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PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS FOR SEPTEMBER.

FRENCH THEATRE.

MAIDS TO BE married.

[Continued from Page 110.]

ACT II. SCENE I-AGATHE, PAULINE, THERESE, LEDOUX, and CORSIGNAC.

Therese. I told you how it was; the blow came from Ursule.

Corsignac (to Pauline). Do not let me suffer for the offence of your friend.

Pauline. You are forgiven.

Ledoux (to Agathe). Do not compel me to run away a third time.

Agathe. You may stay.

Pauline. How wicked if Ursule make my sister put on her riding dress.

Agathe. And to incite Pauline to put a romance in her ridicule.

Corsignac. And to made such a mixture of truth and falsehood, so as to compromise my innocence.

Therese. You will find that she has told some other story to Louise.

Therese. Ursule is fond of scandal and discord; she thinks herself a wit, and it is easy to fancy that other people have the same tastes as our selves.

Pauline. The truth of this we have proved to-day, Therese; you are right to refresh our memory.

Therese. First you, Mr. Ledoux, try to lead back to us Mr. Sainville, as you have been led by Mr. Corsignac.

Ledoux. Only give me the power to act, and I'll work wonders. I am naturally cunning and wily, and will tell him. What shall I tell Mr. Sainville?/

Therese. That it is very wrong in him to have thus forsaken an old friend, and that he ought to have excused my father's impetuosity.

Corsignac. Stay; I have the whole plan in my head, and will direct its execution. But Ursule is cunning as well as Mr. Ledoux. She will suspect both you and me. She is fond of scandal, and consequently curious.

Therese. She is.

Agathe. How often we have surprised her

Agathe. But how came she not to fear lest listening to our conversation, and watching our

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Pauline. I have been told that Mr. Sainville has been seen going to visit Ursule's mother.

Therese. You see, she draws him into her net. Agathe. God knows with what colour she will adorn our portraits.

Therese. The first condition she will impose upon him will be, never to see us again.

actions.

Corsignac. Oh! she is in the habit of listening! excellent! The whole now is to get her back here with Sainville; and this I will attempt to perform, assisted by the abilities of Mr. Ledoux.

Ledoux. Thank you for the honour you confer upon me, by choosing me for your ally in this important negociation. Let us lose no time-I go-1 hasten.-(To Agathe.) Too happy if I could but obtain your approbation.

Corsignac. Let us lose no time, as you righly said; follow me.

[Exeunt Corsignac and Ledoux. Therese. I do not know exactly what this Mr.

Corsignac. And my poor friend is so easily led. Therese. Don't affect sorrow; you are happy. I, therefore, will give you little credit for your demonstrations of grief. It is my sister alone, Corsignac means to do. But, where is my fa

my good Louise, whom I pity-and if I could, would assist. But stay-Oh! I have it! She deceived us with false representations and perfidious counsels, let us make use of the same weapon.

Corsignac. I understand you; you may rely

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ther?

Pauline. Gone to scold his workmen.

Therese. No doubt of it; for when he is in a passion, every one must feel its effects. Agathe, Hush! Here he is.

Enter JAQUEMIN.

Jaquemin. Here you are all at last. Agathe (to Pauline). Is his anger gone? Y

Pauline. I believe it is.

Jaquemin. Well! are you frowning at me? It is true I have flown into a passion.

Therese. Yes, it frightens us at first, but as you are well known.

Jaquemin. Where is Louise?

Therese. In her room, where she weeps, and refuses to be comforted.

Jaquemin. Poor girl! I have been in the wrong, I am afraid, yet I cannot go and beg her pardon. It is your fault, you three, that I have been unable to chain my anger.

Pauline. Very well, my dear guardian; scold us as much as you please.

Agathe. I prefer your violence to Miss Ursule's flattery.

Jaquemin. What of Ursule? Why she is one of the best girls in the world.

Therese. She! she is a deceitful intriguing coquet.

Pauline. It is she who was the cause of your quarrel with Mr. Sainville.

Jaquemin. Is it she? Yet Sainville is not the less guilty in my sight.

Therese. Should we try to make him understand reason.

Jaquemin. What! that I ask him here without resenting the manner in which he left me.

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Enter LEDOUX.

Ledoux. Here I am, ladies.

Therese. Where is Mr. Sainville? Ledoux. He refused to accompany me. Jaquemin. Here again, you see how he behaves. Ledoux. But I must give Miss Ursule and her mother their due. These two ladies united their entreaties with ours, to persuade Sainville to come, but he declared Mr. Jaquemin had forbidden him his house, and then we were invited to dinner; Mr. Corsignac accepted, but I refused the invitation.

Pauline. He accepted; is this the way to prove his love for me?

Agathe. Is not Mr. Ledoux a skilful ambassador?

