The National Register.
London, England, 1812-07-05 00:00:00

414

COVENT-OAIWEN.
Monday night being tiNed fur Mrs. ctDDONS.S Bengt,
and last appearance on the stage, the eagerness of the Public
to witness the Farewell re.forinance of this justly celebrated
Actress, was so g: eat, that a considerable crowd had as-
sembled at the doors of this The,rtre before five o'clock
At half-pi:Et six the house was completely filled; the pit was
particularly crowded.
The Flay of the evening wa; " :\ia:beth " When Mis.
SIDDONS came forward, in Lady A 1 acbet t, loud applause
lung thronghoArt the house. The reflection that these, as
$ .s.o.lcoine to her, Wei e never to be heard again, seemed to
depress her spirits not a little in the thst scene. She, how-
ever, soon recovered herself, and, t1,,ou.);11 at times sensibly
touched by the farewell raptures of the audience, went
through the arduous part she had to sustain with all her
Avowed ability, and clu=ed her splend•d career with a dis-
•plav of histtionic excellence, of which, we fear, it may be
truly said—

" You oe'er opon its lihe agim."
At the close of the last scene in which Lady .31 acticth ap-
rears, the thunders of the applauding audience were conti-
nue.' so long that it was understood to be their wish that
the Play should not go on. After about twenty minutes
~llts. SIDDONS came forward, and spoke the following Ad-
(dress, written for the occasion by Mr. I io it AC E TWISS :
Who has nut telt, how growing use er.den:s
The fond remembratiee of our forme;
.) oars
Who has n',t wl.en doom'd to leave at last
The hopes of youth, the habits of die past,
The thousand ties and interests, twat impart
A second nature to the human heart,
And wreathing sound it close, like tendrils, climb,
Bloondog in age, and sanctified by time ?
Yes ! at this-inomeot crowd upon my mind
Scenes of bright days for ever !c I't behind,
Jiewilderivg visions of enraptured youth,
"When hope and fancy wore the hues of truth,
And long-forgotten years, that alimr•l seem
The fasted traces of a morning drram !
Sweet are Loose mournful thoughts : for they renew
The pleasing sense of all I owe to you,
Fot each inspiring smile, ro.d s,ualiing tear
ror those full honours of my long career,
That cheer'd toy earliest hope. and chased my latest fear !
And t It nigh, for me, those tears shall flow no more,
And the warm sunshine of 'our smile is 11 er,—
Tlson4h the blight beintis arc fading fast away,
That shone uncloudet: through my summer-day,—
Ye t grateful Meolory shall reflect their light
O'er dot don shadows of the, coming night,
And loud to later hie a softer (one,
A moonlight tint, a lustre of her own.
Judgos and Friends! to whom the tragic strain
Of N. nine's feeling never spoke in vain,
Perhaps your hearts, when years have glided by,
. And past emotions walse a fleeting sigh,
May thi:,k on her, wit se lips have putted so lon-,
Toe charmed sorrows of your Sn iP A ILL'S 5011 g
On her, who, parting to return no more,
Is now the mourner she bid scon'a before—
. Ilerse4 subdued, resigns the melting spell,
And hreailies, with swelling heart, her 1 ug, her last farewell !

Mrs. Stronotis was so much affected, that she was more'
than once inaudible. W hen the Address was concluded,
the applause of the audience were renewed, and continued
till she left the stage—for ever.
Mrs SIDDON:I first appeared in the Theatre Royal, Drury-
lane, in 1775, wader an engagement made with Mr. SID-
. DONS, at Cheltet rham, that summer, for Mr. GARRICK. Her
*.• salary was 61. pc i• week, and that of Mr. SIDDONS 40s. Her
s• appearance Wel in Portia, in the Merchant of Venice, a