ADDRESS

From the CHARITABLE SOCIETIES of KILKENNY to the GENTLEMEN of the KILKENNY THEATRE,

Presented to them at the close of the Third Season, October, 1805.

The Charitable Societies of Kilkenny, impressed with the liveliest sense of gratitude, beg leave to return their unfeigned Thanks to the Gentlemen, who, with their wonted humanity, have exerted their Theatrical Talents in aid of the Charitable Funds of this City, when the gross sum of nearly SIX HUNDRED POUNDS was collected; a considerable proportion of which is funded for the benefit of those USEFUL INSTITUTIONS. The Prayers and Blessings of the Objects, thereby relieved, pleading" trumpet tongued" with the MOST HIGH in behalf of their kind BENEFACTORS, must speak their thanks; while the honest consciousness of their benevolent intentions can alone offer to such minds an adequate Reward.

PROLOGUE

Written by Mr. Mason, and Spoken by Mr. Rothe, At the opening of the Theatre, the 1st of October, 1804.

Whene'er the Bard commands the tear to flow,
And gen'rous hearts to bleed for fancied woe,
The pulse of virtue throbs in ev'ry breast,
While e'en the selfish weep for the distress'd.
Or, when, with graceful art, his pen pursues
The livelier image of the Comic Muse,
Draws Nature, sullied by the arts of Pride,
And places Ridicule by Fashion's side,
Paints ev'ry folly in its native hue,
And holds Hypocrisy unmasqued to view;
The various Foibles that disgrace the age,
Expos'd to general Scorn upon the stage,
Shrink from the glance of Satire's piercing eye,
Or from her keen and polish'd weapons fly.

Such are the wonders of the Comic page :
And thus the scenic Muse improves the age,
Directs the feelings of impetuous youth,
And bids e'en pleasure lead the way to truth.

"To-night, she warms the youthful breast to feel
"The manly impulse of a Patriot's zeal ;
"But, while his soul such noble ardor fires,
"He learns to guide the passions it inspires;
"Shuddering to view those scenes of deep Distress,
"Which flow from Treason's boundless selfishness,

"And from indulgence, criminally blind,
"Of e'en the gentlest feelings of the mind.
"When hapless Belvidera heaves the sigh,
"Or in distraction rolls her frenzied eye,
"Each heart that gives the tribute of a tear,
"That beats with anxious hope, or thrills with fear,
"Receives an useful Lesson from the Play,
"And all who feel must go improv'd away.—

But, in our scene another use we find,
Still more delightful to the gen'rous mind;
Those crowded rows, where rank and beauty vie,
To many a wretch a timely aid supply;
Bid Hope infuse new vigor in the breast,
Which sad despair and poverty depress'd;
Pour healing comfort in the wounded heart;
To drooping Age a cordial balm impart ;
Restore to sick'ning Youth its wonted bloom,
And snatch th' untimely victim from the tomb.
Thus Mirth, Instruction, Charity, unite
Their various claims, to win your smiles this night;
Those smiles which, like the vernal sunbeam, glow,
To light the gloomy cloud on Sorrow's brow;
To warm with hope the frozen breast of Care,
And cheer away the winter of Despair.

The Lines marked with inverted commas were intended to precede the Tragedy of Venice Preserved, which had been prepared for an early representation, but the indisposition of Mr. R. Power rendered it necessary to lay that Play aside, and alter every proposed arrangement. They were not spoken therefore, but in their place were substituted some popular Lines, that were written upon the circumstances of the times.

EPILOGUE,

Written and spoken by Mr. Langrishe,

At the close of the Theatre, the 16th of October, 1804.

Four times your presence hath our efforts grac'd,
Inspir'd our genius, and improv'd our taste;
Four times have we unlock'd our mystic store,
To feed our vanities, and feed the poor;
And to some merit, sure, we have pretence,
Who turn to such account our scanty sense;
Who cunningly combine our mimic tale,
Throw o'er our faults a charitable veil,
Turn private vanity to public good,
And work our follies into solid food.
Our wit's substantial, and our jest's a treat,
Productive pastimes! whence the poor shall eat.
If such our merit, greater still is yours,
Our scheme that sanctions, and our wit endures:
But were the wit still less, the plaintive call
Of melting Charity impels you all.
You come, propitious to the kind intent,
And indigence, and grief, no more lament.
You heal their woes, the pangs of pain assuage,
Save helpless Youth, and succour hopeless Age;
For you, the famish'd wretch his Prayers shall raise,
And from the bed of sickness pour your Praise,
For you, who lengthen life's contracting span,
And mitigate the miseries of man.