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Jaquemin. He dines with you! I congratulate you upon the power you exercise over him.

Ursule. But I am determined to force him to an explanation with you.

Therese. An explanation! there is no occasion for it.

Ursule. He refuses in vain; I will find some means of bringing him here.

Jaquemin. I have no wish to see him. Ursule. Let me act, and all will soon be right. But where is Louise?

Enter CORSIGNAC and SAINVILLE.

Corsignac. I have triumphed over his obstinacy; come in, and make your reappearance, Sainville.

Ursule. Mr. Sainville!

Sainville. Truly, Corsignac, you exact too much.

Cursignac. My exertions have proved more successful than yours (to Ursule). I hope you do not feel hurt. Well, what mean all these serious faces?

Jaquemim. I do not wish to compel Mr. Sain. ville to visit me, if it be not pleasant to him. Sainville. Remember, Sir, you forbade me. Jaquemin. I am too impetuous!

Therese. Let's forget the past. (To Sainville) Had you not agreed to accompany my father be fore dinner to the house which is to be sold in our neighbourhood?

Sainville. I had.

Jaquemin. I beg to be excused, in the present moment, I cannot accompany you; but Mr. Ledoux will have that pleasure.

Ledoux. It will really be a great pleasure to me. Sainville. I am ready to attend your com

Ledoux, Every one cannot be successful, and I assure you, my exertions have not been spared. But I must inform you that Miss Ursule is following me. She no sooner heard of a misunderstand-mands. ing with Mr. Jaquemin, than she offered herself as a mediator betwixt the two former friends.

Ursule (aside). I must make Agathe and Pauline speak.

Jaquemin. Very well; good bye, Mr. Sainville,

I hope to see you soon, going to see Louise.

(To Therese.) I am [Exit.

Agathe. I follow you. (Low to Sainville as she passes by him.) Louise alone will suit you.

[Exit. Pauline (low to Sainville). Believe me, Louise is as good as Ursule is wicked. [Exil. Ursule. Wait for me, my good friends, I wish to converse with you. [Exit.

Sainville. They are all leagued against the amiable Ursule.

Therese. I'll lay any thing you had been forbidden to come and see us.

Sainville. Yes, by your father.

Therese. Not alone, but by Ursule and her mother.

Sainville. Well; their conduct only proves they felt acutely for my honour. Therese. Now answer me plainly, do you think you can be happy with Ursule.

Sainville, She seems to have received a good education, to possess liberality of sentiments

Corsignac. And to love you; if you wish for a proof of this assertion, tell me what defect you will feign to have, and I'll be hanged if she does not instantly assume it.

Sainville. What is it you say

?

Corsignac, Stay; I know you hate pretensions to wit and a disposition to slander; goodness and simplicity you admire. Go with Mr. Ledoux as you are engaged, at your return you will meet Ursule here and pronounce upon her merits.. Sainville. But I should like to know your meaning and not to be treated like a child. Corsignac. Never mind, you must go.

[Exeunt Sainville and Ledoux. Corsignac (low to Therese). Ursule is coming, let us speak as though we did not see her. (Aloud) Yes, my only motive for accepting their invitation, was the hope of baffling Ursule's secret intrigues, for that she is intriguing there is no doubt.

Therese. I have been telling every body so, but no one will believe me.

[Ursule walks tip-toe towards a closet in which she conceals herself, leaving the door a-jar.]

Corsignac. Our interests are. the same, let us act in concert. (Low) She is now in the closet. (Aloud.) Well, as I told you, I am to dine with Ursule, I'll try to win her confidence, and nothing will then be so easy as to overthrow all her plans. Therese. But how?

Corsignac. This morning I revealed to her every good quality which adorns Sainville's mind; but this knowledge will be useless to her, we must study the defects of others to be able to please them.

Therese. And what are those of your friend?

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Corsignac. Causticity, and a strong inclination to turn every body into ridicule.

Therese. How strange! I have heard honeyed words alone drop from his lips.

Corsignac. He was just arrived then; and longed to make himself amiable. His heart is good, his wit alone is malicious.

Therese. Then all is lost, for Ursule is also malignant, satirical and talkative.

Corsignac. We have only to persuade her, that she ought to affect simplicity and good nature, Sainville will fancy she is silly or an hypocrite, His and in either case be disgusted with her. second failing seems incompatible with the first, it is a strong pretention to be a wit. Therese. Indeed?

Corsignac. He writes verses; he has formed the plan of a descriptive poem, according to the present fashion. He has composed a satire which shows his I think very harmless; no matter, intention. He lays down all his thoughts, all his actions, and dedicates the greater part of his life to preparing posthumous memoirs.

Therese. Lord preserve us! Ursule comments on the Mercure de France, and guesses its charades; scolds Pauline because she only reads novels, and speaks of nothing else but literature, morals, sciences, chemistry, botany.

