Star.
London, England, 1830-09-01 00:00:00

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

A very broad, but an extremely laughable and effective farce, en-
titled The First of April, was produced last night. The plot hinges
on the scheme which Colonel Aire, (Mr. Vulture), assisted by a party
of his brother officers. carries into effect against his uncle, Sir Bump.
kin Pedigree (Mr. W. Faanza), la order to compel him to give up
a bequest of 10,0001. which he withholds in consequence of some
legal informality. Colonel Aim is the more particularly anxious to
recover the legacy, as, without a competent fortune, he feels that he
caanot espouse Clara (Mrs. UUMBY), a young lady to whom he
is attached. The piece opens with t e arrival of Sir Busspkin, a
pompous and affected old fool, at Dover, where Captain Airey happens
to be quartered. The Captain,disguised as a waiter, persuades Sirßstasp-
kin that there is no accommodation for him at the hotel,wbere he lint ap-
plies, and proffers his services to conduct him to " the Castle," which
he describes as the best inn to be found in the town. Instead, how-
ever, of taking him to a place of public entertainment, he leads him
to kver Cutle; the Governor, General Belford, being absent.
Here the Governor's son, Major Be(ford, who is in the plot,
personates the landlord, while Clara acts as attendant on the
guests, and the military friends of Captain dirty appear as
visiters at the table d'hote. A variety of tricks. highly derogatory to
the dignity of Sir Bumpkin, are now played off against him. The
parties, by their manoeuvres, prevent the half-starved baronet from
tasting a morsel of supper; and while he is lamenting his Tantalus-like
fate, lie is, in the midst of a mock affray among the guests, completely
drenched with the contents of a large water-bottle. Being deprived of
supper, he hopes to recruit his strength by a refreshing sleep. But his
tormentor has caused ropes, attached to panics, to be affixed to his bed,
and to that of his servant,so that they might be raised and lowered at plea.
sure. The alternate disappearance of the beds astounds both master and
man, and they call out lustily to be rescued from a champer which they
are led to believe is haunted. Their outcry arouses General Belford,
who is astonished to find two strangers in his quarters. He endea-
vours to unravel the mystery, but his efforts only five rise to a smut
scene of equiroque. Colonel Airry, finding his first plan defeated by
the unexpected return of General Belford, now assumes his true cha-
racter. lie informs his uncle who he really is, and adds, that the
Governor has given orders for Sir Bumpkin's immediate execution
as a spy. Transported with fear and alarm, Sir Bumpkin offers
half his fortune to his nephew, if he will devise means for his escape.
The latter declares that there is no necessity for such a sacrifice; as,
if he will sign a paper guarante-ing to him the disputed 10,0001. it
will prove at once, to the satisfaction of the Governor, his real cha-
racter. The desired document is signed,—the lovers are, as the phrase
is, " made happy," and all retire well pleased, except the booby ba-
ronet, who finds, notwithstanding all his supposed wisdom, that he has
'been egregiously gulled. The chief merit of this farce consists in its
practical jokes, of which there is no pcity. They told remarkably
well, and excited the hearty laughter of fa very crowded audience, from
the commencement to the termination of the piece. The principal cha-
racter, that of Sr Bumpkin Pedigree, was represented by Islr. W.
FAN KEW, in his most humourous style. A vein of rich, loziat
m ealiet, Co.edy pervaded his entire performance. The part of It d, an
awkward clownish servant, rendered still more ridiculous by an imita-
tion of his muster's peculiarities, was exceedingly well supported by
31r. WEISTEI4 Mr. Vista°, as Colonel Airey, and Mrs. Howitur,
as Clara, played their very trifling parts with much gaiety. The farce
was received with every demonstration of satisfaction.
Travellers in passing from the Belgic to the Dutch Pro-
rifled', find a considerable addition to their daily expense, in conse-
quence chiefly of heavier taxation. The maintenance of the dykes, and
other defences against the sea, which form so large an item in the pro-
vincial budgets of Holland, Friesland, and Zealand, is comparatively
insispificant to those of Flanders.
EDINBORO', AUGUST 311.—EXTRAORDINARY Da-
srarcu.—On the 14th July, the Twins, of Newhaven' Mr. James
Watson. skipper, sailed for Fraserburgb, for the herring fishery. He
commenced on the right after his arrival, and was so diligent and so
remarkably fortunate. that he caught his complement of 264 cranes, by
the 17th inst. At nine o'clock on Thursday morning he sailed for home,
and having a brisk fair wind, be completed the trip from Fraseibuigh
to Newhaven, a distance computed at 189 miles, in the short space of
17; hours, a speed equal to most steam boats.
We are truly glad to inform our readers that Mr. Charles
Grant has been all but unanimously re-elected Member for Inverness-
shire. Reports were prevalent some time ago, that the Government
meant to oppose hint in his election, in the same Manilla that it soil
the credit of opposing his brother, Mr. R. Grant; but recent events
have, no doubt. taught the Premier and his colleagues a different po.
bey, and it any such opposition was ever intended it must have been
withdrawn. There are few men who stand so well with the public, or
deserve to stand so well with it, as Mr. Charles Grant. His character
in all the relations of private life, is not only beyond cavil, but in
every respect worthy of imitation; while in public, the only fault that
he has ever committed, is that of not having more frequently appeared
as a speaker in the House of Commons, for which tie is eminently
qualified, both by his information on all natters on trade and corn-
meree, and by the clear and distinct manner in which he unfolds his
opinions. %I e have always regretted his seccasion, as well as that of
Mr. Hutchison and Lord Palmerston, from the Moistly, as a great
lore ; and we now hail his return as a decided gain to the " collective
wisdom," and we hope, ultimately, an accession to the King's Coulicile.
—elovertieer.