The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-05-18 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN.

COPENT-GARDRN THEATRE.

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The announced Tragedy of Virxissiar; or,The Vitra-
tio4 If Hume, was last night produced at this house.
It is peculiarly gratifying at such a time as this, when
an almost unparalleled dearth of genius for dramatic
writing prevails amongst us, to welcome such a tra-
p. ly as this. he legitimate drama seems, during
this season, to have been more than ever banished the
stage; more particularly at this establishment. Week
after week, and night after night, have teemed with
sumptuous and ditszlitt.:T m voltirs; but the Manager
(most deservedly we think) has not found his account in
these attractions for the eye. Now, indeed, has he pre-
sented us with a true and genuine offspring of the tragic
muse, and we doubt not it will be generously fostered
by the favour of a discerning public. The plot of
the tragedy is formed, with the exception of the last
act, by a pretty close adherence to the historical facts,
and we will not insult our readers by recapitulating
one of the most prominent pus.sges of It ttttt an history.
The principal characters arc supported as follows.—

Virgitaui - Mr. MACIMADY.
kilitig - • Mr. C. KlEblUi...
Milky; Dentntus - Mr. Tsenv.
Apyius - - Mr. AlMoll%
(laudiws - - Mr. Cosmost.
Nmasterivs - Mr. EORRTuN.
IlleiUS - - Mr. Comma. '
% irglnia • - Ilk* Vim Tr.
'Nen iii - - MU. FACrIT.

The acting of M scarauv, as rirgiairs, must he
considered as one of the most usasterly and grand Je-
lin .ations of character in the present age. His excel-
lence in the first act, when playin; with his slaughter
n;mit the subject of her hidden love fur tritioa, al-
though a trilling incident, was, perhaps, never sur-
passed in truth and chasteness by any thing which
followed it. We might, indeed, cull beauties from
every scene, but we must confine ourselves to the
prievipal features of the performance. The romum-
ideation of the intelligence to Virginina that his
slaughter has been seized, and dragged through the
streets by (landing, gives rise to one of these. The
manner in which he receives the gradual development
of the story—As mental agony, in endeavunring to
fulfil his promise of listening pat!Platlr —the occa-
sional assurance given to Ltairs to that effect, while
every fibre of his heart seems btu-sting with the act—
the bursts of rage. when the villainy of .//pier breaks
upon him—and the closing each denunciation of his
vengeance with

't Oh! but he patient."—
All these were supported with that lire of soul, and
strength of physical exertion, which Sets like an elec-
tric shock. His meeting with Virginia, which imme-
diately follows, brings the diversified powers of this
actor in the t puesihle contrast with iach other.
And we know not whether the gentleness, anti the
tender love of the father, does not even ratite deeper
feeling, though of a different Hatt: e, than his distress,
agony, and high purpose of revenge, in the preceding
scene. The catastrophe is developed in the fourth act,
which ends with one of the highest wrought scenes in
this, or any other play. Appian sits in the forum
to judge betivren Melissa and firgimire, anti,
having pronounced against the latter, the people
are roused by his energetic declamation, and the
gross iajnatisir wf 12e doer**, to assist Lisa •la ea:-
eying off Virginia ; but the tyrant has stationed
troops in the forum, who, with the lictors, disperse the
peoele. It is here that ririeemiwe, finding himself in
the power of his enemy, accomplishes his purpose, and
stabs his daughter to save her from po:ution. He
Lushes through the ranks of the soldiers with the
bloOdy dagger, and the scene drops. Pet *laps, if the
author had completed his tragedy with the foregoing
materials, propriety, at least, would have been a gainer;
but if the departure from history, which cons itutes the
fifth act, be an error, it is amply atoned for and redeemed
by the acting which it gives rise to. rirgiai oss and his
friends have ore. thrown the decemviri, and the addicted
father, borne down by the weight of his misery, is bereft
of reason. Here Macat:snv is in another field: and the
tremendous powers he evinced, only led us to regret
his late refusal to appear in that great character, is
which alone they would have scope to expand them.
selves. Appins has been consigned to a dungeon,
where the frantic Virgiairee pursues him in quest of
his daughter. In a violent paroxysm he strangles
Applies, and his friends discover hilts kneeling over the
drad body. killer presents to him the urn of
rirgiaiir, which recals the wandmings of his mind,
while it seems to rend his heart with grief. Ile sinks'
into the arms of lilies, and the curtain drops.
This tragedy is siiid to have been introduced to the
stage by Mr. Macttaanv, and to have been written by
a young friend of his, as a first attempt. It is a very
successful one. The author is a poet, and seems to
possess that sort of genius likely to redeem the credit
of the age for dramatic Writings. The incidents are
so well idapted to stage effect, and the plot and in-
terest so well carried on, that it wonld seem to indicate
a hand fimiliarized with the stage: and perhaps the
luthur may have beeri directed in these particulars by
Mr. M teIIMADY. The language is its many parts ex-
tremely beantifdl; full of the boldest imagery,
and highly original. Thr characters are well pour-
traved, and each is finishes!. C. lizmat,E rendered
feiiius very effective, though labouring under a distress-
ing hoarseness. ABBOTT *as happy in his delineation
of the tyrant deceinvir, and Very distinctly marked the
preying fire which rankles in the breast, when excited
by lustful passion. Taman produced much amuse-
ment and effect as the testy, railing Depilates, but it
savours a good deal of .Winesiss and dip rippe. Miss
FOOT/ was a most interesting Virginia.
The tragedy was given out for rTpetilon amidst
the enthusiastic cheers of the audience, and will not,
we think, be suspended during the season, if it meets
the support which it undoubtedly &serves.

