The National Register.
London, England, 1823-04-06 00:00:00

MR. KEMBLE.

The late Mr. Kemble !"-ghat words are these to write!
Huth he departed from the great stage or life, in whom su many
kiud-hearted recollections centred i who transported thousands
from the dull scene of present reality into the mighty past, sad
presented them with a living image of its grandeur?' ?lath the
true representative of Rotuma greatness flitted away like a
shadow f Are those lips, (ruin which philosophic tiought owl
venerable wis :cita were so teuderly breathed, cold and silent
in the grave ?
_

So fails, so langeishees deearrned dies,
All that this world it petted oft;;, bem.their seats.
The stars of human glory are oast down;.
Perish the roses and the Sowers of kings.
Princes, and emperors, and all the paints
Of all the mighty !
Mr. Ketoblc's physical excellencies, no less thamhis defects,
circumscribed, in sonic degree, the sphere of his acting ; his
figure was to august ; his features were of too decided and
majestic a cast, to admit of that Ildctnating expression which
enabled Garrick to embody every variety of human nature,
and almost every fantastic cre.tion of bunian wit. H•
excelled where one single emotion or trait was to he clearly
and strikingly developed, and failed comparatively in parts
fall of the *labs and Sows of emotion, or *filch were Influenced
by external things. He seemed "king of crowned passions ;"
master of the contending elements of internal strife ; or, if he
yielded, it was only to some feeling in his own breast, which
" would not be constrained by mastery." He seemed formed
to bid defiance to fate and termite. How illimitably lie poor.
trayed the lofty pride of Curio:a:pa, the mild philosophy of
Beetle, and the notie severity of Onto, it would be impertinent
to describe ;—hut in other and more fiery characters he was
also at home, when the predominant feeling of these was
strongly marked, and when it was begotten and acted perpe-
tualky on the bosom of its possessor. Thus, his Zsaga was
grand terrific ; his Pierre was gay sad commanding; and, even
lo the very last, his liotsairr was tell of sorpassing spirit and
energy. Although he did not succeed in representing love in
its youthful enthusiasm, or the full agony of its disappointment,
Ito one could give so tenderly the reminiscences of its long-
erased enjoyments, or brood with a gentler melancholy over
its buried hopes. Still the emotions which fie pourtrsyed were
either single or brought into liarnmily by the power of contem-
plation, or softened into it by silegt Time. In the Stranger,
and Peterreliloch, he was far beyond rivalry ; but lie could
scarcely have been more thou jesliciuus in Othello ; and though
tranecendantly great in anion parts of Macbeth and Thisslel, be
never gave more than one aspect of those diversified and
eharactera.
Although Mr. Kemble's range was thos circumscribed, it is
a mistake to suppose that
_widest It lie was less normal thee,
other eminent tragedies,. As tar as the manner is concerned'
—the frame-work, so to speak of the heroic picture—no actor
can he natured in the sense reqoired by those who have a pious
horror of dignity and grace. Even if it were &shawl*, it would
not be possible, within the astrow limits of the scene, to gime
the individual peculiarities of the persona ; to trace out passive
through all its long windings, and slaw how it is manifested
amidst the ordinary forms and usages of life. But the poses
art consists in representing the essentials of passion width* etie
brief space ; in epitomising the feelings of years, and,yet pees
servieg their harmony and proportion ; and is assorting thaw.
from those low mid tritd circumstances which tend to fill sp.
the scene without adding to its interest or its value. The
actor, therefore cannot walk and speak as in actual life;
and the only question is, whether the manner which he shall
assume shall be grotesque and fantastical, or whether it shall
be, in itself b and stately. It is no wore in nature for
an actor to give three taps on his breast, and toss his arms in.
the air, or to sink from a very high key to a whisper, than to!
look and move " as thump some god had crept into his kmn
and given him graceful ac ion." to these passages of intense
feeling, in which the little obLins his most decisive triumph*,
all great actors are true to nature; nor was Mr. 'Unable say
mannerist here. Let his encode* assert, that his stroggiac
grief in Cato ; that 1113 " Liar and play*" in Macbeth ; that hie
mode of accosting Mrary Woodville in the Wheel of Foresail—
" You bear a strong resemblance to your mother!" that his
bewildered recognition of Penults* in Octavian. were nob
natural, if they can,—and the hers and thrilling hearts of Woes:
sands shall answer them! Mr. Kemble was regarded by ea-
•illers as a mannerist, only because his manner wss the limiest
in the world.
No actor ever more thoroughly understood and relished his
gather than this incomparable artist. if he sometimes lingered
too long over passages, it always seemed that lie dwelt
on them from a feud admiration of their beauties. He ap-
peared to have a peculiar relish for sense and wit, and, is his
earlier days, is said to have played with line discrimination in
the comedies or Converts and Sheridan. It has been well
observed of hint, that be always gave with singular felicity, the
reliefs and lighter traits of tragedy, and reoueciled us even to
Sir Giles Qieerreach and Richard. His personal demeanour
shed * lustre on his profession. Ile made actors the ornament
and delight of that elegant society from which they were aliens
when his career began. The stage decorations and appropriate
garniture of his art were rather created than improved by his
taste and learned skill ; and all the wonders of the scene
started up, as if by magic., at his bidding.
Mr. Kemble has tor years retired from the scene, yet his
death seems to make a new chasm among our objects of regard
and to eclipse the harmless gusty of the town. lu his retire-
ment, his mind doubtless, reposed on the scenic grandeur,
which lie no longer realised, and which were yet living in the
hearts of his admirers. Thus the sympathy between the publics
and their old benefactor never ceased till it was chilled by the
grant destroyer. These images of greatness are now chilled
avid saddened by funeral gloom ; and instead of dwelling on
tlwir p.rtuaucuee and majetay, we ate compelled to feel that
they ate hut shadows!

