Transcription
ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE, Westminster-Bridge.—The Inquisition; or, The Maid of Portugal.—A new spectacle, under the above name, was presented (for the first time) at this Theatre, last night; and as few pieces ever met with a more flattering and gracious reception, the following Sketch of the Piece, the production of Mr. Upton, may not prove unacceptable to our readers:--Boccani, a Portuguese Nobleman, having promised the hand of his daughter, Evadne, in marriage to Harold, a young soldier in the service of the Queen, thinks proper to revoke his consent, in favour of Julius, Leonard, and Sebastian, three young Portuguese of rank and fortune, who severally pay their addresses to her; the consequence of which is, a determination, on the part of Evadne, to give her hand only to Harold, the preserver of her life, and first love.—Boccani, crossed in his wishes, imprisons Evadne and her mother (Drusilla) in a dungeon attached to the palace, from whence they are happily relieved through the humanity of an old servant, Balthaser.—This incident, however, only leads to a train of others, increasing in their importance, and equally interesting in their nature.—Evadne, the lovely and courageous Evadne, braves every danger in the cause of Harold, and not only, by her heroism, proves the preserver, in turn, of his life, but accomplishes the death of two of his enemies, Leonard and Sebastian.—In short, it is scarcely possible to give an adequate idea of the merits and pathetic interest of the spectacle; let it suffice to say, that Mrs. Parker never shone to more advantage than in the character of Evadne; and never was a piece, taken all in all, more likely to become one of the Public’s greatest favourites, than the spectacle of The Inquisition, or The Maid of Portugal.
