Star.
London, England, 1824-08-17 00:00:00

RUSSIAN THEA I AICALS.

The following extract of a letter from St. Peters.
burgh, dated May the 3d, gives us a faint idea how one
of the best plays of our immortal Bard has been muti-
lated (both in its translation and adoption) in one of the
principal cities of the Russian Empire :
" As I have now enumerated the principal amusements of the
city, with the exception of theatrical ones, I shall proceed to relate
to you to what a high pitch of refinement the Russians have arrived
in that respect, by describing to you the peribrmances at the
1 Theatre on Monday evening last, which commenced with Shak-
speares tragedy of Othello. Othello appeared in a military cocked hat,
Russian boots, and something over his shoulders more resembling
a Roman toga than any other theatrical apparel which lean liken to
it. The Senators all wore large helmets and sandals. This, as you
may imagine, had a most ridiculous effect. Casa appears to be
drinking with a mixed company in a tavern, when logo enters and
sings a song, the subject of which is, that Englishmen can never
fight till they have eaten roast beef and drank sufficient to make I
them insensible of what they are doing. logo and Casio then danced
a mock minuet, when Cassio sang a song, and the other characters
joined in chorus. In the fight which took place between Coale and
Itoderigo, the seat of the latter was pierced first by Casa and then by
logo. Itoderigo, after about half a dozen summersets (after the style of I
Gunratm), tumbled down at the back of the stage. A wheelbarrow
was then brought on the stage, guarded by a file of soldiers, in
which were placed both Casio and Roderigo, and wheeled off. Othello
smothered Desdettiona with a pillow at least six feet in length.
Essiiin then came running in, pursued by her husband with a naked
sword in his hand, who aiming it at his wife, struck Othello, and
bothimmediately fell to fighting, when lags was mortally wounded,
and drove off in the same barrow which conveyed away as and
Rod,...rigo. Othello then rushed to the back of the stage, and after
imprinting a few hisses on the cheek of his murdered wife, fell on
his sword, and then died. The house was very full, it being the
first night of its being performed in St. Petersburgh. The house is
smaller than the Haymarket and lighted witil oil, which causes a
most disagree-able sinell.—fthink, from the description which I
have here furnished you with, you will perceive what conception
the Russians have of one of the most deservedly admiral Tragedies
of the first tragic genius of the world."

'O. LICE INTILLIGRNCL
•
MANSION-1100g. • • •
tllloullar rotor' a man of zuEntelileclabie VilmNin°4lo
days Igo brouSht liefote•Aite Mai" chsgrd with *NW
embitoried spreads of AKIO, property of its ai1v4•794 Abbot
man °strati, to whom he Was a traveller. nose • are 4aiiii%simui
onnstances of rather a pesuliu nature connected walls abst
—Alderman Garrett, it appears, brooght an action against the
former employer of Taylor, for hawing given a false character
him, by which false character the Alderman was Induced total*
him into the service of the firm. The prisoner. is palliation (Arlin;
offence for which he was brought before the Lost) Marna, Sued
to Mr. Harmer, Alderman Garratt's solicitor, that he had boon
unfortunate enough to commit a similar error in the house which
bad given him the character for integrity, and that in requital of
such generous treatment, he commenced a plan of defrauding the
Alderman in order to pay off the amount of his previous embezzle.
ment. The action is still pending. The prisoner, upon finding
that all was ever with him, contrived to get an appointment in the
Sandwich Islands, and had retired to a seaport in expectation of
sailing daily. No very great anxiety was manifested by the Alder-
man to have the prisoner taken into custody, until the former em-
ployers of the latter accused the Alderman of a wish to wink at
the escape of a person against whom so heavy a charge was made.
Officers were then sent off with directions to bring Taylor befont
the Loan MAYOR.
It was sworn that at various times the prisoner took up non et
money from the customers of the firm, and did not account for thigh
on his return. One particular item, for £52 odd shillings, woe
taken as sufficient for the purposes of prosecution, and Taylor was
committed fox trial to the Gloucester Assizes, the offence having
been sworn to have taken place in Gloucester.