Strictures On Public Amusements.

Carlos , on her marriage , had quitted Messina , but returns to revenge her supposed . dealh on his rival . —An interview between them occurs , but he . is prevented from executing his purpose by the intervention of Bernardo , tlie sworncreature of the Count . Carlos and his friend Hilario ( the lover of Julia ' s sister , Constantia ) procure admittance into , the Castle by means of a subterraneous pass , where , from the engraved characters of a broken shield , they discover Julia had been there

con-¦ Jined , and , imagining her murdered , are determined to searcrffor her remains . On Carlos ' s arrival , jealousy induces the Count to ^ revenge his insulted love , by attempting the death of Julia , to the consummation of which he is urged by Bernardo ' s information of strangers having found their way into the Castle ; but Carlos arrives in time to save Julia from the dagger of Montoni , who flies . — . Hilario having secured Bernardo , to avoid an accusation from the Count of Julia ' s infidelity , which her father ' s partiality for him might credit , she is entrusted to the care of Hilarioto convey her to Fractioso ' s houseCarlos

deter-, , mining to pursue Montoni . The Count meanwhile flies to Fractioso's , and imposes on him with a tale of Carlos' having invented the story of 'Julia's funeral , -and his partiality for her inducing him to accede to a voluntary confinement in the Castle , and prevails on him to provide a guard to apprehend them . Julia and Hilario are seized , and the latter is condemned by Fractioso to be a galley-slave , Bernardo

prevaricating , and accusing them of murdering Montoni . Hilario , by Montauban ' s interest , being released on condition of becoming a soldier , learns from Cloddy that there -is a quarrel between Fractioso . and the Count , and the former ' s determination of quitting Messina , with , his daughter Julia , clandestinely . Hilario contrives to lock Fractioso in a sentrybox , and with Julia and the old magistrate's moveables sets sail in the vessel prepared by Fractioso . The Count , fearful of Bernardo's impeaching him , attempts his death , but

fails , and flies the country . Bernardo , irritated , proclaims his infamy , and Fractioso , released from his confinement , hires a vessel to follow the fugitives . Carlos , in consequence of a letter from Julia , which her father compels her to write , intimating her resolution never to see him , quits Messina , and meets the Count—they fight , and Carlos is left for dead . A fisherman gives him an asylum in his cottage , and distracted with the idea of Julia ' s supposed falsehood , he engraves , as he slowly recovers , his epitaph , on a decayed monument by the sea-sideintimating his affection for Julia to

, the last . —She with Hilario arrive at the spot , and while Carlos ancLhis servant Valoury are within ear-shot among the ruins , pathetically bemoans his loss , and she avows her continued affection . An explanation between the lovers takes place : Fractioso follows , and , convinced by Bernardo of the Count ' s villainy , informs them of his being married to a wife then living , previous to his being wedded to Julia—gives his consent to the union of Carlos with Julia , and bestows the hand of Constantia on Hilario . _ .

The plot is avowedly taken from Mrs . Radcliffe ' s Sicilian Romance , with such variations and addenda as are more immediately calculated for the modern Stage . Thus , as the Prologue promised , we have Tragedy , Comedy , and Pantomime , all struggling in the same scene , for the production of EFFECT . Criticism is weary of complaining against that ridiculous melange ivhich composes most of the Dramas of the present day . It is now become nearly obligatory . on an author to sacrifice his oxon taste to that of the Public—they like incongruitiesand of course they must have them—if is the false taste of the ageand

, , therefore must be gratified . In adaptation to that taste is the Mysteries of the Castle written ; there are alternately scenes of terror , levity , and farce , with occasionally a Song and Chorus , to make the compound complete . Those who have read the delightful Romances of Mrs . P _ adcliffe , need not be reminded of the ingenuity with which her incidents are blended , and the strong interest her descriptions excite . A recital of adventure ; , where the fancy of the reader is in aid ol" the grand purpose of interest , will perhaps more readily es-