The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-05-17 00:00:00

Y ice.

MACBETIL

The according testimony, indeed, of the best
living, or recent opinions, inuy warrant a belief that
Mrs. Permian) displayed, successfully, the por-
trai tare of this singular character. Physical de-
leas may often be lessened or concealed, but they
ill sometimes be too stubborn for the force of art,
and though, in the liniguage of venial compli-
ment, the Poet read—
.. Preto:lssas renteel, and Carrick's six feet high,"
it cannot he denied, that the former sea eclipsed
by the ease and eleonce of Mrs. WUFFINGTON,
mid the latter overborne by the usajestir stature and
deportment cf llAenv. The first uppearence of
Miss tim Ti, in Lady Macbeth, could out fail to con-
jure up perversely to. our mental view, the compa-
rative superiority of Mrs. Sinnotts's person ; the
effect was strong, hot it was moinentary—a delicate,
yet powerful, distinct, and varied voice, *pure, cor-
rect, awl exemplary entiociation, directed at once
by a sound understanding, a correct ear, auddiscri-
m sating taste, a frame and expression of &attires,
hardly inferior to that of Mrs.Stonoris herself, with,
action always just, and frequently commanding..
led us soon to the forgetfulness of her moderate
stature, though oppressed occasionally by the tow-
ering dignity of her Lord. It is the duty of un
artist to contemplute the wo, ks of his reieni tied
predecessors or competitors with unaffected rever-
ence, but not with servile devotion ; mid ,MiNs
ou some occasions, varied with :Mt aleage
from the model that was before her. When Mac-
beth, incited to the murder of batman, interpose..

"if we should tad l" Mrs. Surpass, with cool
promptitude, replies, " we fail." The Nomination
audeed was suggested by Mr. STELVENS, bill it
appears rauch too colloquially familiar for the
per and imunetatice of the scene ; failure,
here must be rain, is an idea that could never he
urged with levity or isalitference, and we heard
these words, last night,. delivered with more deco-
ruin anti much better eticct ; " Vie fail!" i, e. Is it

to be apprehended, that we, possccsing as we tiO
the politer to overcotne every obstacle, can mis-
carry ? In the St. (filing Scene, too, we have gent-
rally obsered tint the candlestick was deliberately
plite.al upon the table, in order that the Lally
might act the wasting her hands more freely, but

•
.%It., Small contrived to reprearat this action If a
rtnottor, usual mote naturally, with the li6lt in her

htitid.

Soule faults, no doubt, were discoverable : the
most material of which was, an eirgtion, at tunes,
of feminine tenderness and querulous agitation, net
suitable to the eliaracter of lady Macbeth, or time
cool, deliberate, amid ingevible resolution by which
the Poet has distinguished her. (beat allowance
is due for the perturbations of the actress, in so
perilous soil trying a situation, and into these, per-
haps, much of the objection just hinted may be
resolved.
Enough, however, Ws displayed of power, j umla,
went. execytion, to warrant • prediction, that
as Miss Sm ITII has already advanced to the first
Oa-4 in her profession. Lady Macbeth bids fair to
rank among the first of her performances.

- • . „
• •
* "1111111114,
1

We were obliged, by the pressure of temporary
matter, to postpone the insertion of the followsug
observations upon Miss tim tiles debut in the cha-
racter of Lady Macbeth, at Covent-garden Theatre,
on Wednesday last :