The National Register. — London, England, 1817-06-30 00:00:00

-...44T OF Mk. KEMBLE 0100 THE STAVE. • TWEATRIP.. 011Itt4T-OAIRDEN.—On Monday evening last, "dr. Kentble took flits (new ,well of she public, In the character .tif es ids h is 'towards or Mitt/ yeses glace )Ir. Kean .lllk wade his first appearance lietiirelt Landon audience, in `the arduous part of Mettilet, mod easing the above long thes - Cleat fries, it is but eefatilf l ll justice So elate, Wet his bistri • tanical exertions fired—his peculiar talents, and the looter of Ms excellence, kept pare towards huprov count botwithstandlim the aminerons covispetitors that riffle isp to divide wish ,hits, his well-earned fame never lost a ray of its brilliancy.—The departure from the stage of a Oen- Cerium to whine classical taste, and unwearied assiduity in the Wipe*. muted of the stage, it is so deeply Indebted; phase private life is as hemouralile, as his talents. which have died so nisch lustre upon Vat profession of which he is the 'remanent, were transeendant—is an event of no ordinary interest, The avowals $OlOlll it attraeted to the the&tre, were, notwithstanding the esteem, hest of the wea ther, very great ; •the eventual were el otwded at en early hour, and after the opening of the doors the house was in stantly filled. One sentiment seemed to pervade the admir ing thousands who asseinbled to catch the parting rays of that effulgence which was no more to appear above the horizon ;••••143 look, fee the hist time upon that departing splendone which was to be reeled limn their view for ever. Mr. Kemlile wits greeted•by a receptinn respectful end gra tifying in the extreme—the house sirmiltatieously rose to welcome his entrasice, and the reiterated thunders of their sclutatievis for a considerable time arrested the progress of the play. Every passage daring the performance which could admit of application to the theatrical honours of Mr. It - noble was eagerly caught tip and blindly noticed. At the centhaviee smut placanla were exhibited. on which were iascithed " No farywelt." At isesittli Mr. Kendile came for. Award. and addressed the audienoe, we believe, nearly in the following weeds ; my !sat M ilm r ike d" with any from the situation ; with cus- .:, that the Mblet I first hut per. I have of toe. rei z ed artir e : - - , 1 have wit blg /or a -1 bia you • this ad interrupted • cheers the iii. blimeat immerser ear " harmless pleasure" foretwer closed, we then felt.in its felt form. the melancholy regret inspired by eternal separation from an nld and valued friend; and uti. getestiossable preefe Mere displayed, that the like sense of the oeverity of that lose was universal. A wreath of laurel. with a. Bilk scarf attached to it., was Minded la 11. Tablet, who was is the Orchestra ; and be. well knowing. it* destination. Song it {lntently on the stage.— twrivever„ OM not perceive it ; and in a short time one or the Hemet' of Thralls e entered to clear the stage; bat the loud voice of disapprobation forbade bias to touch the laurel and its appendages. The Manager was called for, mid Ur. Fawcett mode his aPpearatice obedient to the call He took op the wreath and the scarf, and, addressing the d• siidieoce, saki, be coals, only underytaed these to have been intended as a tromplinweit to Mr. Kimble. If it were their pleasure to depute him to present the laurel to that gentle man, they would impose upon hint one of the most delightful tasks that it had ever fallen to his lot to perform. The whole Heine having by their shunts intimated that they wished thin to be done, Mr. Fait ern assured the on. thence, that in their name he would forthwith present it to Mr. Kemble.. He retired amid the plaudits of. tt e whole house, whir n ere fievently renewed in honour of the great Actor who had Jost made hi. final bow. Ail felt that since the time of Garrick 's. interesting an exit had nut been made; and scented disposed to exclaim, with fond regret, in answer to his tearful—" farewell"— " Tbon but of all the Romans, fare thee welt" On the silk scarf a complimentary address to Mr. Kemble was printed. Many (rinds of Mr. Kemble attended him in his dressing room after be had finally quitted the stage, in order to testify their esteem and regard; among whom were Earl Percy, Lord William Gordon, Sir Thomas Lawrence, M. TalinaJec. To gratify the wishes of the Performers. he distrthateti • among them several of the articles which lie hal used : to out, the wrrrah which lie had worn; to soother his gloves, to a third hi- handkerchief, fee. Matthews was lucky enough to obtain his sandals, which induced him to say, " 1 limy get bisamtelels, but can never tread in his shoes." When the curtain drew up for the afterpleee Porimir of Cavalries, the clamour was so loud for Its b eing tot d own • again. that Isle. Fawcett was again induced to thank the an dtance fbr this new mark of respect to the Actor whom