POETRY. To Mrs. BILLINGTON, ON HEARING HER LATELY SING SOME FAVOURITE SONGS. By Mr. Pratt. METHOUGHT a veice, distinct and clear As ever mov'd attention's ear; As ever won affection's heart, Its magic would no more impart. But since that well-known voice again Why should she abdicate her throne! The warbler of our native plains Shall sooth us with more dulcet strains, And the sweet harmonist obey, Than loudest notes that only prove The force of wONDER, not of LOVE. June 6th, 1807. SONNET. THE MOTHER. Translated from the Italian of Filicaje. By all their little ways their wants she knows ; To each dispenses what its wants demand, Or, feigning, frowns: the Almighty so, who throws Withholding, but to bless the more denies. THE LONDON THEATRES, JUNE. HAY-MARKET. 29. John Bull. Peregrine, Mr. Chapman; Sir Simon Roc dale, Mr. Mathews; Frank Rochdale, Mr. Palmer, jun; Hon. Tom Shuffleton, Mr. De Camp; Job Thornberry, Mr. Fawcett ; Dennis Brulgruddery, Mr. Waddy; Dan, Mr. Liston. Lady Caroline Braymore, Mrs. Litchfield; Mrs. Brulgruddery, Mrs. Powell; Mary, Mrs. Gibbs.-Village Lawyer. Scout, Mr. Fawcett; Snarl, Mr. Waddy; Sheepface, Mr. Liston; Mrs. Scout, Mrs. Powell. 30. Seeing is believing-Dramatist-Paul and Virginia. Paul, Mr. Bennet, from the Theatre Royal, Bath, his first appearance in London, and seventh on any stage; Alhambra, Mrs. Taylor; Tropic, Mr. Taylor; Dominique, Mr. Mathews; Virginia, Mrs. Mathews; Jacintha, Mrs. Liston. JULY. 1. Wonder--Don Felix (1st. time) Mr. Young; Don Pedro, Mr. Mathews; Don Lopez, Mr. Grove; Colonel Briton, Mr. De Camp; Frederick, Mr. Carles; Gibby, Mr. Waddy; Lissardo, Mr. Fawcett. Violante (1st. time) Mrs. Litchfield; Isabella, Mrs. Mathews; Inis, Mrs. Taylor; Flora, Mrs. Gibbs-Catch him who can. 2. Mogul Tale-Five Miles off-Tom Thumb. 3. The Stranger-Stranger (1st. time) Mr. Young; Solomon, Mr. Mathews; Peter, Mr. Liston; Steinfort, Mr. Palmer, jun. ; Wintersen, Mr. Carles; Tobias, Mr. Chapman. Charlotte, Mrs. Gibbs; the Countess, Miss Mortimer (her first appearance on this stage) Mrs. Haller, Mrs. Litchfield-Lock and Key. 4. Mountaineers-Paul and Virginia. 6. Hamlet-Waterman. 7. Sighs Mrs. Wiggins-Review. 8. Wonder Agreeable Surprize. 9. Castle Spectre. Osmond (1st. time) Mr. Young; Father Philip, Mr. Waddy; Motley, Mr. Liston. Evelina, Mrs. Taylor; Angela, Mrs. Litchfield-Prisoner at large. 10. Sylvester Daggerwood-Five Miles off Tom Thumb. 11. Stranger. Countess, Miss Taylor-Waterman. 13. Henry IV. Part I. Hotspur, Mr. Young; Falstaff, Mr. Fawcett Poor Soldier. Patrick, Mr. Bennett; Dermot, Mr. Taylor; Bagatelle, Mr. De Camp; Darby, Mr. Mathews, Kath lane, Mrs. Liston; Norah, Mrs. Mathews. 14. 15. Poor Gentleman-Frederick, Mr. Young.-Tom Thumb. Hamlet-Fortune's Frolic. 16. Waterman-FORTRESS (1st. time)-Mock Doctor. 17. Poor Soldier-Fortress. 18. Fortress-Lying Valet-Peeping Tom.. 20. Fortress-Agreeable Surprize-Tom Thumb. 21. Padlock. Leander, Mr. Bennett; Diego, Mr. Taylor; Mungo, Mr. Mathews. Ursula, Mrs Powell; Leonora, Mrs. Ma thews Fortress-Catherine and Petruchio, Petruchio, Mr. Youngg Grumio, Mr. Mathews; Biondello, Mr. Grove; Tailor, Mr. Liston. Catherine, Mrs. Gibbs. 22. 23. Catch him who can-Fortress-Tom Thumb. Prisoner at Large-Fortress-We fly by Night. 21. (Mr. Bennett's night, and the last of his engagement) Battle of Hexham. Gondibert, Queen Margaret, and Adeline, (first time) Mr, Young. Mrs Litchfield, and Mrs. Taylor. Purse-Padlock. The FORTRESS is a Melo drama by Mr. Theodore Hook, the successful author of Tekeli, and is borrowed from the same French author; whose piece bears the title of Les événemens d'un jour. It is the old story of escapes, which always interest, however often repeated, and in the present instance, there is not much novelty in the incidents, nor ingenuity in the contrivance. One situation there is both interesting and dramatic. A young man who has the care of the Fortress, is induced to connive at his prisoner's escape, and even points out the means of effecting it, but on learning immediately afterwards, that such an event will affect the Jife of his commandant, he instantly gives the alarm, and the prisoner is brought back to his confinement. The outline of the plot is this: Count Everard, an Austrian nobleman (Mr. Young) is thrown into prison upon false accusations. Alice (Mrs. Gibbs) a faithful attendant, persuades Lieutenant Oliver (Mr. De Camp) to assist his escape. Accordingly upon relieving guard, he informs the count of a secret passage, by which he might gain the banks of the Danube, Whilst the count is supposed to be in the very act of this escape, the lieutenant is informed by the governor (Mr. Chapman) that the life both of himself and of the lieutemant, must answer for the safe custody of the prisoner. An interesting situation is here produced. The lieutenant gives the alarm, and stops the flight. The count at length escapes by means of his daughter Celestina (Mrs. Taylor).