29.-16. 31.-16. FEB. 2.-L. L. à la Mode. 3-Ib. 5.-Ib. 7.-1b. 9.-Ib. 10.*-lb. 12.-M. Wives. R. of Pros. 14.-C. Lovers. Tbo. and Sally. 16.-Theodosius. R. of Pros.

17.-[1st time for 5 years] Weder. D. Felix (1st time) Ross; Col.. Briton, Smith; D. Lopez, Bennet; D. Pedro, Collins; Gibby, SHUTER; Frederick, Anderson; Lissardo, Dyer; Isabella, Mrs. Burden; Flora, Mrs. Pitt; Inis, Mrs. Green; Violante, Miss MACKLIN. T. and Sally.

19-Wonder. L. à la Mode. 21.-Ib. 23.-Fov. Crew. R. of Proš. 24.-Wonder. L. à la Mode: 26.-M. of Venice. Ib. 28.-Refusal. Witling, Creswick. Ib.

she made to him, in her first scene with him in this play, and she is determined on some method of revenge, whereby she may be able to expose and set him forth to himself in the most ridiculous and contemptible colours, not without some hopes of bringing him to a sense of his follies, and a disposition to reform, them. This is the principal, nay, indeed, the sole action of the piece, Lord Belville, after experiencing a variety of difficulties, is rendered fully sensible of the folly and baseness of his conduct, becomes entirely reclaimed, and is reconciled to his lady.

ITALY.-Regular tragedy, or, as the French term it, "La Tragedie parlée," is in Italy a kind of innovation, not unworthy of remark. Hitherto the Italians disdained tragedy properly so called, and for eloquence and taste they uniformly substituted tinsel and common-place argument, sacrificing sense to sound, and reason to sing-song. The spell is, however, broken, and a poet of the name of VINCENT MONTI has dared to become an original.

On the 28th Nov, the tragedy of Caius Gracchus was performed at Milan with extraordinary success, and the young author was allowed to possess all the `treasures of the imagination, with the most sublime ideas, and an astonishing vigour of sentiment: thus the "Idioma Gentil, Sonante e puro," bids fair eminently to rival the other languages of civilized Europe, on a more extensive domain.

PARIS. THEATRE FRANÇOIS.-A new interlude, was lately performed at this theatre, entitled Melpomene and Thalia, or The Festival of Apollo, as a tribute to the memory of Molé, the deservedly regretted comedian. The fable, though light, is not uninteresting. Melpomene and Thalia, desirous of giving a fete in honour of Apollo, resolve to send ambassadors to the regions below, for the purpose of recruiting for their theatres; the choice falls on Molé-Mercury is dispatched by Melpomene, and Momus by Thalia. When the two ministers meet, they are surprised that they have been both sent on the same errand. This

circumstance affords an opportunity of bestowing a merited panegyric on the deceased performer.

A decree has been passed in France for the direction and administration of the Theatre of Arts, which contains the following, among other regulations:the prefect of the palace is to have the superintendance of the Theatre of Arts, but without any responsibility. Under him are to be a director and administrator, who are to be responsible, and who are to be appointed by the First Consul. No new piece, no new ballet, can be performed, no new decorations can be used, without an estimate of the expence being laid before the First Consul, and approved of by him. The salaries of the performers, and other persons employed in the theatre, are to be lid before the First Consul for his approbation; and the Minister of the Interior is to appropriate fifty thousand livres a month, (about twenty-five thousand pounds a year) for the use of the theatre, &c.

PROVINCIAL DRAMA, &c.

Theatre WOLVERHAMPTON. The inhabitants of this town have been much gratified with the performances of the inimitable Mr. Quick. His Scrub, } Miser, Benjamin Dove, Barnaby Brittle, Doctor, (in Animal Magnetism) Justice Credulous, Sancho, &c. are all excellent pieces of acting; the rich and irresistible emanations of genuine comedy.

We are always happy, Mr. Editor, to do justice to the merits of any performer in this company, and we therefore must beg you to understand our opinion of Mrs. Dawson, in the last Mirror, as relating solely to her exertions in tragedy. The manager, probably from mistaking the nature of her powers, pompously introduced her under the heroic banners of Melpomene, and we were bored with the roar and thunder of tragedy-nothing but tragedy! We are happy, however, to say, that in genteel comedy she is an interesting and pleasant actress. Her Miss Hardcastle and Jacintha were much admired, and received very general and deserved approbation. Her pronunciation will admit of some trifling corrections, and we hope she will not think us too critical if we entreat her not to neglect any means of improving it.