they bad just lost, and to announce that the eight's performances wan at an end ; but sonic pertons iu the galleries continuing to call for the fare". it was a fterwarda pertbrined amidst loud dieapprobatiow, I not a word of it was beard. We lament his retirement—it is evidently premature with I reference to his admirable abilities ; for they base not yet began to waosis sickness may have made some impression upon his once athletic frame. bet they have lost none of their former vigour and freshness. His bodily strength, is, doubt lest, much diminished ; sad, if his corporeal powers are not precisely what they base once been, his mental are • and, as Cicero observes, " - am obilres awl eelaciretibm set tele;itett OW ream resets/se geranter. His recent excellence in Hotspur, the repetition of which was tinaninionsly called for. atone satisfactorily evinces that there exists no approxiniatiwa.— To the style of Kerablesocting, were we required to apply that epithet which seems to its peculiarly appropriate, we should say that it was highly poetical—for it breathed all the lofty inspiration ; It was animated by all the impassioned but tempered energy ; it exhibited all the intellectual cha racters ofinteilectnel grace ; it Lore all the luxuriant but us• oppre- witness; it embodied the grassiest conceptions with en .be teeth. !widow, sod simplicity discoverable in t h e no bl es t e ffusions of poetry. or tl' most elaborate studies of ' .be scul l ...gr. To tithe as a subjtct for listriouir paiutiuG • "./Agttes awn Gerrie:watt—This night I hem made appowatioe Wore yers. t fear I tenant express eny• f wi Wild of peopricty--coded. I wished tow ithrhsw sUritly . fr thew :I hod sot marposuee esough for this stm Itfit Isave 'Wend IRON to le pervaded. in compliance IA tom. to utomeessymeft'eresd. LADlZSaxii . gyiltrtiittaix..4 entreat you to believe, tl kind aPProbegilla w yea irar bestowW upon me since bobsine a csmedme as( S. down to this my la fortnance, will remain fee etair irn .my heart. Waterer talents I am master of. whatever mations "wade m an actor. or es emensger. In iroproving the propriety tube, end 'ivies inereaserripleridour to the representations. p lady these of our ,use fiNdtaime.they bare been nada ,issolmecameard. the fam m which you he named them. ." Amur my respectful. mem, Fradentia—k is see big. v 4 and now suffer me. Larlica and Gentlemen. to biJ a l , li ad an unwilling—Zemlya I" Arleen the c nthwiiastie applanse which followed tl dress,—his truly affeetieg delivery of which was inter, hrtho straorest agitation of his feeling., nod by the of *if andieoge hadmilisided—when we saw one of tl • .• ,A NATICIN4I. - T. REGISIT.R. the first exhibition of natural eassimi that offers itself, and to produce a minable cop, Of 110 must prominent features is all their mwitigateahhardness. it a work whose (Weaker.. may be coulalently esieueddered by second•rate nbitity s bet to select from the room of Platens whatsoever is *est beautiful and niagnifieent, and to compose a greet. a well-eumiceted, and an expressive, design, demand: other talents than 1110 St• of mere imitation. It is only by the co-operation ola refined taste, a solid judgment, and a creative imaeination. that the materials which obeervetiast ha* collected can be Curtin d into illustrations of tragic poetry; reflecting, as they might I. do, the highest attributes of the soul. Here it is that lielnlole steads superior.. la viewing the fine performances of Mr. lienthle we have felt the sante kind of pleasure, and have experienced a renovation of the same phrasing train of ideas, into which we were led while we gazed upon the immortal glories of the Apollo or the 11.socoon.--The lines of his finished pictures of human character had all the well-defined firmness of those impressed by the graver, without hardness ; and all the graceful flow and feeeilosit of those traced by the needle, without the Lew carelessness. His acting was the finest exemplification conceivable of the truth. !:very thing had its distinct meaning—every look, every torte, every gesture, was impressiYe not only in itself, hut moreover, !weenie they ' all converged to one point—they were all detortnieed by, and ' hail reference to, one pervading idea, which governed and influenced the whole. It may be very confidently predicted, that the ancient warrior and knee will not find, while the re collection of bumble shall remain unimpaired, even a totera- Ide representati%r. It is surely impossible for the imagine, Lion to form more sublime and poetical conceptions of what ever was most IltfiCal in the meridian greatness of Rome, than the Brutes. the -Coto. end the Corielanut of that great actor. lii each of .tbe two former, the steady elevation of a noble soul, etting tuitforttines with a sense as keen as that of other men. brat by its strong resolutions subduing the ordi nary emotions of distress ; whose