The Sun.
London, England, 1815-08-07 00:00:00

THE THEATRE.

It is a fortunate :krinstance for Dramatic
Writers who arc not of the higher order, that' t:.e
Public are disposed to receive prmluctions raised
in the hot-bed of the Summer I' heatre with ieir.ty,
and require sometiving of a more vigorous confor-
mation in the Winteriseason. Hence, a, Comedy
of three Acts, which was brought forward on
Saturday last at. the Ifaytuarket heatre, under
the title of Living 'in London, experienced a milder
fate than its intrinsic merits demanded, or than
it could posSibly have obtained, if it had seen
first represented before clic awful :tribunal of a
winter audience. It would be difficult to detail
all the •cirpumstances:which were assemAed, in
order con.,titute the plot of o:is play, anti there-
fore we shall excuse ourselve. from =•_lie attempt
There is a miserly money •lender (Tut:a), an-
other of the same stamp (GitoirE), a Loyd anxious
for Parliamentary -interest (Fools), a l'roktm-
down soldier, assuming several characte s (MA-
TnEmrs), a wild rake, but With a.' good heart
(.IoNEs), a dissipated. NOnlemati (RUSSELL), a
follower of fashion, whowis an unprincipled gam-
bler (Jo'nt:s•roN), a young Quaker ( I'oKELEs
ready to promote any intrigue of an amorous or
pecuniary kind ; an artful woman of , Quail! y
(Miss GRETILLE), and another, who had been
raised from humble life by the Varhaineritary',No.
bletnan. There are subuidinate clutracters, which •
are hardly worth noticing ;• yet, with such a mot-
ley assemblage, little of interest or entertainment
was the result, though there were some passages
of a risible nature. If the piece had been expandyd
into five Acts, it might have been rendered more
interesting, because employment then might have
been found for all the chief characters, antra re-
'gular fable might have' been properly deve.-
I(sped ; but, as it is, matters are huddled to-
gether with little effect, and 'without even dra-
matic probability. The first Act was mark-
ed by vrightlinesS, and some whimsical eon-,
teptions ; but the second .Was heavy, and the in-
terest was not increased in the last. lldwever,
when some of the characters ate lopped off, and
some of the scenes onfitted, or abridged, the
piece has the advantage of Such. A Comic
support in the performers, that it will be classed
among the kind of productions usually expected
at this time of the year, and may pass very well
through the season. There Was a mixture of ap-
plause and opposition when it was announced for
this evening; but we may fairly say that tlx ma-
jority was decidedly in its favour. It is ascribed
to A ::11r. JAMESON, 11,110 has displayed respectable
dramatic talents in other productions.

Miss O'NEIL was to make her first appearance.
at Edinburgh on Friday last, in Belcidera. ABBOT
was to .be the Jaffier, and PUTNAM, forn►erly of,
Drury-lane Theatre the Pierre.
SINCLAIR and BLANCHARD, of Covent4garden,
and MiSs L. KELLY, of Drury-lane, are,now
performing at the Liverpool 'Theatre.
Miss STEPHENS has concluded her theatrical
engagement at Brighton, and is succeeded by Mrs.
thovEtt, who makes her first appearance as the
Jealous :111)e.

Ktw PALACE, AUG. G.—Thursday morning
the QUEEN and PRINCESSES took an airing in
Kew Gardens. Friday the PRINCE REGENT ar-
rived here froth. London. His Royal Highness,
after dining with his Royal Mother, accompa-
nied her and :his Royal Sisters Princesses ELIZA-'
BETH and MARY, in an open carriage and four to
Twickenham, and honoured the Duchess of Oa'
LEANS with a visit..

• L
The llnehess of ORLEANS entertained a party Or
fasbionables yesterday, at her seat at Twicken-

ham.

Among the English of distinction who are at
prese►►t in Paiis,are mentioned the Marquis CAN,
DEN and his son, the Duke of DEVossuntE, and
Lord LEVESOh.

TIIE SIJN REV IE

ilco. t,X ',' VI I',)

err ,‘tiTitEkth.: NARIZATIVE of 11101 NT Asni, ol'F!uNtit iri
1814, b:// M. DE BEAU Cfl,l5lP, Author of thi, *History of the
Pis lin Vfoilee, ,!i.e.; 2 3Vo. H. COLitiliN;

C6aduit-str'det, 131.

'ln remarking tipan several publiatiOns of the
same class with this; hav'
d t tacit OC,:asion to
Conmidid all thOse which:fairly and impartially
'condensed. Within a I•easoriable. compass and in a',
perspiatottS 'manner, a narrative embracing any.
giVen'portion of those ext-raurdili'aryevents witia
have caused the presen't generatlun of men to live
?ages in the spice of a few -Months. At an era
when almos.t 'every day's NeWSpaper was a
tory, and no nutshell ‘votild suffice to contain the.
Ihud ofa single CitiVaign, it is not only refreshing,
to the memory, but in'every, point of
view, to be enabled to i.der to i candid; and, as
'tar as c'an be expected; ttnpre.Fidiced tkpi.sl;ition of
the ciireurnstances
.attending,that momentons un-
dertaking, the invasion of France in 1814.

