6292 
Moment attacked the revolters. Peter 
Jeaves the hall, in order to reduce them to 
obedience. ; 
A& V. Gleb ff now appears at the 
head of tliofe Judges who are to fit in 
jodgment on Alexis. The Emperor had 
conferred on him the dignity of patriarch, 
of which he was ambitious, but which he 
Gid not expect. This new favour had 
produced a fudden change in his ideas and 
way of thinking, and it was he who had 
caufed Eudoxia to be put to death, that 
fhe might not betray him. In the mean 
time the benigeant Catharine repairs to 
the Prefident, and being moved by a gene- 
rous fentiment of compaffion for her fen- 
in jaw, wifhes him alfo to intercede for 
the life of Alexis. He accordingly pro- 
mifes to exert himfelf im behalf of the 
yourg Prince, but not with any defign of 
being faithtul to his engagement, as it was _ 
maotfeftly his intereft that the hei appa- 
rent fhould perifh. 
Immediately after this, Orloff, in dif- 
guife, brings him a letter from the Czar 
to Menzikoff, which he had juft intercept- 
ed, and in which Peter accufes the Patri- 
arch of being the eriginal inftigator of all 
the crimes committed by hision: This 
incident onee more changes the plans of 
Gleboff, whofe fafety can be alone achiev- 
ed by the death of the Czar. 
In the mean time, the Council which 
had been charged wi:h expediting the con- 
demnation of Alexis, produces his fen. 
tence. On this, Gleboff throws off the 
mafk, raifes the ftandard of revolt againft 
his fovereign, and even lies in wait on 
purpofe to murder him as he enters the 
palace. On the other hand, a Boyard 
arms the hand of Alexis with a tword 
tinged in the blood of his mother, which 
this Prineefs had fent him in her dying 
moments : this is deftined by Alexis fer 
the defradction of his father. 
At this very moment the Monarch him- 
felf advances in the datk, on which Alexis 
brandifbes the fatal initrument ; but he is 
arrefted, and Peter not only fubferibes the 
order for his death, hut commands him to 
be executed immediately. Catharine now 
advances te fupphieate once more for the 
hife of the yousg Prince ; but Menzikoffde- 
clares that it is too lare, Alexis having al- 
ready fuffered according to his fentence. 
_ Retrofpec? of French Literature. —Dramea. 
throughout the remainder of the tragedy. 
Peter the Great, too, does not always ap= 
pear ftrictly in character; and the audience 
were fo difcontented at fome parts, that 
they could not refrain from hifiing. 
‘6 Moliére avec fes Amis ; ov, la Soi- 
rée d’Auteuil.”” — Moliere with his 
Friends ; or; an Evening at Auteuil; a 
Comedy, in One Act, in Verfe, by M. 
ANDRIEUX. 
Asa French audience will not be fatis- 
fied with humour, unlefs love alfo be in- 
troduced at the fame time, M. Andrieux, 
after diverting them with the repartees of 
Moliere and his friends, has introduced 
a fentimental quarrel, followed by a re- 
conciliation, between the principal cha» 
racter and Mademoifelle Bejart. 
«© Un petit Menfonge.”’— Phe Fib. 
This is a litile after-piece, played 
with fome fuccefs at the French Theatre, 
rue de Loxwvois, the humour of which turns. 
entirely on the avarice of a parent, whois 
completely gulled in confequence of her 
love of gold. . 
Young Derval, poor. but amiable, is 
in love with a lady, whofe mother, Ma- 
dame Dalville, is extremely rich, But wilk 
hear of no fuitor who is not in poffeffion - 
of great wealth. : 
A friend of Derval’s, well apprifed of 
this peculiarity, determines to play off a 
ftratagem exprefsly direéted againft the 
ruling paffion of the old lady. A houfe 
is accordingly taken for the lever, direct- 
ly oppofite that of his miftrefs; rumours 
are fpread abroad relative to his immenfe 
wealth ; and porters are feen entering his 
hall daily, loaded with bags, which are 
fuppofed to be full of money. The old 
lady of her own accord fwallows the bait 
placed for her avarice, difcharges a leis 
opulent lover, and makes an offer not only 
of her daughter, but of a portion of fifty 
thoufend crowns along with her. 
Deival, however, was too ingeouous ta 
receive the money, or continue the impo- 
fi'ion. He, therefore, after difcloiing the 
whole affair, reflores the portion; and 
Madame Dalviile is fo much pleafed with 
his generofity, that fhe immediately pre- 
fenis him with the hand of that daughter, 
whofe heart he had before ébtained. 
“© Les Deux Méres.”°—The Two Mo- 
thers. 
Gleb-ff and Orioff are alfo fent to the fcaf-"“%._In this litt!e bluette, as it is called in 
- foid, where they expiate their treafons. 
This play has experienced ali the feve- 
rity of criticiim. The three fir ats, 
and part of the fourth, are confidered as 
ablo ut-ly devoid of aétion, while many of 
the ¢vents are crowded on each cther 
France, the author prefents two mothers 
to the audience ; one fu:fillin 
conjugal and maternal duties ; the other 
frivolous, d fipated, occupied with her 
own pleafures, and entirely confiding the 
care of her- children to mercenary hands. 
This 
all the 
