The Sun. — 1838-05-24 (London, England)

COVNT-GARDEN THEATRE.  Sheridan Knowles's new play. entitled Women's Wit ; or.lhe Arts of Love, was brought out at this theatre last night. The house was crowded ; the applause fervent; and the play throughout as successful as honest James could possibly desire. The plot is something to the following effect :—Lord Athunree, a titled profligate, who, in the expressive diction of the author, " Owns no curb of honour," entertains base designs on the virtue of Hero, the fair, high-spirited, and romantic niece of Sir William Sutton. A gallant young knight, Sir Valentine de Grey, is deeply enamoured with the lady, but he has seen her waltz with the libertine Lord ; he reads the lady a lecture on the subject, and she to be revenged has recourse to woman's wit; she assumes the garb of a Ouakeress, and by the assistance of Obadiah, her servant, obtains interview with her lover at the family country-seat in Greenwich ; ;it ought to have been mentioned, that the time of the drama appears to be laid somewhere about the gay and voluptuous period of Charles the Second.) Obadiah has previously given Sir Valentine to understand that Hero has a sister so much alike, that but for her subdued manner and simple attire she might be taken for the same person. The parties meet, and the young gallant is smitten by the unaffected grace and charms of Ruth, who in turn lectures hint severely on the vanities of his high sounding name and title; so touch so that he consents if she will but love him, to lay aside his gay and flaunting dress, and be called plain Peter. Meanwhile Walsingham, a man of sentiment, and Eustace, a gentle youth, ale brought forward; the former has deeply loved a lady, who in the drama is supposed to have fallen a foul victim to the snares of the miscreant Lord Athunree: Eustace, though in male attire, bears such a striking resemblance to the lost love of Walsingham, that the latter resolves to cherish him as a brother. As the action of the play proceeds, they meet Lord Athunree, whom Eustace denounces as a murderer; a hostile meeting is appointed for the following clay; Lord Athunree has other business on hand ; he determines at ail hazards to put himself in possession of Hero, for which purpose he hires one Lewson, a miserable creature, to do his work. They concoct a scheme—Lewson is to break into the house occupied by Hero, at Greenwich, and Athunree is to make his appearance, apparently to succour the lady, but in truth to carry her off. This design, however, is frustrated partly by certain compunctious visitings felt by the ruffian Lewson, but chiefly by the miscarriage of a note in which is written his instructions. The plot is thu, discovered, and a warrant is issued for the apprehension of Lord Athunree, who is proved guilty, and quits the scene in merited disgrace. Finally, Eustace turns out to be none other than the former eve of Walsingham, and the long lost sister of Hero ; she (Hero), too, raving abandoned the guise of the fair Quakeress, meets Sir Valentine de Grey in her own character. A mutual explanation takes place, and they arc left in happy posses ion of cacti other.  It will be seen from the above slight analysis of the plot, that it is something of a complex character—in fact, has a little Irish confusioi: in it; still, it is interesting.- deeply interesting, and the characters, which arc numerous, have all that "mark and likelihood" with which Knowles is so successful in investing his dramatis person v. The great charm of the play is, indeed, its developement of character—which the author seems co understand thoroughly. Hero is an exquisite creation, abounding in touches of sentiment truly Shakesperian ; and as fullinformed with life and animation as a young lady on the eve of her first ball. What can be more true:to nature than her reflections upon love We subjoin this exquisite passage, which Charles Lamb would have boen in extacics with, and which is worthy of Beaumont and Fletcher.