Mr. Kemble has not left so largo a property as lie might be
gypniied to have accumulated;. for no performer was more
Irmply rewarded by a generous and admiring public. He had
conk nearly 30001. iu the pueehase of his share of Covent-
garden Theatre, and tlfriltbsequent advances lie was compelled
to make ; and as he aid not receive a single shilling of interest.
ter nearly 20 years, the whole of his loss in that sperrilstion
may be fairly computed at upwards of 50,0001. M.s. Kemble
enjoys an aneuity of 1,0001, secured on the coal rabies; and
estates of a greet neethern landowner, which he had purchased
for their joint lives ; and sbe has also the interest of 17,0001..
of which 4,0001. ar.• placed at her sole disposal, and the re-
maining 13,0001. devolve on her death to his brother, Mr..
Charles Kimble. We are enabled to contrailict, troe• autho-
rity, a statement which has been generally accredited and po-
sitively merle in a former biograi.bical account of Mr. Kimble,.
that he received a considerable sum, on his marriage with
Mrs. Brereton, from a nobleman who had long presided over
the councils of the British. Empire.
Mr. Kemble happened to be at the boos, of an intimate
friend, when the volume containing that account, which had
been just published, was. put into his hands. He read it with
attentinn, but coming to the passage we have noticed, he am.
derlioed the words with a pencil, end 'paced very distintly on
the margin—'. A lie !" The volume that records the scanda-
lous falsehod, and the abort but emphatic reprobation, is still
extant and carefully preserved. 'l lie splendid present made,
to him of 10,0001. by the late Dtrke of Northemberlaed. onghg
not to Ire Au-gotten. Mr. Kemble had, at his Grace's request,
given some lessees in elocution to Lord Percy (the present
Duke), snit the care he had taken of his noble pupil was, with •
peculiar delicacy, asAgned us the cause of the munifieencts
:thug esereised. The real feet is, that the gift was solely sag-
grated by the friendly interest which his Grace felt for Mr. IL's
independence and welfare.
The funeral took place ou Saturday the Ist of March, in a.
piece of ground adjoining the ceaseterie, on the Berne road.
proecred under the direction of Mrs. Kemble. Mr. Capri,
and several English, are Itere interred. The Dean of Paphos.
had lately returned to Lausanne, read the funeral service at.
the house of Mr. Kemble ; and Mr. Clieesebroogh, the resident
elergyman, performed the melancholy ceremony at the grave.
The age of 66 was recorded on the collin. Mr. Cheesehroegh
read prayers to Mr. Kemble when he could attend to them,
mid was with him when he died. The death of Mr. Kemble
was sincerely felt by all persons at Lausanne. and his remains
were fol.owed to the grave by allot's/L.-resident English, and by
many of the Swiss. The English, indeed, bad no parties
during the week, amt one ferricn lady or fashion, Madame
put oil a spluidid party on account of Mr. Kerobles decease.