The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-23 00:00:00

THE THEATRES.
HAYMARKET.
A new five-act comedy, from the pen of Mr. Sullivan,
(who is already favourably known to the public as a
dramatic author) was produced here on Saturday even-
ing. It is entitled The Beggar on Horseback, and it met
with great and well-deserved success. It is a comedy of
manners of the present day, and is an exceedingly well-
built play, and it would b: well that all dramatists should
ar in mind that the artistical construction cf the plot
of a five act play is an element that conduces more to
its :success as an acting play, than either smartness of
dialogue or variety of incident, or even individuality of
character ; not, however, that The Beggar on Horseback
is d ficient in any of these. The dialogue is uniformly
smart and well written, and without being forced or
strained, is not unfrequently witty. I:he incidents are
welt contrived and sufficiently numerous, and the
characters of Cymon Foxhall, Morecraft, and
Lady Coverdale, are all distinct, and well developed in-
dividualities. At e.he commencement of the comedy,
we are introduced to Sir John Coverdale (Mr. Tilbury),
a baronet, proud of his ancient pedigree, but deeply in
debt—with his estates mortgaged to an old usurer for
their full value. By a former marriage he has had a son,
Eeriest, (Mr. 11. loll), and a daughter, Selina, (Miss
Julia Bennett) ; and the present Lady Coverdale, (Mrs.
Glover), rules him and his household not by violence of
manner or of language, but by perpetually offering them
consolation under any distresses which may chance
to befall then ; such consolation consisting of the most
ill-natured sarcasm spoke in the most honied tones. The
lady sees no way out of their difficulties save by seeking
some rich plebian alliance for their children. To this
the proud baronet decidedly objects, and the lady tells
him that there is ene consolation,they can break up their
establishment, advertise for a situation fer Selina, and
procure Ernest an ensigney in a marching regiment.
This dialogue is interrupted by the appearance of Ernest,
who informs them that, owing to the death, without S
will, of the rid usurer, to whom their estates are mort-
gaged, Cymon Foxball, his nephew, whom they recollect
as a vulgar lout, has become his heir, and has arrived in
London to take possession of his inheritance. Lady
Coverdale immediately commences plotting to secure
Cymon Foxhall fur Selina, and, observing that it would
be well to be civil to the young man, and ire what he is
like, dispatches Ernest to call upon him. The scene
then changes to Foxhall's house, and we are introduced
to Cymon Foxhall (Mr. Webster), and his man of
business, Morecraft (Mr. W. Farren). Cymon Foxhall
had been by his late uncle placed in a Manchester-house
in the city, but he had turned out a low lived blackguard,
a frequenter of low taverns and low gambling-houses, a
mean-spirited, hypocritical profligate, in one word— a
" swell." In his uncle's house was residing an orphan
girl, Emmeline (Mrs. Seymour), whom that uncle had
adopted, and to whom it was supposed by every one that
the uncle would have left his property. The affections
of this girl, with these expectancies, Cymon Foxhall had
sought and won ; and albeit his wide had discarded him,
and for four years Cymon Foxhall had been
living a disrepwable outcast at Boulogne, still
her affection for him continued unabated. Previously
to his departure for Boulogne he had managed to intro-
duce into his uncle's establishment a crony of his own,
named Morecraft, a broken -down marker at a billiard-
table, giving him special injunctions to use every means
in his power to prevent the old usurer from making a
will ; and well had those injunctions been obeyed, for we
find Cyrnon in the usurer's house, the undoubted pos-
sessor of all his wealth. Admirably did Webster dress
and play this character. Dressed in a suit of mourning
that might have been made by Stultz himself, he
managed, by his method of wearing it, to make it appear
ill-fit ing and vulgar. his hat was of the most un-
exceptionable pattern, but he stuck it on his head with
that knowing " jut" on one side, which is one of the
characteristics of the " gent," as eontradistinguished
from the gentleman. He carried in his hand a cane,
the but-end of which he ever and anon struck against
the booted part of his right leg, and he pulled up his
collar, and pulled down his waistcoat, and in e
thousand ways showed, that notwithstanding
his insolent swagger, and his boastful pride
of purse, he was ill at ease, because he was con'
scions that he had not in his whole composition one
atom, the raw material out of which it would be possible
to manufacture a gentleman. In this, their first inter-
view, dorecraft details to him the schemes by which
he had been enabled to prevent his uncle from making
a will, and Cymon gives Morecraft to understand tha
now their relative ptaitions are altered. Morecraft how'
ever takes the announcement very coolly, and remind
Cymen that he cannot do without him. Cymon then
hints at his desire to form a matrimonial alliance with
some high family, and Morecraft reminds him of Emme-
line. Cymon expresses a wish to see her, and
Morecraft sends her to him and leaves them
alone. She, all affection, rushes into his arms(
He receives her coldly, in a half-swaggering
half sneaking sort of manner, and, in reply to bet
questions, he says he loves her, and she shall have
house, a carriage, and money, and be just the same a ,
