The Sun.
London, England, 1824-11-19 00:00:00

LITERARY NOTICE.

FOUR .COMEDIES of TERENCE, translated, and th
Stage Management, and Mode of Acting them set down, al
they were acted at 'Westminster School ; and also the other
two Comedies of TERENCE, the II EAUTONTIBItOttIiItEifo
and the IIEcTuA, translated. The whole six Plays being
rendered Into English, literally, correctly, and critically, ar,,
cording to the spirit of TERENcE, and proper meaning sad
construction. For the Use of Schools and Seminaries. tar
the Rev. GEORGE SACI*II.I.II CcTYxa A.M. flotterly
Captain of Westminster School, and an Actor in three et
these Comedies.
often hen hear from theoretical and still mare
frequently from ignorant persons, great objection
Made to the acting of plays at schools, and par-
ticularly to the representation of Terence's Co-
medies, as practised at Westminster. Expe-
rience, however, as very commonly happens, coo.
tradicts the wise decisions of filial speCulalot:,
and many advautages are proved to arise from
the ,srustotn, which doubtless were known and
contemplated by those who commanded its ob-
servance ; for these objectors should be told, tha t
it is not owing to the caprice or prejudices of the
masters that Terence is acted by the K ing'sScholars
at Westminster, but in consequence of the original
injunction of their Statutes, as fixed by Queen
ELIZABETH and her wise counsellors. The repre-
sentations in Westminster College are therefore in
some respects traditional ; the play of the scene,
and the casts of the characters, have been handed
down from generation to generation, and though
much'moditied, from time to time by the taste of
the masters, or the genius of particular boys, re-
main, in essential points, nearly what they have
ever been.

We, therefore, consider the present publica-
tion as a curious document; not merely as a
translation of Terence, but as an accurate report,
from a person thrice engaged in those exercises,
how the author was understood in his time, and
in what manner the comic scenes were best re-
presented and regulated. It is true, that the
acting of this translator is not of recent date, but
there are those persons living who well remem-
ber it, and can testify that It was very good. We
will not say how long ago this was ; but when-
ever it happened, it fixed in his mind the love
of Terence, whom his dedication testifies to have
been 14 his favourite classic ever since, and ono
whom he has much studied." Thus qualified,
he undertakes to iustruct other schools and semi-
mules how Terence is acted at 'Westminster.
That the effect of those representations is excel-
lent, all will bear witness who have ever attended.
them ; and that they are so lively us to excite
some wonder how Mtecenas could speak of them
as deficient in the vis comica, in which at West-
minster they seem to abound ; nor can we recon-
cile the expression, except by supposing that the
comic rein, required by the writer of those lines
and his friends, was something more allied to
what we cell Farce, or the broader jests of
Plautus and Aristophunes.
Wo have here, therefore, the literal translation
of the Comedies, with every minute direction fur
the conduct and gestures of the Actors that cats
give life to the words of the Author. No* the
undeniable truth is, that the looks, gestures, and
movements of the Actors, if just, form the best
and liveliest comment on the meaning of the
Author ; and many persons who fancied Terence
flat in private perusal, have, to their surprise,
found him wonderfully amusing in action.
To this translation, therefore, those must have
recourse who wish to know how the Plays of
Terence ought to be acted. For the pleasure of
perusal they may prefer COLMAN, who, without
being literal, has best represented the style of
the author, and in language which every English
reader will peruse with pleasure; but if he would
know how the Stage is to be managed, how every
Actor is to stand, act, and look in every scene,
here he must come for information ; and we eats
pledge ourselves that he will generally find that
Information correct, and conformable to the best
representations of each play. This is certainly
a curious, as it is a novel attempt, and if the act-
ing of Terence should become a more general
practice, might be looked up to as authority.—
How far the prejudices of modern speculators on
education will ever give way to the experience
that sanctions this practice, we cannot conjee.•
tare; but that it is a good classical exercise, cud
not really injurious to morals, we can aver from
positive knowledge.

