company, and his faithful attachment is so rooted, that even death will not part them---his family, he says, will hereafter get 10,000l. a year by it.

TOM SHERIDAN has received great advantage from the 50001. subscription, and is recovering very fast. In his merry moments he often repeats his father's words in Puff; “I was burnt out, and lost my little all. I lived upon that fire a month!".

A NEW DRURY-LANE THEATRE.-Mr. SHERIDAN has sounded Mr. PERCEVAL on the projected plan of erecting one by lottery, but the Chancellor is decidedly against it. Mr. S. thinks of opening the Lyceum on the 9th of Sept. by licence, for his own emolument.

Mr. Egerton of the Bath theatre, is engaged at the New Covent to succeed Mr. Pope.

Mr. TAYLOR intends to endeavour to get a licence to play English operas at the King's Theatre, with the assistance of Mrs. Billington, Mr. Braham, &c. The Italian opera is clearly on the decline in this country.

On the 29th of June, died Miss MEADOWS, on a load of hay. She was seized with spasms, while riding with her father in a chaise, and conveyed to the hay on which she expired.

"The managers of the Liverpool theatre have (according to the public prints) presented Mr. COOKE with a piece of plate for his unequalled exertions during the last three weeks" of June-in English-having kept sober (Sunday's excepted) the whole one-and-twenty days! The piece of plate, being "two silver gilt cups," was very satirical of Messrs. Lewis and Knight, for it was, as if they had said, Now, Master Cooke, you have what you like-a cup too much.

Lately at Swansea theatre a new ballet was produced,called The Sa vages, under the direction of Mr. Kean.

MR. ELLISTON's Macheath at the Circus.-On the 13th of June, two days previous to this worthy display of his talents, he thought it necessary to address an apologetic letter to his friends. This long epistle was in our possession, but we would not then, nor shall we now find room for it. Our opinion of his letter-writing, and acting out of his particular line, is well known. On this occasion we shall borrow two of many similar sentences from an ingenious contemporary critic. Of the contents of the letter he says, they "convince us of nothing but the writer's consummate vanity." (By the word writer he is, perhaps, not aware that he kills two birds, a fat stubble and a green goose, with one stone.) Of his Macheath he speaks thus: "He has not a note in his voice, and knows no more of music than modesty."

CATALANI. Mr. HARRIS has begun to feel the pulse of the public. In the British Press, July 6, there is a letter signed John Bull, declaring how delighted he, Mrs. Bull, and all the little Bulls (aliàs calves) will

be to hear Catalani " for a few shillings," (seven we suppose) at the theatre, instead of half a guinea at the Opera. We believe the feelings of Mr. Bull to be here very much belied, and we trust that the writer has taken his name in vain. If so, we understand that Mr. HARRIS means to give CATALANI 1000l. to be off. Better give her the whole of the bond, and glut the rapacious avarice of her husband, than so degrade the British theatre,

"Some of the papers state, that there was a fraces between Mrs. Jordan and another performer at the Dublin theatre. There was no fracas; but the fact is, Mr. Dwyer behaved improperly on the stage, and the manager very properly withdrew him during the remainder of Mrs. Jordan's performance in Dublin."

If Mr. Dwyer will send us a relation of the story, as he tells it, it shall be inserted.

Mr. INCLEDON is taking a tour of Norfolk, with his Voyage to India.

Mrs. CLARKE of the Manchester theatre is engaged by Mr. HARRIS for three years.

Opera House.--On Saturday the 8th, the corps de ballet refused their assistance, from respect to Mr. D' EGVILLE, who has been treated with so much illiberality by Mr. TAYLOR.

Mr. H. JOHNSTON has for 6000l. obtained Astley's theatre in Dublin licence to play English operas, &c. The house enlarged will hold 4001. He is in town engaging a company.

ASTLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE.

The Arab; or the Freebooters of the Desart; continues both with foot and horse, to levy very large contributions on the public purse. Mr. Astley's genius has never been more successful. He has also added a new comic pantomime, called Harlequin Pygmalion, or a Tour through France; in which the excellence of Mr. Laurent and Mr. Bologna junr. are very conspicuous. The Hunted Tailor is equally surprising and amusing.

