ART. 10. POETRY.

On receiving from a Lady a flower of the Ab- Who fell at the battle of Corunna in Spain, in

ART. 11. THESPIAN REGISTER.

The base was very much crowded We thos, or a finder strains of cloquence. It ranks

We are

"Even I did think her chaste,

the scene. There should be verisimilitude in please. He has a very good voice, his size the looks of an actor, in his figure and muscu- and figure are advantageous, his ideas of lar strength, as well as propriety in his cos character are frequently correct, and we tume,correctness in his readings, or adaptation think it is in his power to rank so respectably, in his voice and gesture. There are doubt as an actor, that when his audience should be less many men, tall fellows of their hands," in a good-natured mood, they would scarcewho could read with perfect accuracy of ly think of the absence of a greater. Mr. emphasis what is put down for Juliet Capulet, Jones was very respectable in old Norval. for instance, and enter thoroughly into her He related his story to Lady Randolph with feelings, but with what shadow of propriety a good deal of feeling and propriety of tone or hope of success could they undertake to and emphasis. Measuring Mr. J. by the standpersonate her on the stage? The attempt ard of his own abilities as an actor, he fails would be obviously most preposterous. And most we think in gesture, which is too genewhere is the propriety of a delicate female, rally wanting in ease and freedom, and seems small even for her sex, totally deficient in not enough the spontaneous expression of size and vigour of limb, and in fulness, ener- feeling. We have seen Mr. Pritchard play gy and masculine melody of voice, attempt far better than he did in Glenalvon. ing to personate a young man of heroic sta- willing to make every allowance to Mr. P. ture, and majesty of mien as well as of un- on account of his having much to do, but conquerable valour, whose frame, if it have still, though this may prevent that profound not become as compacted and capable of toil study of his character, which is doubtless neand privation as it may, in maturer years, cessary to great success, yet we do not think has, nevertheless, attained its complete sta- it a sufficient excuse for that coldness and ture, and exhibits the full grown vigour of apathy, which too often renders Mr. P's actan Ahleta moving to the contest? If the ing tame and tedious. In Glenalvon Mr. P. story had brought young Norval before us, was not ardent enough in his villany, his at the age of 15, when his imagination be- mind did not seem to be active and plotting gan to kindle at the recitals of the hermit, enough to suit the catastrophe of the play, or and his soul pan to break from obscurity, the general character be took upon him; and and prove his parentage by deeds, we think when he said of Lady Randolph, we should have been completely satisfied with Mrs. B. for his representative. Instead Whose charity exceeds not. Precious sex, of the strength that could enable her "to play her weaponlike a tongue of flame," and an arm to shelter the Grampian vales, and of "four armed assailants" strike to the earth, "from which they never rose again the fiercest two," while the other two sought safe ty in flight, she could scarcely unsheath her sword, and we regretted that Mrs B. should undertake the part at all. We are aware that this has beer the favourite character of stripling performers, and that the master Bettys and master Paynes, have all figured away in Young Norval; but they could none of them play the part. One of them we have seen, and in regard to the other, Mrs. Inchbald's opinion satisfies us that he could not do it any justice, while Cumberland's opinion of his general powers, however it might allow him some talents as a boy, is, with us, sufficient authority that he was most extravagant ly overrated. When Mrs. B. puts off her bonnet and her slipper for the hat and boot of Myrtillo ve are delighted, but the helmet and the shield and the claymore we would advise her to decline. Mr. Robertson in Friday Evening, June 27. Lord Randolph we cannot praise, though we The Rivals; or a Trip to Bath-The Peasant will not entirely condemn him. If he could, Boy, or Assassin Discovered. "The Rivals" has been preferred by some by any imaginable means or motives, be induced to quit his monotony and drawl, and to "The School for Scandal;" but though speak some of his sentences quicker than this be exaggerated praise, yet the piece is others, and trust himself occasionally to a full of vivacity and wit; is strongly marked natural manner, we are persuaded he might by a vigilant and nice observation of what

Whose deeds lascivious pass Glenalvon's thoughts! instead of manifesting a diabolical satisfaction at finding, as he supposed, the guilt of Lady Randolph, and chuckling at the last proof of depravity in the sex. he said it with a phlegm and a mere recitation tone, that spoiled the whole effort of a passage that gives a deeper insight into Glenalvon's character than any other single passage in the tragedy

Mrs. Groshon's Lady Randolph was more than commonly well for her, though she can never hope to excel, and Miss Dellinger's Anna was not so bad as it might have been.

In the entertainment, so called, Mr. Carpender, as Harlequin, made a very good leap through the barrel of fire, but the Harlequinade, on the whole, was very stupid. The only thing that can redeem a performance of this kind is the "wonderful of bodily activity," of which.there was very little this evening.

L.

