The Sun.
London, England, 1842-09-20 00:00:00

HAYMARKET THEATRE.
A smart, lively, laughter-moving three act farce,
(designated in the bills a new and original comedy)
from the pen of Mr. Bourcicault, entitled Alma Ma-
ter, or a Cure for Coquettes, was produced at this
theatre last evening with complete success. The
scene is laid at the University of Oxford, where we
find Wildfire (Mr. H. Hall) and Gradus (Mr. Vin-
ing), the two nephews of Sir Samuel Sarcasm (Mr.
IV. Farren), studying at Brazennose College--that is
to say, Gradus studying his books, albeit lie devotes
some little time to making love, after the Modus fa-
shion, to the fair Lilly Venture (Miss Charles) ; and
Wildfire devoting his days to making love to Lilly, and
his nights to studying whist and whiskey-punch brew-
ing, taking as his tutor in the first Count Pave (Mr.
Brindal), a vulgar edition of Dudley Smooth, and in
the second Major Garrett O'Gorman, a rattling,
rolicking, kind-hearted, honourable Irishman, excel-
lently acted by Mr. Malone Raymond. Wildfire,
having considerably exceeded the allowance made to
him by his uncle, has become involved in pecuniary
difficulties, and has employed his friend Pliant (hlr.
Webster), also a Brazennose man, to see Sir Samuel
Sarcasm on the subject, and to endeavour to procure
from the old gentleman a supply of the needful. Pliant,
however, fails in his mission, through his over-complai-
sance ; heagrees with Sir Samuel in every thing; and
nothing so angers the testy old bachelor as not con-
tradictingawakened,
Dactyl ( ,
(Mr.
r To ci en!ds )
thOexfohredad, toor
tchoenscuoltllelgevit,hasDtro.
him. Sir Samuel having his suspicions
urytc,
the proceedings of his nephews, and arrives in Oxford
the day before his two nephews go up to be examined
for their degree. On the same day there arrive in
Oxford the Widow Venture (Mrs. Glover), and her
daughter Lilly, who intend taking up their residence
there while Somerset Venture (Mr. Howe), the son
of the Widow, pursues his studies at the University.
The Widow had two-and-twenty years before been a
flame of Sir Samuel Sarcasm, but had lost him
through her coquetry, and in the article of coquetry
Lilly is the Widow's own daughter, for, although
she loves Wildfire sincerely, yet she would rather
run the risk of losing him than not indulge
her penchant for teasing. Sir Samuel ever
since his disappointment having entertained a
more than .Jonathan-Oldbuck hatred of womnankind,
'is dreadfully annoyed at finding himself thrown thus
into the society of the Widow Venture ; while she,
determined to he Lady Sarcasm, sets her widow's wits
to work to make an impression on the apparently im-
penetrable heart of the irritable Baronet. In this she
is assisted by Lilly, who lays her commands on Wild-
fire to write a letter to his uncle, stating that to ex-
tricate him from his difficulties, he must marry a
fortune, and requesting Sir Samuel to inter-
cede for hint with the Widow Wildfire, who
has already given him some encouragement. Wildfire
having written this letter, is so annoyed with the
coqueting of Lilly, that lie determines to drown his
troubles in wine, and accordingly invites Count
Pave, the Major, and a host of others to his rooms,
to make a night of it. Meanwhile, the Count has
not been losing his time : not knowing which is the
fortune, the mother or daughter, he prudently makes
love to both ; they compare notes, and prepare for
him a bitter disappointment. The supper takes place
at Wildfire's, whose rooms are immediately over those
of Gradus. Gradus, stunnea by the noise, comes up
to beg them to desist ; is induced to sip some
of the wine, then some of the punch, and at length be-
comes so merry that he dances round the room, and
plays a solo on the trombone. Sir Samuel having
heard of the intended supper, breaks in, accompanied
by Doctor Dactyl, on the revellers, and the second
act closes with the confusion occasioned by their sud-
den appearance. In the third act Wildfire turns the
tables on Lilly, by informing her that he has taken
her advice, and is about to marry another; and Sir
Samuel, who had called on the IVidow as the ambas-
sador of 'Wildfire ends by making love to her on his
own account, in a scene made excellent by the ad-
mirable acting of Farrell and Mrs. Glover, but
which rather too closely resembled the love-
making scene between craves and the Widow
Franklyn in Money. The result may be easily
guessed, the Widow Venture becomes Lady Sarcasm;
the quarrel of Wildfire and Lilly, like all lovers
quarrels, is only the prelude to reconciliation ; Count
Pave, completely exposed, wail:s out to avoid a more
summary process of ejectment; and Gradus, having
taken his degree and honours, thanks his fate that
Lilly is married, because now he shall have no wife to
prevent his sitting for a fellowship. The curtain fell
amidst loud applause, and 'Webster announced the
piece for repetition every evening, with the unani-
mous concurrence of a crowded house. In obedience

to repented calls for the author, ➢lr. Bourcicault
leaned forward from a private box, and gracefully
acknowledged the applauses bestowed upon him.
The dialogue is very smartly written, and some of
the hits are excellent. For instance, the offer of Sir
Samuel to endow a Professorship of Common Sense in
the University, if it could produce a man qualified to
fill the office, was very good, and was loudly ap-
plauded. In fact, the piece is overflowing with fun,
the joyous mirth of good spirits, and it is impossible
not to laugh at it from the beginning of the first act
to the end of the third. There are, howc%er, marks