Tho' Critics censure, and tho' Zealots frown,
Here will we build our altar to Renown;
And, in despite of feeble Fashion's laws,
Here rest our claim to merit and applause;
For fashions change-no female Graziers now
Extol the beauties of a favourite sow;
But female Phaetons usurp their places,
And borrow from their Coachmen all their graces,
Cropt, modish Madam talks of blood, and points,
Full quarters, pedigrees, and fetlock joints,
Her listless Husband in her chariot locks,
Damns the Postillion, and ascends the Box,
Or still more modish, clad in Male array,
Rides her own match, inveterate, play or pay,
And beaten, challenges a future day.

Can these be female charms? this beauty's sphere?
To shine a Horse-racer or Charioteer?

Let them succeed! e'en their success must shock ye,
T'achieve---the Hackney coachman, or the Jockey.
Nor Men of Fashion can our pastimes move,
Too dull to join them, and too cold to love.
In well-made dishes all their genius lies,
Correct in custards, and expert in pies;

On savoury sauces they with science treat,

And think true taste consists in how to eat.
Thus modern Fashion, scorning Wit or books,
Our Females turns to Grooms, our Males to Cooks.

1804.

An Epilogue of a former year, (p. 9) had alluded to the Fashion for Farming and Feeding, which existed so generally at that period.

It was the custom of the Ladies about this time, who kept Carriages, to drive 'em.

A Mrs. Thornton had rode a match at York.

Б

Be't ours, with well-meant jest, and sportive wit, These fleeting follies of the hour to hit; Be't yours, whose judgment is refin'd and clear, T'establish genuine taste, and fix it here; Thus shall these pleasant scenes the age befriend, Reform the morals, and the manners mend.

No sports like these our Gallic neighbours know, Forc'd into sad * fraternity of woe;

Long have they toil'd, and bled-for what?-to gain. A life of bondage, or a death of pain.

That once gay nation must no longer find

Its pleasures in vacuity of mind;

Their upstart Tyrant, tottering on his throne,
Suspicious, jealous, watchful, cruel grown,
Thinks human Happiness his foe on earth,
And blasts the project that gives Pleasure birth;
Banquets on Misery, exults in Crimes,

The scourge, disgrace, and wonder of the times.

Back from such painful objects turn your eyes;
Here brighter views and cheerful scenes arise;
Here, blest with liberty, and firm in pow'r,
We fill with pleasure every passing hour;
Here, court the Muses, midst the pause of arms,
Defy all menace, and despise alarms.

Yet some remain, who still these sports decry,
Still think good humour rank impiety,
Denounce the Drama-call a jest, a crime;
And say perdition follows every line.
Such impotent attacks we cannot dread,
From hearts of rancour, and from heads of lead.
In truth, these kind aspersers are our factors;
They but increase our audience, and our actors.

Then take our cordial thanks-a tribute due;
Whate'er success we boast, we owe to you---
Your kind indulgences together blend,
The advocate, the critic, judge, and friend;
Your Taste instructed us, your Feeling warm'd,
Your Judgment chasten'd, and your Beauty charm'd
Long may your Plaudits call for future Plays,
Renew our labors, and revive our lays!
And if unaided by † his polish'd art,

By him, our pride, our genius, yes, our heart,
If without him, these scenes are felt by you,
What cannot your applause excite us to?
Then kindly minister that sure relief,
To sooth his sufferings and assuage our grief.
Whene'er your Plaudits, floating on the gale,
In well-known sounds his watchful ears assail,
The grateful notes his gathering ills control,
Ease his fraught breast, and cheer his drooping soub
Then once again, your generous Praise extend,
Second the healing god, and save our Friend.

