The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-09-21 00:00:00

MISS O'NEILL.

The Journals in the line of Bliss O'Neill's pro-
fessinnal tour vie with each other in paying honing!:
to the commanding genius of this admirable actress,
The in:lowing review of her pyrrotrituttsce in souse of
her most favourite characters at Norwich,' is ctiiiirsl
front 14c Norfolk Cher/tick, le • the justice and
truth of which, those who have witnessed the seine
scenes at Covent-garden Theatre will beer testi-
mony: It is grateful to behold superior merit thus
universally acknowledged, and the voice of die kraut
in her praise re-echoed from every part of ikeem,„,
try ; from Edinburgh, from Glasgow, from Piot-
wick, Cambridge, in fine. every lance illumined
by the presence of this brilliant star itr the theatrical
hemisphere : •
• " Norwich Theatre, September
" The event of the present, as might have confidently
been anticipated from ' sheelgis' of the pneeding week,
has sliewnOn a remarkable almoner' the prevalence of pub-
lic partiality fur she drama, and the pre eminent attractions
of snob an actress as Miss O'Neill. Fur the three succes-
sive evenings on which this Lady has already played, the
house has been crowded in almost every pars ; and nut only
in the upper circle, Gist also is the lower range of boxes, in
the pit, ind even is the orchestra, families of the highest
respectability both of the town and from the country, were
to be seen contenting themselves, many of them with very
inconvenient *Monition*, for the sake of witnessing her per.
formancr. It is • eery long lime, indeed, since any thing
like the sees, of bustle and lively agitation bee inclined,
that was presented each templet' on Theatre Plain. for hours
previous to the doors being °Pelted; • string of carriages
equally unusual for nombrie blocked up the avenues at the
close of the play. On Tuesday klieg O'Neill made her first
appearance here, as Belvidere ; on the second might (Wed-
nesday), she played Juliet; un the third (Thursday), Mrs.
Haller. Her merits in these several charecten have repeat-
edly been the theme of metropolitan criticism; they bare
now been submitted to • Norwich audience—and it is
only a point of justice due to the character by which
our city and county are distinguished for intelligence
and taste, to affirm, that there is not a portion of the
British public, whose favonrable opinion require* snore
substantial claims to win it, or deserves, when gained,
to be more highly prized soil respected. We presume
not to judge of the degree of estimation in which the
talents and powers of Miss O'Neill may stand in the minds
of those in general who have beheld their display on our
stage, by any other criterion than those tributary indications
which betray, through every attempt at disguise, the deeply.
probed recesses of the soul, and those applansive bunts
which unequivocally attest an excitement closely bordering
on euthosiaans.—To speak simply fur ourselves, however, we
own we are at a loss for words to express what we think of
endowments so various, so rare, so excellent as hers, or of
that felicitous combination of knowledge and skill by which
she developes all the pensions with such delightful ineuroce,
such affecting truth, such imposing and irresistible force;
nor would we, even though we ran the risk of befog account-
ed deficient is the faculty of discriminative obeervation,
alloy the pleasures of memory, arising to as out of the ea.'
joyment of so rich a treat, by studiously seeking fur reasons
to justify our making the smallest abatement is the wessare
either of our admiration or our praise.
" Except as it may be the means of eliciting the energies
of the Tragedian, we should experience no regret If 'coke
Preserved' were wholly discarded from our English stage,
which, although of much literary merit, it disgraces by ab-
surd incidents stud mischievous principles. Can we, in fact,
do otherwise, than dislike, nay, absolutely loathe a play,
Uhrre vice and crime audaciously strut nurebuked is the
garb of virtue'

