Four foldiers, drawing a triumphal car Soldiers. Banner. Dwarf. Giant. Six virgins chained. filver net. Hymen. Piping fawns. Band of Cupids drawing an altar, flame burning, Cupids hovering over it, and others feeding doves below. Troop of Arcadian thepherds, drawing the car of Cymon and Sylvia. The characters of the drama and chorus. Many of the characters are taken from fir Philip Sydney's Arcadia, in which the fcene of the piece is laid; and the dreffes of the knights, armour, &c. are all taken from the drawings and defcriptions of the beft antiquarians. The additional mufic by Mr. Shaw and Storace has much merit; particularly the overture, which is bold and impreffive. On Wednesday a tragedy called Hu NIADES, was performed, for the first time, in the fame theatre.. The incidents of this play are supposed to have taken place at the celebrated fiege of Belgrade, in the beginning of the fifteenth century, by Mahomet the second. Mahomet, on the point of reducing Belgrade, propofes to retire, on obtaining the hand of Agmunda, fifter to the minor king of Hungary, and who was fecretly married to a popular general, the fon of the regent. This creates an infurmountable difficulty, even against the intreaties and menaces of the regency and people. Mahomet, in a fuccefsful effort, makes Agmunda prisoner; and finding her inflexibly attached to the general, diffuses a report of his death, impofes on the princefs, and obtains her hand. On being called to the field, he orders her to be guarded, and on any finifter accident to himfelf, to be poifoned.-Her fecret and favourite husband is victorious; but the is poifoned, according to the orders of Mahomet, and dies as the Hungarian general returns to her rescue.. Mifs Mifs Brand of Norwich is the author of this play, to which fhe wrote a prologue and epilogue, and in which the performed the principal part. It would be cruel to criticife fuch an undertaking in detail. We shall only fay, in general, that the play discovers marks of genius which experience may lead to the temple of Fame; as it will furnish her with that judgment and dramatic knowledge in which she is certainly defective. CONTINENTAL AFFAIRS in GENERAL. ITALY. Rome, Dec. 1. PRINCE Auguftus, fifth fon of his Britannic majefty, has been received by his holiness with the moft diftinguished marks of attention and respect. Yesterday, cardinal de Bernis informed his royal highnefs, that by exprefs defire of the holy father, apartments were ordered to be had in readiness for him in the Vatican; and a fuite of fuperb rooms were accordingly prepared. But his royal highnefs politely refufed the hofpitable compliment, alleging, as a reason, the neceffity he was under of making Rome his refidence for a very fhort duration. His royal highnefs received an addrefs, on Tuesday laft, from the Dominican friars, congratulating him upon his ar rival in Romie. It was accompanied by an elegant Latin oration, pronounced by father Le Pole, to which his royal highnefs returned a polite answer in the fame language. Several other religious orders have alfo addreffed his royal highness, each of whom, as their feveral fentiments dictated, added to their complimentary congratulations alternate allufions to the political fituations of Great Britain and France at this prefent juncture. His royal highness is the first Proteftant prince who has been offered, by any pope, apartments in the apoftolic palace; or who has received, upon arriving in Rome, public congratulations from the clergy. Venice, Dec. 10. Intelligence has been received here from Zante, that, on the 2d ultimo, an earthquake happened there, which demolished many houfes and public buildings; that above fixty perfons had perished in the ruins; and alfo that every village throughout the ifland had fuffered much upon that occasion. Lond. Gazette. PORTUGAL. Lifban, Dec. 1. On Sunday night, the 27th ult. we had an extraordinary earthquake. The first thock was feft about twenty minutes after cleven, and confifted of five or fix ftrong vibrations, fo clofely following each other, that they could fcarce be diftinguished. After a paafe of nar five minutes, one very violent undulatory motion that hook the whole houfe fucceeded, attended by a loud and tremendous crash, which, after a rust ling nolfe and feveral hiffes, like those we might imagine to proceed from a great mafs of flaming iron fuddenly quenched in cold water, went off with the report of a cannon. Meantime the streets were crowded with the multitudes flying from their houses, whofe chimnies were falling about their ears. The bells of St. Roche tumbled in all directions, and tolled in the most horrible founds. After the firft fright had a little abated, the churches were opened and foon filled with multitudes, to deprecate the mischiefs of 1755, and implore the divine mercy. Between fix and feven, her majefty, with her