Star.
London, England, 1814-02-02 00:00:00

THEIffRBS.

Dawn, LANIib•.•••MTb JUAN appeared again in.A.p.
lock, and by his admirable and expressive manner of
giving the part, fully sustained the reputation he had
acquired by his-former representation of it, though he
laboured under the disadvantage of a considerable
hoarseness. He assumed a greater appearance of
age and feebleness than on the first night, but the ge- ,
neral merit of his playing was the same. its style'
of acting is, if we may use the expression, more sig-
nificant, more pregnant with meaning, more varied
and alive in every part, than any we have almost
ever witnessed. The character never. stands still ;
there is no vacant pause in the action ; the cyc is
never silent. Miss &dim played Portia with math
animation, -and ?ti delivering the fine apostrophe 013
Mercy, in the trial-scene, WAS high)), impressive.
- -

COVENT GARDEN.—A new Comic Opera, entitle.'
Me Farmer': IVO., attributed to die pen of Mr. T.
DI BDIN, was last night performed. The principal,
characters were thus 611 ed :

Sir Charles Courtly . Mr. fools
Cornflower (the Farmer) Mr. 1 AW CLTT
Clytaitt Belton . Mr. StsacLAIIII
Farmer Bartiarcl - - Mr. loci.room
Mr. Williams (the Curate) . Mr. CHAPMAN
Dr. Prother (lie Village Apothecary) Mr. MATH E WS.
Peer (Valet to Sir Chide„) Mr. Lis tom
Rubin (Stream to Barnard) . Mr. Et rev
St Hb1)1.- (Bailiff to Con flower) Mr. SLADkat
(Servant to t:itto) - Mr.TiNotr
Chalk (3 Latit!lord) Mr. ATKINS
Mrs. Cori& aver - Mal STEPHENS
Miss Courtly (:-Is:er to Sir Charles) Miss MArrusws
Jenny (her Maid) . - Mrs. DAVIES.
The I'l,)t lies in the narrowest possible compass.
Cornfrower, a blunt, honest Farmer, somewhat ad-
vanced in years, having, at the hazard of his life,
saved Miss Emnta Belton from the games, and after-
wards rescued her father, who had impaired his for-
mic, by fashionable follies, from a gaol, the Lady,
.otWithstandiarg the inequality of age and education.
ietuated by mingled feelings of love-and gratitude,
ropays his services " with herself." Scarcely had
she become Mi. Griejlower, when she is discovered
b; Sir Charles Courtly—who determines to attempt
nee virtue. Taking advantage of the absence of the'
tar, mer, in town, he, by a forged tale of the upsetting
of his postchaise, gets admittance into the house,
where he is hospitably received by Mrs. CornAluer,
under whose care he speedily recovers from certain
bruises which he pretended had been occasioned by
his accident. Meantime, he takes care not to miss
so favourable an opportunity to forward his suit.—
The Lady listens to his raptures ; and, dazzled by
his accomplished manners, instead ef ordering him
out of the house, she faintly chides. The tarinei's
return, however, disconcerts the baronet's project ;
who, instead of proceeding with the siege regularly,
now resolves on a coupde-main. And, while Corn-
'ower is busily employed at a county meeting, he,
vi et armis, forces away his wile and her attendant, and
bears them to a villa he possesses, situated on a bleak
and dismal heath. Thither the fugitives ate pursued
by Captain Belton, the brother of Mrs. Cornflower, who
is in love with Miss Courtly, the sister of SiriGharkr.
Here a scene of equivoyue takes ,:lace—thelasonet
supposing that Behan's. visit is ter the purpose of
making proposals for his sister, who had isist. given
him a hint of the affair, and not to reclaim Mrs. corn.
/lower, with whose relationship to Belton he is unac-
quainted. The arrival of the Farmer elucidates the
mystery—the innocence of Mrs. G rnflower is esta-
blished—Sir Charles acknowledges his error—aud, to
conciliate the forgiveness of Belton, presents hint with
the hand of Miss Courtly.
As it was utterly impossible to form three complete
acts out of such slender materials, the Author, to eke
out the piece, has introduced a variety of characters,

which are wholly unconnected with the main ousioess
(A the Opera. Messrs. Exicttr 411 d LISION are thrust

