The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-25 00:00:00

ADELPHI THEATRE.

A new piece; "The Borgia Ring," was produced last
night at this theatre. Tho plot can speedily be described'
Piers Wenlock (Mr. B. Webster) is the spendthrift, good'
for-nothing, outcast nephew of an old Wiltshire gentleman'
recently deceased, in whose house he has recently been
staying under an assumed name, and to whose will he 1133
been a witness. He has thus learnt that he is disinherited;
and that the estates are bequeathed to a certain Lieutenant
Raby Langley, on condition that he gives up a certaill,
humbly-born girl to whom he isbetrothed. The lieutenanv
is away with his regiment, but the girl, Mabel Daventri
(Mrs. A. Mellon), is in the house, and she alone knob
5
where the will is hidden. Pressed by Goldhawk (Mr. C'
Selby), a Jew money-lender, to whom he is largely indebted,
Piers Wenlock offers Mabel a large bribe if phe will aid hnli
in destroying the will, pointing out to her thianot only dee4
she gain wealth but an opportunity of safely marrying nal),1„
Langley', whose fortune would bo forwarded were he I"
make her his wife. She indignantly refuses, and their COy
ference is broken in upon by the arrival of Langley (r 11.:,
Billington), who is annoyed both at finding her closet&
with a stranger, and at her distraite and wandering
manner. Mabel is painfully unselfish and horoic--6110
will not rob Raby Langley of his fortune by mama''
ing him ; all she can do is to quit the place, an„
she is preparing to do this when the Jew GoldhaN"
giveslher a note, by which she is informed that her lover?
welfare depends upon her presenting herself that night 1,11,1
the Druid's Circle at Stonehenge—there a mystery woo,
be revealed to her. When Raby is concerned Mabel weals'
brave anything ; but, previous to starting, she goes to all
old cabinet where the will is preserved, in a drawer of whiell,
she finds a ring, which, when pressed, possesses poisonon ci'
properties, and which is duly ticketed as having belonge
to the Borgias. Fearful that such a dangerous plaything
should fall into ignorant hands, Mabel places the ring °
her finger, and, hiding the will in her dress, sets off for th.
rendezvous. The next scene gives us Stonehenge by rneell:
light, where we find Piers Wenlock and Goldhawk, th
former bent on first learning from Mabel the place mile':
the will is deposited and then on her destruction, the WO'
timorous and irresolute. Mabel arrives, and Piers nlOO,
no disguise of his intention. Mabel hesitates, but is chant
to yield on Piers swearing that ho will spare her life. 11°
seizes her hand to register this oath with due stage imPre°:
siveness, presses the ring, and falls in a swoon, while "
blinding snowstorm, which curiously commences at el°
moment, prevents Mabel from regaining her path, and
act drop falls on, her bending over Piers' prostrate body. .1.
the next act the Jew Goldhawk has been found by sel
shepherds in a raving state, and by what can be gatheteL
from his mutterings, suspicion of foul play against Mabel 'I,
aroused, and Raby Langley-and his friends set off to se°
her.- They arrive at the Stonehenge ruins but just in time'
for Wenlock temporarily reviving from his stupor, 11
seized the will from Mabel, and has presented a pistol
her, which luckily missed fire. tut so enormous is thio
gentleman's capacity for crime that he is not yet satisfied'
but endeavours to persuade Langley to shako hands, ills
order that ho may indulge him with a taste of the ring, bll
is again frustrated by the watchful Mabel.

Mr. Webster and Mrs. Mellon acted with their ustut;
excellence in their respective characters, and were honour&
with a recall at the fall of the curtain. The curtain fell
amidst loud applause. .