The National Register.
London, England, 1817-06-30 00:00:00

FAREWELL DINNER TO MR. KEMBLE.

At Freemasons' Tavern, on Friday, the friends and ad-
mirers of Mr. Kemble, illkiolllo mark his retreat from the
stage with show honours whirls his high professional charac-
ter eminently deserved, invited him to a splendid banquet, at
which it was intended to present him with a superb silver
vase, bearing a suitable inscription.
At half-past seven o'clock, the Stewards (who were corn-
posed of the principal performers of Covent Garden and
Drury Lane Theatres) entered the room, ushering in I ord
Holland, Mr. Kt-usable, the Duke of Bedford, Lord Erskine,
Lord Petersham, the Marquisses of Worcester and bins
down, the Earl of Aberdeen, J. W. Croaker, Esq. Thomas
Campbell, Esq. the Rev, Gee. Crabby, Thcs. Moore, Esq.
liuswee if sties, Esq. Benjamin West, Esq. President of the
Royal Academy, Flawman, Esq. It.A. Mons. Talmo,
ire. ore. . _ _

Lord Holland took the Chair, supported on his right hand
by tlr. Kenaile, and on his left by the Duke of Redford.
" The King—The Prince Regent—The Queen, and the
rest of the Royal Family"—were drunk with the accustomed
honours.

Lord Holland they rose and eaiJ—" Gentlemen, in per-
sonnee of the proceedings of this day, I hoped to have had
the honour and satisfaction of presenting to my friend, who
sits near me, the piece of plate which it is your wish to be-
stow upon him, as an indication of the birth sense you enter-
tain ut his abilities. Hut, unfortunately, I ant prevented
flora performing that gratcful duty—the rich and beautiful
work, designed for the Vase, not beiag yet completed. Here
is,
is, however, a drawing a the vase, which will be handed
round the room. I bare also a copy of the inscription in-
tended for it, which, if you please, I will read to you."
His Lordship then read as follows :
To J. P. KEMIILE, Esq. on his retirement from the
Stage,
Of which, for thirty-four years, he has been the ornament and
pride;
Which, to his learning, tote, and genius, is indebted for its pre-
sent state of improvement;
Whielb, under his alsopicer, and probing by his amstant labour.
most wiairtirthardireeted so the support ofthe legitimate drama, and
more p ly loth* Om of SHAKSPEARE
Has aimed at a degrimorrplendoOr and prosperity betbre unknown;
And which, from h 4 high eimmater, has acquired an increase
1171Zand dignity;
' VASE,

TIIOM A NUME2OOI ODV Or at! ADICIIITICI,
As a mark of their grafts& teapset and allivuon,
Was presented. ►y the hoollaC thsir President,
ow Tan Irma or IVWT,IBI7•

(The ;vintages in this inscription, complimentary to the
genius and industry of Mr. limble, were euthusiastically
applauded.)
Lord Holland continued. —" If, following the object for
which we arc here assembled, I were to touch on the various
abilities of soy excellent friend near me, what else would I
'be doing, but describing those mantral qualities and acquired
perfections, which are indispensable in the constitution of
an accomplished actor—which can alone raise men to that
high eminence which Mr. Kemble so long enjoyed in that pro-
fession, which gives to poetry so snitch force and eeffct—and
which imparts to thousands se large • portion of rational
and inaocvnt amusement.—Far, I say, as no person ever
brought to the stage • greater portion of those natural ad-
' vantages, which realise the idea of the poet, and afford assist-
ance to the sister arts of painting and of sculpture, than Mr.
Kemble, so, I will contend, that no man ever cultivated the
dramatic art with greater assiduity, zeal, learning, and judg-
ment.—We have suet here, mat only breause we feel a per-
fect conviction of the great difficulties which arc attached
to the study of this profession—hut we have met here also,
because we rate highly Mose qualifications, which are neces.
airy to success on the Masc, and which my friend near me
possesses in a preseminent degree.—ln apt eking of the dila
collies and the discouraging circumstances which attendlhe
art-4 that the materials of the actor's tame axe wore perish-
able than those of the poet's or •the pointers'..-ewe bare
met, I think, this day, to remove sonic of the .lifilistice.4o

