Star.
London, England, 1823-01-29 00:00:00

You see—or, but for this disguise, would see,

An unknown champion in the Muse's held,
But more consider'd still, as more conceard.
A guest in Courts, in camps, in halls, in hovels—
In short—the Author—of the Scottish Novels !
Lady—Delightful ! I've been three whole seasons dying
For your acquaintance—Nay now, don't he flying—
You'll come to me to-morrow evening—mind,

Without your masque—as soon as you have dined;
A little early party—
ifutlior--Pray excuse me.
Lady-0, no excuses—now you shan't refuse me.
Pledge me your word, or, in thia public place,
I vow I'll have that vizor from your (Lice.

Author—l throw me on your honour, then ; you'll not
Betray me nowe—my name is
Lady—Dear, so sorry.
Author—Wherefore?
Lady—That's the name
On ev'rybody's tongue—l meant to claim
A secret to myself.—And did you write
The Play then we are come to see tonight ?
Autftor—l'm not its Author: though I fairly own
'Twas through my means it came before the town.
It's one of those old Plays, ri:vis'd and clipt,
(K which. I've scent yet, in manuscript,
And from whose scenes you may have sometimes read
A blank verse motto at my chapter's head.
But, as the same event of James's day
Founds my new Novel, and this ancient Play.
The Actors interweave such scenes of mine
As come germanely to the Play's design.
La•ly—Then, this is not, as former Plays have been,
The Novel shifted into act and scene ?
Author—No : for this Novel, you will find, had not,
Like sonic before it, a theatric plot
Be not displeas'd, then, pray you, nor surpried,
If, fur a Novel closely dramatiz'd,
You find a plain, old-fashioned Play before y.,
With the old freedom, varying from the store,
And following only one great rule and measixe,
The aim to give a gentle audience pleasure.
Lady—l wish no scenes but your's had been embrac'd,
Then I might praise, and not commit my tast,:.:
But to applaud an unestablish'd Poet—
I may get wrong, perhaps, before I know it.
Now Lady Light.blee, who's a first-rate wit,
Said the last Comedy was quite a hit
Misi Sourby, who's a critic and blue stocking,
Said never anything was half su shocking.
_ .

.
Which was I to believe ?—I lo protest,
I never in my life was more distrest!

Author—To-night, at least, applaud : and never fear
But that your smile will carry judgments here;
E'en the cross Critics may be half controurd—
Toady—Let but the Critics know your Play is old,
And they'll uphold you, be it but to force
Those horrid, forward moderns off the course.
Author—Spare the poor moderns; I am of their crew.
Lu./y—Yes Sir; but all the world agree, that you,
Unlike the moderns of our tiresome race,

Will come, in time, to have an ancient's place.
Nay, more; I apprehend, that if the Play,
Old as you call it, should succeed to-day;
The house must thank, in far the first degree,
That modern Muse (long modern may she be).
Who takes her name from first-born Waverley !

EPILOGUE,
Spoken by Mrs. CHATTERLEY.
Here I am once again—Pray be seated—don't fidget !
I've something important—pray listen to Bridget !
I walk'd from Paul's Wharf, all along by Fleet.ditch,
To 'Whitehall—where I met with King James—he's a witch !
Ile sees future destinie mark'd on the globes;
" Sit ye down, child," he cried. Then he twit ch'd up his robes.
" I'll tell you your fortune." Odd thoughts seem'd to strike him.
" You've got an old husband.' " Yes!" " How do you like him?"
Um."—" Speak."—" Pretty middling : confess if I must,
" Ile's not like old Port, Sir, the better for rust :
" Time mellows our wine : that improves ev'ry hour,
" But husbands, kept too long, are apt to turn sour."
" Odd's fish! you're a wag, girl, take paper and'pen."
Then he stalk'd up and dowel—twitch el his robes up again,
And thus, deeply vers'd in the planets decree,
Foretold London's fate In the year twenty-three.

" Young Ensigns in whiskers, and Dandies in stays,
" Will niddety nod it in cabriolets :
" O'er pavements ill mended, will kick up a clatter—
" If their necks alone were in danger, no matter
" A frost will make noses on New Year's Day tingle ;
" A New Marriage Act will keep bachelors single ;
" While Homer's Achilles, without boots or gaiters,
" Will stand in Hyde Park to astemisk the skaiters,
" Great folks will be gadding to Paris and Rome,
" They'd better by half spend tbeit money at home.
" Covent-Garden will cep up her scenic renown,
" And one Siensi'ag Beauty will wake half the town.
" But," (ben; he look'd grave) " in that year twenty-three,
Sht'n to:.ke a stage play of my Jewels and Me,
" (As bbakspeare serv'd Bessy, our great predecessor,
" Brought on in a crib, like a pig on a dresser.)
" "fis ludere sarrii'—(and here he look'd graver)
" And yet—if you ask it—they'll treat me with favour."
" Ah! sire," I replied, " you may fail its your plan,
" You don't know tkc Pit !—llut I'll do what I can."

