The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-01-12 00:00:00

MR. MELVIN.

This gentleman made his debut, at the Dahlia !.
Theatre, on Thursday last, of winch The Dublin
Correspondent, of Friday hist, gives the .fullos..
ing account :--
Mr. Mr.r,vtir, the name of our new candidate,
made his first exertion in the part of Gossamer, in
the Comedy of Laugh when mom Cars. His animar
auce was, as is usual, cheered by that gratuitous
applause which genera*, and candour never
refose ; but Mr. Aleuts had proceeded but a
very short way in the delivery of his part, before
the audience found that his claims to their ap-
proval were founded on justice. His acting was
evidently the result of those grand requisites,
WM* and Experience. Mr. idri.vix is rather uu-
der the middle size, but he possesses such a dii
racteristie vivacity, that this is immediately for-
t gotten. His enunciation is dear and distinct, and
Ins expressioavjudicious and forcible. In the light
volubility of Gossamer he was particularly snecesi-
!fit in preserving the due equipoise of his pdgineut,
for in the most rapid parts of his denvery, his
points were strictly observed and effected, an excel-
knee that it falls to the lot of experience alone to
attain ; for the performance of such a part as Gus..
seater, the actor should have his feelings completely
shiendsralled, he should have a previous poseiessiuti
of the audience, and he should also know it ; there.
fare, high as Mr. MELVIN has established his excel-
leuee we do not despair of seeing him under im-
proved circumstances on his next appearance, We
were so well satisfied with Mr. ME !ATM'S perform-
ance of the character we have mentioned, that we
freely confess, we felt something like regret at find-
ing that the fame he was likely to establish might
possibly mutter some abatement by his having un-
dertaken the part of Michael in the farce of The
Idspted Child. The incongruity of what he had
performed, with what he was going to perform,
nestle pm suspect:that he, like too many other actors
wh o nit nit judgmeuf Ott their own powers, might
suffer from a smiler-miscalculation ; but we veers
deceined. acting of Michael was, we think,
rather superior to his Gossamer ; it was impressive
in the higheist 'degree, • mid felt and acknowledged
universally t the audience; indeed, if applause be
the fensf!efmt %Mot's ambition, we think that Mr.
MEeviSelftipperite Must have been stimulated by
Ilion, than common voracity, if he did not retire
from the Theatre last night, not satiated, but mint
fully. setiefied." •
Mr. MEr.vin Ace announced to fill the same
parts on Satunruy last, amidst a burs; of applause.

The Countess of CHESTERFIELD intends he.
present, at St. lames's, on Her MAJESTY'S Birth-
day. Chesterfield House is getting in readiness
for the 'reception of her Ludy drip, who is daily ex-
pected from Derbyshire.
Lord LEFRSON GOWER will remove, this day,
from the Marquis of STAFFORD'S house, in Clete-
land-Nuare, to his own house, in Great Stanhope-
street, May-Fair.
La The Casette of Saturday we read--0 Erratum,
for Lieutenant Peter Tegam, of the Tyrone Cal-
litia, read Lieuteaaut Peter Pegiu."
BONAPANTS has given the iron crown of Lotn-
hardy to Prince .EuerN;;, but he keeps the iron red
for the French.
The Caniyany in the pit of the Opera-House, on
Saturday night, were elegsaktly correct, they oven
laughed Iry ride.
aria Mrs. FRCEMANTLE, and the Misses
Ilenvirv, will rcturti to town on Saturday, for the
tittli.ol4.froin EngWield-Greco.
Covent-Gasden Theatre, last night, was crowded
to we Mr. KEMBLE"S Octavian, in which ardnures
part he never appeared to more advantage.
Pizarro was wry
,well attended, last at
DrUry-lane Theatre, and wept tilt with great spirit.
Mr. You no was to play Beverley, in the tragedy
of The Gettaesirr, and Met Coosa Stnkely, last
night, at the Glasgow* Theatre, for the benefit af
Mr. YOUNG, and the last night of his performance
at Glasgow.
RICHARD RAMSBOTTONI, Esq. M.P. for Windsor,
arrived in town, yesterday, from Cleaver Cottage,
Windsor.
Sir THOMAS ACLAND, who has lately been a
Prisouer in.lninee, happily arrived in London last
night, to the grent joy of his friends, who, of
comae, received-him with inexpressible satisfaction.
Mr. FINCH, of much dramatic fame, plays
Cohlfrach, in the loomed', of The Read to Rotas
thin night, at the WoolwiA Theatre.
Lady CURTIS'S gruel Ball and Supper is still
the admiration of Kent. the beauty and unre-
mitting attention of filhat Hastres, Sir Vift shirt m's
fair relative, will be long remembered ; also the
vivacity and good humour of Mr. SATCHELS Sod
Mr. llaacarr, who contributed ao umeh 'to enliven
the eorizpany after supper.
The F..arl of Urationa, on Friday last, entertain-
! ed upwards of 150 of his labourers, and their Cr-
, milieu, with a plentiful dinner, at the noble Lord's
seat, in A Neese*. A large party of the Iteighhou r-
ing gentry at the same tiuie dined with his Lordship
i in the ancient Cambrian style; a date bares of best
occupying the sideboard.—Twenty gieforeinth.%l
and educated by the amiable Countess of rk
11111161, were likewise entertained is tft6r *Owe!.

TOOll6
Capt. Tnourtos, lately arrived front the Iti'A
de la Plata, has brought home from South Atn'
rica a breed of the Chili Bcogk, so much esleetin..i
for its extraordinary *cent ; which no doubt wit.
much improve the breed in this country.
The fensa'e friendly soeiety.• just established t,t
'Lincoln, went to hear Divine Service, on Tueroti.
at St. Peter's Church at Arches, wherein excelleiti
sermon was preached on the occasion by the Rev.
C. D. Kre r. Lady Mvxsonounm. and her amit.-
Me daughter, lady MoNsos, enrolled their Weill!,
RA honorary members, and made the society a pre-
sent of four guineas.
On Sunday se'nnight. in the forenoon, *Sermon
was preached at the i!frintth, 474011011 c Chapel in
Hull, by the Rev. the FOCClltir ; allt7
a eolleenoil was insole in ardor the Subscription for
the Relief of the British Prisoner, of War in Fralla.6:.
Illiou;Ited to Li!.