Star.
London, England, 1821-01-10 00:00:00

eeptecl letters, and reveals to the Dukethe horrid trea‘
son of Isabella and the Monk. The wsetched father
cries to HEAVER,: and all abodt hiln, to save Guido
from the death stroke. Bat it is too late; his soul is
agitated with a super-human pang of remorse, which
bursts its earthly bonds, and the curtain falls—upon
one of the finest, and one of* most successful Tra-
gedies that have been produced upon our Stage for
many years.
There are two historic incidents to which the plot
has an affinitythe fate of Don Carlos, son of Philip
the Second, and that of Ugo, natural son of Nicholas,
Duke of Ferrara. The former has been treated by
()Tway not happily, and by SCHILLER and ALFIERI
with great power. In the former, there is the wild
vigour of the German school ; in the latter, the stern
genius of Atrteat has embodied and developed som-
brous tyranny, hypocrisy, and cruelty, with a giant's
power. The fate of Ugo, as told by Gleam; and
the Ferarese historian, and which by the bye has in-
spired Lord Briton with one of the most beautiful
of his shorter poems, seems more nearly allied to the
subject of Mirandola, than the story of Philip.—
Guido, like Ugo, is a natural son, and the desolate
father, after his unnatural judgment, cried out—
" Oh ! that I were dead, since I have been hurried
to resolve thus against my own Ugo !" We know
no personage in whom the elements of tragic emotion
are so finely blended as in the Duke of Mirandola.—
'His choleric suspicions, haughty and jealous temper,
is softened and mitigated by a redundant fountain of
kindly sensibility, which filled every heart with emo-
tion, and many an eye with tears. Mr. 51ACREADY'S
perforthance of this character was a masterpiece—it
was of that class of performances which is not only
the highest, but the most interesting—the triumph
of genius and art over great difficulties. The pas-
sions are so mingled in Mirandola—the transitions
of touch from one chord of the heart to another—
from terror to tenderness, and from suspicion to con-
fiding—are so rapid as to require a dominion over
tragic expression, which could be exercised only by
supreme skill, united with the F.nest talent. His
great excellence is a wonderful power of presenting
what VOLTAIRE calls great dramatic pictures; they
abound in this Play. There was one scene which
Presented to us en pauant that his " Judgment of
Brutus," were the scene worthily dramatized, would
be a memorable effort of the art. Mr. C. Kassist:i
played Guido admirably. He breathed the very
spirit of gallantry and love. Mr. ABBOTT obtained
great applause in a scene where he had a good occa-
sion, and acted with ability throughout. Miss FOOTE
was tender and interesting, and Mrs. FAVCIT de-
served praise for her support of her character. The
poetry, as was expected, is of the first order. Indeed,
it was rather apprehended that Mr. BARRI CORN-
WALL would allow his Muse to luxuriate too freely
for the Stage in poetic imaginations. This he judi-
ciously avoided. There are passages of great poetic
power, and of some length. But his poetry, for the
most part, consists in electric touches that strike with
the force, quickness, and facility of lightning. We
have only to add, that the Tragedy was applauded
throughout, and hailed, at the close, with unani-
mous acclamation.

Yesterday, four of the Musical Department of
Drury-Lane Theatre were summoned to Bow-Street,
to answer the complaint of Mr. Elliston, under the
Statute of the 39th and 40th of Geo. 111. (commonly
called the Combination Act), for preventing combi-
nations amongst journeymen of every description.
There are certain regulations, copies of which are,
given to all the Theatrical Corps for their guidance ;
and in case of a breach of these regulations, fines are
inflicted. Since Christmas, several of the band had
offended against these regulations, and on being fined,
refused to play, and on one Occasion, the whole band
absolutely refused to go into the orchestra. Mr. El-
liston, conceiving this to be the result of previous
combination, felt himself compelled to have the mat-
ter investigated. Mr. Elliston, Mr. Winston, Mr.
Russell, Kr. Carr, &c. attended to prefer the charges.
Mr. HARMER, who attended for the defendants, took
an objection in limine to the proceedings, contending
that the Magistrates had no jurisdiction under this
Act of Parliament, as the defendants did not come
within the description of persons contemplated by the
Statute. Mr. Ilitamen,,however, said, he was willing
to abandon his legal objection, for he was instructed
to deny that there was any combination. He asked
Mr. Ellisten if he was prepared' to prove the case
against the defendants? Mr. Elliston said, Mr. Carr,
the Prompter, could prove it. Mr. Care—" I cannot
prove the charge against these particular individuals,
but am prepared to do so against the whole collec-
tive body of musicians." Mr. HARMER assured the
Magistrates that his clients totally denied any com-
bination amongst them. Some of them had been
mulcted of their week's salary, as they conceived, un-
' justly, and therefore they refused to play, but it was
merely an individual matter. Mr. Elliston said, that
in bringing forward this matter, he could have no
other object than public justice. It was of the last
importance to him and to the Public, entrusted as he
was with such "a vast Establishment, that regularity
' and subordination should be preserved in all its de-
partments. In many instances, when the regulations
had been infringed upon, the fines had been remitted ;1
but last season the band had been so dreadfully dis-
organized, that, at the commencement of the present,
he was obliged to tell the Gentlemen to whom he en
trusted the management of the concern, that the rules
must be strictly adhered to, and that the band must
be compelled to attend, or pay the usual forfeits. On
the first of this month, there were no less than six ab-
sent, and the fines were inflicted. The consequence
was, that on a subsequent night, the whole band re-
fused to go into the orchestra; the audience were
kept waiting a considerable time, and manifested
much displeasure. The Prompter was ringing his
bell for the overture, but no band made its appear-
ance; and at length Mr. Dunn, the Treasurer, finding
the perilous situation in which the concern was
placed, was compelled to come forward and say—
" Gentlemen, go into the orchestra, and you shall
have your money." Then, and not till then, did they
consent to perform. Such conduct might, in a short
time, have caused the destruction of property to the
amount of £200,000; and, when this was considered,
he hoped his conduct in bringing the matter for-
ward, would. not be thought harsh. At the sugges-
tion of Mr. HARMER, the charge was then with-
drawn ; and the parties retired apparently satisfied
with each other.