, where the glory of the British arms was raised to
the pitch of exaltation, never equalled until the modern ex-
ploits of our armies have shed even a more brilliant lustre around
the British name throughout the world. The regiment was also
in all the subsequent campaigns *Of the Duke of Marlborough
—at the battles of Ramifies in 1706, of Outlenarde in 1703,
Malplaquet in 1709, and at the sieges of Lisle, of Tournay,
and Nismes. On all these occasions die Lamb, as you now see
it before you, accompanied the corps, and it is, therefore, a
source of pride to us all who wear the uniform of this ancient
regiment, that the colour which has been the companion of so
many glories, should not be restored to the possession of the
corps ; and that it should dies show that the distinguished
character of the regiment's ancient services has rendered it
worthy of those modern laurels which it has gathered under
the command of the great Abercrombie in Egypt, and of the
thriceuimmortalized Wellington, in the glorious and successful
contest on the Peninsula, to which the ordinary colours of the
regiment bear ample testimony.
" Upon this occasion, soldiers, I would willingly say no-
thing of myself; but the present moment is so intimately as-
sociated with my affctions, as connected with her who has
worked this colour, and with my military pride, as your
Colonel, in seeing your ancient banner again committed to
your charge, that I should really be devoid of the feeling which
ought to actuate a man and an officer so fortunately situated,
if the scene did not elicit some expression of the sentiments
which weigh upon my heart. I should fail, however, in any
attempt ,to say all that my feelings would dictate. But I must
assure you, that I look upon it as one of the most distinguish-
ed events of my life, that I have had consigned to me, as
your Colonel, the gratifying duty of carrying into effect His
Majesty's gracious commands, that this honour should be re-
stored to the regiment. From the moment I attained the proud
station of your Colonel, I have laboured for your honour and
advantage, and for your standing, as an old corps ought to
stand, in the estimation of the country. While I have life I
shall ever endeavour with the same care to watch over your in-
terests, and although my rank precludes me from accompany-
ing you upon your destined service, my heart shall be with you,
and it shall form a principal feature in the comfort of my future
life, until we again meet, to hear that your conduct keeps pace
with your ancient reputatioa, and to learn, whether in quarters
or in the field, whether it relates to your moral duties in social
life, or to those against the enemiesof your country, that your
behaviour fulfils the hope and expectation which is raised by
your present high state of discipline." .
The regiment, with Adjutant-General Torrens at their head,
then marched past the flag, saluting.; the grenadier 'Company
moved forward and formed in front of the flag, and when the
whole regiment had passed; they marched with the flag to the
left wing, the band playing the Grenadier's March. Ensign
Raitt holding the flag, then stood a few paces in advance of
the colourse-when. the whole- regiment presented arms ; Lady
Torrens then left the ground, and the regiment dismissed.
It is not, perhaps, too much to say, that the Queen's Royals
are,. at this moment, a military spectacle ; in discipline, con-
duct, and efficiency, they can hardly be excelled. During the
last twelve months a corporal punishment has not been inflicted
in the -regiment, nor could a stronger testimony be borne to
the affection and interest their Colonel has ever evinced for his
corps, than the proud appearance .it made on this interesting
occasion.
The men were entertained with an excellent dinner at the
expense of -their distinguished Colonel; and Lady Torrens,
and-a large party of-her friends, visited them while dining.
In the evening, a splendid ball was given in 'honour of the
day, at the Bull Inn, Rochester, by Sir Henry Torrens and the
officers of the regiment. It was attended by the Earl of Dal-
housie, Earl and Countess of Darnley, Viscountess Powers-
court, Lady Eliz. Bligh, the Hon. Misses Wingfield, Lords
Clifton and Ramsay, the Hon. Miss Huth= General and
the Hon. Mrs. Monday, Miss Monday, Mrs. and Miss John-
son, Miss Crawford, Mrs. John Knight, the Misses Cuyler, Sir
A. Barnard, Mr. Smith, Colonel Fearon, Colonel Burgoyne
and Officer° of Engineers, Sir John Browne and Officers of
Cavalry depot, Lady Browne, Hon. General Ramsay, Colonel
D'Aguilar, Mrs. D'Aguilar, Colonel Macdonald, Archdeacon
Torrens, ,Commissioner Cunningham, Admiral Moorsom, &c.
The ball-room was fitted up with great taste, and supper
-served in the best style. The Queen's embarked yesterday for
Bombay. Few corps left their country with higher reputation.
It is a most extraordinary circumstance, that the Ensign
Raitt, who received the colours on this occasion, is a descend-
ant of the officer who was Ensign at the time the flag was laid
aside. There has always been one of that family in the regi-
ment eversince.it was first raised.

FOR THE SU'.

