The Sun.
London, England, 1827-10-30 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

Mr. Poole's new Comedy (taken, as usual, from
the French, and re-baptized " The Wealthy Widow,
or They're Both to Blame"), after having been long
since hackneyed at the Haymarket, under a different
title—alter et idenz—was brought out last night at
this theatre. As far as acting is concerned the
piece, we think, is improved, in every other respect
it is inferior to its predecessor. We are really stir-
prized at the very little dramatic invention just now
afloat in the world. There is positively not a gleam
of genius among all our modern play-mongers.
Messieurs Soane and Poole approach nearest to what
may be called talent; but the one draws too much
from a morbid sensibility, and the other from
obsolete farces and small wits of a past age.
—ln the present case the inventive parts of the
Comedy, are—as we have observed—borrowed
from the French, the wit is equally servile; for the
joke which told best with the audience, was copied
from no less notorious a work than Don Juan, where
it is iliggested to an old man, that if he could pos-
sibly contrive to split his sixty years into two thirties,
he would be infinitely more acceptable to a young
wife. In the original, the words are (alluding to a
husband of fifty),

" And now I think on't, min viers in meate,
T'were better to have two of five and twenty."
As we have previously, in our observations of the
Haymarket piece, given an analysis of the plot, we
have nothing more to say on the present occasion,
than that the two first acts went off tolerably well,
amidst bustle and laughter, and something like the
show of invention. The third
.act, however, was
intolerably dull, and so perfectly superfluous, that it
clogged the piece, and even injured what little fa-
vour the two first acts might have acquired. We
hope on a repetition of the piece that this evil will
be amended.

THE SPEAKING FRENCH GRAMMAR,
BY J. V. DOUVILLE,
PaoFassoa OF TIE FRENCH LANGUAGE,
No. 1, Soho-square, near the Bazaar; and 2, Lawrence-lane,
Cheapside, London.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—The French Language being, usually learnt
with a view to conversation, a Grammar which
would afford the Student an opportunity of acquir-
ing a collection of phrases necessary for conversa-
tion, while he gradually attains a thorough know-
ledge of the elementary principles of the language,
could not fail to prove eminently serviceable. Such
is the consideration' by which I have been influenced
in presenting the public with this new production.
My grand object has been to render the speaking of
French as easy and familiar to English persons, as if
they studied in Paris. To accomplish this great de-
sideratum, I have composed the essays on the rules
of passages and sentences used in ordinary discourse.
By construing them into French, the pupil will not
only store his mind with useful expressions, but he
will likewise insensibly imbibe just notions of the
Grammatical technicalities of the language. Jor'his is
of the utmost importance for speaking French ; for,
unless the learner is properly trained up in the prac-
tical part, he will never be able to hold the least dis-
course with a native of France, although he may be
a proficient in the theory.of the language. The na-
ture of the French Verbs is, also, exhibited in quite
a new and clear Manner, and the remarks on pro-
nunciation are collected from the present practice of
the fashionable circles in Paris. The work is con-
cluded by a Grammatical Analysis, and a Treatise
on French Prosody arid Versification; besides a
classified vocabulary, a compendium of familiar
phrases, and numerous models of notes, letters of
compliment and business. • In the execution of the
whole, in short, the speaking of the language has a
prominent feature ; and I flatter myself this Gram-
mar will be found peculiarly adapted to the capacity
of the generality of learners, being divided into sixty
easy lessons and essays, which still prove no less
instructive than agreeable.

I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
London, Oct. 29, 1827. J. V. DOUVILLE.

P.S. A Key to the Essays is just published.

[We have carefully examined this Key to Mr. Douville's
excellent Grammar, and can safely affirm that it is exe-
cuted with much fidelity and spirit. It forms a very
useful accompaniment to the Grammar, rendering it com-
petent for those who choose to be self-taught in the French
language, to make themselves masters of it without the
assistance of a teacher. As such, we have no hesitation
in recommending Mr. Douville's Grammar and Key as
being the best calculated for speaking French, which we
have hitherto seen.]—EnxTon.

The Duke of CLARENCE arrived at his seat
at Bushy .park,
His Royal on Saturday evening, from Portsmouth.
Highness came to town yesterday morning, and
transacted business at the Admiralty till five o'clock in the
afternoon, when the Royal Duke left town on his return to
Bushy.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ar-
rived at his residence in Downing-street yesterday morning,
from his seat at Montreal. The Right Honourable Gentleman
had afterwards a long interview with Viscount GOONarem.

Count D'AGLIE, the Sardinian Minister, and
M. ROTH, the French Charge d'Affaires, transacted busi-
ness yesterday •at the office of the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, in Downing-street.
Sir JAMES SCARLETT, the Attorney-Gene-
ral, and Sir NICHOLAS TINDAL, the Solicitor-General,
transacted business yesterday at the Treasury.

Mr. TIERNEY transacted business yesterday
at the Foreign Office.
The Countess of ESSEX had a select card party
yesterday evening, at her house in Hill-street, Berkeley-
square.

The London University proceeds rapidly ;
the workmen being more than half-way up the principal
story.

Mr. Nicholson, Manager of the Theatre
Royal, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, opened for the season on
Monday, the 22(1 inst. with the play of " The Slave," Herr
Cline's celebrated
performances, and the farce of the
Young Widow."

MADAME • FEA.RON.—We are inclined to
think that this singer, who used to be called some years
back the English Catalani, will be found warbling in the
Lane, and not in the Garden, as has been stated.

Baon being consulted by the Manager
as tortvlhalatlntiress he intended to wear as Artabanes, in the
Opera of Artaxerxes, observed—" As I mean to give the
character a xew feature; I expect that you 'will give it a
new dress."

PARIS, OCT. 26.-A HAIR-BREADTH
ESCAYE.—The tragedy of Jane Shore was repeated on
Monday night, for the benefit of Mr. Abbott, and drew an
overflowing house. Hastings (represented by Abbott)
had newly come to a fatal termination of his career before
the time allotted to him by the poet, as, in the third act,
the actor, in the vehemence of his delivery, inhaled aliair
of dm of his mustachios, which hair, unlike its namesake,
seemed unwilling to return to its form, but took up a very
unpleasant position in the throat, or some of the adjacent
parts. The performance was, in consequence, interrupted,
and for some ten or fifteen minutes the audience remained
in a state of very anxious suspense, but;fortionately, the
hair was dislodged—not by a pack of hounds, but a glass
of sugar and water.

The vintage on the Rhine commenced on
the 13th inst. The accounts as to the produce are of a
favourable description.

The veil with which it is said the unfortunate
Mary Stuart covered her head on the scaffold,
after the executioner had wounded her in the
shoulder by a false blow, is still in existence,
and is in the possession of Sir J. C. Hippisley,
who claims to be descended from the Stuarts by
the mothei4 side.