if she were his wife, but that he must marry for rank.;
She rejects his insulting offers with indignation, and
determines to leave the house instantly. This scene wee
acted by Mrs. Seymour with very great spirit. As she
quits him, he hears of his invitation to the Coverdalest
and after a short scene between Morecraft and Ensme"
line, we find Cymon, with Sir John and Lady Covet:
dale, making a regular contract of bargain and sale for
I, the hand of Selina, he having been brought to this pee!
very soon by the art of Lady Coverdale. At first the Baronet
seems disinclined to the sacrifice, but when Cymon talks
of foreclosing the mortgage, he consents ; and on Sellers
entering, she is introduced to him, and they are left
alone. Cymon at once breaks what he calls the goo
d
news to her, and is astounded at her not at once accept"
ing him. To her cousin, Horace Waldegrave (ft',
Hudson) she confides her troubles. The two cousins, 0_1;
course, discover that they have long loved each other'
and determine to take Ernest into their confidencer.
Ernest himself is desperately in love with a young crests
ture whom he bad met in the Park, but of when:o_7.
knows nothing, teed to the Park Horace, Ernest, and
.es.
line proceed.. Thege Ernest beholds his fair incognita'
who seeks to avoid him. Selina, however, accosts
her. It is Emmeline. The ladies retire togethFss
and Cy monFoxhall, who is in pursuit of Emmeline, jon_!,
the gentlemen. They threaten him with direful r
sf
sequences if he does not at once resign the hand:,
Selina, but to all their threats and taunts his only
ply is, " Pay me my mortgage." Selina now joins. x
ten,
party ; she has heard from Emmeline her story, and At
p ises the heartless hypocrite in his true colours.
old
first he attempts to make his habitual swagger te
more insolent, but as Selina proceeds all his imp ion'
deserts him, and the mean-spirited coward stands 011 d
fessed. He imagines that Morecraft must have betray,®
him, and, vowing vengeance against Morecrall,
meats eff. Before he takes his departure, how® his
he turns round and snaps his finger in the es °lto
tormentors, significantly reminding them the affair line
be eff if they will pay him his mortgage. Bonne sft,
comes from her place of concealment, and M°
tech
who is in pursuit of her, enters. Finding her in, the
good hands lie leaves her under the protection °f that
young people, very mysteriously reminding then:lei:oa
when affairs oecome too complicated for their go" or
he will render them assistsnce. On his return t° .ses
mom's, that worthy directs his footman, Th°,slf
(admirably acted by Mr. Brindal), to surnnisseilsg
ejecr, Morecrafa Just as the operation i4,"0,0
penormed, ueder the personal inspection of his
himself, Horace enters, and takes Morecraft
service—Morecraft and Cyrnon having each preitil.ess
for once in their lives, told the truth, in the chars .fib
c
which they respectively give of each other. The ee
act opens at the office of Cymon's lawyer, and thereisof
find Sir John and Cymon, aided by the lawyer, h'ioge
er gaeed in drawing up the settlements for the ma; re-
of Selina. Ernest and Horace join the party, and ;are
craft also quietly walks in and tells them they may' s poi
themselves all further trouble, for that Cymon 1..00
worth sixpence, producing at the same time a doeefor
signed by Cymon's uncle, in which he slates that Bw_stif
line is his own legitimate child, and, conseslii"sas
the heiress to all his wealth. Cymon, 10°0140
learned from Morecraft that Emmeline has sd Off
refuge at Sir John's, seeks her there, 52 00'
deavours, before she can know of what has rue Sid
to play the penitent, and thus secure her fortune-
Brit
suit, however, is indignantly rejected. At this 02°_tw ibe
the other parties enter and Morecraft explains tusz`bere,
old usurer, knowing the affection which Ensmelieffly
to Cymon, and being fully convinced of the tilla_loott
the latter, had confided to him the important docirStlsoe
with a strict injunction not to produce it until `fi'is be
should have shown himself in his true colours,
adds that he had behaved faithfully to the usured es'r,
cause he was the only man in the world, who licket?
loekei upon him without one eye "in his own rinaeset
Emmeline, the heiress, forgives Sir John his mor isssoo•
makes a handsome settlement on Horace and Selint'4'orit
vides for Morecraft, and gives herself and her f.°,l* nt the
d
Ernest. Even Cymon is not permitted to arrri%ienenisor;
tututl te-miaus of Beggars on Horseback. Emilie
at all a
his debts, and settles an annuity on him, so Os ,e hs.
made so happy that even Lady Covert
no one to whom she can offer COltroissin.o
The applause at the fall of the curtain was eniSre were
and all the artistes were called for. Then tneossieW
loud calls for the author, who bowed his seklo,sr.;
ments from the proscenium box. The piecethe
flounced for repetition every evening amid h the P',o
hearty plaudits. As to the manner in whio
ossibletef
was acted and put upon the stage, it is irof _
praise it too highly. Farren's Morecraft
.3
cieve.;
d'cevore of its sort, and Mrs. Glover acted tlinsirseda_J.,
scheming, polished, consoling Lady ,"°O-con.'o
as Mrs. Glover alone can act such parts. Of tnorsoss
of Webster we have already spoken--it is pea_l: bare!
greatest part. Brindal, as the footman Thoins%,
alvGaebrsmtearn,
an
sealt_laltserpref
aass
eaxlicocruseen-jtoicnket
and Mrs. Glover were -in the three great ch to
f the ue'
comedy.
yhe,iranldittßlelapnadasasaa
actors are worthy of the
the piece. The comedy is worthy 0

