Star.
London, England, 1815-04-24 00:00:00

trorflAV IgiELLIGENcL

THEAFRAS.

..••••. .
DtIVItY LANE.—Saturday night a most crowdet
rind hi illiact assembly were attracted to thexeprcsen-
lation of a new TrAgedy by Mrs. WlesioT, a Lady of
f.tshinn. which hail been g 4 up with great splendeee
(t.- decoration, and in favour of which there eels the
most sanguine anticipati°n. It is a story (if the S.l‘oll
2ta of our history. The fends between the king-
doms of Wessex and Mercia were likely to he tecon-
ciled by the marriage of Esbert, son of Condeh, King
of Wessex, with Ethefirida, Princess f,f Merc'.t ; bet
.I:Vert had secretly married Tea, danglrer of an old
friend of his father, anti had a child ty her. lie
avowed his marriage when brought into the presence
of Eihelfrida, who declares that Mercia shall avenge
leer cause: The King orders his son into prison for
i!..s act of disobedience ; bet on the alarm of the ap-
peiach of the Mercians, his coortiers tell hint that his
set jects will only flock to the stand ird of teem, in
Ac,eisecittence of vehtch lie appoints him commander of
the troops. In his absence flared, a crafty Abbot,
who had been the rival of Egbert before he became an
ecclesiastic, advises the King to bring lea to ti ial f r
tl•e crime of marrying the heir apparent ; and he
hires ruffians to assassinate Eghrt lea': conduct
'before the court is highly dignified and tender. Esbeet,
af.er conquering the Mercians, escapes the plot of
b Wed, who falls himself by the hands of his own
ruffians, and the lovers are made happy.—ln this
very natural fable, there were abundant materials fOr
eiconatic interest and effect. The plot had the cha-
t-aver of the age in which it was laid, and was preg-
nant with. those high sentiments of honcur and gal.
lantry which distinguished our Saver ancestors. In
lea and Ebert most amiable examples were given of
those high and pure principles of love and conjugal
fidelity, honour, and loyalty, with which the history
of that period abounds. The crooked and flagitious
letseness of the Abbot was also faithfully drawn flow
those proofs of the atrocity to which, in the dark( r
times. the disappointment of the passions drove the
fiery spitit ; and the weak errors of the King were a
'Very probable effect of his listening to the machina-
tions of a favzurite. The matetials were, in short,
ample fot the production of a play of great interest ;
but the Lady has rather produced a dramatic poem ,
than a regular drama. The versification is sweet and
harmonious—the sentiments just and impressive—
the images poetical, and though not recommended by
their actual novelty, were rendered so by their dress
and elegance. It was a poem, then, which will be
trail with delight ; but which wanted situation, inci-
dent and passion, to give it dramatic effect on the
stage. The audience were highly interested in favour 1
of the noble lea, and for a time the idea of her elan-1
gee excited a powerful sympathy; but neither she'
-nor :Wert, nor any one, was brought into a situation
to arouse the emotions of the heart, or to call forth
tla energies of the actor. From this Commencement ,
to the close, Mr. KEAY, in Egbert, had not a single
occasion to display those powerful workings of the
soul, with which he knows so well bow to harrow up
the feelings of the auditor ; and though Mrs. Bat:T-
-lAN, in lea, displayed a talent of meek tool simple
dignity, superior to any eff tit of her art ehich we
}Live witnessed for ye irs, yet it was all, in the uniting,'
t.)O tranquil, too harmonious, tither for tester or
pity. The tirst ar.d s.econel a.:ts went ei with great
epplause. 'file do/elopement of the plot, and the
Irceraii: rersone, oromi4ed a tick ti.:ld for the those of
The author ; whiz the ease and sweetness of the
dialogue pleased, and many beautiful passages of
tenderness gave the promise of her pwer to melt the
tent. But in the third act symptoms of latigee be-
pen to manifest themselves ; the colloquies were
found to be much protracted ; the speeches tem little
selieved by incideet, or warmed by action. A esl,this
was further and more alarmingly displayed in t
fourth act, where one or two expressions were caught
at by the critical malcontents, and censured by a
tmicnntr. From that motnent the itittispoSition to
itear it increased; and the whole rf the sth act parsed,
tinder incessant impatience and condemnatiun.—Mr.
Kee)/ came forward to take the pleasure of ti:e
I-I nso, fiat he was not heard. Tbe hisses and plait-
• Atte again commenced, and both parties claimed the
victor}'.-Mies. Ileterety then attempted to speak the
. ' Epilogue, but it was itnposale to hear a sentetice.—
So treat was the anx;cty of the rahlt to sae the Tra-
gedy, that every ',•,)s, to the top of the Theatre, bad -
L•2e.tt i..t for a week, and i:. may be said tlity contained
fte git...ttst part of the fashionable: now in London,
.I.ithir.! whom wet e
'Ow i )10... of 1'( vtelshire, Ccont and Countess Ile liCltirres'
lk i?.? q 1.11% 31 :1 i.. 11 .';131/(::%b (li. Lanc,dowue, Ma ilium.; or Head
:,r.„ I,.!are!:,oreo. -.of ..±11.1,11 y, Ea:l and Countess Jorwy, Earl
1..1 Ct.u:stuf... (:r:1:, 1..-11.r.,id Cu..tio to, of 'Nfanslield, Fail and
t. t-tnot s., of 11••,:x. }'_art a !.I Ccutits of Meabomugly Earl and
Cont.te-s of Otito.nd, E:.11 and Countess of I:ettutt, Earl and,
g'ou,tt,s of Aylt•lutry, Countess of Chohnotideley, Countess
g.t M...iitt;tott, I.nrtl am! Lady t3ay and St v, Lord and La ty
I..lttrit.l!. 1...di Criw, Lady :Vt.!, Lady Liu:dot:he, lady Li.
i-ll•et, I ativ itorongh, Lady, I'. Villi.ttos, Lady Chetwynd,
I.,!tnital aid Lt.!? Ck,dtirqtan, 1.:1,1y Caul Copley, lady War-
Irmo, Ludy Vadtintosb, Lady C.trobra Lamb, Lord and
Lat!y Caltur, I.Gril llTton. lord Rt. Fimgeraltl, Lord W. Gor-
dan, lord end i rely Carafe'(. Lord and Lady Ilulkelry, Lord
J.li:iti.it, I: ail !';t:et•ve, S. Wi..ttbread. Fsq. I.«tly E. Whitbread,
lion. "r •itol Mts. l'..vtnel.:th Pr.alsllaw, Sir Genrce Talbot,
4.fon. ('nlst!:..l and Mr,. GI ey„.lltot. T. Braude, HIPI. 1). Kill.
"..tr:!, :,it 1:. 41rtr.,ItaF, lion. Mrs. Vipers, Hon. Mrs. Pule,.
litoi. C::.. Plniv, fie.
' Since Saturday, the )tanagers leave published the
+ooowiag t‘6 The public are tespectfnlly informed,
that, at the express desire of the tiuthoress, the Tra-
gc:iy c3.l!ed lea is postponed till further +notice." •
eteve.sr Gannee.—Art apolngy was made on Sit-
etirday evening for the non-appearance of Mr. KENI..
FAA: in the Stranger -(who is confined, we understand,
by a fit of.the gout) and in consequence Mr. Youxo
vetfermed that character with his usual ability. The
iovely heart•reliding penitent, Mr:. Hailer, was so
depicted by Miss 011att.t., as to agonise the House
with distress ; and in detailing his suffering under the
perfidious mask of friendship, Mr. Youeo wrought
I !ie scene to such a climax of indignation, as caltea
-forth universal plaudits. The parts of the... Berm and
Counters were so sustained by Mr. BAItitYSIORE and
Mrs. EGLI-..rov, as to give much additional interest
40 this affecting drama. The musical piece of 66 The
Esealii:" followed, In which Incutmon displayed his
-manly voice with admirable effect.
_:._

