Star.
London, England, 1803-02-25 00:00:00

THEA7IIC,ILS.

The Marchionefs of SA L I SBURY has recommend-
ed to the Managers of the Opera-Hnufe a young
Lady of the name of Conortn, as a comic finger.
Wednefday was the day appointed for the rt.-
gers to hear her ling, and at one o'clock the Opera
Band attended at the Marchionefs's houle in Ar-
, lington.fircet, where the young Lady lung feveral
Italian airs. TUc PRINCE of %VALES, and a great
number of tae Nobility, were prefent.
TN EAT". IS.-BOth Theatres were laft night at-
tended by numerous audiences. The new Opera
at Drury-lane is certainly very much improved by
the judicious alterations which have been made ;
and the Man of the World at the other Houle, mutt
retain its attractions, while Cooks can play Sir
Pertinax. A more finithed performance our Rage,
in its prefent Rate, cannot boat.
BLANDER BURGH HOU! E.—The Company in-
vited yefierday, to celebrate the MA ROB AY E'S
bi-th-day, was of the moll fplendid defcription.—;
The dinner was ferved in three rooms, in one of I
which the MARGRAYIR I prefidcd, and twenty-five
perfons fat at the fame table ; the other two were
occupied by thirty each. Every delicacy that the
leafon could afford was provided on the occafion,
and the company were highly pleafed with the
elegant and hofpitable treatment they experienced. ,
In the evening the Comedy of A otujad was per-
formed in the fame manner precifely as on Mon-
day
halt, to an audience of about 200 perfons of!
fafhion, and went off with great echo. Mr. ANG 61.0
was fomewhat indifpofed, but, neverthelefs, per-
formed with confiderable fpirit and effea.

The following is the fable of this elegant little
piece :--

M.,jad is the favourite oldie Softeo, who had entertained
him and ten other Cs...tiers at dinner. The ecnr:rfatoo turning
on haPpincts. the Safari define each perfon to fay what would
eonftltute his. The dilapproving of Noo.i.ors dcfcrip-
tion, who, having a beautiful wife and child, wiled for un-
bounded pleafurt, banilhes him his pretence; at this moment
he is introduced to the aurdence in the grcatell diftrefs, and
after expreffing all his difiradion to his faithful (cry ant Ali,
fans afleep, and Is awoke by met beautiful mule, and the Gewit
ftanding before him, who offers to make him immortal, and
to give hint ineihaultible riches; b .t to enable him to enjoy
them he nu& Deep, now and then, for forty years at a time,
to recruit his ftrength. This he accepts, and launches into all
farts of extravagance ; purchafes two beautiful female finging
Gases, and treats his wife, the amiable and beautiful Fatima,
whom fo much loved, with twine's and dililain. Soiree
pretty teens pats between them. He drinks lonic ilwrbet
by Fetillta, and immediately falls afleep. On waking,
relanr the two beautiful Saves he left attending his couch.
ugly old women, and every body dear to him dead. He up-
braids the Goon, and when he is thought fulficiently mortified,
the Gait throws off her despite, and In her he finds his wife.
Forgiven by the Sagas, he prefents him with the naves, returns
the jewels and Money, and Peeks for no pleafurcs but of the
'dossieftie kind.

OBSIILVATIONS 0$ MB PRICSIIIIT STATE OF Till

STAG P.

Ma. Entroa—The freedom of the Prefs is one
of the principal liberties upon which Britifh fub-
jets j?ftly pride themfelves. In all Stage repre-
fentattons, and the appropriate language allotted
to the refpeaive charaters, the Author Arnold
enjoy this privilege in its full& extent, coning
&NOY, neverthelefs, within the bounds that de-
cency, propriety, and morality require. It is the
good or lad ufe we make of any privilege that ren-
ders it valuable or pernicious to the community.
If the liberty of the Prefs or the Stage .be only
made ufe of to encourage lice, and not to incul-
cate virior, indead of a national bleffing, it be-
comes cur of its greateft curies. Yet, fuch is the
"perverted taKe OT the difGpated and degenerate
age in which we live, that what (in Stage repre•
fentations) our wife and prudent forefathers would
not lilten to (much lefs applaud) is now the Epee-
died. nay, the lured, way to popularity, wealth,
and fame.

I am led to there relleltions by the prefent de-
plorable (late of the Drama, and the vicious Lille
that feems to pervade all its departments.
Some few nights ago I happened to be prefent
at the reprefentation of a new OPera, called Fa-
Indy barrels, when I was (hocked in the extreme
at the repeated oaths ufed by one of the principal
performers, who perfonated a City Knight, yet.
inflead of being received with difgolt by the au-
dience, it limed to pleafe better than any other'
pact. We are taught to expett from the Pulpit
1 And the Stage claffical and elegant language, but
now, ott the Stage at lean, how is its purity vio-
lated, and what outrage is committed on decency
and common fenfe !I ! What cited too mull it
inevitably produce on the minds and morals of
the juvenile part of the audience, and what are
the confequences likely to rtfult from fuch dan-
gerous impreffions ?
I know not, in the particular inftance I have
pointed out, whether the evil originates with the
dfithor, or is the fault of the /Mot. lam inclined
to believe the latter; and I would, therefore. re-
commend him to keep in his memory thole excel-
lent inflruaions which Hamlet gives to the player,
gi Let your Clowns fpeak no more than is let down
for them."

When oaths are fandlioned with public applaufe,
it indicates firongly, that the morality of the na-
tion is in a very relaxed Rate. In the greateß
empire of the world. when Rome was herfelf, it
would not have been (offered. With us, at pre-
fect, it calls loudly for redrefs ; and I troll that
tome timely admonitions from your well-condutled
Prefs may lead to the fupprefGon of this growing
ems. 11011TIO.
PARISIAN Fasettons.—The faflsionable (bops
Rill (hew upon fide, hats of white, orange, role,
and dells coloured Patin. Some ule a crape of an
amaranth, a green, or a (ky blue colour. The
mna common ornaments of the hats, are knots of $
ribbons, fwandown edgings, and peculiar decora-
tions of cut crape. The turbans are of filvered
crapes. or of crimfon filk embroidered with gold.
Rome women of fafhion comb down the hair
&moth, and fimply bind it with a band of black
velvet. Go: den ar rows, I yres ofpearls, or diamond',
and combs of rich materials are Rill much in ofe.
Tops xes..inftead of cameos, are now enchitfed in
the centre of she combs. Carnelian, are now out
of fafhion. The palm branch necklaces are Rill
racially worn.