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Chamberlain, as you know, and if I were, I should give you no advice. At present, I have a party of friends dining with me, and must take my leave. You are probably fatigued; if so, I beg that you will go into the butler's room, and take some refreshment." Saying this, he rang the bell and retired.

On Sept. 20 (see our record), Mr. Kemble came forward and said, it was observed, "that if the advance in the prices was to be any advantage to the performers, it would have the public support. I then call upon you for it. The whole strength of the company are behind me, and will testify that the late rise in the price of admis sion has been the source of an addition to their emoluments." On the 24th of October, however, their printed address states that they have their old salaries, " and the proprietors have not hitherto been able to undertake to afford them a greater." How does this tally? Not that we are sorry to find that it does not, as we preach humility to the profession, "respue quod non es," and are happy to find from various letters received, that the public loudly cry, amen, so be it.

It is well known that Mrs. Galindo, aliàs, Miss Gough, has published a letter to Mrs. Siddons, including several written by Mrs. S.; from which and other matters narrated, she implies a criminal connection between Mr. Galindo and Mrs. Siddons, and to this circumstance ascribes the destruction of her happiness and the ruin of her fortune. Her brothers, John and Charles Kemble, have almost on their knees prayed Mrs. S. to prosecute the parties, but she has peremptorily refused to do so, saying that it is contrary to the principles of her religion.

The KING'S THEATRE opened on Tuesday the 11th of December with a new Comic Opera and Ballet, called La Scommessa and Pietro il grande. Of this wretched entertainment, as it is at the best to rational minds, the public have now seen the worst, and it has gone nigh to burst the bubble. Operas without singers and ballets without dancers continued till the 20th of January, when the beaux and belles in the boxes and the puppies and prudes in the pit exerted their delicate lungs in disapprobation of their cruel treatment, and called for the re-engagement of Mons. and Mad. Deshayes. This great and important point was carried, and Mons. Deshayes is, at their request, to receive 2000l. and a benefit for standing on one leg twice a week during the season, and his little fat wife is to sit in her own box to admire how the nobility and gentry of England spend their time and money.

ORATORIO at Covent-Garden Theatre.-The season for oratorios, and the enjoyment of the divine music of our immortal Handel, commences on the 30th of January, when the Ashleys treat the town with the Messiah. The vocal engagements are strong, which, with a full band led and powerfully assisted by the Ashleys, promise a rich banquet of sweet sounds. A new organ by Allen is erected, and it is to have the honour of being first publicly played upon by Mr. Samuel Wesley, whose taste, science, and execution, are so known and admired. He is on the first night to play a fugue from his favourite composer Sebastian Bach, and a very delightful movement by Holisbos.

OLYMPIC PAVILION.-The splendid spectacles and ingenious pantomimes, invented by Mr. Astley, jun. for this elegant little theatre, so improve in attraction and popular esteem as to make its numerous visitors often find it, if not too hot, too little to hold them.

PROVINCIAL THEATRES.

We have unavoidably deferred the insertion of various letters from our country friends until this moment, and it is now thought that to give the substance of them will be the most convenient and agreeable mode of communication.

SUNDERLAND. The theatre opened for the season on January the 9th, for the benefit of the sailors belonging to the Port of Wear, with the comedy of the Rivals and the musical entertainment Of Age to-Morrow. Mr. FAULKNER, in the captious sceptic in love, (Faulkland) so blended tenderness and anxiety with fretfulness and whim as to afford unquestionable proof of his judgment. Not so with Mr. Flowerdew, negligent of the text as well as dress, we never wish to hear Sir Anthony call him "Jack again." Mr. Lancaster's Acres had all the required humour and eccentricity, and kept the house in a roar. Mr. GROVE is a valuable acquisition, he sketches a true outline, and colours with warmth and chastity. Sir Anthony Absolute has stamped him "true and sterling ore." Mr. M'Namara has indisputable claim to the Irishman, and in his hands Sir Lucius O'Trigger retained the ease and deportment of the gentleman. Mr. Dalton is an admirable rustic, and Mr. ERRINGTON was respectable in Fag. The Mrs. Malaprop of Mrs.

Henley, has all the ease which a long acquaintance with the stage must bestow, and yet, her hard words "so ingeniously misapplied" might be given with more point, and without the appearance of ef fort the same candour that throws out the suggestion must allow her talent of the very first rate. Mrs. Dalton is among the first order of fine forms, with a voice of much sweetness, and a manner prepossessing; requisites that gave a lively interest to the engaging character of Julia. Mrs. M'Namara also possesses the charms of face and person, and by her spirit and playfulness the contrast of character between Lydia Languish and Julia, was most happily preserved. These ladies cannot fail to excite the curiosity and gratify the expectations of the lovers of the drama. The part of Lucy, as pourtrayed by Mrs. Stanfield, was pretty and sprightly.

Miss Johannot is a fine girl and a graceful dancer.

In the farce, Of Age to-Morrow, Mrs. BRAMWELL after some years absence, appeared in Maria, and restored to the dialogue all the spirit and gaiety, and to the music taste and sweetness of simplicity, united to scientific execution. The other characters were marked by emulative zeal, and a spontaneity of sentiment declared the present company the best that ever visited Sunderland.

