The Sun.
London, England, 1822-12-26 00:00:00

GARRfICK.

The following is a copy of a letter from this
great Actor to a Gentleman named STURZ. It
spews that he viewed human nature with the eye
of a philosopher, as well as of the man of taste :

" I never liked Drno, though it bears a good character upon
,the French Stage. There are good lines, and some little
pathos.. I am spoiled by ,SHAKSPiARE, and I hope you
are very near spoiled too.— Now, from your dissection of
French Actors, Madame CLAIRON has every thing that art
and good understanding, with natural spirit, can give her__
but the heart has none. of those instantaneous feelings that
life-blood, that keen sensibility, that electrical fire, which
bursts at once from genius, and shoots through the veins,
marrow, bones and all, of every spectator. She is so con-
scious of what she can do, that she never has the feelings
of the instant come upon her unexpectedly; but I pronounce
that the greatest strokes of genius have been unknown to the
actor himself; the circumstance, the warmth of the scene,
has sprung the mine, as it were, as much to his own sur-
prize as to that of the audience. Thus I make a difference
between a great genius and a good actor ; the first will
realize the feelings of his character, and be transported
beyond himself, while the other, with great powers and
sense,. gives great pleasure, but he never-
7pectus inaniter angel

• Irritat, mnlect, psis terroribus impkt.
.—Your idea of the French character most exactly agrees with
mine; their pOlitesse has reduced their characters to such a
sameness ; their humours are so curbed by habit, that when
you have seen half a dozen French men and women, you have
seen the whole. In England every man is a distinct being, and
requires a distinct study to investigate him ; it is from this great
variety that our Comedies are less uniform than the French,
and our characters more strong and dramatic. Since you left
us I have played the character of a young (fye for shame) jea-
lous Anzoureux, in the comedy of. The Wonder, and it has
been followd in a most extraordinary manner.—Should you
ever return to us before I drop my fool's coat, I will. treat
you with the best in my power, fir I have indeed shewn you
nothing."

Yesterday being Christmas Day, it was ob-
served with the usual solemnitids, and with more
than its usual strictness: the shops in the City
were closed by order of the Loan MAYOR, whose
injunction was rigidly obeyed, with a very few
exceptions. The markets have been excessively
abundant, 4nd the price of provisions such as to
enable many to enjoy this festive season with
that degree of comfort which of late years they
have not been so well enabled to do. Divine
Service was performed in all the Churches and
Chapels of the Metropolis, which were generally
well attended.

GRAND HIGH Mass.—Yesterday a Grand
High Mass was performed at the Catholic Chapel,
in Moor-fields, which, at an early hour, was so
thronged, that hundreds of persons were obliged
to leave the place for want of room. Many in-
dividuals, of different persuasions, were led
there from curiosity in the mistaken anticipa-
tion of viewing extra and ludicrous ceremonies.
The music on the occasion was very sublime and
effective, and the principal performers were
Messrs. GOULDEN, TERRAIL, Miss CUBITT, &C.
who were in fine voice. The music consisted , f
select pieces from HAYDN and MOZART. The
" Gloria in Excelcis" excited the most admir-
able effect.—The High Mass was solemnly per-
formed by Messrs. HUNT, DEVEREUX, and
LAW, and the latter gentleman delivered an
eloquent discourse applicable to the day. The
crowd was very immense, and the beadle, after
the ceremony was concluded, lad much difficulty
to clear the sacred edifice of an immensity of
curious individuals who forced their wav inside.