Corsignac. Botany! it is Sainville's favourite study, let us tell her that he does not like a learned wife. And on your part, advise Louise to reveal her wit, and especially not to spare Ursule

in her sallies.

Therese. This is impossible-my sister is so good natured.

Corsignac. Let her feign a while. It is so easy to speak ill of others, and to believe what is said against them, that she cannot help succeeding.

Therese (low). Enough, let us withdraw now. Corsignac (aloud and going). Every thing is settled; I shall marry Pauline, and you your

cousin.

Therese (going). Try to find Ursule, I go to meet Louise. [Exeunt both.

Enter URSULE from the closet.

Ursule. Very kind intentions towards me! Ah! you wish to ruin my plans; I am attacked, and must defend myself. Poor Louise, it is in vain they wish you to show what nature has denied you-wit. He writes verses too! what sympathy! Pauline seeks for it, and I find it. Oh ! I am so angry, so joyful-I shall be avenged!but hush! here he is.

Enter SAINVILLE and LEDOUX.

Ledoux. We could not see the house, the key was not to be found; but you do not want me

any more, and will permit me to leave you for
Miss Agathe.
[Exit.
Ursule. Is not Mr. Ledoux an excellent man?
Sainrille I think so.

Ursule He never meddles with intrigue; he never attempts to injure any body in the opinion

of others.

Sainrille. What do you mean?

Ursule. To be frank with you, you must know I have got enemies—

Sainville. You?

Enter THERESE, and steals into the closet. Ursule. Jealousy is a base and degrading vice. I am not blind; the visit you have paid my mother has made me the object of the hatred of certain persons and yet what have we done? we have told you as much good of Mr. Jaquemin, his daughters, and wards, as we possibly could. Sainville This is true.

Ursule. I am feared, and why? because I have been fortunate enough to receive a better education than ladies generally do. No one can hate affectation of wit and learning more than I, but a woman ought not to be an ignorant idiot. [To be concluded in our next.]

HAYMARKET.

racter, the Country Girl. The house was crowded to the top, and she was welcomed on her entrance with the most enthusiastic applause. Mrs. Jordan is somewhat less embonpoint than when we saw her last. Her performance of this character has long been the pride of the stage, and the chef d'œuvre of modern comedy. An actress of such distinguished merit can scarcely become a subject of criticism. Of Mrs. Jordan it may be said, without flattery, what was said by Voltaire of a certain French actress,-" That her merit was of that species as rather to give new principles to criticism than to become a subject of its scrutiny. The standard of equality is not to be measured by line and rule."

Wroughton, whose performance of Moody does him great credit, was loudly welcomed, as were Palmer, Barrymore, and Holland. Miss Mellon, whose reception was equally flattering, must not be forgotten. In the Afterpiece, Bannister was most flatteringly received; his performance was admirable as usual. Mathews and Mrs. Mountain were heartily welcomed.

COVENT-GARDEN.

Miss

THIS theatre opened for the season on Monday, the 14th, with Romeo and Juliet. Mr. C. Kemble is the best Romeo on the stage. Smith has more spirit, but not so much warmth and tenderness as Mrs. H. Siddons in Juliet; altogether, we think her inferior to the abovementioned actress.

The Performers were greeted on their respective appearances with the usual testimonies of welcome. The Beggar's Opera was performed on Wednesday-Incledon was rapturously re

THIS theatre closed on Tuesday, the 15th, with the tragedy of Hamlet. In this play Mr. Young well employed the last opportunity that for some time he was likely to enjoy of demonstrating to the public his eminent talents. It is surely unjust, that an actor who has qualifications that in the important character of Hamlet are always respectable, and sometimes even brilliant, should be without an engagement at a winterceived, and his Macheath was excellent. Muntheatre. Covent Garden, possessing the Kembles and Cooke, has certainly no need of tragic reinforcement; but in Drury-Lane there certainly is room for so good a tragedian as Mr. Young. After the play Mr. Fawcett returned thanks in the name of the proprietors and performers.

DRURY-LANE.

ON Thursday, the 17th, this theatre opened for the season. Mrs. Jordan, whom the Managers have very wisely engaged for three sucdessive seasons, appeared in her favourite cha

den was welcomed in a manner equally flattering. Mrs. C. Kemble's Lucy was in the true spirit of the character, and her reception was such as she must have coveted. Miss Bolton was equally simple and pleasing, and is much improved in the character of Polly.

On Friday Mr. Kemble appeared in the part of Penruddock, in the Wheel of Fortune; his unri valled excellence in this character is well known. Mr. K. was of course flatteringly received.

A sister of Mrs. C. Kemble has appeared in the Farce of Raising the Wind; she is a good figure, and may become, by instruction, a useful

actress.

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