tt#t OD 4ratrts.
Two pieces, that within the last eight days have been brought before the notice of the public illustrate in a striking manner the change that takes place in popular feeling with regard to the great social questions, that, at different epochs, have agitated mankind.
The first of these is Richard Cumberland's Wheel of Fortirne ; a play, which, famous as it was in the days of John Kemble, has soiong been alienated from the boards, that in all probability it was entirely new to every individual member of the crowded audience, who on Saturday night, witnessed its revival at Sadler's Wells Theatre. -.The principal character in this really interesting work is a rnisanthrdpe, soured by a misplaced affection in eatly life, who suddenly called from his hermitage by an unexpected accession of fortune, and finding that it is in his power to crush the author of his unhappiness' pursues More Christian course of preferring mercy to revenge. Like All stagesmiamithrepes, Penruddock,—who, by the way, is very sensibl, acted by Mr.'Phelpe,:— is an oracle of virtue placed in the midst of A sophisticated a y, von which he can look down from his high emi ce, with calm di eprofal. While he was in his almost inaccessible citage, goodness floe' ,e through the very atmosphere like a Latin adjective in the neuter 'der, 'with-
out a single human substantive to it. The world aties, on the other hand, was radically and irredednably bad ; and e all room fitted
tiiii wo_, in conformity with the taste of e day, was a . abomination. -Who cannot see in this play, NV ./C11 WCIS first pre 4 in 1795, the 'belief inculcated in the first ins ' ce by J. J. Ron t all conyen- tional society was in a rottenatge, andtinit the y Isupiry, left for vir-
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tut! waa'n sigh st* some nrktliieat Vast,' or OW, itirpoesitsle flatnre- in which the luxuriete,Illte eleganeicsa and even the 'ciin'tienienheta of eiVillied life had been, or would beconns unknown ? Whio-ntherfpicee; a iir,vuhty in the literal sense of the wind, enti'lled the Tide of Moe, and brought out at the liarnarket en..110itday,,, while witten .With- an .equally- did:Oldie intenticin, -is, as far as -draniaticntribt- ill kit is ,eoneernetionidtvthtrig.whieh, the ir A teir nt4%,rtitne.is not. The eld play is an exceedingly simple idea.; so skilfully and -clearly weiked, out that the interest is heightened . 4S the story pryers-saes, -while all .ihreleal cp.edients for relief are religiotisly shunned. Oil the contrait,' tlielittsie plass likewise simple in idea, is so inartiticially elaborated that in-tiler:4k is . never. awakened . at all, and a few farcical incidents, unebegenialtot.he general tone of the Work, are amOng. the chief eausc.i of its etiOsese. However, the doctrine which the author would. inculeato is as popular, in 1853 as the old thews.. of world-shunning virtue was, in 1;95. .t.),or pre7 sent idol is not niimitive, unsophisticated humanity, but " ppgre,ss:.r wii,t.h.,44 its addition to..inaterial comforts, snd we shouldhe ittellueil, to look ll'poll one of the old mural saints of tho Itousa.,:,11.-s0Mol,. it .s too 4stknetive, but as top - conservative. When, with a yiew. Se obtaiosilie stiffrages an seised pnblie, we bring the agricultural and nntunfaetniAng interests in collision, we intend the cotton-will, to get the bettor 04*:_the pleugheeliares awl this soadto power .is perfectly underatoed hy dig asiger of Vas Tide of 'tote.. ,A,stiffeneeked old country gentleman elanninalOs all manufacturers till dassteaeltinso; of adversity induce him to bestowttlio hand of his daughter upon a manufacturer's son. Lured by the orthodoxy of the mm-al thus' 'coi,Vtiyed,, the andienee :titer:Wok the net:d1e:1a ODRA y A of the teaching, anet the want 'of. Aramaic '" indiviiihnlity.S 'in the successively presented: Hence, with the addition Of 4 spiee'ef'..prae0.
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eal fun, the piece is perfectly surce,sful. . .. I. 1 The ,Tre/oto Jr(fe, coinpressed according to modern Miagc.: intiathrep acts, will be rerivtd thiS evening (Sattmday) at the Princese'S ThentreSia
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P.1.111SIAN THEATRI CALS.,
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. The old story of Here and, Leander has been .fashiened into a (lie-act
. . . drania,iu verse by al. Lcui4 ilati,b,m,e, who bcs but little t.ltCred the , , . .. „ traditional incidents. .
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