SADLER'S WELLS.

If this theatre is not more profitable than any other, it is merely because it is smaller; for the entertainments have given so much satisfaction to all ranks, that the house overflows every night. Mr. C. Dibdin's Wild Man is still running, and nothing in scenic representation can be more delightful. Grimaldi's serious ballet acting is little inferior to his pantomimic, and Mr. Rees junr. in Sancho shews a good portion of comic talent.

PROVINCIAL DRAMA.

L

Theatre, Royal, LIMERICK.—Our theatre has been opened here for several weeks under the management of Mr. Clarke. This city has never been remarkable for supporting the entertainments of the drama, and indeed chiefly occcasioned by the little exertion that has been used to render the amusements attractive. The situation of the theatre is extremely incommodious, and the interior of the building has an appearance which does little credit to the proprietor. The present patentee; Mr. Jones, contents himself with sending down some few individuals from the Dublin theatre, with the aid, perhaps, of one performer of established celebrity, for about a fortnight, in the middle of summer, and at this period most of the families have left the city for the amusements of the country; but, however, at this period are the assizes; it is considered a public time, and it is the only season that Mr. Jones has ever found it convenient to send performers to us. Our present manager, Mr. Clarke, who is the proprietor of Galway, Tralee, and other provincial theatres, resolving to make the experiment, entered into arrangements with Mr. Jones, and has, with a spirit and enterprise highly praise-worthy, brought a most respectable provincial company, who have been performing here for several weeks, with a degree of success that was not expected. The encouragement Mr. Clarke has met with, we hope may be such as to induce him to visit this city annually, and as a new theatre is generally spoken of, as about to be erected in a situation more eligible than the present, we augur most favourably of the attempt. The present theatre is in every point most unfavourable to the interests of a manager, and the high terms which Mr. Clarke engaged it upon, we are apprehensive will leave but little profit to himself. We confidently trust, however, that it may be the means of leading to the formation of an establishment upon a more advantageous plan, and that full scope may be given to the energy and exertion of our present manager. The company consists of the manager, Mr. Lacy (who performed some seasons ago at Covent-Garden), Mr. Curtis, Mr. Connor, Mr. Smith, Mr. Richards, Mr. Helme, Mr. Williamson, Mr. Gahan, Mr. Ives, &c. Mrs. Clarke (wife of the manager), Miss Matthews, Mrs. Kelly, Miss Webb, Mrs. Connor, &c. Mr. and Mrs. Hill, late of the Covent-Garden theatre, performed here for a few nights. Mr. H. Johnston has been likewise engaged, and was rewarded last week by an excellent benefit; the receipts of the house we understand were 1561. Pizarro has been renewed here with great splendour, and performed several nights; H. Johnston was the Rolla,

Clarke, Alonzo, Lacy, Pizarro. Miss Matthews, Elvira, and Mrs. Clarke, Cora; all of which characters were most ably supported. The merits of the company shall be more fully spoken of in a future number.

May 30, 1809.

A CONSTANT READER.

