Star.
London, England, 1820-04-10 00:00:00

DRURY•LANE THEATRE.

I

A Drama, in two acts, called Shakspeare versus
Harlequin, was performed at this Theatre on &W-
-ay evening for the first time. The principal inci-
dents and situations are taken from a piece written
by Garrick, entitled Harlequin's Invasion ; or, A
Christmas Gambol ; intended to ridicule the taste for
Pantomime, and as a reproach to the town for the
desertion of their best actor and the best plays of
Shakspeare, in favour of that species of entertain-
ment. The action begins with the arrival of Harle-
quin in England, and terminates with his defeat and
capture, followed by the restoration of King Shak-
. speare. The characters are all made to speak, and
employed on this occasion so many of the best per-
formers, that we subjoin a list of them :
• Harlequin _ Mr. HASLET.
Corp Oral Bounce - - • - 1' DOWTON.
63V•011,de Mr. GATTI&
Joe Snip Mr. Mumaros.
Abraham - - . - Mr. KNIGIVT.
Simon - - - Mr. °max:.
_Forge - - - - Mr. Ressm.r..
Taffy, • - - Mr. Monza.
Mercury - - "- Mr. T. Conic&
Mrs. Slip - - - Mrs. Mumma.
Dolly Snip - - - - Madame Venus.
Sukey Chitterlin - - Miss POW!.
Harlequin, who is here, as in other places, repre-
sented as endowed with supernatural power, does
not always exercise it in acts of mischief; and those
are only practised on his enemies. Compared with
the god Mercury, who is made the instrument.of his
defe:Lt and apprehension, he works greater wonders,
and shews a more generous spirit. The character
was dressed in the usual costume, and was played
by HARLEY with much spirit. The new and various
powers the different performers are called on to
exert, is tw,t the least curious part of this whirnsical
dram-s. HaitLey actually leaps through a window
in the cr. Lrse of his functions ; and Madame VESTRIS,
whose acting and singing all must acknowledge to
have been delightful, is transformed into Columbine;
and exhibited gracefully in one scene as a dancer.—
The trials assigned to T. COMEX were of a still more
arduous nature, for, in addition to his also darting
through a window, in pursuit of Harlequin, he per
forms solos on the flageolet, pianoforte, harp, cla-
rionet, and violin, in succession, concluding the scene
in which these are introduced, with a display of
dancing, by no means contemptible. OULfiltr, in
two long sceles with HARLEM, was "very happy in the
expression of rustic wonder ; nor must the humour
of DowroN, in Corporal Bounce, pass unnoticed and
unpraised-; but the best piece of acting was decidedly
that of AluspEN, and particularly in the ludicrous
terror of his first encounter With Harlequin. KNIGHT,
in Abraham, was lictie inferior. The Drama pro.
cee.led most successfully, and was received itit pc:-
fect good homour, till some time after the com-
mencement of the second act, when a storm corn-
menced,which at the conclusion threatened shipwreck
to the hopes of the Manager. Russzt.t., however,
who then came forward, pleaded se strongly for a
second hearing, that the disposition of the majority
evidently changed in his favour. The music is good,
but chiefly a selection. Some nem and well-executed
scenery has been introduced, and on the whole so
much zeal and exec Lion to please the audience has
been- manifested, that it wouldbe a source of regret
if the desired end.sliould not be attained.