" The character? however,: of telvidera—the virtuous,
faithful, kind, and tender Belvidere, compensate, in some
measure for the weaknesses mud wiekedoess of the rest; and
in Miss O'Neill meets a representative corresponding it
every respect with our expectations and the author's mean-
ing. Oar !Mitts will mot allow as the pleasing Ace of
quoting those particular Passages, which tarot, in our sppre-
hensi .... , the most prominent beauties of her performauce
suffice it, therefore, to say of it,:that the purity of her love
WAS equalled by the dignity of hei resentment: Her dissent.
tine and death will not soon be efaeed GUM our resume-
!fiance : it was • piece of acting of lie most original and
must appalling kind.
" Of her Juliet, we cannot speak in terms too high for the •
sense we entertaiu of its superioc,,ficlehty to every feature
that Shakspeare himself appears to have intended, when,
with a pencil true to female tenderness and censtaney, be
drew this extraordinary but most larcivatieg character;
and threw over the lovely picture all that glow of colouring
which belongs to the fervid skies and wariasfeeliags of the
country in which the Beene is laid. Our great Poet has
appropriated to a girl of sixteen the conceptions and ac-
tions of a heroine. It is not then the unformed soul, the its.
decided manner, the meagre declamation, and unmeaning
gesture of a girl, which the aetresihas to pourtray ; but the
spirit, tone, and sentiment of • woman, on whose outward
form Nature has profusely lavished every charm-Of youth
and beauty, and in whom the radiance of unquerichable
and unutterable love reveals a grasp of imagination, a nerve,
an ardour, and a resolution that belong only to minds of the
first order. In the balcony she was exceedingly interesting,
sod in the dying scene inimitably great. If there was any
thing objectionable. it was that her voice was sometimes too
high and loud—a defect, doubtless, arising from the coa-
lition habit of playing in theatres of so much larger dimes-
Mons than one own.
" la the play of 'The Stranger,' • fresh distinction of chs-
latter is offered fur her abilities to cope with. The part of
Mrs. Haller (being one of that kind which constitutes as it
were a connecting list, uniting the tragic with the comic '
chain of dramatic companion) places her more Within the
range of common life: it bring. her to the task of painting
cora, whose poignancy there are few among us but can
more or less appreciate; and illustrates her matchless po-
tency in giving the lost pathetic effect to scenes of bebop-
pine's, to which every condition Is liable, and In the, strik-
ing delineation of sorrows with which every bosom can
sympathise. It it here that Miss O'Neill is so traascesidaut-
ly great. Not only does she Tenfold its of acute mental
suffering and &MOM; hut she is the kept ess image, and ac.
cording to the seemingly palpable evidtace of oar tenses and
perceptions, the aching victim of that grief, which she Is
destined professionally to represent—Stamping its fines and
presegre deep upon our hearts, Mid receiving beet again, as '
an involuntary homage to her Nadu., the throbs and sight'
of their representative emotion. There was no resisting
such an appeal to (celiac. The audience were melted; ind
it was a tenderness that dishonoured not the manliest
amongst them. Indeed, we shall scarcely dee, it Macheri-
table to say, that whoever witnessed such .a stela so per-
formed as was the coutelediug one, and could it with
dry eyes, would nbt be likely to find has sensibility Mich
more morel!, eren though the same circumstances should
be realised before them.
" The exertions -of this aceomPlished settees have been
very creditably anpported by theCottapiney is geiveial. Mr.
to whom the province was- swore portimilarly, as-
signed of playing. to Miss O'Neill, in all the three per-
formances above meatiosied, acquitted Miami( with great -
judgment, feeling, and ability..
On Friday (the (mirth night of her engagement) Mies
O'Neill appeared in the tragedy of •the Fatal Marriage;'
111111 a truly interesting and appropriate personificattoo she
offered boar ilew of the kethittota,-111-feled Isabella. she
is on the personal qualifications and histrionic powers with
which this character that Oa effectual suppoit
of our interest is rhe:represtatiiiion of the play may be said
principally, if nut entirely to depend'; and a happier eumbi-
tuition of essential requisite Never perhaps was piesented
Hum on the effilliell to which we allude'. • Bison's lovely
consort—. lovelier in her tears' and wireits•of etLctiva for
Isis supposed dewile—diungh unable to penetrate with Com..
10.7,45i11fl the artainantiue bosom °flier father. is law, yet found
triumphant access so the Marts of • captivated sedience, In
the wiry first bet where she prostrate. herself at the feet of
iorturable Baldwin. • How iliexpressibly fine was tlie joyous
plenitude, the ecstatic ebullition of maternal fenribility.
ErsithathiCli, in the dehisiee, caper belief that Nattier bad at

