Miss Davison.

Mrs. Cooke.

EPILOGUE,

Written and spoken by Mr. Langrishe,

At the close of the Theatre, the 29th of October, 1808

Since Charity so many sins can cover,

Pray Heaven, its power may shade our errors over!
For that we may have sinn'd, we must admit,
Sinn'd against action, utterance, and wit,
But never wantonly--our crimes are still
Crimes of necessity, and not of will.
Howe'er, since during eight succeeding years,
No foe traduces, nor e'en Envy sneers,
No more of fancied ills, or fabricated fears!
Amidst the fatal tumult that awaits
The fall of Monarchs and the strife of States,
'Midst the wild horrors of a Tyrant's rage,
Making this spacious Globe one Tragic stage,
This our auspicious dome, our hallow'd spot,
By Fortune favor'd, and by Fate forgot,
Sacred to polish'd Pleasure still remains,
Nor Tyrant threatens here, nor Sorrow stains.

Long as the world by usual rules was bound,
And manners chang'd not ere the sun went round,
'Twere possible to catch at transient Taste,
And fix its fleeting figures, ere they past.
The times were, then, for playful painting fit,
And rich materials rose, and stay'd, for wit.
But now, so quick the changes, who can find
The present picture of the hunan mind!
Kings sunk to Vassals, Democrats to-day,
To-morrow court some cruel Tyrant's sway.
This hour we boast the honor, might, and worth
Of our most gracious Allies of the North,
But ere our subsidies are wafted o'er,
They plot, perfidious, to molest our shore.
Oft I've exhausted irksome hours in vain,
To praise the Russian, or excuse the Dane,
When by the next express, or Evening Post,
My labour'd theme of panegyric's lost.
The Russian's false, or timid---Dane, the same;
And the rude Swede, alone, from us can claim,
Thro' the wide North, or friendship, faith, or fame.
In these sad times, when Laughter's out of fashion,
And poor Thalia, sighing, yields her station,
When Tears and Tragedies are all the vogue,
Who'd risk his fame in Comic Epilogue?

But faithful folly, still the poet's friend,
Bids me her favorite Barouche ascend;
There the gay Queen on box triumphant sits,
Dispensing Law on buckles, straps, and bits,
Tempts each aspiring Youth to mount beside her,
Drives six in hand, and scorns a pole-end driver;
Empty and useless, the Barouche, behind,
Follows, just Emblem of its Owner's mind !—
Blest Britain! matchless in your rich resources,
Whose Ancient Nobles drive, and dress, their horses;
Unite in clubs, to teach th' admiring throng
To turn the corner sharp, and throw the thong,
For every function of their Coachmen fit,

In Manners---Talents---Objects--Garb--and Wit.
Of all the various passions that engage,
Our best, our purest pleasure is the Stage.
Here scenes, by forcible examples, reach
Beyond what wisest Moralist can teach.

By Fraud forewarn'd, by Folly render'd wise,
Inspir'd by Virtue, and incens'd at Vice,
All bosoms feel Truth's sacred form impress'd,
And each deep instance penetrates the breast.
To aid this festive jubilee, appear

Rank, Beauty, Fashion, Wealth, and Talents, here;
While taste, to crown the whole with polish'd joy,
Blots from each character its coarse alloy.
Here you have witness'd mirth with sense allied;
Truth without roughness---Riches without pride;
Courtiers with candour--Statesmen without gall;
Actors, from whom no vain self plaudits fall;
Soldiers, that boast not of their feats in war;
Lawyers, that prate not of the wrangling bar.
Here lib'ral wits each other's verses praise,
And, e'en for rivals, weave the crown of bays;
Here Swains, from Love alone, feel soft Alarms;
Here bounteous beauties open all their charms,
Above concealment and deceitful arts,
They kindly shew---they almost shew their hearts.
We the wide Drama of the World detail,
Where all are play'rs, but on a greater scale,
Each acts the part his Manager allots,
While proud Napoleon preconcerts the Plots,
Makes, and unmakes, her Kings—as we do here;
And dreads, like us--a British hiss, or sneer:
Storms with domestic fury, where he wills,
And every land, but ours, with terror fills.
And yet such quick transitions now take place,
Such wondrous changes in men's projects pass,
This King, like one of tours, may leave his throne,
Nay, ride a horse-race to amaze the town,
And sick of state and diplomatic speeches,
May change his robes for buckskin boots and breeches.
Where differs then our Manager from him?
Each casts his actors' parts, as suits his whim,
And both are tragic managers, we see,
Patrons of grief, and friends of misery.
But then our woes ne'er last beyond the hour,
While his, with endless ills, his dupes devour.