.TUNE 30.

whioli the profession has been subjected. Mr. Kemble has,
by eaateral measures, done mote tOr the permament pros-
perity of the stage, and vonsetpiently for the fame of Its .4;
wire, thou any person who luta gene before bitty.—roe, es
long a: the theatre exists—as long as the plays of
Sitekspeare shall be represented in this inetropulis, the re-
sult of his learning and industty will be seen In the propriety
of the scenic decuratiotis, iu the improvement of the costume.
in many matters, apparently of miner consideration—hot
which. when effected, spew the 1111.11 of research and of abi-
lity—display the mind of the schular and the critic.—l
thought it necessary to touch upon this point, since it ap-
pear. to he so 'warty connected with the husiness of the day.
The feelings by which we are impelled are, I think, emht-
died in the inscription which has been read to you—rimy ate
those of gratitude, respect, and affection. Gratitude, for
the delight lie has so often imparted to us in crowded thea-
tres—respect fur him, as a scholar and a critic—and affeetiun
for his virtues, as a man of independent character and of
npright conduct. lam sine, with his usual good nature, that
lie will accept of this address as a memorial of respect and
esteem:'

This speech was received with a tumult of applause.
When silence WWI obtained, Mr. Young incited, in mast
furcilile and feeling manner, the rationing •

ODE,

SY THOMAS CAMPBELL, ESQ. AUTHOR OV " THE PLEAMIL*

OE twee."
Pride of the British Stage,
A keg and last Adieu!
Whom image brought th' heroic age
Reeiv'el to Fancy's view.
Like fields refrcah'd w'th dewy light,
When the Sun smiler his last,
Thy parting presence makes more bright
Our metnory of the past.
And memory conjures feelings up.
Ti+at wine or music need not well.
As high, we lift the foetal cup
To " Kemble, Fate thee we."
Ills was the spell o'er hearts.
Which only acting lends—
The youngest of the Sister Arts,
Where all their beauty blends.
Form can Poetry express
Full many a tone of thought sehhote;
Lod Painting mute, and motionless,
Stems hut one glance from Time.
But, by the mighty Actor brought,
Illusion's wedded triumphs vitae...—
Verse ammo, be airy thought,
And Sculpture to be dumb.
Time may again Revive,
But ne'er Cake the charm ;
When Cate spoke in him alive.
Or Hotspur kindled warm.
What soul was not resign'd entire.
To the deep torrows of the Nem 1!
What English heart was not on fire,
With bun at Agincourt ?
And yet a majel poszoiril
Ilia uansports toast nopetuos tone,
And to each passion of his breast
The Graces gave their zone.
High were the task—too high,
Ye conscious bosoms here,
In words to paint your memory,
Of Kemble and of Lou.
But who forgets that white discrowned heed.
Those bursts of Reason's half diainguish'd glare.
Those tears upon Cordd as's bosom shed,
In doubt more touching than despair.
If twee reality he felt—
Had Shakespeare's self amidst yin. tern,
Friends, he had seen you melt
And triumph'd to have seen !
And iiiere was many en hone
Of blended kindred fame.
When Siddons's auEiliar power,
And Sister Magic mine
Together at the Muse's side
Her Tragic Paragons bud grown,—
They were the children of her pride,
The column of bur throne.
And undivided favour ran
From heart to heart in their applmnie—
Svve for the gallantry of Man.
In lovelier Woman's cause.
Friir as some classic dome
Robust and richly. grac'd,
Your Kemble's ,pint pas the borne
Of Genius and Taste—
Taste like the silent dial's power,
That when supernal light is given,
Can measure Inspiration's hour,
And tell its height in Heaven.
At once ennobled and correct.
His mind survey'd the Tragic page,
And what the Actor could enact,
The Scholar could presage.
These were his traits of worth--
Arid must we lose than now P
And shall the scene no more shew forth
His sternly pleasing brow?
Alas ! the moral brings a tear—
" Fir all a transient hour below,
And we that would detain thee Were,
Ourselves as fleetly go.
Yet shall our latest age
This par • scene review...
Pride of the British stage,
A long sad last adieu
After the recitation of the Ode, the four last lines--
" Yet shall our latest age.
This parting scene review—
?ride olthe British stage;
A long and last adieu l"
set to music by Mt.Tbos. Cooke, 'her Rresided at the plane-'
forte, were admirably sung.
Lord Holland t ben proposed "'lhe health of Mr. Kemble,"
which was received with enthusiasm.
Mr. Komisk said—" Go ettlemen, for your presence here,
to-day, and the favour you have done me is drinking my
health, I bog leave to oder you my most beerttelt rod sin-
cere iteknowledgments.—Unused as I am to esti repot Ancona
public speak*, it will not appear estiaurdio.ry that I
should be a little embarramed, in addressing an astesitbly in
which I see so many permits. highly valued for their genius
and talents. 1 shall, therefore, Gentlemen, be obliged to

