TO RICHARD COLE, ESQ. IMITATION OF HORACE, LIB. 2, ODE 11. Quid bellicosus Cantaber, et Scythes, &c. RICHARD, my friend, dismiss to learn What subtle schemes the Russians burn, What Frenchmen meditate; So long as ocean shall divide Our shores, secure we may deride Damp not the joys of present years With vain, imaginary cares, The future may produce; To-day at least, my friend, is ours— Beauty-Hilarity—each grace To transports of luxurious love, In age the cold suppression prove Gray hairs, bad nights, succeed. The flowers of Spring forget to bloom, Increases to decay O then forbear the mind to vex, With thoughts which serve but to perplex,- Rather beneath the arbour's shade, In festive mirth thy time employ, Friends, "and the flow of soul." For wine each carking care can brave- Nor with thy happy notes refuse, Of my capricious guest. R-VOL. XVI. 1 O come and with thy music quell Stamford. OCTAVIUS GILCHRIST. MEMORANDA DRAMATICA, &c. HAYMARKET. AUGUST 10.---Red Roy; or Oswyn and Helen. ---A grand pantomimical ballet by Mr. FARLEY, author of Raymond and Agnes, the Corsair, &c. taken from the story of Robert Rouer M'Gregor, better known in Scotland by the appellation of Red Roy, from his complexion, and the fiery colour of his beard. He was very noted towards the conclusion of the sixteenth, and the beginning of the seventeenth centuries, having, with a desperate gang, infested the highlands of Scotland, and committed with impunity the most daring outrages. Upon this simple foundation, Mr. Farley has constructed the various and interesting incidents which compose the ballet of Red Roy. In one of his predatory excursions, this formidable robber, although married, becomes enamoured of the daughter of an humble Scotish bard, and finds means to convey her to his retreat, whither she is followed by her lover Oswyn, in disguise, who, after numerous fruitless attempts, contrives, with the assistance of Roy's wife, who takes compassion on the distress of the 'unfortunate lovers, to effect an escape from their prison. Helen again falls into the power of the robber, and again is rescued by the persevering courage of Oswyn. In the end Roy is slain, and his banditti dispersed, and the piece concludes with the union of the faithful pair. As must naturally be supposed, the materials of this ballet are a little similar in construction to those of preceding pantomimes, but the incidents are so ingeniously managed, and the interest so well preserved throughout every scene, that the piece, upon the whole, affords the highest gratification. The feelings of the spectators are strongly excited by the successive stratagems which are employed to accomplish the release of Oswyn and Helen, and the anxiety for their final safety, is raised to a pitch of the most agitating suspense. The entire action is finely adapted to the music, and the business and grouping furnish an additional proof of Mr. Farley's very superior skill in this species of composition. Davy's music, consisting of Scotch airs, compiled and original, and embellished with the most fascinating variations, deserves the highest encomiums. The introduction of the favourite air of " Roy's wife," has a most pleasing effect. Whitmore has also added greatly to his reputation, by the display of several beautiful specimens of pastoral and romantic scenery. Mr. Palmer in Roy; Mr. Taylor in the Bard; Mr. De Camp and the indefatigable Mrs. Gibbs in the two lovers; Mrs. Harlowe in Roy's Wife, and that astonishing infant Master Byrne, exerted themselves with the happiest effect. 20.---Henry V.---was acted for the Patriotic Fund, and the passages appli cable to the times were most enthusiastically applauded; the receipts amounted to £.200. 22.---Mr. MATHEWS's Benefit.---Mrs. Litchfield performed Angela, in the Castle Spectre, on this evening, and was warinly applauded throughout. The house was one of the fullest and most productive of the season; a reward to which the merits and industry of Mr. Mathews very justly entitled him. 23.---The Tale of Mystery---was performed for this night only, by permission of Mr. Harris. Mr. Farley played Francisco; and the piece altogether was respectably performed. THEATRICAL CHIT-CHAT.. COVENT GARDEN THEATRE will open on Monday the 12th Sept. The alterations in this theatre proceed with the utmost rapidity. The whole frame of the boxes is completely altered. The front is to be of white and gold, and the gallery slips are to be converted into private boxes. The frontispiece, it is worthy of notice, was originally designed for the duke's theatre, in Lincoln's-innfields, and the design is most superb. Several scenes painted thirty years since, by the able pencils of Dall and Lambert, have been retouched, and to the present generation of dramatic visitants, must appear as absolute novelties. The other decorations, and the new scenes, are in the best taste, and of the most magnificent description. A comedy by Reynolds; and an historical opera, and a pantomime by T. Dibdin, are to be among the earliest novelties. Mr. Kemble will make his appearance in Hamlet, and Pizarro is to be got up with great pomp of scenery and decoration. Several of Shakspeare's plays will also be revived; probably Coriolanus, Henry VIII. and Antony and Cleopatra. Mrs. Billington is expected to sing twelve nights. DRURY LANE will open on Saturday the 10th Sept. with Pizarro, for the -patriotic fund. Mr. Sheridan, it it said, purposes adding some new speeches to the character of Rolla, more closely applicable to exising circumstances. Elliston is engaged for two months at a liberal salary. Holman too