The benefits this year, upon the whole, have been well attended, tho' we are sorry to state that Mr. and Mrs. Chambers' nights have, for these several seasons, been neglected, notwithstanding the latter, in old women, is equal, perhaps, to any performer out of London. Mr. Fox's night was very thinly attended, to what it had used to be, and Mrs. Fox had scarcely an indi vidual in the boxes, and very few in the other parts of the house. The manager has certainly injured the interest of the theatre by retaining this comedian in the company, after such marked irregularity of conduct. The liberties he has taken upon the stage are most grossly insulting to the public, and such as call for the most severe and unqualified reprehension. This is not merely the opinion of an individual, but the echa of the town, and his recent behaviour

calls loudly, for it calls with many tongues, for a speedy ejection. Mrs. Gibbon has improved much upon the town lately, and her performance of several characters has deservedly rendered her a great favourite. Mr, Gibbon, likewise, is an attentive and assiduous performer, and is frequently greeted with loud and uniform approbation. We are sorry that an ill state of health should have kept so valuable an actor as Mr. Archer from the stage. The estimation in which this performer is held was evinced in his appearance in Archer, after several nights absence, when his exertions to accommodate the town, by playing with Mr. Quick's Scrub, occasioned a relapse, which, we are sorry to hear, will deprive the public of his services for the remainder of the season. Wolverhampton, Feb. 10.

CIVIS.

BIRMINGHAM Private Theatricals.-On Tuesday, the 1st Feb. the comedy of the Poor Gentleman, and the farce of the Spoil'd Child, were performed at our theatre, by some ladies and gentlemen of the town, aided by several of Mr. Hoy's performers, from the theatre Wolverhampton, and Miss B. Biggs, who, in passing through the town, kindly offered her service on the occasion, (it being for the benefit of a young gentleman of the name of Jew). She performed Miss Lucretia Mac Tab with great spirit, and a Mr. Dawson, in the part of Ollapod, evinced great judgment and taste, and gave a very animated representation of the apothecary à la militaire. A Mr. Gibbon performed Lieutenant Worthington, and Mrs. Gibbon Emily. The other characters were respectably sustained.

The whole of the performance went extremely well off, and the audience testified their approbation by repeated plaudits. Every lady and gentleman performed gratis, and, after the expences of the theatre, &c. Mr. Jew will have netted 150l. of which he is well deserving, having on former occasions exerted himself, in an eminent degree, in conjunction with Messrs. Oatly, Buckton, &c. &c. in aid of the funds of the general hospital and charity schools, &c. in the years 1801 and 1802; and as we have no regular theatrical performances in the winter, it has afforded a novel and pleasing source of amusement to the inhabitants.

VERITAS.

BIRMINGHAM Theatricals.-The gentlemen and ladies of the Thespian Society, who have, on former occasions, benevolently displayed their abilities on the boards of the regular theatre, for the benefit of the General Hospital, and Blue Coat School, &c. &c, again came forward on the 10th of January, in aid of Mrs. Clutterbuck's Recitations, and performed the play of Speed the Plough, and the farce of the Devil to Pay, which went off with great spirit. Mrs. Clutterbuck has supported adversity with the same dignity she so lately did prosperity, and displayed a courage and perseverance as uncommon as praiseworthy. She played Nell, in the farce of the Devil to Pay, in a most correct and animated

manner.

DOMESTIC EVENTS.

ACCOUNT OF THE EXECUTION OF COLONEL DESPARD, &c. Colonel Despard, and six of his associates, who had been convicted of high treason, were executed on Monday morning, Feb. 21, on the top of the New Gaol in the Borough. As soon as the warrant for execution was received, on the preceding Saturday, it was communicated to the unhappy persons by the keeper of the prison, Mr. Ives, with as much tenderness and humanity as the awful nature of the case required. We believe it was expected by all-by all it was received with resignation and fortitude. Colonel Despard observed, upon its being communicated to him, that the time was short: yet he had not had, from the first, any strong expectation that the recommendation of the jury would be effectual, From the moment of his conviction, he had begun to prepare himself for the last moment that was to close all sublunary scenes upon him for ever! During the whole of the interval between the period of the passing and the executing of the sentence, he behaved with composure. Much of his time was employed in writing, some in reading, the greater part with his wife, Mrs. Despard.

