The Sun.
London, England, 1823-11-19 00:00:00

THE THEATRE.

nr X trio's 6
. .
his AjAsp 'Dutt-r.—Yesterday,at 12 o'clock
50r,
iv
..ST y hew
4 a Court at his Palace at 'Wind.
0..
t_tp 11;ch WAS atteltilPd by the Lord President
Iltaiet Council, the Master General of the Ord-
alinti
sl ths. •Vice President of the Board of Trade,
Courier, u Long. Ms Majesty held a Privy
A pro !: at which Mr. Buller attended as clerk.
the 4s""ution was agreed upon to be issued for
I.,,,,i_:emblitig of Parliament for the dispatch of
xi.leo ss on the 3d day of February next. The
ket gave an audience to the Earl of Harrowby,
_John Chapman, Esq., late Mayor of Wind-
Ivi_u,ntl Griffin Wilson, Esq., the Recorder of
graeojuosor, were introduced, when his Majesty was
flood usly pleased to confer the litmour of knight-
Upon them. ,A..
eoti„VIET COVNClL.—Yesterday a Cabinet
ihg;tc.,ll assembled at the Foreign Office, Down-
C41,417''t, being the first for the season. The.
q ii:t was summoned for two o'clock, but few
tli,,',, Members had arrived till three o'clock.
the p: were present—the LORI, CHANCELLOR,
1:111 4,,r) ..(11;liarrowby, the Earl of Liverpool, the
~(,,,,,t''' 1% estmorland Mr. Secretary Peel, Mr.
Nil. arY Canning Earl Bathurst the Duke of
4* "igton Viscount , .
,
NI , 1 Melville, Lord Bexley, Mr.
lidit )trle CI I
)atice tor of the Exchequer,Viscount
14
fil°rsuttili Wild Mr. lluskision, Who attended for'
''.t the ,tirne since his admission to be a Member
leii, %-abitiet.--Th Councilwas engaged in
lit llratio., . e The chain armour making for the characters
eNI 1 till about five o'clock. Several of
tl, era1,,,,.. of Xing John, announced for revival at Covent-
Monde next, has, we under-
' ale(! tin ' Caine to town expressly to attend garden Theatre on . y, Covent-
ca' t ~
stand, a most splendid appearance. It is com-
'the
re tou,°llt,,The Chancellor of the Exchequer
; %ttri tit „Join the seat of Lady De Grey.---- posed of the identical materials used for armour
P the n ,„ "estmorl nd also arrived in town during tha 12th and 13th centuries.
()lit f4-4
-"se, h didllreach the Office till
ii ~ our ~. ut not SHAKSPEARE'S Cliff at Dover, has lately
. been
from its base
i 11 tf+
tt
I') I' el'pek. The Earl of Ilarrowby and considerably reduced in height,
Os il .of Well' A• having been washed 7eib, le Kin ington arrived late from !Menu. away by the sea, and the
fall of parts of its summit.
, illet w, g In Council. We understand the consequent
4441. -.44 summoned by Mr. Secretary CAN.. KEAN, who has been for some time residing
Yet near Rothsay on account of his health,
.1iii..!,,,,
44 terdaY f
.11,4 ye,
~_
..._4 terpoon the. Duke of Yoax held
i iforseusUominander-in- learn,so delighted with the mildness an,d*lo
rl y
Chief, at his Office in b •t of the climate of the Isle of Butt400•0*:
from the Marquis of Bute.), a
~t4tesyri
TGuards, which was attended by Gen. has purchased
Ishores of Loch Fad, a
' IT 'lll-,tesut G • 1 piece of ground on tle
io is, 1,,, - . eneral Bolton, Lieut.-Genera . tse, • lislop m • short distance from the capital, in order to erect
10111 41 Bin „,,;) Major-General Farmer, Major-
which lie intends for his future residence.
.1-t0,%,,, , major-General Mawley, Sir llud- a villa, . p .i ,
°sr 1 Alder
--.Carlisle . atm .)
hi ( Farr,u, mon Archer, from Dublin, Sir
Captain LYON, of the Mao, the second in
Plv,,,' 40)13 „.,',1.1*, and a number of others. .
nd undei.Captain PARRY, in the late
t,4.st ii.._ !Nimes the Prince of ORANGE ar-
c°mmae
of discovery, is promoted to the rank of
i":14144175e1s on the 13th instant. After
voyage
Anil), anti Mr. BUSHNAN and Mr. GRIP-
, Yet far Strew„ (lays his Royal llighnefs would Post
Midshipmen of the Fury anti _Ueda, have
'4l elt rete b PITHS,
t,.. er4..,_... rs 'argil.
beetspromoted to the rank of Lieutenants.
~Neillery URron FAG EL, the Ambassador from..,.
9 MACKINTOSH was this forenoon (Sa-
sigt,t, llids, the Earl of CATIIand V' Sir JAME .
kll 'N vlj 1.- . CART, is- ) re-elected Lord Rector of
day, 15th inst.. , .
vince -t., transacted business at the Fe- tur
In the nation Glottlana there
1,, it, h. .
our University.
,t,14•,b. ALsit
for Sir WALTER SCOTT, but the
votes
,ilittlY iiiert,; ' 0 Xing's Messenger, arrived yes- were some'on were unanimous for Sir JAMES. The
It ~e 6 froth .Ll,)g 4,...! the Foreign Office, with dis-
other nation
are that it is very unusual for the,
rt St. 1,-• '-,ir L;IZARLES Breader is aw
AGOT our Ambassa- h changed before the end of two
tlt'll'EcT "*lshurgh ' Lord Rector to e , .
Ghronicle.)
014 s °s' Tit e ears.—(Gfrisg"
'yak Oti s E LATE STORM.—The return y and other
keletons of the Walrus other
~. ti ~ . aturchl.. , .
Several s .
recent attempt to discover the North.
ll don i,.
Earli lest of the number of trees
nirnals, Obtainettin the
to
the
Royal College of Surgeons,
1 tttid ‘, BATHURST'S Park was a Iv have been Sent
_._.
west pass ,
Museum of Natur.tl History.
on the Estate 1043. to be placed in ther . .

