The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-22 00:00:00

FRENCH PLAYS.

A six act play, entitled Diogene, written by M.
Felix Pyat, was produced here last evening with
mark( d success. It is not, as might be imagined from
its title, a classical play, but rather a series of scenes
connected together by the slightest possible thread,
illustrative of the fall of a philosopher into cynicism,
and of his 'regeneration by love. Diogene (M.
Bocage) comes to Athens to study mankind. He is
by nature kindly hearted, but rough and honest. He
sees the sons of Sophocles accuse their father of
madness, incarcerate him, and seek to plunder him of
his property. He sees the virtuous Socrates con-
demned to death as a blasphemer by the believers in
a degrading, superstition, he becomes disgusted, and
takes to his kennel, preferring to be like the virtuous,
faithful, honest dog, rather then like false, disgustinv,
cruel, dishonest man. Caught by his eccentricity,
Aspasie--the far-famed Aspasie—courts him. Her
vanity is piqued by his apparent indifference, and at
length she really loves him, rejecting for him Alci-
biades, Plato, and all the elite of the youth, the
learning, the fashion, and the philaophy of
Athens. Diogene is at length touched —he
loves his vision is cleared all Is not bad
in the world. Amidst much folly, much crime,
and much vice, he finds that there is even
more wisdom, more goodness, and more virtue.
He becomes more just to his kind ; love, has again
made him human, and the glory of his conversion is
due to Aspasie. The acting of M. Paul Bocage as
Diegene was a masterpiece. His sneers were
withering. We should like to see him in Timon of
Athens. He was admirably supported by Madame
Rebut Fechter, who made a most fascinating Aspasie,
one who must. have converted even a more confirmed
Cynic than Diogene. The house was very fashionably
attended.

THEATRE ROYAL, NORWICH —On Thursday even-
ing, Mrs. Butl.-r, N ho has been whiling a short engage
meta here, took her benefit. and was eminently success-
ful in her impersonation of Pauline Deschappelles, in the
Lady of Lyons. The attendance during Mrs. Butler's
stay has been good. On Monday evening last the
opera of la Sonnanibula was produced, the principal
parts being sustained by Miss Davenport, Mrs. Shaw,
Mr. Thornley, and Mr. Gilbeigh. The opera was per-
formed silly by the stock colrpany of the theatre, and
Was considerably applaud( d.—/Vwfath Chronicle.
Mr. Delnfield has engaged Roger, the celebrated
French tenor, for the Royal Italian Opera, Covent-
garden, and has made arrangements for the production
of Auher's new opera, Ilaydee, s hich has produced such
a sensation in Parts.
BETTER LATE THAN NEV EL—The Board of De-
puties of British Jews met on Wednesday last, and re-
solved to aderess a petition to Parliament in favour of
Lord John Russell's Bill for the removal of Jewish dis-
abilities.—Jewish Chronicle.
DUTY AND GLORY.—The Duke of Wellington
being asked if he had seen a French criticism on the
fourteen volumes of his "Dispatches," replied in the ne-
gative. and inquired, " What do the French say of
them?" lie was told that the reviewer remarked the
word glory (lid not once occur, but that duty frequently
Germany, England, and .Scotland.
The fortune of Miss Hardy, of Cork, is 1,5001.,
and strictly settled upon herself, which has been the
bar to her union with Capt. Bunbury, 67th, whose debts
amounted to 7001.
A Rice PAUPER.—Last week, an old woman,
ed Slater, residing at Bottany, near Ashton, died,
ralld -willed 801. to her relatives. The deceased had been
eeeiving relief from the parish for a long time previous
to
her death.—illanchester Guardian.