The Sun.
London, England, 1809-11-23 00:00:00

MRS. SIDDONS.

As the public must naturally feel a considerable
degree of curiosity in what relates to a Lady who has
reached the top of her profession, and who has so
often afforded them pleasure, we feel ourselves un;
der a necessity. to notice a pamphlet which has for,.
some time been advertised, and which was yester-
day submitted to the world. This pamphlet was
professedly written by Mrs. GALINDO, formerly
Miss GOUGH, an aetress on the Dublin stage, and
who made a few ' unsuccessful efforts at Covent-
Garden Theatre. it appears that Mrs. Siddons was
some years ago very intimate with this Mrs. Galindo
and her husband, who was formerly a Fencing-
master. It appears also that the Galindos were un-
der pecuniary obligations to Mrs. Siddons, which
we understand have not yet been settled, and that
they had received repeated favours from her. In-
deed it is'evident that there was a cordial friendship
towards the Galindos on the part of Mrs. Siddons,
and this publication, at a period when a spirit of per-
secution has arisen against Mrs. •Siddons and the
Kemble family, will fully enable the public to judge
how far these Galindos were entitled to her kind-
ness. Mrs. Siddons, it seems, was induced to put
an end to all acquaintance between her and
Mr. Galindo, on account of the violence of his
temper.
The Letters of Mrs. Siddons which appear in this.
publication tio honour to her head and • heart, and
shew a warmth of friendship which has met with such
a return in this pamphlet as most shock every teoling
heart and liberal mind. We shall subjoin some of
those letters, and we ore persuaded; that instead of
accomplishing the purpose obviously in view, that
of bringing disgrace on Mrs. Siddons, they will ren-
der her character more amiable in the opinion
of the public, and all the disgrate attending it will
fall wholly on its authors. We have before ob-
served, that the time at which this publication
takes place indicates, the most vindiaive spirit, but
as many of the letters relate to family concerns,
and might excite family divisions, the publication
cf them at all proves a disposition that every person
must regard with indignation and abhorrence,

!4 “TER VII.
Cheltenham, June 12th.

4.
Mt DEAR MRS. hope long before this you
have received the account of my brother's visit to
me, and that the appearance of an engagement for
three years, at five pounds a week, comtnencing
the season after the next, has put you all into a
more comfortable frame of mind than Mr. Harris's
letter was likely to produce. I was unwilling to send
it, but I thought it right to tell you precisely how
the business stood, especially as it was 'a thing of too
mooch consequence with respell to your arrange-
ments in the interim. This letter is to serve as an
answer to Mr. G.'s, and I most sincerely hope I may,
never receive such another; for alas ! the pressure
of my own affliction has not yet hardened me into
an insensibility to the sorrows and mishaps of my
friends; my friends too should know this ; but I say
no more, I most sincerely wish his spirits may
be again restored ; he tells me, I have taen too
much trouble about this engagement, and that
" happiness is purchased at too dear a price." I
will own, in answer to the .fir‘tosgevtion. that' it.bas
cost me much and various ' and very k}itter conten-
tion : but I have,•gained the viaory at last. and it
depends on the moderation of the Nyisbes and ex-
petiv. ations of us all, whether the .cOntliet is ended
peaceably and honourably. I pray God it may, for
to live in a state of cornention with a brother I so
tenderly love, and a husband with whom I am td
spend what remains pi' 411 e, would be more than my
subdued spirit and almost broken heart would be
able to endure.

In answe. to the second, I can'-only say, that the
testimony of the wisdom of all ages, froM the faun,
dation of the world to this day, is childishness and
folly, if happiness be any more than a name; andi
am assured our own experienCe wiL- not enable uslO
refute the opinion. • No, no; it is. the inhabitant of.
a better world. Content, -the e,i4pring of moderate '
tion, is All we ought to aspire to here, 404 modera-
tion will be our best and surest guide to that happi-
ness to which she will most assured'', conducl
Forgive this preaching ; I have a most sincere and
affectionate regard for him, and I wish for your
sake as well as his own, he would endeavour to car-
red that avidity of imagination, that at one time
hurries him into what he mistakes-for -happiness,
but which is indeed no more than intoxication; a
sort of drunsenoess of the mind, and the next mo-
ment plunges him into despondency. Indeed, in-
deed, I wish you would tell him it is my most ear-
nest request that he would, and that by making this
exertion, and in the effects it will produce on your
mutual comforts, I shall be richly overpaid for all I
have done; if he thinks himself unfortunate, let him
look on me and be silent. "l he inscrutable ways of
Providence." Two lovely creatures gone, and ano•
(her is just arrived from school, with all the daz-
zling, frightful sort of beauty that irradiated the
countenance of Maria, and makes me shudder when
I look at her. I feel myself like poor Niobe, grasp-
ing to her bosom the last and younger of her.
chil-
dren ; and like her look every moment for the
vengeful arrow of destruction. • Alas ! my dear
friend, can it be wondered at, that I long for the
land where they are gone to prepare their mother's
place. What have .1 here? Yet here, even here,
could be content to linger mill in peace and calinuess;
content is, all I wish ; but I must again enter into
the bustle of the world ; for though fame and far-
tune have given me all I wish, yet hile my presence
and my exertions here may be useful to others, I
do not think myself at lib.etty to give myself up to
my own selfish gratifications. The second great
commandment is, love thy neighbour as thyself, and
in this way I shall most probably best make my way
to heaven. Give my love to dear little Johnny ; he
will seem pleased at least, if he. has not forgotten
to laugh at the name of SiddOns. God bless you
all. lam unalterably,
Your sincere friend,
S. SIDDONS.

