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NIGHT.

BY THE SAME.

Now sober night all living nature shrouds

In death-like silence, and in sweet repose,
The gems of heav'n glow through the passing clouds;
With balmy breath the midnight zephyr blows.
Sunk to a liquid plain the ocean seems,
For not a ripple on the shore appears;
The moonlight trembles on the glassy streams,
And mists relenting melt themselves to tears.
The glorious firmament, divinely bright,

Shews a clear concave of cœrulean blue,
And constellations, twinkling through the night,
With splendour burst upon th' enchanted view,
Surpris'd we see through space these glories run,
A world each planet, and each star a sun.

IMPROMPTU :

Occasioned by the Epigram of the last Month.
NORTH'S Shade to PITT.

IN former Days 'twas very clever
To wish that NORTH might sleep for ever;
So hated then my Reign:

'But you bring all so well about,

That those who put me to the rout

Now wish me wak'd again.

28th Oct. 1804.

C. L.

The MEMORANDA DRAMATICA are omitted this month from an unavoidable occurrence.

PROVINCIAL DRAMA, &c.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE "YOUNG ROSCIUS.”*
On prend le peuple par les oreilles, comme

On fait un pot par les anses.

IT is a folly to consider that as a miracle which may be effected by the ordinary course of human affairs. The acting of the Young Roscius, the subject

The YOUNG ROSCIUS is absolutely engaged for a certain number of nights at Drury-Lane theatre.

of such, extravagant, unlimited, and intemperate commendation, is no more than might be expected from a boy of good capacity, by dint of the same careful and incessant instruction. Whatever may be insisted on to the contrary, the Young Roscius is, and must necessarily be, the creature of discipline: his stage-trick, "his exits and his entrances" are close imitations of the grave pedantic dignity, the monotonous whine, and "stange and unnatural" ceremony of the new school. He has all the attitudes of Kemble, and the scowls of Cooke, and runs the gauntlet of general stage business with astonishing adroitness and precision. This must be allowed by all who will carefully compare his acting with the present existing fashionable stage demeanour. Now, to say he derived this from nature, or acquired it by the mere exercise of his own taste, were so to challenge common sense as would endanger any man's reputation, who would descend to refute it. I can but admire the modesty of your correspondent "Veritas," who very properly estimates his own talents, when he wishes some more able correspondent to answer the severe strictures of "Justus." Any person who reads his letter with attention, will be led to doubt whether Veritas ever saw the Young Roscius perform, from the mere indecision of his terms, which are such as a man would use when tampering with the ingenuousness of his own mind. He says, from "all he has seen or heard, it is too severe ;" that "the universal satisfaction expressed by all who have been so happy as to see Roscius perform," &c. and that "it is generally allowed that his talents are most wonderful," &c. &c. How can he speak for the satisfaction of all who have seen him perform? If Veritas be not able to combat Justus, he is not able to judge against him. He says you cannot easily assimilate the idea of a great tyrant or magnanimous prince, on account of his puerile appearance," yet adds immediately after, that, from "his prepossessing figure, and most expressive and interesting countenance, you forget the boy, and fancy he is really the person whom he represents!!!" Veritas concludes his letter in a most perfect Birmingham metaphor, and after having led his readers to understand the Young Roscius to be a most perfect actor, consigns him, with the most sterling inconsistency, to a London audience for a perfect polish ! ! ! In truth, "Veritas," thou shouldst have chosen a different signature. Nothing is more remote from my intention, nor foreign to my inclination, than to depreciate the excellence, or lessen the value, of this promising youth in the public estimation. (I speak not of the mob of his admirers nor critics.)

To the enquiring mind, the Young Roscius appears not as a miracle, nor as a star dropped from heaven, to amaze the multitude. When you can learn a boy to speak unembarrassed by childish timidity, he will appear more natural, therefore more graceful, than a man. He has less to forget. He has neither his hopes nor his fears, nor those "nice felicities" which are cherished by applause, and which shrink from censure. On the other hand, his speaking cannot be embellished by those rich hues of modulation derived from habits of reflection, and from feelings more experienced in the woes which they picture. It was natural to suppose that a youth who approached so near to our best performers, should, by the crowd, be pronouced superior to them. But

Time hath a wallet at his back,
Wherein he puts alms for oblivion,"

and all our essays and criticisms will soon be forgotten. The Young Roscius may shine through the mist of adulation, by which he is surrounded, and inscribe his name and his merits on a page more durable than that on which he was either censured or approved. CIVIS.