is said to be engaged. Such an actor must be a great acquisition to the company, considering the formidable opposition it has to encounter. Mr. Cobb's opera, founded on the romance of Zadig, is again talked of, with Kelly's music; and Mr. Allingham, the author of The Marriage Promise, so successful last season, will of course be ready with another comedy. The vessel in which Incledon embarked at Dublin, on his return to England, was wrecked in passing the Bar. Several of the passengers were lost. Incledon saved himself by climbing to the round top, with his wife lashed to him. They were several hours in this perilous condition, and were at length picked up by some fishermen who saw their distress from the shore. Mr. Major the musician, who accompanied the wandering melodist, was among the persons saved. Munden, though not on board himself, lost all his baggage. Incledon, after his return to Dublin, again advertised his entertainment, with the addition of The Storm. Fawcett is now acting at York, where his merits were first distinguished; Mrs. Young at Colchester, and Mrs. Jordan at Richmond, with Mr. Russell of Drury Lane. Bannister performed for her benefit Sir John Restless and Scout. Mr. Bannister has also played a few nights at Brighton. The excursions of the performers in general have not been very profitable this summer. Kemble was engaged to act eight nights at Margate on very advantageous terms 1 to himself; but the theatre was so little attractive that he liberally released the managers from their engagement. Cooke had but a scanty benefit at Cheltenham; C. Kemble's House at Durham was nearly empty; and Capt. Caulfield has failed, even in the heart of the camp at Brighton, to attract his brother officers to the theatre. Madame Hillisberg, so long the favourite of the English on the opera stage, died lately at Calais on her way to see her mother. She had been for some time in a declining state. NEW ROYAL CIRCUS. The managers, with their accustomed liberality on all great occasions, gave the entire receipts of one evening's entertainment to the laudable fund at Lloyd's Coffee-house. An address was written for the purpose by Cross, and spoken with admirable animation by Miss Adams, in the character of a British Amazon. The company, on this night, were highly entertained by the eccentric whim of Montgomery, in the character of Diggory Daggerwood, a stage-struck country bumpkin. ASTLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE. ZINGINA, a grand historical Chinese spectacle, consisting of the greatest variety of scenery we almost ever remember, hath been recently produced, with brilliant success. Mrs. Astley is the heroine, and a more elegant and spirited performance we do not remember. There are fourteen new scenes, descriptive of the various and enchanting country in which the action is supposed to lie, and the painting and machinery do infinite credit to the various artists. SADLER'S WELLS. THE Army without Reserve, British Amazons, and the grand military spectacle called the Old Man of the Mountain, with other auxiliaries, and the fine weather, realize all the hopes and expectations of the ingenious manager, Mr. C. Dibdin, and the rest of the proprietors. VAUXHALL. NEVER since this delightful retreat was converted into gardens, for the amusement of the public, hath it experienced greater success than during the present season. On the Prince's birth-night we understand the company consisted of upwards of twelve thousand. PROVINCIAL DRAMA. Theatre Royal DUBLIN.---Mr. Johnstone, Mr. Munden, and Mr. H. Johnston, have performed their principal characters, highly to the satisfaction of the Dublin critics. Martial law being declared, on account of the rebellion, before they had their benefits, they were under the necessity of performing in the day-time, in order that the entertainments might be concluded before eight o'clock in the evening ;---they commenced at one o'clock. Mr. Johnstone made his appearance in Sir Callaghan O'Brallaghan, and Loony Mactwoulter, and introduced himself with the following lyrical address :-- Safe I'm here, and with joy almost wild, For in Ireland I first saw the sun; Bless the nation, man, woman, and child, You're my countrymen, every one. Both letters and parcels to greet ye, And my heart jumps with transport to meet ye. Thirteen years---or the almanack lies--- Were swimming the whole of the way; Of dear Ireland I lack'd no reminders, Dear Ireland's my mother, agrah! Old England's her sister I grant; Then it seems, since this lands my mamma, Its angels no soul can call frightful, If you'd know what I've done while away, I have work'd for John Bull, and must say But if eggs are applauses, I fear Dublin critics may soon have dispatch'd 'em; 'Faith my eggs may be all musty here, So I won't count my chicks till I've hatch'd 'em. Now long life to you, jewels, say I, You have judgment, wit, all that is good, By the powers I'll most certainly die, If I'm damn'd by the sons of the sod: But you won't vex your countryman so, Thanks to Ireland---for birth I'm a debtor, And believe me wherever I go, Nought but death shall e'er make me forget her. Mr. H. Johnston, at his benefit, gave imitations of Mr. Kemble, and Mr. Cooke. On Mr. Holman's night, False and True was acted; Count Benini, Mr. Munden; O'Raffarty, Mr. Johnstone; Lealto, Mr. H. Johnston; and the subordinate characters by Messrs. Holman, Talbot, Hargrave, and all the principal performers in the theatre, who were anxious, on this occasion, to shew every mark of respect in their power to this distinguished actor, and estimable gentleman. |