(To the Audience.)
Then Sirs, by your hands, prove I've uttered no fiction,
And verify bonnie King James% prediction.
ADELi'lll.—Green. in France, like his predecessors,
Tom and Jerry, continues to attract crowded audiences.
The House was, last night, literally crammed.
SURREY.—Last night Miss EDMISTON, formerly
of Drury-Lane Theatre, made a most successful debut
at this T!ieatte, in a Piece taken fro:n tiona'a Tra•
gedy of Douglas. The part of Lady Randolph is well
suited to tins Lady's abilities; and tote character of
Yortng Norval, admirably sustained by Mr. WATKINS
Buntiouosis, rendered the whole performance an
excellent treat to the lovers of good acting. Tlw,
Piece was given out for repetition, amid repeated.
' plaudits. Other Pieces of a more slight, but truly
entertaining description, concluded the evening's en-
tertainments, which wee received throughout with
the must decide 4 'narks of xpprt*itiosk.

Saturday, the body of Joseph Croft, was picked
up, encased in ice, from off the gravel bed, on the
lower side of Over Bridge, near Gloucester. It ap-
pears that this unfortunate man was drowned in
consequence of the sinking of a boat in which he was,
on a very windy night, about two months ago.
A poor man, named Haskell, on Saturday evening,
went, ilktO the-stable of the Sun Inn, FUerton, and
on the following morning was found frozen to death.
Another poor man, named Milligan, aged 84 'ears,
perished from the excessive cold weather, on Thurs-
day, while working in the forest, Newi;ort.
A girl of the name of Hannah Pitt, expired a few
days since, of Aretou, from her clothes taking fire.
Ten days ago, James Bradshaw, hatter, in Greenock,
having been engaged in a scuffle with another hatter,
received a wound in the head. He remained slightly
complaining only till the 21st instant, when he ex-
pired. The person accused of inflicting the blow
has absconded.

Friday, William Rentoul, who was indicted at the
last Glasgow Circuit Court, on a charge of debauch-
ing the mind, of young girls, and was outlawed for
not appealing, was taken into custody.
CAUTION TO PUBLICANS.—Last week, two men
came to a public-house in Portsmouth, and called for
a quart of beer. On quitting the house they pretended
to be without money, and left a small bag as a depo-
sit, till they should return to discharge the reckoning.
An old soldier, who frequented the house, having
some knowledge of the men, advised the landlady to
open it, which she did, and found a bladder, contain-
ing about a quart of brandy. This she emptied, and
filled with soap suds. Soon after two other men came,
and on espying the bag, stated that they had an in-
formation against her for having smuggled liquor in
her possession. She refused, however, to let them
search the bag till they had reimbursed the sum for
which it was deposited with her. This being done, it
was given up, and on ascertaining the contents, they
slunk off, leaving the bag behind them This was, no
doubt, a concerted plot between the four.

In Holland, that beehive of industry, exci y avail-
able source of service is made use of, so that dogs,
and even goats, are not suffered to pick the bone or
eat the bread of idleness. Most of the little wares
and merchandises, vegetables, turf, and particularly
fish, are drawn by the former, who are properly
harnessed for the occasion in little carts, and accord-
ing I,
as the carts vary in size, and are laden, the dogs
are put to in proportion, so that sometimes there are
six dogs harnessed to a cart, three a-breast, whilst
the goats are yoked to infantine waggons and cur-
rides, to air and exercise little children. It is really
astonishing to see the weight these animals will draw ;
nothing can exceed their docility ; and for their la-
bour, the Hollander, who is remarkable for his hu-
manity to the dumb creation, feeds them well, and
lodges them in his own house very comfortably.
Owing to the great care paid to their dogs, the canine
madness seldom appears among them ; on Sundays
they are permitted to refresh and enjoy themselves,
and never shew any disposition to escape from their lot.
Sunday evening, a very unusual scene took place
in Mary-la-Bonne Church. The Rev. Mr. Boys-
FIELD was reading the • Evening Service, and had
nearly concluded, when a respectably dressed man
rose in one of the side galleries, and loudly exclaimed,
" it is my turn now !" and immediately turning in all
directions to the congregation, announced himself as
" the Saviour of Mankind: and was proceeding to
delis er them an oration upon his sell-created Di-
vinity, when the organ commenced playing, and
as he raised his voice, the loudest tones of the imam.
ment were in vain tried to drown-the sounds of his
voice; however he was quickly silenced, and removed
from the Church,
Monday afternoon, about font o'clock, Mr. 13uca-
.
isasmn, a respectable coal-merchant, residing in Old-
street-road* while conversing with his chief clerk,
.suddenly exclaimed—" Oh Loitn. what is the mat-
ter with me! I sever felt so Wore!" and fell down
and instantly expired. Ile .bed previously enjoyed
asescclkoe stalf.oflteeWu. , .
4

