The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-04-21 00:00:00

BARRY, THE GREAT ACTOR.

We extract from the interesting Memoirs of Mrs.
Frances Sheridan, the following anecdotes of this great
actor, once so celebrated, who to the finest figure and most
interesting countenance,united the magic of that fascinating
voice which obtained for him the name of "the silver-toned
Barry." In parts of tenderness and pathos—in such cha-
racters as Jailer, Mark Antony, or Varanes, he was un-
rivalled. The same qualities followed Barry into private
life ; he was destitute of principle, but gifted with great
powers of fascination. In his day he was more known
on the Dublin than the London stage; but be played
here for some time with greareeffect, and is still re-
membered:—

Towards the close of the year J5B, and the beginning of
1759, Barry, after Mr. Sheridan's d hit upon the follow-
ing expedient to oppose the benefits of the other house in Dublin.
The same night on which there was to be the benefit of a pertOrmer
at the opposite house, Benv used to apply to some female leader
of the ton, and request her to bespeak a play, making an bow* foe
all parts of the house, but more particularly with ha tradesmen,
for the pit and gallery. In these nqiocisuons his tine penes sad
insinuating manners generally rendered bin successful.
Oo one of these occasions, the great lady of the night had, as
was usual, sent out pit and gallery tickets to all her tredespeopl•:,
' with threatening, of the loss of her custom if they did not dis-
pose of them ea arriving MAY in the box-reosn to receive her
company, great was her mortification to be informed that her
orders bad bees vary ill obeyed, and that it was likely to prove
but a thin house. The time approached for the thawing up of the
curtain, and at the sight of a thin pit and gallery the lady was so
much affected that she was ready to faint. Smelling-bottles and
other restoratives were applied, and as soon as her ladyship reco-
vered the power of speech, she cried out " that she was ruined and
undone; that she should never be able to look dear Mr. Barry in
the face again, after such a shocking disappointment."
At these repeated lamentations, the box-keeper advanced, and
said—" I beg your Ladyship will not be so disheartened; indeed,
your ladyship's house will mend, your Lstlyship's galleries will
certainly mend before the play begins."
" Nonsense !" cried the lady, " I tell you I am undone—
ruined and undone, that's all ! But I'll be revenged ! I am re-
solved I'll pay off—no; I mean I'll turn oral my saucy tradesmen
to-morrow morning."
Barry was then in his prime, being scarcely turned of forty. As
a contrast to the preceding anecdote. view him as be was seen in
hoodoo by Mrs. 11. Lefanu, in 1775, broken down by infirmity
more than by years, for repeated and severe attacks of rheumatism
had deprjved his once tine and lofty figure of all its elasticity and
grace. A chair, placed at the aide-scene, was in readiness to re-
ceive the exhausted actor the moment he went off the stage, and
the part he happened to perfoem that night was in unison with the
ruin time had effected, for it was that or Lrar.
In the last scene of the fifth act, after smitching a sword from
the officer, and striking down the two ruffians who had attempted
to seize upon Conklin, the Slag says to one of his knights, who is
relating the deed to Edgar—
" Did I not, fellow ?
I've seen the day, with my good biting falchion,
I could here male them skip; lam old now,
And these vile creases spoil me; out of breath,
Fie, oh ! quite out of breath, and spent !"
As the aged and infirm actor uttered the words "Jam old wow,"
some one among the spectators, equally devoid of good taste and
good feeling, began a laugh, hi which he was joined by the un-
thinking part of the audience.
Mr. Sheriaan was present with his daughter in the boxes,
and could not refrain from an almost audible expression of generous
indignation.

DE•TU OF A WELSH 11ARD.—,011 Sunday last, after!
a short illness, Edward Jones, Bard to the Prince of
Wales, breathed. his last, aged tt Mr. Janes was a na-
tive of Merionethshire, in North Wales. He published,
about 30 years ago, a work entitled, Relics of the Rards,!
which contains much valuable historical information ;
also a collection of Welsh Airs, arranged for the harp,
an instrument which Mr. Jones performed on after the
manner of his forefathers, that is, he played the treble
with his left hand, and the bee with the right. Mr.
Jonas possessed a library of rare books, both MSS. and
printed, many of which he has disposed of. Ile was •
member of the Royal Society of Musicians, the Governors
of which, on hearing that he was totally unable to fielow
Lis profeesional pursuits, granted him an annuity of fifty
pounds per annum ; but he only lived to enjoy the first
payment of the Institution's bounty.
New JAVFNTION.—IVe have seen Mr. Linnie's new
invention. It is a curious piece of mechanism, com-
prising a complete fowling-piece; barrel 33 inches long,
detonating lock, butt with proper angle, ramrod, &c. &c.
a complete fishing-rod about 12 feet long, dog-call,
looking-glass, and snuff-box with pen, in the small corn-
pass of an ordinary sized walking-stick, weighing about
3ilbs. When used as a fowling-rece, it contains a flask
with powder and shot sufficient for 12 or 14 charges, and
can be used as a walking-stick or fishing-rod, loaded and
primed, with the greatest safety. Its portability is such
that it can be transformed and re-transformed to all its
purpeees, including loading, priming, and firing, in the
eht.4 space of three minutes. Mr. Linnie is a native of,
Kirkwall, in Orkney, and is now on his way to Edinburgh
and London, for the purpose of laying his invention be
sore the Society for the Encouragement of Arts.—/neer-
nese Courier.