The National Register. — 1814-10-02 (London, England)

DRAMATIC REGISTER.  covENT tARnsN.  A new piece in fin ee acts, called "The Forest of Bondy," sus produced at this Theatre on Friday night. Having been represented with the greatest success at Paris, where it assda its first appearance, and attracted the notice of our papers, ms its subject is already partially known. It is (minded on the sagacity of a'dog. who, according to histarical records, revealed the spot where his master had been buried, Snd afterwards meeting the murderer, rushed upon him and would Crave torn him to pieces had he not been prevented. The same alcmonstrations cif rage appealing every time he encountered the criminal, suspicion at last fell upon the latter. According to the customs of the times the case was referred to the " Judgment of God." The dog, being the accuser. was appointed to fight the accused, and all the forms of chivalry wet e observed. The lists were thrown open : the challenged entered armed with a stout cudgel, the challenger with the weapons he had received from nature. The combat began. Light and vigilant, the dog avoided his adversary's blows, and seizing an opportunity, fastened on his throat, brought him to the ground, and compelled him to acknowledge his crime. Thus far the historical recotd : its outlines have been altered in order to fit them for the stage : new characters have been brought in, and the fable now stands as follows : The Colonel of a Ft ench regiment, after an engagement in which one of his officers has distinguished himself; confers on hivi by a royal mandate the command of his own company, and as a proof of persoval esteem his dang.hrer's hand. His rival in love and in ambition is Maitaire, a bowl eroffiocr, who provokes him to fight, and is spared by the generosity of his conqueror. Autry, 1,. Abbot) the Captain, is obliged to pass through the forest; Maftaire follows and mardersitim. The scene now grew striking. On the curtains rising for the se cond act, a farm house, with it, crakes, occupied the stage. It was the dead of night ; a dog was heard harking; he hounded across, sprung to the bell at the house door, and rung it incessantly till the mistress of the farm appeared with her lantern. Nothing could pacify the dog, which colitinued bounding and harking violently ; the lantern was his object; it was set down on the ground, seized in a moment by, this extraordinary creature, and carried off. The old womati• excited by his anxiety followed him. The murderer now. appeared gliding back to his chamber with 'the Strongagitatiou of recent blood upon him. In a moment after, the cry of mut der was beam d, ;tad the village roused by the repot t that Auhry Mid been found freshly buried on the spot where his dog tire up the earth. Flario, a dumb bay, is seized on the suspicions evidence of having the parse of the dead man found in his bosom. Ilis attempts at defeace, under the heavy calamity of his nature, were most touching-, and very•. gracefully conceived by Miss Routh. , Ile is, however, car. tied off to punishment, but afterwards respited, in copse quence of the old woman's (Mrs. Davenport) discoveries, which at length fix the crime on Mottaire (Farley). Ile betrays himself by his trepidation ; the blood on his belt aCCU• insulates the proof; be attempts to shoot himself, is pre vented, and at leagth olks away from his guards. The village is up in arms against him ; be is chased through the mood, his pursuers are distanced, be has just escaped, when the formidable dog is again heard. lk is found once mare, and in the final attempt to. escape by plunging down the mountain stream. fired at by the guard, and killed. Unfolded into action, vivified by the exertions and abilities of the performers, adorned with expressive and pleasing