Star.
London, England, 1830-10-05 00:00:00

THEATRES.

COVENT.GARDEN THEATRE.
Another season was commenced at this Theatre last night. No al-
teration has been made in the interim of the house, and we think very
wisely, for its elegance and beauty could hardly be made more periett
than they are. The performances consisted of Romeo and Juliet, and
illaek-Eysd Smut. Prior to the commencement of the tragedy,
save the King" was sung amidst much applause. With the exception
of the Neese, the characters in Romeo and Juliet were assigned to
the same performers as during the last season. On his entrance as
litereutio. Mr. C. Kismet was received with very loud applaus.:.
He appeared in good health, and exerted himself greatly and with much
effect. Mr. WARDII also met with a cordial and flattering reception as
Prier Laterenee. Miss Hamitic was rapturously cheered on her
mares. fibs struck as as being somewhat more matured in person
and in voice than she appeared to be last season, and her acing
bad consequently more of power about it ; but her conception
seemed to be entirely unaltered. Her attitudes, especially in moments
of excitement, were exqquisitely beautiful, and in the delivery of all
the arduous, impasslooed, or lofty passages that fall to the character of
fund, she evinced fine genius, developed by admirable physical powers.
She was greatly applauded, particularly in the scene in which she is
informed of Romeo's banishment, and the draught scene; but her con.
eluding scene was greatly marred by the repulsive glave.clothes which
she still continues to wear, in spite of the express directions of the
author. We watched Miss Kemble's performance with very great
attention, and it not only confirmed our first inipmsions, but pro-
duced new ones, if possible, of a still higher character. Mrs.
Lovell (late Miss Lacy) was recognised in the indifferent part or
Lady Copal, and bet merits in more important characters were very
liberally remembered by the audience. Mrs. (hats attempted the
Nurse foe the first time. Mrs. DAVINPOIT'S reiit.ment irons the
stage rendered it necessary for some one to do so, and, under the circuit:.
stances, we know of no one who had so much reason to hope for
success as Mrs. (Isis. We. could quarrel with Mrs. DAVIN.
roar for quitting the mimic scene; and even the remembrance of
the delight which she has so often afforded us, and whit it
must now live only in remembrance, would add fuel to our 'age,
did not a moment's reflection compel us to admit and to admire the
good sense and discretion which has guided her in Me List act of her
public life. Time will steal on, and Mrs. Dsvzwpoav has done well
to bear this in mind. She has our gratitude, and earnest hope that a
lengthened period may be granted her to make that preparation which
she so wisely deemed necessary. Mrs. Grass had hitherto been seen
in nothing beyond a tt middle.aged" Lady; end such was her gaiety
and vivacity, that no one for a moment thought that age could ever
overtake her. Nearly half a century of exertion upon the
stage has noel dimmed the lustre of her eye, diminished tat
joyousness of her laugh, or interrupted the animation of her di berry.
Still, however, the character of be Neese being to be fillet!, sine natu-
rally undertook it. MM. Gran would have been more soccem,ful if she
had adopted the stage business followed by her incotoi losable predecessor.
To imitate such an actress as Mrs. DAVENPORT, in such a Fart as the
Nurse, would not be a discredit even to Mrs G. We hope she will be of
the sante opinion, and if she acts upon it she will speedily find
herself wonderfully " mellowed," to use a Green-room pnrrse, in the
character, and her success will be as complete as success can be sidle
the memory of Mrs. Deviirroar is fresh in the public mind. The
house presented a crowded and brilliant appearance, highly cheering to
the prospects, as we trust it will be to tee str; lens, of the bet.
nagement.