SHREWSBURY. Our theatre closed on the 24th of Nov. the price of the boxes was advanced from 3s. to 3s.6d.; and I am happy in saying without an O. P. objection. The season has been very productive, and for a star we have had the great S. Kemble: from his size, he may be called a comet, though not given to much velocity of motion. He played Falstaff twice, Shylock, and Falstaff in the Merry Wives of Windsor, and drew good houses.

The company consists of Mr. Crisp (the manager), who is deservedly a great favourite; Watkinson, Dobbs, M'Gibbon, Pit, Chambers, the Sutors, and a youth of the name of Lane; he has a good person, and voice, with which he frequently "out-hèrods Herod." If he means to make the stage his profession, he must recollect, that frequenting pot-houses is not a proper place to learn elegance of action, or the watch-house, to get a good part in; he is very young, which may be a little excuse, and I must do him the justice to say, I never saw him imperfect. Miss Woodfall, late of the Haymarket, has added greatly to the strength of the company, and is an actress of very superior abilities. Mrs. Chambers (late Mrs. Walcot, of Drury Lane) in her line, is far before any person out of London, or I think I should not speak too highly in saying equal to any there. Miss Wheldon does not improve; she in singing af

fects the Italian style. Though we admire the beauty of the peacock, yet we are not charmed with its notes. There is a great want of vocal powers in the company. Mr. Dobbs must not attempt such songs as "Tell her I love her." The scenery has been most vilely managed, and during the whole of the season been kicking between heaven and earth, and the oil made use of, the most unpleasant, that ever was burnt in a theatre. As the manager has, I conceive, the inclination to please, and must have a grateful recollection of the encouragement he has received, he will, I doubt not, take care to do away the complaints next season.

CROYDON THEATRE.-This elegant little theatre has this season been very respectably attended, partly from a succession of bespeaks, and partly from an efficient and well selected company. It had to boast, at its opening, of the superior attraction of Mrs. Powell, of the Drury Lane company, who, on her very first night's perform ance, narrowly escaped a fatal accident from the unguarded use of a real dagger in the part of Adelgitha. We understand this theatre devolves next season to Mr. Elliston, the manager of the Corps Burlettique, at the Royal Circus. If Mr. E.'s forces be not better organized than at present, we shall greatly regret the change of administration. The "Boors of Croydon" can discern with microscopic eye, the minutiae of histrionic excellence. They can duly appreciate the merit of a well-depicted character, or detect the fallacy of an erroneous reading. We have witnessed the various evolu tions of Mr. E.'s troop-we have looked carefully through the ranks, and amidst their gaudy trappings, can discover none capable of supplying the respective talents of Messrs. Smith, Bromley, Middleton, and Barnet.

*

Theatre, WORTHING.-This theatre opened in July under the management of Mr. Trotter. The company, which is far from good, has met with very great success; with the exception of Barrymore and De Camp, we have not a single person capable of sustaining a line of business, nor any thing in the shape of a comedian, or a lady for the genteel comedy. We recommend to Mr. Trotter, a livery coat, and Sheridan's Pronouncing Dictionary-to Miss Barry, a little modesty, it will be of great service to her in the way of business. To Mr. Thompson, a dancing-master-to Mr. Owen a little flesh to his bones, and any face but the one he has; we have seen and been more amused with the like at Pidcock's. Miss Bristow is a very pretty girl, and improves greatly. Mr. Webber, a respectable

Stubby. Mr. Chambers, an excellent scarecrow. Miss Banfield a very pleasing singer. Aug. 6, 1809.

RAZOR.

Theatre, NEWCASTLE-TYNE.-The season has been unusually long, the theatre having opened previous to the race-week in June, and closed on the 12th of August after the Assizes. The attendance in the interval between those two periods of bustle and fashion, was but moderate, in consequence of the numerous emigrations of the gayer class of inhabitants, to the different wateringplaces. The company was respectable and attractive, having been strongly reinforced from Manchester and other quarters, and being ornamented at times by sundry wandering stars, chiefly from London. Among the latter were Fawcett and Miss Norton, who appeared in concert; Mr. Corri and family, with his pupils, Masters Durousset and Huckle, and Mr. Higman; Mrs. Clarke, who lately made a debut of unusual brilliancy at Manchester; Mr. Stephen Kemble; and that attractive melodist, Mrs. Dickons, attended by a lack lustre satellite in Mr. Bellamy.

Fawcett went through a range of characters judiciously selected for the display of his peculiar talents. In Lock and Key he was well supported by Miss S. Booth, one of the prettiest and sprightliest Fanny's imaginable.

Miss Norton displayed her attractions in the departments of comedy and music, tragedies being luckily for her excluded in consequence of the engagement of Mr. Fawcett. Virginia was one of her most striking characters, in which she played and sung with great sweetness and feeling, to the accompaniment of the very drowsy Paul of a Mr. Shaw.

Mr. Stephen Kemble exerted himself with his usual ability in Penruddock, Falstaff, &c.

Masters Durousset and Huckle entertained the frequenters of the theatre with a variety of excellent singing. Mr. and Mrs. Corri and Mr. Higman, contributed their part to increase the musical regale.

Mrs. Dickons gave great delight by the display of her admirable vocal powers. As the dead blank of Mr. Bellamy's countenance is found to have a chilling effect on the sensations of his auditors, it is contemplated to shut him up in one of the barrels of an organ, in his future performances.

Mrs. Clarke performed a few nights with great applause. Her Belvidera exhibited most impressively the subduing tenderness of

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