The National Register.
London, England, 1818-12-14 00:00:00

DRAMA.

• COVENT GARDEN.
lldisn O'Nsll.appeared on Thursday night, for the
6rst thaie, in The character of ilage/a, in The Ca. 1k
Spectre. The admirers of' this exceilcnt actress will
iinatedintely perceive, that this is rather au honour
etinterrad on a very humble 'delineation, than a source
froniwhence much addition call be derived to her
eaablished reputation. Yet the part of 40ig,cla is not
without passages of beauty and feeling. The &scrip-
tioas of 'the happy days and pure pleasures of early
youth, andnf the rise and progress of her attaehjuent
to Percy, are warm and glowing, and demand great
pnwers, to:cypress in the true vein of feeling. It is
needless to :;sy, that Miss O'Neill gave to the character
all the effect of which it wassalse2ptible: her scene
the .Plinat was particularly striking.

Aartet. -:,Torssie/i was, ieviyetl on Friday night.
The 4Shart,creas were putintesidv .suStained, and the per.
&nuance .was received with great attention. Miss
Sonterville's Margaret is not her best effixt. She dis-
played Ikea and passion, and some-touches of sarcastic
*wen .wvpaigiven Ly her with great strength and efiltt.
• litit4set panties.. was too loud and violent. be ever-
strained her voice, and aver-cxcited hersel£ The decided
and &min el:aracter of Margaret was lost in those
rumen& when the soul wits calm, though it is then
Slat character may be most eflixtively
veleped.—Her pyrite-mance, however, on the whole,
was sticcessfl, and warmly applauded. Macready was
the Earl, and a manly, correct, and animated represen-
tative of the great disturber in the most troubled days
of England. The feelings which once exalted this man
into a hero huvelong given way to those more rational
and morelcalthful principles ofpuldiclife which brand
him as an ambitious agiteurr ; bat the play holds its in-
terest upon the stage ; anti in Macready's hands the
character of if arirkk is a noble transcript of the force
and simplicity of the antique. Every body was prepared
for an admirable representation of the haughty and im-
petuous Warwick by him. It was one of the finest per-
formances we have seen. When the first suspicion of
'Edwatd's treachery respecting Elizabeth, flushed upon
him, it produced a touch of train but rarely equalled,
and, in our experience, nat exeelled. The value of the
part consists chiefly in the speeches, and they were de-
claimed by Mr. Macready with singular power and
tiexibility.. has that art which so few besides posess,
Ana -whichlithe perfection of declamation,.—that of I
giving the huignage riftlie part the art of being unpre-
meditated. The calm., Day &flowed. Farren was the
'Sir 'Adam, ana,mwescolent. This was a night of
activity, for the representation of The 'Libertine, with
the firstappearance of Mrs Dickons in Zerliaa, followed
The Wedding. Day. We have not now space-to detail
' this accomplished singer's pqrfiwmance. The music is
• nf the first order, subtle and sweet, with sudden exal-
tations into vigour and magnificence; to do this justice
:requiras not simply voice, but knowledge. The singer
insist have, besides volume of tone, elegance of tuste.7-
Mrs. Melons' habitudes of Italian study have given her
striking advantages over less scientific performers, and
in Mozart's music' she enjoys a triumph, in which she is
'likely to have but few rivals on this side of the Alps.

mess KELLY.---This excellent actress has.published
• the following letter. It is almost needless to say that
the compact alluded to is utterly void in law :
" Henrietta Street, Ctirent Garden. Dec. 9.
" DEAR Spa—T am much obligee' by the opportunity
-which your kindness affords me ofr contradicting, in the
proper way, the report which a few days ago required
no contradiction. My engagement at Covent Garden
Theatre was.nced, and Nettled; excepting as related to •
the consent of the Sub-Committee of Drury Lune The-
atre, which I find Mr_ Harris deemed it necessary to
obtain, inconsequence of a certain compact between
: •the two Theatres, by which each is bound not to en-
gage any performer who has belonged (within twelve
months) to the rival Theatre! The Sub-Committee,
whd have not chosen to retain my services in Drury
.I.4ne Theatre, have thought it .yroper and just to
re sue their consent ; being resolved that, as they do
not want my services themselves, they clan not be em-
..yhlyea in any Other Theatre to n bleb their influence •
c m reach ! By this act of the Sub Committee 1 am
-deprived of a liberal, and in every respect advantveous
engagement at .Cavent Garden, and for alight they
Ipluow to the contrary, may be evosea, together with I
all, those dependent on my exertions, to want the cons • ..
. erh necessaries of pith ! So much for the merciless
• ..ponipaet. I hen, dear Sir,.your obliged servant,
"F. 51. KELLY."
• Wiser. we first read die above, we considered the
lady injured ;but after Terusing Mr. Stephen Kemble's
explanation, we can only allow that she is capricious.
we hope, however, some arrangement may be made
which will secure to •the public the delight of witness-
.. ing her great talents.
. • Theatre Itryal, Drury Lane.pcc. It.
'I ''. ' " Sin,—As you have given publicity to Miss 'Calif's
' JlOter in your widely e.xteadad Paper of` this day,
t re-
., oethil• on Abe tosiluct of our Sah-CummiLtee Witt'
t
c:. ••• .4. itra to that • Loay, I t, Li.E you will allow MC the

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