Thespian Register.

ward, and who then repents and reforms with better grace or more amiable contrition than Mrs. Darley. Her Lady Elizabeth Freelove, Lydia Languish, Mrs. Ferment, and characters of this turn, are good enough.

iridiculous in sentiment and conduct; and, Languish was very spirited and very just. In Aug. in respect of character and incident, is pure this kind of character we must concede to Comedy Mr. Barues was certainly animated, Mrs. Darley high praise and, on the whole, tolerably correct in his lady of Thespian fame, who is more interestapprehension and representation of the self-ingly and provokingly capricious and way. We know of no willed arbitrary, irascible, Sir Anthony Ab solute, though, we think, he indulged him self too much in grimace, (as he often does) to suit the respectability of the character, which, notwithstanding its many eccentricities and absurdities, is not that of a buffoon Mr. Darley's Sir Lucius O'Trigger was passa- teresting in the plot, is worked up with con The melo drama of the Peasant Boy is inble, but could not have been adequate to the siderable skill is moral in its effect ;and Ms. author's conception of his high mettled ad- Barnes and Mr. Robertson, on whom the inventurer, who was as ready to quarrel with terest of the piece depended, played well. a man for his thoughts, as for his words or actions He was such a man as Mercutio bly, particularly The songs this evening were sung respecacalls the courageous captain of compli- Mr. Barnes gave much effect. "Hard Times," to whch ments;" one who fights as you sing pricksoug-the very butcher of a silk button-a sions," though we think Mrs. Barnes' readIn the recitation of the " Ode on the Pasduellist-a duellist;" one who like Mercutio ing might have been improved, yet her action himself "will quarrel with a man for having was all grace, and her pantomime descriptive a hair more or less on his head than himself." and fine. Indeed we have not seen for many years on the boards, one who could personate the Irishman. Such a recruit is very much wanted, for many of the very finest comedies in the language have this sort of character shot through them, and cannot be enacted, simply on account of the above mentioned deficiency.

Mr. Simpson, in Capt. Absolute, was very good-very good indeed. This belongs to that class of character that suits his talents, and in which he is universally acceptable. In Faulkland, the most original and nicelydiscriminated character in the comedy, Mr. Pritchard was natural and pleasing. He re. presented well the peevish, querulous jealousy of the love-sick Faulkland, who though intelligent, accomplished, well-bred and honourable, was cursed with a nervous sensibility, that was a perpetual torment to himself and his friends.

44

L.

Speed the Plough-Mother Bunch, or HarleSaturday Evening, June28. quin and the Yellow Dwarf.

medy, (such as Miss Blendford's faling in There are some improbabilities in this colove with a plough-boy, at first sight, and Sir but still it is pleasing in the representation, Philip's making a confidaat of Bob Handy,) very pleasing. Handy and his son Bob are original and well The character of Sir Abel conceived, and though they approaca extravagance, are full of entertainment and just satire. They were well personated by Mr. Barnes and Mr. Simpson. Mr. Pritchard represented the stern, remorseful, anxious Sir Philip forcibly and with propriety; and Mr. Baldwin made a very good, plain, blunt, upright, bonourable Farmer Ashfeld. was performed by a stranger, ainounced as this gentleman were rathers tiff ard awkward, from Belfast. The manners ard action of though his gesture was occasionally very expressive and appropriate, and his conception of the character and his reading for the most part accurate and discriminating,

Henry

pid and tedious. Harlequin could not roll;
As for Harlequin, &c. it was miserably stu-
the clown had no variety or point in his
"body wit,” and the prolongation of perpetual
clumsiness, tired us out.
L.

Bob Acres, with his vanity, good-nature, credulity, animal-spirits, and valour, which can by no persuasion or example of Sir Lucius be screwed to the sticking-place," and his new style of oaths that echo the sentiment, and his hair in training," was done to the life by Mr. Hilson, who, odds judg ment, fact, animation and humour! did adequate justice to the comic conceptions of the author. Mrs. Baldwin did much credit to herself in Mrs. Malaprop, and with her dictionary words most accurately pronounced, and most ingeniously misapplied," with her absurd vanity and grotesque disappointment. Monday Evening, June 30. Adelgitha-High Life Below Stairs. contributed greatly to the entertainment of Lewis, and is much such a tragedy as might This tragedy is from the pen of M. G. the evening and the exposure of folly. Mrs. be expected from him. The names of his Groshon's Julia was tolerably good, as com- characters are familiar to history, but he has pared with her general style of acting, though we cannot allow that she was altogether the elegant, lovely, intelligent. high minded an affected Julia Melville. Mrs. Darley's Lydia

blended fact and fiction in his plot, in inex-
tricable confusion. But the principal fault
of the piece is the circumstance on which is
hinges. Adelgitha, the heroine, is daughter