ADELPH I TH EA TR P.
This Theatre has again been opened for the lovers of Barletta Spec-
tacks and Broad Grins, under the joint management of Messrs. AI..
THSWS and Paves. In the short space of time which hat elapsed
since the performance of the English Opera Company closed here.
the Theatre has been most tastefully decorated. The silk coveting
to the front of the boxes has been renewed, and the pennels or the bulk,
have been painted a light blue colour, and ornamented with silver and gilt
figures in relief. The company has received the addition of Al ifs M. (.I-o-
ven, from the Hsymarket,and Mr. Downs, from the York Theatre, :aid
all the old favourites are retained. A new piece, prepared for the open.
ing of the Theatre, was produced, under the title of Tle Black Vulture.
It is stated to have been written by the author of The Pt O. The lip.
lag bunkum, and other spectacles equally amusing and sot evesful.—
It certainly bore marks of relationship to those pieces in the oppgruni.
ties it afforded for Melo-dramatic elisplay, and was as much KT/audit!
las any of its predecessors. The assertion, however. made ID the bill.
that it is partiallysfounded nn BYRON'S Veins wed Tearofwfwee,4, is
about as correct as it would be to say that any tale representing a man
selling himself to the devil was founded on the same tier). The
production of the Noble Poet eculd hardly, under any circa'''.
ranger, be ads adapted to dramatic representation. Its it nit is one which
may be st y telt in the closet, but would be utterly lost upon the
stage— it is a
roima
of dialogues, not of Incidents. The Block Vulture,
like Its predecessors, represents the attainment of a cettain degree tit de.
MOO power in this world Sr the rather heavy coin of perdi.ien in the
neat. The being thus dangerously exalted for • time abase nit fellow.
mortals, is Oefolor, (M:via„) and the use to whieb he mteinms to
apply his power istliat of obtaining the bane: of lauthe (M ter Al. (il to.
van). In this object he is opposed by her lover, &define (Mr. lirno.•
11131611).&14 011iNds ( MrS.FITZ VI I LLIA3I), a benignant sririt triumvir
whose power and their own virtues the lovers are ultimately made happy.
The humour of the piece consists in the vagaries of a wanderieg Irish-
man, with an unwineable ramie, a half silly young (Aimee, and a
scolding old Woman. These characters were very well supported by
Mr. Downy, Mr. Bucerrone. aad Mrs. DALY, and time Dimon
fitiltrtre found. as all Demosts have since the first days el Der I. reibehuts.
an excellent representative in Mr. (1 Su i TH. The scenery of the Piece
was admirable. At the close °fare %alma, Mr. Units came forward to
express his hope that the preparations, both berme and behind the curtain,
were deserving the approbation of the audience. His appeal was
answered most favourably ; and he then gave out the Butkus foe repe-
tition amidst unanimores applause.. Ibe curtain sore afterwards drew
up, and " (lon save the King^ was sung by We whole company.. A
new verse, Mosisting of a prayer toe the happiness of the Queen, was
rung by Mrs. FITSIVI LUAU, and was loudly applauded, and the whale
song was honoured with those hearty cheers which hie present Majesty',
frinkneta of character never fails to dtaw from hie loyal subjects.

;

I 1

1(

BIOGRAPHICAL PARTICULARS OF CELEBRATED

PERSONS, I•A rEI.I DECEASED.

WILLIAM iIAZLITT, ESQ.—Mt. William Haslitt, so well known
as a critical and mire( lianeous writer, was a native of Shropshire. His
ftthet was an Unitarian minister, who came originally ftom the north of
Ireland, and who residing for some time in the above named county, at
another period of his life held a situation In the University of Glasgow,
under the late celebrated Dr. Adam Smith ; he likewise went over to
America, where he continued during nine years. Mr. William Hiatt
was educated at the Unitarian College, at Hackney; it is not known
whether he was designed for his father'+ profession; but if so, the In-
tention was abandoned. The father died only a few years since, having
lived nearly to the age of eighty. The subject of the present notice be-
gan life as an artist, but soon ceased to follow the arts as a
He, however. obtained a knowledge of art, which qualified hrffert.
criticism in which he was afterwards eminent. There was sometimes
Pc acerbity in hilt criticisms which his friends lamented, but the sound-
ness of his opinions could rarely be impeached It might sometimes
I.'vc been said to him, " Perhaps it was right to dissemble your love,
but why did you kick us down stairs?" He was a man of strong pas.
;ions and acute feeling, which serves, in some measure, to account for
the severity of his attacks : be would not, as the phrase is, " mince the
natter.-' The great majority of the works of Mr. Haslitt consist of
articles written for periodicals. It is impossible to give any enumus-
fion of them ; they were upon every variety of subject, and are dispersed
through different channels, most of them anonymously. He obtained
an introduction, about 1809 or 1810, to the late Mr. Perry, of the
Murning t'hroniele, by whom he was engaged to report parliamentary
41ebittee, write original articles, &a

