For tho' in Richmond's hallow'd fane
In peaceful urn his ashes sleep,
Long, long shall every Scotian swain
His name in dear remembrance keep.

And oft as Time returns the day,

The day his birth hath sacred made,
Ednam shall wake the fervid lay,
To sooth her native poet's shade.

Fair-flowing Tweed, with limpid stream,
O bear its echo o'er the vale,

Bland zephyrs catch the tender theme,
And breathe it soft each balmy gale..

While Seasons roll their annual round,
While Freedom flames beneath the sky,
Some generous breast shall still be found,
For him to heave a heart-felt sigh.

Dear shade, farewel!-forgive the Muse
Does thus thy loss with grief deplore,

Her scanty wreath do not refuse,

Wet with a tear-she has no more!

MEMORANDA DRAMATICA.

NOTHING new has occurred, of any importance, at either of the winter theatres, since our last report. On the 15th of May, Mr. Colman commenced his season at the Haymarket. With the exception of Messrs. Blisset and Burton, Mrs. Goodall, Mrs. Atkins, and Mrs. Keys, the company consists of the same performers as were engaged last year. In the room of these absentees there is a Mr. Noble, from the Newcastle theatre, a comedian of considerable merit, who appeared, in Lope Tocho, in the Mountaineers; Mr. Weston, from the Edinburgh stage, who made his debût in John Lump; Miss Howells, late of Covent-Garden theatre; Mrs Taylor, from Bath; Miss Daniels, from the same theatre, a very accomplished singer, perhaps the best on the stage after Mrs. Billington and Mrs. Mountain; and Miss Woodfall, the young lady who, last year, afforded such extraordinary promise, at DruryLane, in the character of Adelaide, in the Count of Narbonne.

Mr. Palmer, of Drury-Lane, is re-engaged, and Mr. Bannister is to join at the close of the Drury-Lane season. The reasons for this departure from the intention, so formally and so positively declared, to establish a company totally independent of the winter houses, we are not acquainted with.

A comedy from the pen of Mr. T. Dibdin, called Guilty or not Guilty? a play by Mr. Colman; and a Grand Ballet from Mr. Fawcett, founded on Shakspere's Tempest, are some of the novelties expected to be produced.

ROYAL CIRCUS.

The wonderful performances of Ireland and M'Keen, with the interesting spectacle of the "Wild-Girl," and the admirable comic pantomime of "Cybele," continue to draw crowded audiences to this beautiful theatre. The active attention of Mr. Cross, the manager, to gratify the public taste and curiosity, entitles him to that patronage which, through the whole of the season, he has so liberally experienced, and which we cannot but think a tribute due to his efforts and exertions.

ASTLEY'S NEW AMPHITHEATRE.

Whilst Mr. Astley gratifies his audience with pieces produced in a style of splendour and magnificence hitherto wholly unrivalled, we consider it as paying a compliment to the taste of the town, to state that his theatre continues to enjoy an uninterrupted career of popular favour. The serio-comic pantomime of "Benefaiso," in the course of which eighteen entirely new scenes are displayed, is one of the most striking performances we ever remember to have witnessed; and the French spectacle of the "Female Hussar," has equal interest and merit. On Monday last a grand historical national spectacle, in two parts, called "1588, or the Spanish Armada," was produced. It possesses great merit, and was received with the warmest applause.

THEATRICAL CHIT CHAT.

Drury-Lane theatre closes on the 9th of June, and Covent-Garden on the 29th. Mr. Elliston is engaged for three years, to commence the ensuing season, at the former theatre. It is said that Mr. Bannister declines the management next winter, and that it has been accepted by Mr. Elliston :---this report we are inclined to discredit.

The BRIGHTON theatre will open on the 3d of July, under the management of Mr. Brunton. On account of the respectability of this gentleman's character, and his determination to render the theatrical performances worthy of a town so immediately befriended by the PRINCE OF WALES, His Royal Highness, with the liberality and condescension which have ever distinguished him, has, we understand, authorised Mr. Brunton to announce that the theatre will open under his express sanction and patronage. Thus conducted, and thus royally distinguished, the season will, no doubt, prove more productive, (as certainly it will deserve to be) than it has been the lot of any former manager to experience. The company engaged is of the most excellent descrip

tion.

