The Sun.
London, England, 1826-12-30 00:00:00

SOIREES FRANCAISES.

Le Marriage de Raison, a piece which has had a tnost extra•
ordinary aucces in Paris, was announced for petiormance hut
night at the West London Theatre.

We have not been, for years, a play that gave us at the same
time SO much pleasure and so much pain ; for, though the live-
liest interest was excited and maintained to the close, we could not
help feeling that the moral was calculated to dissipate a portion
of that generous enthusiasm. Romance, indeed, forms but a slender
portion of the character of the modern French ; their education seems
to propose to itself no other object than to eradicate the notion
altogether from the minds of the youth of both sexes ; and to all
who have been attentive observers of French society, it must be
evident that this object has been but too successfully attained.
Marriages of inclination are scarcely heard of in France, and inte-
rest is become so confessedly the motive of every uitiono that no
attempt is ever made to throw the veil of decency over the most
barefaced Smithfield bargains. In the higher ranks the parties
rarely meet till every preliminary has been agreed upon ; and se-
veral regular marriage brokers may be met with in Paris, whose
principal business consists in finding suitable matches for such Jethro
and gentlemen as deem it advisable to enter into the holy state.
Le Mariage de Raison is calculated to accredit this system ;
and we are sorry to find that the stage, the only tribunal ha
France, where the cause of generosity and affection continued to be
pleaded, is at last about to join its voice with that of the multi-
tude in destroying those fond illusions to which the morning of
our life has owed so much of its beauty.
But let us leave these reflections, and present to our readers the
story of one of the most interesting dramas that has for many years
been brought before the public.
Suzette, an orphan girl, was in her early youth taken under the
protection of the Countess of Bremont, and at the death of her
benefactress continued to reside in the Count's chateau. Al-
though considered as a servant, she had been brought up with the
Count's son, Edward, and treated almost as if she had been hie
sister ; it may therefore easily be imagined that they conceived an
ardent affection for each other. The father's watchful eye detects
the growing passion even before the lovers are aware of it them-
selves, and resolves to prevent a marriage between them, not from
any patrician fear of dishonouring his family, for his ward pos-
sesses all the qualities which he would most wish to find in the
wife of his son, but from a sincere conviction that the violent
passion they have conceived for each other would be less likely to
secure their happiness, than a union founded upon esteem and
respect. The youth, however, remains inflexible, and the father
determines to try with Suzette those arguments and entreaties
which had proved so unsuccessful with his son. Unable to with-
stand the entreaties of her benefactor, the amiable girl,
after some efforts, yields herself entirely to the guidance of
her guardian, who insists upon her immediately bestowing
herself upon another. To this, when she finds it necessary to
her benefactor's happiness, the gentle girl contents, and that very
day is accordingly fixed for her marriage with Bertrand, a Ser-
jeant, who has accompanied the Count in all his battles, and unites
the attractive qualities of a weather-beaten countenance, a wooden
leg, and thirty-seven years of age, to a warm aad affectionate
heart, and a sincere attachment to his intended wife.

The ceremony of marriage is supposed to have taken place dur-
ing the interval between the two Acts, into Which the piece is
divided. The delicacy of Bertrand's conduct gradually raises him
higher in the opinion of his wife, and after an interview of some
length between them, she resolves for ever to avoid the presence
of her late lover, and to devote her whole soul to the duties of her
new situation. At this moment she is surprised by Edward, who
presses her to fly with him ; this she refuses, and footsteps being
heard, he is forced to conceal himself behind a screen. The new
corners prove to be a neighbouring farmer and his wife, the re-
lations of Bertrand, and from them Suzette learni the history of
the loss of her husband's leg, which had in general been
attributed to a fall. His young master having quarrelled
with a celebrated duellist, Bertrand resolved to prevent the
meeting, which he did by picking a quarrel with the in-
tended antagonist; they met before the hour previously
appointed, and the fire of each took ; Bertrand was wounded is
the leg, and his adversary killed. This anecdote, which is over-
heard by Edward, and whick he now learns for the first time, at
once overcomes every feeling hut that of gratitude, he renounces
all his designs upon Suzette, and the esteem which she already
felt for her husband, is now changed into aircere affection.
Such is the outline of a piece, already a favorite in Paris, aid
which will probably soon become one in London.
To the acting it is impossible to do justice; Monsieur Marius
in the Count, and above all, Mademoiselle Constance is Suzette,
were the favorites of the night. This young lady appears to be
but new to the stage ; but she already displays talents that will
in n short time raise her to a very high rank in her profession.—
We seldom admire the acting of Pe.lissie, who in general overacts
every part he undertakes, but in Bertrand he was often deservedly
applauded.

THE MARKETS.

COVENT-GARDEN M.

Time was a good supply at tl
trade was dull, and prices as on

d. In s. d.
Potatoes (per cwt.) J 0 ti 0
Cabbages 112 heads) 1 0 1 9
Ditto Red 0 0 0 0
Savoys 1 0 2 A
Horse Radish (bundle) 2 6 5
Brocoli .... 1 0 2 A
Celery I 0 2 0
Carrots (12 bunches) 3 0 6 0
Turnips
Coleworts or Greens 1 6 A 0
Leeks
Spinage (dalf.siere): 1 0 1 A
Onions 2 6 4 0

HAY MARKET
(At per Load
ST. JA
Lowland Meadow Hay 1:3 10 to 4 10
Upland Ditto
Rye-grass Hay tlo 510
New Meadow Hay ..... 4 5 5 5
Sopply short, and trade sluggish, no