inflexible virtue no self advantage can conupt, no menaces can intimidate; whose every action bespeaks a dicnified censeiousness of unshaken rectitcdc—and, in the latter, the martial air, the e attician haughtiness, the impetuous vehemence, and the towering supe riority of the valiant soldier—were pepsine., ed with a depth of feeling. a sustained guandenr, and an astonishing power of expression, which defy competition and challenge the severest scrutiny of criticism. We respectfully take our leave of Mr. Kernble, by heartily wishing that he may live long to wear the laurels with which he is decorated, and which by a long and brilliant career of professional excellence, he has so nobly won—that lie may he attended in his retreat by uninterrupted Itappiness—and, that " peoples. opts st rapine et dignitatent (swam) tetenebitierens sexcautem uideri."—(Cicero.) FAREWELL DINNER TO MR. KEMBLE. At Freemasons' Tavern, on Friday, the friends and ad mirers of Mr. Kemble, illkiolllo mark his retreat from the stage with show honours whirls his high professional charac ter eminently deserved, invited him to a splendid banquet, at which it was intended to present him with a superb silver vase, bearing a suitable inscription. At half-past seven o'clock, the Stewards (who were corn posed of the principal performers of Covent Garden and Drury Lane Theatres) entered the room, ushering in I ord Holland, Mr. Kt-usable, the Duke of Bedford, Lord Erskine, Lord Petersham, the Marquisses of Worcester and bins down, the Earl of Aberdeen, J. W. Croaker, Esq. Thomas Campbell, Esq. the Rev, Gee. Crabby, Thcs. Moore, Esq. liuswee if sties, Esq. Benjamin West, Esq. President of the Royal Academy, Flawman, Esq. It.A. Mons. Talmo, ire. ore. . _ _ Lord Holland took the Chair, supported on his right hand by tlr. Kenaile, and on his left by the Duke of Redford. " The King—The Prince Regent—The Queen, and the rest of the Royal Family"—were drunk with the accustomed honours. Lord Holland they rose and eaiJ—" Gentlemen, in per sonnee of the proceedings of this day, I hoped to have had the honour and satisfaction of presenting to my friend, who sits near me, the piece of plate which it is your wish to be stow upon him, as an indication of the birth sense you enter tain ut his abilities. Hut, unfortunately, I ant prevented flora performing that gratcful duty—the rich and beautiful work, designed for the Vase, not beiag yet completed. Here is, is, however, a drawing a the vase, which will be handed round the room. I bare also a copy of the inscription in tended for it, which, if you please, I will read to you." His Lordship then read as follows : To J. P. KEMIILE, Esq. on his retirement from the Stage, Of which, for thirty-four years, he has been the ornament and pride; Which, to his learning, tote, and genius, is indebted for its pre sent state of improvement; Whielb, under his alsopicer, and probing by his amstant labour. most wi a i rti rtha r direeted so the support ofthe legitimate drama, and more p ly loth* Om of SHAKSPEARE Has aimed at a degrimorrplendoOr and prosperity betbre unknown; And which, from h 4 high eimmater, has acquired an increase 1171Zand dignity; ' VASE, TIIOM A NUME2OOI ODV Or at! ADICIIITICI, As a mark of their grafts& teapset and allivuon, Was presented. ►y the hoollaC thsir President, ow Tan Irma or IVWT,IBI7• (The ;vintages in this inscription, complimentary to the genius and industry of Mr. limble, were euthusiastically applauded.) Lord Holland continued. —" If, following the object for which we arc here assembled, I were to touch on the various abilities of soy excellent friend near me, what else would I 'be doing, but describing those mantral qualities and acquired perfections, which are indispensable in the constitution of an accomplished actor—which can alone raise men to that high eminence which Mr. Kemble so long enjoyed in that pro fession, which gives to poetry so snitch force and eeffct—and which imparts to thousands se large • portion of rational and inaocvnt amusement.—Far, I say, as no person ever brought to the stage • greater portion of those natural ad ' vantages, which realise the idea of the poet, and afford assist ance to the sister arts of painting and of sculpture, than Mr. Kemble, so, I will contend, that no man ever cultivated the dramatic art with greater assiduity, zeal, learning, and judg ment.—We have suet here, mat only breause we feel a per fect conviction of the great difficulties which arc attached to the study of this profession—hut we have met here also, because we rate highly Mose qualifications, which are neces. airy to success on the Masc, and which my friend near me possesses in a preseminent degree.—ln apt eking of the dila collies and the discouraging circumstances which attendlhe art- 4 that the materials of the actor's tame axe wore perish able than those of the poet's or •the pointers'..