%Nemo

..1101041

lima) sucCenfoly g plr•ohol the fallorilts* and triolow's
mow,' she hnuK, lie it were, Ullllll the old maces accusing
poly fon het unhappy child—
' It lunches ine, and I will Live
How fearfully atrokinv the surd •n, Ilse rionoplete l:10•ition
of her countenance nod Ordure, as (lorineitor death to the
hope and deal' actin,* to tie mit shrine which had tegisa to
assiiiiate !hens) issiviedswirly ',mowed these creel words—
8010 In Omer hint safe, sorer roam near we ware: •
The child had already been delivered to the Couo:.—

• What! tittle I from me
aloe exclaims, with a piercing cry and a dejection cf visage
that bespoke the •ridest mist' y and silgappoignmput
In all instant the little one, awatclird with tenor than female
promptitude of Inurement front the bands of Ins
is again enfohleil in the arias of the kneeling muther, and
there earesseil•wiik an endearment, In ioire aad 11110.1er, the
liwellrbt--itudriest—is a word, the moat natural we esti:

hybrid. •
No, we most never part; I live hut for toy child!'
To the higkly•wrought feattores of the ...invite of discoee;
between Hiroo oiorlssbella, she great...4' poss.ble
we given by lhtsia O'Neill,•asnl very ample juttecrolso done
by Vining. In this, she restt.t nattier. :out of the whole
piece, oar enchanting actress displayed an energy of erlef•
vigour of despair, mingled with the ardent InsOd of •sinpas.
sioned scummiest, that absoladely rivesle.d the regards and
absurhed the allesali 4444 of all. Is will impossible to wittiest
her exertinus in this particular pottage, without adroit-I,lg
talents to splendid as those which shone forth tniolst the
storm of cpullicting emotions that agitated her flame, awl
filled her every look, by twits, wish lore sod terror, fund.
neas and diainsctino. We might indeed felicitate ourselves,
as ou the pearestion of a faculty of no smolt Merit nod ad.
vantage, could we convey even a faint idea of Ilse effect On
imparted to the last of the folluwiug

How wilt thou curse thy fond, believing heat
Tear me from the warm trovosei or thy love,