Soon after the warrant was received, all papers, and every thing he possessed, were immediately taken from him. He was strictly searched, to discover whether he had any knife or means of self-destruction concealed about him, and every thing that was thought might enable him to put an end to his existence, was conveyed out of his reach. There is no reason to suppose he had the slightest design to commit suicide; but these are the usual and necessary precautionary measures. Mrs. Despard was greatly affected when she first heard that his fate was sealed; but, on Sunday, she recovered her fortitude, when, accompanied by another lady, she had a last interview with him about three o'clock. The lady wept bitterly; but first Mrs. Despard, and then the Colonel, reproached her with her weakness. Mr. and Mrs. Despard bore up with great firmness, even at the parting; and when she got into a coach, as it drove off, she waved her handkerchief out of the window. The other prisoners bore their fate with equal hardihood, but conducted themselves with less solemnity than Colonel Despard. Their wives, &c. were allowed to take farewel of them on Sunday; and the scene was extremely distressing. Five of these men attended chapel on Sunday morning, a chapel within the gaol, and for its inhabitants only. Macnamara, being a Roman Catholic, did not attend; neither did Colonel Despard, who has constantly refused the assistance of a clergyman.

Mrs. Despard, after having taken leave of her husband at three o'clock on Sunday afternoon, came again about five o'clock; but it was thought adviseable to spare the Colonel the pangs of a second parting, and she was therefore not admitted into the prison. She evinced some indignation at the refusal; and expressed a strong opinion with respect to the cause for which her husband was to suffer.

After Mrs. Despard had left the Colonel on Sunday afternoon, he walked up and down his cell for some time, seemingly more agitated than he had been at the period of his taking leave of his wife. Between six and seven in the evening, he threw himself on the bed, and fell into a short sleep. At S-VOL XV,

tight o'clock he awoke, and addressed one of the officers of the prison, who was with him, in these words:" Me-they shall receive no information from me-no-not for all the gifts, the gold, and jewels, in the possession of the crown."-He then composed himself, and remained silent. The above expressions might induce some to suppose that endeavours had been made to prevail upon him to make disclosures.

After Mrs. Despard had left the Colonel, he was visited in the evening by the gentleman who had acted as his solicitor, who came to ask him where he wished to be buried? He was silent for some minutes, and at length replied, that he believed several of his countrymen were buried at Pancras; he therefore desired to be buried there.

The clergyman of the prison, Mr. Winkworth, had several times made overtures to the Colonel to commune with him; but the Colonel always declined the clergyman's offer, politely, however, thanking him. Mr. Winkworth on Sunday repeated his request, but received the same answer. Mr. Winkworth wished him to accept a book from him, which he also declined. The Colonel, we understand, said, that he was not particularly attached to any form of religion, and that his mind was entirely made up upon religious

matters.

Colonel Despard slept from three to half past four on Monday morning; the remainder of the night he passed in walking up and down his cell. The rest of the prisoners slept about two hours.

At five St. George's bell tolled, and continued tolling for about an hour. At half past six the prison bell rang, the signal for the unlocking of the cells. Mr. Winkworth, the clergyman, and Mr. Griffith, the Roman Catholic priest, the same gentleman who attended Quigley when he was executed, came to the prison, and were immediately admitted to the prisoners.

At seven o'clock five of them, Broughton, Francis, Graham, Wood, and Wrattan, went into the Chapel; Colonel Despard remained in his cell, and Macnamara praying in his cell with the Roman Catholic priest. The five prisoners conducted themselves with much decorum in the Chapel. They attended to the prayers with great earnestness, but at the same time without seeming to lose that firmness which they had displayed since their trial. The sacrament was then administered to them.

The service in the Chapel lasted three quarters of an hour. Before it was over Colonel Despard and Macnamara were brought down from their cells.Their irons were knocked off, and their arms and hands bound with ropes. De pard walked up and down before the Chapel door, but did not enter the Chapel. Macnamara walked about in earnest conversation with the Roman Catholic priest, and with a book in his hand.

After the five had received the sacrament, they were brought out of the Chapel, and their irons were knocked off. The executioner then tied their arms and hande, in the same manner as he had before bound Colonel Despard and Macnamara.

Notice was then given to the Sheriff that they were ready. Colonel Despard, who stood the first, retired behind, and motioned to Francis, who was making way for him, to go before him. The hurdle had been previously prepared in the outer court-yard. Macnamara and Graham were first put into the