Star.
London, England, 1809-10-31 00:00:00

NEli COPENT GARDDI THEATRE.

A crowded and elegant audience assembled here, 1
last night, to witness the debut of a young lady, whose
name we hear is CLARICE, in the arduous character
of Eephrasia, in The Grecian Daughter. The house was
filled to an overflow in every part, long before The
Jubilee, which preceded the play, was brought to a
I conclusion. Before the play commenced, Mr. Cooxic
appeared, to deliver the following Occasional Address,
bespeaking the indulgence of the public for the debu-
tante of the evening.
Though hostle rage so long within these walls
Has rais'd a tempest that each heart appals,
A female Candidate comes forth to night,
Who knows your kindness equals all your night.
Hgnce on that kindness she e'en now relies,
While the winds roar, and while the billows rise;
For whatsoe'er may Britons reuse and vex,
With pride they still protect the gentler sex.
But though our Novice ventures free from dread
Lest the storm burst on her defenceless bead,
Yet when her arduous enterprize she views,
The danger awes her, and her pow'r subdues,
For fear that Critics, a terrific train,
Her efforts should reject as rash and vain.
Success, indeed, those efforts oft have found, ,
And Hope has ckeer'd her on provincial ground ;
But here, 'tis said, that Judgment holds her seat,
And Sages more profound and rigid meet;
Well—still she dares to urge her humble plea,
Since mercy softens ev'ry stern decree.
The allusion made in the first six lines to the late
contests in the theatre, provoked the displeasure of a
great part of the audience, but in tenderness to the ,
lady the storm soon subsided.
On her entrance in the last scene of the first act,
she at once roused a prepossession in her favour.—
Report had spoken very highly of her talents in the
country, particularly at Manchester, where she per-
formed several nights last season with the most dis-
tinguished applause, and where her attraction brought
considerable sums to the Theatre. Her fignre and
face are particularly prepossessing ; her profile is of
the Grecian cast, and truly Siddonian, finely formed
for stage effect, and for pourtraying the various pas-
sions of the tragic muse ; her voice has much flexi.
[bility, and her intonations were so varied at times, as
to produce a strongly impressive effect upon the heart:
her tender and pathetic tones with her father, and her
bursts of indignant scorn in the scenes with Dionysius,
were finely contrasted—on the close of the first act,
where she exclaims—'
" This arm shall do a deed for Heav'n and Earth,
" For Men and Gods to wonder at !—This arm
" Shall vindicate a Father's cause !"
'The force and effect with which she gave these words,
were honoured with three distinct peals of applause.
Though the house was uncommonly crowded in every
part, and though the half-price visitors began their
usual amtuements, so alarming to the feelings of a
young actress, in the middle of the fourth act, after
which little could be heard, except by the pit and part
of the boxes ; yet she went through the whole with
astonishing dignity and ease. Take it" all in all," a
finer debut has never been seen. That judicious actor,
Mr. YOUNG, drew a masterly picture of the feeble,
venerable Evander ; Mr. C. KEMBLE in 771 e Tyrant;
Mr. BRUNTON in Philota: ; Mr. CLAREMONT in Phocion ;
and Mr. MURRAY in Melanthon, did every justice to
their parts.
The tragedy altogether was finely got up, and is an-
, nounced for to-mormw and Saturday.—Mrs.CLAßKE,
we hear, is scarcely 19, and is a daughter of Mr.
COWDROY, Printer of the Manchester Gazette.
We have already stated that the company was most
brilliant and elegant. Among the fashionables who
honoured it with their presence were the PRINCESS
of WALES, the Marchioness of TowssneND, the
Duchess de CASTRIES, the Princess CASTELCICALA,
the Countess of BARRYMORE, the Countess of CORK,
Mrs. THOMPSON, &C. &C.

We mentioned in a former Paper the arrival iof the
DEFIANCE, Capt. HOTIIAM, at Plymouth, from Ferrol,
where she had been occupied in fitting out the Spanish
men of war, and sending them to Cadiz : great praise
is due to Capt. HOTHAM, under whose directions the
ships were fitted out. Five sail of the line, five frigates,
and five sloops were completely fitted out in the short
space of eight weeks, chiefly by the Officers and crew
of the DEFIANCE, partially assisted by three sail of
the line from Lisbon, which arrived at different pe-
riods in the course of three weeks. The following
are the names of the Spanish ships which have been
fitted out :
Princess de Asturias 112
Con cepcion - 120
San Telmo 74
San Julian 64
Santa de is America 64
E me ralda 36
Vangansa - - 36
Diana - - 36
The following is said to be an accurate List of the
French Fleet at Toulon, Genoa, and Corfu.

Saven - - - 36
Megc?.►lena - - 36
Princess de Asturias 18
Indagadena - 18
Desculudon - 18
Casilda - - 1.1
Cassadon - - 14

Grand Napoleon 140 guns - Building
Austerlitz - - 130 • Nearly fitted out
Majesteux - - 120 - In Outer Road
Commerce de Paris - 120 - Ditto
Le Robuste - 84 - Ditto
Le Boreas - 84 - Ditto
I.'Uim .. 84 - Fitting
i.e Danube - 84 - Ditto
L'Hannibal - 74 - Ditto
I.e Donawert - 84 - Outer Road
i.e Gesnes - 84 - Ditto
Le Brulot - 84 - Ditto
L'Ajaccie - 84 - Ditto
Le Suffrein - 84 - Ditto
Le Magnanime - 84 - Ditto
Name unknown - 84 - Ditto
Two Russians - 74 - Ditto
Eight frigates, including the Proserpine, two corvettes, a num-
ber of brigs.
GENOA.—One frigate, 1 schooner, 1 brig, building.
CORru.—Three frigates and some brigs building.

A Court Martial was held on board his Majesty's
ship Magnanime, at Sheerness, on the 24th inst. upon
Capt. TILLARD, the surviving Officers and crew of
his Majesty's late sloop of war Alert, captured off
Fredericwaern, in Norway, by a division of 15 gun-
boats, of the largest dimensions, supported by two
brigs, of 20 guns each.—After a full investigation,
the Court were of opinion, that every exertion had
been made by Captain TILLARD, &c. in the defence'
of the said sloop, against so very superior a force,
and adjudged Captain TILLARD, the Officers and
crew, to be most honourably acquitted. The President,
Captain SELBY, upon returning Captain TILLARD his
sword, paid him a very high encomium upon the pro-
fessional skill displayed on this occasion ; and con-
cluded by observing, that it added another instance to
the many already upon record, where Dritish valour
had been most eminently displayed.