The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-03-10 00:00:00

DEATH OF JOHN PHILIP KESIBLE.

RETRACT Of • LITTER FROM LAUSANNE, DATED FEB. 28.
" bear Sir,-1 have not forgotten your request, that
on my 'aerie a at Lausanne. 1 should present your best re-
collection, to your friend Kemble. 1 came here on Mon-
day evening, the 24th invent, and the first news that
heard was, that he was expiring—not exactly so, how-
ever, in point of fact, for he died on the 26th instant.—
But, in fine, our great tragedian is no more! And be,
who in histrionic art could so well depict the final pangs
of nature. has been called on in turn to act the part in
sad reality. I have seen the physician who attended him,
and, and anxious to obtain particulars of the latter days
of so great and so worthy a character, for my own
Refection, and for your information, 1 ha‘tily subjoin the
result. On Saturday, the 23d inst. he was, in his own
estimaion, so very comfortable, that, on sending away
his hairdresser, he requested that be would say to his
friend, Mr. Pi ecote, that it would give him pleasure to
learn, that after the operation of shaving, his friend was
as well. as he was.. In fact, he seemed on that day in
particularly good spirits. The next morning he rose ap-
parently quite well, breakfasted at nine, and subsevents,
ly went to an arijohing room to speak to Mrs. Kemble I
and then returning to his room was observed to totter in
his gait. Mrs. Kemble noticed this with anxiety, and as-
Rioted him to his chair, and when seated he took up a
a number of Galiksanes Messenger; but getting worse,
his friend and physician,•De: Scharr, Was sent fur, who
arrived instantly, and found bite in, laesosiliotaalmte:dirmle
bat already alietea, and exhibiting very unfavourable
symptoms—his left si.le had suffered a decided attack,
and he could with difficulty articulate. He seemed extreme..
ly anxious to spare the feelings of 31 rs. Kemble. Dr. Sehole,
the assistance of his old attached servant, George,
helped him to his bed, and, in the actor conducting hies
there, a second attack took place, so 'soddenly, that his
clothes were obliged to be cut asunder, in order that he
might the more speedily be let lagoil. But nature was
fast exhausting: nor could he ever make use of his speech
after a few words which lie had uttered on Dr. Sehole's
arrival. He, however, assented or dissented by signs of
the head, until within two hours of hiccouiplese retina
Lion. His list intelligent words were.= George,Georgee
and you may imagine the feelings of an attached servant
to au excellent master under such circumstances. In tine.
a third attack, on Wednesday, the 2titti inst., just 46
hours after the first, proved fatal ; and though to a
stranger he might appear to suffer, it •ie the opinion of
Use doctor that lie was long insensible to acute feelings of
pain. The linglish clergyman was also present. I knew
Air. Kemble only as a public character, and consequently
tan give you no particulars of his slinnestiC life here. I un-
derstand, however, that he was particularly esteemed, and
in this city,by all claeses,and almost venerated is much re-
' gretted by the lower, from the urbanity of his manners. He
had imagined that the eli inate of I tely would prove hene fici al
to his health ; but having arrived in Roate three months
since, under unfavourable circumstances of the Season. be
became worse and worse, !CI that the English physician,
Dr. Clarke, hurried him away to return to Lausanne,
where he had been comparatively well. His occupations
here Were his.books and his garden—the latter was his
predilection; and it was resorted to by him with the first
rays of the sun, and kept in a state of cultivation rarely
to tie surpassed. The funeral is to take plaice to-morrow,
and will doubtless. be numerously and respectfully at-
I tended."
Mr. Kemble, we believe, was in the 4'1'14-sixth yew
of his age.
This gentleman, the eldest son of Mr. Roger Kenible,
was born in 17:4, at Prescot, in Lancashire. He received
the first part of his editeation 'at the Roman Catholic'se-
Tninary at Sedgeley Park, in Staffordshire, aid was after-
wards soot-to the University of Douay, to be qualified
for one of the learned professions. Here he satin became
distinguished for that talent for elocution which after-
wards raised him to such enea.ies.
Having finished his academical studies, he returned to
England, and preferring the stage to either of the proles-.
sions for which he had been intended, he performed At.
Liverpool, York, and Edinburgh.
While at York, Mr. Kemble introduced a new species
of entertainment. consisting of recitations of some of
the Odes of Martin, Collins, and Gray; the tales of Le
Fevre and Maria, from Sterne ; and other popular pieces
in prose and verse. In these he was particularly success.
lid, and they contributed to increase his reputation. In.
Edinburgh lie delivered a lecture of his own composi-
don, on Sacred end Profane Oratory, which, from the.
talent and sound criticism it displayed, gained hi:u the
reputation of retiued taste among men of letters, fie af•
terwards performed for two years with flattering success
in Dublin. •
Mr. Kemble made his first appearance in London at
Drury Lane Theatre, in the character of Hamlet, Sept.
30, 1763. His reputation was most encouraging; but lie
had lint an oppurtuuity of fully developing his powers'
till the retirement of Mr. Smith, in 1786, who had teen
in possession of almost all the principal parts both io tea,
geity and comedy. On the secession of Mr. King, Mr.
Kemble became Manager of Drury Lane Theatre,.which
office be tilled till 1796. Shortly afterwards he resumed
the manegenient, and held it till the conclusion of the
season 1800.1. In Ike Mr. Kemble visited the conti-
nent, for the purpose of introdocine to the British. stage
whateverhe might find worthy of adoption in forign