Star.
London, England, 1821-04-25 00:00:00

THEATRES.

OnftA-House.—Notwithstanding the crowds of
Fashionables that have retired to spend their holidays
in the country, Rossini 's Opera of Tancredi at-
tracted a most brilliant and numerous assemblage
last night. After the Opera the interesting ballet,
La Paysanne Supposes, which has lately been pro-
duced, was repeated a third time, and seems on each
repetition to increase in attraction.
DRURY-LANE.—A Drama, in three Acts, was last
night produced at this Theatre, under the title of
44 Mother and Son." The cast of characters was as
under:

Evelyn Orwin - Mr. Coorza.
Mr. St. Alban - - Mr. Thomson.
Leonard - - - Mr. Seminary.
Sir Anthony. Hartington - Mr. Foos&
Maywood - • - Mr. KNIGHT.
Mark - - Mr. austur.
Mrs. Orwin - - Mrs. EGISTOY•
Rhoda Hartington - Miss SUMMON.

The outline of the story is as follows s—The fa-
mily of Rosemore has become extinct by the death
of the late Lord, whilst yet. a minor, and absent on
his travels in Italy. By this failure of male issue to
inherit, the estates, t,he immense property attached to
the title is in danger of going to a very distant
branch of the family. St. Alban, the brother of the
• late Lady Rosemore, .and guardian of the young
Lord, anxious to retain the property in his hands, de-
termines to conceal the death of his nephew, and to
obtain some young man to substitute as his repre-
sentative. Leonard, an innkeeper, a creature and de-
pendant of St. Alban's, at this period, by chance,
meets with Evelyn Orwin, living with his mother, a
widow, in limited circumstances, in a retired village
in Westmoreland, and is forcibly struck with the
strong resemblance which the youth bears to the
young Lord recently deceased. Possessed of a know-
ledge of St. Alban's intentions, he prevails on the
youth to quit his mother's roof much against her
wishes, land to proceed to Italy, under pretence of
having obtained for him the situation, of Secretary to
'his Lordship. Arrived in Italy, St. Alban opens to
him the scheme he has in view, and Evelyn is in-
duced, though with great reluctance, to consent to
it, and to assume the character of Rosemore's Lord.
Here he fortunately, on some occasion which does
not clearly appear, saves the life of Sir Anthony
Flartington, is introduced to his daughter Rhoda, of
whom he becomes passionately enamoured, and his
addresses are encouraged by Sir Anthony, under the
impression of his being a Nobleman of high rank
and large fortune. Still his remorse at leaving his
mother, and regrets at the fraud of which lie is
guilty, in assuming a character to which he has no
pretensions, render him constantly miserable, espe-
cially as he has received no tidings frem his mother,
nor any answer to the many letters he has written,
which, by the contrivance of St. Alban, are inter-
cepted by Leonard, who also appropriates to his own
use L'7oo sent to her from ,St. Alban as a present
from her son. After a lapse of two years, they re-
turn to England ; and at this period of the story, the
Piece opens. The party, consisting of the Rosemore
family and the flartingtons, having arrived at the
inn kept by Leonard, on their way to Rosemore Cas-
tle, where the nuptials of Rhoda and the supposed
heir of Rosemore are to he celebrated, Evelyn's con-
science is continually urging him to confess the fraud
which he is practising 'to Sir Anthony, to relinquish
his assumed title, and to seek his deserted mother ;
but he is prevented doing so by the menaces of St.
Alban and Leonard ; and, above all, by their repre-
sentations, that the consequence of his doing so will
be the certain loss of his mistress. In the meantime,
Mrs. Orwin, overwhelmed with poverty, and heart-
broken at the supposed desertion of her only and be-
loved son, determines to seek him at Rosemore Cas-
tle, and commences her journey on foot for that pur-
pose. She arrives at the inn, in the deepest distress
of mind and body, just as the Rosemore party are
about to quit it; where she is recognised by Mark, a
waiter (a kind of Mar** whose insatiable curiosity
sets him prying into every one's business ; he
has previously seen and recollected Evelyn Orwin;
the assumed Lord Rosemore, as the son of Mrs.
Orwin, they having been natives of the same village,
and he now communicates to Mrs. Orwin the fact
that her supposed lost son is personating a Noble-
man, and about to marry an heiress. St. Alban, in
the meantime, has had an interview with her, and
assures her her son is gone to India ; but of this fact,
the information given her by Mark renders her in-
credulous, and she insists on seeing Lord Rosemore
himself, that she may be convinced. The interest of
the Piece then arises out of the various plans of St.
Alban and Leonard to prevent this interview taking
place, and the efforts of Mark, confident that his sus-
picions,were well founded, to obtain it. The event
so dreaded by one party, and desired by the other, at
length occurs, just as the marriage ceremony be-
tween Rhoda and Evelyn is about to be solemnized.
The latter, on seeing his mother, impelled by his
filial feelings, regardless of all consequences, flies to
her embrace, declares himself her son, and avows
the fraud in which he has unwillingly been forced to
become a principal actor. The consequence is, the
suspension of the marriage ceremony for a time, with
a declaration, however, on the part of Sir Anthony,
of his opinion of the honourable sentiments of the
young man, and his conviction that the fraud origi-
nated and was matured by St. Alban and Leonard ;
and a promiseof his future friendship and interest to
Evelyn in the Army, with permission to hope that,
at no distant period, when he should by his good
conduct have gained himself a reputation, he might
still aspire to the hand of his mistress.
Out of these materials the author (Mr. MoNcitznr)
has constructed a Piece embracing considerable inte-
rest. The Performers exerted themselves to the ut-
most. HARLEY, in bustling through the part of
Mark, shewed himself 44 a fellow of excellent hu-
mour." COOPER played Evelyn with considerable
effect ; and Foore's Sir Anthony Hmrtington was a
pleasant portrait of the testy but good-humoured old
English Gentleman. Miss SMITHSON was interest-
ing as Rhoda; and THOMPSON supported the part of
the plotting villain St. Alban with much discrimina-
tion. The part of the Widow Orwin also found an
able support in the talent of Mn.i EGERTON. The
scenery is pretty, and the dances which were intro-
duced had a good effect. Miss Tani performed arm
scut so gracefully as to produce au more,
anda pas

