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COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.

[Second Notice.]

Since we wrote our dramatic article, Mr. Sheridan Knowles' new play of "Woman's Wit," has been produced at this theatre; and though we have rather exceeded our limits, we could not go to press without giving a criticism on this the most beautiful of the author's productions. In our limited space it will be impossible to do justice to the surpassing beauty of plot and character, told in a language in which the poetical strength, power of thought, is of such truth and nature, as to be surpassed only by Shakspeare; to give a proof of this, we might make long extracts; but were we to extract half the play, we should consider ourselves still at a loss; we therefore advise every lover of dramatic literature to see the performance of this most exquisite production. Its success has been almost unparalleled, and has given universal satisfaction, which the play and acting truly deserve. We will now give a brief outline of the principal features in the plot. The play opens with a ball scene, in which Hero, (Miss H. Faucit,) a great beauty, in love with St Valentine de Grey, (Mr. Anderson,) who returns her love, is waltzing with Lord Athunree, a professed libertine, (Mr. Warde,) and he makes the dance appear so voluptuous, that Sir Valentine de Grey forsakes her in disgust. Hero, to revenge herself on Sir Valentine, assumes the disguise of a Quakeress, and sends her servant Clever (Harley,) in a like disguise to invite Sir Valentine to her uncle's house, who, after hearing the description of the supposed Ruth, consents, and he is so taken with her, that he offers marriage, but she sends him to Hero. A counter-plot occurs, in which Helen Mowbray, (Miss Taylor,) whose fair name has been most basely defamed by Lord Athunree, which we hear of as having taken place before the play commences. She, supposed to be dead, appears under the disguise of a boy, named Eustace, at a fencing master's, De L'Epée, (Tilbury,) where she is practising "the noble art," to enable her to be revenged on Lord Athunree, and in which place she meets Walsingham, who, not knowing her under her disguise, is much taken with the supposed boy, and claims her friendship. She then challenges Lord Athunree, and a meeting takes place, but being interrupted by the officers sent by Sir W. Sutton, (Bartley,) who has discovered all through the remorse and repentance of Lewson, a villain in the employ of Lord Athunree, (Diddear,) they are taken before him. In the mean time, Lord Athunree does his utmost to injure the fame of Hero, but is frustrated by Helen, who discovers his plot, which was written on the back of the paper which she received from him at the appointment of the duel. In the last scene the villany of Lord Athunree is fully exposed, and he meets with just punishment. Walsingham and Helen are made happy, and Sir Valentine discovers the pure and simple Ruth to be Hero;-they are happy.

We seldom recollect to have seen a play better performed. Macready was pathetic and forcible in most parts, though he did not give us an idea of a sorrowful lover. Miss Taylor never performed better: the whole was well judged. Miss Faucit's acting was exceedingly beautiful-her character, which was very difficult, called forth her greatest energies. Warde acted the villain and libertine to perfection; and of Anderson, we can only speak, as almost the poorest performance of the play. The getting up did honour to the management of Covent Garden Theatre.

London: Wm. Davy, Gilbert-street, Oxford-street.

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by G. De Clifford

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3. Cleveland; or, The Man of Principle, (continued,)

4. Lilla of Lauterbrunnen, (concluded,) by a Lady 5. Ballad, by Leigh Cliffe, Esq.

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6. Miscellaneous Criticisms, No. 1-" Pensive Musings" 82

7. A Paraphrase, by G. De Clifford FINE ARTS-Royal Academy

THE DRAMA-Covent Garden

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London:

HARRISONS,

4, ORCHARD STREET, PORTMAN SQUARE.

Notice to Correspondents.

We are sorry we cannot avail ourselves of "St. Valentine's Day," and "The Pirate's Grave."

A letter lies at the Publishers for "Anti-Boz."

"L. B. ;"

"N. S. ;" and "H. C.;" shall receive our earliest attention.

"B. H. J.'s" verses are not suited for our pages.

MONTHLY COLLECTION

OF

Tales, Oddities and Comments.

OUR RANDOM CLUB NIGHTS.

