The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-19
THE DRAMA.

Who has not heard of the siege Of Lucknow and
of the touching story of JESSIE BRowN? There
have been few incidents recorded in the annals of
any people of more tenderly pathetic character,
or that have moved more readers to involuntary
tears The story so admirably adapted itself to the
time, the place, and the surrounding circumstances
and was withal naturally told, that implicit
faith placed in its entire truthfulness until the
special correspondent of the London Times pro-
nounced it to be pure fiction. But whether true or
false, it is upon this incident that DION BouRCI-
CAULT has based the popular drama of Jessie Brocn
the Relief of Lucknom, which was represented
last evenng-for the first time in this city-at the
Holiday Street Theatre. The plot of this drama,
though quite simple in its outline, is nevertheless
very effective in representation. The characters
are few in number and are well contrasted. They
consist of Randall McGregor, captain in the En-
glish service, who is in love with Mrs. Campbell,
the widow of officer who fell in the Crimea-
Geordie, (his brother,) who is in love with Alice
Sweenie, private, and Cassidy, corporal, both
of whom are in love with Jessie Brown, a Scotch
girl in the service of Mrs. Campbell. These are
the only Europeans introduced with the exception
OF the Rev. David Blount, the chaplain of the 32d
Regiment, and young maiden by the name of
Mary. Of the Hindoos we are only introduced to
Mana Sahib, and Achmet, his vakee The scene
is laid at Lucknow, during the summer of 1851
The action of the piece commences at a bungalo a
mile distant from Lucknow, where all the person
ages of the drama are assembled Here we are at
once made acquainted with the love of Mrs. Camp
bell for Randall McGregor, Jessie Browns devotion
for the whole McGregor family, and Geordie Nc
Gregor's contempt for the whole Hindoo race. We
also find here Achmet, the vakee of Mana Sahib,
who, by one of those daring liberties which drama
fists delight in taking, is acting the double part of
chief domestic in the household of Mrs. Campbell
| and of spy in the service of Mana Sahib Randall
McGregor now arrives from Lucknow, and reveals
secretly to Mrs. Campbell the horrors of the mas
sacre at Cawnpore, and the further intelligence that
her bungao will be attacked by the Sepoys that
evening, and that Mana Sahib has fallen in love
with her and designs to carry her off. This con-
versation is partly overheard by Achmet, who at
tempts stab Randall but, of course, is discovered
just in the nick of time, and, after struggle
with the McGregor, succeeds in making his escape.
The alarm thus raised causes the re-assembling of
all the personages of the Drama, including vene-
rable gentleman by the name of Blount, formerly
an army officer but now Chaplain of the Regiment,
pious clergyman with good deal of the old SOL
der fire about him. The younger McGregor never
having smelt powder, the defence of the bungalo is
entrusted to Blount while Randall hastens to Luck
now to bring back guard to cover their retreat to
the city. While he is his way, the Mana, accom-
panied by Acbmet enters the bungalo, and attempts
to carry off Mrs. Campbell, but is foiled by Jessie
Brown, and the Mana and his vakeel again disap-
pear from the scene. The house is now besieged by
five hundred rebels, through whom Randall fights
his way back but does MT bring any force with him.
for the reason that Lucknow is surrounded by the
enemy. 1t is necessary to apprise the commanding
officer of his DANGER and Randall selects his brother
~ his messenger. Geordis, however, shows the