The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-18 00:00:00

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.

A new drama was produced last night at this theatre,
called Dreams of the Heart, an adaptation from the French ;
but unless we are much mistaken, it is a re-translation ;
the story from which the chief incidents are takert having
appeared in Biackwood's Magazine some fourteen or fifteen
years since, front , he pen of the late Rev. Mr. Barham, under
the title of The Trance. It is a story of love and mesmerism.
There are two acts, between which an interval of a year
is supposed to have elapsed. The lirst scene is laid in the
tavern of the " Croix tfOr," at Toulon, where the Marquis
de Brienue (Mr. Ryder ), a distinguished admiral, has arrived
to take command of the French fleet, accompanied by his
daughter, Hermine, (Mrs. Stirling), the heroine. He re-
ceives several letters, one of which is an order from the Minister
of Marine for his immediate embarkation and departure;
the other, also from high authority, stating an application
by the Viscrunt Henri de Clermont (Mr. H. Hughes) who
had retired from the service a year before, to he again em-
ployed, which he is informed, cannot be granted. He inter-
rogates his daughter on the state of her heart, and expresses
his regret that she would not marry before his departure.
She denies any attachment; but exhibits emotions on hear-
' ing the name of Henri de Clermont, that proves she is not in-
itferent to him, although she expresses contempt for him. Im-
mediately after Henri enters, and is short ly follnwed by new ar-
rivals, the Cour.t Annib:il de Bouttes idle ( Mr. J. Vining) and the
Chevalier de Montaran (Mr. A. Hairis), the Count is a roue,
who having succeeded to, and expended, three fortunes, had
married a rich Italian merchant's daughter fur a fourth,
which he had also spent, and she had drowned herself at the
end of six months, just as she would have succeeded to a
fresh inheritance. Henri informs them that he has acquired
the mesmeric power. Shortly after the Baroness de St.
Savin enters, to whom Henri had paid some attention, but he
had deserted her, his heart being devoted to Hermine,
whom he resolves to see once again by means of his extra-
ordinary powers. Hermine is then brought acros a gallery,
and to the frout of the stage in a state of mesmerism; he
interrogates her, and finds coat she is devotedly attachel to
him, and that he may gain her by joining in the contest for
freedom with the noble hearts in America, and vows herself
his till death if he should do so, and gives him a pledge of
her infection. The Baroness then enters, and sees her in the
state of vomnamoulism, bur hearing voices, leaves the room,
having extim,uished the light. The Marquis enters, and
sees Henri leading his daughter to her bed-room, and the
act clones on the father's de-pair, who is at the moment
summoned to embark. The second act finds Count Auttibal,
who has succeeded to a barren Marquisate in the interval,
the plighted husband of Hemline, who has at length yielded
to her father's commands to marry him. Thu Chevalier
has been married to the Baroness a week after the scene at the
" Croix d'Or," is now heartily tired of her, and desires that
ber application to sad with him to the United States may
not be granted. l'•:e Marquis, who is under the conviction
that his daughter had been dishonoured by Henri, had com-
pelled her to consent to marry Count Atinihal in older to
save the honour of his house; but first writes hint a letter,
informing him of what he oelieves to be her guilt ;
this letter he intrusts to a creditor of the Count's,
who does cot deliver it, fearing that it would
break [Le marriage, by which alone he can obtain
payment of his debt. Tire marriage takes place, and Henri
enters--having highly distinguished himself in America—
with dispatches. He meets liermine, the bride of the Count,
and is lett alone with her. He describes the mesmeric scene
as a dream, and awakens the greatest astonishment by de-
scribing what she thinks she had seen in a similar dream.
The Marquis entering, discovers Henri kneeling to his
daughter, but is appeased by a letter from his son,
in America, that explains the fatal error into which he had
n. Count Annibal enters, who has just received the
letter which should have been given to him before marriage.
A duel is fixed for that night between him aed Henri:
There is then a repetition of the mesmeric scene, in which
Hermitic again acknowledges her love, and says that she will
be happy as the wife of Henri. The Baroness then turns
out to be the first wife of the Count, who
is contented, as she has succeeded to an immerse
inheritance, and the lovers are made happy. There were some
slight marks of disapprobation during the mesmeric scenes,
but the applause decidedly predominated. There are some
highly interesting scenes, arid Mrs. Stirling performed the
part of Hermine most admirably. The piece is decidedly too
hang, and will require considerable curtailment. If the pruning
knife should be judiciously applied, it will probably become
popular and have a considerable run.