PROVINCIAL DRAMA, &c.

Theatre WORCESTER.—This theatre has been lately favoured with the performances of Mr. Holman, whose principal distinguishing talent in acting is in the quick transitions from one passion to another, exhibited on a fine face, the lines of which are strong, visible, and well-proportioned. His benefit brought the fashionables of this elegant city into one charming group, the beauties of .which, doubtless, drew many a stray glance from the performance. Miss Sims, who has long been a favourite in the first circles of respectability and taste, for her amiable manners, and agreeable and sprightly performances, is visibly unwell, and we see the painful efforts of an elegant mind, either sinking into sympathy which it too acutely feels, or rising into spirits which it can ill support. The merits of the rest of this company are already well made known to the public, through the medium of your miscellany. I have been much pleased with the acting of Mr. Webber, when he exerts himself. This company has lately experienced a loss, which it will be long before it recovers, in Mrs. Chambers-who has followed our old favourites, Fox and Shuter, to that "undiscovered country, from whose bourn no traveller returns !”

ERRATICUS.

Theatre BEWDLEY, (Worcestershire).-Mr. Crisp's corps of theatricals have been playing here with considerable applause. Mr. Crisp "is in himself a host;" his country boys, and a very extensive line of comic acting, are conceived and executed in a style too rich for the beggarly circuit in which he moves. A Mr. Farren, from Wolverhampton, played here a few nights (his first appearance on any stage) with a degree of eclat unprecedented, considering his age and line of acting, (Ollapods and Loony Mactwolters) in any thing I have ever seen. Mr. and Mrs. Young, from the Worcester squad, have joined this company; Mr. Young is a good figure, and plays a very handsome Tom Shuffleton.

ERRATICUS.

N. B. In a tour through Worcestershire, Mr. Editor, I have visited all the theatres I found open; the rest are too low for criticism. I saw Hamlet played in an old red jacket!!! Romeo and Juliet cut down to an interlude, and Pizarro played for a farce!

Theatre Royal NORWICH.-Our theatre this season has been better attended than for many years past, and the manager has given every novelty in his power previous to the commencement of the benefits, which are now approaching. We hear that some material alterations are going to take place amongst the performers. The company at present consists of the following: Mr. Bowles, who plays most of the heroes, in comedy as well as tragedy; but we would advise him to confine himself to the latter, as he is much too lusty and inactive to come forward in those light parts played by Messrs. Lewis and Bannister. Mr. Phillips, we understand, quits us at the end of this season. He is a valuable performer, though rather a confined one, and we feel some regret at losing him. Mr. Fitzgerald performs some of his Irish characters in an excellent style, and

is respectable in most he undertakes, yet we wish he could contrive to soften his voice, as it is at times very discordant. Mr. Brewer is, in some of his sentimental old men, very pathetic, and plays them with judgment and feeling; his Maurice, in the Wife of Two Husbands, is very good, and not over-strained. Mr. Mallinson takes the lead in the comic business, and we think him rising very fast to the top of his profession. His country boys are inimitable, as are his smart servants, such as Risk, in Love laughs at Locksmiths; Edward, in the Irishman in London. His Timothy Quaint, and his Tag, in the Soldier's Daughter and Spoilt Child, are finished pieces of acting. I have very frequently seen Mr. T. Blanchard, late of Covent Garden, in most of his favourite characters, and think Mr. M. very like him in his style of acting. Mr. Eastmure has a deal of humour, in his comic old men, but is apt to be very imperfect; whether from neglect or bad memory we cannot tell. Mr. Holliday is in some things respectable. Mr. Bennett fills the vocal department, and is seconded by a Mr. Cushing. Mrs. Worthington is the heroine: she has a good figure, and could she get rid of a twang of the Norfolk dialect, we think she would rank high in the profession. Miss Birchall wishes to please, and seldom offends. Mrs. Phillips is the first singer; her figure is pleasing, but small; her voice clear and We are astonished the manager should part with such an acquisition to his theatre. Mrs. Bramwell has a pleasing figure and voice, but we are sorry to see her so far outstep nature in every thing she does. We also hope she will not lay herself open to the censure of the public, by aiming at characters so much beyond her abilities. Mrs. Binfield is a pleasing singer. Mrs. Walcot (late of Drury Lane) is too well known to require our opinion. The rest of the company consists of Messrs. Birrell, Bowles senior, Beacham, Clifford, &c. Mesdames Clifford, Fullham, Fitzgerald, &c.

sweet.