of g►rent baste and carelessness' in its composition. It
is evident not only that Mr. Boureicault has never
heel' a member of either of the Universities, but
that he has not taken the trouble to make himself ac-

painted with that which is fa►niliar to even a fresh-

man of two days' standing; for instance, he 'maws
one of his characters, who has been three years at
Brazennose,to-morrow, talk of matriculating to-moow, mean-
ing, thereby, going up to be examined for his degree;
and at the conclusion Giadus comes in and informs

his friends that he has taken honours as a wrangler.
Now, a reference to the University Calendar would
have taught Mr. Bourcicault, that when men first
enter the University they are said to matriculate, and
although Cambridge boasts her wranglers, Oxford
confers no such honour; a first class man at Oxford.

being equivalent to a wrangler at Cambridge. Ilia
Dr. Dactyl,
too, is infinitely more.like a parish school-
master than the head of a-college. The dons of the
University seldom condescend to pun upon moods and
tenses. cVe would also hint to Mr. Bourcicault, that
it is not usual for young men at the University to
swear by the Vice-Provost's wig. We point out
these things, because we are certain that if Mr.
I3ourcicault chose to apply himself; he could give us
a real sterling good comedy, but to do this
requires pains-taking and study—two qualities
which, we fear, the min vellous facility of com-
position with which nature has gifted Mr. Bour-
cicault, makes him hold somewhat too lightly.
As 4 is, although the Alma Mater is a most amus-
ing piece, and will, doubtless, draw crowded houses,
and have a run, yet it will hot take its place among
the sterling English dramas. Like the music of
Donizetti, it is an amusing rifacciamento, and nothing
more—a clever dove-tailing together of old incidents—
an entertaining collection of characters well remem-
bered by every play-goer; but Mr. Bourcicault can,
if he pleases, give us something more worthy ; let us
hope that he will. The acting was perfect;
that of Farrell and Mrs. Glover would have saved

a piece of much less buoyancy than the Alma Mater,
and Mr. Malone Raymond hit off the Irish Major to
a nicety. Ile has an acute perception of the line
which separates humour from vulgarity, and is cer-
tainly the most efficient representative of 1111 Irish
gentleman on the stage. The getting up of the piece
was excellent, and the scenery good and
appropriate.
The opening scene of the third act is a beautiful
picture. The house was exceeding,lv well tilled, and
doubtless Alma Mater will draw. Every one who
enjoys .a hearty laugh should see it.

of of
-
shells, in the presence of
CONCUSSION SllELLS.—Experiments tOOk. place in,
the Marshes at Woolwich, on Friday, the 16th inst., with
Captain
Artillery, and a numerous field of Naval and Military
officers. Twenty shells were fired at the wooden frame,
otari•nG eNnoerrttr l's)ru"witouni7C.lL,
at a range of four hundred yards, ten from the eight-inch
gun, arid ten floor the thirty-two pounder. This was
the trying- Lost, and the result was highly favourable and
perfectly conclusive.
ExPEDITrous IRAVELLING.—The tk
s 'am-ship Ant-
werpen, Captain Jackson, loft Antwerp on Wednesday
nfternoon last at a quarter past one o'clock
to the St. hatherine's Wharf, . T ock ; she got up
Tower, before nine on
Thursday morning, and in sufficient time fora merchant
of Liverpool to leave London for that place by the ten
o'clock train, so as to reach L.
use the g entleman's own wordsl
inverl36°l that
evening
; to
writing after his arri-
val, " recomplishing the di
hours." stance of 440 miles in thirty

THE DUBLIN COLLEGE ELECTION.—The Mai/
states that the result of Mr. Hamilton's canvass—assured
to him in writing—presents a most decisive majority in
his favour. One day's polling, the Mail adds, would
place Mr. Hamilton in a majority which no Government
candidate could approach ; but so richly—in the opinion
of the Mail—does Lord Eliot deserve the drubbing he
would receive, that the Mail would almost behold the
withdrawal of the Government candidate with regret.
Mr. Stephen Plummer, of 11, Ludgate-hill, has
published a statement of the number of persons, vehicles,
and horses, that passed his house on the 13th inst., from
9 o'clock in the morning till 9 in the evening ofthat day,
being an ordinary day of business, and at a time when
London is considered empty, and no business doing, by
which it will appear there were 8,54.2 vehicles, in 12
hours, 714 per hour, 12 per minute ; 13,024 horses in 12
hours, 1,085 per hour, 18 per minute ; 105,352 persons
in hours,itus AccnomsT.—Yesterday, as the younger
8,779 per hour, 146 per minute.
snm
son of Sir Henry yarding° was landing from a
steam-boat nt Westminster, his leg was caught by the
cable, and he
.fe.n. On his being removed to his
residence at \\Ameba% ho was attended by several
surgeons, M`Cann, Mr. White, Mr. Lawrence, and
Alir.s' Hughes. On their examining the injury it was
found that immediate amputation was necessary. The
young gentleman bore the operation with the greatest
possible fortitude, conversing with the surgeons as to
the progress they were making with this painful duty,
and the probable length of time he would be confined.
We are happy to state he is going on as well as could
I possibly be expected on such an occasion.