private theatres, to fay it was well enough for Ladies and Gentlemen, that we were agreeably furprised to find the exhibitions of Richmond Houfe Theatre extremely powerful in point of performance. Lord Henry Fitzgerald and the Earl of Derby are both of them fo well qualified to fill the fcene, that we heartily wifh two Comedians of any thing like equal merit were now to ftart up and ornainent the stages of DruryLane and Covent-Garden. Nothing could be more impreffive, more energetick, nor more like reality than the jealouty of Felix as difplayed by Lord Henry, nor more eafy, fpirited and natural than the Colonel Briton of Lord Derby. Captain Merry's Liffardo alfo was a moft arch and whimsical performance. Lopez, Pedro, and Gibby, were well reprefented by Mr. Ogilvie, Lord Edward Fitzgerald, and Major Goodenough. The Violante of Mrs. Damer was, like all her works in the different arts, hit off with peculiar neatness, tafte and fpirit. The capital fcene between her and Felix was acted on both fides with great force and character, Mrs. Hobart's Flora proved to us demonfirably, that he is a lady of more than ordinary theatrical judgement. Her manner of giving the fide fpeeches was most happy and intelligent. Mifs Hamilton's beauty, aided by a very fenfible mode of delivering the dialogue, rendered Ifabella truly capti yaling. The farce was in all its parts well performed. We have few Comedians on our eftablished stages, who could difplay fuch an eafy air of coxcombry as Mr. Edgecumbe threw over the character of Young Clackis. It was, truly fpeaking, the coxcombry of a gentleman, and not the extravagant humour of a buffoon, which is too often the cafe with the profeffional reprefentatives of fops. Mrs. Damer in Lucy, with fingular addrefs, marked the diftinction between the mid and the mittrets, her manners being obviously of a different ftyle from thofe the exhibited in Violante. She gave, however, a good proof that a lively familiarity is a fufficient characteristick of a fervant, and that to ftamp inferiority of ftation there is no neceffity for affuming a boldness and a vulglarity, that more frequently difgufts than pleafes. The bashfulness and embarrassed fituation of mind of Harriet was very happily pourtrayed by Mits Campbell, and the laughable humour of Old Clackit worn with great eafe by Captain Merry. Had Garrick been alive and feen Lord Derby in Heartly, he would have rejoiced that his Guardian was in fuch refpectable hands. The drefles were extremely beautiful, and what is ftill better, theatrically confidered, extremely appropriate. Attention to character is, generally speaking, shamefully neglected in dreffing our actors and actrelles. More regard is frequently paid to what would decorate the perfon, than to what becomes the part, where the Comedian has intereft or power enough to order his own drefs. That worn by Felix was of white fattin, fplendidly decorated with gold lace, the cloak of crimson velvet, richly bordered; it became Lord Henry exceedingly. Ifabella's dress was uncommonly graceful; Liffardo's correctly characteristick; and all the others, as we have before said, proper and diftinguishing. The Theatre was crowded, and, as may be fuppofed, chiefly with persons of the highest rank, and most respectable character. The Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchefs of Gloucester, Princels Sophia, the Duke and Duchets of Devonshire, the Duke and Duchefs of Ancafter, the Duchess of Leinfter, Lady Albemarle, Lady Stormont, Lady Ailefbury, Lady Tufton, Lady "Mary Coke, Lady Hotham, Mifs Fox, the Duke of Athol, Lord Stormont, Lord William Ruffel, Sir Charles Hotham, General Conway, Colonels Fitzpatrick and Ashe, and many others of Nobility and exalted families were prefent. We rejoice exceedingly that the Duke of Richmond has taken the lead in having a private Theatre in town. It may prove a matter of importance to national morality, and may tend to correct the diffipation of the times. Theatrical performances, both to the actors and auditors, are rational and inftructive amusements. They may mend, they cannot injure the minds of those who dedicate their time to them. Unfortunately, the reverfe is the true character and effect of various other fashionable means of enter. tainment, most of them being either actual vices, dangerous follies, or matters of mere frivolity and waste of time * PROLOGUE, Written by Dr. FERRIAR, And fpoken before the Reprefentation of OROONOKO, at the Manchester Theatre, Nov. 20, 1787. WHEN Truth appears in Fiction's fav'rite feat, And bids with virtuous rage your bofoms Mean were the art, howe'er in numbers dreft, During the month, there were two more performances of this piece befides this first reprefentation. From Aphra's pen the faithful records move, Nor only once an Imoinda found A fate more dire than torture's ftudied wound. Exalted love in fable bofoms reigns. zeal! To ANNA MATILDA. That wones Indifference to thy arms; And would'it