The Sun.
London, England, 1818-01-02 00:00:00

THE THEATRE.

A Tragedy Ivhicb 11;td been announced some
Lime' at Covent-Garden Theatre, was last night
ttn,:,:ght fortv4rd under !he titleßetribution;
or, 'Pile Chiejtaip's Daughter.

DP,A NIATIS PERSON.
Vannes, King of Persia Sir. YouNG.
Chosrao,l'his.sons • j )Ir. 1116Cur...‘nr.,
Hatned, . ,
I Mr. C. REM'S 1.6%
Alias, a Persian Lard Mr. EGEKTpN.
Hatiz, his son
Suthes, a Captive Chieftain
Soli rii I), the king's Chamberlain Mr..CoNNort.
Kohml, Contidiair to Chosroo Mr. Co:q.t.:a.
Devali, !lave to Chusroo Mr. JEFruitt ps.
ZiMa, Daughter ta suthes Miss O'NEILL.
TH E FAtLE.

The date of the Tragedy is supposed to hie in the fourth
century ; the Scene is laid in the Royal Palace of Chesi plm,
the 'ben capital of the Persian dominions, and the time repre-
sented is two days. The piece opens on the Anniversary of
the. Accession of Vanities to the 1 prone ; his elder son,
Chosroo, returns triumphant front :in expedition, against
one of the rude Tribes which inhabit the CarPuchion Moun-
tains; among- his captives is t lie Chieftain of the Tribe,
Stints, whose daughter Zintra had been previously carried
otf by chosum, but had been rescued from biro, and was
now , protected and concealed by Hamed, the younger
brother of Chrism°. These two brothers now dispute, and
successively obtain possession. of the captive Chieftain and
his daughter. They are ddivered by Varanes to his virtuous
son Hauled, but are- again forcibly seized by Chosroo,
ho is found to possess a strong and mysterious hold over
the acious of Lis father, which arises front his knowledge
of some fearful crime, of which the latter has been guilty.
The Violence of Chosroo against the captives, and his latent
designs of treason against the throne, are discovered by Va-
ranes, who seeks Chosroo, when surrounded by his arined
slaves, awes linn into temporary fear, and commands him to
desist from his pin:poses; GhoSrOti, however, whose love is
indignantly rejected by Zitura., confines her and her father in
separate dungeons. flafiz, with his fattier Abdas, and the
King's Chamberlain, Sobrab, had, in the previous part of
the Play, found Varanes senseless, and on his recrery
had i card fall from him frantic expressions, which con-
vinces the former of these,- 1-fafiz, an impetuous young
man, that Varanes had mounted the throne by the murder
of his brother and predecessor, Sapor; lee iirsultS Ranted
with the charge, who dying to his father, Varanes, to inquire
into its tiuth;tinds it confirmed. Ifamed, found by Chosroo
standing over his fanning father, is now charged
.by him with
the murder of Varanes, whose body is cat vied off. Horned,
ttigether with Sothes, chargtil also with trefisonabfe designs,
are on the point of beingied, to execution, notwithstanding
the 'prayers and intreaties of Zinira, when it was found that
,the body brought in as that of the King, is, in fact, that of a
slave, who hail been commissioned by ChasMo to destroy him ;
the lite of the King having been saved by Hafiz, while endea-
vouring to rescue Suthesa,al Zimra. ,Varanes now re-appears,
orders Chosroo to execution ; discover s Retribution ' for
his own crime in the misconduct and guilt of his son, and
dies exhausted and heart-broken. flamed and Zimra mount
together the throne of Persia, and the curtails falls.