. .
forward as a Yorkshire Clown and a Cockney Powys,
rivals in the love of Miss Wont, a fair i.hriertiaiii,
Nothing can be conceived nKsre dull and tiresome than
their cow tship. The characters, however, were well
supported. Dr. Prother, the village apothecary, who,
amuses himself, and wearies every person else, by
telling long stories unintelligibly, is evidently enrolled
amongst the Pramati: Persons, merely to afford Mr.
MaTumws an opportunity of displaying his imitative
.abilities. His song, descriptive of a debating society, is
amusing, and his execution of it deserved tue appro-
bation which it received ; but,beyond this, thepart pre-
sents nothing that can create a smile. Indeed, the
Opera (which is only comic in its denouenunt) betrayed
throughout the greatest poverty of incident, as well
as the most miserable want of lite and vivacity, where
the dialogue ought to have been volatile and spirited.,
In the serious department Mr. DIBDIN was mote sus;
cessful: some of the sentiments were very forcibly et_
pressed; and the scene in which Cornflower is apprised
of his wife's supposed elopement, possesses consider.;
able interest. ln this scene Mr. fa.wceirr's acting;
was most natural—the pangs of the doating, deceived
husband, were described with masterly force. The
character of Mrs. Cornflower, which was sustained by
Miss STEPHENS, is nothing more than a vehicle, arid
a very mean one, for some beautiful music, by Messrs.
BISIIOP and T. WErsii. The most unbounded ap-
plause attended the exertions of Miss STEPHENS Dv!'
first song and a fro/acca were encored ; from a, leeliag
of delicacy the audience did not cooler the same
painful mark of approbation on a travura that fol-
lowed. Nor did they very much approve the style
in which she sang the beautiful old ballad of " Vie
Pigcon that Auer: and du: ;" but this was not her
fault : the old melody is infinitely superior to the new.
In the beginning of the second act Miss Mearnsws
appeared, wrapped up, to shew that she was still an
invalid, as the Opera had been postponed on her ac-
count. She appeared to be very weak, and to be
much alarmed ; but after taking a glass of water she
got through a pretty song, and was encored. 4 great
majority of the house, however, called out " Merry!
do not force it." Miss MATTHEWS herself, however,
seemed so eager to acquiesce, that the merciful were
silenced and she repeated it.—Mr. SINCLAIR has a very
simple air in this act, which he sung with great sweet-
ness, and was deservedly encored.—Mr. JONES sup-
ported the character of Sir Charlet with his accus-
tomed ease and gaiety. Mr. I NCLBDON sang the songs
allotted to him with the most delightful and minty
effect.—The music (furnished by six different corn-
potem Messrs. BISHOP, T. WELSH, Des-v, RISSVE,
CONDRLL, and ADDISOB !) is, in general, very pretty.
411 the scenery was well delineated ; but, two of them
li(a corn jell and a ploughed field) were positively ad.

calraUle.—the Opera xteatoit erttitteir well and,
supported as it is by• the whole comic and veal
strength of the company, it will probably exist for a
moderate time. —Tr.: House w.ts crowded in every
part, The following will give our Readers an ides
of the Poetry :.
litecrrarivr, strevani‘i—ifirs. Corlfourer.--41isson.
Tiller, forbear; deceit iu &Wry lies:
We may endure it, but we antra despNe.
.-eot.arca.
Go. trieet. go; your flatery leave—
That lure, vilt7cli feels nor act tstray I
Still trailing only to deceive,
And more securely to bet rzy
On Aittia's dies thus rdu e brigitt
. Beguiles the swain, and hope inspieef;
While, with an overwhelming
The dread volcano pours its fur,!
OLD BA L LAD Mrs, Cor 'fp :4-74
-Why tarries my hi. e
Ak W.:ere do:s'be'r ar • t
My love it lung • :ia•nt fro .• me;
Come h.ther my dove,
rd write to my for?,
And stud him a letter by thee. •
Her dove gm did deck.
She drew o'er his tiedt
A bell and a caller so gay)
Sbe tied to'his wing
4 be sero3 with a string,
Theo kited khaiand sent bat aw;,.y.
It blew and it ra'n'd,
Thee pigeon d lain'd
To meek abetter; trd:riinted he Sew. •
'nu w&t was hi. wing,
• And piitiful the string,
So heavy die letter it grew. .
Fde B.w all aruttud
'Mil Damon he found,
Theo pereh'il on his hand with tl.e pr;:e;
Whor: heart, wile he read',
• With tenderness bleeds
For the Avon. who flotterit, and dies! ,