The Sun.
London, England, 1825-01-06 00:00:00

THE' THEATRE.

DRURY Ll:lr.—The Fatal Dorms of NlAssill.
GElt, one- of the fathers of the English Drama,
was represented last night, with such alterations
as the improved delicacy, we will not say taste,
of the public seems to require. It would be an
insult to the majority of our Readers to sup-
pose them ignorant of the fable of this play,
after the admirable edition given to the world
by Mr. GIFFORD, one of the most learned
and judicious Critics than any country has
produced. The alterations last night ought
to have been merely the reduction of sonic
of the scenes, and the omission of passages too
gross for modern refinement. Instead of being
found in a brothel, the heroine and her lover
are now discovered in a grove, and both fall vic-
tims to the enraged husband. This is poetical
justice ; but we cannot approve of the altera-
tion in the catastrophe, which makes Cha-
ralois commit suicide, instead of falling by •
the hand of Young Noval's friend, who
had reason for avenging the loss of his
Patron. The language of MASSING ER is of so
vigorous a cast that it cannot be supposed to be
familiar to the Performers of the day, and there-
fore if they were not so perfect as criticism may
require, some allowance must be made, and as
the Play is likely to succeed, they will of course
improve by practice. The following is the ar-
rangement of the chief characters :
Rochfort - - - - Mr. TERRY.
Novall - - - - Mr..THOMPSON.
Charolois - - - - Mr. NVALLACS.
Young Novall - - - Mr. PEN LEY.
Romont - - - - Mr. MAcaEADY.
Beaumont - - - - Mr. ARCHER.
Beaumelle - . - Mrs. WEST.
Bellapert - - - . Mrs. ORGER.
Florimel .. - - - Miss SMITHSON.
It is well known that The Fatal Dowry is the '
foundation of The Fair Penitent, which Rowti
took without acknowledging the source, a want
of candour, justice, and indeed of common policy,
as it was impossible to disguise the fact,
and is inconsistent with the high character
given of Rows in POWs Epitaph. Mr.
CUMBERLAND, in his Observer, has entered
into an elaborate critique and comparison be-
tween the two plays, and justly prefers, upon
solid grounds, that of MASSINGER. The play
•on the whole was well supported last night,
and from its inherent vigour, maugre the
alterations, is likely to be attractive.—
We ought not to conclude without an-
nexing the moral of this Play, as drawn by Mr.
GIFFORD, in which judgment and piety are
strikingly conspicuous.
" Charalois slew an offending wife, and the partner of her
crime, with his own hand, and was himself slain. Vengeance
belongs to If eaven ; and by the divine will, the administration
of it for moral purposes is vested in the laws. To avenge our
own cause is to despise the seat of justice, and the order of
providence; and to involve ourselves in guilt and the punish
ment of it. Virtue must employ only virtuous means in the
coercion of vice itself. Her injuries will therefore wait upon
the laws ; for in the very forms of justice there is virtue."

Miss FOOTE.—The re-engagement of this
Lady at Covent-Garden Theatre is no longer
doubtful. The part in which she is to appear is
already settled, and has no doubt been selected
as likely to create a strong sympathy in favour
of this charming actress, from the similarity in
incident which the part she will sustain bears to
the secret history of her own severe trials. The
Piece of Smiles and Tears has been selected for
the occasion ; and it will be recollected that the
part of the daughter, the victim of seduction,
afforded her the first important opportunity of
winning by her talent that general popularity as
an actress which had previously been accorded
to her personal attraction. IVith tile precise day
of her appearance, though fixed, we do not pro-
fess to be acquainted.—(Nero Times.)
Mr. BYNG, late of the Edinburgh Theatre, is
preparing himself for an appearance at a Lon-
don Theatre, by studying under one of our most
eminent Singing Masters in town. His voice,
we understand, is a full-toned tenor, which is
much wanted in our musical circles.

Mr. BaAnist is, we understand, engaged for
the next season by the Lessees of Covent-gurden
Theutre.

LtsTox will shortly leave London on a thea-
trical tour to the West of England. His success
at Exeter, last year, was prodigious. Before his
return he will perform a limited number of nights
both at Bath and Bristol. LISTON will again
embark under the banners of his friend Alottais,
at the Haymarket Theatre, in the summer.

PURIFICATION OF PEARLS IN CEYLON.—A
fowl is procured, and the discoloured pearls placed among the
grain set on the earth for it to cat. The fowl soon swallows
the whole : after which, and before the pearls have been in its
stomach more than a minute, the throat of the animal is cut,
its stomach opened, and the pearls taken out as beautifully
white and and clear as when they first came from the oyster.
A letter from Stockholm states, that Mr. Se-
cretary Bo , (formerly an adjunct of Government), who had
been invited by the King of Portugal to repair to that country,
in order to found an Institute for the Deaf and Dumb, had
been most graciously received by his Majesty at Lisbon. The
King had given orders to fit up a palace near the capital, for
the purposes of the intended Institute. We like to hear of
these establishments, they bespeak the high civilisation and
humanity of the age.
Two extraordinary large EELS were last week
taken upon the saltings at Steeple, in Dengie Hundred.—
These monsters of their species (and there is every reason to
believe them to be the fresh water silver eel), were no doubt
disturbed by the repeated floods which have of late been expe-
rienced. The fhllowing are the particulars of their length,
weight, &c.:—That caught on Wednesday was seven feet in
length, twenty-one inches in circumference, and weighed fifty-
seven pounds. The other, which was taken on Saturday last,
was six feet long, larger round than the former, and weighed
sixty-two pounds. Nothing equal in size to these eels has been
caught on the same part of coast, or on any other within our
knowledge, for at least 20 years ; about which period, one nearly
six feet long was taken close to Potman Marsh Wail, about 3
quarter of a mile from Maldon-bridge. A part of the eel caught
on Wednesday was eaten by our Correspondent, whogspeaks
highly of its flavour.—(Esser Herald.)
AWFUL INSTANCE OF SUDDEN DEATH.—A most
awful instance of sudden death occarred last
evening to Mr. ATKINS, baker, of Clare-court,
Drury-lane. Mr. A., it appears, proceeded to a
friend's house in Westminster, with some bread.
On entering the house, he shook his friend by
the hand, congratulating him on his healthy ap-
pearance, and took a seat, when he placed his
hand upon his stomach, and seemed in great pain.
Ile exclaimed to his friend, 44 Oh, Mr. Jones, I
am afraid I am going !" when he leaned back on
the
i chair,i e
family, and expired. Information was instantly
sent to t
who are involved in the greatest
3
distress through the melancholy circumstance.—
The body lies for an Inquest.

