Young Norval shewed considerable abilities, but in this part she is entirely eclipsed by Master Wallack, who appeared for the first time on the 6th of May. With a pleasing and prepossessing countenance, a clear conception of the character, action always easy, and frequently graceful, he acquitted himself in a manner that afforded abundant satisfaction. The Glenalvon of Master Herbert was very clever. His articulation, as well as his memory, is good, and he is a smart, forward boy. Miss Waldron, in Lady Randolph, did herself great credit -Her person is well formed, and the able tuition of her father has not been lost upon her. But of all the little comic manikins, Master Dawson, though least, stands highest, and deservedly so, in the public estimation. His acting in Scrub is irresistibly droll-The vis comica of his face and manner is so powerfully and singularly humorous, as to excite involuntary bursts of laughter.

We cannot spare space to notice all these heroes separately, and must therefore content ourselves with observing, that no one is without some merit.

PROVINCIAL DRAMA.

Theatre PORTSMOUTH.-The following is a list of the benefits for the pre

Theatre Royal EDINBURGH. Before giving a list of the benefits of the seafew words may be expected respecting certain members of our corps unnoticed, or but briefly mentioned, in my former report.

son,

In Mrs. Jones, from the Newcastle theatre, we have a real acquisition. A sound judgment, a penetrating understanding, cultivated by education, I have often stated to be necessary to lead to eminence theatrical or otherwise. In vain can I persuade the bulk of our dramatic candidates that learning beyond that of preventing them "from making an ill figure in the ordinary of Newgate's paper," as Mrs. Peachum has it, or making out the words of their part, (which some of them, I hear, do by deputy) or being able to sign a petition for transportation, or so, when necessary, is but pedantic jargon, tending to fetter the sprightliness of their fancy, and paralise the activity of their native genius.

"Much do I toil to shelter from disgrace

Our foolish, prating, idle, playing race."

As example is often more efficacious than precept, let me recommend that of Mrs. Jones to the serious consideration of mere inspired performers. The ad> vantages of sound sense, and an excellent education, combined with diligence in her profession, have placed this lady at the very summit of her line, (old women) and would have done much in any other department, notwithstanding the natural disadvantages of a short figure and a voice incapable of the higher intonations.→→→ I may sometimes find fault with her not discriminating accurately characters of native vulgarity, from others, ridiculous only from affectation and peculiar habit, but, on the whole, I consider Mrs. Jones as the best old womanat present on ́the British boards, though I am not insensible to the merits of Mrs. Davenport, Mrs. Powell, and others.

men.

A Mr. Gibbon, alias Macgibbon, succeeded Mr. Eyre, at least in his old Whether from inveterate bad habit, or a defect of utterance, I know not, but he certainly pronounces with the mouth of a Garagantula. His recitation resembles that of a mad mummer repeating

Let all the lights be put out to a snuff;

Let gods meet gods, and so fall out and cuff.

In other respects, if never unexceptionable, he is at all times tolerable. I have seen Knox in two or three characters, but all I either can or choose to recollect of him, was to have heard some girls above me observe "he was a brave strap ping young chield:" his acting might pass either for tragedy or comedy, and I dare swear he is just as fit for one as t'other" equal to both, and armed for either field."

Mr. Wrighten I saw only in one character, and that of no great consequence. I am convinced he has requisites, but I am equally sure he has much yet to do, and a great deal to undo. Had he seen a great deal more of John Kemble, or rather had he never seen him at all, his progress would have been infinitely greater. Mason, the husband of the actress of that name, is also with us. From what I have seen I believe him to be

"Some clerk, foredoom'd his father's soul to cross,
Attempting characters when he should engross."

Of other performers I have little to add. Mrs. Willoughby, among the females, just holds such a rank as little Barker, (whose name, by the way, instead of one Brown, was inserted in my last among the buttermilk worthies), among the males, i. e. to fill up a playbill, and at times a very trifling part, which the pride or the caprice of more able performers has rejected. Mrs. Berry is a clever little sprightly lively lass, always in good humour herself, and, of course, ever inspiring it in others. Were she to cultivate singing, particularly of hal lads and simple melodies, her progress would be very considerable.