It is Perhaps true that the superior attraction
or itnir'e rec%2nt, and if possible more sttipetitioni
revtilutions may somewhat detract frOm the won-
ders of what a-ci•nwd of other 'wonders seems to
have thrown back a century in interest ; but the
present state of France does'not "preclude the pos-
sibility of there being yet much consequence at-
tached to the scenes Of aCtitni of last year.
The author of the Work before us, appears to
have applied himself to his task with, the best
dispositions. Truth he has ainied at, and where—
AnY inaccuracy occurs, we think it may far more
readily be traced to 'error than to ,a

tinfeEf.v, hbwever, some distinguished
actor in the3e trcniendons struggles, some one
possessed of information; far above the common
reach should think it worth while to afT,rd the
world an account of trattsaction-,; so• involved in'
mystery, as to be inscrutable
,to other eyes, we

represeut,

fear that we nidst rather be contented with able
cornpilations, than look fur• flinch arigina

The official details of the battles in.France,:un-
tioubtedly form a sufficient basis for . historical
truth A comparison Of the various accounts, and
a gladace at the result of each action, will put it •
in the power of a clever Wrirer tit appro-ach suffi-
ciently near to accuracy it) his torsion of the cans-
paign. Such, As.ith alew private anecdotes, we
take to be •the amount of M. BEA UCHA;\,II''S pre-
tensions. Mi. Work is unbiassed, well-arranged,
and entelfaining.; it others, in one view, a very
natural and acctirate picture of one of the most
remarkable Periods of the history of the world;
and will be found well deserving of the perusal of
those who took an interest in the memorable
events which cVeONVaterloo and the Bellerophon;
.Buonaparte and St. tlelena, have not effaced.. •
M. lita.ticitAme Sets out with a Biography df
the extraordinary. per Son ''e have just mentioned,
at whose tyranny and aniliition, as .displayed in
in 1812-13, and leading to the Coalition against
him, he takes a• summary, glance. From this pe-
riod
we are carried rapidly on by the course ,of
events, to the termination of the Despot's career.
The deliveratice of Holland is the•first grand fea-
ture of the picture the negociations dl Baron, de
St. Aigiont, and the prtispect ofTeaee; soot' .OVeN
ClolldCd, Is.the next ;
„Buonaparte's exertions to
meet the menaced danger,his quadrupled consCrip-
' lions and revolutionar'y e.xciteitient of the people;
and finally, the combined
..invaSitin of France,
from the source to the mouth of the Rhine, com-
pletes the grant! outline of this part of the canvas:.
It would be'. absurd in us to
.restate the Military
movements,-and recite the combats which enstied.
Suffice it to repeat; that fanny battles were fought
with various to tune, 6.1 i generally to the advan-
tage of the Allies, appears by their progres-
sively advancing tOwards Paris, in spite of the
victories.; real and pretended, gained,. and said
to be gained, Overthem by BuitnaParte.
'The negociations at Cbmillon succeeded some
brilliant 'Manduivres' of the enemy at Champ-
anbert, Montmirail, Chateau Thiea Ey, :and Van
champ, .or Janvilliers, where'tht!'firoines of Bio-
Cher saved the allied cause. The :advantiges
gained by.Bnonaparte in these aCtions,.amisnb-
sentiently at Nangis and MOntereau, .proved
his mn. His, pride and 'arrogance revivel--
he madly rejected the term .oirtred him
talked Of reaching Dresden
.before the. Allies
reached Paris—he persevered in:his-atrocious am-
bition, and was defeated and dethroned. Alllthc
circumstances Attending these warlike and "
cal changes are very ably recorded "in the frst-Yu-
lume of the work before us. •
The -sedoncl enters loin the Campaign of the
Duke of Wellington, which it describes with
etinal fidelity and precision;. from the time of his,
iri•ii(ling France to the close of the war by tht
battle of T oulootße .—lt then returns to the con-
test, in the vicinity of Paris, and after accurately
narrating the military measures.to the downfall of
the Usurper, winds up the work with the resto-
ration 'of Louis XVIII.' and the insertion of the
chief political documents which preceded Inn! fol-
lqweafthat event.
Such is) bric....4v, the outline of M. BEAU-
CHAMP's production, of the manner of which the
'following extracts may serve .as SpeCkillelts :
Tile rupture of the negociations at Chruillbn
is ascribed to the Allies itii,ting upon " one
clause, which appeared to Butinaparte much inure
g"lling •than any Other condition of the 1-reaty.
This, was the occupation of his Capital, by the
Allied Sovereigns, till a desnit;s.e peace should
lie sighed within a limited iliac. Napoleon
thought that lie discovered some snare in a pro-
position. so humiliating to his pride though the
OCCupatiou was oflIV to be temporary. But had
nut lie iuvaded:stbe utatty.SQvereign.l,

after taving ciierritii their ildminionstivith hii
troops not he itquiled:tht the greatet:
prt of the of Europe should. !=obstribe to
debasin.;.; dieCatej in their own pa-
laces 1 The jSresetit dennifol of the Allies was,
therefore; (init., a inst reptiial, and a necessary

guarantee.