Saturday 'their Royal Highnesses tile Enties Arf
YORK and CLARENCE, with a large party of distin.
.guished fashionables,toneurtd Mt. and Mrs. Courrs
vith their companz accliiraer, at their .beautifal
at Highgate.- •

-
The Newmarket first qpring Meeting commences to-morrow,
whenlhost of the boort for the Derby and 0.11:4 will he flied.
The four great nees or the week ere as follows : The •I'wo
Thousand Guineas stake, on which the folloyAng be the avoragr
betting: 7 to 1 against brother to
icra
arc
Wlial,tene, now name.' W
her (daub. of his starting): 2 to I against l
IS-Derby horses in this race, but not more than 7 are expected
to start.
Wednes,lay the Newmarket S!akes will be run for. Whilict
and Mr. %%Ikon's Sally colt are in this.
The .44144:: day for the l'ort Stakes, ti to 4 aga!nst Wite, s'-ter
to WI Ilebone, 2 to I nea:l44 Wucaer, winner at tlw Verty I kt
year. ltrot'44.r to PeAl'ey is an in this match, but there k
bettint allow him. Minuet, first favourite tor the Oaks come
ton
ItErrom ON 11 1E 20oNs. sTAnns.
2 to 1 aTit I or,l Rouh's Tigress, by dolt.
5 to :'.:tort Whisker, brother to %V haiebont.
to 4.4 Lewd be. by Sam, out of Obey.
1(3 to 1 :lot ;he :'elite colt winning Ow zeoogs. St .11:04 MA Derby,
:km to NVllkhrr %sinning the tby and Minuet the Oaks.