Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-03-16

The Editor thinks that ne does no more
than his duty to the public, and justice 10
that respectable gentleman who manages
the Theatre, by giving publicity to the fol-
lowing extract of letter, written to him
by friend now in Washington.
Washington, March IS, 1919.
/" Dear Snowden,
Now that am writing, cannot re-
frain from saying few words to you, on
the subject of the lady and gentleman who
have FIR four evenings astonished and de-
lighted the people in this city and George
town, by their performances on the boards
Of this theatre, and who are to appear in
yours the ensuing week.
"Mrs. Bartley's reputation, as an act
ress, has for some years been understood,
not only from the report Of several OF our
fellow citizens, who had visited London,
but from the best critical works published
in the metropolis on dramatic Subjects
Miss Smith, THAT was her maiden nancy
was. from the very first night OF her APP
uearance in England, considered as worthy
Of being put in competition with Mrs SD
dons. and that too in Mrs. Siddons's first
characters in which, by the way, that
great woman was at the time thought not
ONLY never to have been excelled, but ne
yer likely 10 be rivalled. Ofa'l Mrs. Sid
dons's characters. there was not one IN
which she was deemed so entirely out OF
the reach of competition, as that OF Lady
Macbeth, in which she stood not only I'M
eoualled. but alone. The last thing that
an amateur could have thought OF, would
be TO see any lady stepping forward can
didate for public applause in that extraor-
binary production Of the genius OF shak-
,peare, genius, while the remembrance OF
Mrs. Siddons's performance was yet fresh
and lively in the public mind--nay, while
che herself was on the spot. When the IN
tended appearance of Miss Smith, there
fore, was announced in the public prints,
the intrepidity of the attempt struck every
one forcibly the impressions 1t made
were various, according TO the humors or
dispositions Of the many rrho contemplated
it;-thc more sour and malignant regard
ING it as an act Of presumption which de-
served, and, they foreboded, would meet
signal punishment from public criticism
tribunal from which there is no appeal
and the more generous ascribing the gran
deur Of the undertaking TO genius render
ed confident by consciousness oil its own
vigor and superiority. 1t had the effect,
however, ofexciting unusual curiosity, mix
ed, in some, with anxious concern tor the
event the most sanguine, however, ex
pecting nothing more than bare acqu'ttal
withou, censure, with reasonable promise
of better success in subsequent attempt.
when having token a more accurate mea-
sure of circumstances the ycuug lady should
descend 10 character of less 'ifhcu'ty!-
Nor were the forebodings Of the malicious
or the hopes Of the generous
enlivene,i, when. on her first entrance. they
perceived that the debutante was great,
oat6gured in person by the unequalled Dig
nifty and majestic stature of the great tragic
actress. Hitherto. therefore, every thing
that could excite prepossessions were a.
gainst her; and she was lelt entirely de-
pendent upon the exertion OF her intellec-
tual powers.-These, however. soon re-
moved all unfavorable anticipations, and le-
yelled all inequalities and tire towering
height, and majestic department Of Mrs.
Siddons were, for the time, forgotten in the
transport With which the sterling weight OF
Miss Smith. speaking, the brilliant, yet
just conception Of her authors meaning
and the characteristic force and energy OF
her action inspired every auditor. When
the curtain tell, but one opinion pervaded
IN the theatre, which has never since been
in Great Britain--and that was
that maugre the advantages which Mrs.
Siddons derived in Lady Macbeth from her
grand personal appearance, which stood,
perhaps, without parallel in the world =
Miss Smiths performance, young though
she was, was, on the whole. not inferior
to it. These facts can show you in the
MONTH"; Mirror and other publications OF
Chat day, and 10 copies from them, in pub,
LEGATIONS OF our own. No one more loudly |
joined in the general panegyric than Mrs, |
Siddons herself