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castle; it is true, also, the English are their allies; but here rests all the application which can be made to the passing events in Spain. The incidents are those of a common romance, which eternal repetition has rendered perfectly stale, a warrior's wife confined in a besieged castle; the governor in love with her; her husband gaining access to her, in disguise; and, on being discovered, thrown into a dungeon; a few contrivances to effect his escape; followed by the destruction of the tyrant, and the usual finale. This play is the production of Mr. Theodore Hook, and, considering that it was written on the spur of the moment, it does him no smail credit; but the materials are insufficient for a full drama, and being opposed by strong attraction at the rival house, it fell after a few nights struggle. It may still serve both the theatre and the author as an after-piece.

The plot of this piece is founded upon the battle of St. Quintin, in 1757, when the French, in attempting to raise the siege of that town, suffered a signal defeat by the Spanish and English forces, commanded by the Duke of Savoy, Count Egmout, and the Earl of Pembroke, and the surrender of St Quintin was the immediate consequence. A little poetical license is taken with this great event, to adapt it to the present period. Count Egmont, anxious for the safety of his wife and child, who were treacherously betrayed by Bertrand, a vassal of bis, into the hands of De Courcy, the commander of the fortress in the absence of the Governor, De Coligny, attempted in the disguise of a soldier to gain admittance into St. Quintin. De Courcy, who was an unsuccessful lover of the lady, places her under the care of Bertrand, and Rosa de Valmont, a young orphan, who had taken refuge in the Castle during the war. Rosa accepts the offer, with a secret determination to counteract the designs of Bertrand, and to save the lady, for which purpose she assumes a repulsive exterior when under his observation; she makes her sentiments known to the Countess Adriana, and advises her to ask Bertrand for her son, which he, desirous to obtain her confidence by that kindness, complies with. The Governor enters, and informs her of the death of her husband, which he confirms by producing the Count in disguise, as having the last tokens of affection; by an unguarded expression, in the moment of joyful surprise, when the Count makes himself known secretly to his wife and son, the boy betrays him; he is immediately seized, and ordered to the deepest dungeon in the fortress; the Countess also is ordered to be confined by the Governor, to try the effect of severity upon her constancy, which ends the

act.

In the commencement of the second act, the English detachment is discovered, headed by Sir Leinster Kildare, who discloses his passion for Rosa de Valmont, whom he had known, when pursuing his studies at St. Omer's; he dispatches his servant to make inquiries about her. The sceue then changing to the dungeon of the Castle, the guards of De Courcy, with Bertrand, descend with Egmont, in an iron pannier, which is let down by chains; they then unlock a grating on the stage, lowering him down to a deeper c vern. The Countess and son are conducted down a small staircase b Rosa; she conceals the boy behind a pillar, and reascends; when Bertrand and the guards come through the grating, he, locks it, leaving the key in. While he is tampering with the feelings of the Countess, an ungov rnable love for her being the cause of his vil

lany, the boy unlocks the grating; alarmed by the noise, he takes a light to examine the recesses of the dungeon. The Countess and sou immediately open the grating, and release the Count, who retures with his sou behind the pillar, as Bertrand approaches. Bertrand, alarmed at their voices, goes for assistance to make a further search Rosa then enters, and states the Governor's order for Egmont's death; she makes the Countess write to the Duke of Savoy, as if Bertrand was in er interest, which note the boy is to slip into Bertrand's pocket The Count then again retires, and the Governor enters. Bertrand accuses Rosa of treachery, who retorts. the charge, and induces the Governor, the boy having slipped the note into his pocket, to have him searched; it is found, and he is seat into confinement. De Courcy, to assure himself of Egmont's person, descends the grating with his guards, trusting to the proved fidelity of Rosa; the grating is immediately secured by the party, the husband and boy ascend by the pannier, which is raised or lowered by the sound of the horn, and Rosa eonducts the Countess by the staircase; which concludes the second act.

The third act exhibits the interior of the fortress; sentinels guarding the bridge. The fugitives conceal themselves under an a.chway. As the guards pass the gate, to go the rounds, the boy, Concealing himself behind the centinel, obtains the pass-word, and conveys it to his father. The party then come boldly forward, and give the word. The centinel opening the gate, the Count with his boy pass; when an alarm being sounded, the sentinel locks the gate before the ladies can pass. The Governor enters, having broken open the grating of the dungeon. Enraged at the escape of Egmout, he orders the Countess and Rosa into confinement.-The scene is then transferred to the Spanish camp. Egmont makes his appearance, and, having the pass-words, proposes to head a detachment in disguise, which is joined by Sir Leinster Kildare. Upon the scene changing again to the interior of the castle, Bertrand and Rosa are ied out for execution. The Countess informs the Governor that Bertrand was innocent of the frand, and he is pardoned. Struck with remorse at the interposition of one he had so deeply injured, he attempts to stab the Governor, but, being deiected, is ordered out for torture. A sigual being given at the gate, the sentinel at the bridge gives notice of a detachment arriving to succour the garrison. An attack being expected, the detachment, which is the disguised English, enter. They relieve the other guards, an being ordered by the Governor to shoot Rosa, they turn their arms upon him; he is secured. The remainder of the detachment make their appearance, the French are disarmed, and the town surrenders.