PROPOSED REGULATIONS OF THE POST oFFICZ.

limos' A. CORRESPONDENT.-11) consequence of
the environs of London becoming so very eaten.
sive of late years, equal indeed to the metropolis
itself, very great inconvenience, delay, and exo»
pence are daily felt by thousands of individual,
through the present mode of delivery of letter*
by post, at those parts called " off the stones,"
where there is a continuation of neighbourhood.
It has, therefore, been deemed necessary to apply
for a removal f the above
pgrievance.ratyilisnog f
a op:41'111 i;
parishes surrounding the City of London have
signedton t o at hpe
etition
Master
on s It 'ear r I
Gi tenneenrta , , and
extension of the limits of the General, and Two.
pennylNU
he
toi
irPosts.,
t EE L The
tt latter, t
be
er
og)wi
persons
evri
:deoounderstand,before
eol
ryfy
complying
hg reasont
fi ssh tpS t 4
rot'
to
iseeo:
Master General. The justice and reasonable
course of the application, and the great number
of signatures of Nobility, Members of Parliament
ity
pslCwi
tepel tgel baaryebt Clergy, Magistrates,
expect ent
lic) tei ut
n asit that tel 1:1:01:71y From objection
te
causes
impedimentules a 4 o
above-
mentioned, f
mentioned, and the letters being delivered a
much gleater distance in some parts than others,
by which it must cause a great increase of revenue,
by a greater number of letters being circulated
daily through that 'medium, and by a free deli.
very of Newspapers to those of tke environs.

INDIA.

ITIIE DECCAN BOOTY.

FOR THE SUN.

Ma. Enrron—d perused with much satisfac-
tion the two letters which appeared in your ex-
cellent Paper of the ►9th instant, on the claim of
the East India Company to exercise the Right
of Sovereig►►ty in the British Dominions in India,
1111 d the correct and conclusive manner in which
it was shown, that neither of the Companies—
I mean the Original Company, and afterwards
the United Company—ever had any authority or
claim whatever to• the exercise of the King's Pre-
rogative on that Continent, or in any of the places
within the limits of what is technically termed
the Company's Charter ; but, observing that great
industry is used by various individuals, and by
persons connected with the Company, to under-
rate and lessen the value and extent, not only of
the booty captured by the late Army of the
Deccan, but likewise the important advantages
which the Company have derived from their
brilliant and successful services, °in the great ad-
dition they have gained to their territorial revenue,
without any increase of charge in its collection, I
am, in justice to the troops, induced to request
you to state to the Public, through the medium of
your Journal, that, on a fair and moderate com-
pensation, the value of the Booty or Public
Property taken in the course of the late Mahratta
War, exceeded considerably three millions
sterling. This will appear, by reference to
the documents in the Political Department of
the Company, whose Officers now represent•that
the whole of the Booty, to which the troops are
entitled (not what they have taken) does not
exceed in value 300,0001, although the Prize
Commit tee are in possession of receipts for money
paid into the Company's Treasury, to the extent
of 9_50,0001., and the late Governor-General
estimated the Booty taken in Nassuck only at
600,0001. more, waking nearly one million ster-
ling, and which is confirmed by the following
extract from the Marquis of llArrl No's Dispatch
of the 11. th of August, 1818 :

" G. Your Honourable Court will be fully informed from
the Political Department of the circumstances under which the
•Tremure referred to in the seeond paragraph of 411 r. Sharer',
lt,port was discovered In the town of Nassuek, and secured
under the orders of the • Honourable M. Elphinstone by the
Political Agent in Candeish.

" 7• It appears however proper that we should, in this place,
mention to. you, that the-value of the treasure in question has
been estimated nt•reventy.sie Me* of rupees.

" 8. A considerable portion of it, indeed, consists in jewels,
of, which it may be difficult to procure purchasers at the. full
value ; and some deduction must doubtless be made on the
score of exaggeration on the part of the Native Agent, by whom
the estimate has been formed.

"9. We trust, however, that -we may safely reckon on an
ultimate receipt of /sot less than FIFTY LACS OF RUPEES."