Whilst engaged on the Morning Chronicle, be wrote an able criti-
cism on the tragedy of Tirginine • he also furnished a number of
theatrical articles on the acting of Kean. As a political writer, he was
apt to be too violent; though in general he was not a man of violent
temper. He was also apt to conceive strong and rooted prejudices
against individuals on very slight grounds; but be was a good-hearted
man, and ready to render services to individuals who differed materially
with him in opinion. Private circumstances, it is said, contributed to
sour his temper, and to produce a peculiar excitement, which too fte.
quently held its slay over him. Mr. Haslitt and Mr. Perry did not
agree. Upon one occasion, to the great annoyance of some of his col-
leagues, he preferred his wine with a few friends, to taking his share in
reporting an important discussion in the House of Commons: added to
this, he either did not understand the art of reporting, or would not take
the trouble to master it. His original articles, though many of them
excelknt, were too strong for the politics of the paper ; and there was a
total indisposition to submit himself to controul. This producedaoool.
nese with Mr. Perry, which ended in a separation. Mr. Hulitt was
little fitted for the business of a Newspaper. His original articles re-
quired to be carefully looked over, to weed them of strong expressions.
This more especially applied to those articles which had any reference to
political subjects. He was, notwithstanding, a pleasant companion.—
Though he afterwards wrote for another morning
te rir, and was em-
ployed by booksellers, besides contributing to 7cala, he was not
able to escape pecuniary difficulties. He sta to the writer of this,
some time after he had quitted the " Morning Chronicle," that be was
obliged to write to get himself out of debt. This struggle with ;MU-
niary embarrassment continued to the end of his life, though his health
was at times a good deal impaired. There was, however, an indepen.
dence about him which seemed to rise superior to the evils around him.
He was married, and had a son, who survives him.

He was by some charged with being deliberately malignant. It Is not
true. Those who sometimes writhed under the lash of his pen might,
perhaps, think him malignant ; but in his private intercourse, kindly
feeling and goodness of heart might be recognized. At times, he gave
vent to a strong expression of feeling, which many of his friends re.
greyed. There is a phrase in a modern comedy, of a" good-natured
man turned inside out," and this might have been frequently
ap-
plied to Mr. Hazlitt. He was undoubtedly good-natured, pleasant in
conversation, and well.disposed, frequently enlivening a company
by telling comical stories, or amusing anecdotes, but sometimes (to
use another well•Unown phrase) he Hew off In a tangent. He con.
tinued, nearly to the last hour of his existence, to furnish articles tope-
riodical publications ; and, in truth, the remuneration he obtained was
too essential an object to him to allow of a remission of toil, if the state
of his health at all allowed him to persevere.' He had been declining for
four or five weeks, but it was only during the last few days of his ex-
istence that his disorder assumed a dangerous character.
BARON FOUVIER.—The Baron Fourier, one of the Secretaries of
the Academy of Sciences at Paris, was formerly a priest of the Oratory.
He was a native of Auxerre, in Burgundy. Having devoted himself
to the study of mathematics, he was appointed assistant to the celebrated
N. de Prony, as professor of geometry and arithmetic, in their appli.
cation to mechanics. He accompanied Buonaparte to Egypt, where he
was nominated his commissioner to the government established in
that country. In 1803, he was made prefect of the department of the
here ; and in 1806 he was invested with the cross of the Legion of
Honour. On the restoration of Louis XVIII. Al. Fourier gave in his
adhesion to the new government, and was confirmed in his prefecture.
In March 1815, he was recalled by Buonaparte, whom he had not sup-
ported In his department ; but soon afterwards he was appointed prefect
of the Rhone. In that situation, however, his conduct was such as
ciused him to be again dismissed. It add seem that neither the
Bourbon nor the Buonapartean governmantreposed !confidence In him,
for, on the second return of Louis, M. Fourier was not employed. In
May 1816, he was chosen an associate of the Academy of Sciences, but
the King did not confirm his nomination. AL Fourier published se-
veral dissertations in the Journal of the Polytechnic School ; and as a
member of the Egyptian Commission of men of Science, he composed
the preface of the memoirs published by them. 51. Fourier died at
Paris on the 17th of May.—N. M. Map.