Yesterday her Majesty entered into the 534 year of
her age. The bells of St. Margaret, Westminster, rung
on the occasion: nags were displayed on the steeples
of some of the churches, and the day was observed et
the Bank, Exchequer, India and Month Sea Houses,
and other places under the immediate coutroul of the
Executive, with the respect due to her Majesty's sta-
tion. At the Sessions, in the Ohl Bailey, the Judges,
Ald,rwen, and Sheriffs, wore their scarlet robes.

The price of a coronation areas, for a Pre: and
i* ebtitnatet: a; 1,000.'.

THE EING'Y LEVEE.

Yesterday his Majesty held his second Levee since
his accession to the Throne, which was numerously
anal splendidly attended, mangy• of the Nobility and
Gentry present being its addition those who attended
the Levee of last week. They heron to arrive a few
minutes before one o'clock, and continued sitting
down till near four. A Uttar,' of Honour marched
into the Court-yard of the King's Palace, previous to
the commencement of the Levee, precniel by the
band of the First Regiment of Foot Hoards, its their
state uniform., together with the Ensign attached to
the Huard cf Honour, with the Wate:lo., and other
battle: which it load been successfully engaged. A
detadonent of the Life Hoards marched into Water!oo-
place and Pall-mall, with their band of climpets,
kettle drums, &s. in their rich splendid dresses, who
played delightful pieces alternately wish the band of
the ',nerd of Honour. Townsend, Sayer, and a nu-
merous assemblaire of the Pollee were in attendance.
The Orand hall wi:s listed with the Yeomen Guard.
The Mos. Banal of Gentlemen Pensioness were in at-
tendance in the Ociagon Hall.
SOIM after two o',.ha•k the King entered the Stale
apartments, and proceeded to receive the Foreign Am-
bassadors and Ministers, the Omit officers of State,
and those who have the privilege a the eat r.
His Royal Highness flee Duke of Sussex fame in
state, anal Inn received with military honours, the
band playing " (1.161 sure the Kink." Prime Ester-
hay, the Au triats Ambassador, the Duke of Devou-
shir,•, anal the Milt,. of Wellington, came in state.
Their Royal Lights...4es the Duke of Clarence and
Prince Leopold I.IIIIIC privately, and entered by the
side do •r.

There were present, besides the 'streakers of the
Royal Family, all the Cabinet Ministers anti Officers
of State, the principal Dignitaries of the Church, all
the Jutlles, and Atturtmey and Solicitor-Generals and
other Law °Ricers; EArls Cathcart, Gold Stick in
Waiting ; Colonel King, Greens in Waitiug ; with the
other usual attendants. The presentations were very
numerous.

At the close of the Levee his Majesty gave an an-
iliVoce to the Duke of Hamilton, when his Brae• deli-
vered all Address to the King.
His Majesty also gate audiences to the Duke of
Northumberland. the Duke of Montrose. the Earl of
Courtoun, and the Earl of Cathcart.