Star.
London, England, 1826-06-29 00:00:00

AIRS. MATTOCKS.

This actress, whose death we announced on Monday,
was very popular in her day. Her en riden name was
Hallam, and stfe was the daughter of Mr. Hallam, an
actor, who, in an unfortunate dispute with Macklin, the
celebrated Shylock, at a morning rehearsal, about so
trifling a cause as a theatrics' dross, was,ao_jireldfailli
wounded in the eye by the wa'.king stick of the latter,,
that he died on the spot. Macklin was tried for the of-
fence at the Old Bailey, and acqoitted, as It was deemed
the effett of sudden passion, not of malice prepense.—
Miss Hallam, by the mother's side, was related to Mr.
Beard, the chief singer of his time, and she came for-
ward on the theatrical boards with the reputation of
high accomplishments. She soon distinguished herself
as a very sprightly actress, while her contemporaries
were Mrs. Green, (Sheridan's first Dttenna) Mrs. Abing-
ton, and ii Miss Hallam's earlier days even Mrs. Clive
had not left the stage. But Misc Hallam was not only
admired as an excellent comic actress, but as a singer
-also. She was the first Louisa in the opera of The
nnenna. Mr. hlattneks was, at the time of her first
arpearance on the stage, a very handsome man, and a
popular singer. They soon conceived an attachment to
each, other, and a runaway marriage was the con-
sequience. As Mr. Mattocks, though a sensible and
intelligent man, was not distinguished AS an actor, and
as the•art of singing began rapidly to improve, the ma-
s of Covent Garden theatre did nut renew his en-
gagement. He removed to Liverpool, where he remain-
ed, we believe, to the close of his life, as the stage ma-
itaor of the theatre in that town. But a separation,-
rendered necessary from motives of interest, as Mrs.
Mattocks was secure of an engagement and had a large
salary in London., did hot, however, destroy the affec-
tion of the parties,and according to report Mrs. Mattocks
liberally supplied a portion of her income to her husband.
—Mrs. Mattocks was a spirited and good general
actresi, but she could represent the higher characters of
genteel comedy. In those of middle life, however, she
acquitted herself very respectably. Lady Bell, in Know
your own Mind, of which she was first representative,
contributed to the success of -the comedy, which un-
luckily was brought forward just at the same time with,
The School for Scandal, which produced such an effect
as prevented the former comedy from reaching its doe
popularity. Mr. Murphy, the author, had intended the
part of Path 000 d for Woodward, and kept it back in
hopes of the recovery of that excellent actor, who,
however, soon after died, and the part was assigned to
Lee Lewis. The part was avowedly intended to dra-
matise the facetious Sam Foote, many of whose bon
mots were, by Mr. Murphy's acknowledgment, inter-
spersed through the character. Mrs. Mattocks intro.
doted a pleasing song in the part of Lady Bell, which
was much admired. Mrs. Mattocks occasionally at-
tempted tragedy, but with little success. She performed
the second part in Hook's tragedy of Cyrus, but was
lost in comparison with the fine figure And admired
acting of Mrs. Yates in Mandane, the heroine of the
play. Mrs. Mattocks's chief merit was in Abigail:,
Citizens' Wives, and in the delivery of the ludicrous
Epilogues of the late Mr. Miles Peter Andrews, which
always required dashing spirit and the imitation bf
vulgar manners. She possessed what is technically
styled a good stage face. It was much pock-fretted,
but that was not observable on the stage. She was, an
actress that always displayed good sense, and a juste
conception of the characters assigned to her, when they
exactly suited her abilities. Mrs. Mattocks was agree-
able and intelligent in conversation. She has left one
daughter, who was married to a barrister; he iived only
a few years after the union, and left an amiable widow
to a very affectionate mother:

The English Opera House will open with Tartars
and Free and Easy.
Tne establishment of a Branch Bank at Gloucester
was last week finally determined upon by the Directors
of the Bank of England.
The sum expended at Maldon Election is variously
estimated at from 30 to 50,000 i. Eighteen hundred
freemen were newly admitted, and 3,100 polled.
The domestic calamities of the Noble House of In-
gestre have been augmented by the receipt of distressing
intelligence from Cologne. The Hon. Aarntra TALBOT
had reached, that place on his way to Vienna, where be
was hastening to attend the corpse of his Noble Brother
to the grave, when he became the subject of a violent
attack of scarlet fever, which placed his own life in
considerable jeopardy. Earl TALBOT. on receiving the
melancholy information, set off for Cologne; but, we
are happj to add, that he bad not proceeded far on his
journey, before he was met by a messenger, with the
welcome news that his son out of danger.
Thursday last, a wag entered the bowling-green at
Boston. and seeing a very large company assembled to
witness the decision of an important game between a
Manchester Gentleman and one from Derbyshire,
formed the plan of dismissing the company in quick
time. He therefore threw a brick-bat against a bee hive;
iastaxter, a reconnoitering party appeared. and soon
afterwards about a thousand bees, in stinging attitude.
assailed the company. Truly laughable was the scene
which ensued ; many a stout hearted bowler made his
retreat from the green, grievously stun.; about the eyes
and face, whilst others were s en fencing with the angry
enemy, and waving their hats, not in token of applau e,
but as a symbol of hostility. About eleven Gentlemen
were severely stung, and others running to the neigh-
bouring inns, spread the intelligence of this bee warfare.
At the Sun Inn, the ostler gave the alarm, that a horse
was very ill, probably from drinking cold water when
heated; the animal was kicking and plunging in a fear-
ful manner. At length it was found out that about
twenty of the exasperated bees had fixed upon his flank.
It Was upwards of two bouts before the alarm had sub-
sided, and the skirmish between the bees and the bowlers
afforded conversation and matter of laughter to the
thousands assembled on the race course.
SINGULAR ACCIDENT.—Monday, a fine high-spirited
horse, the property of Mr. T. Packer, of Shutonger,
yea. Tewkesbury, contrived to get out of the stable by
unfastening the latch of the door with his nose, and
• immediately started off with great velocity. The ani-
real gall.pped in the direction of a large pear tree in
an adjoining paddeck, and so great was the speed with
• Lich it was impelled, that it was unable to avoid the
obstruction. and ran against the tree with such terrific
violence. that its head was literally dashed to atoms
and its neck broken. The force with which it came in.
!MLitt may likewise be judged from the circumstance
that the trunk of the tree, for the space of several feet.
was completely divested of its bark, more than two
irici es thick. The shock made the poor animal recoil
'brut five yards from the tree. where it dropped dead
withoot tre :tightest struggle.