St. James's-Square, Wolverhampton, Oct. 7, 1804.

Theatre BELSTONE, Staffordshire.-They have theatres every where now ! From Botany Bay on one side of the world, to Tobolski on the other, both equally the seats of the banished. If all those were to be transported themselves, who could not transport their audience, it would thin your accounts of the "provincial drama," Mr. Editor! Mr. Marshall's corps are "strutting" their hour here. The theatre is a temporary building of entire wood; it agrees with the folks within, who are wooden!

"SQUIB."

Theatre STIRBITCH.-The comedians who perform at this place, though not so eminent as during Mr. Brunton's management, still maintain a respectable place among the Provincial companies. The manager (Mr. Hindes) has this season had the misfortune to lose three of his best performers; but he has endeavoured to make amends by the addition of several new ones. He has displayed considerable judgment and liberality in his style of getting up the new pieces, particularly the "English Fleet in 1342;" which is represented with all the effect the theatre will afford. The Soldier's Daughter, Maid of Bristol, Wife of two Husbands, Will for the Deed, Guilty or not Guilty, Raising the Wind, Paragraph, &c. &c. are also performed in an amusing and superior manner.

The gentlemen of our company are as follow. Mr. Bowles is the hero both in tragedy and genteel comedy; his figure is commanding, his countenance expressive, his action chaste and elegant, and his pronunciation feeling and judicious. In Rolla, and Edward the Black Prince, he was majestic and impressive in a high degree; and gave the loyal speeches, with which those tragedies abound, with all possible effect. His chief defect is want of energy and feeling in the impassioned parts of tragedy; but, if he never astonishes, he is always judicious and refined. His figure is rather too large for comedy, yet he performs such parts as Frank Heartall, Frederick, (Poor Gentleman) Ranger, Captain Absolute, Tom Shuffleton, Puff, &c, &c. with very good effect; for though, perhaps, he has not quite the air of a man of fashion, yet he never offends in the representation of a gentleman. Mr. Walcot is a feeling and natural performer in sentimental parts; and, if his voice were more "attuned to melody," would be extremely pleasing; but his tones are sometimes so harsh, as to pain a quick Mr. Smith is very respectable in the second rate characters of tragedy, especially in fathers, and also displays great natural humour in various comic parts, such as Ben Block, Francis, (Stranger) Major Corslet, Solomon Lobb, &c. Mr. Fitzgerald is a remarkably useful and ingenious actor: since our favourite Mr. Mallinson's departure, he has undertaken many of his parts, and evinces himself an excellent substitute. He displays exquisite natural humour in characters such as Jeremy Didler, Frank Toppit, Tag, Mat Mainmast, Risk, &c. &c. in all of which he has received the greatest applause. But this gentleman's chief excellence is his performance of Irishmen, in which his pronunciation is

ear.

1

faithful, his tones rich and natural, and his acting full of that peculiar humour which characterises the nation. Mr. F. is also very successful in several characters of tragedy and genteel comedy; in short, in all he undertakes, (and his range of parts is, perhaps, as varied as possible) he is never below mediocrity, but oftener rises above it. Mr. Bennett sings with some judgment and taste, and, in country lads, and other humorous parts, such as Dan, Sadi, Timothy Quaint, Clod, &c. &c. is deserving of great praise. Mr. Holliday, in old men, and other characters of low comedy, merits approbation: he possesses a tolerable portion of humour, and seldom fails to put the house in a roar of laughter. Mr. Noble would be a good comic actor, could he discard that low buffoonery which disgraces all his characters: in his eagerness to catch the applauses of the gallery, he is apt to forget the sentiments of contempt that prevail in the more judicious part of the audience. In the part of Acres, he both dressed and acted like a Merry Andrew, but in clowns and buffoons he is certainly clever. Messrs. Beachem, Clifford, and Birrell, are improving and useful actors, who seldom fail to please in the parts they represent. Having enumerated the principal gentlemen of the company, we will leave the host of auxiliaries, scene-shifters, &c. and proceed to the ladies.

