Star. — 1819-10-21 (London, England)

CAILIW. eah  Mardis Miss Kas.r.v. The story is as follows :—The Countess Modena is beloved by Rosano and Durazzo; the Piece opens with a meeting between the rivals, who are about to proceed to a deadly rencontre, to decide whose prize the Lady is to be. At this instant the Countess herself appears, and prevents the contest; the rivals declare their determination to persist in their purpose, unless the Lady declares in favour of one ; she decides accordingly, and her choice falls on Rosano. The disappointed and rejected Durazzo, obliged to submit to this decision in favour of his fortunate rival, retires, apparently reconciled to his fate, but secitetly resolved to carry off the Lady. He accordingly instructs two of his followers secretly to seize her, and convey her on beard his vessel, then riding in the bay : she is, however, to be concealed in a cave near the shore, till the shades of evening should afford a better opportunity of conveying her on board. They succeed in seizing their prize and conveying her to the cave; but in her struggling, a diamond necklace falls from her neck, and is afterwards picked up by Nicolino, the fisherman, who, ignorant of its value, sells it to Balthazar, the Jew, tor twenty florins. Soon after, proclamation is made, stating that the Countess had been secretly conveyed away, and, as suspected, murdered—ddicribing her dress, and particularly her necklace,offering and a reward of one thousand ducats to 'Ely one who should discover her murderers, or give any information likely to lead to their discovery. Balthazar, hearing the proclamation, and anxious to obtain the reward, immediately gives information of having purchased the necklace from Nicolino, who is in consequence apprehended, but is liberated on his assertion of innocence, the Judge (Stephano) allowing him till sun-set to discover the Countess or her murderers. Nicolino is so fortunate as to discover the Countess in thz. cave, and to release her from het confinement there, and is conveying her to his hut, when he is overtairken by Durazzo; the Countess is again stized, and Puraczo is about to convey her on board his ship, when a storm comes on, and the vessel is destroyed. He then Conveys the Countess to an old castle in the neighbourhood, where he is on the point of forcing her to consent to his wishes, when she is again discovered by Nicolino, who gives information to Itos inn. Rosano, with a party of soldiers, guided by attacks the castle, forces an entrance, and rescues the Countesc. The Piece ends happily, by the union of the lovers, and the reconciliation of the rivals, through the intercession of the Countess.-There is an under-plot, arising out of the loves of Nicolino and Leah, the daughter of Balthazar, the rich Jew—and the pursuit of Martha, the fisherman's sister, by the old Jew and the Judge, each of whom is induced to assume the garb of the other, and to visit the Lady at the same time, when she makes a public exposure of them to their friends.  Out of these materials The I,7:het-man': Nut is composed. A Preface, attached to the Book of Songs sold' in the 'I hcatte, informed us that this Piece was from the pen of the late Mr. Torts, left by him in an unfinished state, but now adapted for the Stage. This Drama was received throughout with great applause; and the few malcontents were overwhelmed by the decidedly-expressed approbation of a vast niAjority of the audience, who hailed its announcement for a second representation with acclamation. It certainly is not equal to the best works of this inthor ; but had he lived to revise and complete it, perhaps it would have appeared in a form that would have given its attractions permanency. Several of the scenes are beautiful, and elicited the loudest plaudits. The Performers also exerted themselves to the utmost to insure, as far as possible, the success of the Piece. A Prologue, of no extraordinary point, was spoken by Mr. PoPE; and an Epilogue, by Mrs. En • *IN, Mrs. ORDER, and Mr.