-Alice and Oliver, in a generous contest, each take upon themselves the crime of having aided in this purpose. The lieutenant is condemned to death :the count discovers himself to save his friend. The field marshal (Mr. Carles) then opens a sealed dispatch, which, instead of containing, as supposed, his sentence of execution, incloses a pardon. The other characters are Vincent, a drunken gardener, (Mr. Mathews), Philip, a one-eyed soldier, (Mr. Liston), Thomas, an Austrian serjeant (Mr.Taylor), and Pauline, his wife (Mrs. Liston.) The count, the hero of the piece, is not drawn with any force, and he is placed at times in very awkward situations; his second escape is clumsily contrived; he sneaks out at the gate like a thief with his booty; and the concealment afterwards in the green. house has a low and ludicrous effect. The denouement is feeble and unsatisfactory. But it must be confessed, that Mr. Hook has made the most of the materials with which his French original sup plied him. For the barrenness of the incidents, he has made some amends by the pleasantry of his dialogue, and the humour of his comic characters; and as an after-piece, to which it is now very properly reduced, the Fortress will no doubt hold out for the remainder of the season. The Music is by Mr. Hook, the father. The overture is one of the best we have lately heard, and a duett, between Taylor and Mrs. Liston was much applauded, The performers merit the best thanks of the author. Mr. Young had not much opportunity of exercis.ng his fine powers, but all that was required from him he gave with full force and effect. Mrs. Gibbs displayed her usual correctness and accuracy in Alice A considerab e portion of the vis comica was happily displayed by Mathews in the gardener, and of the phiz comica, by Liston in the garrulous old soldier. Mrs. Taylor looked extremely well in her Savoyard disguise. Mr. Bennett, the new singer, is of the Braham school. His voice is clear and firm, but not bold or extensive. His ear, however, seems perfect; his ad libita are full of grace and ornament, and his transitions easy and natural; his figure is small, and as an actor lie has every thing to learn; but we shall not be surprised if he very soon acquires eminence as a vocal performer. He is now gone back to Bath, to fulfil (say the play bills) a musical engagement, but whether at the theatre or in the concert room we have not learnt. Mr. Young has been in constant play ever since his appearance. Hamlet he has performed four or five times, and the versatility of his talents, as well as the extent of his powers, have been fully tried and effectually established by his Stranger, Octavian, Osmond, Hotspur, Felix, Frederick, Gondibert, and Peʼruchio. It cannot be supposed that he was equally successful in all, but in some he was excellent. The Stranger we consider his most perfect performance. He seldom fell below Kemble, and in some instances went beyond him. He has been powerfully supported by Mrs. Litchfield in Mrs. Haller, Angela, Queen Margaret and Violante. A new comedy, by Mr. Dibdin is to be produced immediately. THE COUNTRY THEATRES, &c. Theatre-Royal, LIVERPOOL.-Since the departure of Mrs. Siddons this Theatre has been but thinly attended, although the managers have done every thing in their power to please the public, both in respect to novelty and personal exertions, and notwithstanding the professional merits of Lewis, Knight, Elliston, Simmons, and Mrs. Glover. The Curfew and Tekeli are the only pieces which seem to be attractive. The scenery, dresses, &c. of the latter were purchased at a high price from Mr. Ward, of Manchester. In addi tion to the performers named in my last, I have to mention a Mr. Terry, who in pantomime and Frenchmen is rather clever, but in tragedy the monotony of his voice is much against him. Mr. Banks in characters of rough feeling has great merit. Mr. Claremont is still Mr. Claremont, whether he plays tragedy or comedy. Mr. Jones as a young actor merits some commendation, but his appearance is rather too effeminate, and his deportment too stiff, for the heavy characters which have been assigned him his delineation of a fep has given us some pleasure. I would advise Mr. Waring to read Hamlet's instructions to the players, beginning with this line" but if you mouth it, as many of our players do, I had as lieve the town crier spoke my lines."-There is another |