Star.
London, England, 1818-05-18 00:00:00

IRISH TIIF.ATR ICA LS.

BELFAST, MAYll.—Mrs. SPREAD, who honoured
our boards on Friday night, by making her first appear-
ance, as a candidate for theatrical fame, has become,
since her intentions wet e known, an object of so much
public curiosity, that we feel we cannot gratify our
Readers more than by giving some account of her.—
Mrs. SPREAD, formerly Miss HENRIETTA DEANE, is
the only daullner of Lord MUSKERRY. She was mar-
ried at the early age of 1 to Major HENRY SPREAD,
a Gentleman of the highest respectability in the
county of Cork, being son and brother to Gentlemen
possessing a great landed interest in that county : his
second brother, la:cly married to the Honourable
Miss NVINGFELD—his sister being the beautiful Mrs.
HENRY DEANE GRADY of Mertion-square, Dublin.
Mr. SPREAD, the subject cf our present observations,
may be remembered here nine years ago, when, with
her father as Colduel, and husband as Major, of the
county Limerick Militia, they were quartered in
this town, and herself remarked for her extreme youth
as a w.ife, and great sprightliness. Habits of hospi-
tality in his living, and a failure of some well-groun-
ded hopes of a civil employment, have involved Ma-
jor SPREAD in some unforeseen difficulties ; and her
brother, General DEANE, being at present in Ame-
rica, too remote to step to the aid of his sister and her
husband, with that independence and energy of spirit
not always attendant on high birth, it was resolved
that Mrs. SPREAD should try the stage, in the hope
that a brilliant knowledge and taste in music, highly
cultivated as an accomplishment, might be rendered
the means of present support to herself, and of extri-
cating her husband from his difficulties. As his pre-
sent situation is such that he could not attend his
wife himself, it was determined he should commit
her to the care of Mr. TALBOT, both for the benefit
of his experience as an actor, and because there exists
a near relationship between the Ladies of both Gen-
tlemen, on the side of Mrs. SPREAD'S father. Mrs.
SPREAD'S first appearance was, as announced, in the
parts of Amelia Wildenheim, in Lover's Vows, and
Virginia, in Paul' and Virginia. Her countenance
and figure, being extremely youthful, made the
choice a very judicious one ; and a very lively, play-
ful, and natural manner, justify us in saying, that a
little experience, and a more dignified carriage, will
render her a very successful candidate for public fa-
vour. ller voice in singing, is clear, melodious, and
of great compass, and, though tremulous at times,
from excess of timidity, she 'hewed herself posseised
of very superior musical abilities. On the whole, her
first appearance was altogether so good, that few per-
sons believed it to be her first I we can, therefore, on
the very best authority declare, that Mrs. SPREAD
never trod the stage till that night, except at rehearsal; II
nor, as we are assured, ever had the doing so in con-
templation till within these last two months, when
the Major's situation was for the first time disclosed
to her.

The Parks, from the humidity of the atmosphere,
were but very thinly amended yesterday. Thepare,
however, was thickly sprinkled with soi-disane mili-
Saires,
wit!! spurs, stays, and mustachios, a-la-Cos-
vrel—Among the few equipages on the " Wel-
lington" were those of the Duke of DEVONSUIRE, the
SI4AITILIIBURY Family, Lady ELLYNBOROUGH, the
Hon. Miss LAW, Hon. Miss Bnoexarce, and some
few others of the Ikas Mande.