Yes, and Paul Postpone, Your miles are fees for all his labours done. [great fenfe, Each chearing nod demonftrates he has And ev'ry clap's a glorious fix and eight

[laws

pence, Then take the hint; and, 'fpite of critic We'll to an English Jury truft our caufe."

12. At Drury-lane Theatre, a MR. FOOT*, made his first appearance on the Stage in the arduous character of HamLet. He poffeffes a good manly perion, about the middle fize. His conception of the part was generally juft; and he judiciously varied his manner with the various feelings by which the character is fucceffively animated. His enunciation also is correct, and free from any provincial habits. So far we are justified in applauding the attempt; and his reception by the audience was very flattering. Two objections, however, remain to be made against Mr. Foot's perfonification of Hamlet: his walk was ungraceful, and his action, particularly in the first two acts, redundant. His voice alfo is either in

itself (as appeared to us to be the cafe)
too weak to be effectively employed in
fo large a Theatre; or he had wholly
miftaken its pitch; for when he per-
formed thofe fcenes wherein the dialogue
is merely of the converfation kind (as in
a part of the fcene with Ofrick, &c.) his
voice was scarcely audible in the centre of
the pit; and when, on the other hand, he
attempted to exert it into exclamation, it
A few lef-

was harsh and diffonant.
fons from the maitre de danfe will eafily
polish Mr. Foot's demeanour; and,
perhaps, practice may beget a due mo-
dulation of his voice; in which cafe we
really think that his natural abilities will
render him a very refpectable performer.
-The Bills foon after announced him
as intending a fecond appearance in the
fame character.

Bonamo
Stephano
Malvoglio

Montano

Mr. H. JOHNSTON.
Mr. FARLEY.

Mr. MURRAY.

Mr. BRUNTON.

Mr. CORY.

Mr. CLAREMONT.

Michelle (a Miller) Mr. BLANCHARD.
Pero (a Gardner)

Selina

Mr. SIMMONS,

Mrs. GIBBS.
Mrs. MATTOCKS.

Flametta
Villagers, Soldiers, &c.-Scene, Savoy.

The Scene lies at a Village in Savoy. A perfon named Francifco has been received into the houfe of Bonamo, who, knowing nothing of his ftory, is not difpofed to harbour him any longer. Francifco had been deprived of his tongue, but was able to deliver his thoughts in writing. Flametta, Bonamo's old female fervant, had found Francifco about eight years before the opening of the Piece, in an expiring ftate, mangled by rumians; and by the affiftance of Michelle, a neighbouring miller, the

On the following night, when the Comedy was finished, Mr. Fawcett came forward, and faid, "Ladies and Gentlemen-The Epilogue was advertised to be fpoken this evening, only through the mistake of the printer: as it did not meet your approbation, it is withdrawn. Mrs. Mattocks therefore hopes, that you will indulgently difpenfe with her undertaking the irkfome task of again attempting to recite it." Perhaps a fimilar inftance of the theatrical damnation of an Epilogue, on the fecond night of repetition, is not on record.

This gentleman, we understand, received a good claffical education at Winchefter College, ferved an apprenticeship as a Compofitor to Mr. Deputy Nichols, and was lately in bufinets as a Printer in Crane Court, Fleet-street.

VOL. XLII, Nov. 1802.

