Star.
London, England, 1817-05-23 00:00:00

BRU3SELS, MAY 17.

The country has now every where the finest ap.
pearance—the wheat is in general extremely beau-
tiful; the rya in our neighbourhood is forward; it is
said to be weak in the strong soils, but in light soils
it is most exuberant. The barley is as fine as the
wheat, and has not so completely succeeded for many
years past.

Yesterday being the Princess ELIZABETH'S Birth-
day, her NIASEY: Y had a numerous party in the eve-
ning at her Palace. Strong beer was given away at
St. James's.gate, according to custom nn Royal Birth.
days. The scramble was not great.—Are the popu-
lace becoming more sober, or more polite ?
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess
of CumaguLaND gave a grand entertainment yester-
day, to a large party of distinguished personages.
at'Cumberland House.

The Countess Dowager of CLERMONT had a card
party yesterday, at her house in Berkeley-square
Lady Hamresati gives a grand ball thia evening,
at her house i* Curzon-street, May-fair.
Mrs. Ronturrou gave a splendid route yesterday
evening, at h.er house in Albemarle-street, which was
very numerously attended.
The Marquis and Marchioness. of Anitecony gave
a grand entertainment on Wednesday, at their resi-
dence in Stratford-place.
Wednesday last, his Royal Highness the Duke of
Sussex was elected Colonel of the Honourable Artil-
lery Company, vice WILLIAM CURTIS. Esq. resigned ;1
and CHARLES EDWARD Cos, Esq. was elected Major
of the same regiment, vice the late bun Fuego*
Es 4. deceased.
,
DRIURY-LANE...Mr. MATURIV,S Tragedy of air- ,1
trans seems now to have taken its station—not among'
the classical productions of English Poetry, but she
stock pieces of our acting Diem. Of this elevation
we think it is not unworthy. It contains all the ele-
ments necessary to excite a mere present interest—
which is all, perhaps, that the stage requires. Its
scenes are highly improbable—full of extravagant
sentiment and more extravagant metaphor—but of
what consequence is that, when we have neither time
nor inclination to examine either ? For example
what can be more absurd to the memory than Mr.
Max's drawing his dagger and vowing that he will
be the Champion of Dertsair P—and yet it drew down'
thunders of applause. The extravagance of the fan-'
guage was lost in the grandeur of the attitude. If
the Poet compares his heroine to " a blasted lilly on
an icy bed," who thinks of the incongruity of the
image when Miss Sorazneicce is there to defend
it in firma ? She effectually thaws the ice—and
the lilly remains. This piece contains a banished
Outlaw, who had foeght with Princes—no matter
hole unjustly—and a Lady driven to frenzy and
death by her passion for a lover—no matter how
criminal or degraded—and it accordingly succeeds.
Besides these, there is moonlight, and a castle,
storm and priory—all very judiciously introduced—
and can it fail to be enchanting ? There are a, few
instances of genuine poetry scattered through Ber-
tram, but they do not seem needed. In this kind of
writing, a subterranean passage creates more interest
than the finest passage of the Author. The latter,
indeed, is almost an insignificant person, compared
with the actor, the scene-painter, and the mechanist.
All these have well contributed their share to the suc-
cess of Bertram. Mr. KEAN acted last night with his,
wonted energy. Miss SumenvaLE looked as like a
rom .ntic heroine, and spoke with as melancholy a
sweetness as ever. In consequence of the indisposi-
tion of Mr. HOLLAND, Mr. R. PHILLIPS performed
the character of the Friar, with all the effect of which
it is capable, and with great feeling, propriety., and
chasteness of stile. We regret we do not see this,
gentleman in parts of more importance than those
usually allotted to him ; as we have occasionally ob-
served indications that he is well competent to assume
them. He was last night loudly applauded. The
Musical Entertainment of Tie. Remit followed the
Tragedy, in which Mrs. &our delighted us with
the buoyancy of her animal spirits, and the full.
hearted joyousness she threw into her part. She fre-,
(pettily reminded us of her mother-v.4W what more
can we say in her praise ?