SMITH
I amlanit Meadow /lay £3 ito 4 5
Upland Ditto
Rye-grams Hay
New Meadow Hay
A good supply. and a dull 1

d.
29 9
Beatimost.,...—. V 3
Bunion 30 3
Ikan's Pritnrose 29 0
Eighton 27
Felling Nlain .... 27 0
Heat034"....F. 32 9
Hebburn Main,—. 31 0
11.4 y-well 29 (1
Killingworth 31 0
Liddell'. Main..—. 25 0
Ord'e Itedhugh
Pelaw - 31 0
Percy East 28 0
Pontop Windsor— 28 0
Shipeote 27 0
l'aritield Moor.-- 32 6
Ship. at Market. s

ARKET.—(Tans DAY.)
this morning's market, but the
this day se'nnight. _ _

_
I. d. ro r. d.
Pears (half slave) 3 0 7 111
Apples, Common,— 2 0 S 0
DR to, Choice 4 0 $ 0
Quinces
Oranges (100)
Lemons
English Walnuts 1 0 2 0
SpanishChesnuts(peck) 3 0 6 0
Irench ditto 3 6 8 0
French Walnuts
Spanish Ilarlettuts
I: ilherts (121b5.) R 0 II 0
Grapes 0 0 12 a

;.—(Tuts DAY.)
icid Drums.)
MISS.
(lover Hay ,E 4 10 tot 6
Oat Straw
Wheat Ditto

'advance aimed at, but not obtained.
FIELD.
Clover llay met ally 41 !Aloe 0
Do, extraordinary fine 0 0 611
Oat Straw
Wheat Ditto
trade, at 'Thursday's prim.

,AL MARKET.--6—cc".

s. d.
29
NV‘llington—.,-- 30 6
20 0
Wylanu----- 27
Walls End 'loll's,— 31 0
WallsEtulllewicke33 fl
W. E. Burraton... 31
W. E. Green's—.... 30 0
W. E. 3
W. E. Hotspur 30 0
W. K Newmarch 39 0
W. K Northumb. 30 9
W. K rearetb— at) :
W. E. Riddell's 31 0
NS'. E. Russell's 32 ti
W. E. Walker..... 39 0 j

I}4—...—iihips sold, 71,N!

I. d.
relaw Trader 31 0
'Canfield Trader.. 34 0
Hetton's mall—. 17 6
Lambton small-- 18 0
Riddell's NV, E.
Trader-.----. 31 3
Cowpen 18 3
Ilartley 10 0
Stone Coal Small

end Cu 40 0
Walls End Heaton 34 6
W. IL Lanibton— 314 I
Walls End Lyons 31 6
W. 1,1. Springwell 36 6
W.E. Stobart
W. E. litewart`i... 34 6

.Unsold,

SCOTCH MARKETS.
EMNIWItaIi COIIN MARKET......Dee, 27.
We had a short supply of all sorts of Grain to-day; sales fiat,
and prices much the same as last week, except Wheat, which is
rather lower.

Barley. Oats.'
30A Od 29s Od
284 Od 27. Od
i 214 tkl 21. 6d
teat In market, MO of
20s. Od. 6 at 284
28 9 212
28 6 45
i.—Average, 7cfl.. 6(1.

wheat.
First
Second
I.lls Od
There were '744 bolls of Wh
1.2 at... 310. 6d. 112 at...
38 'lo 0 14
SC 22 6 169
I.losold how

Pease.
2tes
27i Od
2 Od
rhich sold iu
6(1. 1 30 at.
3 9
1-19 t a.

Beans.
Zia Od
Ins Od
25s Od
undsr:—
Ils. (hi.
Od.

ED IND URGE! (' CitiA er.—Des. 27.
The supply of Sheep much the same as list week ; number
2520, White-faced, 20s. to 24e. ; Black-faced, Ns. to 235. ;
Ewes, Ms. to ills. ; with a good demand. in the Grassmarket
there were 2M) Cattle; best, Se, 041. ; inferior, from 61. Sid. to
; the quality was superior to last week's, but the sala
was slow,

rniers or roovisioNs,
Beef, per Lb. 9*. 4d. to 06.7 d, Freak Butter, per lb. UM. to AL Ott
Mutton. .0 4 0 7 Salt 10 0 0
Veal 0 6 0 0 Ditto, per cwt. *S&. 0 0 0
Pork 0 4 0 6 ,Dggs per dozen 1 1 0 0
Limb, per quarter 1 6 3 0 Oat Straw (ketnp.)l6 0 11 0
Tallow, per 1b...-. 04& 0 5 Wheat Ditto.. ......11 0 0 0
Poartero Loaf ..... 0 0 010 Barley Ditto
—AO 6 n 0
otatoes. per 141 b. 0 6 0 0 Good Day, per at. 1 o 1 4

GLASGOW CORN MARKET.—Dec. 27.
The trade dull at previous rates.
Wheat, per 2404 s. d. s. d. Oats, per 2641 b. a. 4. •. el.
British, Oki :XI oto3l 0 Irish 240t011116
.......-- new 29 0 31 0 British — 0 0
Canada, free s 28 0 31 0 Beaus, per 260th.
Irish 4 4 30 0 English
Barley, per 320111, Scottish
F.itg6h 33 0 34 0 Pease, Scottish 27 0 20 0
Scottish
Irish 29 0 32 0 Flour, per 2801 b.

Another horrid instance of self-destruction took
place, on Thursday last, in the' county of Bucks. - Fano,: it
resident at Chesham, and, as we are informed, a Lieutenant on
half pay, shot himself that forenoon with a blunderbuss'. Of the
cause of this rash act, or other particulars, we had received uu
report ivhen our paper went to press.--13ttch Chronicle.