Hamlet, not only does not see the ghost, but does not even hear the speech addressed by him to the prince. Nor is there more sense in the remark, that the ghost of Banquo is the mere offspring of Macbeth's terrified imagination. This indeed is the moral inference to be drawn; but Shakspere wrote his play in coaformity to the popular belief in ghosts, and in the efficacy of witchcraft. The appearance of Banquo's ghost, is one effect of the incantations of the weird sisters, and part of the machinery of the tragedy. With equal propriety the apparitions of the eight kings, and Banquo's after them, in the fourth act, might be left to supposition.

In the scene with the Cauldron there were also some variations from the established practice, which we conceive to be injurious to the general effect. If our eyes did not deceive us, one object was exhibited as the representative of the eight kings, the number being declared by so many flashes of light upon this individual object, which continued stationary. We cannot believe that this was done to save the expence of supernumeraries, and it certainly will not be considered as an improvement. To the new mode of making the apparitions rise from the mouth of the cauldron, there can be no particular objection, on the score of propriety; but here again the effect and the interest suffer, since, from the glare of the cauldron, it is not easy to distinguish one apparition from another.

Upon the sinking of the cauldron, Macbeth exclaims, "Why sinks that cauldron, and what noise is that?" This noise is represented by a shriek; but what meaning does that convey? The noise which Macbeth heard is a strain of magical music, preparatory to the visions of the kings, which the sisters invoked to "shew his eyes and grieve his heart;" music similar to that which accom panies many of the enchantments in the Tempest, &c. It was a constant practice, when visions were to be represented, as may be seen in many old plays, besides Shakspere's. We have offered thus much in support of JOHN BULL'S right to a full view of " the blood-bolter'd Banquo," at Macbeth's "solemn supper," and in justification of the discontent he manifested, on this night, at his not exhibiting himself, as he has been wont to do on this stage ever since its erectien.

PROVINCIAL DRAMA, &c.

Theatre MARKET HARBOROUGH." Sir, As I have never perceived, among your monthly provincial reports, any account of the theatrical exhibitions at this place, I have thought a few lines on the subject might not be altogether unacceptable. We, like other towns, have been occasionally visited by strolling companies, and within these three years have had no less than three distinct ones; namely, Messrs. Hamilton, Hillyard, and Simms' companies. The latter left us a few days since, after performing every other night for about six weeks; and upon the whole in an extremely creditable manner. The company consisted of Tayleur and his wife from Manchester; the former, an actor of great versatility and humour, the latter a very superior actress in old women; Mr. and Mrs. Healey also from Manchester, both performers of great merit. Indeed, Healey is the best actor in such characters as Bulcazen Muley, Job Thornberry, the Poor Gentleman, Sir Philip Blandford, &c. I ever saw out of London, where he justly merits a situation; Bywater, from Leeds, a comedian of great oddity

and whim, and whose performance of Caleb Quotem particularly was highly characteristic and diverting; Yates, from Liverpool, a young man of uncommon promise, whose Octavian, though a very dissimilar character from his usual cast, evinced considerable powers both of conception and execution; he should not, however, attempt to sing, nor occasionally make use of fantastic gestures. His wife is a very fine figure, and acts in an unaffected pleasing style; the Miss Daniels, from Manchester, young actresses of much merit; Harrison, from Leeds, tolerable; Newboll, and Sharpley, and wife, indifferent;' and Simms the manager, from Manchester, whose exertions as an actor, mechanist, and scene painter, and whose decent orderly conduct as a man, are highly deserving of public patronage. In short, Mr. Editor, the company was truly respectable, and, if I might be allowed to infer from some criticisms that have appeared in your publication, not only superior to any one before remembered at this place, but even to some that have strutted and fretted their hour on the boards of a theatre royal. The last night of performing was patronised by the officers and privates of the Loyal Harborough Volunteer Infantry; the theatre (a neat room in the town hall) was completely filled, the receipts being about £'. 14. "God Save the King," and " Rule Britannia," were sung by the audience, who seemed animated, one and all, with the warmest loyalty and patriotism.

Sept. 24, 1803.

H. E.

Theatre GLASGOW." Our theatre closed last night, after having been open only one month, the company being obliged to go to Edinburgh. Among the new performers we had Mr. Hollingsworth from Drury Lane; Mr. and Mrs. Evatt ; and Mrs. Basters, from Covent-Garden; Mr. Faulkner from Bath; Mrs. Brereton, and Mr. Berry, from Margate, &c. John Bull was again brought forward, with Rock in Dennis Brulgruddery, who, since his return from CoventGarden, has become a greater favourite here than ever. Mr. Faulkner delivered the sentiments of Peregrine with feeling and animation; Mr. Evatt was very diverting in Tom Shuffleton; and Mr. Hollingsworth, in Sir Simon Rochdale, gave great satisfaction; but so much cannot be said for Job Thornberry, which was performed by Mr. Berry in a very inferior style; the other characters were well supported and performed by the rest of the company as in the summer.--Pizarro has also been brought forward in a very magnificent style, Pizarro and Cora by Mr. and Mrs. Evatt, Rolla Mr. Faulkner, Alonzo Mr. Toms, and Elvira by Mrs. Basters. The theatre closed last night with this popular play, which was patronised by the duke and duchess of Montrose; the house overflowed in every part. The company will return again in April."

