The Sun.
London, England, 1809-08-24 00:00:00

THE MODERN DRAMA.

In the centre, (looking from .the Portico) Shake-
speare is sitting; the Comic and .Tragic, Masks, with
the Lyie, are about his seat; his right hand is raised,
expressive of calling up the following Characters in
the Tempest :—First, caliban, • laden wood;
next Ferdinand, sheathing his sword ; then Miranda,
entreating Prospero iu.behalf of her lover; t neyare
led on by Ariel above, .playing on a lyre. This part
of the composition is terminated by. Hecate (the
three-formed Goddess) in her car, drawn by oxen,
descending. She is attended by -Lady Macbeth,.
with the daggers in her hands, followed by Macbeth
turning in horror from , the body of Duncan behind
him.

In the centre, looking towards the portico, is Mil-
ton; seated, contemplating Urania, according to hiS
own description in the Paradise Lost. crania is
seated, facing him above; at his feet is Sampson
Agonistes chained. The remaining figures reprent
the Masque of Comns-; - the two brothers drive ont.
three Bacchanals, with their staggering leader Co-
mos• Toe Enchanted Lady is seated in the chair,
and the series is ended by two Tygers, representing'
the transformation of Comus's devotees._
The designs of• both Bassn,rehevoa, and the
model of the ancient Drama, are by Mr.. Flaxinan.
The model of the Modern) Drama, and the execu-
tion in stone,. by Mr. Ilossi.. .

The statues representing Tragedy ail Comedy,
intended for the niches in the wings of the Theatre,
are completed, and, we underst?ind,, will be put up
OR Saturday next. We hove been favoured with
a sight of these figures, ea of which is seven feet
high.

Tragedy, which is to isccnpv the Mal in the south-.
•
ern extremity of.the building, or that nearest to litts,-
sell-street, is a fine figure holding the Tragic mask
and dagger, The scuipt9r i 3 Mr. Rossi.
Comedy holds the shepherd's crook or peduth, on
her right Olou?der, and the comic mask in her left
hand. This statue, which is the workmanship of
Mr. Flaxman, is to be placed in the filch in the
northern extremity of the nuilding next to Long
Acre.-

There was last night as large an andience to the
representation of Up all Night, 'at tilt: Lyceum, as
has been seen since the opetii, of th.ft theatre, and
the performers in general 'seemed. fu be animated
by the number of auditors, foi- they. manifested as
much zeal as they had never appeared in the piece
before.

The new opera forthcoming al the Lyc',Aini,: is
avowed pro,ftwtion of Mr. I.*li*Eoilopi: and
the music will, of cow-it.; come a tiic; ve-
teran his father.

. .
Mr. POPE, the .Alior, has been performing at
Southampton, and is gone upon. an es.cursion to the
Isle of Wight, not without a view to the scenery of
Nature, in order to animate the.pro,luctions of his
pencil.

Saturday seinnight, at a numerons'meeting.of the
Gentlemen of Berwick and it Vicinity, convened for
the purpose of considering !Impropriety of 'making
a rail-road from the Monkland Canal to Berwick, a
liberal subscription was entered into for defrlying
the expellee of the survey.
The PRINCg PaIMATH of the Confederation of the
Rhine, has sent gold and silver medals to Spain, to
be distributed among those of his officers and sol-
diers, serving tinier the command of the Duke of
BELLUNO, who have distinguished themselves most
in the late battles.

On Saturday last, John Boyd, found guilty at
Northumberland. as: of uttering forged notes,
was executed at Low Stanners, near Mf:rpeth, pur-
suant to hi amtence. He was taken to the place in
a moortling coach, and being of the Roman catholic
persuasion, was attended by a clergyman of that
church, He apvedred p‘riviilv composed, and met
his fate with nu rts•galtion, This young man
Wab a 1.131 iye of and some !;413 9.t.C.Ci" in
the arrq.