de deux by FIMMILICK Winn, Ind his sister, Mrs.'
H. BEVERLEY/ was deservedly applauded. WHIT/
is the.young man who, our Readers will• recollect,
was rescued from an ignominious death by the per.
severing etertions of Mr. Sheriff WA ITIIMA w, through
whose efforts the innocence of the young man was
made apparent. His entree was marked by fervent
applause; and if Mr. WAITIIMAN was present, most
enviable must have been the feelings with which he
viewed the being whom be had rescued from death,
restored to character, and placed in a situation where
he can obtain an honourable subsistence.

The Piece, though it will be much improved by a
judicious curtailment, was received throughout with-
out a single dissentient voice; and when Mr. Ros-
ana. came forward to announce it for repetition, he
was received with unanimous applause. He stated,
however, that in consequence of the forthcoming
Tragedy (Lord BYRON'S) this evening, no night could
be named for the second representation, but due no-
tice of that intention would be given.
The Musical Entertainment of The Devil to Pay
succeeded, in which Miss KELLY sustained the part
of Nell, being her first appearance since her late se-
vere indisposition. Thereturn of this inimitable Actress
to the boards was greeted with repeated rounds of en-
thusiastic applause. The traces of illness were ap-
parent, both in her figure and her features, but her
powers were not in the slightest degree impaired.—
The Entertainments of the evening concluded with
GiOvanni in London, the part of Giovanni being re-
peated by 'Allis CUBIT!, with increased eclat.
COVENT-GARDEN.—Last night, the Comedy of
She Stoops to Conquer, was acted in a very effective
style; after which, and before the commencement of
the Afterpiece, the spectators were entertained with
the exertions of the Sieur Da vousT, who presented
them with what is called the ,t March Aerienne," tra-
versing the cone of the proscenium suspended with'
his head downwards. In performing this extraordi-
nary feat, DAVOUST seemed perfectly at ease. He
threw a line down to those below (tranquilly disen-
tangling it in the first instance), and then pulled up
from the stage a drum, on which he played a tune—
two flags, a table, and a basket, containing a bottle
and glass. The last-mentioned articles he placed bn
the table, filled a glass with wine (or with some liquid
intended to represent wine), and drank it off. This
operation he repeated ; and then, lifting the decanter
to his mouth, he drank off what remained. The flags
he waived over his head ; he then waltzed, the hooks
in his boots on the staples in the ceiling in which they
were insertett,:turning round, while he,,with the most
perfect self-possession, kept time with the music.—
He finished by biting the toe of-olie foot while sus-
pended from the fearful height of the proscenium by
the hook and staple which attached his other foot to
it. He then descended by a single rope to the Stage.
This performance met with general applause. The
Entertainments concluded earth the new Romance,
entitled Undine, or the Spirit of the Waters; the
beautiful scenery of which excited universal admira-
tion.—Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess
of GLOUCESTER were recognized in their private box,
and warmly greeted 6y the audience, which they most
condescendingly acknowledged.
SADLER'S WELLS.—The amusing and interesting
performances of this Theatre were repeated last night
to a very numerous audience.
AsrLE-is and the COBOLTRO were also well attended
by the holiday folks, and the respective performances
were received with well-merited approbation.

