Star.
London, England, 1826-12-05 00:00:00

COVENT GARDEN THEATkE.

Mr. YOUNG played Richard the Third last night. Mr.
YOUNG, in whatever he personates, is a Gentleman—his
dignity may be eclipsed, but it is never wholly hidden;
and in the midst of those scenes, in which the conduct

of Richard most outrages the notions of right, there was
an ease and polish which gave them smoothness. He
was singularly successful in the very trying scene of
the Tent, which was much applauded. The Death
Scene, and the fencing which preceded it, were alse
admirably managed. When he felt himself wounded,
and began to wax feeble, he still faced his enemy, and
attempted to parry and return his thrusts; but there
was nothing ache Indian-like spirit of revenge in strug-
gling to strike when the contest was hopeless. WA itDE,
in Richrnorrd, acted with his usual judgment and discri-
mination. Mrs. &OMAN was a very interesting Lady
Aisne; and the play, which was very well cast, was
warmly applauded throughout.
ADELPHI THEATRE.

Last night the enterprising Establishment of this
Theitre brought out another novelty—a Nautical Bur-
letta, called 44 The flying Dutchman, or the Phantom
Ship." It is the production of the successful author of
44 The Pilot." Tradition sayeth, that the " Flying
Dutchman" is a vessel that sailed from Amsterdam
about a century ago: the master's name was Vander-
decken. He was an extraordinary fellow, a sort of
" devil of a fellow," as might be observed in common
parlance ; and his constant boast was indeed, that " he
always would have his own way in spite of the devil:'
Once, on doubling the Cape, they were a whole day
trying to weather Table Bay,the wind increasing a head
of them, and randerdecken walking the deck, continued
swearing fearfully; just after sunset, he was spoke by
a vessel, who asked him if he did not mean to go into
the Bay that night? to which Vanderdecken, with a
tremendous oath, replied, "he would net, though he
should beat about till the Day of Judgment." Vander-
decken never did go into Table Bay, and is believed to
undergo the doom he so desperately dated. His vessel
is still seen in the Cape Seas in foul weather, sailing
against the fiercest storm, with every inch of canvas,
giving in vain to reach her home, or to send dispatches
to relatives by other vessels, The dramatizer fairly
acknowledges himself to be chiefly indebted to " Black-
wood's Magazine" for the materials of this wild story.
It is amazingly well got up. Mr. T. COOKS, as
would be expected, is the mysterious and devoted
Vanderdecken; and by the gloomy and supernatural'
style of his performing the character, be arouses an in-
tenseness of interest that would hardly be expected
from such a story. Its developement, however, is ju-
diciously intermingled with comic incidents, consigned
to the care of, and well supported by, Mr. Waexcla
and Mr. Reeve. The supernatural Captain, for such
he had become, sadly disturbs the family f Captain
Peppercoal, a fine fiery old Gentleman, by all sorts of
mysterious visits to them ; and he carries off Lestelle,
(Miss Bonen) old Peppercoal's daughter, to the depths
of the ocean. There is some really grandly terrific
scenery here, displaying the flying Dutch ship floating
under the water, or rather its 64 phantom ;" and after-
wards a view of the party in 66 Davy's locker," alias the
infernally sub-marine regions. The lover, the father,
Bronmel (Mr. J. Reeve) a cockney Dutchman, and
Toby Varnish (Mr. Westica) follow them; and even-
tually beat the plans of his Satanic Majesty's agent,i
Vanderdecken. The closing scene was powerfully de-I
lineated: the inundation of the Devil's cave, and the
narrow escape of Lestelle and bar protecting friend,
were acted with great and scenic force. It ems ea-
tremely well received, and announced for repetition
amidst loud applause.
Mrs. Comets and•the Earl of Lauderdale were in one private hoz,
and Mr. Rose Ellis, M.P. and family in another, to witness the
performance.

