The Sun.
London, England, 1810-06-08 00:00:00

THE THEII2 .

Covntstf-GiabEk.-The new Come,:Ty which ha 3
been some time announced at this Theatre, was hA
night brought forward, under the title at " The
Ilidow's only Son."

CHARACTERS.
Lord 'Fungus . . .
Sir Marmaduke Mohtalbert . Mr. FAWci-ri. -
Frederick Monttlnert . . . Mr. C K Ems LE
Ht•artly Mr Mtlkritk?
Isaac, the Steward . . .
Lord Spangle
Servant
Lady FUngus .
Caroline . Miss i'4olt -on
The Widow Montalbert . . Airs. WESTI,N.

The fable of this comedy is by no means of an
Intricate nature, and is very soon explained. Ihe
father of Frederick Montullert, «ho may be con-
sidered as the hero of the piece, hid been killed in
a duel, and his widow was left in extreme di,tiess.
He was sent to the University, whence he returns,
covered with academical laurels, but without any
chance of future provision. Mr. Hartley, a fa-
mily friend, anxious that Frederick's talents might
obtain patronage, and the power of supporting his
mother,' procures him admission into the house of
;Lord Fungus. another Lord Duberlg, as his literary.
companion. Lord Funt as had raised a fortune in trade.
The uncle to Frederick, Sir Marntaduke Montalbert,'
though very affluent, bad taken no notice of his
brother's widow, arid had never seen Frederick.—
Upon hearing, however, that the latter had been ad-
mitted into the family of Lord Fungus, Sir Marvin-
duke, who was acquainted with his Lordship,
waited upon him for the purpose of expressing his
hope that his nephew Frederick would experience
under his Lordship's protection all the respell due
to the antiquity of his family. The pride of the
nobleman is wounded on this occasion, and Sir
Marmaduke departs 'abruptly, signifying that he
shall expect to find his nephew is properly treat-
ed. Heartly, a worthy man, but rather too
officious in his good Offices, waits upon Sir Mar-
. maduke, to request, that though he does not
countenance his nephew, he will say a few words
in his favour, declaring that any thing he can say
will give his Lordship satqaction. Tjie whole of
the interview between Heartly and Sir Marinaduhe
having passed/ in equivoque, the latter naturally sup-
poses that Heartly has brought a challenge from his
Lordship. He therefore sends a letter, signifying,
that he should meet him. This mistake produces
much confusion in Lord Fungus's family, but is
happily explained. Another quarrel between Fre..
derick and lord Spangle, a confident nonchalant
young nobleman of the present d.sy, a6tually pro-
duces a duel between them, but neither is wounded.
At length after all matters are explained, Sir Marma-
duke acknowledges his nephew, bestows on him the
family mansion and estates, reserving his funded
property to himself; Lord Spangle, who had been a
suitor toCarohne,daughter of Lord Fungus,tindingthat
Frederick was .preterred bv the Lady, withdraws his
prete.isions, site is therefore assigned to Frederick,
and the piece conclud s with general happity:,ss.
This piece is the acknowledged production of
Mr. CUMBERLAND, whose literary powers hate long
been held in nietited respect, and whose drunatic
labours have been of en' ad.nired. The present 'I
work is strongly in chara6ter with all his former
compositions. The dialogue is generally the lan-
guage of 3 genleman and a scholar, it it be not
closely analagous to truth and nature. The author
has devised so maoy dramatic plots, that it could
hardly be supposed that, at his time of life, his ima-
gination could suggest any striking novelty, in that
respect, particularly as he has so many riv d labourers
in the dramatic vineyard who are constae tl .at ork.
The fable, thetefore, not being new, pr ver, inte-
resting, it is natural to look for some m .rKing
novelty of cbara&er, but here too the Author has
been forestalled by himself on several former occi-
stons, as well as by man's of his competitors. The
character of Isaac, a blunt, familiar, and honest
steward, however respedable in itself, has been of-
ten found in the comic regions. The sentiments
are in general natural, moral, and impressive,
though at times rather too refined. Caroline, like
most of Mr. CUMBERLAND'S dramatic heroues, be
'gins to make love before•adeclaratiore There is in-
deed an'attempt at novelty in Lord Spangle, which
is a. tolerable sketch of the cold arrogance and super-
cilious ease which distinguish our modern sprigs of
nobility and their usual associates ; but the author
has bestowed on him more sense than is eXadly cor-
respondent with the familiar ease and careless inso-
lence of his manners; • •

The Play was throughout very well•stipported,
particularly Frederick, by CHARLES KENIELE, Sir
Marmaduke, by FAWCETT, Lord Fungus, byStm7
MONS, and Isaac, by EMERY. 'JONES we thought
rather too extravagant in Lord Spangle; for the
author, as we have observed, has given, the part too
much sense to admit of so ridiculous a Limner.
The Play was altogether tolerably well received,
and what disapprobation occurred was directed
against passages which are easily removable.