Ccc

wretched

wretched man was preferved. Bonamo
hearing this account, and perfuaded by
his fon, and the rest of his family, re-
folves to continue his protection to
Francifco. Count Romaldi, at this
time arrives, for the purpose of con-
cluding a marriage between his fon and
Selina, the fuppofed niece of Bonamo,
to which Bonamo affents, though he
knows that his fon Stephano and Selina
are devoted to each other. Romaldi
ftarts on feeing Francifco, who difcovers
equal emotion, and hurries away. Ro-
maldi is foon joined by his fervant Mal-
voglio; and as they know that Francifco
is to fleep in Bonamo's houfe, they re-
folve, in the dead of the night, to kill
him... Selina overhears the wicked de
fign, and gives information to Francifco.
The affaffins approach, but Francifco,
who is prepared with pistols, for fome
time prevents them from executing their
purpofe. At length, under a perfuafion
that he has too much humanity to fire,
they rush upon him; but the fcreams
of Selina, who has been upon the watch,
bring all the family into the room, and
Francifco is preferved. Bonamo's fuf-
picions are then fo strongly roused against
Romaldi, that he refolves to break off
the intended marriage, and to give Se-
lina to his fon Stephano. Romaldi
departs in anger, declaring that uniefs
Bonamo alters his mind before ten
o'clock the following morning, he fhall
repent. Bonamo defpites this threat,
a rural fête takes place, and the lovers
are on the point of being married, when
at the appointed time a letter comes
from Romaldi, affirming that Selina is
the daughter of Francifco, and annex-
ing a certificate of her birth, in proof of
the affertion. Francifco is then con-
fidered by Bonamo as a wretch who had
profaned the bed of his, Bonamo's, de-
. ceafed brother. Francifco and Selina are
then discarded. Stephano refolves to
follow them, but is confined by his fa-
ther-A benevolent Lawyer in the
neighbourhood confirms the account that
Selina is the daughter of Francifco; but
proves that he is the offspring of a
fecret marriage, and that she is obtruded
on Boname, as his niece, by the artifice
of Romaldi. It appears that Komaldi is
the brother of Francifco, and that he
contrived to get the latter into the hands
of the Algerines, and when he escaped,
by the affittance of Malvoglio, way-laid
him, cut out his tongue, and left him,
as they fuppofed, dead. The cry is now
up again Romaldi and Malvoglio, and

the officers of justice purfue them and take the latter. Romaldi flies to the very fpot where he and his accomplice had committed their horrid butchery on Francifco. The honeft Miller who protected Francifco affords a refuge to Romaldi, but afterwards perceiving a fear on his right hand, one of the figns by which his perfon was defcribed, fufpects him. Romaldi, however, induces the honet Miller to protect him, rather than involve in danger one who may be innocent. At length, Francifco and Selina arrive at the fame fpot, and the horror they difcover at the fight of Romaldi

induces the Miller to run for the officers of juftice. In the mean time, Romaldi offers his piftol to Francifco, that he may revenge himself for all the injuries he has fuffered. Francifco, who had remained in concealment rather than impeach his brother, throws away the piftol. Romaldi then attempts to escape, but is taken by the foldiers. Bonamo and the rest of the characters affemble; and as Romaldi feems to repent of his villanies, the Piece concludes with the reitoration of Stephano and Selina to each other, and the avowal of an intended application for mercy in behalf of Romaldi.

This Piece is an alteration, by Mr. Holcroft, of a French Drama called "Seline: ov, L'Enfant Myftère," which met with great fuccefs at Paris. It is a pleafing mixture of novelty and intereft, comprising incident, dialogue, mufic, dancing, and pantomime, and has fince continued almoft uninterruptedly to be performed to crowded Houfes with unanimous applaufe.

The mufic, by Dr. Busby, is admirably expreffive of the various paffing fcenes; and in the Overture, which was rapturously applauded, a fportful ufe has been made of extraneous fharps and flats, with the happiest effect.

We have fcarcely ever feen a Piece better performed; the dumb eloquence of Farley, and the varied deportment and expreffion of H. Johnston, are equal to any thing that we have witnessed on the mimic fcene.

The drefles are fuperb, the fcenery is finely picturesque; and the dancing of young Bologna, Dubois, King, and Mrs. Wybrow, with the hornpipe of the infant Byrne, gave a pleafing re lief to the fombre hue of the reft of the piece.

17. A New Musical Farce, called "A HOUSE TO BE SOLD," was prefented

fented for the first time at Drury-lane,
of which the Dramatis Perfone were
as follow:
Captain Kelfon
Charles Kelfon
Belfield

Melchifedec

Hawfer

Matthew

Servant

Mrs. Dorville
Charlotte
Fanny

Mr. DowTON.
Mr. J. BANNISTER.
Mr. KELLY.
Mr. WEWITZER.
Mr. SEDGWICK.
Mr. SUETT.
Mr. WEBB.

