Star.
London, England, 1820-11-15 00:00:00

THE COUNTRY SCHOOLMASTER:

A TALE.

A country school-master, bight Jonas Bell,
Once undertook, of little souls,
To furbish up the jobbernowls—.
In other words, be taught them how to slier.
And well adapted to the task was Bell,
Whose iron visage measursd half an ell ;
With huge proboscis and eye-brows of soot,
Arm'd at the jowl just like a boar,
And when he gave an angry roar,
The little school-boys stood, like Ashes, muted

Poor Jonas, though a patient man, as Joh.
(Yet still, like Job, was sometimes heard to growl),
Was by a scholar's adamantine nob,
Beycnd all patience, graveli'd to the slul!
question, whether Jonas in the fish,
Did ever diet on a bitterer dish !

'Twas thus—a Lady who supported Bell,
Came unexpectedly, to hear them spell:
The pupil fix'd on by the Pedagogue,
Ilcr son, a little round-fac'd ruddy dog,
Who thus his letters on the table laid—
id, I, 1., K, and paused—" Well, Sir, what's that?"
" I cannot tell"—the boy all trembling said.
Not tell ! you little blind and stupid brat."
" Not tell!" roar'd Jonas, in a violent rage,
And quick prepar'd an angry war to wage.
" Tell me this instant, or I'll Bay thy hide—
" Come. Sir,
" DIVA thou this birchen weapon see?
" What puts thy mother in her tea?"
With lilted eyes the quaking rogue replied—
" Ilex, Sir!"

COVEN7GARDEN THEATRE.

A new Tragedy, in five acts, calledslite/lace, was
produced yesterday evening at this Theatre. The
dramatis persona were—

Wallace, Regent of Scotland - Mr. MACREADY.
Cotnyn, Thane of Cumberland - EGIMILION.
Stuart, Thane of Bate - - Maas.
Douglas C. Kepner..
Nonuith t Leaders of the Army ( Assam.
Ramsay lima.
--------

lisraasit.
Garr, Fail of Gkister - . CHAPMAN.
Lord De Gifford - . CAncNos.
Sir Resin% Fitz-Eustace - Ct..sasstorr.
Helen (wife of Wallace) - Mrs. Bamt.
The incidents are partly historical and partly bon
rowed from other sources, or the invention of the
Author.
nage, the Scottish hero, is introduced at the commence-
ment of the action, filling the high office of Regent of Scotland,
a rank to which his skill and bravery, in effecting the liberation
of his country from the yoke of England, bad justly entitled
bins- Ilia merit, however, exposed him to the envy of the
leading Scottish Nobles, who, without abilities to support the
office in tunes of such imminent peril, could ill brook its being
lilted by a person of inferior birth. The love of their country
became a subordinate feeling to this jealousy, and the approach
of the English Army for the conquest of Scotland became the
signal of a plot for betraying and deserting their Chief. Helae,
the wife of Wallace, is secretly married to him, and unknown
both to Douglas and .31onatti, to the former of whom she has
been previously promised, while the latter aspired to her hand.
Douglas reproaches Helen for having deserted kim, but, moved
by the description of her attachment to Wallace, vows friendship
to them as a brother. Monteith becomes the chief agent in the
plot against Wallace; and drawing off his troops in the midst of
the engagenieut, the Chief is compelled to retreat, to send his
wife to a place of safety, and to take refuge in the mountain soli.
tildes of Scotland. Ile is discovered by Monteith, b:trayed, under
the mask of friendship, into the bands of his enemies, and sent
as a prisoner to England. Another attempt is made by Mon-
teith to carry off Helen from the asylum in which she has been
plated ; but he is surprised by the generous Douglas, and falls
by his band. Helen follows her husband to London,and arrives
at the Tower as the preparations, by order of Edward, are
making for his execution. Distracted at his impending fate, she
rashes into the presence of the King. and obtains from him a con-
ditional pardon for Wallace. She arrives with it at the place of
execution, but the Chief, on learning that any terms are an-
nexed to the pardon, refuses to receive it, or even to hear it read.
The situation of Helen at length produces a more yielding dis-
position ; he places the paper in the hands of his wife, and de-
claims his willingness to accede to its conditions, if Hekn, on
perusing them, declares them to be consistent with his honour.
When she discovers that It is required of him to renounce his
country, swear fealty to Edward, and acknowledge the supe-
riority of England, she unites with lier husband in renouncing
the ,roffered clemency. At the instant this determination is
made, a messenger arrives from Edward, revoking his pardon,
and ordering the Immediate execution of Wallace. The Chief is
then ledto his fate, which is completed in the view of his wife.
She falls senseless in the arms of Douglas, who had just arrive 4
to take a last farewel of his friend, and the curtain drops.
These are the materials of which this Tragedy is
composed. The Author is, we understand, a very
young man, the son of Mr. P. WALKER, and as a ju-
venile writer, this production of his Muse, does him
considerable credit. The language is, in many parts,
highly poetical, and marked with the dignity of the
• Tragic Muse. Mr. MACREAPY played Wallace, and
of his acting it is impossible to speak in terms too
high. Mrs. BUNN, Air. C. KEMBLE, and Mr. As-
Berl', also did full justice to the parts of Lady
Ilekn, Douglas, and Mcnteuh. A Prologue was
well delivered by Mr. Corson; and an Epilogue,
possessing some point, was spoken with great naiveté,
by Miss Farms. The Tragedy was given out for re-
petition with enthusiastic approbation. After the Play,
Cod save the Queen was called. for by some of the
audience. The curtain drew up, and the vocal
strength of the Theatre came forward. The orchestra
played the national anthem of God save the King, but
not a note or a word of it could be heard. The
House was filled in every part.

It is certain that the renowned Count BERCIAMI
landed at Bythe from Boulogne, on Wednesday,
under a regular passport, and immediately proceeded
for London.—Kentish Gazette.

Mr. Bi ssrf s Paragon Pict= Gallery, the elegant
Assembly-rooms, and other Public Establishments at
Leamington Sea, are now closed for the season, after
one of the most successful Summers ever -known at
this interesting and fashionable Spa.
The Limerick Paper says—,, We. have procured
the names of the persons comprising the crew of the
Sally, of Workington, wrecked in Smerwick harbour
on Sunday week, which we publish for the information
of the friends, viz.-;--J. Mills, Dunkalk, drowned; A.
White, London, seaman, ditto; J. Allan, sea man,York,
ditto; T. Mercer, seaman, Liverpool, ditto; T. Dodges,
seaman, Workington, ditto; It. Robertson, a black,
ditto ; A. M,Lean, M.D. of Liverpool, ditto ; F. Gal-
lagher, discharged soldier, returning to Galway, ditto;
0. Forster, a sailor, of Deal, swam ashore and escaped;
J. Milchenson, Captain, was not on board at the time.
Dr. M'Lean was a passenger—he and Forger having
dropped from the foretop, were for some time together
on the deck holding by a rope. Dr. M,Lean not know.
ing how to swim, was unable to make the desperate
effort is which Forster succeeded."