Mrs. JORDAN, who is engaged for a few nights at
Edinburgh, was to make her first appearance there
on Monday.last, in the character of The Country
Girl.

Mostc.---The last of the Concerts under the di-
re&ion of Mrs. BILLINGTON, NALDI, and BRA HAM,
took place on Wednesday night at WlLLts's Rooms.
They were certainly the best Concerts altogether that
have been brought forward during the present season,
but we are sorry to say that they have not been en-
couraged so much as they deserved. Perhaps the
reason is that they did not begin till late in the season,
when the higher orders were glutted with music.—
The Duke of Strssex, the Duchess of YORK, and an
elegant company were present.—Mrs. BILLINGTON,
NALDI, and BRAHAM, never exerted themselves
with more ability, and we can have little dotibt that
if they should resume the undertaking next year, it
will he much more successful. Miss MELVILLE, a
modest and interesting young lady, deservedly ac-
quired much applause. Miss HUGHES, VAUGHAN,'
Goss, BELLAMY, and other vocal performers assist-
ed, and the Concert was so great a treat altogether,
that we regret we have not room to particularize its
merits.

The trial of Benjamin Tanner and Nicholas Tom-
linson, at the Old Bailey, was this day postponed by
the Court until the next Sessions, on an affiJavit
stating the absence of material witnesses.

1:0Y41L IICADLiIY.

No. rsa. Girl piAitig u'p Shells Gn the. Coast.•—ll.

This Artist possesses it ability. that \ki,?:
are g'ad to see Lim getting Out of the t:-..immels of
mythology and the wilthicss of allegory; rin.l anc d.
iag to simple truth and nature. The picture
us we consider as one of the vc tit st wi, h
he has produced. There is a %cry rarer srir,g p•ay-
fullness the child, with tie arch look that is cha-
racteristic of the supposed period of life. The co-
louring'' brilliant, and the composition altogetl)er
is one of the most pleasing 't.'orks of the present
year.

No. to. A Woman Knitting.—S. Woon r:4;jun

As we feel much pleasure in IP, ivin4 a 'it-:alous en
couragetnent to dawning talents, and intieed Con-
sider it as our dthy to do so, for the sake of the
Arts, we ar inincA to take an early ii ice this
little picture, wh:ch, we understand, is the produc-
tion of a very juvenile pencil. This t-,tents to be
the age for high and iho a. fist beL:
fore us has conform; 11 to the prevailing taste
with great success. But this is not the whole of
his merit. The ()id woman is designed with truth
and ,characier. The attitude is easy and natwal.—•
There is nothing like gaudiness or affectation in the
piece, and the artist is likely to become conspicu-
ous in the Flemish style, which is now so much in'
vogue.

No. 4. Andromac.lL: imploring (ii sses to spare the cite oi

her soh.— G. D w , A.
Mr. DA WE is one of our best artists in the pri.;-
vince which he bad adopted, but we think fie (Jai
shewn on the present occasion ri her too much pai'-
tiality to the French style of
There is hardly sufficient dignity in tic (,f
Ulysses. in whom we expect suineth'ng more of the
beLoic charaEter. Andromache seems to the
same objection. She would be au interesting tigurt.:
in private and familiar lite, but wants importance
enough for •the wife of Hector. There is a tiett.h;.
ness in the colouring of her Lice which doeS no cork
respond with the gener4 tone oft tie picture. This
work, however, is not the production of an t4di-
nary pencil.

No. 79. Pdftrait of W. Scott, Esq. Author of tho Lay of

the last Aluistrel, tic.-11. R A Lit LI R 14

We have here an excellent sp-churn of the state
of painting in Scotland, and the additional gratifrea-
:ion of seeing one ihari (t genius employing his ta-
lents ht paying the homage of his art ti anoitiet,
We never saw Mr. ScoTT, bi.t w are assured !hat
this is a faithful portrait. It is eer,alioy a Wo7",i of
considerable merit. The artist has nit g vrn any
expression it poetical enthus.aSin L) Lis sohji-tt,
which might only have exl,o4ed his work to
charge of atii.dation, but nas placed the Bard upon
an el, vated .pot contempla,ing t.;e beauties of nature
till " iNt_ditation has hcr Th.f colorning is
chaste ; the NA hole is pianresluc without wooties•;r
and ttt y considered as the otiSpting of genius,
matured by juigin,:nt and experience.