10th Dec. 1803.

JOHN BLUNT.

Theatre MANCHESTER.---Our theatre opened, on Friday, December 2, with Pizarro, and Little Bob and Little Ben, for the benefit of the patriotic fund, raised in this town. I observe that the company has been increased by Mrs. Reed (who, two years ago, made her debut on these boards under the then adopted name of Mrs. Faulkner,) Mr. Knox (from the Theatre Royal York) Mr. Mrs. and Master and Miss Bland. The house was filled in all its parts, and the receipts amounted to £. 124. The play was got up with great eclat, and the performers exerted themselves to the utmost. Mr. Huddart was particularly successful in Rolla. Between the play and entertainment Mr. Ward was to speak an Address to the Patriotism of the British Nation, and accordingly he

came forward, but here I am very sorry to say, strong marks of disapprobation were shewn, and he was prevented from speaking by loud hisses, and at last, but not without difficulty, he obtained permission to proceed.

5th Dec. 1803.

FOREIGN THEATRICALS.

PARIS--They are going to revive, at the Comedie Francaise, the Etéocle and Polinice of Racine, retouched by M. Legouve. The first new comedy promised at this theatre, is entitled "Le Pauvre Garçon Malade." A new debutante has lately attracted great crouds to Louvois. The name of this inte resting young actress is Fusil. Although she possesses talents, the report which she makes in the world, compared with that of Mademoiselle Duchesnois, is only the explosion of a fusil, compared with that of a cannon.

The Opera Comique has announced the return of Martin, after making a de partmental harvest, and a new piece, Le Medicin Turc. Etteviou will play the principal part. The music is by Itali Francais Nicolo Trouard. One of the theatres threatens the public with a piece, entitled the Earthquake of Lisbon, a Melo-drame, by M. Bouille. Some suppose this to be the same piece which Mehul means to bring out shortly at a provincial theatre, with a view to ascertain its merit. La Petite Guerre has not succeeded at Louvois; and Anacreon has been damned at the opera. The most difficult to please, however, admit that the decorations in Anacreon were very good, and there was, in La Petite Guerre, one versé that was not bad. M. Mendouze is the author of the grand opera of Anacreon, damned on the eleventh. A wit observed, on leaving the theatre, "They will not perform Anacreon demain 12 (De men-douze.)" The comedies received by the committee of the Comedie Francaise, have been rejected by the censor, one excepted. It is a comedy in five acts, by the author of Seducteur amoreux. Foreigners frequent Montansier. The Grisette abound at Vandeville. The Bourgeois love the tone of Louvois. The inhabitants of St. Germain croud to the Comic Opera. But all people of all ranks, classes, and quarters meet at the Opera.

CELESTIAL NOTICES.

On Friday 29 Nov. from about 9 to 10 in the evening the AURORA BoREALIS was visible: which has hardly if at all been seen for 8 or 9 years past. The lights, which were vivid, were low, and near the Horizon: chiefly of a pyramidal Form; but some nearly circular. They faded from a gold colour to a pale evanescent white: and had none of that variety of prismatic colours by which this phænomenon, in a stronger state, is frequently distinguisht. Few if any exceeded 10 or 12°. The Moon shone very bright, and was only the third day from the full.

The same evening a rather small but very brilliant Meteor, resembling Jupiter in colour and lustre, was seen for 8 or 10 seconds, passing considerably below Lyra, and south of it to the West. About half an hour after another Meteor: and several of those smaller call'd shooting stars, all nearly in the direction of the magnetic Meridian. C. L.

HISTORY OF THE STAGE.

FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF GARRICK'S MANAGEMENT.
(Continued from page 61.)

Covent-Garden.-Season 1760-1.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1761. [Mrs. VERNON'S n.] B. Opera.-Lucy, (1st time) Mrs. Vincent. Tho. and Sally. 9.—Ib. and L. Valet,

10.-[Ben. of Mr. Barrington and Mrs. Lampe.] Rom. and Jul.-Juliet. (1st app.) a young GENTLEWOMAN, Tho. and Sally. 11.-Sp. Friar. Chaplet.

13. [Mrs. Elmy's n.] J. Shore.-J. Shore, Mrs. Elmy; Belcour, Gibson. Lethe.-Fine Lady, Miss BRENT; Lord Chalkstone, (1st. app.) a GENT. who, after the farce, performed the scene of Lady Pentweazle.

14.-[Mrs. BENCRAFT'S n.] Jov. Crew. R. of Pros. 15.-Refusal. L. à-la-Mode.