household, fet out for Belem, followed by almost every perfon of quality, who retired to fome diftance. So lafting was the confternation, that no bufinefs was done at the Exchange, the Cuftom-house, or quays. The theatres were fhut, and all public diverfions forbidden till further orders.Prayers were made three times a day in the churches. SWEDEN. M. Stockholm, Dec. 13. The king has at length accepted the notification which M. Gauffin was commiffioned to make him, on the part of his most christian majefty, of his acceptance of the new conititution. That minifter had his baggage all ready, and was on the point of departing, when his Swedish majesty's determination was communicated to him: he, in confequence, waited on the king, and again prefented the difpatches; and his majefty opened the packet, containing the acceptation of Lewis XVI. Sougneul, therefore, who has been here a long time in expectation of his Swedish majefty's anfwer, is now ready to depart with it directly it is given. No motive is affigned for this change in the conduct of the king, unless it is owing (as we are told it is) to the emprefs of Ruffia having accepted alfo the notification in queftion; accounts of which are actually faid to have been received from Petersburgh, whence M. de St. Prieft arrived here yesterday, by the route of Warsaw, Berlin, Drefden, and Copenhagen. A HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. JANUARY 2. DREADFUL accident happened, a fhort time ago, at Clermont Ferrand, a town in France. A number of young perfons were collected together for a private theatrical. They had chofen for their theatre a large room in a ruinous house, occupied by a peafant. Having distributed a great number of tickets, the room was much crowded. Juft at the moment that the representation began, the joifts gave way, and the whole company, actors and fpectators, fell together, 18 feet, into a cellar. Notwithstanding immediate affiftance was given, 36 of the unfortunate people died on the fpot; of those who escaped alive, 57 had broken limbs, or were badly wounded; and the reft were only inconfiderably bruised. JANUARY 3. The following hint, of importance to owners and occupiers of lands, is given by Mr. Leyburn, jun. of Hunmanby. This gentleman fays, that in order to prevent manure firking too deep in low and fpringy meadow or pasture land, a fufficient quantity of the ftrongest lime that can be procured fhould be laid on it; that he has ufed Knottingley lime with great fuccefs; the quantity not lefs than fix chaldrons to a ftatute acre, to be laid on the land in the winter feafon. In 12 or 15 months after, by putting a fpade into the ground, it will be found that the lime will be formed into a folid body, which will prevent manure finking any lower than the lime, and confequently the lands will receive benefit fo long as the manure will laft. The lime hould be laid in heaps till it be very wet, before it be put on the land. JANUARY 4. A donation of 3000l. from an unknown hand is tranfmitted to the Middlesex hofpital, for the purpofe of eftablishing a Cancer Ward. There is no ward for that particular disorder in any hospital in Europe. Ten thousand pounds bank stock has lately been prefented to the fociety for promoting Chriftian Knowledge in the Highlands of Scotland. Ifaac Hawkins Browne, efq. M. P. announced the donation; but the name of the donor is to be ever a fecret. January 5. ceffes, went to the fourth reprefentation of Cymon, by the Drury-Lane company, at the new theatre in the Haymarket. Such was the curiofity on this occafion, that undefcribable confufion and mischief enfued, and Mr. Smith, a gentleman belonging to one of the public offices, loft. his life. The crowd had affembled at an early hour; in confequence of which, the street doors were foon opened to the lobbies. As foon as the lobby leading to the pit was full, by fome means or other the door was fhut; numbers continuing to affemble, who wished to get to the pit, fuppofed that the door had not been opened, as it was only five o'clock; when the ufual period arrived for opening, finding the door fhut, they grew exceedingly tumultuous, calling out, Open the door! open the door! or down with the house!' The advanced guard arrived about this time, foon followed by the king's guard, who attempted to make way, and drive the people from the doors, but in vain; they were dispersed from their posts; fome forced into the highway, and fome undercarriages; and, in the general confufion, feveral loft their bayonets and fide-arms. On or about fix o'clock, the pit-door was opened a fecond time; nor, till this period, would the multitude be convinced that the door had been opened before, much lefs that the houfe was full. The unfortunate Mr. Smith was injured in the first attempt to get in; at the confined entrance he fell down; when they gave way a little, the mob