of the deceased Prince of Salerno, and wife and love? The play is equally improbable of Guiscard, sovereign of Apulia. Michel and immoral. Unmarried females in the staDucas, the Greek emperor, having been tion of Adelgitha, or in any respectable grade expelled from Byzantium, by his subjects, of life, never do forfeit the immediate jewwhom his crimes had instigated to revolt, el of their souls,' nor ought they ever to be seeks refuge in the dominions of Guis suffered to believe that it is possible for them card. This brave prince espouses the cause to be the objects of illicit solicitation, much of the deposed emperor, and whilst he march- less that they can yield to it. But how fatal es forth to fight his battles, leaves him at his a delusion is it to propagate the idea, that a Court. Michel feels the humiliation be suf- woman who has been unfaithful to herself fers in receiving such favours from an infe- can be loyal to her husband, and that a rior, grows, indignant at the idea of his de- wanton who has imposed herself upon the pendence, and jealous in the extreme of the credulity and insinuated herself into the af military reputation of his benefactor. To fections of a man of honour, can, when her complete the picture of his ingratitude, and duplicity is unmasked, be still an object of to crown his baseness, he becomes enamour- forgiveness!-nay, of tenderness! ed of Adelgitha, and in Guiscard's absence attempts her virtue. She rejects his proffers with disdain, and boasts the unsullied purity of the blood of Salerno. This name recalls to Michel's mind a tale, the application of which he never knew till now. In 'Astra's wood' he had once lost his way in the darkness of the night, when suddenly a groan reached his ear; be hastened to the spot from which it proceeded, and found a knight stretched weltering in his blood, who had been stabbed by robbers. The cavalier intrusted him with the confession of a guilty deed,

A maid of noble birth By solemn vows seduced-abandoned-left To shame and anguish.And implored him to restore her letters and portrait, which he committed to him, and to assure ber of the poignancy of his remorse, &c. To make the shortest of a long story, Michel now discovers this maid to have been Adelgitha. He profits, by his information, to charge her with the fact, and compel her to give him an assignation. This is appointed, after Guiscard's return, in the chapel of St. Hilda, whither Adelgitha repairs, in the hope of dissuading him from his purpose, but find ing him resolute, she attempts to stab herself, and being defeated in this design, she plunges her weapon into the bosom of her ungene rous suitor. Another is arrested for the mur der of Michel, and condemned to death by Guiscard, when Adelgitha comes forward and avows her own guilt and the innocence of the accused, whom she acknowledges as her son by her youthful lover, George of Clermont. Guiscard is thunder-struck by the discovery, yet such is the strength of his affection that it overcomes even the dread of dishonour, and he is ready to consent to receive her again to his arms, when she charitably averts this new disgrace by terminating her existence. Who would believe, after this narrative, that Adelgitha is represented as a para gon of virtue, and that she is introduced, whilst unapprehensive of detection, in all the confidence and cheerfuluess of innocence VOL. I. NO. IV.

In regard to the performance, a few words must suffice. Mr. Pritchard's Michel Ducas was more than respectable. Mr. Robertson, as Guiscard, described with much force and animation his rescue in the battle by the gallantry of Lothair This last character was handsomely supported by Mr. Simpson. Of Mrs. Groshon's Adelgitha, as we can say nothing in commendation, we will say no. thing at all.

E.

Wednesday Evening, July 2, Iron Chest.-Wood Demon. This is a monstrous play, the hint of which appears to have been taken from Godwin's celebrated novel of Caleb Williams. Inter

esting, however, as is that ingenious fiction,
this drama is so replete with folly and incon-
sistency, that it excites little sympathy. Mr.
Bancker undertook the character of Wilford,
(it being his benefit night) and got through
with it better than we should have expected.
Wherever we see ambition we are disposed
to encourage it. Ambition, however, unless
it be well regulated, will defeat its own pur•
pose. A man, for instance, who disdains to
qualify himself for the discharge of every-
day duties, will hardly be prepared to meet
the demands of more important exigencies;
much less, if he is incapable of fulfilling the
first, will he be able to satisfy the last. What
Pope has said generally of life, is particularly
true of the stage-

Honour and shame from no condition rise,
Act well your part, there all the honour lies.

And yet it is astonishing to see how many, both in real and mimic life, prefer acting a great part badly, to performing an humbler one well. It is enough to be compelled to endure the assumptions of ignorance in common intercourse with the world but when one resorts to the theatre for recreation,' it offends one to the soul to hear a robustious, perriwig-pated fellow,' tearing not only passion, but sense and language, to rags and tatters. We cannot but wonder that so few actors have correct apprehensions of the dig. 2o

nity of their profession. Nothing keeps it ture, and obtained admission into polite sodown in public estimation but the illiterate- ciety. Nature must have done much, and ness and supineness of the greater part of education more, to form a consummate acthose who attach themselves to it. The stage tor. It is for this reason that those who onight to be made a school of rhetoric, at are truly great in this profession are always least as it relates to all its exteriors. It should reckoned among the eminent men of their age. exhibit the refinement of polished manners, and should be a model in pronunciation. But no one can teach what he has not learned. Great actors must possess great acquirements. They must have read something more than the prompter's book. They must in fact have taken a liberal view of elegant litera

ART. 12. MONTHLY SUMMARY OF POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.