April 23rd 1804.

IRISH THEATRICALS.-The "Familiar Epistles to F. E. Jones, Esq. (Manager of the Dublin Theatre) on the present State of the Irish Stage," have thrown the whole corps dramatic into consternation; indeed, since the famous "Rosciad" of Churchill, there has not, perhaps, appeared a work equally classic and satirical on the same subject. Truth, in some instances, falls a sacrifice to heighten the colouring, and some characters are so bedaubed, and others come otardily off," that a trace of the original is scarcely discernible. Mr. Richard Jones (the Lewis of Ireland) is a glaring instance of the author's wilful misrepresentation, for though he is, as the satirist observes,

yet the modern school of comedy warrants these monstrosities, and after Mr. Lewis, Mr. R. Jones is certainly the best actor at present on the stage, in the light and giddy Shuffletons, Goldfinches, &c. and has besides a versatility of talent, rarely met with in so young a performer. It is rumoured, in Dublin, that he is engaged for Covent Garden next season, where he will, doubtless, experience a candid criticism from a discerning public.

If the above sketch meets the plan of your work, I shall again trouble you with strictures on Miss Howels, Messrs. Talbot and Hargrave, and Mrs. Galindo, who are all uninercifully handled by the author of the satire.

VERITAS.

THE MONTHIA MIRROR.

355

DOMESTIC EVENTS.

THE DUKE D'ENGHIEN.-The excellent production of Mr. Peltier, the Ambigu, speaking of the execution of the Duke D'Enghien, has the following beautiful passage:-" Let M. Fontanes now lavish his adulation without restraint on the regicide executioner of France! the task is worthy of him. It is in the palace of the Duke D'Enghien that he presides over the legislative assembly, and there his throne is placed upon the dead body of its master. Base actions demand the shade, the obscurity, and silence of night: the night was, therefore, well chosen for performing the dreadful rites of this iniquitous mystery. They did not dare, in open day-light, to draw up French soldiers, face to face, before their illustrious victim- Lest a look from his august countenance, should palsy their nerves, and freeze their rage.' Let us imagine a traveller who had wandered in that hour in the wood of Vincennes, destined to behold the new festival of Atrea! The shadows of night, the gloom of the forest, the pale light of flam-beaux, the oaths of the soldiery, and the base conduct of the generals, these preliminaries of a base crime, shake him with horror-scarcely dares he breathe. The fatal escort arrives-suddenly it stops-a confused noise is followed by the report of musquetry. By the transient light of this discharge he sees a man fall in the midst of a crowd of troops. Soon the assassins retire in disorder; he advances with trembling steps: at first he perceives that a youth had been murdered. Soon the dawning light betrays to him that the youth is a Bourbon, the twenty-first in descent from St. Louis, weltering in his blood, within the domain of a palace built by his ancestor. What do I say! at the very foot of the oak, beneath whose shade the royal saint in person administered justice to the lowest of his subjects! What, if this traveller is a royalist! It is you, it is myself: our blood stagnates in our veins, and we fall senseless on the disfigured body of the young hero!

-Frigidus horor

Membra quatit, gelidusque coit formidine sanguis."

At the great sessions for the County of Radnor, an action was brought by a fair lady of fifty-five, against a Welch farmer, for breach of promise of marriage. It was clearly proved, upon the part of the injured damsel, that the defendant undertook to lead the blushing fair to the altar, and that she tacitly consented. The court, however, not conceiving the contract complete, as the engagement was only implied, and not expressed by the lady, who, it appeared, had also shewn symptoms of attachment to two other false hearted swains, thought proper to nonsuit the plaintiff.

Mrs. Minifie, a cousin of the novel writing Miss Gunning, is the lady upon whose nice honour and delicacy, an eminent lawyer is charged with having made an illegal attempt.

At the last Enniskillen assizes, Wm. Harpur was found guilty of the murder of Maguire: the following are the particulars of this horrid transaction: Maguire was a farmer of some respectability, as also Harpur: they lived a little

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