Dituity-LANE.—The Tragedy entitled Caius
Gracchus, which, according to report, had been
withheld from representation by the objections
of the Dramatic Licenser, was brought forward
last night. It is the avowed production of Mr.
SHERIDAN KNOWLES, the author of Virginius,
which has been represented during the present
season at this Theatre. We have only room for
a brief notice of the plot, which in the main, fol-
lows History, as to the character and conduct of
the Hero whose name gives the Play its title.
FABLE.
____

The scene, of course, lies in Rome.—" The Play opens with
the successful pleading of Caius Gracchus, in behalf of Vettius,
who is accused of treason by Opimius. The Senators, fearful
of the influence of Gracchus over the passions of the people,
and aware of his deiire of avenging the death of his brother
Tiberius appoint him to the situation of Qumstor (under
Opimius) in a distant province. Gracchus returns at the ex-
piration of his duty, is accused by Opimius of disobedience, is
tried, and acquitted, and, in spite of the opposition of the
Senators, is elected Tribune. His influence and power are now
exerted to advance the interests of the people, in opposition to
the encroachments of the Patricians; but these last, through
the a,,encY of his colleague Drusus, for a short time injure his
popularity. The insults and injuries of the Senators (headed
by Opimius, who is now Consul) rouse his passions to the
highest pitch, and, incited by the wildest fury of his friends and
partisans, he assumes the attitude of defiance. The accidental
murder of a lictor, by one of his followers, brings the disturb-
ances to a crisis, and a battle ensues. Caius is worsted, nearly
all his friends destroyed ; he rushes to the temple of Diana,
where his mother, wife, and child, had previously fled for pro-
tection ; and after takinll a solemn farewell, he secretly stabs
himself' to the heart. II ith this last circumstance the Tragedy
ends."