Nu

try.lllo. 30.

(online myself to aaying, that this is the greatest humour that
could possibly be cussferred on me; and us it is a distinction
that never has been shown to any of my preil.Temors, I
tnorefure feel, Gentlemen, how trr your Nestor 'sifted,
every thing which my pour deserts could eltrllmige.—(4p-
pleat e.) Gentle,lieu, the terms in which von helm been
pleased to convey to me yonr approbation of'ufy professional
exertionsouid of my private conduct, leaves me nothing to
say, but that I ant very proud you think so highly of me.—
Voile Noble Chairman, Gentlemen, has done nit the honour
of attributing to me Is more merit than I can pretend to ;
his feelings have led him, I fear, very much to overrate my
services. Hot I ere truly say, that, when he attributed to
rat a strong desirtrto discharge my ditty fairly in the different
parts of my profession, as far ci my honest end to de-
serve thet praise could be considered as entitling me to it
so o far year Noble Chairman has spoken of me only with jus-
tier. The manner in which you have been so kindly good as
to step forward, order to bawd down to posterity my exer-
tions on the singe, is too flattering to my feelings, not to affect
soy heart moat deeply.—ifirre Mr. Kemble was so much af-
fected that he was obliged to pause for some seconds.] I
receive the gift, Gentlemen, with affection—with gratitude;
and it is pleasing to me to hope that I shall still be remem-
bered, even when that m.rk of your Liminess has faded
away, since my farewell has beta sung by the Muse flirt die.
toted "The Meditates cf Hope!' I note beg leave to pro-
pose " The health of our Noble Chairman. Lord Holland."
Lord Holland. in returning thanks, declared, that it was
most gratifying to him to preside in such an assembly, on
such an occasion.

His.lbordship, then, after enlogising the poetical genius of
Dlr. exulphell, the author of the Ode, proposed Una Gentle.
man's health.

THE QUEEN'S DRAWING ROOM.
Thursday her Majesty held a Drawing Room at her
Palace. A guard of honour of the Grenadier Guards
marched into the Court-yard at oac o'clock, with the
band in their state uniforms.

The company began to arrive about twelve o'clock,
and continued to set down till four, at both the doors.
The throng was so great, that they were completely
blocked up from three to four in the colonnade, on
their way to the Queen's Drawing Room. It was a
very splendid assemblage. The Lord Mayor, the La-
dy Mayoress, Mr. Sheriff Kirby and his lady, who were
presented to the Queen, were the first who arrived at
the grand entrance.
iler Majesty, who appeared in excellent health, pro-
cc fled to receive the congratulations and presentations,
which were extremely numerous.

The Queen did not leave the Drawing Room till
tve. The Prince Regent appeared in excellent health :
wit; o the heat was excessive and unbearable, his
Ro;. al Highness directed the attendants to clear the
avenues leading to the Drawing Room, as well as those
of the anti-rooms: several ladies fainted, and one gen-
tleman also fainted.