The Sun.
London, England, 1834-04-01 00:00:00

EAST INDIA SHIPPING.

The Kellie Castle, from China, has arrived off Ply-
mouth. She sailed on the 13th of December, and St.
Helena on the 12th of February.
The Guardian, from Liverpool, has arrived in the
Downs ; sailed in November.
Departures from China.—The Thames, for London,
the 2d of December; the Lady Melville, Inglis, and
Herefordshire, for London, the 14th of December.
Arrival at the Cape The Thames, from China.
Arrival at St. Helena.—The Inglis, Herefordshire,
and Lady Melville, from China, the 11th of February;
the Frances, from Bombay, and sailed the 11th of Fe-
bruary for Liverpool ; the
Bare, from Bomba and
Cape the 7th. yy,

DEATH OF MRS. BURNS. It is with re-
gret we announce, that intelligence arrived here on
Thursday night, by the Defiance coach, of the demise
of the venerable relict of our national bard. The me-
lancholy event took place at her own house in Dum-
fries, about eleven o'clock on Wednesday night, and
the information was communicated in a letter to her
sister at Mauchline, where, we believe, the eldest son
of the poet is at present residing.—Kilmarnock
•
Journal.

We learn from Naples that Madame Mali-
bran was on the point of setting out for London, when
an engagement for fifty nights, at 2,000 francs a night,
induced her to prolong her stay.' Tamburini, Ivanoff'
Mademoiselle Grisi and Madame Ungher, set out on
Tuesday for London, and are to be followed in a short
time by Rubini.---Galignani.
The repeal of the inhabited house duty will
have the effect of reducing the assessed taxes payable
within the borough of Birmingham to the amount of
about 10,000/. The reduction in the duty which took
place twelve months ago amounted to 3,5001. ; so that
the total reduction effected in twelve months will be
upwards of 13,000 L—Birmingham Advertiser.

THE THEATRES.

DRURY-LANE.

After the tragic play of Pizarro, a new piece not
inappropriately denominated "an Easter f011y," was
last night produced. It is entitled Anster Fair; or,
Michael Scott the Wizard ! Mr. Pocock, the author
of the drama, has borrowed the subject from a singu-
larly amusing poem, published a few years ago by Mr.
W. Tennant. He has adhered to his original with
considerable fidelity, and has produced a trifle in which
the waggeries of rustic life, and the pleasantries of Mr.
and Mrs. Puck, a couple of benevolent fairies, are not
unpleasantly mingled with the solemn, but not unfre-
quently ludicrous incantations of the Warlock, Michael
Scott. Michael (who was right humourously represented
by Mr. Webster) is, though a dealer in the black art,
marvellously fond of fair ladies, and has set his affec-
tions on Maggie Lauder ( Miss H. Cawse,) the pret-
tiest maid in Anster. Maggie has, however, surrendered
her heart to Rob the Ranter (Mr. Brindal), a poor
but spirited laird, Who has little more than " his good
spirits to feed and clothe him." Mac Jamie (Mr.
Bartley) the Baron of Braidrig, who appears to exer-
cise despotic sway over his peasantry, causes it to be
proclaimed that, at the approaching Anster fair, he who
shall be successful in a sack-race, a pony-race, and a
hirtle on the bagpipes, shall be rewarded with the
hand of Maggie. Michael Scott has immediate
recourse to his " cursed cantrips," and hopes,
with the assistance of the arch-fiend, to carry off
the prize. His arts are, however, rendered unavail-
ing by the superior cunning of Mr. and Mrs. Puck,
who had long been confined, the gentleman in a
mustard-pot, and the lady in a pepper-box, by the old
wizard. They procure their liberty through the in--
strumentality of Johnny ( Mr. Meadows), and they,
make use of it to succour the lovers, and to counteract
the designs of their old foe the necromancer. By
their beneficient aid Rob is foremost in the sack and
pony-races, and, by the magic of his pipes in the mu-
sical contention, he sets the assembled multitude a-
dancing. To him is awarded the hand of Maggie
Lauder, while Michael Scott, enraged at the ill suc-
cess of his familiar, burns his book, and becomes a
very pious personage. The piece was extremely well
acted. Meadows sustained the little character of
Johnny with much pleasant effect; and his sweetheart,
Janet, was excellently supported by Mrs. Fitzwilliam.
The pony-race was well managed, and excited con-
siderable laughter. But the scene which appeared to
give the most unmixed satisfaction was that in which
the sound of Puck's bagpipes excites not merely the
dancing propensities of the wizard and his whole
household, but, like the lyre of Orpheus, animates
matter that was previously inanimate, and sets pictures,
tables, chairs, fenders, and fire-irons, capering in the
most grotesque manner. The scenery is pretty, and
the music, almost wholly Scotch, has been tastefully
selected and Cleverly arranged by Mr. T. Cooke and
Mr. R. Hughes.