The Sun.
London, England, 1826-06-02 00:00:00

THE LAST MASQUERADE.

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reflections. The vanity of human life, the shortness •of human
pleasure, with their long train of calamitous considerations,
naturally arise in the minds of those who are prone to the in-
dulgence of - mournful meditation. Forttmately, however, for
the relief of all sadly-thinking persons on such subjects, there
are certain words, and the word last is one of them, which arc
used in a sense precisely the- reverse of their real meaning,
in the ordinary acceptation of the language. Thus, when we
beer a blitheonie widow speak of her second, or third husband,
just gone to " the irremeable bourne," as her last husband—an
Actor announce his last appearance—or Mr. Charles Wright,
his last Masquerade, and sparkling champagne—the term
" last" is to be understood in a relative sense, and with due
reference to the husband whom the lady, upon due provoca-
tion, is disposed to marry—to the next appearance which the
actor is determined to make—and, lastly, to the next Masque-
rade at which the spirits that enliven, it—Mr. Wright's chant-
pagne—will product the same joyous influence with which it
exhilarated the gay group of Wassailers last evening. Whither
or when the next Masquerade takes place we know not,
but we are pleased to be able to state, and the ad-
mirers of this species of entertainment will be pleased to
be informed, that the masquerade of last night was the best of the
season—the beet for the variety of characters, and spirit with
which they were sustained ; the hest for the elegance and bril-
liancy of the attendance, and for the great propriety that mulled,
the conduct of the company. The comic and versatile power with
which some parte were Supported, furnished a practical refutation
to the supposition that masquerading is not suited to the English
taste and habit. Masquerading should no longer be regarded as
en entertainment of exclusive enjoyment to those who inhabit the
milder climates of the South—to those who have been hitherto
considered as it were, " native and endued into that element"—
With increased opportunities of enjoying this description of enter-
tainment, it has increased in public favour, and of this, no more
decisive evidence can be given, than that there were twice the
number of persons, and more than a twofold proportion of va-
riety of characters, and of the ability with which they were per-
tiinned, than at any former masquerade. 'Tie true, and thie is
made matter of objection with some, that in this gay assembly
few mingle who are " given to revel and ungodly glee," and that
females may be found in the motley group, prouder, perhaps, of
their beauty, than vain of their virtue. However this may be,
there is a regularity, a decorum, and propriety in their whale de-
portment, which reminds one of the beautiful aphorism, as full
of humanity as it is of philosophy--" That vice itself loses half
its evil by losing all its grossness."
We have said some characters were well sustained ; the beet
were, Sir 'Malachi Malagrouother, in a rich dress of Scottish
plaid, brandishing a Highland claymore, which he frequently
"evoked from its scabbard" in the course of the evening, to th
infinite peril of a person who, for the sake of filling up tLe
.Dramatis Personas, the company were disposed to take Omagh
he was very unlike that Right Hon. Gentleman, or any other
Gentleman), for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. A noisy
bustling and somewhat clever person, though of the diminutive
size, added considerably to his corporeal dimensions by the Aid of
a pillow, and other adjuncts, in order to qualify hint to succeed
au eminent Alderman, who retires front the representetiou of the
City of London. •He was a little like the Alderman, and very
like Punch. There was an imitation of Ellieton's Parttirn but
the only part in which the imitator appeared to be perfect was in
the new reading, which the actor recently introduced—the getting
tip and falling down. Towards the doe of the Masquerade, this
latter passage of the play was performed by several of the com-
pany with eminent success, A tall, ill-looking personage, falsely
calling himself Lord Cochrane, wore a rich Grecian uniform.—
Much amusement was afforded by a good-humoured masquerade,
of gigantic dimensions, weighing at lewd 16 stone, with a label
-on his back, " 'the Living Skeleton." There were several can-
didates for contested elections, making speeches to those who
would listen to them, and the company was diversified by the
attendance of Turks, Jews, and various persona, wearing the cos-
tume of &Greet countries. The supper and wines were excel-
lent. After supper dancing was resumed with increased spirit,
and kept up to a late hour—indeed to so late an hour until the
morning was breaking ; " a turn of time," at which Lord Byron
" would advise
Ladies who have been dancing, or partaking
In any other kind of exercise,
To make their preparations for forsaking
The hall-room ere the sun begins N
Because, when once the lamps and candles fait,
His blushes make them look a little pile." •