-ewe bare met, I think, this day, to remove sonic of the .lifilistice.4o .TUNE 30. whioli the profession has been subjected. Mr. Kemble has, b y eaateral measures, done mote tOr the permament pros perity of the stage, and vonsetpiently for the fame of Its .4; wire, thou any person who luta gene before bitty.—roe, es long a: the theatre exists—as long as the plays of Sitekspeare shall be represented in this inetropulis, the re sult of his learning and industty will be seen In the propriety of the scenic decuratiotis, iu the improvement of the costume. in many matters, apparently of miner consideration—hot which. when effected, spew the 1111.11 of research and of abi lity—display the mind of the schular and the critic.—l thought it necessary to touch upon this point, since it ap pear. to he so 'warty connected with the husiness of the day. The feelings by which we are impelled are, I think, emht died in the inscription which has been read to you—rimy ate those of gratitude, respect, and affection. Gratitude, for the delight lie has so often imparted to us in crowded thea tres—respect fur him, as a scholar and a critic—and affeetiun for his virtues, as a man of independent character and of npright conduct. lam sine, with his usual good nature, that lie will accept of this address as a memorial of respect and esteem:' This speech was received with a tumult of applause. When silence WWI obtained, Mr. Young incited, in mast furcilile and feeling manner, the rationing • ODE, SY THOMAS CAMPBELL, ESQ. AUTHOR OV " THE PLEAMIL* OE twee." Pride of the British Stage, A keg and last Adieu! Whom image brought th' heroic age Reeiv'el to Fancy's view. Like fields refrcah'd w'th dewy light, When the Sun smiler his last, Thy parting presence makes more bright Our metnory of the past. And memory conjures feelings up. Ti+at wine or music need not well. As high, we lift the foetal cup To " Kemble, Fate thee we." Ills was the spell o'er hearts. Which only acting lends— The youngest of the Sister Arts, Where all their beauty blends. Form can Poetry express Full many a tone of thought sehhote; Lod Painting mute, and motionless, Stems hut one glance from Time. But, by the mighty Actor brought, Illusion's wedded triumphs vitae...— Verse ammo, be airy thought, And Sculpture to be dumb. Time may again Revive, But ne'er Cake the charm ; When Cate spoke in him alive. Or Hotspur kindled warm. What soul was not resign'd entire. To the deep torrows of the Nem 1! What English heart was not on fire, With bun at Agincourt ? And yet a majel poszoiril Ilia uansports toast nopetuos tone, And to each passion of his breast The Graces gave their zone. High were the task—too high, Ye conscious bosoms here, In words to paint your memory, Of Kemble and of Lou. But who forgets that white discrowned heed. Those bursts of Reason's half diainguish'd glare. Those tears upon Cordd as's bosom shed, In doubt more touching than despair. If twee reality he felt— Had Shakespeare's self amidst yin. tern, Friends, he had seen you melt And triumph'd to have seen ! And iiiere was many en hone Of blended kindred fame. When Siddons's auEiliar power, And Sister Magic mine Together at the Muse's side Her Tragic Paragons bud grown,— They were the children of her pride, The column of bur throne. And undivided favour ran From heart to heart in their applmnie— Svve for the gallantry of Man. In lovelier Woman's cause. Friir as some classic dome Robust and richly . grac'd, Your Kemble's , p i nt pas the borne Of Genius and Taste— Taste like the silent dial's power, That when supernal light is given, Can measure Inspiration's hour, And tell its height in Heaven. At once ennobled and correct. His mind survey'd the Tragic page, And what the Actor could enact, The Scholar could presage. These were his traits of worth-- Arid must we lose than now P And shall the scene no more shew forth His sternly pleasing brow? Alas ! the moral brings a tear— " Fir all a transient hour below, And we that would detain thee Were, Ourselves as fleetly go. Yet shall our latest age This par • scene review... Pride of the British stage, A long sad last adieu After the recitation of the Ode, the four last lines-- " Yet shall our latest age. This parting scene review— ?ride olthe British stage; A long and last adieu l" set to music by Mt.Tbos. Cooke, 'her Rresided at the plane-' forte, were admirably sung. Lord Holland t ben proposed "'lhe health of Mr. Kemble," which was received with enthusiasm. Mr. Komisk said—" Go ettlemen, for your presence here, to-day, and the favour you have done me is drinking my health, I bog leave to oder you my most beerttelt rod sin cere iteknowledgments.—Unused as I am to esti repot Ancona public speak*, it will not appear estiaurdio.ry that I should be a little embarramed, in addressing an astesitbly in which I see so many permits. highly valued for their genius and talents. 1 shall, therefore, Gentlemen, be obliged to 57 nli C,