* Among the fashionable Females of this day, no fair Bosom could be accused of concealing any thing from its Adinirers.

The gentleman who performed the part of King Lear, had, previous to the Plays, rode a Race at Kilkenny.

‡ The Tragedies, this Season, outnumbered the Comedies.

Athwart the gloom with which the world is bound, Dark'ning in dismal shades th' horizon round, From southern Spain, what glorious rays proceed! Nor can ferocious power the flame impede. Great, gallant nation, dignified and brave, March with intrepid step, and Europe save, Stem the fierce torrent of a Tyrant's course, Prove virtue paramount to fraud and force, Be bold, not sanguinary--still unite The heart of mercy, with the hand of might, So shall your resolute example reach Earth's utmost bounds, and loyal ardour teach. Last, and reluctant, to the strife you came, You sought no conquest, you requir'd no fame; To save your Thrones, and Altars, all your aim. Should such a cause want aid, that aid we'll lend, For every Briton is the free-man's friend--E'en now, where Tagus rolls her yellow tide, New Triumphs crown our public zeal, and pride; Nay, should unseemly Treaties waste the prize, By valour won--the glory never dies; And long this Isle shall boast, that here were bred The Troops that conquer'd, and the + Chief that led. At length Adieu!-may each succeeding year, With scenes, as bright as these, our prospects cheer! Long may the grateful themes delight the mind Of Heroes so renown'd, and Friends so kind.--

* Alluding to the Convention of Cintra. + Lord Wellington.

[Leinster Journal, Kilkenny, Wednesday, October 12th, 1808.]-Our Private Theatre opened on Monday Night last, with the Play of the Wanderer, and the Farce of the Village Lawyer.

The House, though not greatly crowded, formed an assemblage of beauty and fashion, equal to any first night's representation that we remember. We observed, amongst others present, the EARLS of ORMONDE, and DESART, GENERAL and LADY MATILDA WYNARD, GENERAL and MRS. HAMILTON, LADY ELIZABETH KAVANAGH, MR. MRS. and the MISSES LANGRISHE, SIR HENRY and LADY WILKINSON, MR. and MRS. W. NEWPORT, MR. and MRS. NEWTON, Mr. and Mrs. JOSEPH GREENE, COLONEL GORE and FAMILY, Mrs. G. PONSONBY, and the Families of KILFANE and FARMLY. Amongst the recent ARRIVALS we have to announce General Sir JOHN DOYLE, Bart. Mrs. WHEELER and Miss DOYLE, Colonel and Mrs. DOYNE, Colonel and Mrs. FALKNER, Mr. and Mrs. RICHARD VERSCHOYLE, Mr. Mrs. and Miss ATKINSON, and many others we have not room to mention.

The appearance of that charming Actress, Miss SMITH, for the first time at our Theatre, diffused general satisfaction and applause. Mr. RICHARD POWER spoke, in his happiest manner, an excellent occasional Prologue, which we understand is from the pen of Mr. ATKINSON.

[Leinster Journal, Kilkenny, Saturday, October 15th, 1808.]-The Play of the WANDERER was originally written in French-Edouard en Ecosse.-It was afterwards altered by Kotzebue, and has been since adapted to the English Stage, under its present title, by Mr. C. Kemble. Its merit chiefly

consists in the interest it creates for the safety of Sigismond, the hero of the Piece, which character was very successfully sustained by Mr. CRAMPTON.

The Old Ramsay of Mr. G. PONSONBY, delighted us much; and that Mr. R. POWER gave the part of Count Sparre as much effect as it could receive, it were unnecessary to say. We congratulate the Company on the acquisition of Mr. CORRY, who, in the short, but interesting part of Valdestein, gave a proof of good feeling, and a natural taste for the Stage. We do not think this Play will bear frequent repetitions, but still we consider it to be an entertaining Piece. It was followed by the Farce of the Village Lawyer; one of Mr. CRAMPTON's most fortunate exhibitions of the lively, and the ludicrous.

