The Sun.
London, England, 1822-12-12 00:00:00

SPORTING.

TROTTING MAT ClL—Yesterday morning, at nine o'clock,
a trotting match took place on the Hackney-road for 50 gui-
neas, between a grey horse, the property of Mr. EVAN s, and a
black horse, the property of Mr. KENT. They were to trot
against each other for one hour, at the expiration of which time
the black horse won, having done 15 miles in the bour.
SPARRING.—Harry Host took his benefit yesterday at the
Fives-court, but the melancholy catastrophe which had be-
fallen the unfortunate Hickman, threw a damp on the sports.
There was no setting-to of any note. Joshua Hudson shew-
ed, but Shelton did not. The latter has received the most
severe punishment, and has proved hinvself a very brave
man. The lucky hit which won him the fight, was on
the temple of Hudson ; the one on the body not taking the
effect a spectator would have supposed. It has been stated
that neither could answer to time, but Shelton was led to the
scratch, or rather held up at it, beyond his time; and, as we
stated yesterday, a meeting was held upon that subject, but the
address of Hudson yesterday has set that matter at rest.—Hud-
son mounted the stage with his head tied up, much queered in
the ogles, and addressed the spectators in nearly the follow-
ing words :—.44 It has been talked about whether Shelton was
entitled to the stake money, and my friends are too honourable
' to be mean, and they have told me. to say that Shelton shall have
the money. lam ready, and so is my money, to fight Shelton
again for 1001. and he may name his own time.

On Tuesday evening last, died at his resi-
dence at Walton, the Right Hon. CHARLES .Earl
of :TANItERVILLE, Baron Ossulston, &c. &c. He
is succeeded in his titles and estates by his son,
CHARLES AUGUSTUS, Lord Ossuston, Member
for Berwick-upon-Tweed.
The Duke of YORK arrived at Bungay on Sa-
turday, on his way to the seat of the Marquis of
II ERTFORD. His Royal Highness was met by
the principal inhabitants of the town at the Tuns
Inn, where he took breakfast. During his short
stay, his Royal Highness was saluted by a peal
from the bells, and departesl amidst the reiterated
cheers of the Gentlemen and inhabitants assem-
bled. His Royal Highness appeared in good
health and high spirits, and much gratified bythe
general expression of loyalty and attachment,
which he returned with dignified affability and
condescension.

FOREIGN TRADE.-The Merchant, Shipowner,
and Shipmaster's Customs and Excise Guide,
comprising every species of Information relative
to the Trade between the whole of the British
Dominions, and all other parts of the World, in-
cluding a Gazeteer of all the Trading-Places,
accompanied by Maps drawn and engraved ex-
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tom-House, • Bristol, is just published. The
Eighth Edition; brought down to Nov.l, 1822
Price 11. by. all Booksellers.

THE THEATRE.

CovENT-GARDLN.---The new Trageily,which

has long been in preparation, was brought for-
ward last night under 'the title of The Huguenot.
The following sketch of 'tbelable Cottiprizes the
chief incidents and 'events •
The Scene lies. in Orleans.—Adaphits POlignac 1(111r. MAC-
READY), who, to screen his father frnfin punishment for a
murder, committed in the violence of passion, aggravated by
insult, exposes his own reputation to the stain, and is sent as a
ConVict to a prison in Orleans. Before this naisfortane had be-
fallen him, he was attached to Margaret Romont (Miss
KELLY), who retires, after their separation, to a cottage in the
neighbourhood of Orleans, with her father (Mr: BARTLEY).
Here again the -virtue of filial devotion is manifested, and the
fair Margaret resolves to marry Count Montville (Mr. YATES),
in order to deliver her father from pecuniary distress. This she
does under the persuasion that Adolphus had deserted her. It
is just on the eve of the intended nuptials that her unhappy
lover first hears of her intention to become the wife of another.
He resolves to witness the ceremony, and having won the guard,
to whose care he is entrusted, by saving the life of his child, he
obtains his permission to repair to the church. Here he has an
interview with Margaret, when an explanation takes place:
Her agitation betrays her secret to the father and the Count,
his disguise is torn off by the attendants, and she is upbraided
with an attachment for a convict and a murderer. Margaret
boldly resists the imputation of guilt thus cast upon her lover,
but Montville, after procuring his condemnation to death, de-
termines that she shall behold the brand upon his arm as he
passes to execution. His wish is in that respect accomplished,
and the wretched Adolphus, though implored by Margaret with
the tenderest inireaties to avow his innocence,_ is prohibited
from doing so by the obligation of an oath.' She is then aban-
doned by her father, upon which, in a • state of despair, she fol-
lows her lover to the scene where. he is about to surrender his
life. In the mean time the father of Adolphus arrives at Orleans
in a dying state in'search of his son ; they meet at the place of
execution ; but just as the son is about to suffer, the father dies,
having previously confessed himself. to be the criminal. The
sentence of 4do/phus is of course recalled, and instead of perish-
ing on the scaffold, he is restored to the arms of Margaret.