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Mrs. MUDIE has repeated the character of Mrs. Haller. This lady speaks sensibly, and has sufficient knowledge of the stage; but her provincial tones and an extravagance of manner and action, left an impression on the audience far from favourable to her, Mrs Haller was injudiciously chosen for her debut.

OCTOBER

KING'S THEATRE (COVENT-GARDEN COMPANY.)

27. Gamester-Review.

28.

Woodman-Forest of Hermanstadt.

31. Romeo and Juliet. Juliet, Miss Norton.-Ib,

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NOVEMBER

1. Macbeth-Who Wins?

2.

Merchant of Venice-Blind Boy.

3. Henry VIII.—Ib.

4. [For the Benefit of the families of those who unfortunately suffered by the late fire in Covent-Garden.] Mourning BrideForest of Hermanstadt.

7. Henry VIII.-Blind Boy.

8.

Every Man in his Humour-Love-a-la-Mode.

9. Richard III.-Tom Thumb.

10. [NEVER ACTED.] THE EXILE. The Overture and music by Mr. Mazzinghi. The whole arranged under the direction of Mr. Farley. Count Ulrick, the Exile, Mr. Pope; Governor of Siberia, Mr. Munden; Baron Alltradoff, Mr. Liston; Count Cadmar, Mr. Incledon; The Patriarch, Mr. Cresswell; The Czarowitz, Master Goodwin; Daran, Mr. Young, (his 1st appearance on this stage;) Welzien, Mr. Jefferies; Rimski, Mr. Murray; Yermack, Mr. Chapman; Servitz, Mr. Fawcett. The Empress Elizabeth, Mrs. St. Leger; Sedona, Mrs. Gibbs; Alexina, Mrs. H. Johnston; Catharine, Mrs. Dickons; Anna, Mrs. Liston; Villager, Mrs. Emery. In Act II. the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth. The Dances (composed by Mr. Bologna, jun.) by the Misses Adams, &c. The Scenery by Messrs. Phillips, Whitmore, Hollogan, and Grieve.-Jew and the Doctor. Abednego, Mr. Blanchard. 11. Ib.-Love-a-la-Mode.

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Ib.-Follies of a Day.

16. Ib.-Village Lawyer.

17. Ib.-Katharine and Petruchio. Katharine, Mrs. C. Kemble. 18. Ib.-Review.

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The EXILE. This interesting opera is the production of Mr. Reynolds, and is certainly one of the most pleasing dramas which the modern stage has exhibited for some time. The chief incident is taken, as we observed last month, from the French novel of Madame Cotin, called The Exile of Siberia, and a second interest has been judiciously blended with it, to give more variety and fulness to the action. The character of Daran is very happily introduced, and presents several bold and striking situations. The language is of a higher order than has generally prevailed in Mr. Reynolds's serious dialogue, and the whole piece is put together in a most masterly manner. The comic business is slight, but it is sufficient to relieve the weightier scenes, and, with the assistance of some good comic songs and duets, affords ample room for the exertions of the comedians. Fawcett's songs are exceedingly happy. They have Mr. Colman's stamp upon them The procession to the coronation of the Empress Elizabeth is highly imposing for its grandeur, striking for the order in which it is arranged; and, for accuracy of costume, and taste in the decorations, surpassiug every thing we have seen of the kind. The ceremony of the corona ion is equally admirable. The whole has been prepared by Mr. Farley, and is in the highest degree creditable to his direction. Mr. Young made his first appearance, as a member of the

Covent-garden Company, in Daran, and performed with no less spirit than address. He was of course welcomed in the manner due to his great merits. Mrs. Dickons sung in capital style, and was enthusiastically applauded and encored. The following is a slight sketch of the plot.

Count Ulrick, a Nobleman of distinction, after acquiring great reputation in the Russian army, is nevertheless banished to Siberia, through the base influence of Prince Lowenstern over the Empress Catharine. He is followed by Sedona, his wife, and his daughter Alexina Romanoff, the nephew of the Governor of Tobolskow, frequently visiting the wretched family at their retreat in the neighbourhood, a mutual attachment takes place between him and Alexina; but his uncle suspecting it, in order to prevent his future visits, and to compel him to marry the niece of Prince Lowenstern, banishes him beyond the frontiers, and endeavours to force Alexina into a marriage with Welzein.

