The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-10-31 00:00:00

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COVENT-CARDEN THEATRIE.

•
A crowded and elegant audience assembled here,
last night, to witness the debut of a young lady, in
the character of Eaphrasia, in The Grecian Laugh-
ter. The house was filled to an overflow in every part,
long before The Jubilee, which preceded the play,
was brought to u conclusion. Before the play
commenced. Mr. Cooke appeared, to deliver au
Occasional Address, bespeaking the indulgence of
the public for the debutante of the evening. This
Address occasioned some tumult, as it began with a
reference to the broils which had so long disturbed
the Theatre, and the memory of which cannot yet
be supposed to be so completely extinct, as to war-
rant allusions to their nature and existence. It
was therefore rather injudicious in the Managers,
however willing they might be to have the claims
of a new perforate fairly stated, to suffer an Ad-
dress of this kind to be spoken on the occasion.
The following is a copy of the Address
Though hostile rage is long within these walls
Has rais'il a tempest that each heart appals ;
A female candidate comes forth to-night,
Who knows :star kindness equals all your might.
Heim*, ou that kindness she e'en now relies,
While the triads roar, and while the billows rise ;
Fut terhatsoe'sr may Britons rouse and rex,
With pride they seen protect the gentler sex.
list though our Novice veutores, free from dread,
Leal the Florin Moat on her &tem-pleas head,
Yet, when her ardueat rat sprae Rlar
The danger sera her, and her pow'r subdues ;
For fear that Critics, a terrific trails,
Her efforts should reject, as rash awl vain.
iN,Werfoa, i Aced, these efforts sll' have found,
Awl hope has cheer'il her on provincial ground ;
Dot la re, 'tie said, that Judriimitt holds her seat,
And levees more profound and rigid meet
she dares to urge her humble plea,
Sauce mercy suAens very stern decree.
The tragedy after this commenced, and Mrs.
Clarke, the fair debutante, was received with
applause abundant, and convincing to her mind,
that her appeal had been favourably heard.—
She, however, did not need any previous plead-
ing to insure her u distioguished reception.—
Her face carried with it that quality which Lord
Chesterfield has denominated an universal letter
of recommendation." In person. home, and fea-
ture, she has much resemblance to Catalani, being
alma middle-size, slender, and eleigent, and treads
the slue in the manner by which that celebrated ac-
tress acquired so much applause. She appears to be
very young; we should suppose little more than
twenty, brit vet war iMstresti of all the self-poirees-
sion and confi.illence of one experieuced oa the stage.
There is a great deal of dignity its her air, and
her actiou is graceful. Eopiirasia is not a cha-
racter which arifords opportunity foe a display of
the higher tragic powers; there is wore of deeleii
mation than feeling in that as well na in all the robes,
parts of the play. In those passages, however,
which did admit of pathos. Mrs. Clarke was emi-
nently successful, and called forth bursts of ap-
plause. lo the declamatory parts, she was also
heard to gre it advantage. from the clearness of
voice and distinctness of enunciation with which she
marked every emphatic passage. Upon the whole,
therefore, we cannot help considering her as a
great acquisition to Covent-Garde° Theatre.—
We trust, that, in a snore impassioned pert, we
shall have an early opportunity of witnessing
this Lady's talents exerted to the delight of the
public. Mr. Young's Emitter was a most
tioitihed performasice. From his first entry to his
List exit, lie sear all excelleuce;• and we would be
at a loss what scene to select for our greatest prase,
bail tint that. its which he discovers himself to
iti the temple, afforded him MS UCCli-
lislt to surpass, in effect, all that it is possible to
conceive the Author capable of recciviug, Mr. C.
Memble, as Lionville, also gave Proofs of very
superior abilities. The house, as we have before
famed, was remarkably fall ; and we are happy to
add, that the fair sex 2 reat'y predominate d over the
males in number. There were evidently more of
the former than of the latter in the pit, and almost
every box boasted a grotipe of British Beauty to
witi.ess Grecian Virtue.
The Flitch of Baron was performed as the after-
piece ; and though the poor pitiful reinitaat of ins'-
, contents. who came in at half-price, put forth all
their force, the plaudits were so universal as to
drown it completely. la fact, the performers of
the rote, if, indeed, it deserved that name, did
not appear to be above twelve or fourteen in num-
ber. As the piece advanced, their efforts became
weaker, and at length the curtain fell amidst general
and loud applause. We have already stated that
the company was most brilliant and elegant.
Among the fashionable. who honoured it with their
presence were the Princess of Wale.. the Mar-
chioness of Townsheild, the Duelists§ de Castries,
the Princess Castelcicala' the Countess of Barry-
snore, the Countess of Cork, Mrs. Thompson,
&c. &c.
Our readers, we believe, are apprised, that Mr..
Clarke is a mast amiable young Lady, sod daugh-
ter of Mr. Cuwdroy, of Nlatichester.

Arrived. on Friday last, at Gr, en Park, Limerick,
the seat of WILLIAM MONSALL, E-q. from France,
Madame RAYON, daughter to the late TOBIAS
I PIRA P 4, Esq. of Newcastle, near that city, where
she had been detained sine the Wrolution.
Mr. lialsein has obtained the Dublin College
lulu for the hest Etsgli,h Ode on the Jubilee. We
understand that he is a young geatlemati of great
prainite„ and this poem is highly spoken or.
At t l.e seat of c 01..." wRoDi...D, near Castle-
or, the male Of TIIUM AS NIILLI:111, was
IsloWo to pieces by the premature explosion of a
Cannon, or Wednesday.
Finlay the remains of the it.eplts•lamented Mr.
assentaire were interred in the family vault at
lieririck.in-Ehuet, Yorkshire. The many um:-
able qualities of this worthy young gentleman, 1141
endeared hint to a large circle of friends. and his
death has almost brought down the grey hairs lOC Ills
Iligremsolitte father with sorrow to the grave ; had
his lite been preserved, there is rearm% to believe
that, at no distant perio.l, he would have molted
ainong,t the brightest oruainents of his country.
The general sympathy and regret which attended
the onaequirs of this ~viable youth, prove sitffi-
cielit;y the estimation in which his character was.
held; upwards of two thousand person, were pre-
sent at hi, funeral, to take a last 'Crewel, Neil the
aolelisnity of the scene was rendered peculiarly nn-
pressivr by the attendance of npwards of 400 of hi.
lather's tenantry, in deep mourning.