It is evident from the foregoing outline 'of this
Play, that it must, in many parts, be recommend-
er) by a strong interest, and if that interest does
not uniformly extend through the whole piece, it
may be asked what Drama can boast of such an
• expanded impression, The fact is, that a judions
Poet would regard the principle of light and sluide,
and ‘vould not distress or weary the mind by a
continual call for sympathy, and too powerful and
continued an agitation of the feelings. The cha-
ltctets are well drawn, • diversified, and, in
the instance of two brothers, admirably con.
!raved. If the interest declines in some pas-
sages, the result, however, is favourable to• the
general effect, as those parts which chiefly affect
the feelings detive a stronger influence from the
alternation. It may be thought that some of the
~-iticidents are improbable, but the course of
events in a distant country, and at a remote
perio,l; is not to he measured in the criti-
cal scales of another country, wider the controul
of a tegular Government, and where the highest
Chavacters are amenable to the Laws and to Pub-
lic Opinion. Yet, in judging of dramatic works
in which the scene of action is so remote in time
and place, and where the manners are essentially
different, it is hardly possible for the mind to
escape from a secret bias arising from its
domestic habitudes, and the regular pursuits
of civilized society. The same observation
is applicable to the sentiments, as well as the cha-
racters, of persons drawn from a source in which
such sentiments and characters must necessarily
be moulded, in a great degree, by the form of the
• Government ;' and though the germ of natural
passions will prevail in all countries, and at all
times, yet they must be impeded or directed in
their growth and in their progress through lite.
Such, we presume to hope, will be considered -as
• the dictates of liberal criticism, and by such a test
would a liberal public decide if such considerations
occurredto them, and were the result of the neces-
sary study and retleel ion which it is,impossible to ex-
. peel in a mixed multitude. The sentiments of this
Tragedy are generally elevated, and, as we con-
ceive, qaite appropriate,.considering, as we before
obserVed, the scene of action and the nature of ita
government, more particularly as the progress of
time and cieil;zation may have produced changes
in that government different from its present forms
and usuages. The language corresponds with the
seotiments, and in general is highly poetical. We
learn from the Prologue that the Author is quite
a novice in dramaticcomposition. We understand
that his name is DILLON; and that he is a very
young Man. If so, we ought not only to treat
with a lenient hand whatever may admit of ob•
jectiou, but to consider this work as a very extra-
ordinary proof of early genius. The Author is
much indebted to the Performers, particularly to
YOUNG, C. KEMBLE, MACHEADY, Tangy, at'd
Miss O'NEILL, and also to the Manager, for
having given every adventitions grace of costume
and scenery to his composition. The andienee re-
ceived the piece with their usual candour through-
out, and many passages excited great applause. It
was announced for this evening ; and we have
little doubt that.a piece of so mach intrins.,,, me-
rit, the effusion, too, of youthful genius, so well
acted also, and with such beauty and grandeur of
scenery, will gradually rise in public ::•stiinalion,
and secure the attractive popularity which it so
well deserves.

HoRSELF,Y-DOWN —Some Of our Metropolitan
Antiquarians are rather puzzled! to aseertant the
origin or etymology of this local appellation. The
most authentic is deduced from the traffitionary
account, that King ions, in one of his Ades to
the eastward of his capital, (lo which dir=ection, it
it On record, that he waa partial), had been se-
verely hurt, by his horse.falling under bim, neatly
about the centre of those thoroughfares which
have so long borne the above name. The ania.al
lay supine suttee time after the Hopi rider had
extricated himself, and the spot received the
homely appellation of " Horse lie down !" which
in the lapse of years was colloquially corrupted
into " Uorsley-down."

PRIVATE COR it E I'ONDENCL',.

PAIOS, PEC.29.—The I)alie of WELLINGToN
has arrived at Paris. Ills Grace, it is said, hai

no. other object in this visit to the'capiNl but to,
pay hjs respects to the Kia at t',e ne.:s+ year.—
The presence of the Noble Duke at .i'aci3

however, it is hoped, accelerate a little the hego-
ciations about the foreign claims, rind ! st,y of
the Allied Armies in France, which for some time:
have threatened to be indefinitely pridoti4va.
Duke, after remaining. some time at win
proceed to England. Up to this time therels
appearance of a change of Ministry, thong!, t'ne
present Administration have lost much in pubho
opiniOn since the opening of the Chambers The ,
ing has, warned, within these few days, person;
of the Court, and principally those who sit in tilt
Chamber of Peers, to take care how they vote
against Projets of Laws or measures of his Mi-
uisters, on pe,ril of I;eing disgraCed.
VIENNA, DEC. 18.---A great part of the suite
of the Archduke Rainier., appointed Viceroy of Ow
Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom, has left Vienna for
Milan. it is believed that the Archduke himself
sill 'proceed thither in the month of January next.

-GUERNSEY, DEC. 26.

ADDRESS OF CONDOLENCE.

The States of this Island have unanimously
adopted tl►e following Address :

" TO HIS ROYAL. HIGHNESS THE PRINCE REGENT.