THE DRAMA-(LETTER VI U 1

Mn. EDlTOR—Haring briefly reviewed the
history, and noticed the declension of our dramatic language, I
now proceed (but with slender hopes of suggesting a remedy
for the long-complained of evil,) further, to compare and con-
trast the opinions of our critics on the subject. The Author of
the Letters," after pointing (with perspicuity and force, hi-
disputably,) as the prominent error of our dramatists the adop-
tion of a poetic for a dramatic style, seems to consider that, by
leading and fixing their attention to the existence of the fact,
and by a consequent recurrence, on their part, to the diligent
study and practice of the Shaksperian diction and phraseology,
the desideratum may be found, and legitimate tragedy pro-
duced. With this conviction constantly in his mind, our critic,
either forgetting, or wishing to slur over the impracticability
of the att,mpt, boldly pens the lbllowing daring demand
" Let any dramatist produce such another play as Macbeth or
" Othello, and if the beau-monde do not dine an hour earlier
44 on the sights of its performance, I'm no prophet: if our
" Lords and Commons, with their virtuous dames and dough-
" tern, do not quickly displace the bloods and Corinthians, the
" idle "prentices, flashmen, nymphs of the pillow, and all other
" persons of dubious morality, who now occupy the seats
" in our theatrical syna,,ogues, I'll never set up as an oracle."
To call (Glendower-like,) for more Macbeths or Othellos, is a
task.of easy performance. But that the likeness of these spirits,
(quitting the " vasty deep") will obey, anti appear before us
in personal attendance, we reasonably may be permitted to
doubt of. Evidence, ocular and oral at least, (and hardly that)
will be necessary to prove to us the power and skill of the
geomancer.
To copy after Shakespeare, is the common cry of many of
our modern critics ; yet it is expressly in this very copying,
that the main difficulty exists. 46 Were Shakespeare again to
be called into existence, himself could not imitate his former
self. He would indeed be great at any period, or in any
country, but lie would not be that Shakspeare who wrote in
the days of Elizabeth and James." The progress of civiliza-
tion, of the arts, of criticism, of taste, of the language of society,
the march of improvement, of refinement—all, would forbid it,
and concur in rendering it impossible.
A language, -Sir, -cannot retrograde. However slow may be
its growth ; however deliberately it may climb towards matu-
rity ; however long it may linger and wanton at its strength ;
age, imbecility, and degeneracy must overtake it, and change
its character at the last. To its youth it can never return again,
nor adopt, or partake of, the errors and excellencies of that pe-
riod. The Greek tongue advanced but lit- e in refinement after
the time of Pericles—the Roman, " wantoned at its strength"
in the age of Augustus. Look at the prose writings and cor-
respondence of the most illustrious of Shakspeare's cotempo-
ranes, of Raleigh, the Bacons, Cecil, Throgmorton, Walsing-
ham—and of that linperial blue, the pupil of Roger Ascam,
Elizabeth of England herself; to that primitive and imperfect
state, by no possibility, can the English tongue again revert.
There is, to be sure, a remarkable dissimilitude in the fate (as
well as the merits), of the poetry and the prose of that age, and
of the succeeding one. Take Milton as an example. His
prose style appears stiff, pedantic, and is now obtelete : whilst
his L'Allegro, and II Penseroso, and Comus, are gems of
the rarest water. Nothing of their kintl, in the history of our
poetry, can compare with these earlier and animated effusions
of Milton's Muse. Time (that has proscribed his prose) has
passed over them without injuring their beauty, or *lading the
magic tints of their colouring. Like a picture of Raphael's
or Titian's, they boldly stand forth the challengers of posterity,
demanding, yet defying, competition.
To copy Shakspeare (but not successfully) has been the occa-
sional task of names, high at different periods in the annals of
our dramatic literature ; but to copy after Shakspeare will not
create dramatists, more than to copy after Milton will produce
epic poets. It is now a long time since Nicholas Rowe wrote
his tragedy of Jaue Shore " in imitation," as the title-page
informs us, "of Shakspeare's style." How like to Shakspeare,
every itinerant Roscius can tell. Since the appearance of
Bowe's srnlilcc imitation, many other copyists have started up,
upon whose pictures, unfortunately, a much less favourable
judgment cannot be pronounced. Miss Millie has, in some
instances, succeeded better titan Rowe; but, unluckily,
her plays, being deficient in plot-work and action, are un-
suited for stage representation. But that so acute an ob-
server as the critic on our kft should class the plays of Messieurs
Clienenvix, Coleridge, Maturin,Wilson, Cornwall, and Milman,
' as 44 written in avowed and elaborate imitation of the ancient