Axel Aron; me liken pois'eoas weed away.'
How she spoke and acted this, is, however, not to he dr-
scrihed—at least by mere words; but we may say, with the
full assursuee of below supported in the iobsersation by,
those who bad the good fortune to witness her In this per-.
fortrinnec, that it was with an emphatic intoustion of niter-.
anor, awl • corresponding truth in attitude moil action, con-
stituting the emblematic portraiture of mental agony, of;
self-reproach, abasement, nod deteetation. lit operation on •
the
you('
forcibly excited feelings of the audience was lie.!
you(' measure powerful. A silent pause tongued, and the'
scene finished amidst an entlinsissm of plaudits.
"On Saturday (night 51h) ' The Gamester:a tragedy pox.
arming worth as a composition, and merit as a useful 'mewl
production, afforded us a secuud opportunity of appreciat-
ing Miss O'Neill's superiority in domestic seines, of which
the calamitous Incidents come Lime to every one's feelings.
We had seed her as the deluded wretched victim of 'leder(' we
sits—ns the broken-hear led repentant s ire' of The St ra tiger--
as Mr. Haller; and if, in that character, her mutableness
and elegance inspired delight, her distresses excited cum-,
miseration, her frailty supplicated forbearance and pity, and
her penitence and misery drew forth the tribute of a tear—to.
how Much higher a point of elevation does she raise the claim
on our sympathy with undeserved and patiently-endured'
misfortune, sad on our respect for pure unsullied virtue, as/
exemplified in the fond sud firm attachment of a good and
faithful wife, and each a wife as Mrs. Beverley. It is indeed
• pattern of female excellence, that duct an honest man's'
heart good to contemplate; and it was played in a style as-
similating with its own perrthetlons. In Miss O'Neill's Mrs.
Beverley, ails her Mrs. Hailer, there is a pervading vein of
..exquisite tenderer'', which, as It4eesets of all things the
most correctly mailed to`the part, so we trace to it, as to a
source of alines, magic Whitener, that mastery of the feel-
ings that tbrms the prartifuent and peculistrinerit of her per-
forating*. corroboration of this remark, we retina per:
haps adduce a msoie apposite example of her Wettable eet.
tag than preseaded Ihielf is the scene where abe cements to
resign bee only remaining weshb into the hand. of an ilea-
teated besbaitd. Whilst Mbouring himself nudes the se-
'emit paugfor remoreb and shame, he keeps her in sieste-
Hoes suspense as to the real object of his request, her anxie-
ty and apprehtnsioo fur his Wooer mid happiness are of
the most !Italy and touching nature : but ' the jewels'
'once mentioned—tbe sun, When gloomy clouds disperse and
'fade away before the brightness of his fate, is not more sud-
Netily than was her change from tears to smiles..
We Matti dwelt with pleasure on averse' other points ins;
preased'on our retnembrante, but must content iniesehres
with niniting the dialogue with Stokely, where the was
equally inOressful in the repulse which licentious villaisy
meets with.tedle the Insulted spirit of chastity and honour.
'Here, 1k the llisultiption of • must dignified tone and heroic
mien, she nobly vindicated the eau* of her sex's highest
glory, awl greet'wai the sensation produced, when in an.
swer to his ' hellish offer' she tells Stiiketk—' Would that
these ryes had heaven's own lightning, that with a look, Mae
1 weight Wad dee" From key month these did indeed
• seem ' trords that bath ;* they struck with the force of a
' thunderbolt.
" The concluding performance on Monday evening pre-
sented Miss O'Neill in quite • new 'mita of view—.s the
• Votary of Than,. Aid the choice of ' The Jealous Wife'
was certaietijudielmos, inasmuch as the part of Mrs. Oak-
ley, In'which.vivacity and cheerfulness are assumed rather
than Wheal components, is better adapted than any other
we tin imaglite to the :lase and ildeattire of comic talent
'with Which this t.ady is gifted; at *Hit same time that it
gives every facility fur the display of those personal charm.
and advautages by which she is so pee-eminently (titan-
. truistic& Gracefulness of carriage, unaffected e.se of man-
ure, an eititiut steatite** in dreSs--these, and other exterior
features of real gentility, are an indispensably requisite to
the correct personation of the cbara'eter In question ; and in
' them (we apprehend) Miss O'Neill has not at present h,e
equal. After this, to add general's that her acting was of
the able* mid most interesting des(Hption, would he boo
much like condemning • with taint praise,' in agree
either with our ladividual predilections, or the universal
approbation with which it was honoured by a brilliant
and crowded audience. She was particularly happy io
the second dialogue with Mr. Oaklej. and equally co-
tertaluing iu that with Lady Freelove. The fit of hysterics
in the lest geese as gives with admirable effect ; and the
by-play throughout evinced the ptefeet mistress of her
art
,Is the Auld recooeilistiou of the wedded pair, leer
genius struck a pathetic chord; and as its vibration ruched
our hearts, it seemed to,tell us that (be proof of versatility
pe had just witnessed, however fascinating and agreeable,
should only the more strongly attach our adsniratimi to the
exhibition of those ilirst-rite powers which .111 ism O'Neill poi.
messes as a tragedian. In that majestic with of the drama
she haw established a high mid lasting reputation; and her
opine will appear with lustre in the list which emegistere
the urnanieuts and worthies of the British Stage.
.14 lure think the receipts of the house for the six nights
must have averaged 2001. each. of which,it Is said, Min
O'Neill (includiug her benefit) received 7061. a large sum,
but which, cousideriag her traoscesideil talents, and the
good use die Mikes of her entelitments, ten liberal 'Wad will
seat, grudge' leer.*

Letters were reFeived ip 1o;t0 on Sotinday, which
state quit r riot had talKo' piece at llurnley, a rna-
nurectlllrtf distant IA wiles from Manches-
ter, alit. that the rioters lad committed acts of vio-
lence of the 'most destroctiee tendetck. The ca-
valet hild'reerived ordeis to Of ocerairoin the bar-
reeks • its' Madeltister with ell possible to
Prevent fiirtbkilisiechter, end Ile•cilte the itmargentr.
"It guild %it the rioters had pulled down the House
of Corte/44'.

