Star.
London, England, 1823-08-19 00:00:00

ENGLISH OPERA-HOUSE.

The return of Mr. MATIIIMI to his native
country, and to the performance of his professional
duties, was last night hailed by an exceeding)?
crowded audience with the most ardent manifesta-
dons of delight. The moment Mr. NI/ffigies ap-
peared as Daniel O'Rourke; the first of the multila7
rious characters he personates in the monopollologue
of The Polly Packet, every part of the house,
fashionable as well as unfashionable, sent forth a
" shout of gratulation," which lasted for a consider..,
able time. Mr. MATHEWS seemed to be perfectly
sensible of the truly English warmth which distin-
guished his reception, and endeavoured, by repeated
obeisances, to express his feelings. We never de-
rived greater, perhaps never so much, pleasure front
his performance, than we last night experienced. He
was all soul•and spirit, adapting himself with won-,
derful celerity, and with the greatest humours to the
ever-varying characters of which the entertainment'
is composed, and winning, in each of them the,
heartiest laughter and the loudest applause. Majlor
Longbow, compared with whom " Ferdinand Men-
dez Pinto" was a man of veracity, was particu-.
larly admired. Mr. MATHEWS described the blus-
tering Munchausen of the scene with a degree
Of bold comic vivacity, which formed a most
entertaining contrast to his rueful tone, look,
and manner, when, ultimately, that " no re-
specter of persons," sea-sickness, has placed him
on a level with his suffering fellow-passengers.—
His delineation of the miseries of Theophilus Tulip, a
cockney youth, who has .not, from the first, teen able
to resist the effect ordinarily produced by a voyage,
was highly ludicrous. He introduced the Irish drink-
ing song of Cruiskkeen Lawn, and also The delights
of the Calais Packet, with excellent effect. The lat-
ter was encored. The comic entertainment of • non-
sieur Tonson followed, in which Mr. MoTttews
peared (for the first time, we believe, in this.cotns-
try) as Monsieur liforbleu. It was a finished piece of
comic humour, from the entrance of the persecuted
Frenchman to his exit. Mr. Maxi-Lewis spare thin
form (that furls which Stage tradition has attributed
to our Gallic neighbours) gave him d considerable
advantage over the snore portly figure which we have
heretofore seen in the character; and the light flip-
pancy of his broken English, which " came trip-
pingly off the tongue," together with his powers of
face, and his never-ceasing vivacity, favoured him no
less. At every new visit of Monsieur Tonson, his
countenance assumed an additional degree of comic
horror: but when, exulting in the death of his perse-
cutor, the bane of his repose again stands before him,
his features assumed a character irresistibly ludicrous
and utterly indescribable. Ilk petit chanson,"L' Aniour!
terntour," was sung with great spirit, and was encored.
Mi. WRENCH played the part of Tow Kina• very
agreeably. Mrs. TATLEURE, who made her first ap-
pearance here as Madan.e Bellegarde, was not deft-,
cient in liveliness. Miss L. DANCE, as Adolpkiue de
Courcy, played with feeling.

M. GOMEZ, a+sisted by some Chinese gardeners,
cultivates the tra-plant in Brazil with great success.
A destrn cti we fi e occulted in Philadelphia, in the
northern liberties, on the l6th ultimo, by which 20
valuable buildings were destroyed, and a loss of pro-
perty caused exceeding 80,000 dollars. It is stated
to have been the most serious calamity of the kind
since the great conflagration in Dock street.
Friday se'unight, two young Irishmen .residing at
Max welltown, went to bathe in the.pool nearly oppo-
site to .Castledykes, near Dumfries, when one of
them, named Alexander M'3inues, heaving gone be-
yond his depth, and being unable to swim, was
unfortunately drowned.
A MAItVeI:LOtIS Sronv,—.Last week the ostler at
the Coach and Horses, Holloway, set a bunting hen
on nine eggs, and next morning, to his surprise, found
that she had hatehed ten chieleens!l---abs Yiince
I.IOI4VILOBE arrived at Holloway?
The Anniversary of his MAIVSTY landing in Scot-
land was celebrated by a number of the most respect-
able Gentlemen in Glasgow—the'llight Honourible
the LORD PROVOST in the Chair, and Colonel Bettie
Croupier. Many sloyil and Constitutional toasts- were
given. Severn) excellent songs tended to heighten the
conviviality of the Meeting, which broke up at a hire
hour, highly delighted with the harmony which pre-
. vailed, and the auspicious day which called thern-tn-
.gether to commemorate the condescension and regard'
shewn unto Scotland by a Sovereign so justly dear to
his people.
Thursday evening, obedient to.the order he had!
received, Foxton, the executioner employed by-the
Corporation of "LondonEproceided by.the'Colchester
van. to.lpswich, to etecute itobert Wade, convicted at
the last. Bury itssiies.Of the•crime of arson, at .Tat.;
tingstone, in the county or SnEfolk, he having retire
to the barn of one of his nii4libOurs. 'lt turned'ouka
however, that a messener of mercy had irtieed'at.
Ipswich before the minister of justice, who bore a
respite of execution until Saturday next (the 23d inst.)
•In consequence or this sumentiOn, the hangman had
nothing to 'do but to-return to London. Having drank
until• he was in .ano Unbecoming state of inebriation,
Jack uttered expressions a 7 •disappOintment, on ac-
count of which the prupietOrs of the Telegraph
coach refused toctineey.him to town, especially as he
had implements of death in his possession; hence, as'
a dernier resort, he was obliged to be an outside pas-
senger on the.ftnyal Mail, which overtakes the Tele-
graph between Brentwood and Bamford, when they
accompany. each other for several miles. The pas-
sengers on the roof of the Telegraph recognized the
man who lately wished to be their associate, and set
about making a gallows with walking sticks, which
they fixed to the luggage, having done which, a cord
with a noose was attached. They then. uttered lan-
guage, which was directed to the coachman and
guard, to
.their great annoyance; and it was long
before they Are able to get tid Of the clamour, by
extraordinary speed.
Stce-stmans =ln Purnis-street, 'Brook-street,
Chorltou-row. Manchester, there is a painting on a
beard ibcont a yard square, of an old shoe in its last
stage, with a hammer, pincers, and awl,; and undei-
se the following inscription :
l
itorik. pas, shoetnaker, operator in ordoary and extra-
etdriaty;ttakiiiatet of *soles, tinker of the disunited, and restorer
of Wee laid hinnany et ever 16 long and wide a separation.
411f.13.. Aileleirgiven gratis,
Even in the worst of desperate eases."