The Sun.
London, England, 1815-06-02 00:00:00

MR. BANNISTER'S FAREWELL.

We have Seittont attended' a scene of inure. im4
pfessive interest .thaii that which, took plate last
night at DrOry-Latic Theatre: The final retire-
ment from public life of one who was long a dis-
tingnislied..member of hi, precession, and who
has often gratified the world
,by 'the exertion of
his talents,' eeuld not bra Operate is, a powerful
stimulus to curiosity, and to feelings- of a nobler
kiwi. The attraction. was naturally increased by
a consideration of the private 'Character and eon.;
.duct of the individual, who has uniformly dis-
played in- domestic life a Meritorious, regard to
every duty that attached to him as. a son, a hus-
band, and a parent. The fatone,which he ac..
quired by his, talents was nisi :Wasted by impro-
vidence, but improred,With .laudable care, while
from every accounts, rte,bas alWays been hospitable
to his brethren of the Sock and Buskin, as well
as ttS' ti numerous train of private friends. ye
evinced good sense in the choice of a wife, who.
%vas aamired for public talents, and highly rejiect,
ed for her private contlect. Ile was not Merely a
dutiful hilt a generous son to both his parents, and
he spired no-e.kpence its the education of his off-
spring, who are admired for talent;„ accoMplish-
ments, arid virtues. But -in ttdditien to these
qualities he has shtwn a liberal patronage of the
Arts; and, as we understand, possesses a collection
of pictures and prints which would do honour to
any private .cabinet. As an Actor his powers are
so well known that it is unnecessary to enter iuiu
a criticat examination of, them in this place,
but we may properly introduce the following cha-
racter of him, which %vas—given in R Poem, en.
titled 7Vtr-Stirgei.puLlisticct in the year 1795,"
The junior BANNISTER, a lively Wight,
To public favour ()oasts a Solid right.
O'er ELM'IN'S track, by kindred genius led,
Yet in his steps he nobly scorns to tread;
Acts from himself, in native humour bold,
And, if at times too free, in nothing cold.
Whate'er eccentric humour may require, .
Where cWhere rouxsteiconli.basfaie,sstp:s for
lia.lyuw;git a
..
dibidy
Would yet heroical and gay appear
Or where the Cit, half blockhead and half beau,
In higher circles would his whimsies slew-..
There pealing' laughter testifies his worth,
And spleen herself must men the kindling mirth.
To worthier scenes too, will his talents bend—.
The sportive lover, and the active friend;
Yet when. Thalia on the infant smird,
S!3e mark'd him for the ludicrous and wild.

. -
But it is proper to observe, that ,since the
above 'character was written, he, performed- the.
part's of Hamlet and Richard, under the aus-
pices of
.his friend, Mr. COLMAN, in the mq-
ibarket Theatre, and subsequently at Edinburgh,
with such ability as to spew that if he had ori-
-ginally confined himself to the higher walk of his
profession, he might have attained a distinguished
station. 'Such is the Actor and the Man who last
night took Iris final leave ot the Public, and who was
attended by so crowded an audience, as abundantly
to testify the respetit in which his character is
held. He first performed the part of Echo, in a
Comedy entitled The World, and was received ors
his entrance with a tumult of applause. He sup-
ported the part with firmness, spirit, and humour.
In the Farce,• he sustained the character of Natter,
of which he was the original representative; and
whether the interest excited by the approaching
moment 'of farewell operated upon the feelings,
or whether his own emotions gave increased sen-
sibility to his exertions, we, shall not inquire, but. -
certain it is that he never displayed more merit or
excited a stronger sympathy. Before the curtain,
dropped, he came forward and delivered the fol-
lowing Address with more firmness than could-be
expected on the occasion, but perhaps he derived
no slight relief from the applause which attended -
him (luring the progress of it
" Ladies and Gentlemen,—Seven and thirty years have
elapsed since I appeared before you, my kind Benefactors !
and I feel that this 'instant of separation is much more awful
to ►n e. tb :
indulgence.ti) e_ --rSt threw myself
upon
youthful moment when
i your
" During my strenuous exertions to obtain your favour, how
' much have those exertions been stimulated and rewarded by
the public'. and one vanity of toy heart, which it will ever .
be impossible for me to suppress, must be the constant recol-
lection of days in which you fostered use in My boyhood, en-
couraged me progressively on. the stage, and after a lung and
continued series of service, thustheer me at 'the conclusion
of my professional labours.
" Considerations of health warn me to retire; your pa-
tronage has given me the means of retiring with comfort
What thanks. can I sufficiently return fur that comfort which
you have enabled me to obtain?
"This moment of quitting you nearly overcomes me; at a
time when respect and gratitude call upon- me to express my
feelings with more eloquence titan I could ever boast, those
very feelings den ire me of half the humble powers imay pus-
sess upon ordinary occasions.
Farewell my hind, my dear Benefactors."
•

On the conclusion of this Addres's he seemed to
be nearly exhausted by his .feelings ; but at this
period Mr. RAYMOND, attended by most of the
Performers, advanced to his assistance, encircling
him with obvious zeal, friendship, and cordiality,
which he seemed anxious to return as well as his
strength would permit, and upon this interesting
suene the curtain fill, amidst the. mingled ap-
plause and sympathy of the audience, the former
of which continued for some minutes after be had
‘vitbdrawn.

