up, and the appointments
excellent. The play was, "The Schoolfellows,"--a beautiful little drama,
by Douglas Jerrold, I believe; and it was admirably cast. Mr. Murray as
Tom Drops--a good-hearted, liquor-loving _vaut-rien_--was inimitable. He
was waiter and hostler to a village inn; and the scene in which he, upon
wine being called for by a customer, produces, condemns, and consumes, a
bottle of the "_black seal_" was the perfection of acting, the different
phases of ebriety were well portrayed, and in the course of the play,
additional red patches appeared upon his face, to show the effects of
his habits.

Box and Cox was the after-piece; and Mr. Clavering as _Mrs._ Bouncer,
was the very beau-ideal of a landlady, "fair, fat, and forty." The
prologue was excellent, and well delivered, and the amateur company had
just reason to be proud of their performance.

Having been favored with a copy of the opening address, I transcribe it.
Of course, it loses much from the effect given by its composer in its
delivery.

"Fair ladies, and kind friends, who deign to smile
On our attempt an hour to beguile,
I'm hither by the actors sent, to pray
A gentle judgment on a first Essay.
They bid me state, their novel situation
Has set their hearts in such strange perturbation,
They dare not raise the curtain till they've pleaded
First, for the pardon will be so much needed.
I'm shocked to say, it sounds so of the oddest,
Our ladies want much practice to look modest;
The rough, strong voice, ill suits with feelings tender,
And 'tis such work to make their waists look slender!
As for the men, the case is little better;
Some, of the dialogue scarce know a letter:
All unacquainted with each classic rule,
We feel we've need enough to go to school;
And trembling stand, afraid to come before ye,
And of the Schoolfellows to tell the story.
Yet need this be? I see no critic here;
No surly newspaper have we to fear;
Our scenery may be bad, but this is certain,
Bright decorations are before the curtain,
Under whose influence, you may well believe,
We do not sigh for Stanfield, grieve for Grieve!
Yet not too far to carry innovation,
And to comply with settled regulation,
Prompter we have, our memories to ease;
But our best prompter is, the wish to please.
Then kindly say, to stumblers in their part,
What they have _got_,