models,"l- is matter of no small portion of astonishment. The
tragedies of some of Anne of the above-named writers I do not
remember ever to have seen exhibited, either on boards or in
print. But the Bertram of Maturin, the 3lirandola of Barry
Cornwall, and the Fazio of Professor Milnian, resemble as
much the Orestes of Euripides, or the Agamemnon of his pre_'
decessor, as they do the ancient models of the English drama,
I. e. they have little in common with theni except scenes, acts,
and a dramatis persaMr. Itlirandola and Fazio,: on the con-
trary, are prime samples of the school of the poetic-pure; so
unlike indeed to the great originals they have been said to imi-
tate, that they already meditate seclusion and retirement from
the stage, imperative alike from the effects of constitutional
weakness and d ebili ty ~ and the symptomatic approaches of pre-
mature age.
The successful imitation of the language, and other excel-
lencies of Shakspeare or of his cotemporaries, is a subject of
study as difficult of attainment as that of composition in a fo-
reign tongue. And what native of this Island could pretend,
in their own language, to catch the graces of Fontaine, or the
purity of Voltaire's style ? the tones of Tasso, or the energetic
phraseology of Schiller ?
Or (to return from this excursion), let any one try for a
length of time to imitate the ease, simplicity, sweetness, and
idioinatical turns of Addison's prose compositions, who has been
used to the more correct, latinizett, laboured, and diversified
style of the present day. He will not find the task easy to
o'ermaster ; yet it presents not a tithe of the difficulty that
writer would have to encounter who undertakes to produce a
modern tragedy, on the true model and imitation of our earlier
dramatists. It costs but a few words to ask for " another play
like Othello," and to tell us, that there is an appropriate lan-
guage for the drama, distinct from common poetry, and exclu-
sively its own. But when our poetry for so long a period has
ceased to be dramatic, and our taste become more refined,
where is the desideratum to be found ? " Give me a dramatic
language, and I will give you a drama," may safely enough
be the consistent reply of the aspirant to the critic. " You have
Shakspeare and his cotemporaries"—exclaims the impatient
Castigater—" follow them." " lint you have said," (rejoins
the Aspirant), " that no dramatist, Greek, Roman, Briton, or
other, but Shakespeare alone, seems to have had the true knack
of dramatic language, or to have caught the pure essence of
dramatic spirit. , And you have characterized the tragedists of
' our middle ages,' Addison, Young, Rowe, &c. as wooden-
witted Thespians ;' asserting that the language of their plays
is little more that of real life than a clock is a human being,
or its vibrations pulsations, or its strokes words.§ And you
have further asserted, that Joanna Baillie is a woman, and that
no woman can write a legitimate tragedy. How then, Sir, do you
expect the Dramatists of this' day to achieve that which so many
, of their predecessors—names illustrious in our literary annals—
have attempted, and attempted in vain ; and which Shakspeare
alone of all mankind, as a gift of nature, possessed ?"—" Talk
not of attempts"—(ejaculates the Flagellist)—" just tempt the
public with such a play as Julius Caesar, or even Venice Pre-
served, and if the public reject or condemn it, then let the pub-
lic be gibbeted as those who have turned the theatre into a
riding-house, and the stage into a Pandemonium."ll -" But,"
(again replies , the Aspirant) " in this altered and improved
age, is it not demanding too much to expect our Dramatists
to write with the correctness of this, and the force and origina-
lity of a ruder time ? To please is an intricate anti'difficult
task. Managers expect one thing, the critics another, the public
a third, and—" " Force and nriginalimanagers and critics,
what are they!" (tlituatlera out the angry Dennis)—" write me
such another play as Macbeth or Othello, and if the beau-
Another Macbeth or Othello !—No, no, Mr. Lacy, less than
that must satisfy the desire and cravings of our ambition.—An-
other Macbeth and another Othello ! As well may we ask for an-

• Fourth Letter to the "Dramatists of the Day." I am
not writing an answer to :Ur. Lacy's " Letters." nor a defence
of the " Dratnatists of the Day;" but really if Mr...L. pursues
so circuitous a route, (which he has done in his "Theatricals
of the Day"—Londun Magazine Dec. 18240—t0 attack and
" berattle" our living Dramatists—loading them with. the sin
of a heavy responsibility, of which they (poor souls) are as
guiltless as the accuser, he will subject his criticism to the im-
putation of that malady, himself besprinklded (perhaps justly
enough) on the tragedy of poor 11aturin—Id. eat—if Ber-
tram be mad, Mr. L.'s criticism, in the latter instance at least,
is hardly sane. Farther, in passing, Mr. Lacy (though an
alarmist) need feel no apprehensions as to the fate of the " qua-
drupeds,, ' or the evil example of the "school monstrous."—
They will live, like other fooleries, their " short and stormy
hour," to give place to more of a similar description, provided
' legitimate drama, upon the whole, preponderates, which I hope
it does, and will continue to do : let us not too fastidiously
blame even the Olympic exhibition of " Dapples and Du-
crows,"—" The Cat, &c.
-1- Edinburgh Review, No. 72, page 41r.
.t- I yet confess a partiality for Fazio. With a style ornate,
and pitched, from the beginning, on a false key, there is in
many of the scenes both nature and pathos. After all, Fazio
is the " best feather" in the cap of the Professor. Fazio will
be read, when his Sacred Dramaticals are forgotten.
§ Vide, Fourth Letter to the " Dramatists of .the day."
Vide, Theatricals of the day.

other Eneid, another Jerusalem Delivered, or a second Paradise
Lost. These, indeed, are the proud edifices reared by the
hands of genius—imperishable monuments, which future ages
are to gaze on at .a distance, wonder at, and admire ! These
are the beauteous surviving offspring of the most gifted of mor-
tals—of those who, like a spark of etherial tire, like a meteor,
Munn but once in a thousand years. PROT.& US.