becomes a Christian himself-he is in love with Portia, the daughter of Sulpicius, a zealous heathenshe is in love with him-Cordenius is condemned by Nero as a Christian-Sulpicius and Portia intercede for him-in the last scene a lion is let loose on Cordenius-a Parthian Prince shoots an arrow at Cordenius, and kills him-this is done with a friendly view, to save Cordenius from the horrid death to which he was doomed-Cordenius is a good character-the rest of the D. P. (with the exception of Sylvius) have not much to recommend them-when Tyke in the School of Reform spells Philip with an F, it is quite in character-but one cannot forgive Miss Baillie for calling a convert Fearon, instead of Pheron-see p. 34.

CROSS.

Cross, the stage manager of the Surrey theatre, published in 1812 the 2d Edition of his dramatic works-the 1st Edition seems to have been in 1809 —in his preface he says, that the Royal Circus, or

Surrey Theatre, was opened in 1781-that it was burnt in 1805-rebuilt, and opened on the Easter Monday following-his pieces are

1. Round Tower, or Chieftains of Ireland-this Ballet Pantomime was brought out at C. G. in Nov. 1797-it is said to be partly taken from O'Harralan's History of Ireland-it seems to be a good piece for the sort of thing.

2.

Blackbeard-see Bath Jan. 18 1816.

3. Cora, or the Virgin of the Sun-this piece in 2 acts is founded on Kotzebue's play-it was brought out in 1799.

4. Julia of Louvain, or Monkish Cruelty-this short Spectacle is founded on a paragraph in a Newspaper during the French Revolution-it was brought out May 15 1797.

5. Louisa of Lombardy, or Secret Nuptials-this serious Spectacle, in 2 parts, was brought out in May 1803-it is partly founded on the Law of Lombardy.

6. Our Native Land and Gallant Protectors 1803 -the author properly calls this a trivial combination of dance and song.

7. Sir Francis Drake and Iron Arm-Iron Arm is a captain of Banditti-the Governor of Carthagena is alarmed by the approach of Drake-he pardons Iron Arm and his confederates on condition that they will assist him against the English-in the last scene an engagement takes place between the Spanish and English fleets-the whole town of Carthagena appears in ruins-Iron Arm is killed, and the curtain falls with the huzzas of the British sailors -this Spectacle was brought out Aug. 4 1800.

8. False Friend, or the Assassin of the Rockssee Bath March 7 1812.

9. Cloud King, or the Magic Rose-Cross says that this piece is founded on the ballet of Zemire and Azor, and Lewis' Tales of Wonder-the plot has of course a great resemblance to that of Selima and Azor-the Cloud King was brought out June 30 1806.

10. Rinaldo Rinaldini, or the Secret Avengersthis Ballet of Action was brought out April 6 1801 the plot partly resembles that of the Secret Tribunal.

11. Fire King, or Albert and Rosalie-this magic Ballet of Action was brought out June 20 1801— Cross says that the Denouement is trifling in the extreme, but that it is, as recorded in Lewis' Tales of Wonder, from which nearly the whole of the piece is taken.

12. Halloween, or the Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne-Cross does not say in what year this Spectacle was brought out-he tells us that Halloween is a night on which the peasants of Scotland try various spells and charms in order to determine their future fortunes-the plot of this piece is founded on the novel of the same name.

13. Way to get Un-married-see C. G. March 30 1796.

14. Village Doctor-Dr. Bolus puts a sleeping draught into a brandy bottle-he means it for his wife, but it is drunk by a quaker—this Burletta was brought out at the Circus in St. George's Fields March 25 1796-Blanchard acted the Quaker.

Cross' Dramas would not have deserved notice,

if they had not been collected and published in 2 vols. -most of them consist of dumb show and singing-Sir Francis Drake, the Cloud King, and Rinaldo Rinaldini are good pieces for the sort of thing.

D. L. 1812-1813.

D. L., in 1809, had been for a considerable time in a declining state as to pecuniary matters-the salaries of the performers were greatly in arrears— the burning of the theatre reduced the whole concern to a state little distant from bankruptcy-for some years it was very doubtful whether it would be ever re-built or not-at last that desirable point was effected by the unparalleled exertions of Mr. Whitbred-Oulton says-" in Oct. 1811 the Committee "for the re-erection of D. L. completed their arrangements-the sum required, and already sub"scribed, was £400,000; out of which £40,000 was "made applicable to the purchase of the old patent "interest, to be thus apportioned, viz. £20,000 to Sheridan, who, in consequence, resigned all interest

"whatever in the property; and the other £20,000 "in equal portions between Mrs. Linley, Mrs. "Richardson, and T. Sheridan-the old renters and "other claiming creditors accepted of 25 per Cent. “ in full of their respective demands, and the Duke "of Bedford absolved the property of his claim, amounting to £12,000-the remainder of the sum "subscribed was deemed fully competent to the completion of this magnificent work."

66

The new theatre was opened Oct. 10 with an address by Elliston, which was repeated 9 nights-the Company was numerous, but not efficaciousone of the performers of C. G. well observed, that at their theatre there was no performer (with the exception of Abbott, who had been engaged on the expectation that C. Kemble would leave C. G.) whose loss must not be supplied by another actor— at D. L. there were too many middling actors and too few good ones-it is evident from the bills that few of the plays were strongly cast-the 1st night is no bad specimen-the company was not strong, but many instances the plays were not cast to the best advantage-the Committee of Management ought to have laid it down as a rule, that as there had been, strictly speaking, no D. L. Company since the fire, every play was to be cast afresh, and that no performer was to claim any character as his right— they might then have improved the cast of their plays considerably.

in

Oct. 10. In order to prevent disappointments, the publick are respectfully informed, that every seat in the boxes has been taken for some days past, for this evening.