clofed and trampled upon him. A lady, at the fame time, had nearly fhared the fame fate; fhe was got away, but very materially injured, and feveral other perfons were much hurt. JANUARY 6. Yesterday morning, Mr. Holman, of Covent-garden theatre, ringing for his fervant, on his not appearing to the bell, they found the man, on going into his room, dead in his bed. On further examination, it appeared he had taken poi- ́ fon, as a phial, with fome remaining in it, was found by his bedfide. It feems he had been infuring for fome time paft in the Irish lottery, and had gradually parted with every thing he had, and having nothing further to hazard, thus, in despair, at lait parted with life. JANUARY 7. The Weft India merchants have voted a prefent of 500l. to Captain Bligh, of his K majesty's majesty's navy, as a compliment for fervices rendered while on the Weft India ftation. They have alfo voted a prefent of a handsome sword, value 200l. to captain Samuel Hood, of the navy, for faving, at the hazard of his own life, while on the Weft India station, the lives of three feamen, who were floating at the mercy of the waves, on a raft of timber. The captain himself left his fhip in a very high fea, attended in the boat only by his coxfwain, after an ineffectual remonftrance with the whole crew (none of whom durft venture), and with the greatest danger and difficulty picked the poor fellows up, and brought them on board. Plymouth, Jan. 6. Yesterday arrived his majesty's cutter Seaflower, lieutenant Webber, who had been fent to Falmouth to infpect into the lofs of the Brill Dutch frigate (in a heavy gale of wind) of 36 guns, and 350 men, foldiers and failors. She was quite a new fhip, and never at fea before. She was bound to Lifbon; and to proceed thence to Demaraire in South America. All the people are faved, except fix. She went on fhore between the Manacles and Falmouth. JANUARY 9. The inhabitants of Hull, with a degree of humanity and hofpitality which deferves to be recorded to their honour, entered into a fubfcription for the relief of the shipwrecked crew of the Swedish veffel Soldermandland, captain Nielfon, which were carried in there by captain Barnes. Fiftyfix pounds were collected, and applied to clothing and fuccouring thefe diftreffed foreigners. Near nine pounds were depofited for the fupport of one of them, whofe arm was fractured, and who is now in the infirmary there. Captain Nielson and his crew (the above man excepted) are returned to their native country, and, during their stay at Hull, expreffed their warmeft gratitude for the feasonable relief afforded them by their humane benefactors. JANUARY 10. An enormous globular stone was laft week difcovered in the body of a cartmare, belonging to Bezaliel Angier, efq. of Colchester, which had died fuddenly; it being two feet in circumference, and as perfectly spherical, as if turned in a lathe; the fuperficies was smooth and hard, but being penetrated, lefs hard within; its weight is exactly 14lb. avoirdupois; and thefe particulars have been sworn to before a magiftrate. JANUARY 11. The late Mr. Bishopp (See Page 77), died poffeffed of more than 100,000l. He has left the great bulk of his fortune to his natural fon, a very fine youth of 14 years of age; and to his legitimate fon, an infant, he has left but 2000l. He has left the fame annuity of 200l. to Mrs. Bishopp, his widow, and to the lady who lived with him for fo many years. He has left his fortune in remainder with equal fingularity. It firft goes to his natural fon-then to his legitimate fon-the to his natural daughters-then to his brothers in order-and failing all thofe, to fir Cecil Bishopp. JANUARY 14. This day, James M'Manus was put to the bar, and judgment being demanded on the conviction of Tuesday last for a violent affault and falfe imprisonment of Mrs. Ann Trunkett, Mr. Mainwaring, the chairman, faid, Prifoner, you stand indicted for a violent affault upon Mrs. Ann Trunkett, and alfo for falfely imprifoning her, under pretence of fearching her for counterfeit filver. As a peaceofficer, you ought to have known that you acted illegally; but, independent of this circumftance, the manner in which it was conducted, was cruel and ferocious in the highest degree. This unprotected woman you forced into a back room, and tore her clothes from her, even to her linen. It is one of the firft duties of a peaceofficer to protect the unoffending fubjec from violence; but here you were the author of that violence yourself.—In_order to deter bafe-minded perfons from fuch fhocking enormities, the bench have determined to make you an example; you are therefore to fuffer one year's imprisonment in New-prifon, and to pay a fine of 6s. 8d. to the king.'-Mr. Mainwaring called Mr. Newport: This man is not to be a turnkey, a waiter, or affistant-keeper. He is to be a clofe prifoner; and to have no other than the gaol allowance; and re member that this order be obeyed." JANUARY 16. 