llasesiosi-Iforsx.—Saturday, Samuel Goodimg, servant to Cap, I
tain I).oris, formerly of the Life Guards, a?.elnow a Lieutenant
in the Yeomen of the Guards, was charged with aiding his mas-
ter in escaping from Giltspuootreet Cumpter. Toe Captain
was ch AI lcd oit h forging acce ptauces on Messrs. I) wtm.ntd for
"WOO. It appears he had had great losses at play, end took
that method of reimbursing hitneeli, in hopes of being able, by
the sale of his commission (..eat 5000 goine,t), and other
means, to repay the :rills liaelie they became Cat: ; but st.nie of
theca got into tha ra oket, which discovered the fact, when he
was apprelien‘l_cl, anti on Friday he escaped, his setvam (the
pr.sent prisaner) beieg found in his room.--Messrs. Drum.
mend, and a Solicitor on their part, attended; and Mr. Dot.-
LAND, who was to have conducted the defence of Captain Davis,
was pressa.t during the examination. The prisoner, who had
shed tears while waiting in the Marshal's room, _appeared to
take a very serious view of his situation. At the desire of the
LORD NIATUR, who said there was not the slightest resemblance
between him and Captain Davis. he put a black handkerchief
round his face and his hat uponhis head. Disguised in that
sn iw anr, he said the Captain left she, prison. To the questions
of the LORD Malawi, the prignier replied in the following man-
ner :—" As a nun I do not know where (Vain Darla is gone.
lie asked me to assist him in getting away,and whether I would
take his place ? I could not do too much for:such a master, for
be had saved me from starvation; fourteen years I hate known
Lim, and I could not think of refusing hint.. I ustetto go into
the prison to hint twice a day. As to where he is gone I cannot
ao all say, for I know nothing mote of him after he changed his
dress lie bent out in corduroy breeches, and had a bag upon
his shoulder, but I don't know what was in it. I used to go to
hint with a bag. Ile tuld me, if he got o'er this business he
should go to America. I did not engage a post-chaise nor any
other vehicle for him. The coat in which be escaped is exactly
the same as this. He had a broad striped waistcoat and a plain
hat with a cockade in it. He put a black handkerchief round his
face, as I have now. I had done so because I had bad teeth. When
he put the bag on he stooped down, with his face inclined to
the ground, and in that posture he walked out."--.E. Frost, the
'Turnkey, WRS called upon to give evideseo. He let out the
Captain. Mr. Teague, in answer to a question from the Lean
:51,405, said, that Frost had never been found in a mistake be-
fare, during ten years service in the Comptef, antlthat his inte-
grity had never been questioned. Frets mid, that Mr. Wont.
tier, the Marshal, had been at the prisms at half-past twelve, and
conver.ed with the Captain, who was to have been examined
the next. day. Soon after the Marshal went away, the Captain's
servant arrived, and also a Gentleman. The latter waited
some time, and then went off; and the Captain immediately
asked whether the Gentleman had gene 1 Mrs. Stephens, the
wife of one of the Turnkeys, said " Yes;" and in half an hour
afterwards the escape was discovered. Upon the arrival of
Mrs. Davis's sister, who came about two o'clock, and asked for
the Captain, Mrs. Stephens went to see, and missed him. Wit-
ness then went to ascertain, and found that the Captain was
gone, and that los servant wad is his place. Witness bad let
the servant in some time before, and observed a black handker-
chief on his face. The Captain's face was covered just in the
same manner; the bat was over his eyese lie carried a bag,
and stooped; and appeared in every respect like the servant,
who bad his hattilkerchichnote over his face than it was at pre-
volt. Witness eyed him from top to bottom, and had not the
slightest suspicion of him. The Loma Maros then said, there
WAS a great difference between the persons and faces of the two,
aid declared the oversight on the part of the Turnkey was ex-
tremely reprehensible. Frost, who seemed meth affected at his
situation, said, be had never lost a prisoner before. Stephens,
aaother Turnkey, said, that he locked up the Captain every
night, and slept in the room next to kis, antlthat be frequently
examined the room.-Mr. Teague stated, that he bed given the
most scrupulous orders about the custody of Captain Davis, to
all the men employed about the prison confidentially, that they
should take care to see Captain -Davis before his friends left the
prison : he had ordered Stephens to examine the Captain's room
eltieely, under an apprehension c: an attempt to escape. Frost
had been guilty of a great dereliction of duty; but he (Mr.
'league) by no means suspected his integrity. The prisoner
Was remanded.

LANCASTER A.

APRIL 4b

This morning the defendant. who were convicted
yesterday, of unlawfully assesilbling at Biuidey, were
brought up to receive sentoncet Bimetal of them put
n affidavits, stating, that theeclod so improper in-
tentions in attegi:sistrhe Meeting. The sentences
were—Knight,y and Broadhurst, to be im-
prisoned two years wit, in the Castle of Lancaster;
John. Parry, to be .loned eighteen months ; John
Adamson, fifteen months; and Wm. Fletcher, one year,
in the same place, and all and each of them to be
bound in their own recognizance in the sum of forty
pounds, and two sureties in ten pounds each, to keep
the peace for three years from the expiration of their
several sentences.
John Knowles and James Morris, wha had been
convicted of manufacturing pikes, were then sen-
tenced, the former to one year and eight months',
and the rawer to one year and ten months' imprison-
ment, in Lancaster Castle.

THIS KING Hp WROB AND OTHERS, TOR LIEEL.
The trial of Mr. Wroe came on next, and if the
whole of the indictments against him and his wife
and relatives, had been gone through, it would have
occupied the Judge for nearly the remainder of the
week. There were not less than eleven indictments,
for different libels.

Mrs. Wive pleaded guilty to the charge against
her, and she was bound over to appear when called
upon. It is thought that judgmeuful this case will
never be called for.
Mr. Wroe pleaded to two indict!nents, (for selling
the Republican) and was convicted in each. He then,
as well as his relatives, submitted to all the others.
Judgment will not be passed till Thursday.

THE KING V. CHAPMAN.
This was a criminal information against the defen-
dant for a libel on the Magistrates, contained in
some comments made in the Manchester 06wher, on
a sentence of five years imprisonment, which they
had passed on some persons convicted of combina-
tion for raising wages. The defendant was found
Guilty, and will receive sentence next Term.

PEEL AND WILLIAMS V. CHAPMAN.
This was an action brought by the plaintiffs for a
libel on them in a Paper (the,Manchester Observer),
of which the defendant was then proprietor. The
case has been already before the Public in more than
one shape. A verdict was already obtained by-the
defendants at Preston, the plaintiff having suffered
judgment to go by default. That, however, was set
aside, at Mr. Justice BAYLSY'S Chambers, at the re-
cent York Assizes, on the ground that a plea was
omitted to be entered by the clerk of the defendant's
Attorney.—The Jury now, after hearing the evi-
dence, gave a verdict for the plaintiffs—Damages
1:200.—In consequence of some technical defects in
the pleadings, a ltule Nisi had been obtained in ar•
rent of judgment.