Mrs. SPARKS.
Mifs DE CAMP.
Mrs. BLAND.

Charles Kelson, a young officer in the navy, and his friend Belfield, a compofer for the Italian Opera, are travelling to Plymouth when within a few miles of their journey's end, they find their money run fhort. They walk a part of the way, but at length, overcome with fatigue and hunger, they feat themselves on a bench, near the door of Mrs. Dor. ville's houfe, which is fituated in a village about fifteen miles from Plymouth. Mrs. Dorville's houfe, and the grounds adjoining, are to be fold; and the traveliers feeing a bill to that effect posted on the houfe, Charles Kelion refolves to gain a dinner, and perhaps a night's lodging, by pretending to be a purchaler. The cheme fucceeds, and Mrs. Dorville, delighted in the expect ation of telling her houfe, and miltaking Charles Kelton for his uncle Captain Kelfon, of Plymouth, invites the young adventurers to lay till the next day. They are recognised by Matthew, a fottish fervant of Mrs. Dorville's, who had feen them walking on the road; he is, however, bribed to filence. Charles Kelion accedes to the terms propoted by the old Lady for the purchate of the houte, and the produces a written agreement, which he figns. It now appears that Charlotte, the niece of Mrs. Dorville, is attached to Belfield. The two travellers are again nearly difcovered by Charlotte's furprife in meeting her lover fo unexpectedly; Charles Kellion's addrets relieves them from this embarraff. ment; but a more ferious event threatens him in the arrival of Captain Kellon, who intends to bid for the house himfelf. Charles too begins to feel that he is involved in an alarming difficulty, by binding himself to purchale a houfe for five thousand pounds, without a fhilling in his pocket. Chance, however, extricates him from this critical fituation. Melchifedec, a Jew, who has made a fortune by felling flops to failors,

has long wanted to purchase Mrs. Dor-
ville's houfe at a low price. Finding
that it is now fold, he offers Charles an
advance on his purchase. The young
failor, finding his anxiety to buy, talks
to him of planting trees and building
a wall to obftruct the view from Mel-
chifedec's houfe, and at length fo far
works on the Jew, that he agrees to give
him an advance of three thousand pounds
for his purchase. This fum of three thou-
fand pounds Charles deftines as a wedding
gift to Belfield and his conftant Char-
and the generofity of the young
lotte ;
failor is rewarded by his uncle, Captain
Kelfon, who reitores him to favour, and
declares him heir to his fortune.

This entertainment is an alteration by
Mr. Cobb from a French Farce called
"La Maifon à Vendre ;" but the charac-
have been
ters, as well as the manners,
naturalized to cur own country.

Taken as a whole, we think it equal in
merit to molt of the mufical farces that
we have feen brought forward for three
or four years paft; at least it is un-
tainted by any of the extravagant carica-
ture on which farce too often relies for
fuccefs. Charles Kelfon is drawn with
confitency and precision, and was ad-
mirably fupported by Bannister. The
Jew, by Wewitzer, must be noticed as a
chatte, patural, and truly comic per.
formance. Charlotte is the character
next in interelt and importance. She is
a lively mad-cap, whole head is full of
dancing and finging, and who fighs for
the enjoyment of these and other plea.
fures which the town affords. In per-
fonating this character, Mifs De Camp
gave tome imitations of figure-dancing
and Italian finging, in the caricature
ftyle, which excited much laughter and
applaufe.

The fcenery is rural and picturefque ; but the mufic, which is chiefly the compolition of Mr. Kelly, is its great ornáment. The overture abounds in fweet and pleafing movements, judiciously varied and contrafted, not training at difficulties, and attempting to furprife by The fame execution, but flowing in an eafy course, and fpeaking to the heart. character prevails through the airs and duets.

The Farce received much applaufe, has fince had a very fuccesful run, and we doubt not will become a ftock-piece.

