Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-10-23

a W
tFrom >fs peters5Erc lnteHlccrcer
The NEW rnkArRk, under The naua geui,nt oS James
caldwell, esq. opened tor the season on Mon,ay eve
niEg last, (i2,h iust We have ss,dou, see y>
sN raised hehet thau WAS ON this OCCASION
eect-ing new building t2nsidtred one Of tie NEST
slsrant structures IN this cnn,iy che long deprivation
VI ue regular drama ON resptcabie footing azores
-he'iqte scarcely an ,ndisiauai membCr whch was
hnowh tas peToruer) 10 the citizens ut P,trrstug
ened Ia giving an Interest to- the opening night which
we have hat rarely witnessed.
lhe evening, however, Was unyTc~itisus Rim hs..u
10 iai! early vn Monday morning aud 4 steady 4
" ind prevailing, towards tue h"uf of a,leudan, b
weather was SD Yer, wet and dlssgeeaale that yeat
humber particularly ladies were prevented. foin
.'eit homes IL rs ascsrainvj, there -,ween $50
sad COG persons present OF this punIl y ther. were
only "a LSpigs-tfon " hich idea may he formed
what the house would have Been had the evening been
far.
The certain rose At O'Clock dscovcrings neat cham
Dei scene. Expectation tpt"e.-Mr Caldwell
presented him"'' to the audience. and greeted
oua ano pia"hs When this burs, Of feeling
subsdrd and as soon NJ silence restored Mr. C. de
ivefedse following ADDRESS, Written by John N'Cree
~, ESQ Of Petersburg
In times of old when struggling tbrouqb n o,o,,
The human mind began To burst the tomb
oflcloranoe, where long eushtned il iay
And shngtt thu light OF ledri;iBss cheering da,--
Then scinta,iu. through tie chao. dask
Appea'd a small, bui ani:na,ing spark
mssnigns Greece. delighted with lis rays.
Her soaring genius fash'd on wisdoni's pa-e
And sases panr'd their knowledge on The siase--
FROM Ihespian school IN prin. statesman sopcbt
Persuasive eioqne nce-the brilliant thought
The rounded period swelling on the ear
The reasoning strong, the exposition clear
That eioaurnce, whose magic p1wer coui, bind
Melt Into grer or lire aye the mind
That elnqnence, which by TIL Atheniau burpd
Made Philip Teu,b,e, charm'd III adn.irhg world
The conqnering Roman caught HI ethereal DIRE.
And swept to native ST. aas the t;recian L,r.
Tie ear delighted on the accents hung
WhiSh Tell Ike manna fretn the Roscius tonvue.
bnt uerce barbar'aiis from their forests pour
Then Genius wept, aud knowledge took her t.l.ht
tnyeloped ia the gloomy shades OF night
Long did she ronnd the monhish cioisters roam
without a solace aud without home
Iiil after many a dreary age had passd
brighter prospect cteoI'd the world a. last
Genius aNGkins from his death like trance
Dispsipd the Inis's by his all piercing glance
The poet t6en b! emulation tr'd,
10 nctier aims and higher stratus aspit'J--
fa,nTe's uiagickin mighty shake:rt-. came
tnh gave the drama to Immortal faIne.
Milton, whose giant mind could angels sean
Aud teach tie my steries OF Heaven 10 man
10 give bis moral lessons force thought 1T
To choose his tragic scenes from holy writ
lhe pious Addison, religious pride,
EuTn TO III run III age, great MOI al guide,
Whose w.t. rude manners. foil IS ssli cou.d sway,
hass pow eIiul fashion tremhte ana obey
Disdan'd nut, th0t he Nigh; instruct aInusc,
." give his iessor, through the tragic muse
Tor sinking fieeiam rOusd The scenic art
TO raise tie genius aud 10 mend lie henri"
The reverend VI tiue, beloved Ivy liberal mcn,
Deisn'd for the drama To employ bis pen.
Young, whose bright thoughts could burstthr gloom
Anhthrow around heavealy g!eam 0flght, lufuisht
70 aid tue drama his STRONG pen has ricd
tVen 2ealot &c Knox relax'd his higOt pride
Smled, from his seat, nor deem'a il wrong
Al minnie shew of noH ref"rIneIs hung
Shall we behold this constellation bright
P"tU on senehted ,nau flood of lghtI
Aud not lame"t, that. in these Frightening days,
When Science sheds. profusc. her vivid ra,s
Vain man wall say in this enlightened time,
" 10 see play. is to commit crime Pr
Assuming tai, do not judge at all,
Jest by thy Judgments ihou thy self may fall
Look through tn inventions OF Ingenious man
besiga'd amuse, since social lie began,
Which in the ample circle shall we see
Blend such amusement with ut!lityi
VIVA, such Improvement, sncb deligb. affIIds
~, As genius tightening from the Thcspisu boards?
There heavesborn music frsm the living strings
10 melting strains, the sweetest echo wings
swept Ger The scenes the magic pencil vies
With Natures charms, TO fascinate tie eyes,
There sparkling Wit the cheering laugh beguiles
And dresses Beauty in bewitclins smiles
There pice ia her deSTmity appears,
Wsile piT!He her OpR winning costume wears
The YoutB, who destln'd to protect the laws,
And rouse tbe senate jn the glorious cause
OF Liberty, may there acquire The AIT,
To fire the fancy, and to win the heart.
To this good ndiente then, while Fate aecords
The. pleasing task 10 regulate these boards,
we pledge ourselves, our aim shall be
T. improve the mind and AID morality;
To curb licentiOusnes, aud vice control,
To humanize, aud elevate the soul.
10 this fair Town, which, like the Phoenix young
90 ialeiy from its waste Of ashes ,pruns;
Thus Town, whose peerless, patriotic flame
SHINES brightest from TIL immortal zane Of Fame;
Whose Youthful Heroes, when Wars clarion blew,
To front the proud Invader boldly dew;
Whose tender fair, their and labor yield
r. adorn their champions eager for the field;
This town whose hospitahIe welcome grrets
The way.wOrH traveller in its busy streets;
IN ilne-whaie'er of taste or skill we know
TO please this Town, in gratitude
iOuT wishes, known, shall he TO as laws;
opr best reward, yonr sanction aud applau.e-
bright reward, which mocks at eyerytoiI
IL on our labor, Beauty deigHs to smile.
The address received with the most general and
sc think, deserved applause. We are decidedly OF
opinion whatever others may say to the contrary that
is very superior to the celebrated poem delivered at
he opening Of Covent Garden Theatre, London, fnr
Rhlch The premium Of 90 guineas paid. Indeed,
'e can say wh truth, that we have only zen pro
Iuction of this description, which think anywise
quail TO Mr.. MCreery's performancers ailude to the
udfess delivered on the opening of the Albany IN
heare, written I've beiieve) by Mr.. Souihwick Our
taders. however, are good judges Of the merits OF
he poem, as ourselves. TO their decision submit it.
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