220
478
2,160
3,578
1,477
'53

13,166

26,990
610
2,6,59

4,844
864
3.425
5,563
1'2,499

4,270

PRIL\ CESSES. • h i 9
Whl cuo
A drama, entitled The Dreamer, the scene of
laid in the court of Charles 11., was produced hi.ere,,l 6,
evening with success. The dreamer is a certain Pu'obo
Dormer (Ar. C. Mathews). a gay young noblenoe, 08
is u tfortunately subject to fits of absence of EainAlip .1'
is tt,e rival of a certain Count de Florville t.' sr
Vining), for the love of Lady Clara Bolton (Mrs•bdor
ling. The Count concerts a scheme for the toss I
Lion of the lady, who is brought to b'
e W.:
which, the Dream e-, mistakng for his own'' xonee
rd, after a quarrel with Florville, _or
Lady Clara, who of course imagines that he is tchoustrl-
- and reprcaches him accordingly. This t sill
0
temps gives rise to a variety of others, and at last twill
explaim-d, and the lover§ made happy. This P.e're•
fjrtn Itu itinttinit arldiiion t.. the ‘l., ~,,,s' repertor

ft
We Darn from Hanover, Ma, co 11, co of t
fibe
nal°fi
ment of that kingdom has just contracted a loan
ve
Wafers, at 3%, per cent., with four Wakens of the ettpita4