Monday morning a fire broke ont in the house of
Mr. Watson, in Bermuda-street, Stepney, when the
inmates, who were previously buried in sleep, effected
their escape in their night clothes: previous to the ar-
rival of the engines, that part of the house front where
the fire originated, was completely destroyed, toge-,
ther with the furniture; but the lower part, by the
exertions of the firemen, was preserved.
The same night another fire broke out at the house
of Mr. Stewart, the Serjeant's Head public-house, in
St. Catharine's-lane, East Smithfield; it commenced in
one of the bed-rooms, which, together with the fur-
niture, were, completely destroyed before the fire
was got under.
Yesterday morning, at one o'clock, a third firebroke
out in the shop of Mr. Turner, master-baker, in
Tooley.street, which did considerable damage to the
premises and stock in trade. _ _

An accident occurred yesterday at Stepney Fair,
and which had like to have been attended by the loss
of several lives; it occurred in consequence of the
ropes of one of the large swings giving way when
at its full height, and dashed against the ground eight
peisons of both sexes, who imprudently got into it,
one of whom, a female, had her arm broken, and was
conveyed to the Hospital. The others escaped with
some slight bruises.
COAOIIIRe INQCESTS.—Tuesday evening, an Inquisition was
taken in a private apartment at No. 3, Queen's-row, Bucking.
ham-gate on the body of Mr. Robert Webster, aged 27, who
met his death by strangulation. The deceased's father is a Gen-
tleman of great property residing at the above-mentiuned place,
and on Saturday last .his son-in-law, with his wife and tamity,
and the deceased breakfasted together after which the de-
ceased retired to his own room, and his sister in a few mi-
mes followed him, when she found him sitting in a chair,
as she thought in a fit. She sent one of the children to call her
husband, who was in the garden ; in the meantime she kept
rubbing the deceased's side, for the purpose of restoring him;
but when her husband came he observed a cord round the de-
ceased's neck, and he cut it instantly, when a large weight,
of nearly 1001bs. dropped from the cord upon the floor. The
deceased was quite dead, and all attempts to restore animation
proved abortive. It further appeared that the deceased was a
celebrated Artist, and devoted much of his time to the art of en-
graving and copper-plate printing, and was continually making
experiments ; for the latter purpose he procured the weight
before mentioned about three weeks ago, and, in consequence of
an impediment in the right arm, and two of the left hand fingers
being contracted, he attached a cord to it to get it round his
neck, as he had not the power to remove it with his hands. A
board was found lying between two chairs, and the opinion of
the Jury was, that he attempted to lift the weight off the ground
upon the board, when it suddenly alipt behind him, pulled him
upon the chair, and the cord getting under his chin on the neck,
strangled him. They all returned a unanimous verdict of—
Accidental Death.
An Inquest was held yesterday, at the Turk's Read, Church-
lane, Bethnal-green, on the body of F. linty, aged ten years,
who was run over by a hackney-coach, and killed upon the spot.
Verdict. —Accidental Deatn, deodand his.
An Inquest was also held at the London Hospital, on the
body of J. Graham, who on Monday went in a cart loaded with
people, going to Stepney Fair. At Mile End the cart jolted, and
the deceased was thrown out, when the wheel passed over his
body and ruptured the liver. Verdict—Accidental Death,
Another Inquest was held, at the same time and place, on the
body of G. Gutridge. The deceased; a few days ago, worked
on board a vessel in the Thames, and, in loosing the mooring
chain, cut the cord, and the chain struck him upon the mead and
fractured his skull. Verdict...Accldental Death.