Star.
London, England, 1802-03-17 00:00:00

THE PIC-MC THEATRE.

The rooms formerly occupied by the DireEtors
of the Antient Concert were opened on Monday
evening, for the fire time, as a private Theatre.
They have been very neatly and commodioufly fit-
tedup for the purpofe. TbeKing'sbox Rands as for-
merly, and is allotted to the Diretors and Patro-
neffes of the entertainment. Below are rows of
feats for the audience ' • and in the front a fmall
cage has been erefted for the performances. The
decorations are perfedly timple and neat. Over
the Rage is the following motto : On fait cc qu'on
peal, of non ce gu'on and.—" We do what we can,
but not what we with."

The performances did not commence till nine
o'clock. The band in the Orcheflra confifted of
Mr. Saeommt, the Hon. P. LAMBS, Mr. MEI, &c.
At length the curtain rote, and the following
Prologue was fpoken by Colonel GREVILLE
I come, not courting plaudits, gcndc Neighbours,
They are the need well worn by toils and labours:
Labours, Goo knows, wilds our mule betide well;
May fend us all u Vagabonds to Bridevrell !
I come Dlredtor, Author, Adtor, Poet,
So undefined my charge—l fiercely know it!
To fay this night we work a revolution—
Nay, do not (tart—in Routs—not Conecitutlon
To prove, you Ladies femetinses may contrive
To pall a night, not jaram'd, nor flar'e'd alive ;
And when at Pleafures fummons eall'd together,
Find food for talk u pleafant u the weather.
But fame there are, who view with hone eyes
This little Theatre of Mirth *rife,
Who think that Female's claim to virtue o'er
Who's fees or heard (oar feet above the floor.
For fay there grave Reformers of the Age,
If you muR laugh, why laugh upon the Stage
Have we not Games of good old Rnglilh growth,
Made m preferve our Countrymen from Both t
To thofe refine whene'er you want dating,
And laugh your fill at Boxing or Bull-baiting.
But other Critics Rill more furious own
They'd bead a mob to pull our Play Inure down ;
And fo botaafc they wifely fouy dangers,
Lurk in the friendly aid—of liberal Strangers.
They'd head a mob! and thus would join to break
The very Law, perhaps, they belp'd to make.
Shame on fwd nonfenfe ! is their one denies
Tht.t Tafte's a Stream whole channel never dries
Whether adorning France's wide domain,
Or richly fertilizing Britain's plain,
Stillby the fpot where Wit, where Genius glows,
Her wave will fparkle as her current flows.
Oh then, &Spire the mean, the narrow rule,
That Chains the mind to Cuftom's femik fchool
Oh when fair Peace each facial bilis reftores,
Let Faihian ope to Mirth her ample doors ;
And fpite of Paragraphs or Piarloufe Fadtion,
Here let us firmly fix—her centre of attradion.
The Interlude confifted of a thort dialogue, writ
ten by Mr. GRRVILLE, who appeared as Mr. Lively,
a Manager in Ditlrefs. It turned upon the reports
which had been circulated through theNewfpapers,
of the immorality and pernicious tendency of the
new Theatre, which had obtained fuch general
belief, that the Subfcribers who had been the fore-
moft to patronize it, and under whore aufpices the
projeft was to be brought to maturity, were fend-
ing in excufes every hour that they could not give
it any farther encouragement. The Manager's
Clerk, who had been out colleaing fubfcriptions,
next appears ; but he alto is full of chfappointments.
When he is introduced to Lady Timer who is at
breakfalt with her Lord, for her Ladyfhip's Cub-
fcription, the noble Peer is aftonithed the should
have expofed herfelf to fo much rifle, or counte-
nance fo much immorality. He tells her the will
certainly be fent to the Round Houfe ; and at
length plays upon her apprehenfions fo forcibly,
that my Lady fends her excufes to Mr. Gild', and
is forty the can have nothing further to do with
him. The Clerk meets the fame fate at other
houfes, and inflead of collcaing Tome hundreds, he
brings home only,lBl. which he begs leave to pocket
for the arrears due to himfelf, and give in his consi.
Excufes alai pour in from the Performers, who had
been engaged; and in this dilemma, Mr. Lively is
called upon by a Phyfician, in the old coftume of
drefs, (perfonated by Mr. Maonocas), to whom
he imparts his diftrefies, and afks for his affiftance.
The latter fays he can perform the part of a Lover,
if one Ibould be wanted. At length a groupe of
Strolling Players, hearing of Mr. Lively's dittrefs,
come to offer their Cervices, which .are accepted;
' and thus the interlude concludes.
The two after-pieces were French proverbs,
called " Zing Zing," and " Les Fon x. The
parts were performed by the Chevalier de MONT..
KORENCY, Count °CHERI'', M. de VI exultation ER
M. d'ltsuotaux who aged the fat Lady, M. No.
oawr, and M. VrALSH. •
The Company then withdrew to fotitcrooms up
Hairs, while the (upper tables were laid, which
was done with great alacrity, and the Theatre was
loon transformed into a very commodious (upper
room. the repaft confitted of a cold collation of
the bell eatables that could be procured, and jel-
lies, fruits, &c. After capper, tome Dilletanti
Gentlemen fang Catches, accompanied on the
piano-forte, and at half-paft twelve the roomswere
nearly cleated.
On accour.t of the reports that bad been "eirci
fated of an expdted riot, fevetal Ladies kept
, away. The Supper was at a quarter palleleven,
inftead of half pall twelve. The performances of
each feafon are to be limited to ten nights.
Among the company pTefent,viere Ladies Salif-
bury, Dungannon, Mount Edgcumbe, Bucking-
hamthire, _Melbourne, Temple.own, .J•n ley, Kan,
mare, HantpLlnt, Milne: Mrs. I.'ouverie, etrewe.
Bradford; Stair,'Monut Edgctimhe,Temple-
to will Dungannon, I.anAford; earquis of Lorne,
Marquis ,ot Hcadtord, bit M. Ridley; and
out. two paler Lac!ics*cl Gsatilisca

NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE.

FoLMOUT n, r4...-.Sailed this mornir.g his Mejefly'4
Blips Amethyft, of 3E guas; and l'lmmortalite, of 36 gins,
"rah the Speedwell cutter, Hopkins, on a cruize againft the
(muggier,: alfo the Duke of York packet, Ucake, with tb:.!
mall of the ptb inft. for Lifbon ; the (loop Rafper, Hannifer.
for Cork; and the William, Auain, fur Penzance..--Arrive..l
the Affault gun-vete!, Lieut. Gorton, from Seill7; and the
Speedwell fchooner, of s 6 guns, Lieu t:l'omlinfon, from a ernize;
the Four Sifters, Williams, from Pembroke; Thomas and Ju-
dith, Cowth, from Plymouth, for Liverpool; Friend, 2arrt it,
from Exeter: John and Sufan, Wcich, from Liverpool; and
the Prince of Wisies packet, Todd, with mail, front Lithon,
after a paffage of ts days. The paffengirs by her are Mr. Ab-
bot, merchant of Oporto ; Mrs. Frith (the Lady el It4i
Frith), and (errant; and M. Bazerra, Envoy front the Cue -t
Portugal to the Batavian Republic. The Prince of Wale
packet left at Nihon the W. iiingbam packet, a hieh x-
pedted to fail born thence on the 7th init. with the mall; 'or
England. The Prince Emelt packet, Pctre, with mils froos
Ncw York and Halifax, is hourly txpofted,—Wind N.
PORTSMOUTH, MAICH s6.—This day arrived the F.ll
India packet Georgian, from Bengal; alfo the brig Mary,. W,
Eftill, from Africa, in very great want of provifions, hound to '
London; has a valuable cargo on board.