Star.
London, England, 1821-05-30 00:00:00

THEATRES.

COVENT-GARDEN —A new Tragedy, entitled Da-
mokand Pythias, was produced on Monday night at
this Theatre, with eminent success. The following are
the principal characters:
Dionysius - -
Damon -
Pythias

Tr. Ansel-T.
;Nlnearnrer.
Mr. C. Krantz.

}icias (Father of Pythias)
Damocles - -
Cal Anthe - -
liermion - -

Mr. CHAPMAN.
Mr. F.GERION.
Nibs LANCE.
Min Foorig.

The plot is founded on the memorable and well-known story
of the two devoted ft lends, the one of whom generously pledged
his life for the other, whilst the latter as generously redeemed it.
The brat Act opens with the political disorders of Syracuse and
the marriage of Pythias and Calanthe. In the second Act, Diony-
sins, hitherto General of the Republic, is proclaimed King by
the recreant Senate—opposed only by Denton, whose arm is
withheld, when aiming the dagger at the tyrant, and he is con-
signed in chains to a dungeon. Pythias, at the altar, and receiv-
ing the hand of his bride, bears of the disaster of his friend, in-
terrupts the ceremony, flies to his dungeon, and obtains from
the tyrant permission for Damon to visit his wife and child, by
offering himself as the pledge of his return. But six hours are
allowed. Dimysius, in di:guise, visits Pythias in his dungeon,
tells him he was an inmate in the tyrant's house, and had thus
learned that Dionysivs had barred the return of amon, in order
to take the life of Pythias, and that a vessel was ready to save
his life. The solicitations of Calanthe and his father are added,
but fail before the sense of inexorable honour. Damon sees his
wife and child, and is about to depart, When his freed-man tells
him that he slew his horse to prevent his redeeming his pledge,
and thus save his life. But an accident throws an equestrian tra-
veller in his way, whom he dismounts and succeeds without
scruple, and arrives at the critical moment when the axe was
Lased over the neck of Pythias. The Tragedy now closes with- I
out bloodshed.
The two friends were admirably represented by
Mr. MACREADY and Mr. C. KEMBLE. Mr. ANZOTT'
represented the tyrant with ability, and a rnarkid:
justness of discrimination. Miss DANCE acted' her'
part very feelingly. MISS FOOtE also played well,l
and spoke the Epilogue gracefully. The Prologue',
was spoken by Mr. CONNOR. The Play is said to he
a joint production—at least thus far: a Tragedy writ •
ten in Dublin by a Mr. BANHAM, was put into the
hands of Mr. SuslL, from whom it received material
alterations and additions, and, in fact, assumed the
form in which it was acted.

SADLER'S WELLs.—The very excellent bill of fare
for the present week cannot fail of producing good
houses. The new Ballet of The Jovial Millers rises
in public estimation, and Wuxi NsoN has been engaged
Six Nights more and appears in a new character this
evening, and during the week.

Previous to the celebration of his MAJESTY% late
birth-day, he received, at Brighton, a superb plum
cake, from the City of Chester, which was nearly four
feet in circumference, about half a yard in thickness,
aid weighed upwards of sixty-five pounds. This
singular present to Royalty had on the top the regal
arms, surmounted by the inscription of " GOD save
King GEORGE the Fourth."

The Commissioners under the New Street Act,
have allotted a piece of ground in the Regent's Park,
opposite the Ciescent, Portland-place, to those unwise
persons, who, without adequate cause, engage in duels.
The place is indicated by a board, upon which is in-
scribed—" Rubbish may be shot here!"
DUEL.—On the 2d instant a meeting took plaice
at Br ussels, between Major Baron S. late of the 7th
Dragoons, and Mr. W. A-14 formerly of the Royal
Horse Guards (Blue), which had nearly proved fatal
to one of the party. The ball of the latter Gentle-
man perforated the Baron's coat, waistcoat, and shirt,
grazing the breast in a direct line with the heart.
The affair was afterwards amicably arranged by the
interference of the seconds.. The cause of the meet-
ing originated in a dispute which occurred the night
before at a Ball, respecting a Lady, to the honour of
whose hand both parties laid claim.
SHOCKING ACClDENT.—Yesterday, the neighbour-
hood of Lambeth-road was plunged into extreme
consternation by an explosion equal to the report of
artillery. It appears a lad named William Coefield,
residing in Joiner-street, had amassed about half a
pound of gunpowder in a blacking-bottle, and whilst
amusing himself before the door in laying a train to
some wild-fire, a spark communicated with the bottle,
and the contents, we regret to say, literally shattered
his right hand to pieces. He was immediately taken
to the Hospital. Parents are highly culpable in suf-
fering their boys to tamper with such-fatal materials.
Last week, as Mr. J. Gothard, the grandson of Mr.
J. Gothard, of Hunslet Moor Foundry, was amusing
himself in shooting at birds in an adjoining field, his
fowling-piece went off, and he received the contents
in his head, just above the left ear: after languishing
in a state of insensibility for about half an hour, he
expired.
Thursday evening, as two Gentlemen were return-
ing from Mitcheldever to Basingstoke, in a gig, the
horse became restive, by which the vehicle was over-
turned, and one of them killed on the spot.
ILCHESTER, MAY 21.—About three o'clock, Mr.
ESTCOURT, Mr. MUNDAY, and Mr. PHELPS, the Com-
missioners appointed by the Crown to inquire into
the conduct of the jailor, and the state of this prison,
arrived, and, in the-presence of the HIGH SHERIFF,
the Magistrates, the jailor, and his officers, Mr. HUNT,
Mr. HILL, the oldest debtor, and prisoners from the
different wards, proceeded to open the Commission,
which was read over, by their clerk. The Commis-
sioners informed all the parties of their intention to
proceed immediately to the investigation, and re-
quested all those who had complaints to make, to
furnish them with the particulars without delay; and
requested the SHERIFF to assign a disinterested, im-
partial, and discreet person to attend them in going
over the jail—it being their intention to do so with-
out loss of time; and Mr. BUNTER, the new task-
master, was immediately appointed. Mr. HUNT then
stated that he had already preferred charges, and
had adduced evidence before the Magistrates, which
lasted fourteen days, and to which the jailor made no
defence, and wished to be informed if he were at li-
berty to prefer the same as well as additional charges,
he being prepared to do so. The Commissioners ac-
quiesced, and Mr. HUNT was requested to reduce
his charges to writing, and furnish them with the
same to-morrow morning, when they proposed to
proceed to the examination of witnesses, and prose-
cute the inquiry for which they were appointed. The
Court then adjourned till eight o'clock to-morrow,
and the Commissioners, accompanied by the task-
master, proceeded to look into every department of
the jail.