The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-10-06
TIE YOUNG ROSCIUS.
EDiNBURGH, July 2, 1901.

CDiNbuKSH, JULY z, 1871.
The Theatre of this city was opened on
Thurfday night with the tragedy of Douglas,
for the purpofe of Introducing, as the hero of
the piece, boy of twelve or thirteen years old,
who has been for fome months diftinguhed in
Ireland, and more lately in Glafgow, by the ap
pellation OF the Young Rofcius. -
That a child, in whom reafon cannot be fup
pofed mature, fhould be able TO conceive, far
ieis to delneate, the various emotions which
agitated the fhepherd and the hero, we did not
venture to expect. Genius has often effected
its emancipation from the trammes of poverty,
obfcurity, and deprefIion, and the filent work
lngs OF its powerful impulfe have fupplied the
place of experience and learning; but that the
infant faculties fhould keep pace with thofe of
maturity is, perhaps, fcarcely lefs wonderful
than if (what has in no inftance been feen) the
phyhcal power of that period of helpleGnefs
fhould equal the vigour of confirmed manhood.
Early and very wonderful dawnings of genius
have been difplayed in the cultivation of fome of
the licences, IN arithmetic, and more frequently
In muiic; but the fcience of the mind, and the
attainments connected with it, have almoft inva-
rlably been referved for the inveitigation of ri
per age.
With fuch impref1ions we attended the repre-
fentation of Douglas, not doubling but that our
eyes might be entertained with happily caught
attitudes, or our ears with me!odious limitations;
but that we ihouid witnefs clear, correct, and
comprehensive conception of the author-a
chafte, powerful, and original delineation of the
character, we certainly did not expect Our
aftoniihment and delight, therefore, at actually
finding this rare combination exhibited in the
performance of this wonderful boy may be rea-
div conceived.
His appearance, on bis irf entrance, chiefly
engaged the attention by its extreme iuvenilty.
He is gracefully formed, but he is not, as we
underftand, more than twelve years old, and he
looks fill younger. His face, too, though very
pleaiing, has all the fnoothnefS of boyhood, and
from the necenary faintnefs of thofe lines by
which the pafiions too legibly indicate their ex-
iftence in maturer age, it was not eafy to antic
pate powerful delineation of emotions which
could hardly be fuppofed to exit in the breaft of
the performer. But no fooner had he entered
upon his part, than his fuperiority was fully ex-
| hibited--he fpeediIy took full poHefion OF the
audience and after the fccne with Lady Ran
| dolph, in which fhe reveals tohlm the fecret of
his birth, the fpectator was Involuntary, and
almoft unconfciou0y, led TO try him, not by a
| ltandard accommodated to his inexperience and
his youth, but by one ariing from the clear per-
cepton of the poets beauties, and the recoiec-
ton of what had been previou0y done for the
character by the fri performers of The part.
To this admirable fcene we certainly never
did fee greater juitice done--feldom, very fel-
dom, 70 much. in the previous progrefs of
the part, the youthful candidate had exhibit
ted the ardent and afpring fhepherd, painting
for honour and diitincton, yet reprehed by mo-
( def timidity and ingenious difFidence. In this
! icene bis performance breathed all the wildnels
| ofjoy, the enthuhafm of flial love, tempered
by reverential awe, the triumphant confcioufnefs
of noble deficient, and the nobler dignity of in
born worth. Never did we fee thofe feelings
more chaaelyconceived, more beautiful blended,
or more powerfully exprefed. His addrefs to