It will be seen that the catastrophe differs
Arom historical truth, as Caius Gracchus did not
commit suicide, but was executed by order dale
Consul Opi,nius, his body thrown ruto the Tiber,
and his wife forbidden to put on mourning. This
Play seems to have been taken from a very line
Italian Tragedy on the same subject. It was
difficult to judge of the poetical merit of the
piece, as the mind was chiefly occupied in the pro-
gress of the Fable ; but it appeared to us to
abound in vigorous sentiments, and to be expressed
in dignified language. It is impossible not to re-
cognize COrkiallUS, Volumnia, and in Virginia,
Canis Gracchus, Cornelia, and Lucinia, and
even in the female visitor, as well as Monenius in
Titus. The alternate scenes of popular tumult and
domestic anxiety also remind us of the play of our
immortal Bard. But on the whole it is very credit-
able to the talents of the Author, whatever simili-
tudes may appear in the plot and characters, and we
must wait for the publication of the piece before
we can venture to judge of the style. The Play
was altogether very well performed. Mr. MAC-
READY gave impressive energy to the patriotic
passages, and was sufficiently tender in the do-
mestic situations. We never, indeed, saw him
appear before to equal advantage. If there were
at times some KEANISHE in dropping his voice
from the energetic to the familiar, tricks
unworthy of an actor who possesses so much
merit of his own, yet they were lost in the
general spirit of his acting, and he welt de-
served the applause that attended him. Mrs.
Burp: fully justified the favourable opinion which
we have conceived of her talents, and exhibited
all the dignity of a Roman Matron in Cornelia.
Mrs. W. WEEr also deserves much praise for her
expression of conjugal tenderness and anxiety in
Lucinta. Opimius may be considered as the se-
cond male character in the piece, and it was
supported with spirit and judgment by Mr.
ARCHER. lie possesses a powerful and well.
toned voice, and he speaks with manly simpli-
city. Mr. TERRY was firm and humorous in
Titus, and POPE, who is properly resigning him.
self to characters somewhat " declined into the
vale of years" gave sufficient prominence to
the part of Drusus. The play was very well
received by a crowded audience throughout,
and was announced for repetition by Mr. .M.sc-
READY with loud and universal assent. lie
is, we find, censured in some of the Morning
Papers for coining forward himself on the occa-
sion, but as the practice of calling for Mr. KEAN,
so insuiting to the other Performers to whom the
task was assigned, was so common, we are dis-
posed to believe that Mr. MACHEADY was un-
willing to hazard a repetition of such an offensive
clamour.—The Prologue was spoken by Mr.
TERRY, with due animation, but as another was
written for him, and accepted, we were rather sur-
prised at the change. We shall give the other to our
Readers to-morrow, and leave the public to judge
of the propriety of the alteration. The Epilogue
which was attempted to be spoken by Mrs. OR.
DER, in the character of a country girl, and Miss
S. BOOTH and Miss L. KELLY, as two Ladies of
Fashion, was not favourably received,, nor heard
to the conclusion.

lst. That when a Postmaster, on opening his mail, shall find
that any paper which he thinks should have reached the office,
has not arrived, he will, by letter acquaint the Secretary with
the circumstance, and the name of the subscriber, whose paper
may appear to be missing.
2d. No paper is to be delivered but to the subscriber, or to
his messenger or servant, known to be such.
3d. That under no pretence, either with or without die con-
sent of the subscriber, shall a deputy open and read a news.
paper previous to its being delivered to its owner, and of course '
from under his official care. If subscribers are willing that
post-masters should have the benefit of reading their rapers,
it must be after, and not while they have the official custody
of them.
4th. That no Deputy will, under any authority either writ.
ten or verbal, permit any paper to be opened and read by any
person, but the subscriber to whom it is addressed. If Sub-
scribers are willing to permit persons to read their papers, it
must be after the Post.office has discharged its duty in deliver-
ing it to themselves or their messenger, known to be such.
Post-offices must not be converted into reading-rooms. Such
a practice, while it must add to, if not create the very evil
complained of, affords the same advantages with Subscribers,
to persons who thereby contribute nothing either to the Post-
Office, the Stamp-Office, or the Editor. Deputy Postmasters
must not be agents in acts, which have a direct tendency to in.
jure one branch of the. public revenue, and by curtailing, the
circulation of newspapers, i
nterfere with the interests of the
press.

EDWARD S. LEES, secretary.
General Post-Office, Oct. 31, M 23.

—,--- .
ATTEMPT AT SELF DESTRUCTION.--AbOUt six
perSOIIS passing along
O'clock this morning, some
Stangate heard some individual struggling in
the water near the shore. Two men instantly
put off in a boat to the spot, and found it man on
the point of sinking to rise no more. They placed
him in the boat and carried him ashore, when
several young men, his friends, were waiting to
receive him. They stated that they had been
out the whole of the night and were returning
home when their friend," approaching the bridge,
run dawn the steps like a madman and plunged
into the water. He was not at all inebriated,
and the rash act is alleged to a fit of insanity.
lie was carried home to his family at Pimlico,
where he has lived many years,