16.-[Mrs. Vincent's n.] Wife's Relief. Flor. and Perdita. Shuter's Origin, &c. of the order of British Bucks.

17.*-Wit without Money.-Francisco, Hull; Lucy, Miss Hedge; Isabella, Mrs. Baker. Lethe. The Fine Gentleman attempted (1st time) by Mrs. Burden; F. Lady, Mrs. Green.

18.-R. Queens. T. and Sally.

20.-[Dunstall's n.] Wonder.-D. Pedro, Dunstall. [Not acted for ten years] Phebe, or the Beggar's Wedding. (a) Harry Hunter and Phebe, (1st time) Mr. Mattocks and Mrs. Vernon; Chaunter, Dunstall; Tippet, Mrs. Green.

21.*-Cleone.-Cleone, (1st time) Mrs. Ward. [First time for six years] Eng. in Paris.-Buck, for this night only, by FOOTE, with a prologue; Lucinda, Miss Macklin, who sang a song, accompanied herself on the guitar, and danced a minuet with Mr. Leppie.

(a)" A ballad opera of three acts, by Charles Coffey, 8vo. It was first performed at Dublin with but indifferent success; but being afterwards reduced into one act, and played in London under the title of Phebe, in 1729, it pleased so well as to obtain a run of thirty nights. In the year 1763, it was revived, acted, and printed again in 8vo." Baker. It must have been acted, as appears from our Register, in 1751, and again in 1761.

"Charles Coffey was a native of Ireland. He had no very great share of original genius; his turn was humour, and having met with some success in altering and patching up an old farce of Jevon's, called the Devil of a Wife, he pursued the same kind of plan with some other dramatic pieces, but with very little success, most of them having been very justly damned. Mr. Coffey was in his person considerably deformed; yet no man was more ready to admit of, and even join in any raillery on himself. One remarkable instance of which was his performing the character of Æsop for his own benefit in Dublin. He died on the 13: of May, 1745,and was buried in the parish of St. Clement's Danes." Baker. 3 G-VOL. XVI.

22.-[Mr. Lalauze's n.] B. Body. Shuter's Day of Taste, and Double Disappointment.

23.-[Ben. of Mattocks and Hull.] J. Crew. Springlove, Hull; T. ant Sally. The Sailor, (1st time) BEARD; the Squire, (1st time) MATTOCKS.(b) 24.-[Ben. of Collins and Younger, the prompter.] Hamlet.-Horatio, Hull; Ophelia, Mrs. Vincent. D. to pay. Nell, (her 1st app. here) Mrs. Younger.

25. [Ben. of Mr. Tindall.] Theodosius.-Marcian, (1st app.) Mr. Tindall. L. Valet. 27.*-L、 makes a Man. Elvira, Mrs. Ferguson. T. anal Sally.

28.[Mr. Stoppelaer's n.] Stratagem. craft; Cherry, (2nd app.) Mrs. Stoppelaer.

Aimwell, Hull; Gibbet, BenFlora, or Hob in the Well. 29.*---Royal Merchant. Woolfort, Anderson; Bertha, Mrs. Lee. D. ·to pay. 30.---Jov. Crew. Springlove, Clarke. R. of Pros.(c)

(b) Mr. Beard and Mr. Mattocks on this evening exchanged characters.
*Ticket nights.

(c) Mr. Shuter's and Mrs. Clive's benefits happened this season to fall on the same evening (the 26th March) an event attended with circumstances that produced a paper war between the spirited KATE and the bold SHUTER: the following letters are transcribed from the newspapers of that day. The first was inserted in the London Chronicle, and the latter in the Daily Gazetteer.

MRS. CLIVE'S Letter.---" To the Author of the DAILY GAZETTEER. "SIR,

"AS I never read your paper, I did not hear of the malicious letter you had published against my benefit, till the very day, when it was too late to endeavour to prevent the mischief it might do me, as it was most artfully put in your paper the day before, as well as the day of my play, It is dated from George's coffeehouse; but your correspondent must excuse me for not believing it came from thence, as I have always heard that coffee-house was frequented by gentlemen, not one of whom, I am confident, would have done me an undeserved mischief. I could not possibly suppose Mr. Shuter was capable of asking any body to write such a letter for him, as I never did him, or any performer, the least injury; on the contrary, I have had the greatest pleasure when it has been in my power to serve them in their benefits, from the highest class of actors down to the very lowest. But though he was not concerned in the writing of it (as he has declared he was not) it is too palpable to admit of the least doubt, that it must be wrote by some of his acquaintance, in order to serve his benefit, by destroying mine.-That indeed was not quite in their power, as I had the honour to have a most noble and splendid appearance of persons of the first distinction that night at my play; who have been constant in their goodness and favour to me, and who were not to be influenced by a wretched letter-writer. The loss I most certainly sus tained by it, I should have submitted to in silence, as it is with the utmost diffidence and reluctance, I appear before the public in this light: but there is a most malicious and wicked insinuation in his letter, which I think myself under an absolute necessity to reply to.