The Sun.
London, England, 1805-04-19 00:00:00

FABLE.

The scene lies in Yorkshire. Mr. Torrent, a wealthy Lon-
don Merchant, having purchased an estate in that county,
retires from business in order to employ his great fortune in
acts of benevolence. On his arrival at the Manor House he
learns that a tire had consumed great part of the neighbouring
houses, an event that, gives him great pleasure, as no lives
were lost, and as. the inhabitants were his own tenants, for
whom he resolves to build better habitations. He finds that
a Gentleman, named,Barterd, had displayed great humanity ha
rescuing the sufferers from the flames, and he therefore resolves
that this Gentleman, whose circumstances he understands arc
nut very prosperous, shall profit by his generosity. It appears
that Capt. Delamere, ruined in fortune, and rendered miser-
able by the infidelity of his wife, and the treachery and in-
gratitude of a friend, quits his Regiment in the West Indies,
leaving behind him the unfaithful partner of his bed, who
had eloped from hint with his only child, and arriving in
England, retires at last to a village. where lie lives secluded.
under the name of Befoul. Some years after, Henry, in the
exercise of his profession of a physician, accidentally visiting
M the house of Mrs, Dela ere in the West Indies, who is now
reduced to poverty with her daughter, and compassionating
heriveretched situation, continues to assist them sill the death
of the mother, and then brings the young Lady under his
protedion to England—Upon their arrival in London he is
hurried away by a press-gang, and she procures a lodging at
the house of Jonathan Oidsk at, who feels a paternal attic.
tion for the young Lady, and permits her to remain with him
till she can meet with a situation, for which purpose he adver-
tises in the public papers, and Fanny is hired by the Agent of
Torrent, as his housekeeper. 0 ldskirt condutts her to her
new situation ; she loses her way, and arrives at the house of
Lord A. la-mode, and is imposed upon by And. Bang, his Lord.
ship's Game-keeper, and introduced to Sir Larry M*Mur-
. ragh fa dashing I risk buck, who having lost his fortune at
the gaming table, Lord A-la-mode, the fortunate winner,
has given hisri the use of his house for a time, to lie conceal-
ed from his Creditors), who persuades tier he is the person to
whom she is hired, and thus prevails upon her to remain in
the house.
During these transadions Ilarford discovers that Fanny is
his long lost daughter, and that Torrent is the brother of the
man who had seduced his wife and ruined his tortune.—Bar-
ford hastens to the manor-house to demand his child, arid
there meets Oldskirt, who had likewise conic to seek her,—
Fanny not being to be found, it is agreed to search every house
in the neighbourhood, anti Solomon Mundy, whom Torrent
had recently taken into his service, is also dispatched on that
buiiness. —Solomon in his search, comes to the house of
Hogniore, where he meets henry, who had in vain requested
a night's lodging of the surly farmer, he having just landed
on the coast of Yorkshire after escaping froth a French
,prison—Solomon seeing him ready to sink with fatigue,
takes him to the nearest house( Lord A-la-mode's); and there

enquiring alter Fanny, he discovers, through the inebriety of
Andrew ilang, that the young Lady is in the house.

They, however, continue their search, and come to
the apartment of. Sir Larry, where they inert him and Tor-
rent, and at length prevail upon the Baronet to give up
Fanny, which ho is about to slo, when Oldskirt leads in the
young Lady, who, of course, proves to be the daughter of
Captain Delamere, who readily gives her hand to her pre-
server, Henry. The liberal Mr. Torrent dettirmines to set-
tle a fortune on the happy pair, as well as to diffuse Com
fort around the neighbourhood ; and with this agreeable
prospect the Piece concludes.
The chief features ut this Comedy strongly indi-
cate its dramatic father. This likeness, how-
ever, is rather discoverable in vigour of sentiment,
and the goner .1 spirit Of the dialogue, than in no.
velty or strength of charader. • The sentiments,
indeed, arc very forcible, and are often expressed
with great felicity of language. There arc many
ludicrous combinations of imegery, whimsical corn.
parisons, and odd turns of humour, that excite ireee
sistible laughter. There are also many interest.
ing and affecting situations in the Piece, which form
so strong a contrast with its facetious qualities, that
it is likely to become very popular and attradive.
The chief deka in this Piece is the want of a
good and svell.conneded Fable. It is evident that
the Author has not given himself much trouble in
this resped, but has relied upon his imagination,
humour, and power of awakening sensibility, for
the general effect cf his composition. Perhaps in
this resped he has been more successful than if he
had bestowed more attention on the regular mature..
tiun of a plot, as he has drawn some interesting acid
diverting charaders, and happily adapted them to
the talents of. the Performers,
In the exuberance of his humour, the Author has
suffered some passages to escape him that trespass
too much upon delicacy, or at least upon the affided
delicacy of motiern taste ; but as the Audience ma.
nifested their disapprobation of these passages, they
Will doubtless be omitted on the repetition of the
Piece. The first three Ads arc undoubtedly' the
best. The charaders are opened with great skill,
and most inverting etred. The 'dialogue also in
these Aas is most lively and fanciful. The last
two /VAS are comparatively languid, arid the con.
eluding one in particular drags its slow length
along." Indeede as the catastrophe is soon evident in
the last Ad, and as the Comedy altogether is long,
it -admits of much compression,. without the least
danger of weakening thegeneral interest.
• lieloneere or Barfordi is the unhappy Gentleman
of many a similar work. It was sustained with
charatteristic dignity, truth, and feeling, by KEN.
ace. Lewis, for the first- tinr, • performed an
lrisb Cbaraner in Sir Lawrence ; from all .we
could learn, his brogue is rather mixed than legitimate.
In other respeds he displayed his usual ease and vi
vacity. Museigi4 was excellent in Torrent. Solo.
etionthendy is-a kind of maie-Malaerep and Frei:chi.
fed Lingo. It received ample- justice from Fww.
Strtmous has increased, his reputation by
his performance of Olddirt. C. Kzete ea was suf.
ficiently impressive in Renee. Two little Boys,
Hoeetonow and BENSON, excited. much applause in
their respedive parts.. EMCky, 'in the drunken
Game-keeper, was, as usual, excellent ; and IVlrs.
Gi 8115 and Mrs. MAITOCKS rendered their charge.
tern eufliciently prominent..-
The Prologue, after some sarcastic strokes at Pro.
fugues in general, humorously, adverted to former
works of the Author. The Epilogue referred to
different classeefof the Audience who not only want
a Cuinea, according to the title of the Piece, but
whose necessities or avarice rake a match higher aim.
The Audience warmly received the piece in ge,
flid. The opposition was. only direded to a tew
insulated points, anti the; Piece was announced for
this evening by Mr. Ke.=tnz.s with the hearty Ccii.
ClUrCnce tel Audience.