The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-22 00:00:00

(Prom the Morning Post.)

Massinger's famous play of " A New Way to Pay
Old Debts," was performed at this theatre last night,
the part of Sir Giles Overreach being taken by Mr.
Roberts, an American tragedian, who made his debut
before a very friendly audience, by whom he was not
only received with enthusiastic acclamations, but sum-
moned to the foot-lights twice in the course of the even-
ing. These demonstrations, regarded as judgments on
the merits of an actor, have long since lost their signi-
ficance, being awarded, like the sunshine of heaven, with
equal liberality to the just and the unjust. On the stage,
as off it, time tries All, and we can only say that it will
afford us sincere gratification to learn some years hence
that Mr. Roberts has realised all that his friends so san-
guinely hope in his regard. He, undoubtedly, possesses
the merit of energy.

(Prom tlie Morning Advertiser.)
It would be manifestly unfair, with the notorious
drawbacks upon every first appearance, to give judgment
peremptorily as to the merits or demerits of a performer
placed in the anxious situation of a first attempt in a
new country, before a new audience ; and an audience,
moreover, of whom he has read and heard as the final of
court of appeal from the verdict of local partialities,
provincial prestige, and the blindness of friends. Tneso
considerations duly weighed, Mr. Roberts made last.
night a great success—a success which we have little
doubt will be confirmed upon a better acquaintance.

(Prom the Morning Chronicle.)
Those who have had the good fortune to witness tho
transcendant actinc, of Edmund Kean in the character
of Sir Giles had before them a standard whereby to esti-
mate the delineation of Mr. Roberts. Measured by such
a standard his performance must of necessity be a short-
coming. We were never carried away in the whirlwind.
and torrent of passion—we always saw before us the
but let us do him the justice to say, a most ear-
nest and painstaking actor. It may have been the,
novelty of the scene—a first appearance before a London.
audience, and withi❑ the walls of that Old Drury which.
had so often rang with wild, uncontrolled plaudits, at:
the acting of the elder Kean—that Mr. Roberts missed.
many points in the level declamation incident to the,
character of St. Gileo. We are anxious to see him in.
the more stirring and life-like dramas of Shakspeare
We hail him as a decided acquisition to the stage, and:
when he has become accustomed to- his audience he wilL
douml.ess throw more emphasis into the level declama-
tory part.

(Front tie Morning Herald.)
Mr. Roberts was listened to last night with great El-
tentioa by a crowded audience, who encouraged hiin in
every scene, and were ready to shower applauses on him
,hould he prove himstlf fair7y entitled to such a distitc-
don. The actor, however, created no enthusiasm, and
the plaldita he obtained were only occasional, and evbn
the-e, in same instances, must be attributed to encol-
ragement rather than conviction of his talents. It
possible that Mr. Roberts may appear to greater eidvan,
tags in another part, and we shall be glad to reverse our
judgment should we find cause to do so. At present VT
must assign him a place secondary to some of our own:
modern act.)rs, and thus far contest the opinions pro-
uouuced on his abilities in the New World.

Mr. Baton, an old favourite at Drury-lane, who has
recently returned from America, sustained We part of
Wellborn with much vigour and spirit, and showed no
small improvement on his latest performances in th'is
Country.