Hai Leanne said. they certainly might.
COURT OF KING'S BENCH, Dec. 4.
LIUL-111/1 actxurza.—erni LIM P. JOlllll HMIS
This was an indictment against the defendant, who
is the proprietor and publisher of the Examiner Sunday
newspaper, for having published in the said newspaper,
of the 19th of February last, a false, scandalous, and
malicious libel, of and concerning Nicholas Charles
Bochsa, a Professor in the Royal Academy of Music.
The defendant pleaded Not Guilty.
Mr. Scatturnr—This was a prosecution against the
defendant, Mr. John Hunt, who was the editor and
proprietor of the Examiner Sunday newspaper. A cause
of the same nature was tried two days ago, between the
present prosecutor, Mr. Bochsa, and other defendants,
who were the publisher and proprietor of the Sunday
Monitor newspaper, and who had published a cruel
and malignant attack upon the character of Mr. Bochsa.
He was ready to admit that the publication which had
given rise to this prosecution was not so full of virulence,
of vulgarity, or of ?eproach, as the publication to which
he had just alluded, but still it was a libel, and for the
publicatioi of it the defendant was criminally answer-
able. I cannot help thinking (said Mr. Scarlett), that
a great portion of time is often wasted in fruitlessly
trying to persuade a Jury out of their senses, that matter
of the most vilifying and slanderous description is- not
a libel ; and I do not think that the eloquence of my
friend, Mrs Brougham, or any other Gentleman at the
Bar, will persuade you to think that calling a man " a
thief," or " a rogue," or " a colleague at the devil,"
(such was the substance of the libel; is not libelous.
That the defendant 114 done with respect to Mr.
Bochsa, and when you have heard the matter I have to
submit to you to read, it will be for you to say whether
it is a libel or not. We all know perfectly well that
there ape three modes in which a man may peoceed for
redress in a Court of Justice when he has been libelled
—First, he may bring an action ; secondly, he may
apply for a criminal information; and lastly, which is
the most constitutional and ancient mode, he may
prefer a bill of indictment; but we find, according.
to modern practice, that whichever course the party
libelled takes, the defendant always insists, by his
Counsel, that he ought to take one of the other
, two courses. If, for example, he brings an action,
in which you know he cannot be examined as a wit-
ness (I don't mean to say, I have beard my Friend
Mr. Brougham say, but I would not swear I have not),
Ktsrosrois (JAMAICA), 14.—An affair of honour the defendant's Counsel immediately says, that the
took place this morning at daylight, between J. J. bringing an action is a proof that the prosecutor did not
Stamp, Esq. Member in Assembly, and William Bruce, dare m expose himself to a close cross-examination in
Esq. The affair originated from some publications a witness box. Again, if the prosecutor moves the Court
which appeared in the newspapers relative toMr.Stamp. for a criminal information, the defendant's Counsel says
That Gentleman, in consequence, called upon Mr. Aik- " that is an unconstitutional way of proceeding ; why
man, the proprietor of the Gazette, and required satis- did he not go before a Grand Jury?" lathe next place,
faction. Mr. Aar man referred him to the author, Mr. if he prefers a bill of indictment, the defendant's Counsel
Bruce, the editor of the Royal Gazette. Mr. Stamp says, u why did he not bring an action, in which case
considered Mr. Aikman personally responsible, and we could have justified the truth of the libel, or why
caused him to be posted. Mr. Bruce immediately paid did he not move for a criminal information, when he
Mr. Scamp the same compliment. The police-officer would be obliged to swear to its falsehood ?" So that
very prope.ly pulled down the placard, atid diligently you see the unhappy man libelled always has the choke
endeavoured to arrest the parties, but they kept so well of difficulties, because the law (which by no means
concealed that the constables could not succeed. The favours libels) allows him several' remedies, and yet
parties having met, Mr. Stamp fired and missed. Mr. resort to which he will, the libeller taunts him with not
!Bruce then tired in the air. After this the matter was resorting to one of the others. The Learned Counsel
arranged to the approbation of the friends of both par- concluded by admitting, that the drfendant was a man
ties, by Mg. Bruce's retracting the epithet " coward:" of unimpeachable honour, and of the most stubborn and
he said no man who cculd act so coolly and deliberately uncompromising integrity, and was not actuated by
%old be a ct,w4rd: he *oulsl make no further apology. any personal malice orhogility.tqw4rdo the piosecmor.