On Wednesday, was performed, SHAKESPEARE'S delightful Comedy of As you like it, of which we venture to assert, that it was, what is technically called, the best got up Play yet exhibited on this Stage. The number of Performers in it precludes the possibility of our doing to each, the separate justice he deserves. Rosalind was delightfully personated by Miss WALSTEIN; we always have seen this Lady with pleasure, but never, with so much, as on Wednesday; the gallantry and sensibility of Orlando were felt and expressed by Mr. R. POWER, in a manner that pleased us exceedingly; there is a justness of discrimination about this gentleman that is very obvious in every thing he undertakes. To the assumed misanthropy of Jaques, Mr. ROTHE gave the highest colouring; there was a justness in his deportment, with a manner sarcastic, though kind-melancholy, but not malignant, that gave to this character its true effect. His recitation of the Seven Ages, exhibited the sanguine feelings of a cultivated mind, and he painted the various stages of this life, rather as in pity of their follies, than in hatred of their crimes. In the part of Adam, Mr. LYSTER affected us extremely, and shewed that his powers of pathetic expression are hardly inferior to his well known comic talents. The Touchstone of Mr. LANGRISHE was in his usual neat, and happy manner, fully proving to us, "that to play the fool well," requires no small portion of talent. Most pointedly, under the stalking horse of his folly, did he shoot off his wit. The dignified air, deep tone, and correct recitation of Mr. BECHER in the Duke, gave the exquisite writing of that part its utmost force, and we shall always consider this Play as of the highest credit to our Theatre, both as to its selection, and performance.

After the Play, Miss SMITH recited Collins's Ode on the Passions.

Amongst those who attended the Theatre we observed the MARQUIS and MARCHIONESS of WATERFORD, LORD and LADY CASTLECOUTE, COLONEL COOTE, Sir JOHN CARDEN, LADY D. MONCK and Family, and other persons of distinction. The Theatrical Company has been favored with the presence of ANACREON MOORE. The celebrated Miss OWENSON, we also find, is on a visit at the Palace. In short, Kilkenny has become the seat of the Muses; and many not only of the highest rank, but of the best talents of our Country, are now to be found on our Stage, or among those who are the spectators of our attic entertainments.

[Leinster Journal, Kilkenny, Saturday, 29th October, 1808.] JANE SHORE was performed on Friday, the 14th instant: it is unnecessary to praise this Play, and it would be absurd to condemn it. It has stood the test of time, and is one of our best and most interesting Tragedies. With regard to its selection, it evinced, we must say, a very liberal selfdenial in the Gentlemen of the Theatre, for the female Characters in the Play are conspicuously superior to those of the men; but the choice was not less wise than liberal, when we consider that they had the assistance of two such eminent performers as Miss SMITH and Miss WALlstein. It would be invidious, were it possible, to draw a comparison between these two Ladies, in Jane Shore and Alicia. Each part was so admirably acted, as to create a belief in us, that neither could perform the other character so well;-each of the Ladies was emulous of her own fair fame; but not envious of the other's. The Hastings of Mr. R. POWER, exhibited the high spirited, gallant, patriotic, but loyal nobleman-a character we wish often to meet with in real life; and the manner in which he repeated these popular lines of "Beyond myself I love my native Land," proved how sensibly he felt every sentiment he uttered. The Gloster of Mr. LYSTER, was a faithful picture of the crafty tyrant, and Mr. ROTHE's performance of Dumont, particularly in the scene with Hastings, affected us most sensibly. We never saw Belmour better played than by Mr. BECHER, particularly in the scene with Shore, where he sounds him as to his affection for his wife.

On Monday, the 17th inst. was performed the Tragedy of DOUGLAS, in which the Lady Randolph of Miss SMITH was greatly admired; the various passions of expectation, doubt, tenderness, indignation, and grief abound in this character, and afforded her many opportunities of exhibiting the varying powers of her expressive countenance. Mr. R. POWER, in Douglas, was spirited, but not arrogant; modest, but not lowly; he hit the happy medium between the vain glorious air assumed by some, and a tameness observed by others, that almost sinks the character into insignificance. With Mr. POWER it was altogether a most successful performance. Mr. BECHER gave us Glenalvon, as he should be, cool, crafty and considerate. The soliloquies, though somewhat heavy in the composition, were impressive from his recitation, and interesting from his feeling; The Old Norval of Mr. LYSTER was, as is always the case with him, a true picture of Nature.

[Leinster Journal, Saturday, October 22d, 1808.]— On Wednesday Evening, SHERIDAN's excellent Comedy of the RIVALS, and certainly one of his best productions, was performed at our Theatre.

The character of Sir Anthony Absolute, was filled by Mr. LYSTER with his usual ability. The sentimental Falkland can never be placed to more advantage than in the hands of Mr. ROTHE, nor Captain Absolute find a better representative than in Mr. R. POWER. Mr. CRAMPTON shewed us how well he understood the intention of the author, that Sir Lucius O'Trigger should be represented as a Gentleman. The part of Acres devolved on Mr. CORRY. Towards the last Act his voice seemed to have failed him, and probably from fatigue, for we believe the part was undertaken at a short notice. He is not therefore, a fair subject of Criticism. Fag was in the hands

of Sir JAMES STRONGE.

