Star.
London, England, 1801-10-05 00:00:00

THE THEATRES.

Cortirr-Gtantc—After an abfence of revert
years, Mrs. BILLINaTON made her re-appearance
on the boards Of this theatre, on Saturday night,in
the character of Maeda* in Artaxerxes, and; nos-
withitanding thelanguage of anticipation had taken
fuch fublime flights, (he adually loft nothing by
meeting a molt critical audience. In truth, not
only her' voice but her ilyle, both of aging and
tinging, is greatly improved by Rudy and travel.'
Moll of her longs were encored, and indeed the ap-
plaufe the received throughout her performance.
wee enthufialtic. The mcm.nt the f)mphony of
the air of The Solder tired of guar's alarms, began,
the Audience burg into aof
of applaufe, as
if it bore fome relation to the happy reflora-
tion of Peace. At the end of the &ft ad flit
introdubed a bravura, compofed by BIANCHI, di
the compofition of which we do not profefs
ourfelves any very great admirers, but the exe-
cution of the finger was aflonifliing. The other
performers, (landing on comparative ground,
though refpedable, particularly ImcLEDON, did not
excite all that attention in the audience which
we think their exertions merited.—Mrs. BIL-
LINOTON was, as our Readers remember, getting
rather en bon point before (he went abroad, but her
perfon now inclines even to corpulency, which
operates fomething as a drawback upon her ap-
parasite as a heroine ; the, however, treads the Rage
with confiderable dignity, and her features do not
yet exhibit any traces of age.—She made a con-
dition with the Managers that her brother, Mr.
WsicHseLL, (hould lead the band on the nights
of her performance; This may contribute to that
emulation which is the fource of improvement.—
Mr. WE ICHSELL difplayed very fine talents: he
gave to the overture a force and beauty the moll
impreffive, and he led the opera with great fpirit
and tafie.—The houfe was extremely crowded in
all its parts; and the boxes, having all been taken
for feveral days, the audience was particularly
elegant.

The new Comedy of " Integrity," which is to
be produced at Covent-garden Theatre, is a tranf-
lation from the German. It is very favourably
fpoken of by thofe who have affifted at the re-
hearfals.

atuity-LANs.—Mr. Knew.' gave, in his de-
linealion of Shy/aci, in the Merchant of Ferrite, on
Saturday night, the touches of a very fitperi,ir mac-
ter, particularly in the interview with Tuba/. In the
trial fcene he was lefs fuccefsful : in anfwering to
his name, when called upon to Rand forth as plain-
tiff, he delivered himfelf with a furlinefs ill calcu-
lated to recommend his caufe to the difpaffionee
examination of the Judge. The other charaCters
were, upon the whole, sokrab&fair. B•ItIYMORE
(we notice it as a natreby in that gentleman) was
particularly well-drelt as &Ark. WROUGHTON'S
Altieftia, and Mrs. Powst.t.'s Forria, both wanted a
link
Sams Souct.—At this place, on Saturday even-
ing, a molt refpedable audience affembled to wit-
neTs the exertions of a man to whom this kingdom
is indebted for the prefervation of its tafte in mu-
fic, and the fimplicity, beauty, and ftrength of
the Englifh ballad, both which will be infallibly
fhaken, if not deftroyed, from the moment SANS
SOUCI finally doles; for there have all thole who
rationally exercife their vocal talents found both
the fchool and the mailer. The amufement called
FriA, has (hewn that genius, through Lidtiftry,
may improve with age; fin-, notwithltanding Mr.
The ma had -before produced upwards of feven
hundred longs, he never, upon the whole, fubmit-
ted to the public a colleCtion fo Itrongly written
and compofed as thefe. There it: fcarcely a long,
but has fome extraordinary merit to recommend it,
and this is laying no more than was tellified by the
whole audience, who loudly easored a large num-
ber, and would have extended their eagernefs; but
it was compromifed by a repetition of feven, hich
were, be vino I:lnitial, The hater N, f.iterary Termini-
:ratio", Near-year'e Day, Father arid I, The Ladies,
and /ad et the Opera. It is, perhaps, unknown to
the public, though it certainly ought to be related
as a wonderful inftance of mental retention, that
Mr. Dinotx never writes his mufic till he pub-
tithes it; and that, at this moment, no tingle note
of all that the public heard on Saturday has been
committed to paper ; an advantage that perhaps
never did, or "can happen to any other mufician
The inference is obvious—no country ever en-
couraged extraordinary abilities to the degree they
are encouraged in this; and there cannot be a
doubt that, during the remainder of his career,
this indefatigable writer, compofer, and performer,
will experience every generous and liberal remu-
neration for his public fervices, which are addi-
' tionallv valuable on account of their moral and
patriotic tendency. The allufions to the Peace
were happy, and fltew with how little difficulty
this writer can wren occafion to his purpofe. The
heart, however, does much in thefe cafes; and, as
Mr. Dismal has (hewn himfelf, in his nautical and
other songs. to be a fincere friend to his country,
be probably found no difficulty in performing a
talk to which his genius and his inclination are fn
well fitted; otherwife, one might confider the fol-
lowing lines, which are an additional verfe to one
of his !bags, an extraordinary effort at four-and-
twenty hours notice :
Avaant grim Wu! Sweet Peace is ours,
The Hero's nobleß capture;
Jay fmillng leads the dancing boars,
And Mifery's loft to rapture.
Beneath her horn gay Plenty bends,
Proud Bards record the quarrel,
While in her Temple Fame attends
To plate the well-earn'd laurel.
Vet but In trult he holds this meed I
For fhould his fword his country need,
Then he cry, draw out the bands,
When drums at diftance rattle,
Hark, the charge, honour esennaNde.
The trumpet founds to battle!
The new Entertainment was given out for this
evening amiclit loud and reiterated applaufe.