Theatre, DURHAM. This theatre closed on Friday last, the 19th instant, with Mrs. Inchbald's comedy of," Wives as they were, and, Maids as they are," and the "Jubilee," for the benefit of our worthy manager, Mr. Anderson, after a very successful and profitable season. Messrs. Anderson and Faulkner have been indefatigable in their exertions to produce and bring forward every novelty; such as the Africans, Exile, Portrait of Cervantes, Is he a Prince? School for Authors, &c. &c. and in a style of expence, elegance of scenery, dresses, and decorations, certainly not surpassed in any country theatre. The present company are Messrs. Faulkner (manager), Flowerdew, Lancaster, Thompson, Russell, Wallis, Darley, Bland, Elliotts (father and son), Holmes, Adcock, and Diddear. Ladies-Mrs, Pitt, Darley, Elliott, Lancaster, Wallis, Bland; Misses Simpson, Campion, and Diddear. Mr. Faulkner's merits are well known, I shall therefore begin with Mr. Flowerdew, a very genteel young man, and a correct sensible actor, particularly in parts of cool declamation; he is successor to a Mr. Mann, who left this company last year, and was the reverse of every thing which an actor ought to be, and possess. Mr. Lancaster has come in Mr. Penson's place, and it is not saying too much, that he is, and deservedly so, as great a favourite. Mr. Russell is new also, and in country boys, a great favourite. Mr. Russell also sings well, particularly comic songs. Mr. Wallis is first singer, possesses a fine genteel figure, and good face, but he seems young on the stage, and has much both to acquire and get rid of, before he can be properly qualified for such a situation. Darley is still the same good-natured stupid sot we have ever known him, and would he refrain from his daily guzzling down eight or ten pints of ale and 'porter, and wasting his time in the very lowest blackguard company, he might then be able to retain his faculties at night, and acquit himself with decency in parts of greater consequence, than the managers dare at present entrust him with. Messrs. Elliott are beyond doubt a pair of the vilest tormenting clogs that were ever hung round the neck of a manager, and did not humanity exonerate the managers from blame, for so long retaining them, this audience would have long since interdicted their appearance. Mr. Holmes has followed Mr. Carr, who was here two years ago, and to say the least in his dispraise, he is every thing which Mr. Carr was not; Mr. Carr was invariably correct to a letter, and Mr. Holmes repeats almost every sentence after the prompter;

Mr. Carr was a steady sensible actor, and “never overstepped the modesty of nature," but his “delicate” successor bellows out every word in the true conventicle cant, and caricatures poor nature most abominably." Mr. Adcock plays the part of Irishmen, fops, old men, &e. &c.-is in every thing the same, and if ever an actor mistook his way pre-eminently above all others, he is that "unlucky wight." Alas, poor Noble, "what a falling off is here!" I am afraid we shall ❝ never look upon his like again” here. The remaining male part of the company are so far beneath criticism, that to mention their defects would be gi ving them a consequence not intended. Of the ladies, Mrs. Pitt and Miss Campion, have retrograded with rapid strides for the two last years, but their loss cannot be felt while Miss Simpson (from Manchester), and Miss Macauley (from Newcastle), who is to join at South Shields, take their places, and remain in the company. Mrs. Darley is a host in herself, and both as a singer and an actress stands unequalled in most country theatres. Mrs. Wallis is a pretty singer, and in some things, a lively actress; but she has acquired a disagreeable habit of entertaining a continual simper or grin, which in some characters makes her, although otherwise a pretty woman, highly disgusting. Mrs. Elliott has been prevented by illness from appearing much this season; but she was at the best an indifferent actress, and in the old women's line never exceeded mediocrity.

P. F.

May 26, 1809.

Theatre, SUNDERLAND. Our managers brought us down for six nights, Mrs. Edwin, who is engaged for the ensuing season at Covent· Garden, and who is truly a most fascinating actress; she personated the following characters to a good assemblage of beauty, loveliness, and fashion:-Letitia Hardy, and Ella Rosenberg, Juliana (Honey Moon), and Flora (Midnight Hour), Cora, and Clara (Matrimony), Angela, and Aura (Farm-House), Lady Townley, and Alexina, and Statira and Roxalana, for her benefit. Our company is in as good a state as we can expect from the known liking the "lords" have for new faces; the following good people comprise the good company-Messrs. Faulkner, Bland, Darley, Wright, Thompson, Elliott, W. Elliott, Adcock, Holmes, Russell, Flowerdew, Lancaster, Wallis, and Gilchrist, (a youth just made his debut on any stage). Mesdames Pitt, Darley, Elliott, Wallis, Lancaster, Thompson, Miss Simpson, and Miss Macauley. There is another lady belonging to the company, a Miss Campion, but for what reason she has been left at the town, (South Shields) whilst the whole of the company else has been shewn, we cannot tell, but a good actress she is, and a lovely discreet girl into the bargain; but 'tis said she leaves for Portsmouth, through some quarrel with the