:
The Gazelti of Saturday night coffer.. n reared of
tont fur the thworery of the omen« oho bliot or
kiiled, on the night Or the It tnataut. Mr. G.
Ilmuttsort, Co:limier, of 114 borough of Holt, Den-
higlithhe ; atl•at) ii rrw:trd of '2OO zninen• fur disco-
very of any of the planners awl iIiVI,RfS of the
rintoo* attack made on tile ,341 taatimat, on the Mill
of Mettens GRA* cud Co. blauchrater.

TO This fintrisri PRES.?.

Sim—Pen-Ift me to pert •y a swill lasi:ion of 'one valua-
ble Paper, by reel ttttt urodirg n rabsreii.uon iu favour of the
spirited labourer (Desitorit) who tii,patehed 11,r• mad diez at
Knightsbridge; sin the I ilk Unit. and "rho is lion P patient in
St Georper's Hotpoint", in euust.treure of the orwtre bits ts which
he rEc«iveil isiion the oerntion. Although my own exfoliates.,
under Providence, pktiteeteil thy penevot from 11“. reruciout
)ct any aildiratieit of cuoirowe ileltfayril in she
rsuseof humanity to.omplt 111, 111 urpeal, throve§ the nie.
Moon of your respectable Jocrnal. on 1/1.11114 of Dent /111,
110 only to list inhabitants NotiVeasial pasiirogers of Knights.
bruitn. sail Hrompiou, but to 11. e hie r.l tool tosiontie 111 gig-
stosallbrunlsont this great nietrop•ilis sot its environs.
• I alai Sir, your morn olorthron Serttill,
• • •E. L. aIaIARDSON.

1

11

• . •
NillitrOf Neptorber 111,;814.

• • •
tipx7`.
On Theri.dsY morning thehrother of Hunt,
who, ti tzh uunittun.it.oy deaf mid alitinh, is raf
active habits, and uia experiented ugrienhuralist,
4n:harked with Mr: Ilunes eldr,t soti,ort hnard thn
Amazon, nit A niericJn Ivan in the river, for Nate
Orleans. Oil their mriv3l 'at this pint they pro-
ceed in a sterns-boat top the 114,strilapi, nearly
1.600 far their filial Shuwnee
Town, in the !Mimi. territory, sear the residence
or Mr. Maurice Ifirkbet*, nl.cre they Rare put..
clan,ed n considerable wet of hind, for the, pur.-
3,,n.e of ciarmetatiog agricultural parstrits, mid
I: ere carried with them, a Loge quantity of neces..
Lary liu.haiiiiry imp'entients. The following tette+
Isar heel sent to the }:.:ilitor of %he OhsPrrer

" Gravesend, Fs iilsy Evenissz, Slept ft 1811.
Ma. Enitott—Au rsening paper harm', informed the
public of the fact, that my brother mad son sailed yes-
terdisy mornissi fur Alms Sea, coneholeit else article by sayitir,
" Whether Ilse Orator is to ~.tow shim ur nu; we bare nut
learnt." Now, Sir, peimit me tiouahrls ibr merf.um of no
06Rerrcr, to dispel tlit: doubts or the Muur of that paper,
and to irastjuilliat• the sedated miles of his residers, by
furnsiug them that Oa theme hut MI intrusion of having hit
native country, neither sell. 1 be (1 —aster these wish the soon
distant hope that he means io withdraw his hostility to the
horosighmongers. lalls *lan nisei 111 l • to contradict a 'late-
tarot wkrh has appeasid in the daily pa pet s, that Lord
Cochristse% vessel h,d sailed front the liver. As I passed
&pre the river yesterday in. Ilse Amhz.,o, with my still *MI
brother, I 4.a* my LOgli CUCIMOIC'S weasel safe in the duck
at Rothertitlie: Rod upon 'wok, le aratil from one of she
officer', that there isou elhmee Or her sallieoz fur some lime,
as the steam boiler* are not yet complete —I Mil. Sir. &e.
" HENRI' WONT."

EARL OF. LINDSEY.