" Such, hoii-ever, *ere the. Presumrtuous
hopes of Napoleon, that, intoxicated by his late
partial sucet;sses;Aie is said to seized wiiha
mien of fury the paper whits!' totitained the pica
position of peace, exclaiming. , While he tore it,
" I am at this tnonient nearer to Vienna than
they are to Paris.!'!.
•
The42ongress, which fille'd .Eut ape with giazate'r'
alarM thao.the held of battle, being dissolved ,
the madness of the yet ti,dootibied Tyrant, the•
Author gives a deScription ul France so appli-
cable to her present state, that cannot resist
transcriloing 'it. Thee desperate appeals to the
people, Co which their Oppressor resorted in the
hour of -iris calamity, have taught them a lesson
of. Mob legislation, for the practice of which they
are dearly paying at•this.moment, and which, if
not eradicated, will never allow France or Ea-
rle to enjoy, tranquillity. •
" His enetnies (says Mr. BEAtlcoamr), cOnsi-
dered the rupture of the conferences as- the pre-.
lode of his doWnliill ;- but his pa titans .and 'he
'himself still dreamt of triumphs; relying princi-s.
wally Of! a trilr of extermination, provoked by Sall.'
tnitiarydecrees and shameless emissaries. Every eX-
ertioh wai used to arm the population, both in tt.\wn
and country. Bands of robbers Were secretly orgd-
nized, and assuming the semblance of Cossacks;
CoMmitied; Mider the colours of the enemy, all
sorts of excesses which were calculated Co eXelte
despair anti wengeance on the part of the .French.
Various other machinations were resorted to, and
imposition was practised to an unliniited extent.
The Authorities of those places, which were situ::
:ated in the diStricts now becotne the theatre•of
'war, were ordered to Park by Napoleon's Millis-
tens, who suggested, and; in some cases, dietared
to them reports, abounding w:th exaggerations
and hyperbole, as to the cruelties and deva-Stationi
of tke enemy; The publication of these theatiful
recitals tended to make the French consider the
Rus;'ians and PruSsittris as citonibals. To such
excess alas the ittlpositiott carried, that the Cos-
sacks were reported tO have seized the.fattest
Children, for the purpose of consigning them to
the shirt. and afterwards devouring them at their
bort Rile batotliets;" •
Can we wouder at the anarchy which rei,,,ns
France at this period, when werefiect on' the ef-
fects of such arts on the minds of the ignorant,
and when-we remember that the intatnated and
unreasoning multitude had been taught to cOnsi-
der\thetoselVes as the•proper organS whence every
Constitution has emanated for the last 25 years,
and ought to emanate as often in future as the
triumph of faction shall unsettle the existing Or
den of regular Government,?.
We shall not follow our Author through other
extracts even though tempted by the merited en-
logitunS bestowed on Lord Wellington and ill*
British ArtitY, which " quietly traversed the Coun-
try, without doing injury to a cottage. respecting
every one's life and property, enriching the district
thrau,sili which it passed. and, leaving behind it.no
traces but prosperous abundance."—What a tribute
from a French pen ! -
The descriptions of the ''reception which all
the brunches of the Bourbon Family met arc ex-
ceedingly interesting; though the most weak and
objectionable passage in the work *occurs at one
of them, where the Author mentions the descent of
a White Dove upon the King's head. IVriters of
modern times should be very cautious in the In- •
troduction of roiracieS, for in these days. of scep-
ticism their .admissio'n impeaches the judgment,
and throws an air of the ridiculous over the whole,
which other parts do not Merit. We trust that
Mr. B. will, therefore, Withdraw his pidgeon.
frOm ;the nest edition, especially 'since recent
events have demOnstrated in how awkward a pre-
dicament he has placed Providence by imputing to
it the Supernatural presentation of this emblem of
lasting Peace
There is also another failing in this work of a
More general nature, which justice compels us to
notice, though we otherwise highly approve of
the publiCation, the perusal of which has afforded
us great pleasure. It is, that the inherent vanity
of a •Frenchttian causes the Author to represent
hit countryinen as unbeaten if not victorious in.
every battle. The Army is a band of Inyincildes ;
and when we come tO the end of the chapter, and
read the result of the wholei.we-are greatly stir-
prised• to find, that the consequence of all these
heroic exploits and incomparable triumphs is the
taking of the Capital, and • the pros:ration of
France. We know not if even the Battle of Wa-
terloo has taken this last inveterate conceit out of
the hearts of the .French Nation. • •