The Sun.
London, England, 1818-12-29 00:00:00

THE THEATRE.

DRURY-LA'R.—The new Pantomime of Harle-
quin and the Dandy Club oflBlB, was brought for-
ward again last night, after tire Tragedy of Isabella
had been represented in a manner highlydreditable
to the talents of Mrc WEST,in the mournful He-
roine of the piece, and Mr. H. KetvieLe in the
part of Biron.—As soon as the Pantomime con-
cluded a turbulent demand for the appearance of
the Manager took place. This cry generally arises
among the Gods in the Gallery, ‘s ho are always
anxious to shew their power over poor theatrical
Mortals. It however spread like contagion, and
became so powerful that Mr. STEPHEN KEMBLE
made his appearance, in hopes to allay the storm
by a compliance with the general wish. When
'something like a tranquil attention enabled him to
address the audience, he desired to know their
will. He was answered by loud cries of " With-
draw the Pantomime." Ile assured the audience,
that the Proprietors of the Theatre, as well as
himself, had no wish but to gratify the Public,
that such alterations and additions had been made
in the Pantomime as, he trusted, would render it
acceptable, that as the hills were printed, adver-
tisements, &c. announcing its repetition for to-
morrow (this day), he hoped- that it might be
again represented, particularly as great pains
had been taken to remove whatever could ex-
cite displeasure. Mr. KEMBLE (who was
obliged to appear, several times), then advert-
ed to the conduct of Ml'. BRADBURY, who he
understood had unintentionally given offence on
Saturday night. He was sure that Mr• BRADBURY
was solicitous to please the Public, and that lie
would be ready to make any satisfactory apology..
Mr. BRADBURY sOOO after appeared, but there was
by no means that expression of respect and diffi-
dence which become a public Performer, and atter
declaring that he had no wish to offend any indi-
vidual, he added, in a tone of defiance, that if
the Gentleman who had just spoken, or any man
on Earth, had any thing to alledge against
him, he was ready t 6 meet him there or any where,
for the purpose of explanation. A violent cla-
mour lollowed this heroic defiance when this
Clown quitted the stage. Such conduct, was cer-
tainly very unbecoming, and the audience could not
but be struck with the diGrence that appeared in
the manner and deportment of Mr. KEMBLB 41t1
Mr. BRADBURY. The former spoke with a too-
' lest firmness strongly expressive of respect for the
Public, and a disposition to bend implicitly to the
general will. But there was a kind of flippant
freedom and daring energy in the latter that were
by no means calculated to conciliate the favour of
the audience, or to restore them to good hionour.
—We hope, however, that the matter will drop
here, that the holiday folks may not be deprived
of their usual enjoyment by those fastidious Cri-
tics whom nothing will please, and who,in the
excess of their spleen, will vent it even upon the
whims of a Pantomime, which Must necessarily
be founded upon every violation of taste, every
departure from nature, and every absurdity calcu-
lated to excite the wonder of ignorance, and to
amuse those who are benevolent enough to
enjoy time happiness of (Aim, and to see the
younger generations gratified with annual merri-
ment.

CHILD-STEALING.—Since the Act passed July
18, 1814, making the offence of child-stealing fe-
lony-, it appears that ten persons have been tried
at the Old Bailey on that charge, of whom nine
have been found guilty, and one was acquitted :
six of those convicted were sentenced • to the full
penalty of seven years' transportation ; one wo-
man convicted of the same offence at the Lincoln
Assizes has also been transported.
LOST CHILD RESTORED.—Yesterday an officer,
named Matthew Brown, brought to the Mansion-
House, the child of a decent poor woman, named
Elizabeth Smith, which he had found in the street
on Saturday night.—The officer said, the child,
which was about two years old, was crying bit-
terly and shivering with the cold, opposite to
Goodluck's Office. Some humane person had put
twopence-halfpenny into the infant's hand, but
the officer thought it more charitable to convey
the child to a place for warmth and sustenance,
and took it to a public-house. He then went
in search of the parent, to whom he was di-
rected by a bill posted against the Mansion
House, as he walked along with his burden. On
entering the house he soon learned where the loss
was most acutely felt, and supplied the place of
lamentation with a very different feeling.—The
Lord Mayor highly commended the conduct of
the officer, which was as rentarktibk for the quick-
ness with which lie sought to rciieve the mother,
as for the promptitude with which he relieved the
child. The mother said she had sent the infant
with an elder brother, and that to her tenor the
latter returned alone. She expressed her grati-
tude to the officer with true Irish warmth, and
said she felt his humanity the more, as she was
stranger in this country.
HattatNos.—We learn that herrings were-taken
on Saturday last at the Queensferry ; one boat
brought in about two barrels, and it is expected
the fishing will prove successful.
An affair of honour took place, on Wednesday
morning last, on Portsdown-hill, between Major
Ross, of the 21st regiment, and A. MACKAY,
lately of the same regiment, which terminated
without injury to either party, on the intervention
of the seconds.

At three o'clock y esterday morning a fire broke
out at the , house of a hair-dresser, situated near
the Blenheim-steps, Oxford-street. It raged
with considerable fury for some time, to the great
terror of the inhabitants of the vicinity, who ap-
prehended the most destructive consequences; but,
the speedy arrival of the engines, and the active
exertions of the firemen, were happily successful in
subduing the flames, before their progress had
occasioned much damage.
A lady, in Charlotte-street, Glasgow, had be-
queathed, in her settlement, a legacy of one hun-
dred pounds in the Glasgow Royal Infirmary ;
but, in a letter to the Treasurer, expressing her
high estimation of the public value, and excellent
management of that Institution, she intimated her
resolution, in present aid of the funds, to convert
the legacy into a donation, which has accordingly
been pith

P 0 E T It Y.

• THE COMFORT- OF ,AN OLD MAN.

•,:
.31ens conscia. recd.
• At length my friend, while time, on still careeri ;Iv
Wafts on his gentle wing his eightieth year,
Sees his past days are out of fortune's power,
' Nor dreads approaching death's uncertain hour;
Reviews his life, and in the strict surrey,
Finds not one moment he could wish away,
Pleas'd with the series of each happy day !
Such, suth a man extends his hope's short space,
And from the goal again renews the race.
For he lives twice, who can at once employ
The present well, and all the past enjoy.
AN OLD POET.