LETTER XIV.
Nov. 14th, I believe.
My DEAR MRS. G.—Your letter was more wel-

come to me than I have time or words to express;
would to God it had brought me more comfortWe
tiiliwY°s of you and yours. I play four times in the
week, and what with rehearsals and arranging nay

dresses, I have not a moment to call my ows ecell
now I write after playing Lady Macbeth. I Bare
been sorely hprrassed with domestic cares, but w""
not add to the burden of yours by my complahl;
on the contrary, oh ! that I were able to lightet!
them, and wipe all tears from your eyes. We "lb'
of you all incessantly, indeed that is the only solace
of my dejthed mind. Alas ! alas ! how happy git'
all were together this time last year, and yet we then
found means of vexation and distress, so that it seerlls'
we should make occasions of uneasiness even in the
happiest state, and nay weR submit to the sorrows
which Divine Providence ordains, since we oursekes
are so ingenious to create them.
Patty and I have been making a little arrange
tent for next summer, to her I refer you for it
I can tell you is, that we think of nothing more 010
of you and yours, and are for ever looking out tot
some little " settled low content" in this neighbour'
hood, where I may sometimes come and participate
your comforts. Pray tell Mr. G. it is so long sin"
I have heard from him, that I begin to think he has
forsaken his allegiance. Here we are alone, for Mr•
Siddons is gone to Bath, and when he will return i%
quite uncertain : " Poor forsaken virgins that we
are !" but, thank God ! we are content to be alva
Love to dear Mr. G. and the sweet babes ; and my
kind wishes to those who are so good as to intereo
themselves about

Your faithful friend,
S. SIDDoNS.

ETTE l; XVII r. 1
Sunday, Manchester.
AZY DEAR i'Vlits.G.—Mr. G. has been here to
about the plays; he offered me his hand, but I had
pot duplicity enough to receive it. I need only tell :I
you that he was as violent as usual, and wondered
what he had done to offend me. I endeavoured,'
but in vain—for he had all the talk to himself---to
I ask what he thought cf telling Mr. th it f
lent him the money, after I bad his sacred promise,
on account of —7—, never to let it be known ?
ask,,--d him if he had ever heard me utter a word re.'
speaing you thatwas not dhSlated by esteem andcor-
di3l good will ; and how he could imagine, that, if
haci.an idea that his acquaintance with me wank'.
give you one moment's uneasiness, that I should nor)!
in that nome4t, have broken it off ? God knows/
and he knowa ton, that I would; but I always
thought yOt4 were desirous of beeping it up, as being
sure tit his'at least being in society that could not I)4s
disrepulable,
I tell you all this, which is all that passed be'
tweet' us at this interview, that you may !coal
from one who never yet told you a falsehood 0014
as he professps to he unable to.relAte any thing ac'''
cwoely) "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth," that you may, not be misled, kle
was talking so much all the time, that I believe be
hardly heard me when I assured him I was sorry tc`
see him cariied way by the vioiel,ce of his temper',
that I harboured no resentment against
only hoped he would not hereafter represent too ag
such a fiend, to turn a man's wife into ridicule
het husi!und, .as it was likely to come to -the ears ri
those wt.() are not so deeply impressed with ti-e 4,
of forgiVene..s 'myself ;he went away in a cab
or perhaps I alight have- talked bina into a littiP "41
anti biieve mom,

bear Mrs. 0. your sincere friend,
• S. SppoArg;

.
.1.........

LETTER XIX.
Mrs. Siddons's compliments to Mr. Galindo; 5/4:
declines the favour of any interview, and begs le"—
to refer him to Mr.-7, tor any business tie 133°Y;
have to transact.

LETTER XX. • —. •
Written in Willa)? last- • ,
MY WAR PA,17177-4 loose no time in sitcling yo 4 •
the inclosed letter from 4),lr.C:alitido; I know Ib
is the time you expel to receive your interest inc', :I
ney, and I. guess by the double postage it is arrived.
As you know my resolution never more to, open
letter from him, I send it to you with the seal tin'
broken; although, as you perceive, it is addresseq
to me. What astonishing etti.ontery, after such cilt: •
rage, hypocrisy, and ingratitude 1- ! !- I hope )o'l'
foot is better. Give my kind compliments to Mrs'
—, tell her she has now had your society A
whole week, and I think it is time you should return
to your affeetionate friend.
I cannot be mistaken in the letter, for I see P.G.
•on the seal, but I desire you will not mention th'
contents to me for I have suffered enough, and anl
resolved no more to subject myself to the insolence
and treachery I have already endured, as I have no*
thing to do with the transaction between 'you sad
Mr. G.