The Sun.
London, England, 1834-07-31 00:00:00

MRS. SIDDONS'S LOVE AND MARRIAGE.

,Vhen she was about seventeen, Mr. Siddons, who was
still an actor in her father's company, paid his first atten-
tions to her ; and it was soon perceived that they were ac-
ceptable. Mr. Si▪ ddons had been bred to business in Bir-
minghambut bei▪
ng handsome and active, and not without
versatile talents for the stage, and his range of characters
e'xetresantdilee ;
from Hamlet to Harlequin, he acquired provincial
popularity as an actor. The people of Brecon even took
an interest in his attachment to Miss Kemble, especially at
one period, when he thought himself threatened with a dis-
appointment. At this crisis Mr. Siddons made a public
statement of his case, which, though it flowed in rhyme,
might possibly contain more rhyme than reason. He al-
leged, that, though he had been accepted by Miss Kemble
with the approbation of her parents, they had suddenly for-
bidden his pretensions, at the prospect of a wealthy neigh-
bouring squire being about to solicit her hand, and that the
young lady herself had acquiesced in their decision. The
object of Mr.nSaidedt,oans'gseettelrermorasn awniclie,jaeatltobuasty
tiwmaes,
haeaMare.
eEsvtaatnes'noefar Brecon, though he lived to consume it, and died
an insolvent bachelor. It is still remembered by some sur-
vivors in Brecon, that this Mr. Evans was rumoured to
have fallen in love with Miss Kemble on hearing her sing an
opera song, "Sweet Robin," with peculiarly fascinating
effect ; and people expected that he would ask her ip mar-
riage. Of the instability of Miss Kemble's affections, how-
ever, there is not the slightest proof beyond the word of a
jealous lover ; and, though Mr. and Mrs. Kemble might
well grudge their only daughter to a fellow stroller, we are
not to take Mr. Siddons's song as evidence of their culpa-
bility. Mr. Siddons proposed to his beloved an immediate
elopement, who, tempering amatory with filial duty, declined
the proposal. The impatient lover then became so impetuous
in his language to her parents, that he received his dis-
missal, for the time being, from
.Mr. Kemble's company as
an actor. He was allowed, however, to have a benefit, and
the people of Brecon gave him a bumper house. At the
conclusion of the play, he sang the song of his own com-
position already mentioned (the song is subjoined in
the work), which does no remarkable credit either to his
delicacy or his poetical genius. But it described the pangs
of his own attachment, the coldness of Miss Kemble, and
the perfidy of her parents ; and indifferent as the effusion
was, it was greeted by the audience with all the Welsh
warmth of their hearts. The applauses were still resound-
ing, after his last bow, when Colin, retiriiig into the green-
room, was met by the stately mother of Miss Kemble, who
was fully prepared to avenge the honour of the family, and
crowned Mr. Siddons's benefit by boxing his ears very
heartily. How the feud was healed I know not, but the
event proved that Mr. Siddons was cured of his jealousy.
Miss Kemble promised to marry him as soon as her father
and mother's objections could be. overcome. Meanwhile
she agreed to go from home, and lived for some time under

the protection of Mrs. Greatheed, of Guy's Cliff, in War-
wickshire. From a surviving member of that family, I
learn that she was not much liked, that her great latent genius
was not even suspected. It was observed, however, that
she passionately admired Milton ; and I have seen a copy
of his works which the Greatheeds presented to her at this
period. While she remained at Guy's Cliff, she received
several visits from Mr. Siddons, and her parents seeing that
the attachment was serious, ceased to oppose it. In her
nineteen year she was united to the object of her choice—
her own father giving her away—they were married at Tri-
nity Church, Coventry, Nov. 26, 1773.

WATER SPOUT.—The singular phenomenon of a
water-spout was seen from this city on Tuesday afternoon,
which attracted an immense concourse of spectators in every
street and open space looking to the south-east. It extended
about eight degrees towards the earth, and had at one time a
close resemblance to a human arm of gigantic mould. The
phenomenon lasted a considerable time, and its various move-
ments and contortions excited considerable surprise and
amazement in the beholders. It was expected to fall some-
where in Mearns parish.—Scots Times.
FEEDING DOGS ON HUMAN FLESII.—Las uasas,
speaking of the Spaniards in Jamaica, says—" They hanged
these unfortunates by thirteen, in honour of the thirteen Apos-
tles,---I have beheld them throw the Indian infants to their
dogs,---I have heard them borrow the limb of an human being
to feed their dogs, and next day return a quarter to the lender."
—From Montgomery Martin's Hist ,ry of the British Colo-
nies, Vol. 11. West Indies.