Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-06-10
AMUSING AND INTERESTING
6LE.lNI.NCS s R OyGE.VCL

LChibitny pictures q men and manners an Europe
LONDON, Jan. 10.
At Che opening Of the Cork theatre, last
August, Me. PAYNE, from America, appear
ed ia the character of Hamlet and while
performing III the last scene but one, with
Mr.. Williams, the acting manager, who
personohed 0StricL, Mr.. Boyle. editor of
the Cork frcehotder, attempted stoaddress
the audience, and call the managers to ac-
count for exhibiting so a0o?thtess con,pa-
7iy, and so uncomfortable a house. The
editor was Immediately hustled, the sheriff
interlered, and received blow, the con-
sequence OF which was, Mr.. Boyle was
sentenced to fine of fifty pounds, and six
months Imprisonment. Considerations
nef ablYtlefeGded him, and the following
is an extract from his speech:
Giy'lord. and gentlemen of the jury, ]
am particularly charged by my client to
contradict report which has gone abroad,
that he went to the theatre, for the purpose
OF attacking Mr.. Payne, on the ground Of
his being an American, and belonging to
nation with which we are unfortunately at
war. Monstrous and unfounded charge
Had this been the easel would not have
opened my bps in hisdefence. MIR. Boyle
has too expanded mind, too generous
heart. too Just sense of the rites OF hos
pitality and Mr.. Boyle knows and feels
that these countries have a natural and ma
ti0nal motive oflove and regard for apeo-
pie, sprung from our own stock, our des
pendants and our brethren. On the sub
.iect of Mr.. Payne's professional powers, it
becomes me to be silent ;my praises would
be deemed partiality. because I am unac-
quainted with all other members of the
theatre. and this gentleman is my friend.
OF those qualifications which are open to
the public, let the public Judge but can
not withhold from him that euiogium which
his personal intimates ere only competent
to best0w and must be permitted to de-
clare, that never had the honor of con-
Versing with a young gentleman Of more
liberal mind, more aitable and interesting
manners, or taste more cultivated, ciassi
cal and refined.o
January 90.
Drrry Lane. The public curiosity was
strongly attracted to this theatre last night,
to witness the return Of Mr.. Keane to his
dramatic labors. The piece selected for
tba occasion was the tragedy of Macbeth,
iIlyw'licil he had so often exerted himself
Esiere. On his first appearance on the
bridge, he was hailed with great applause,
bNf when he came forward on the stage
thdappiause was redoubled. His perfor-
IzInce was precisely the same as before
The scenes in which he excelled, and thcse
in which he comparatively failed, were Just
as usual and it is only necessary to refer
to former criticisms for an accurate idea of
The whole effort. The dagger scene, that
masterpiece Of poetical inspiration, afford
ed him one of those opportunities on which
n powerful genius delights TO seize, and
the admirable command Of attitude, for
which he is so remarkable, combined with
the intense feelings which equally distin-
aiish him, wrought the illusion to its high
est pitch of energy and impression. In
the scene that follows the commission of
the murder he was equally successful
The stupid hOrror--thc broken tones-the
conscious guilt-and thatmixture offender
regret, with which Shakespear yentured SO
successfully to temper the savageness
eyen'o a murderer, were all displayed with |
an accuracy which nature only bestows |
upon those TO whom she assigns the power |
OF identifying themselves with the charac- !
ter they assume. The dying scene we
have often noticed. Perhaps no performer
on the stage can fight OF die so well. 1t |
was with pleasure we observed that his |
late illness had but little if any effect
upon his voice, and that he was fully com
potent to sustain the character to the last, |
notwithstanding that it isoHe of the most
iaborious within the range of the drama
Nothing could exceed the style in WHICH |
the chOrusses were executed Mrs. Bart |
ley, in Lady Macbeth, was very respecta-
bic, the highest praise to which any actress
can arrive, until the powers OF Mrs. Sid |
dons are forgotten in that part, or until
come theatrical phenomenon shall appear,
who may be qualified not only to excite |
our strongest admiration, but to blot out
from our memories their most glowing re-
collections.
March II.
Dramaiic.-Kean and Miss O'Neill have
so entirely engaged the town Of late, that
they have superseded all introduction of
new plays. Authors therefore, VINO nave
any fling upon the stocks, must entirely
change the nature Of their performances,
rs nothing goes down but tragedy-pure
and entire tragedy.
When the populace were attacking the !
house of the Lord Chancellor. it seems the
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