This tragedy is the acknowledged production
of. Mr. Sill EL, one of the chief Professors of the
Horrific School of the Drama. It is' quite in the
stile of his former works, and "chiefly calculated
to bring forth the powers of particular Performers
rather than to represent those events in life which
may tend to moral improvement, and those cha-
racters which might exist when society in general
was not so well rnethodized and established as
at present. Such plays -may excite. terror, and
some degree 'of pity, but they are not pro-
ductive of moral good. The audience cannot com-
pare themselves with the characters introduced,
and are seldom, if ever, likely to be involved in
any transactions of a similar nature. The au-
dience therefore cannot feel a strong interest in
works that excite little sympathy. We heartily
wish that this terric School were wholly banished
from the English Stage, and confined to the Ger-
man, where it originated. We say this with less
reluctance, because Mr. SHILL and Mr. MATURIN
.possess. literary. powers which might be exerted
with more credit.to themselves and more advan-

Cage to mankind. Condemning in the whole this
species of the Drama, it is the less necessary for
us to enter into. any particular objections. We
deem it our duty, however, in justice to our nu-
merous Country Readers to offer a few comments
on the subject.—lt is indeed but just to ob-
serve, that several of the passages are marked by
poetical force and beauty, yet still they are in-
troduced at times when the narrative should be
characterized by vivid energy, rather than by
the flowery luxuriance of imagination. In the
first place, is it probable that the hero, a
convicted felon, should be permitted to rove
about the city at large for a part of the
day, and then to return to labour in a
prison ? The Police of the city must be very
vigilant and very powerful, indeed, if all the
convicts were indulged in the same liberty, and
none of them were able to escape. The heroine
is induced to desert her former lover, and to
marry the man she dislikes, because her imagina-
tion traces some image in the fire, or in the
burning cinders. Was there ever a more wild
or ridiculous expedient ! An affectionate father,
reduced to poverty, gives a small sum to his
amiable daughter, and instead of pitying the me-
lancholy situation of her mind, almost brought to
insanity by a hopeless passion, leaves her friend-
less in the open street, expressing a desire that
they may never meet again in this world. The
father, however, repents, and returns to her again.
The Duke, whom the daughter refused to marry,
is all tenderness towards the lady, notwithstand-
ing her reluctance toward the union, and all
savage violence towards her former lover. This
may not be unnatural, but when the convict
lover contrives to get into the Church, and inter-
rupts the nuptial ceremony, it was hardly to be
expected that the indignant father, the Duke, and
the Priest, would quietly retire to the back of the
stage'and calmly permit the convict and his mistress
to hold a long colloquy by themselves. It is
astonishing that the author and his friends should
overlook so gross an absurdity. The Duke is
afterwards not content with dooming the convict
to the block,though for what offence, besides ob-
structing his nuptials, we cannot tell, butvisits him
in prison, is copious in abuse and bitter taunts, and
determines to compel the heroine to witness his
execution, and behold the brand upon his arm,
which, though she had full lopportunity, her
feelings, which blinded her eyes, prevented her

noticing before ; and yet, when-the innocence of
the lover is manifested by the dying attestation
of his father, this same vindictive and savage
Duke softens into sympathy, and readily assents
to the union of the lovers. Rut this is not the
least inconsistent part in the character of the
Duke, for though the fault of his rejection is
wholly that of the daughter, he dooms the poor
father 'to poverty, and seizes, his house and fur-
niture for the benefit of the State!—We shall not
proceed in our objections, though there is room for
many more, as we know the difficulty attending
dramatic literature, and are generally induced to
take the favourable side in our critical depart-
ment. We shall here close our comments on the
play.—Mr. MACREADY always displays merit,
but we were sorry to observe that last night, in-
stead of exerting his own powers, he seemed to
be a studious copiest of Mr. KEAN, in low tones
that it is difficult, if not impossible, to hear, in
affected transitions to a familiar utterance, and
indeed in the general manner of that actor. This
style of acting is only bearable in Mr. KEAN,
though we are sorry to find that it is followed
by many of the theatrical profession. However
he gave some passag,s with original force and
beauty, but it must be mortifying to reflect that
he was chiefly applauded in his passages of
.imitation.—We may say of lir..ces: manner as

DRYDEN said of SHARSPEARE, and he may
reasonably be pleased with the comparison—

--gHAKSPEARE'S magic could not copied be,
" Within that circle none durst tread but he." • -
Miss F. 11. KELLY was not whallylree from the
same style of imitation of the same model; but
she obviously acted with great feeling, and we
doubt not that study and reflection wil induce her
to trust to nature, and the dictates of her sensi-
bility and improving judgment. Mr. BARTLEY and
Mr. ABBOTT ably supported their characters.—.-
Mr. YATES also displayed considerable merit in
a part by no means suitable to his talents and
usual style of acting.--The prologue, trot very
striking, was' spoken by Mr. CoNNon.—The
house was very well attended, and the trw-
gedy on the whole well received.—The whim-
sical farce of The London Hermit, -by the ludi-
crous learning of Tally, the gardener- • (Mr.
CONNOR), and the freaks of. Mr. JorrEs,:fully
atoned for the horrors of the preceding Drama.