Romanoff assumes the name of Daran, goes to St. Petersburgh, and, in the disguise of an Indian, gets into the service of Baron Alltradorff, a nephew of Prince Lowenstern, a pert vain coxcomb, and in that capacity accompanies him to Tobolskow, to which place the Baron is going to claim the hand of Catharine, the Governor's niece, whose affectious he in vain attempts to win by his skill in music and dancing, her heart being already devoted to Count Calmar, by whom she is beloved with equal ardour.

Romanoff, aware of the ruin preparing for Count Ulrick, to conceal his benevolent designs assumes a ferocious aspect, and expresses a deadly hate to the Exile and his family, by which means he completely blinds the Governor as to his intentions, and, jointly with Welzien, (the enraged and rejected suitor of Alexina,) is entrusted with the execution of the Empress's orders; in pursuance of which, Ulrick is dragged from his retreat, and imprisoned in Tobolskow, and they are sent in pursuit of Alexina, who has set out, accompanied by Yermack, a faithful domestic, on the desperate undertaking of travelling to St. Petersburgh, to solicit her father's pardon.

In this undertaking he completely frustrates the vindictive designs of Welzein, and Alexina reaches the neighbourhood of Moscow in safety. The rejoicings of the inhabitants of that city aunounce the grateful tidings of the accession of Elizabeth to the throne of Russia, and of her approaching coronation. Alexina hastens thither, rushes into the presence of her new Sovereign, and, notwithstanding the influence of the Patriarch (a near relation of Prince Lowenstern), she procures, through the means of the dis-. guised Romanoff, the pardon she solicited, and immediately departs for Siberia, without waiting for the deed of pardon to be completed; by which means she is again subjected to all the bitterness of sorrow; and, in order to save herself and family from immediate destruction, is compelled to marry the supposed Daran.

The Governor at length receives the royal mandate from his Court for the liberation of Count Ulrick, and by it he becomes acquainted with the villany and disgrace of Prince Lowensteru, which reconciles him to the union of his daughter with Count Calmar, to whose protection she had fled, after escaping from her uncle's house, by the ingenuity of Servitz. Romanoff, not Paran,

claims Alexina for his bride, and the Exile is restored to his former honours.

COUNTRY THEATRES.

Theatre-Royal, DUBLIN. This theatre opened on Monday, November 7, for the season, under the management of Mr Crampton, a gentleman well known in the polite circles of London and Dublin. The opening pieces were Mr Lewis's play of "The Castle Spectre," and the farce of "Love Laughs at Locksmiths. Miss Smith was the Angela of the night. Mr. Huddart made his debut, after an absence of some years, in the part of Osmond; who, with Mr. Sloman, from the Windsor Theatre, who made his debut in the part of Solomon Lob, in the farce, were the only novelties, Mr. Williams is stage-manager. Mr. Crampton, it is said, will be assisted by all the amateurs of the Kilkenny theatricals. Mr. J. Atkinson will invoke his dramatic muse, and Anacreon Moore his poetic, on the occasion.

On Tuesday night were performed "The Way to get Married" and "The Devil to Pay." The novelties were Mr. Lewis, in Tangent, and Mrs. Kennedy, in Miss Allspice. The former is son of the celebrated comedian of that name, and the latter performed here about ten years since. Mr. Lewis, though by no means so good a figure, resembles his father very much. He has the face, the voice, the action, the bustle, and the business of Mr, W. Lewis. So close an imitation of his points and manner would not be sufferable in any other person; but in the gentleman now under consideration, what in another would be justly condemned as a fault, becomes in him extremely pleasing, for in the son we think we behold the father. He perfo, med Tangent with spirit and success-throughout the piece the audience liberally b ́stowed their favours on him, and, at the close, his bow was returned by an unanimous peal of applause.

We recollect Mrs. Kennedy making her first appearance on the Dublin boards, fifteen years since, with much success, in the parts of Lady Bel Savage, Mrs. Candour, &c. &c.; she was a very excellent actress, dressed extremely well, but had something unpleasaut in her voice About the same time Miss Duncan made her first appearance in the part of Priscilla Tomboy, in the farce of "The Romp," for the benefit of her father.

"The Poor Gentleman," on Thursday night, afforded another opportunity of observing Mr. Lewis, and, we are happy to say, the impression made by his sprightly and bustling performance of Tangent was rather increased by his animated and agreeable delineation of Frederick. Should his performance of other characters be equally happy, he may anticipate much favour from the public. After the play, a ballet of considerable merit introduced for the first time Mr Giroux and his three sisters to a Dublin audience. We have not before seen, on our stage, so interesting and accomplished a group. They are of the first class in their profession, and, in the course of the ballet, we discovered that they are by no means deficient in other polite accomplishments. The performance of Mr. and Miss Giroux on the piano-forte was much admired, and throughout they received distinguished and certainly well-merited applause. On Friday night the ballet was repeated, and the only

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