Mr. MOORE as David, kept the audience in a roar by his Yorkshire dialect and rustic simplicity; we are surprised to hear that this was the first appearance of this Gentleman on any Stage. The Lydia Languish, and Julia, of Miss SMITH, and Miss WALSTEIN, were all that we could wish; but the Mrs. Malaprop of our old favorite, Mrs. HITCHCOCK, was preeminently excellent.

The PADLOCK followed, in which Don Diego, Leander, and Mungo, were well supported by Messrs. CORRY, DALTON and MOORE; but Mungo received the greatest tribute of applause.

[Leinster Journal, Wednesday October 26th, 1808.] — On Friday last our Theatre was quite full. The Play was OTHELLO, succeeded by the Musical After-piece of No SONG, NO SUPPER. Mr. ROTHE'S Othello is, in our opinion, one of the most perfect pieces of acting we have seen on any Private Stage; his graceful deportment and pathetic voice, are peculiarly adapted to the dignity, and tenderness of Tragedy. The honest candour, and manly feeling with which he delivered his speech to the Senate, his convulsive pangs when he accused Iago, and the burst of passion with which he uttered "Othello's occupation's gone," exceed all bounds of praise, and must have been seen, to be duly felt. This Gentleman's stile of acting is very peculiar; the technical exhibition of stage imposture sinks before the depth of his feelings, and the strength of his expressions-he aims directly at the heart, and never fails to reach it.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE was performed on Saturday. Mr. BECHER'S Shylock contends with Mr. ROTHE'S Othello in dramatic excellence; and we might, without adulation or flattery, apply to him the complimentary couplet that was addressed to Macklin in that Character:

"This is the Jew "That Shakespeare drew."

We are certain that Mr. BECHER, from his time of life, could not have seen him; and yet, there were some passages in his acting that reminded us of that Veteran Performer.

Shylock is a character which is supposed to require the force of the most powerful, and the skill of the most experienced, veteran of the Stage; yet, this gentleman, though so young in the dramatic art, gave to every passage a just, and forcible expression that surprised us-In the scene with TUBAL, his transitions froin angry passion to malignant pleasure, were admirable, and in his demeanour before the judgment seat, he exhibited a deep and resolute revenge, firm, but not furious, inexorable, but not outrageous, which proved that he felt every variation of the character.

Miss SMITH'S Portia was admired and applauded. She inspired a great interest in her favor, while pleading before the Senate of Venice, the cause of Mercy, and Justice, against the Jew. Mr. ROTHE distinguished himself as Anthonio; and Mr. R. POWER did equal honor to Bassanio. Nor is Mr. DALTON's Lorenzo to be forgotten; he introduced in the Midnight Scene, a sweet Song from the Melodies, which he gave with a thrilling effect upon us..

The Comedy was followed by the Farce of the VILLAGE LAWYER.

old

On Monday Night we had the CLandestine MARRIAGE. Mr. LANGRISHE is hardly inferior to the late Mr. KING in the part of Lord Ogleby. "Take him for all in all," whether as to voice, address, or costume, he was a most perfect representative of the vain, infirm and amorous Peer. Mr. CRAMPTON's Canton reminded us much of BADDELY, as indeed do all the French characters he plays. Mr. LYSTER'S Old Sterling, acquired the applause he al ways obtains in every Character he undertakes. Brush, though a trifling part in itself, acquired some importance in the hands of Mr. R. POWER; but we must say that in playing the Fop Servant, he was unable to conceal the Gentleman. Mrs. HITCHCOCK was truly excellent in Mrs. Heidelberg, and Miss WALSTEIN's Fanny was quite beyond our praise.

Love a la Mode succeeded the Play, in which Mr. HENRY BUSHE was Sir Archy; his imitation of the Scotch accent surprised us. Mr. G. PONSONBY was equally happy in Squire Groom; and nothing could be better than Mr. CORRY'S Beau Mordecai. The Sir Callaghan of Mr. CRAMPTON sustained the fame he acquired for the delineation of the Irish Gentleman, in the Character of Sir Lucius O'Trigger; and we could not give him higher praise.

The Gentlemen of the Theatrical Society of Kilkenny, have returned their thanks, in a formal manner, to Mr. ATKINSON, for his most excellent Prologue, spoken at the opening of the season, and have requested him to become a Member of their very laudable Institution.

Among the latest arrivals, we noticed GENERAL SIR WILLIAM MYERS, Mr. and Mrs. RTALL, of Clonmell, and Sir WILLIAM and LADY MORBES.

In the course of the present season, there were some very entertaining Dances and Ballets of action; but as they do not so much belong to the

"Feast of reason, and the flow of soul,”

as the productions of Rowe and of Shakespeare, we hope we shall be pardoned in postponing our observations on them.