6 On Saturday morning, between one and two two o'clock, a dreadful fire broke out at the Pantheon in Oxford street; but it was a little after twelve, when Mr. Tempie, the fecretary to the opera undertaking, perceived a fmell, which induced him to fufpect fome fire about the premises, and to order the watchman, who was conftantly stationed in them during the night, to examine the whole. No difcovery refulted from this fearch, which was carried into every apartment of the house, except that occupied by the painters in the day-time, who had taken the key of it with them. Mr. Tempie and his family, the watchman, and a porter, were the only inhabitants of the building. Soon after one, the smell having continued to increase, another furvey commenced, and a room adjoining to that allotted to the painters was fomewhat injured by the fire, which had then nearly deftroyed the former apartment, and was become fo furious, that these persons were able to do little elfe than give the alarm and make their escape. The flames foon got to a great height, illuminating all the western parts of the metropolis, and were not much checked by what water the engines, when they arrived, between two and three, could throw in upon them. A quantity of wood-work was on the infide of the building, and in that part used as an opera-house, the whole was on fire at once, the current of air and of flame being without the obftruction ufually given by floors and cielings. The walls of the building alfo, which, by their thickness, prevented the flames from spreading to the adjoining houses, by their height made it difficult to project water over them, and the edifice, notwithstanding the readiness of the firemen, was nearly abandoned to the moft deftructive of elements. At length, between four and five o'clock, the roof, which was of wood and flate, fell in, and the immenfe column of flame arifing then to a great height, and continuing for feveral minutes, was a moft dreadful and fublime object. From this time it was apparent, that all the internal part of the building must be entirely loft, and that the fecurity of thofe adjoining muft depend chiefly upon the ftrength of the party walls. It is the beft proof that can be offered of the excellence of the plan which provided thefe walls, that, though the Pantheon was intirely furrounded by houses, not one of them has fuffered damage beyond the breaking of a window, or a tile by the heat. The fire continued to rage till between fix and feven, and was not intirely extinguished at twelve o'clock, on Saturday. The damage confifts in the destruction of the elegant theatre raised for the performance of operas; of all of the apartments and furniture of the building; of the stock of musical inftruments, fome of them of great value; of the copied mufic; of the wardrobe, fcenery, and stage apparatus. The walls of the original building are, perhaps, alfo too much injured to permit the renewal of any interior erection. What is faved, confifts in the books belonging to the treasury of the house, and in fome few articles from the cotillion-room. The original building, it is known, coft 60,000l. of which only 10,000l. was infured, viz. in the Westminster office; and, on the property 5000l. was infured in the Phoenix. Happily no lives were loft, either by the fire, or by the falling of the dome.; but the firemen, fifteen or twenty in number, had left the cotillion-room only ten minutes before the falling of the floor. JANUARY 18. This being the day kept as the anniversary of her majesty's birth-day, there was a very numerous and splendid court at St. James'. JANUARY 21. The neceffary documents have arrived from Rome, appointing Dr, Gerrard Tearnan, to be Roman Catholic archbishop of Cafhel, in the room of the late right rev. Dr. James Butler, deceased. JANUARY 25. Yefterday came on, in the court of king's bench, a trial at bar, on an ejectment brought by Mr. Everett, the plaintiff, (who claimed to be the heir at law of Mrs. Elizabeth Braham) to recover an estate of confiderable value. Mr. Mingay, counsel for the plaintiff, faid, that his client was admitted by the counfel on the other fide to be the heir at law of the deceafed Mrs. Elizabeth Braham; and, in that character, he claimed the eftate in queftion. In oppofition to his title, a will, alleged to have been duly executed by Mrs. Braham, in favour of the defendant, was fet up. The question for the opinion of the court would be, Whether this was a valid will?' or, in other words, Whether it was executed by Mrs. Elizabeth Braham, at the time he was of a fane niind? or whether, if the were of a fane mind, it was made under duress or improper influence.' This caufe, he said, had been tried in Suffolk, but in confequence of the riots and outrages committed during the trial, it had |