1

. •
Died, on Thursday night, ■t his seat at -Uffitur-
ton, near Standot, lancoloahire, otritt 74, the
Right Honourable ALBROIARLE IihRTIE,, Eat! of
Lindsey, n General in the Army, Coliiml of the
w9th Regiment of Foot, mid Coviroor of Cliarlc-
moist. Fle succeeded to the Earldom. if l.ind•ry
tht•the demise of Ranwstr.dur, fifth 13iike of An-
titter, February 9, 1809, when the Dukedom
ankMarquisate I•eeame etstiner. hits Lortlslull
inartied, filet, rebut of THOMAS
Suiteeu, E.q. of Coleby, Lincolnshire, and dough"
ter a f WILLIAM CLAY, E•ti• of purTniK--1101.
Notts., by whotii hi had WI .091.0 ; uta,
on the 18th of November, !Rog, C►t.'.ItI.OTTB Su.
RAHMAN LAYARR, daughter. of Cajal:LEl l'urutt
LAYARQ, p.p. late Dean of Bristol, oho saltier*
him, and by whom he has left issue tiro soot; and
daughter. His Lordship is .acca•edod iii his titlif
and estates by In. shiest woo, A I lti MA itLE Lord
BsaTte, born the 44th of November, IS i 4.

•
The Chief of the ireck Indians, who arrived
the Semiraspfs, to represent to our Gott7enaseir
the oppressive acts of the American Govertornetit,
mid the losses his tribe hail sustaiiir d,. iu C 094.
quenee of the 'mocha:rot thi y had . sheered to
our troops, during the operatimis at . O,lraur, had
a palaver with a Gentleman front the Foreigit
Office last week. He is to receive whit pects.
nisry aid be :nay require, and be conveyed bock
tit Writ Florida in Oise oif our 'lima. The mime
of this lodian Chief is GEO4IEII P ERRYMAN
he is the eldest lion of [Metre 111tcb liy a
black woman, and therefore :Mt qualified to be-
come his successor ;
giving place to the itext'scsis,
who was born of • red, or Indian woman. PERRY.
MAN Ist at present about 36 or ^7 years of age, and
is well known to the officers who served in Flo.
:ids cat the close of the late war with America,
where be rendered himself citieinely useful, by
acting as eh interpreter beta-eel' our troops and his
countrymen. He also distinguished himself by his
Capacity the enduring fatigue, which Made hint
peculiarly successful in procuring cattle and forage
whenever wanted for the use of the army. lie is or
Ilerctileari•strength; so much to that it was no un-
cornottori i.ret wills him to carry An officer on his back
through the swamp for foot or five miles together,
all the way up to his Middle in water. His tribe are
Betted on the river A ppalachicolc From Pensacola.
On the approach of General Jacksua, he. ethdoted
his escape to the Iles i..:11111111, when Sir JAM LS YEv
was induced to give him a tonolge to England; that
he might lay the grievances of his countrymen be-
fore our Government.
A mail of the name of Po'oli, a, keeper of cows.
who cut h.a throat a few slays since, died ins Tues-
day. lie wits in pretty good circirinstance-. yet,
the preserit scarcity of fodder for his cows had in.:-
premed nu his mind a petsaa.ion that he t4suuld die
from want, and to this citeunistarice i 5 the act Of
suicide attributed.

SUDDEN DEATH.—Ott Thoroidar vo-mtiglil. Mr.
TH 031 A! Uti !MOWS..• retyesiable baker Broad.
meat', Bristol, lattesidecl at the Commercial Sale
Ito))))). accusninthied by his Solicitor. a;tio the
bidditig for the estate col•!eil Myrtle fLI l I
aboutl4o o'clotc he woo' suddenly teteli ill, and ur
so hour afterwards lie died, lu the C ttee
li .

ptt Thursday se' •ght the butt/ of a well-drea*;
ed min. apparently between 50 and tit) ):-.ers adage*
was found in the float; sitar it* corn-14)rd* Oil dm
Wel.h Back; Bristol. Tine head was much laws-
ed ; the tilled with stones, Mad :s large sto, e
hummed 1111114 r his coat. The deceased had an
Idaclt cunt and itantalnoor. A peoktsil.r, COltaht
and pocket-handkerchief, v,e:.e the obly attic!. a
found upon how, and time imitate of hot 1131111 e ap-
proved in tin loot out lin4 shirt a.id *tucking..
The betty halve lit to btvera d I.* ttS
the now. Vrt

OLD B.IILE,Y. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19.