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

ME WEATHER, --------
..
EDINBURGH, JAN. 25.—The frost still continues. ARCHERY.
The thermometer to-day is at 30. ()Wing to the i Saturday se'nnight, a subscription prize, a silver muff-hors
great accumulds:on of snow, the streets are in a very was shot for by the Royal Company of Archers, at their 13otto
bad state, more especially for carriages, which it re-
writer to the signet.
Arc hers' Hall, Edinburgh, and won by John Colin Wd.on, EN.
quires great additional strength to drag forward: i
A WHISTLIUG SWAN!
SOUTHAMPTON.—We scarcelrever remember such ! La.t week a sportsnun of Reading, Berks,ghot on the Thames
vast quantities of wild fowl as have been shot in our alev hill is three lusheshbiistlingswan.lt long, yellowismuchsni toaller than the tarn species :
thew
river this winter. The prices were high, there beingthe middle, but black at
a great demand for them. The the end; the whole plumage is white, and the legs are black.
quantity of wild This s 'es is an inhabitant of the northern regions,
'lever aP
geese in the Needles Passage is beyond precedent: gearing in England but in hard winters, when flocks of five o;
they extend in great flocks from Spithead to the sis are now and then seen. In Iceland these birds are objects of
westward, between the Wight. Fresh herrings have chase. In the month of August they lose their feathers to awls
likewise been caught in great abundance. I a degree as not to be able to fly. The natives at that s aeon re.
sort in great numbers to the places where they most abo md,and
PORTSMOOTIL—The weather has been very severe are accompanied with dogs and active strong horsci, trained to
during the past week, and a quantity of sleet and the sport, and capable of passing nimbly over the boggy soil and *
rain has fallen, which produced a sheet of ice, and marshes. The swan will run as fast as a tolerably fleet horse.
The greater number are caught by dogs, which are taught to
rendered the footpaths so dangerous that passengers seize them by the neck—a mode of attack which eau es them :o
were obliged to take the road, and many have been lose their balance, and become an easy prey. The bird is now
thrown down with considerable violence, but we have i in the possession of Mr. HOLOATE, gunmaker, of Reading, where
not heard of any serious injury. The wild fowl iit may be seen by the curious.
shooters have been on the alert. Widgeon and ducks I _ HUNTING.
appear in very large flocks in our vicinity, and wild
geese are often seen soaring over the adjacent mea-
dows, which is a very rare occurrence.
The French fishermen anchor their vessels in the
stream, at the entrance of the harbour's mouth,
where they catch a number of sea gulls, by baiting
the fish-hooks; they dispose of them in the streets
at a low price.
CANTERBURY, JAN. 26.—This old-fashioned winter
has brought-to the Kent and Sussex levels more wild
fowl, of vatious descriptions, than have been known
to visit them for some years past. Four wild swans
were shot on Saturday last, at Stourntouth, by Mr.
Charles Harrison, three of which were killed at one
shot. Thursday, four wild swans were observed opt
the wing over the brook, near Alfriston, in Sussex,
when a gunner of that place was successful in bi dig •
hag down one of them, a remarkably fine-bodied
bird, measuring 71 feet from the extremity of one'
wing to that of the other. And on the following
morning, another still larger was killed by a person
at Alfriston. This unfortunate bird, when shot, was
in company with six others, swimming in a line at
about equal distances, beautifully and majestically,
up Cockmere River. The appearance of these noble
birds here, is a certain indication that the frost has
set in severely in the North.

The Sanderstead Harriers meet
kennel.
The Badswortb Hounds meet on Thursday, at Hickleton ; Sa-
turday, at Brierley Village.
SHOOTING.
In a recent ease, tried summarily before the Sheriff of Forfar-
shire, at the instance of the Procurator Fiscal, against
rattail°, tenant at Baldragon, the defender was fined A*3 31.
and expenses, for taking a Gentleman's gun from him v. hi!e
hunting over his farm. It is a prevailing opinion, that pmehers,
or other persons, hunting upon a Gentleman's property without
his permission, may be justifiably deprived of their fire-arms;
but this decision shews that the notion is erroneous, as far as re-
lates to Scotland.

and Saturthy, at