19. At Covent Garden, Mrs. Litchfield performed, for the first time, the character of the Widow Brady, in The Irish ported Widow, gave the brogue well, and upCcc 2

ROUS'D by my words-he gaz'd with Methought I ftood upon the hills, whole

I did not weep-despair my tears had dried

cried,

defpair

They all were weeping-and my Anfelm [ftern!" "Father, dear father, do not look fo Still not a tear-I felt my temples burn That day was past, and all the dreadful [light night, In deathlike filence-'till the next day's Began to dawn again-then, when I faw Four wretches brought to life and fuch [gnaw By me-to frenzy rous'd, I 'gan to My unoffending hands,and tear my hairThey, thinking it was hunger, rofe, and [deadfajd, "Eat our flesh, father-we must foon be And happier we shall die, if we relieve Your pangs-eat-and the life you gave [gloomTo ftop their cries, I fat in fullen Why did not then the gaping earth en[word tomb And aid our sufferings? Not one more That and the next fucceeding day was heard. (teous cry, On the fourth morn, Gaddo, with piExhausted, said, "Help, father, or I die !"

receive.

I had no help to give-and by my fide,
Whilft I gaz'd vacantly, he ftruggling
[one,
died.
Within the next two days-all, one by
Expir'd-the fixth day faw me left alone-
My dungeon itrew'd with death-my
[place,
eye light gone.
For three days more I grop'd about the
Call'd on their names, and took a cold
[do.
embrace-
Then famine did-what not despair could
He ended here the story of his woe ;
And his grim eyes, of felleft rancour
[the skull.
full,
With tooth, like famifh'd wolf, he feiz'd

THE RETREAT TO THE COT.
TAGE OF MON REPOS.

A POETICAL OLIO.
BY JOHN, THE HERMIT.

(Concluded from page 295.)

OCCASIONAL POEMS, WRITTEN AT
THE COTTAGE; WITH INSCRIP.
TIONS IN THE GARDEN, &c.

XVII.
Dura's Vale; or, The Bard's Complaint.
Written after visiting my native Place,
in the Month of July 1802.

STRANGER! fhould my plaintive
lyre
Thy foul with fympathy infpire;

381

And should't thou wish to learn my tale,
Go afk-but not in Dura's vale!
Yet have I told it o'er and o'er,
And spread the tale to ev'ry fhore!
Alas! unheeded in the gale,
It floated down my Dura's vale!
Yet Dura's is my native stream!
i
Her green banks were my earliest theme
There first I told my baplefs tale,
All, all forgot in Dura's vale!
Go! fpeed thee to the east, the weft;
Go! afk each Muse delighted breast ;
Of strangers learn the artiefs tale;
not in Dura's vale!
But afk

Go! ask old Thames, for he has heard,
And knows my story, word by word:
To thee he will repeat the tale
Thou'lt ask in vain in Dura's vale!
Or fhould't thou, fond of science, stray
Where Ifis rolls her claffic way,
Thou'lt hear it in the paffing gale :-

-But ask it not in Dura's vale!
Or fhould kind Fortune chance to guide
Thy steps near Esk, by Edin's fide,
There Pity will repeat the tale
Thou'it afk in vain in Dura's vale!
Yet once did Pity haunt her ftream,
And footh'd with hope my plaintive
theme,

There first I liften'd to her tale,
Ah! now unheard in Dura's vale!
There, first, fhe taught my heart to feel,
And mourn o'er woes I could not heal!

We mix'd our tears o'er many a tale;
O'er griefs, remote from Dura's vale!
And when my hand poffefs'd the pow'r
To foothe Misfortune's lingering hour,
Thou might't have heard me, in the
gale,

Sing the glad tidings down the vale !

And am not I the only Bard,
O Dure that paid thee due regard ?
The Mufes first, in my fad tale,
Heard the fond praife of Dura's vale !
And much the hope infpir'd my breast,
That Dura yet might grant me relt,
When, weary of each diftant dale,
I fought repofe in Dura's vale !
I oft, with philofophic mind,
Strive to forget that vale unkind;
But ftill, in ev'ry warbled tale,
Is heard the name of Dura's vale !
Perhaps fome future day, when I

Embosom'd in the earth fhall lie, .
Too late for me, alas ! my tale
May find its way to Dura's vale!

Then