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FASHIONABLE ARRIVALS.
Lady Eliz. Tufton, in Great Cumberland-street ; Capt. Per-
ceval, of the Grenadier Guards, in St. James's-street, from
Brussels; Mrs. Gambier, in Harley-street ; Hon. M. Brydges,
in Portland-place ; Mrs. and Miss Latimer, in Grosvenor-
street ; Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Smith, in Gloucester-place ;
Mrs. and Miss Bristow, in Curzon-street, May-fair; Mrs.
Dickenson, in Dorset-square ; Colonel Alston, in Dover-
street; Mrs. Evelyn, in York-place; Captain and Mrs. Sib-
bald, in Brook-street ; Mrs. Samuel Hibbert, in Harley-street;
Mr. Ellis, in Hereford-street; Major Colton, in Grosvenor-
place; Lady Dampier, in Welbeck-street ; Mrs. Nobie, in
Welbeck-street; the Ladies, Graham, in Grosvenor-square ;
Mr. Mills, in Manchester-square; Miss Bosanquet, in Har-
ley-street; 3lrs. Taylor, in Wimpole-street ; Itrs. Swinburne,
in Gloucester-place; Mrs. Lambert, in II inde-street, Manches-
ter-square; Colonel and Mrs. Spencer, in South Audley-street;
Mr. Ravenscroft, in Harley-street; Colonel !Wine, in Morti-
mer-street, Cavendish-square ; Hon. Mrs. Curzons, in Queen
Anne-street West ; Hon. Mrs. Augustus Phipps, in Harley-
street ; Lady and Miss Sheffield, in Upper Wimpole-street
Mrs. Sergeant, in Albemarle-street; the Hon. F. Foster, at
Miller's Hotel, Jermyn-street ; Captain Jones, at ditto; John
Falkner, Esq. and Family, at ditto, from a tour ; Col. Wood-
ford, at ditto.

CHANGES.—Mr. L. Fox, from Stratfieldsaye, on a visit to
Lord and Lady Lonsdale, in Itutlandshire ; Captain and Mrs.
R. 13. Edwards, and family, from their residence in Suffolk, to
Albion House, near Scarborough ; George Augustus Mitchell,
Esq. for Paris ; Henry Entwisle, Esq. from Miller's Hotel ;
Sir Edward Blount, from ditto, to his seat, Sodington, Wor-
cester; 0. H. Ward, Esq. and Mrs. Ward, from ditto, to
Southampton ; Captain and Mrs. Stanley, from ditto, for Scot-
land; Capt. Ottley, from Long's lintel, Bond-street, for
Brighton ; J. Neville, Esq. from ditto, for Belvoir Castle; Col.
Dalrymple, from Fenton's Hotel, St. James's-place, for his
seat, in Surrey; Capt. Ellis, from ditto, for Brighton.

P 0 E 1' R Y.

PROLOGUE to the TRAGEDY of the FATAL DOWRY

WRITTEN BY R. B. BOURNE, ESQ.

SPOKEN BY Mn. MACREADY.
This night the Muse upon our modern stage
Presents the Poet of an elder age.
Oh ! had he sung in these our chaster days,
And sought from your applause his meed of praise,
Nothing, that should not be, would then hare been,
Pure every strain, untarnished every scene !
Nor we, as now, had laboured to remove
Thenghts, that the virtuous heart could ne'er approve;
Words, that could give the modest ear offence,
And steal a blush from virgin innocence.
Still, though eras'd the dark, disfiguring stains,
Though purg'd the dross, the precious ore remains:
Still—still is left what well may hope to please,
The nervous diction, the harmonious ease,
The patriot zeal, the passion's tender glow,
And all the power of art without the shew.
The diamond thus embedded lies in sand,
IVaiting the touch of some industrious hand,
'fill, cleared the duller particles away,
The gem shines forth with undiminished ray.

Nor dimly blazon'd in the scroll of fame,
'Mid ancient Bards, appear'd our Poet's name.
Ilis worth full well admiring MILTON knew,
And from his crystal waters largely drew;
To that sweet fount who would not wish to turn,
At which immortal MILTON fill'd his urn ?
Then let not RowE's Fair Penitent—a tale
Drawn feebly from our great original,
With labour'd phrase and specious eloquence,
Usurp the place of Nature, Truth, and Sense ;
If but the copy can applause command,
Approve the earlier and the master hand :
True taste at once and AI ASSINGER restore,
" And give the Stage one classic drama more, "
Byron.