thou then, her Torpid Ease, But Perih in the Pang of Grief! Think not reaton thus, my Fair! 1 fearce can check the Smile of Scorn, * The Ladies of Manchefter have Thofe ghaftly feams unmeafur'd lashes tere; men. Weak is the trust in frugal Reason's care; And vengeful hurricanes defcend in vain. And, firft to charm, are still the first to fave. By feigning Nature's warmth, to hide Time; For thus our fhort L fe's ebbing day When far off the night-form flies, diftinguished themselves very honourably in this That That, when th' impetuous Comet runs Tells it what mandate to obey, Ah! quit thy toil, prefumptuous Sage! Such Blifs the fenfate bofom knows, Or weaves the thick Wood's mingling gloom; Then give thy pure perceptions scope, The VISIT to the DOCK YARD,' Up, that will never fail her. And ere they left fair London town, And there did ring the merry bell So luftily and chear, Sir; As thofe that had their ears, Sir, For thereby hangs a story, The guards march'd down in gay parade, -March'd up again the street, Sir. The Prince he pops his nofe in. At morn, the Princes being come, The Captains all put on fo gay ? The gala drefs-and then, Sir, And now to view the Dock they go, Of rabble route a goodly fhow, And And many a question did they alk, And then fe quick! the thing they caught, -Where you 'ad have ttaid a--week, Sir, Their penetration was fo clear, And quick their comprehenfion; As you would be furpriz'd to hear, And 1 muft blush to mention. Let Peter take a tedious time *, Great Peter-was a foul, Sir. (God blefs the royal Geotges!) They forthwith went afloat, Sir; All in a lonely boat, Sir. So thick with boats was crowded,' -Becaufe-it was beclouded. They faw--on board-a hulk, Sir fi When in the midst of all the fhow, Cries H-ng-r to his Highmefs, With watch in hand, "The battle now, Egad I draws to a fus.” And now, fatigu'd and hungry, hence They haften'd ene and all, Sir; And grant henceforth that what they fes Lehwithiel, Jan. 11, 1783. P. S. ODE to the OLD YEAR, 1787, IEF courtly bards in courtly lay Invoke the Mafe on New Year's day; Prophetic, future days unfold, Or tell again the tales of old; For me, I pay in frains fincere, A grateful tribute due to the departed year. Glad have I fren our native ine In wealth, in peace, in honour smile; The balance held with fteady hand, And Difcord cease at her command, The dogs of war compell'd to wait, And Janus clofe again his half-unfolded gate, I love the months whofe calm career Has left me what my heart holds dear; Has given me health, and peace, and eafe; Who would not fing for gifts like thefe ? Of these the fente muft till remain, To mark this polith'd link of the eternal chain. Time, the confoler, comfort brings, He fteals away the rofe, 'tis true, The phantoms of a troubled dream : And leaves the foul in peace her tenement of clay. I view the focial circle round, And every friendly face is found; My heart expands within my breast, Each gloomy felfth care at reft; Grateful I fing, in ftrains fincere, Praife to the Pow'r Supreme who guides the rolling year. * Czar.-- They only vifited the hulk which P—— W— is on board during the refitting of his Chip. That hour was to be performed a very celebrated boxing match ią fon, between two well-known Combatants-The circumftance related is a fact. The author of a moft beautiful Ode on the amiable Howard. Nor NCE to fam'd Eton ev'ry Mufe retir'd, And youth was there with love of Science fir'd; * Lord Viscount Dudley. Far-beaming Knowledge rais'd her glorion head, Thence verfe and learning through the land were spread: Late hither led by Hampton's rifing fame, And Hampton's fame fhill reach the diftent kies. Some future Pope thou, --9 thalt infpire With claffic learning and poetic fire; Far hence the Gothic tafte the Mufe fhall cince, And fmooth the manners of a barbarous race. Then, Dudley, fhall the fing thy muchlov'd name, Where worth and honour boaft an equal claim; Who lends to mifery a willing ear, And in foft pity hears the fuppliant's pray'r.` When riper years fhall call us forth to share The Author's Reafon for avoiding the Prefence of his Mitrefs, without having de clared his Sentiments to her. To a FRIEND. THO' the no more thall blefs my fight, I love her, by yon evening light, My foul has no complaint exprefs'd--- Should give a pang to Daphne's breast. For well I know her gentle mind; And well I know if the bad feen How much my heart with love declin'd, Prefs'd by the weight of grief within;" To fee me wretched, well I know, My Daphne had been wretched too— So quick to feel another's woe! To fympathy's fine touch fo true! And wherefore caufe the maid I prize One tear, one figh, one moment's pain? Ah, fooner may thofe tearful eyes Be clos'd, no more to wake again. Earl of Stamford. + Sir Edward Littleton, The Free-School of Wolverhampton is in the care of Thirty Trustees, of the town or meighbourhood, of which the three above-mentioned names are the most confpicuous. O hadft |