The Sun.
London, England, 1823-12-03 00:00:00

THE THEATRES.

DRURY-LANE.— The Tragedy of Macbeth
drew but a very scanty audience last night, yet
as the characters in general were well assigned,
and the play possesses so much intrinsic merit, a
fuller attendance might reasonably be expected.
Mr. MACREADY possesses talents which, if he
were to bring them forward in their own natural
force, might always be effective. lle, however,
is too much inclined to adopt the peculiarities of
Mr. KEAN, which, indeed, have so wonderfully
succeeded, that it is not wonderful that he should
have imitators; but we always remember on such
occasions the words of the Poet
" Mere pieces of finesse-traps for applause—
" Avaunt ! unnatural start, affected pause."
Mrs. BuNN was the Lady Macbeth, and her per-
formance was just in conception, and animated in
delivery. She is striding fast to the head of her
profession.
We ought not to conclude our observations
_ _

without reprehending the liberties which the fe-
male performers take with the music of
M ATTIIEW LOCK, in overwhelming its beautiful
simplicity with their fantastic decorations. The
audience should mark these disgusting interpola-
tions with emphatic censure. 'As to the dresses
of the Witches, which are obviously calculated to
exhibit their persons to advantage rather than to
fulfil the ideas of the Poet, we must make due
allowance for fenntle coquetry,
COVENT-GARDEN.— The Musical Drama of
Gay Mannering was represented last night.—
This play may justly be considered as the best
of the musical pieces which have been selected
from those Scottish Novels, which, whoever the
" Great Unknown" may hereafter prove to be,
will rank his name with the best authors of similar
compositions in any language. The chief purpose
on this occasion was to bring forward Mr. SIN.
GLAIR in the part of Henry Bertram, a part in
which he appeared to advantage before he went
for musical improvement to Italy. It may fairly
be said, that, independently of his musical me-
rits, he rendered the part as prominent as it need
be. lie sang with taste and skill, and though,
according to the present prevailing fashion, he
was abundant in decorations, yet they were all

analogous to the composition. He was several
times encored. His action was easy, and be gave
spirit to the character altogether. Miss TREE
was very well received on her entrance as Lucy
Bertram. Iler acting was
,pathetic, and her
singing most charming; but she displayed evi-
dent traces of recent indisposition. Miss
HAZVIMERSLEY is improving in public opi-
nion, both in acting and singing. Her
Julia Mannering was by no means wanting in
spirit. RAYNER'S Dandie, T. P. COOKE'S Batts-
rick, BLANCHARD'S Glossin, FARREN'S Dominic,
were all effective, and ABBOTT'S Mannering was
marked by gentlemanly ease and spirit..---A nu-
merous audience.

LONDON MECHANIC'S INSTITUT/ON.—A meet-
g of this Society was held last night at the
Crown and Anchor Tavern, for the purpose of
receiving the Report of the Committee appointed
to draw up the laws. Dr. Bt RKBECK having been
called to the Chair, one of the Secretaries read
the Report, vi hich was unanimously received.
The other Secretary then read over the rules and
regulations drawn up by the Committee. Mr. J.
S. TAYLOR, after pronouncing a warm panegyric
upon the zeal and intelligence of the Members of
the Committee, moved that those rules be adopt-
ed by the Meeting. To this motion an amend.
meat was proposed by a mechanic, describing
himself as a bookbinder, that no more than two
Members of any one trade should be admitted
upon the Managing Committee. This amend-
ment gave rise to a discussion of some length,
and was finally negatived ; as was also a proposal
of Mr. BAYLEY'S, that a subscription of 204 should
qualify a man to be an houourary life Member.
Mr. TAYLOR'S resolution was therefore carried
but there seemed.to have been a disposition on
the part of the Chairman and others to press the
adoption of the proposed rules and regulations,
without affording to all persons sufficient time
and opportunity to examine and discuss their
merits. We observed that this haste gave much
dissatisfaction to many persons in the room. After
the motion for the adoption of the rules had been
put and carried, Dr. GILCIUUST wished that the
laws might not be adopted until the society had
time to reflect on them. He proceeded to com-
ment on them, but was informed that they had
already been agreed to.. The Learned Doctor
apologised for intruding, but he happened to be
in a remote part of the room where he could
scarcely hear, and was therefore not aware that
the laws had been adopted. After some routine
business was gone through, such as the appoint-
ment of.the trustees, &c., the thanks of the so.
ciety were voted, upon the motion of Dr. B.
GILCYRIST, to the Chairman, and the meeting
dissolved.

OLD BAILEY—(This Day.)—These Sessions
commenced this morning 'hefore Mr. Justice
BAILEY and Mr. Baron litna.oct, the RE-
CORDER, Alderman SUAW, &C.—The Calendar,
on the present occasion, contains a list of 219
prisoners for trial, amongst whom there are two
for cutting and maiming, one for uttering forged
notes, two for manslaughter, three for house-
breaking, and three for highway- rizhbery. One
of the cases of cutting and maiming is that of

/lire. Stanton; but there is some doubt whether
the husband will appear, as it was currently re-
ported yesterday and this morning that he could
not be found; should he, howeter, make his ap.

pearance, she will be put on her trial on Friday
next.
__ _ _ -

SHOCKING A conENT.--This morning, about
eleven o'clock, a lady and gentleman were pro-
ceeding in a gig along Parliament-street, when
near the Horse Gnarls, the horse took fright,
and galloped off with great speed. In the course
of his progress the whoel came off, and both the
lady and gentleman were thrown out. The
former received a severe contusion on the head,
and the latter had several of Ids ribs broken.--
They received immediate surgical aid, and were
then placed in a hackney coach, and carried
home to their residence in Walcot Place, Lam-
beth. Tho horse was stopped near Westminster
Abbey.