The Sun.
London, England, 1825-02-18 00:00:00

THE THEATRE.

DRURY.•LANE.--The sudden rise and fall of
Masoniello, the Fisherman of Naples, has given
occasion to the production of a Tragedy with
that title, which was brought forward last night.
It is ascribed to Mr. JOHN SOANE, the son of the
eminent Architect. The subject seemed to be
alluring in one respect, for as the popularity and
power of the low-horn rebel were of such short
duration, the time of action might be expected to
correspond with that of the representation, al-
ways a desideratum to the severer Dramatic
Critics, and naturally Might be supposed to be ef-
fected on the present•occasion. But then the
paucity of incidents rendered it difficult to excite
a strong inherent interest. Mr. J. SOANE was
therefore obliged to deviate from historical ac-
curacy, to resort to his imagination, and to
expand the plot by the introduction of domestic
characters. lle has therefore added to the fableLo-
rimi, the wife of Masaniello (Mrs. WEsT), Guido
(M rs.YATEs),his brother,(Nympia(Mrs.BusN),his
noble mistress,in his elevated state,and Zama( M r.
TERRY), a tipsy and assassin.---Masaniello (Mr.
KEAN) is of course the hero of the piece, and
the character is well suited to his bold and spi-
rited style of acting. The historical event is so
well known that it is needless to detail it. The
pride of popularity, and the insolence of an-tip-
start, suddenly elevated into supreme authority,
and intoxicated even to madness with power,
are shown with effect in the play, and were well
represented by the performer. In order to aug-
ment the plot, Lorina; actuated by jealousy,
hearing of Masaniello's attachment to Olympia,
avowed indeed by the latter, resorts, in male
attire, to the Hall where Masaniello is a guest at
the Ducal banquet, and interposed when her

husband declares his love for Olympia. Enraged
at the interruption, and not knowing her in the
disguise, he stabs her, and she dies on the spot.
Fall of penitence, Musaniello repairs to the
tomb of his departed wife, and is followed
by Olympia, in a religious habit ; but grief for file
loss of his wife overpowers his affection for
Olry►rrpia, and she is dismissed. At length the
abuse of power, and the derangement of a mind
unfit to exercise the Government of a State,
alienate the giddy multitude ; they return to their
submission to the Duke, and Masa/del/0 is
.shot
by one of the rabble whom he had instigated to
rebellion. Mr. SOANC evidently understands what
is styled the jeu de Theatre, and has given
effect to his Piece by processions, banners,
splendid scenery, music, dances, &c. Fix., and in
this respect he has received ample justice from
the Lessee. The artful, temporizing, policy of

the Duke (Mr. A ncuett), the noble pride of
Count Manfred (Mr. WALLAcK), indignant at
any submission to the rabble Reformers, but par-
ticularly Zama, the gipsy, are well drawn and
discriminated. The play altogether, though it
made no strong impression, was not unfa-
vourably received ou the whole. Mr. KrAx
was so warmly received on his entrance,
and through his performance, as to chew
no trace of his recent degradation ; but then it
must be observed, that the pit was chiefly filled
by those who had carried him through, and to
shorn opposition would Lave been hazardous and
hopeless. At the end of the Play Mr. Wm.r..sca
came forward to announce the future perfor=m-
ance, but the clamorous call for KEAN by his
partizans prevented his .°ll.lsking laid no future
performance was mentioned. The House was
very well attended in all parts.

The Buenos Ayres Argos to the 18th of De-
cember, was received yesterday. The principal
article it cot.tains is a diary of the operations of
Or.ANe•ra's army in Upper Peru: from which it
appears that he has not thrown off his allegiance
to the Crown of Spain. lie styles himself a
Royalist, and makes war on the Viceroy Laserna,
as a Constitutionalist. Valdes, it appears had at
the end of August retired, and left Olanpla mas-
ter of Potosi and Chuquisaca, probably in conse-
quence of Bolivar upon Cuzco.
A Petition for lea%e to bring in a Bill to incor-
porate the Pasco Peruvian Mining Company was
presented last night to the House of Commons.

The SPEAKER'S Parliamentary dinners for Satur-
day and Sunday next are postponed, in consequence, it is
stated, of the death of a near relative.
C.trrAlN FRANKLIN'S OVERLAND EXPEDI-
TION.—Captain FRANKLIN, Dr. RICHARDSOW, and 10 other
persons composing the overland expedition to the Arctic Re-
gions, embarked at Liverpool on Wednesday last, on board
the packet-ship Columbia, for New York. When they left the
Prince's Parade, in the steam-boat, they were loudly cheered
by the crowd of spectators assembled on the Pier to witness
their departure on their perilous enterprise. Captain Franklin
and his companions returned the cheers, and departed attended
by the hearty good wishes of the multitude.
A NEW ZEALAND CI! I EV.--In the Urania,
Capt. Reynolds, which arrived at this port on Saturday night,
front Buenos-Ayres, came passenger a king or chief, of one of
the islands of New Zealand. The Urania, on her voyage from
Calcutta to the west coast of South America, passed through
Cook's Straits. A great number of natives came off in their
canoes to the ship, and, headed by this Chief, were permitted
to come on board. The captain, not over pleased with the con-
duct of his visitors, soon desired the king to order his subjects
on shore, fearing that these cannibals might, if suffered to re-
main on board, take a liking to himself and crew, overpower
them, and feast on the bodies of the slain ! They willingly obeyed
the command of their liege lord,-and returned in their canoes to
the shore. His Majesty, however, when Capt. Reynolds wished
him to follow his subjects, expressed an anxious desire to re-
main on board, and to proceed with him to England, of which, he
said, he had heard many wonderful things, and was extremely
anxious to see his " brother George," our gracious Monarch.—
Finding all his endeavours to induce the King to return to his
subjects unavailing?, and not wishing to employ force to com-
pel his departure, the captain permitted him to remain. The
Urania then proceeded on a trading voyage on the west coast of
South America ; afterwards she sailed for Buenos Ayres, and
arrived at this port on Saturday night. The chief is finely ta-
tooed, after the fashion of his country, and is described as a very
good looking savage. We understand that a letter has been
transmitted to Lord Bathurst, announcing his arrival, and re-
questing to be informed of the pleasure of Government respect-
mg the futUre disposal of.his New Zealand Majesty.—( Liver-
pool Courier.)
Died, on the 10th of February inst., at his seat,
at Darrinane, in the County of Kerry, in the 98th year of his
age, 111 auntcs: O'CONNELL, Esq. He was the elder brother
of General Daniel Count O'Connell, Grand Cross of the
Order of the Holy Ghost, first-cousin of Maurice, Baron
O'Connell, Grand Chamberlain to the Emperor of Austria,
and uncle to Counsellor O'Connell. Mr. O'Connell left a
fine fortune. He was seized in fee of an estate, which
was most singularly circumstanced, it having never been for-
feited, or subject to Quit or Crown Rent. It remained
in his hands from the times of the Irish law, without a
single line of title-deed, or any muniment, save immemo-
rial possession. lie has, we hear, distributed his person-
al fortune amounting to about 45,0001. between his three
nephews. On two of them, Messrs. John and James O'Connell,
he made large settlements in his life-time ; and on the third,
Counsellor O'Counell, the greater part of his unsettled estates
descend.