I remark, with sincere pleasure, that my last rebuke has not been lost upon Mr. Dwyer, who has sensibly improved, so far as to abstain from the grossest of his errors. I again repeat that a disposition more accommodating, and a temperament less sanguine, will, with diligence and application, lead this highly gifted actor to the very summit of his profession. His Liar is one of the first pieces of acting on the British boards. Evatt is becoming more and more a favourite;

his sound judgment, steadiness, and unremitted industry, will entitle him to become still more so.

Mrs. Mason appears not to be convinced that dignified modesty, at least the appearance, of it, can form any feature in the character of a fine lady. Hence her deportment is charged with an audacious vulgarity, which, I trust, she will be at pains to get rid of. Mrs. Macgibbon, though she is said to be a respectable actress, our managers have kept so much in the background, as to preclude my remarks; since I have not yet acquired the art, like certain diurnal London critics, of forming my opinion by deputy.

Of Mrs. Orger I have yet to speak. Toa sweet-toned voice, susceptible of every modulation; to a fascinating vivacity and gaiety of manner; to an enchanting sprightliness of action, and captivating ease of deportment, this lady adds such a perfect symmetry of figure, as would, had he seen her, have rendered the task of Apelles, in searching for the model of his Venus in the various charms of all the beauties of Coos, altogether superfluous. I should but exhibit my insufficiency to those who have seen this admirable woman, were I to attempt to depict a face where the rose and Jily seem trying their efforts to form the finest complexion; where beauty, blended with loveliness and grace, mark, and irradiate every feature. Like the painter, who veiled what he was unable to depict, I renounce the task, saying only with the poet,

"O! she is more than painting can express,

Or youthful poets fancy when they love."

When a just confidence, the result of conscious merit, has superseded the amiable ingenuous modesty of inexperienced youth, and given free scope to those brilliant powers of vivacity and action I know her to possess, I hesitate not to say Mrs. Orger will rank in the very first class of British performers.

But I avoid particular eriticism on a juvenile performer under eighteen. The first blossoms of the vernal rose naturally shrink from the cold nipping blast which soon must be faced in all its rigours.

The experience of this and the two or three last seasons ought to convince Mr. John Jackson that the tide of popularity, though never in his favour, has irretrievably turned against him. It would be " kicking against the pricks" to attempt a renewed management. This season has been peculiarly unfortunate to the receipts of the house, and yet, singular as it may appear, not one of the performers altogether failed in his benefit, though the courts of law were up, and thousands of course out of town; and though, by some gross mismanagement, the performers were obliged to act every night for the last fortnight of the season, and thus risk a total failure. (The benefits followed each other nightly.) This disposition in the audiences of Edinburgh to patronize individual merit requires no encomium; it is honourable to themselves, to the performers, and highly creditable to the liberality and taste of their country.

Note. It may be proper to remark, that the Edinburgh theatre is usually open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The strength of each night may thus be estimated: if the aggregate be sixteen, then Saturday may be equal to six and a half, Wednesday four and a half, Monday three, Thursday two. In the subjoined list the Saturdays are marked thus. *

John Bull,

........Turpin, ............................................................... £.150
*Suspicious Husband ....Dwyer, ............................................... 144
Soldier's Daughter......M'Gregor, Boxkeeper, ....... 155 s
Cymbeline, ..............Evatt and Wife, .......... 100 11
*Mountaineers, ..........................Toms, ........................................................................ 115
Secrets worth knowing, ..Berry, .................................................. 100 9
*Provoked Husband, .....Mrs. Mason and Husband, . 79*
Clandestine Marriage,..Macgibbon,

57
Battle of Hexham, ........Flowerdew, ................... 55
Fashionable Lover, ......Messrs. Jones and Shaw, 80+
Last night, Heirat Law, Mrs. Orger,

78

The rest of the penult week of performance was occupied in ticket, doorkeeper, &c. nights. On Friday Miss Walton and Knox risqued a benefit, the Caledonian Roscius playing Rolla. Though it blew one of the most dreadful storms of snow, sleet, &c. seen at this season for many years, the house amounted to about sixty pounds. The price paid the manager is forty-two pounds, extra expences about three pounds more; but on benefit nights, when it is unusual to perform, the expence of the house is only thirty pounds.

