The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1816-09-09

able in the productions Of Ter children,
and to which the more polished Briton
can never attain.
Following our usual practice, we shall
not mar the intecest. which the plot OF
this tragedy viii excite, by detailing it
10 our readers, but merely observe, that
II is extremely interesting, though per-
haps it may by some be ,hought rather
TOO barren of incident. The characters
arc few but well drdwN; and the IDEAS
aud language are throughout exquisite
ly beautiful Amongst the personages
ofsthe drama, Bertran holds the for e.
| most and graDdest place. It is iydeed
tine, magnificent character a cha
racter upon which the author has exc
pended all his labor, and lavished al his
skill; character which few minds have
power 10 conceive, and still fewer the
ability to delinea,e The remair'9e
! pa ris, though ably drawn, arc pece}cA-
rly subordinate 10 this in the dazzling
spiendor OF Berfr0m. less brilliant ligh,sy
are lost. or scarcely perceived This
exquisite conception OF the poet, was as
L. ly embodied by Mr.. KEAN. In the
fpart OF Sertram his defects are forgot
tlc; x iorgiven; and though we are lar
llrom ,i,nking him in al. s-acters. the.
!ruitloss monster" which -;endly
enemies wonid assert, we Willingly a.
| ward him unqualified praise in this.
We lind we must hasten to a concIu.
Ision, but how unwillingly, eau only be
comprenen6cd by those who like our
selves, !!ayc been accustomed 10 the
the cherries task CT recording month
after month the melanch holy specimens
Of human folly which our theatres in.
cessantiy present. They only, can full
'y comprehend and partake OF The pea.
suratie feelings with Which we enlarge
upon snch,a subject asrhc present. The
day OH which l}ertram was produced
should &c MAJ led with ph;sc stone ~
every dramatic critic.
The Rev, Il, G Maturin, the author
is cura,e in st. Peier's Parish, Dub
iiu' lie is son Of w. Matu,in, ESQ
one oil The cierils for The roads, for Dub
lin; wa; educated at Trinity College,
and According so MS own slate msnt, in
the preface 10 his first romance, is now
thirty-ioGr years OF age. IL is said'thar.
his tragedy was sent liy, him at the re-
Commcndation vi Waller Scott, 10 Lord
! Bfon, with an earnest entreaiy, thatits
fate might lac speedily determined. as.
ihc comfort Of the family during The
winter eDtlraiy depended upon its sue.
cess llwas Immediately aCcepJe, and.
Lord byron the same day sen, the au-.
tior present Of forty gaineas. The
corg right was sold TO Murray .or three
hurried and fifty gulneas. He will gain
.oFIa the theatre 1901 for the Sd night,
1901 for the sixth, 1901 for the mini,
and 2ook. for the twenty hrst, should
! the tragedy be performed so often.
We cannot conclude This article,
without paying tribute oil applause
where it is most deservcdiy due. 1t
viii be recorded 10 the honour Of the
Quarterly Reviewers, that they were
the first to discern and applaud Mr..
Maturin's Senins and that so long since
as the year 1910, Just euio2ium was
! passed upon it, i'll their Journal in re-
view OF his first publication, The Fatas
HeOenSe. The author Of this article,
wnomsoever he may be, will not, i, is
| aoped, disdain the feelings Of the pres.
ent writer, comparatively humble and
insignificant tho he be, which prompr
h'm TO applaud The Discrimination,
which carly did justice to the powers
Of highly giitee and extraordinary in.
diyidIa!.