We kat n that the scene in die Green-room was
not less affecting to himself and the several,
members of the profession, who surrounded hint
with. eager salutations, which were universally rer
pealed in the following terms, ' f We congratulate
you, but mourn for the publie," We have nova
only to hope, that, he ‘vill enjoy in •domestic life
as much pleasure as he has afforded to the public,
partiChlarly as he has not lingered on the stage,
to chew a melancholy example of declining poN,vers,
but has taken a hint front the moral Bard, who
.says, that

" WisJorn's triumph is well-tim'd retreat
" As hard a Science to the Fair as Great."

SUMMER ASSIZES.

The Judges yesterday met in the King's Bench
Treasury Chamber, and chose then—Circuits as
follow :

Hume—Lord EllenborOngh and Mr. Justice Le Blanc.
Noifoth--Lord Chief Justice Gibbs and Lord Chief Baron
Thomson.
lidland—Mr. Justice Heath and Mr. Baron Graham.
Wet/ern—Mr. Justice Charubre and Mr. Juitice Dampier.
Northcrn—Mr. Justice Bayley and Mr. Baron Richards.
Oxford—Mr. Baron Wood and Mr. Justice' Dallas.

The postponement of BUONAPARTE'S Champ de
Mai, for the acceptance of his "Act additional,"
is supposed to have arisen from ale difficulty of
p roconug'a May poll.

1.11.61(1.\

tiousE CF I.OllbN, -rat•nsDAt, Just 1.

The fon,,,xl,,,,viiblic Bills ae r hrojzltt upfront the tom-
! mon. :—The Lt?cal Regiment Bin, the ExcllcyleC
tsaities Bill, the Board•of Longitude 1;111, nod the Northern
I:oa-I-louses 11;11.
Upon the motion of the •Mvirtiti-is of BUCK4SIGIIIM, the
report or a tom mii tee of tb, 14nttse of Cotionuns respecting
• •the Bench, Fl«•t, -and Marsbalsea• Prisods,.•was read,
to be printed.
'the Duke of SITSSEX presented a Petition &Pm the Catlo--
" liC Inlnibit:titti of the County of Wesford, which was read, and
-o'rtlet•e..! to lie on tile table.,
• • FOREIGN SLAVE-TRADE BILL: •

-The Marquis of LANspowN, in moving the se-
cond reading of this Bill, said, that the necessity
Of At- was' more evident, and .that therefore he
Should not think it 'necessary tt, trouble their
'Lordships at any length upon its nature or merits.
The.employmenr of British capital in the-Foreign
Slaverrade, was -an' evil which had been pro-
grestively increasing.; and ought to be checked.—
TlOielicved, indeed, the temptation:to it was so
great, that the Slave Trade carried _on by Spain
tind Portngtal was chiefly: supported by the applica-
tion of-British "capital ;;-
.The.Ohjectof the present
'l3lll teas to prohibit .thatTraetice, and lie felt per-
smided that the principle:•wonld .reeeive• the un-
qualified concurrence of their Lordships. He was
not aware of any ob;ections that were intended to
he made ; biltrshould there be any, the Committee
would be the' kroper stage for bringing them for-

ward.
The Earl of WEsTkOREL•AIsZD said:, he concurred
most heartily in the principle of the Bill, though
he did hope that the 'Neible -Lord would have
gone more minutely into its enactinentt, because
he conceives some of them were of a most serious
Mature; and such as slanted every one in the
country, especially the traders.• He believed one
of'the clauses: as it, now stood, proYided that
punishment- should ~he inflicted,. not only upon
any individual who,. knowingly, embarked his ca-
pital in the Slave T6de carried on by foreign na-
tions, but whose agent, without his permission,
miOt so employ it-.! •
The 'Marquis of r...,ANDOWN replied, that it cer-
tainly was, not the wish of Parliament to subjek
Planters in the West Indies, or any other person,
who might be innocent, to any inconvenience;
and it was competent to the -Noble Earl to prn-
post> in the Committee, 81W amendment which
mi:zht obviate such; on operation of the
The Earl of WiaSTMoRELAND and • the Noble
_Marquis mutually explained ; after whicl2 the Bill
was -read a second time, and ordered to be com-
mitted on Monday. - •