1805.

have drawn here some of the most celebrated and virtuous Men of the Nation. Among our other Visitors, we delight to contemplate the immortal GRATTAN. We see also the classical and worthy Lord Bishop of MEATH; the EARLS of BELMORE, DESART, and CARRICK; the VISCOUNTS MOUNTJOY and MATTHEW; the Lords LISMORE and DONALLY, and their respective Families; the Countess of ORMONDE, the Viscountess MOUNTJOY, and a long list of COMMONERS, and beautiful WOMEN, many of them residents of our own happy County; nor must we forget the OFFICERS of the 74th Regiment, of the five recruiting Detachments, of a Corps of Artillery, and of four Troops of Dragoons, with the STAFFS of the Lieutenant-General and the Major-Gencral. We have, in short, in gay succession, all the various appearances and amusements of Chariots, Horses, Telegraphs, Dog-Carts, Concerts, Balls, Plays and Assemblies. The exertions, the manners, and the worth of those individuals, to whom all this is owing, ought never to be forgotten, nor can we soon cease to remember the large sums expended here by such a number of wealthy families. We are sanguine enough to think, that a change is already distinguishable among us, from cold and austere manners, to a love of pleasure and of society, and we are glad of it, for we shall have no unsafe subjects, when the People are amused and contented. To particularize any of the Plays for superior excellence, would be unjust; but if we were to judge, by its effects on the Audience, we should say that the First Part of Henry IV. was the nearest to professional perfection. We shall long remember the manner in which Falstaff gave his whimsical Soliloquies on Honor, with the description of his 150 Recruits, his delivery of "A mad "fellow met me on the way, and said, I had unloaded all "the Gibbets and pressed the dead Bodies," with all his scenes during and after the battle; the death of the fierce and interesting Hotspur, and the magnanimity and tenderness of the Prince of Wales. Upon the whole, this Play was got up with a success which we feel ourselves unable to describe. On Thursday last Mr. GRATTAN was complimented with a PUBLIC DINNER, at the SHEAF-INN, by the principal Inhabitants of our City, as an expression of their respect and regard for him. It was honored by the presence of MAJOR-GENERAL the HON. ROBERT TAYLOR, the FIELD OFFICERS OF THE GARRISON, the HIGH SHERIFF, the MAYOR, and all the Gentlemen of the Neighbourhood. Cooke and Attwood, the principal Musicians at the Theatre, took separate Benefits, the profits of which were equally divided between them, according to a previous arrangement. Cooke took the first; Atwood's concluded the Concerts. But the source of all these pleasures is at an end; our Plays are now over; and if to the classical and elegant recreations they have afforded us, we add the gratification of numbering the many valuable advantages they have brought among us, the respected Actors must be very sure, that they carry home with them the regret, admiration, respect and affection of the CITY OF KILKENNY. One circumstance only took from our happiness: the Gentleman to whose taste and exertions we are indebted for the distinguished place which we now hold in the Empire of Fashion, was prevented by severe indisposition from taking any part in those Performances, which he had himself established; our alarms, however, were removed by seeing that he was able be a spectator of the last Play, and we ardently hope to see him leading, with recruited health, the festivities of the next Season."--[Dublin Evening Post, Oct.18th, 1804.]

Since Health, on genial wing, return'd, t' impart
Strength to my limbs, and Feelings to my heart,
No other scenes, no other sounds, could give
Such heartfelt Transport as I now receive;

But ah! how humble must these Plays appear!
No Tiny wonder, not young Roscius here;
No little Grildrig for his Glumdalclitch,
No Thumb his Huncamunca to bewitch;
Our tragic Queens for full-grown Heroes sigh,
For full-grown Queens our tragic Heroes die.
We smile superior, when, in Fashion's plan,
Man plays the Child, while Infants play the Man
Fashion, as well as Life, is like the Stage,
And plays a different part in every age.
In each,-at either verge extreme,---we see
But childhood, and a second infancy.

* Mr. R. Power's Indisposition, throughout the preceding Season, has been already noticed.

+ Master Betty, better known by the appellation of the Young Roscius, was performing about this time with a measure of applause that has been seldom enjoyed by any of the Veterans of the Drama.