Star.
London, England, 1815-11-24 00:00:00

URI/AT-1,4A8 I IMATRE.

Yesterday evening, a new Comedy called Wars to
jiml a Fricia, was performed on this stage.
DR ANIATIS PERSON/E.
Sr Harry Mnrdeu - Mr. WALLACE.
General Torringtun - - Mr. BAR t Ley.
Heatiley - Mr. Dowvins•
Jack Bustle - Mr. KNIMI r.
Bally O'Mulshinagc - Mr. JOUNITONE•
'Timothy Scamp - Mr. Gant:ter.
lady Morden • Mrs. Davison.
7sizsria - Miss KELLY.
rs. Bustle - Mrs. SVASES.
busau - Mrs. Seer. tr.
The following is the stot y :
b,r FL Morden having much einhat raved his affairs by a fatal
attaelmient to the gaining table, which hr has concealed from
the knowledge of his lady, a most amiable woman, but too much
adshctsel to railing, which she is fond of indulging.= his expense,
lit comes so irritated with her that he determines tit separate from
bet.. With this view he applies to, General 'Torrington, his
Uncle and Guardian, who has just returned from a command in
r !le West Indies, to be present and assist at the separation. Sir
harry , disappointed in his hopes of receiving assistance from his
numerous friends, who in Isis hour of prosperity bad promised
every thing, and threatened with execution in his house, commu-
nicates to the General his determination to leave England, but is
informed by him such a step Is unnecessary, as be can introduce
-a friend who. notbwitlistanding the defectinn of all others, still
adheres to him, whets lie leads on lady Monica as the friend,
who no sooner heard of Sir Harry's embarrassment, than she de-
termined to sacrifice an independent fortune of her own to his
relief, thus proving her affection for hint undiminished.
General Torrington, on his way to Morden Hall, had stopped
at the Black Lion, a village inn, kept by Mrs. Bustle, where be
alerts wit It Maria, the daughter of Heartley, a retired tradesman,
a kind-hearted but tray old man, who has discarded this daugh-
ter from his house, :nil as be persuades himself from his heart
also, on account of her (supposed) seduction by a young man of
high connections. General Torrington, who had advanced the
money to set lieareey out in business, uses his influence in her
behalf, and leaves Hear:ley nearly softened into forgiveness by
bis advice. At this time Maria gains admikon to him, when
he discovers a wedding ring on her finger, and learns, to hicatto-
nishment, that by Lis obsthiate violence in refusing to see her, or
open a letter from her, he had kept himself in ignorance of her
having from the first been married.
There is an underplot of the levcz; of Mrs. Bustle and her Irish
ostler, Barny O'blulsbinase, whose repugnance to matrimony he
gets over by the information of her being possessed of iCIOOO.
This Comedy, it may be perceived from the story,
is of the sentimental cast, and the plot consists rather
in the develtipement of disposition, than the progress
of action. This species of drama encroaches on the
province of tragedy, and it is only by the catastrophe
that we distinguish it from the domestic tragedy, of
which we have some good examples on the stage.
Indeed we have seldom seen any thing more affecting
than the scene in which DcWION met and was recon-
ciled to his daughter, (Miss KELLY). The scene
was excellently contrived, it drew forth the sympathy
and applause of the whole house. If to some merry
midi:ors there was any thing oppressive in the pathe-
tic interviews between Heartley and his daughter,
they were amply compensated by the courtship which
took place between 46 our hostess of the Black Lion"
and her Irish ostler, who_ nt.trried her as soon as he
learned that she was worth £lOOO. In these scenes
JoussToten was uncommonly happy, particularly
.titer his wedoing, when he appears dressed in a large
white coat and a bunch of white ribbands in his hat,
and exclaims...." This morning I was groom of the
stables—now lam lord of the bedchamber." The
t.ther pt l lul niers are entitled to the author's thanks
for the interest they conferred on their respective
characters. The Comedy was received throughout
ch the most unqualified approbation, and was an.
tounced for this evening with uoiversal and enthu-
siastic bursts of applause. The following Prologue
and Eptiugue wete well delivered—the former by
Mr. Powt.i., the latter by Miss KELLY
PROLOGUE.
WRITTEN DY Mt. SAL, AND Sr.SEEN Lt MS. eowttz..
In days ut yore, a :•:tege, the story •
Went grumbling forth to find an honest man ;
With lantern glimmering in the (pen day,
The cross old Cynic, purblind, pok'd his way;
With jaundic'd eye his lellow man survey'd,
And swore that Honesty from earth had fled.
To what, you'll say, dues this allusion tend
Tor this—l'm puzzi'd where kind a F)ientl!
To you I bow, grave Censers ut tfe: Stage;
We prize your plaudits, and we dread your rage;
To you, set.° hold the scales of praise and blame,
1 he Critics here peculiar homage ciaitn.
If on our Play this night' your !stows you bend,
W shall an Author hope fejit.de 1 ri,P4.l
Dread is the task, in this tillsghten'il age,
'1 u face the terrors a the seen c Stage.—
To dare the gaze of England's class'c
Ltitiow'd with jadgment and nett taste mite,'.!:
Anxious our Author comes, wish fear upprest,
Tumult nous feelings agitate his breast ;
Ile sees the sphere where Shakespeare's Muse bath shone,
And, treinirling, chunks to plunge the Rubicon.
illusion alt! for here indulgence reigns,
Sileds .r cchatitltig beam:, and here
tsar her throne maintains
Friends to this grt und ! ro all I :tow appeal,
To British minds, which ever kind)/ feel
Your smiles can all our apprehensions end,
On this occasion prove the Author's friend;
Grant him the olive, if denied the bays,
And yield hint " pardon where you tante): praist .

