The Sun.
London, England, 1815-11-24 00:00:00

THE TiII7,ATAE.

, • ,
Dttutty-LANE.—Tire m e new Coeov; W n hich at
been some time announced' this neatre,. was
• last night brought forth, tinder the title of illiere
la, find a Feiend. This Comedy was Originally
presented, •a few Seasons ago, One night, at the
-Lie&ith Theatre, for the Benefit'of -DowTON,
At:Yak/44m the author is a particular friend. The
J.tAleiyo*re.find, was written by Mr. LEE, a son of the
tale JouN LEE, Esq. the celebrated Barrister and
Niitician. The author of the present Cutnedy
wrote another, junkie(' Grietiing's a Folly, which,-
we believe, was represented at Drury-lane Thea-
tre; and which contained merit enough to de-.
serve a 'frequent representation.
The play of last night was more distinguished
for variety of 'character than novelty or intricacy
of fable. It seems, indeed, to have been the in-
tendon 'of the Author rather to point out tire
resulting from an ungovernable temper, to
fliliveAts i.moral sentiments, and to excite liberal
and amiable feelings, than to surprize by a com-
plifeatedi plot, or to fascinate by brilliancy of
dialogue. .As this seems to have been his
purpoSe, we may fairly say that it has been
aecomplished. But he' has relieved the Se-
rious and pathetic passages by the introduc-
tion of-characters and situations of a ludicrous
description, and has altogether'. produced a play
which is calculated to promote moral improve-
ment, and regulate the passions, as well as to
excite merriment. The piece is the more entitled,
to critical recommendation, as-we understand that,
thelauthor is a man of considerable fortune, and
hasps views to emolument in submitting it to the'
public. It will adurit of retrenchment, but it was
received with much applause, and announced for
repetition with general assew, and without oue
opposing voice.

I The acting was admirable.—Too much cannot
be said of DuwwoN and Miss. KELLY. JOHN-
STONE, BARTLEY, WALLACK,, KNIGHT, Mrs.
SPAIIIO, and Mrs. DAVISON, 'essentially contri7
buted to the success of the piece. JouNsTotin sung
a whitnsical song in the third act, which was unani-
.
yepcorei . It is net.dlt.ss to say that hegave it
hurnour.—The Ptologue was writ'
igIi,t)YMr..RAE, who, by this specimen of his lite-
rairy'taste, as w;dl. as by his merit as an,actor, shows
how well qualified he i, for the situation
,which
lie holds.—Dte- Epilogue was the production of
the Hon.
.GEORGE Lamas, whose poetical .talents
are well known.-7-The house, was cruwdei4 in all
.

•
• PROLOGUE
lt~f TO
.17 ,;., it WHERE TO FIND .4 FRIEND."
• Writton by Mr. RAE, and spoken by 'Mr. POWELL.

In'days of yore a Sage, the story ran,
Went grumbling forth to find an honest man ; •
With lanihorn gliornering in the open day
The cross old Cynic, purblind, poked his way;
With jaundiced eye his fellow man surrey'd,
Andswore that honesty from earth had fled :
To what, yorell say, does this allusion tend'?
this-tful puzzled IP-Aare to :find a Friend? • -
To you I 'bow, grave Censors of the Stage,
We prize your plaudits, and we dread your rage; .
To you, who hold the sciaks of ?raise and blame, •
Critics here peculiar homage claim :
If on our Play this night your brows you bend,
//niece shall an .•!.uthor hope to find a Friend
Dread is the task inihis enlighten'd age,
To face the terrors of the sceniaStage;
To dare the gaze of England's classic mind,
Endow'd with judgment and with taste refin'd ;
• Anxious our Author comes, with fear opprest,
Tumultuous feelings agitate his breast; '
• Ife-Seets the sphere-where Shakespeare's muse hath shone,
'An3, trembling, shrinks to plunge the Rubicon;
here ii,didgence reigns, •
s'ght4ii;ier enchanting beams; and berg her throne maintains,
,
rtentis to tuis ground ! to all Inow appeal;
To British minds," which ever kindly feel ;
Your smiles eau all our apprehensions end, .
•On this occasion► prove the Author's friend;
Grant the Olive if denied the Bays,
And yield hilt " pardon where you cannot praise."

EPILOGUE,
Written by the Honourable ,GEolt6t; LAmo, and 3pohen 'by
.4183 s KELLY.

Mean is the fame that Comic Bard can reach,
_,(l-I,lreer amusing) if he faits to teach.
,Iht%tiirn, the lesson that this Play imparts
'Paine d fits moral 09 our hearers' hearts?
Wifl oitelwife here, (if one, oh ! let toe find her),
Becoine fess feazing, or one husband kinder?
Can
.man, can lordly man.; put npllirough'life,
With bitt.one female friend, and that his wife
Or virtuous ladies be content. to close
Their harmless friendships with platonic beaux?
°' Friendship"-=—a poet writes--" likelove'gn'a name,"
Ate they not often, Ladies, both tho'saMe ?
-Friendship's a light that beams in safe controul,
To help, to guide, to gladden, or Console; '
Should it :the touch .of fiercer passiendosow,
Blaze into love, and with its madness glow,
Ittnounts like raging fires its stordly 'weather,
And-Jove and friendship both burn out stogetlitt.
Enough of marriage; a trite theme that sits
The brains of all that are, or would be, Wits.
Nov.' let us ask, What kind-of friendship aids
The wiser lives of bachelors and maids ?

Oh ! from what various causes, acts, and things,'
Friendship, or what is. call'd.so, -czprings !
From wine, from law, front. quarrels, illness, waat,
Congenial folly, and conspiring cant,
Agreeing hatred, undeserv'd reproaches,
Fulls, fits, mistakes, and journeys in stage Coaches.
"Sir," says the challenger, wit h courtliest grace,
" answer'soon, and fix both time and place,"
" Though c,. Cite a stranger, I'll your call attend,
"I know no soul here, but I'll find a friend."
The good roan, ruilesl by deceit and fraud,
Burns.to proclaim the villain's name abroad.
" Learn,' ,he exclaims, " learn caution front my fall, -
" Trust not the wretch, for he'll betray you all."
"Sarthat n-o mdre," cries one, " I'll recommend."
! 'tis true"—" yes sir —but he's my friend."
The itwyer, viewing with malicious. breast,
A7riiXf's bag, that bursts with briefs comprest,
Still keeps that amity, With spite though big,
That's still assumed each morning with his wig;
And feels convine'd " his Lordship won't attend
" To the. gross ignorance of suf learned frieud."
Such friendship is, such is its rise. and aim,
All giro; all take, all misapply the name !
Who sold you that vile nag, that risk'd you)! life?
Who stole your daughter? %Vim seduc'd your wile ?
Who won your money? Who still makes you Itud,
And ne'er repays ? One answer serves—my friend.

There is °lie sect, of wraith and worth joiriakei3,
whivittot abuse the term—l mean the Qudkers;
*l7....oztAbohenevolent to all apply it,
And rarely mean one jot of friendship by it. .
I haveso!ne friends too: such this,hourdeniands •
'WhOse'ftWring hearts speak by apiilanding
The best I know--ald 'twas Our Author's whim,
That sent me here to find sonic such for him;-
Well, then, " speak binds for him"---a-ching
But let the hearts that prompt incur still be wine.