Mrs. Bramwell is, undoubtedly, entitled to the first place among the females of the theatre. Her talents in comedy are such as would not disgrace a London theatre, and her singing is exquisitely sweet, powerful, and scientific. This lady possesses a small but beautiful figure; her countenance is animated, expressive, and handsome; her action chaste and elegant; and her voice melodious and powerful. She performs Storace's range of characters with uncommon effect. She possesses an animation, and an archness and naiveté in her manner, joined to an unaffected simplicity, almost unrivalled. She is excessively pleasing in Mrs. Jordan's cast of parts, such as Priscilla Tomboy, Little Pickle, Widow Cheerly, Lady Bel, &c. &c. in which she receives the most unqualified applause, and cannot fail to please even those who have seen that unrivalled favourite of Thalia. But her powers are not confined to these; she is truly an universal actress; for she evinces great energy and feeling in sentimental characters. In short, she is a general and deserved favourite. Miss Birchall, who is the heroine in tragedy, is greatly improved since last year. Her figure is tall, and her action good; nor is her face without expression. She performed Mrs. Haller, and many other parts, with great feeling; but her powers are not competent to the energy of Elvira. Mrs. Binfield is a pleasing singer and actress. If elegance and symmetry of figure were the test of theatrical merit, Mrs. Noble would be eminently qualified; but her pronunciation is defective, and her voice powerless. She attempted Lydia Languish; but "Oh what a falling off was there!" after our admired Miss Goddard! Mrs. Walcot, in old women, is irresistibly droll and humorous. She never fails doing justice to her part, and frequently soars to superior excellence. Our remaining actresses are Mesdames Clifford, Wilde, and Fitzgerald, neither of whom rise above mediocrity.

Besides the exertions of our regular company, we have also been gratified with a novelty this season. A young man (named Flowerdew) made his first appearance on any stage, in Octavian. The house was filled with his friends; of course he was applauded; but had his performance been judged by the eye of

N N-VOL. XVIII.

impartial criticism, more would have appeared to condemn than applaud. His figure is good, but his face is devoid of expression, and his action is embarrassed and inelegant. His voice, though powerful, is harsh and inharmonious; but his principal defect seems the want of a good ear, to modulate the tones of a voice naturally capable of great compass: by his discordant tones, he is evidently without this necessary sense of regulation. His performance of Octavian was, in some parts, (where he evidently copied Kemble's very shrug and groan) deserving approbation, though it was oftener quite uninteresting. Indeed, he ap'pears not to act from the impulse of his feelings, but from his imitation of different performers, making a curious melange of rant, energy, and dulness. He was still less successful, a few nights after, in the Stranger; but we will content ourselves with observing, that he wants natural feeling, a good ear, and much practice. His age is about twenty-six, instead of eighteen, as was represented.

DOMESTIC EVENTS.

The Grand Jury for the State of New York, after an examination of three days, have unanimously brought in a bill of indictment against Mr. Burr, for sending a challenge to General Hamilton, and also against the two seconds.Should they be found guilty by the competent tribunal, they will be disqualified, by a law of that state, from holding any office of honour or profit, or of ting in the state, for the term of twenty years. As the duel took place in the state of New Jersey, the grand jury did not feel themselves authorised to take cognizance of that offence; but it is supposed they will be indicted for the murder, under the verdict of the coroner's jury.

The Court of King's Bench, at Guildhall, has undergone a total alteration. It is advanced further toward the hall; two chambers are made behind the judge's bench, for the convenience of Lord Ellenborough, and the whole rendered more convenient.

NEW SOUTH WALES.---An intelligent gentleman, just arrived from New South Wales, gives the following account of that settlement, as ascertained by him in October last.---" New South Wales, of which Sydney is the capital, contains about eight thousand inhabitants, (including Norfolk Island) The number is also rapidly increasing, from the great additions sent from England, and from the prolific nature of those who are resident. The climate is wholesome, and the face of the country delightful, considering that the colony is still in an infant state. The Hawkesbury River is beautiful, and the soil of the adjacent lands is rich and fertile, to a degree scarcely to be equalled by any other tract of land of the same extent. It is, however, liable to one inconvenience, as it is often overflowed by the floods from the adjacent mountains, where the river is thought to have its source. This inconvenience is seldom felt, however, except when the heavy rains commence, which generally happens in May, June, or July. The temporary annoyance which this circumstance occasions is, besides, more than amply compensated by the manure which the floods leave on the ground, which, owing to this cause, is never impoverished. It is evident, from this circumstance,

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