Of the merits of Master Wilson I must at present defer giving an account. Suffice it to say, that his figure is beautiful, his powers extraordinary, and his age only twelve. JUSTUS.

Theatre BELFAST.-Our theatre at this place has been greatly improved, and is opened upon a very extensive scheme by Bellamy, the late manager of the theatre at Manchester, who has purchased the whole of the property in it.--He has fitted up the house in a style of brilliancy and expence which does great credit to his spirit, and gives him a just claim on the public for their favour and patronage; and as we Hibernians, we trust, are not of a disposition to be wanting in attention to the just claims of merit, we have no doubt that it will turn out a most successful adventure. Mrs. Bellamy is at the head of the company, both as a tragedian and in the first line of genteel comedy. Bellamy himself is a singer of long established fame, and his appearance here has justified the report which preceded his arrival. Mrs. Bellamy is a well-known favourite with us; she played here some seasons ago under the old management, and though she had little to gain, she has certainly improved. They are, however, both to leave us, the next season, having made a good engagement with the managers of Covent Garden.

Of the performers in general, I have not now time to enter into an account of their peculiar excellencies, but you may expect from me a full report of their merits before the close of the season. Amongst the novelties we have Miss Gren ville, an enchanting little girl, from Stephen Kemble's company at Coventry. Her figure, though small, is remarkably interesting and well turned. She possesses a fine sweet toned voice, and has all the steadiness of a well-trained and scientific singer, and, as a vocal performer, has received great applause. Added

* This certainly the benefit that most completely failed.

+ I believe a few pounds less. The night was a Tuesday, and last but one. I consider, under all circumstances, this to have been one of the best benefits. Y YVOL. XXI.

to this she evinces great judgment and feeling in sentimental comedy, and the younger parts in tragedy. She has performed the character of Mrs. Malfort, in the Soldier's Daughter, with much approbation; and in the character of Ophelia, in Hamlet, and Zamora in Tobin's charming comedy of the Honey Moon, she did every thing to aid, by a fascinating appearance, a sweet voice, and delicate feeling, the efforts of the poet.

As she is an eleve of much merit, your magazine will be well employed in recording her real excellencies, and I cannot do it better than by transmitting to you some pleasing lines on her, which have been circulated here by an amateur.

Lines on Miss Grenville, of the Theatre Belfast.

✪ thou, with beauty and with skill combin'd,
The grace of person and the force of mind,
Vers'd in each province of the mimic art,
That charms the fancy and amends the heart,
Enchanting Grenville, thy delightful strain
Must from all hands enraptur'd plaudits gain!
Thy voice, like Philomel's so piercing sweet,
Makes tears of woe with throbs of pleasure meet.
The chaste Ophelia, that lov'd nymph so fair,
So tender, sweet, so injur'd, and so rare,
As erst the poet in his fancy drew,
Was ne'er so well pourtray'd as now by you:
And in thy Zamora we feel the art

Of simple love, that warm'd the cynic's heart.

How just the truth by Eloise confest;

Those best speak passion who can feel it best!

What wonder thou shouldst charm who art forin'd to move,
A parent's fondness and a suitor's love.

D. Z. W.

Theatre Royal, GLASGOW.-This house is, in point of ornament, as formerly remarked, so truly enchanting, that the moment the spectator enters its walls-by the illusions of the scene, the mind is instantly transported into the regions of fancy, and is eminently delighted with the view of a fairy temple. But the deception is of short duration when the curtain is drawn, they must be stupid indeed, who do not perceive how grossly ignorant its architect has been in the principles of mathematical knowledge. The galleries are so wretchedly constructed, that each spectator (excepting those in the front seats) can only obtain an occasional Pisgah peep at the stage, and that over the shoulders of his neighbour! And, as for the pleasure of hearing the words of the play, why we think ourselves very fortunate, if we can only hear one word out of ten! Ridiculous as this picture may appear, Mr. Editor, it is not overstrained-no, to its truth the whole of this theatrical community can, from sad experience, bear ample testimony. For the honour of the city these blunders ought to be speedily rectified. The more especially as the architect has not been able to adduce, in his own defence, any reason why the citizens of Glasgow ought not to have a theatre where they can hear and see the performers; as well as the other loyal subjects of his majesty. So much for the house, now for the actors. And le!