BY DANDY DUMBY, ESQ. M.R.C.

No. II.

SCENE-The Club Room.

Burnchurch, Bonitas, Bardolph, Bantam, Bellcor, and Sparkle, seated round a table. The table is covered with bottles, tumblers, wine glasses, plates for cigar dust, a knife and four half lemons, a lighted candle, a small vessel furnished with spiral paper-lighters, three silver spoons, a private pen-knife, a stone-jug of tepid water, and a porcelain basin of ten-penny loaf sugar. Dumby at a side-table looking at 'The Times.'

Bonitas. I do not think much of this sherry: suppose we have some hock—what sayst thou, my Sparkle. Sparkle. We'll talk of that anon.

cigar, my Bonitas!

First give me another

Bonitas.-These (taking two parcels from his hat) are mild and those strong flavour'd. Come, Burnchurch, Bantam, Bardolph, help yourselves. Bellcor never smokes.

Burnchurch.-Why, Bonitas, you are positively a cigar merchant. As to quality, I meet nothing equal to your supply of tobacco any where. This one-thank you.

Bellcor. He is a cigar vender; but I suspect the profits of his commerce in the Club must all end in smoke.

Bardolph.-The fact of the matter is, you can never have a good election of cigars unless you keep them by you some time in good asseveration.

Sparkle. You are right, Bardolph. I am a great epicure in smoking, myself; but I don't see why connoisseurs should insist on having cigars made of tobacco leaf. There's a tobacconist in the City, I'm told, makes all his cigars of Irish brown paper; and from the peculiarity of their flavour he hath amass'd a very large fortune within two years.

Bellcor.-Yes! but the paper is made of a peculiar stuff call'd nux vomica.

VOL. I.

F

OUR RANDOM CLUB NIGHTS.

Sparkle. No such thing-'tis made of an amalgamation of Kilkenny marble and isinglass.

Bonitas.-And very good ingredients too. Only unfortunately for your mixture, they say nothing in Kilkenny can smokenot even fires or whale oil.

Sparkle.-That's my luck.

Bantam.-Bravo, Bonitas-you have him on the hip.

Sparkle.-Bardolph, can you tell me why they call those Havannah cigars?

Bardolph.-How do I know. Ask Bellcor-he's a West

Indiaman.

Bellcor.-Nay, then, if I'm a West-Indiaman, you must be a

Collier.

Sparkle-Yes, with all the coals on fire, and part of the cargo, chaff.

Bardolph.-Talking of chaff, Bonitas, isn't Sparkle a regular chaffinch? ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.

Bellcor. I should think rather a bullfinch, to say all the coals of a collier on fire, and part of the cargo chaff.

Sparkle. Thank you, good Bardolph. I owe you one. Bardolph.-He thinks to have it all his own way-ha-haha; but I'll let him see to all tents and purposes some folks can be witty as himself-ha-ha-ha-ha.

Sparkle. If you laugh much longer, Bardolph, your face will turn into a red morocco foot-stool.

Bardolph.-Ha-ha-ha-ho! I like to have a touch now and then at little Spark. He thought to be very hysterical on me one night before some strangers-but I served him outdidn't I, Dumby? ha-ha-ha.

Bonitas. How was it, Bardolph ?

Bardolph.-You must know a friend of mine call'd-a very populous man in his own place, and damn well off you knowBellcor.-Was that the man I saw here one evening, with fourteen children and seven nursery maids?

Bardolph.-Ho! that was cousin Sidey.

Bellcor.-Is he a treacle-manufacturer ?

Sparkle.-Really, Bellcor, 'tis too bad to interrupt poor Bardolph in his interesting narratives. 'Tis unwarrantably outrageous, especially in a West-Indiaman. I trust this interruption shall not again take place whilst any member is addressing the house.

Bellcor (rising).-Mr. Speaker-
Sparkle. That's Dumby.

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Bellcor.-and gentlemen!

Sparkle.-Bardolph, you may leave the room; you're not mentioned in the address.

Omnes.-Order, order-here-chair-bravo-encore-no!

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