It is, however, .proper, hi fairness to Ow

troopq, who, up to the present time, have not
received any portion of the Booty taken in 1817

Auld 1818, to obserfe, that in addition to thn
Booty before mentioned, they ore ctrietly entitled

to A LI, lIIP public treasure which was taken from
the late Peishwa and tho Rajah of Berar—uot
only at Nalcpore and Wassetta, but in every
other part of the Poonab territory.
In addition to this Booty, they are likewise

entitled to all the tre•nsure belotigiitg to lioutsA
----which was fraudulently taken possession
of 'by the Mysore Horse, and, after a dis-
graceful negotiation with the itajah of My-
sore, in which a distinguished individual was

outwitted by his Indian friendsr —the late
Goiertior General was obliged, to acknow.
ledge the right and the justice of the claim
• of the Army of the Deccan to all. HoLKAtt's pro.
perty, which had been taken -by the Mysore
Norse, under circumstances highly discreditable
to them, and recommended the East India Com.
„ploy to comprorni e with the Deccan Armyrand
. to make them compensation for the loss of it, as
he did not consider it prudent, in the Men state
of 'lndia, to displease the Rajah of Mysore!
. And" this miserable compensation was to be given
to the Conquerors at I\lahidpore, in lieu of two
millions sterling, at which 110LKAR'S treasure
was valued, when taken by the Mysore Horse
Not'having the official documents before me, I
-cannbt at present give in detail the particulars of
the booty captured, mud the value of each por-
', Lion of it ; but as it is clear that the whole belongs
- to the troops under His MAJEsTY's Warrant, I
earnestly hope, that no further delay will be al.
lowed to take place, and that the Company will
be called upon to pay over all the money they
have received' from "the, produce of the Booty,
and flue remainder or it, which has not been
realized, .delivered to the trustees, so that it may
be sold without reserve, and the whole divided
amon'gst the troops, many of whom are engaged in
a NEw War, although they have not received any
re ward for their former services.
Cbarbam, Nov. 17; 11124. AN OLD SOLDIER.

Tllli BURMESE.

The. following is an extract of it letter from an
-Officer engaged In active operations against Lite
Burmese : it is. dated Rangoon, May 11 :
" In the affair of Ramoo, the Enrrnese fought well, and lost
about 70 or 80 killed, for no tonna was given, nor do I think
it will be given during the war on either side; for if you save
a llirinan's life' it is ten to one but he returns the favour by
taking four's. From, all appearancks, this will be a bloody anti
protracted -warfare. We arc about to send an expedition against
Sytiani and the ancient city of Pep in a tew clays. It is about
70 miles up the river, tuul we-shall have bush-fighting all the
way,. We arc now btisy in tilting fire-booms, and arranging
for the Went to go up the river. Ido not think we shall be
rive ready for thefexpeditiontup the Irrawaddy to Thome in
less tlittn a iiiOnth. The Captain of the Lorna will then hoist his
pe,datit-oti board of the steam-boas. Sir el. Campbell, with.
the majur part of the farces; 'will join hint ; and only a suffi-
garrison4will .be lett to protect Rangoon. If we reach
all Will be well; but it Is an extremely difficult under.
taking to transport in open boats a force of 6,000 or 7,000 men
up a raphi titer, within a stone's throw of the beach, and a.
determined enemy annoying us the -wholeway. It mast, how.
ever, be done; and if they donut conic to EOM, me. must go
up to t/ininerapoera. The mode Of annoyance on the . part of
the enemy is by fire-rafts• and war-boats t and as the rainy
:4( °II "W cPu!,ing on, they will hove the advantage of the
dark nights. 'Walt these they oblige us to keep a sharp look,
oot. They also sink. large' boats to the gunwales, and turn.
them adrift upon us. The force with which they cone down,
aided by the current, is very great. One nearly came on board
of us the other night ; it caught a tope, anti the rope cut off a
boy's leg a,s clean as it hat been amputated. We are going
to send 13 of the Madras vessela..for 3,000 men, and for. pro-

vialans;"