VINING, from the Haymarket, made his first appearance at' the
Adelphi on Monday, as King Edward the Fourth, in a new comic bur- beta called The King's Command ; the story of which is as follows. Lord Berkeley having been commissioned by the King to visit the young widowed Countess of Pembroke, for the purpose of ascertaining if the fame of her wit and beauty was well-founded, falls in love with the lady ; and, to insure the prize for himself, disparages her to the King. The King hearing of the Earl's intended marriage, surprises him with a visit ; and the Earl, to carry on his deception, presents the Countess's waiting-maid as his bride elect—the Countess assuming the • character of the abigail. The King, of course, discovers the trick ; and, to punish both parties, commands the marriage to take place imme- diately : but the mesalliance is averted by timely confession and an appeal to the King's clemency. The fun of the piece consists in the em- barrassment and rusticity of the pretendedCountess, which Mrs. KEELEY humoured capitally ; and in the uncouth satisfaction of WILK [Nsox as the Gardener, when he finds he is to marry the Countess : but it was hardly sufficient to overcome the improbability of the incident. Miss Ciareono played the Countess very properly, but she looked much more picturesque in the dress of her waiting-maid. ViNrarc was cer- tainly not "every inch a king," by a good many. The dresses were handsome ; and the turning-up of the points of the boots showed an attention to propriety of costume in one respect at least. " A new grand romantic burletta" is announced for Monday.
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