Washington telegraph., 1850-06-19
AN ANALYSIS OF THE NEW PLAY
"WALTER RAYMOND"


doch, in Cincinnati, with eminent sue.
cess. and afterwards played successfully
in this and other cities, and lately in New
York, where it was received with enthu.
siastic applause.
The plav is founded i.,e;dents 90
curing in the reign of Charles II, at the
memorable period of Bacon's rebellion,
about hundred years before the revolu-
ton. The Governor of Virginia, Sir
William Berkeley, after being compelled
by Bacon, who, at the head of the insur-
gents, braved him in the capitol, to sign
his commission of a general in the army,
sought refuge in the little village of Ac-
comack, with some Of the members of
the Assembly, the rebels having set fire
to the capitol, whence they had driven
him. At this point the action of the
piece commences. Walter Raymond,
one of the commissioners newly arrived
from England to settle the affairs of the
province, is a bold, generous, gallant
young cavalier; who has risen to dis:inc-
;ion in the army. The first scene shows
Travis, person of some wealth and
consideration; they talk of the arrival of
the commissioners, and the new grants,
by which Cecil has been unjustly de-
prived of his lands; and Travis proposes
10 assist him in his pressing difficulties,
Oh condition of the immediate bestow-
ment of the hand of his daughter, Eve
lyn. The suitor has his own reasons for
fastening the marriage; he is leagued Sc
cretly with Bacon, who is meditating a
decent upon the village; he is also aware
of the girls attachment to Raymond.
whom she had known years before in
England, and breads revival of this af-
fection, should she discover that he is in the
country. They agree, therefore, that the
contract shall be signed that night. Ev-
elyn, whose undying. yet hopeless love
for Raymond plainly appears. is wrought
on by her father to yield reluctant con-
sent.
Another scene introduces Raymond
and his friend Wyndham, in conversation
upon the new country. They are inter-
rupted by message from the council,
and letter, commissioning Raymond to
depart Immediately for the encampment
of the Indians, with whom he is to form
a treaty for a supply of corn and other
provisions. He has been appointed to
this mission through the earnest recon-
meEdation of Master Travis. Unsuspi-
cious of treachery, he obeys the mandate;
but, after his departure, Wyndham dis
covers that Evelyn is in Accomack, and
about to be forced into marriage with
the adventurer. He dispatches a rider
to inform Raymond, and urges his return
before it is too late.
The scene then changes to the Indian
camp; Manteo and the savages are as
sembled, having just concluded the trea-
tv with the Governor. The Indians re-
tire Raymond left alone for a moment,
falls into a reverie, which is interrupted
by the approach of Okeama, an Indian
maiden OF hign rank, who invites him to
90 with her to spear fish. The gallant
cavalier, sever a thrall to beauty" can
not resist The opportunity of trihing with
the princes in strain of compliment,
which she, in her simplicity, receives as
genuine love making Their conversa-
ton is interrupted by the arrival of the
courier with Wyndhan's letter. The
news of the presence and danger of his
beloved Evelyn of course throws Ray
mond into violent agitation; he orders
his horse, and learns that the horses have
been removed by order of the chief, for
the purpose of detaining him. The
treachery in which he is involved now re-
veals itself; he sees the agency of Travis,
and in rage rushes out to defy the
whole tribe. Okeama learns from the
courier that some urgent necessity de-
mands his return to Accomack; that his
enemies will triumph over him, and, in a
heroic spirit of self.devotion, determines
to aid him. She sends word to the
White Plume" TO meet her at the side
of the Rapids, where the great tree
droops over the waters, and promises him
her own steed. The scene now changes
to this romantic spot; shouts and whoop-
inSs are heard from Indians in pursuit;
Okeama eagerly watches FOR the White
Plume. He comes; she bids him cross
the fallen tree over the rapids, 60 to the
spring beneath the oaks, give the feather
to the Indian he will find there and take
her horse. AS he crosses, she stands by the
foot of the tree, and when Manteo and
the Indians rush after him. she proclaims,
exultingly, that she has saved him from
their vengeance. So ends the first Act.
In the second Act. the parties are as
sembled for the signing of the marriage
contract. Evelyn, informed that Ray
moad is in the country, and has been
sent for, is agtated by the conflict be-
tween hope and despair; but, as time
wears on, is compelled to give up the
hope to which she clung, that he would
interpose to save her. Her father re-
proaches her with want of pride; Travis
urges haste; and she is about to afix her
signature to the papers, when a tumult is
heard without; she starts at well known