" IVe, the Commander in Chief, the Bailiff tool
'Jurats, the Clergy, the King's Procuror, and the
Constablesolhis Majesty's Island of Guernsey,
in the States assembled, do humbly beg leave tO
approach your Royal Highness, with minds im-
pressed with poignaut grief at the afflicting cala-
mity which at present overwhelms us, in common
with all his Majesty's faithful sebjects.
" In. expressing our sentiments of condolence
on the melancholy event of the loss of a Princess,
endeared to your Royal Highness by the warmest
filial affection, and to he'r 'lllustrious Consort by
every virtue that can adorn exalted station ; a
Princess universally beloved, who lived in the
hopes of millions, and who expired in tiie tears of
an afflicted nation, we devoutly implore the Al-
mighty Disposer of all things to vouchsafe to grant
'your Royal Highness that Christian fortitude
which is our only consolation the hour of cala-
mity, and which will enable your Royal Highness
to look forward with pious hope, that a legitimate
offspring will never be wanting to perpetuate the
present dynasty of these realms.
" Actuated by fervent Zeal, anti the most livey
sense of the blessings we enjoy under your Royal
Highness's paternal 6overnment, we humbly sup-
plicate the Almigy to preserve your Royal.
liirliness in health and prosperity and that your
Royal Hi2liness may very lo,g continue the
blessing of your faithful people, is the ardeot
prayer of, no,,y it please your lt,yal Highness,
your Royal .11igliiiess's most datifal and most
bumble servauts."

The Band of the 3d Regiment of Guards left
torn yesterday morning fur Windsor.

An eloquent and impressive sermon was preached
at 11.-41111 on the day of the funeral of the Princess
CHARLOTTE, by the Rev. AIIERCiIoMBY GORDoN.
It was attended by a very nismeroas congrega-
tion; including the latrl at FIFa. and the prin.
inhabitants of the town, dressed in deep
mourning.
At an early hour yesterday morning fifty
convicts were removed from Newgate to the
Tower Wharf, and there put on board the Tha,nes
Stearn Packet, to be conveyed to the balks at
Sheerness, reparatory to tran=portation. Many
of them were tried at the last and preceding Ses-
sions, for picking pockets, the Court having come
to the determination of sending all these charac-
ters out of the country. the streets of London
being so infested with them, and particularly by
those of a juvenile description. Twenty-five more
were sent oil to Portsmouth last Montloy.
As the Balloon coach from Shrewsbury to this
town was lately passing near I-loverley Hill,
about half-past eight o'clock in the morning, one
of the outside passengers saw, in a field adjoin-
ing the road, the :lead body of a young woman
a complete state of ; she was lying on her
face, her clothes were a short distance from her,
and there were no marks of violence On her per-
son. She some years ngo resided with a Gentle-
man in Shrewsbury. It to been ascertained that
she was insane, and is :iiipposed to have stripped
herself, and dirt) front the inclemency of the
weather. The body seas removed to a conve-
nient place for an investigation before a Coroner's
Jury.----ißirminghata Paper, Dec. 31.)
SUPPOSED STARVATION.—Ye,:ferday an Inqui-
sition was held at the Horns 'raven), opposite
Sboredirch Church, before J. NV. LIN WIN, Esq.
on the body of Win. Williams; a pour man, 50
years of age, who was found dead in one of the
cottages in Margaret-fiehrs. The Jury a!ter some
deliberation returned a Verdict of----`` Died a
natural Death."

StNGuLArt DEATH.--Wednesday evening an in-
quest was beld'at the Brazen Ileac!, Lisson-green,
before Mr. ST:1:1A NG, on the body of
Thomas Inwood, late of Bates•s-toss, Padding-
ton, who'came to his death by eating an earthen
tnbacco-pipe on Satiaday last. It appeared, that
on Saturday last, bet %Veet4 three and tour o'clock,
the deceased went home iititState ofir.ltoxicatlon,
and after taking soine ruin, which was in the
house, began to smoke his p!pe-..Ale soon kt the
pipe fall, which was broke into took
up the two pieces, and said, " Yon and I have:
Inpig been acytAintC(l ; you have dvserted me now,
and lor that eat you." Lie then pia it
his month, and ate it, piece alit r piece : alcr
which he was taken very ill, and complained 0; it
pain in his stomach. A siirgeon was sent for,
who tzave a strong emetic; ooi withstanding Which
the deceased expired on Monday morning. he
stoniacb was opened, but the contcals had }wk.+,
taken off by the force of the emetic. Verdict—
" Died by the risitution of .