EPILOGUE

lIVAIITEN IT TIM NON. CiLOIWE LAMB, AND SI'DKEN IT
INCAS KELLY.
Meat' lathe rase the comic hard can reach,
(I lowe'er amusing) d lie fails to teach.
has then the lesson al,t this flay imparts,
knforc'd its moral on our hearer s' hear s ?
\Vitt one wile bet e (it one, nit ! let me find her)
Become less twazing, or one husband kinder
Can man, can lordly man, put up, through life,
With but one it owe friend, and that his wile ?
Or viriusui ladies be content to close
'1 heir inirrstris friendships with platonic beaux ?
" Friendship'"—a poet writes—" like love's a name !" •
Are they not often, Ladies, both the same ?
FriendsliT's a light that beams in safe controul,
To help, to guide, to gladden, ur console ;
Should it the touch 01 fiercer pa-sinn know,
Blaze into love, and with its inatlncss glow,
I; mourns like raging fires in stormy weather,
And love and friendship both burn out together!
.Eatongh of marriage; a trite theme that fits
The bia4is of all that are, DE wt Id be, wits.
Now let to Alt, wl at kind of Iriendship ::iris
ws,,er sive, of bachelors and maid,?
0!.! from what varions cau-ies, acts, and things,
f Fie shiny, or what at least en, SprialEs!
hum Walks from law, twat quarrels, hitless, want,
Limpid:4 folly, and conspiring cant,
Agreeing hatred, undeserved reproaches,
Falls, his, mistake', and journies in stage coaches.
et Sir," says the challenger, with courtliest grace,
" You'll answer soon, and fix both tine and piece."
Though quite a stranger, lily misread attend,
" I know ito soul here, but find a friend."
1 be good man, rutted by deceit and !rand,
Barns to proclaim the villain's name abroad
" Learn, he exclaims, " learn caution from my fan,
" Trust not the wie,ch, fur he'll betray. on all
•' Say that no more," tries our, " 1 recommend,!'
ss Not say't ! 'tis true"—" yes, sir,—but he's my friend."
The lawyer, viewing with malicious breast,
A tival's bag, that bums with briefs campus,