The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-11-08
PisfcUanp.
FROM A LATE LONDON PAPER.

T,5sa,rieaLs.-lt is fad to be the intention of
fome theatrical cognojfsnfi to form an ai1oc-
alton for the encouragement of infant perform
crs
On Wsirefday the 18th ult. Mifs Fiher, the
Young Roicia, appeared at Gloucefer, i'm the
character Of Richard III. where her perform
ance, i, is faid, g drew down the mott unbound
sd P!suiits from very crouded audience"
The ver!atiIity of this young females talents is
iepre!ented to be iuch AS to furpafs the bounds
of probability, and to approach very near the
verge Of impoiiibility. The part of Cpwllip,
which Gle flftaincd in the farce on the above e.
venn., with the greateR eeiaf, he is itated "ne-
yer to baz,e ZEN 'tM o'clock thar afternoon,
and that it was learned, without aiiinance, du.
rim her ride from Cheltenham to Gloucefer."
Nv. offer no remarks on this atIertion--it GER
tain!y appears truly marvellous; but whatever
may DC her, talents, or thofe of her contempora-
ny rivals, we are inclined to think the 1ey!afiify
ot John Bulls difpoiition furpaffes them, nor
can we account for it any other principle
than a mott inordinase Thrift after ebillreu's
p!ay!
Matter Betty, the Young Rofcius I. was en-
gagged at Woverhampton and Worceiter for
1000 guincas, for which ne was to play at both
theatres Ii or Is nights: Tie iargef of theie
theatres will not hold 9ol. The prices were adj
vanced, boxes SIS. pit 6s. gal. 4s.-The public
voice was expreifed 10 loudly againi this fhame-
FIJI! advance, that Matter Betty father, with
his 4oonted f5erahfy, reduced the terms of his
fon's engagement to the moderate fun of ffty
guineas per night The prices were then re-
duced to 6s. rs. and 90. The audiences have
been genfeei--a word of very emphatic import,
and generally uteh as A complimentary fulfil
tute for-erozvdel. II is extraordinary, that
thoufands aud tens of thoulands have been la
viihed, 10 reward-what ?-the tricks of an
et9bemerai phtbpet.
At Lancatter Theatre, where Mater Betty
performed once, few evenings ago, the receipt
was 1861. although the price of admil1ion to the
boxes was only ralfed from IS. to rs. !--At Ian
CATER and NewcaitIe the Church bells were fet
a ringing on his arrival !!
Another little Rofcius, more juvenile than
Betty, is to appear at Margate. a gill too, of
the fame age is to grace the boards at the fame
time, and they are both to fultain the highef
characters. What will the tage come TO !?
This may we'll be called the Cbilail1 Age of the
Drama. Surely when Badely bequeahed
Plumb-eaks to the actors of Drury-ane Thea
tire, ne forefaw that the Stage would one day
or other be occupied by children, who would
contend for (sreetmeats as others do for Iaia-
yies.
Mifs NIudie, an infant of feven years of age,
who has lately anoniihed the natives of Ire
land, made her irf appearance at Brming-
ham, on "Wednesday fe'night, in the Widow
CHEEKY, and was maj rapturOMy abpiauded!!
Mater Tokely, a child who has been accuf-
toned to perform trfing parts at Drury-lane
Theatre, has been brought forward at Rich
mond by Mrs. Jordan, and promifes eminence
--nmongF the little RojeH!
A sunday paper Jays, "We are informed,
an engagement is made by the Managers of
Drury-Iane Theatre with youth from PhiIa-
deiphia, named Fins, for the enfung feafon, at
alary of 25l. week & clear benefit. This
young gentleman, who is not Is years of age,
has, we hear, played Hamlet, Richard, &C. with
much fucccfs !--Ifthis be true, where is fuch
folly TO end
There will be fuch fcramble for the princi-
pie tragic parts among the children engaged at
the winter theatres that they muR refort to the
appropriate expedient of drawing King and
Queen.