The Sun. — 1823-02-11 (London, England)

THE THEATRES.  KING'S THiATILIC.-A Masquerade, according to custom at this time of the year, took place last night. The pit was boarded over upon a level with the stage, us usual. Variegated lamps were placed at the upper end, forming a splendid representation-of the letters G. it. encircled by laurels,and surmounted-by Crown. There was a;  great variety of characters which excited mirth,and the'company were so well entertained that most  of them rerrain'ed to a late hour. Many of them were seen in the streets hurrying borne in their dominos and fantastic dresses, who from the possibility of procuring coaches were obliged fn; endure more thane sprinkling of rain, to theamusement of the passengers who were abroad at that  early hour. The whole seemed to be gratifying to the company, and passed off without any disordor. Ditunr-LA N s Mr. K EAN has been several times seen in the part of King Lear, which.was by no means considered us one of his most. forte:,  nate efforts,we have chiefly to notice the revival of the catastrophe last night, as originally written by 'our great dramatic Poet. Doctor JOHNSON says, in his concluding note on the play, " In the present case (the alteration by TATE) the public has decided. CORDELIA has always retired with victory and felicity; and if my sensations could add to the general suffrage, I might relate that I was many years ago so shocked by Co HDELIA'S death that I know not whether I ever endured to read again the last scenes of the play till undertook to revise them as an Editor." The Doctor here most probably alluded to the acting of GARRICK' but until such another performer is Oen, the last scene can never be expected to excite the same' emotions. The Doctor had previously said, that " since alt reasonable beings love justice, I cannot easily be persuaded that the observation of justice makes a play worse ; or that, if other excellencies are equal, the audience will not al4.ays rise better pleased from the final triumph of persecuted virtue." Such are the sentiments of a Critic whoseopiuious are entitled to the highest respect in' all matters of literature. Mr. STEEPENS says " Dr. JOHNSON should rather have said that the Managers of the Theatres Royal have decided, and the public has been obliged to acquiesce in their decision." The opinions of Mr. STEEVENS, learned and subtle as he was, should always be received with caution, as they were generally marked by caustic malignity. The common sense mild love of justice which characterize mankind must be on the side of Dr. JonNson, and it is therefore probable that the managers decided in conformity to the general feelings and wishes. Why should not the audience, after all their sympathy with misfortune be consoled in the end with the triumph of virtue? If virtue unfortunately suffers in the pro. press of real life, which admits not of human con. troul, there can be no reason why it should fivally suffer in the, Drama, a matter dependent on the imagination. Besides, there is a moral comprised in poetical justice which encourages virtue to persevere, in the hope that it will ultimately be rewarded; and in this respect it agrees with the awful doctrines of RE.LtatoN, which promises a happy eternity as a recompence for good conduct on earth. We therefore cannot approye of the restoration of the calamitous termination of the Play, though written by the greatest Poet that ever existed.---DENNIS declared -that, to secure the favourable reception of Cant, 64 the town was poisoned with much false and abominable' criticism ;" but DENNIS, though more open, was not less shrewd, than STEEVENS, and both Were actuated by the same motives of spleen, envy, and wanton malevolence.—Certain parts of King Lear, which call forth the peculiar energy of Mr. KEAN'S acting, were of course effective, and par. ticularly so in the last scene, but the part altogether is certainly not calculated to make him appear to the greatest advantage. Mrs. WEST acquitted herself with great feeling and judgment, and rendered Corr/din very interesting. The play was altogether well received, and the audience derived ample compensation for their previous melancholy sympathy in the excentricities of LISTON and JIAnt.LY in no Murder.