Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-05-30

would have predicted ten years ago, that ne
would at this period, be crowed over by George
Barrett, man whose advantages have been
small, and who is not to be compared, in the
same breath, with the once popular John Duff,
the once favorite of the American play going
public! But Mr.. Duff has, from choice, left
himself in the rear, and suffered minor lights to
eclipse his native brlliancy.
Charles Young is man very considerable
talents, tho they seem to be confined to mar
row compass, and are not sufficiently capacious
to admit his taking a wide range in the Drama.
His Stukely, Marmion, Count Bassett, and
Copper Captain, are all very good; but having
been brought up in bad school, he at an early
age, contracted bad professional habits, u false
taste and style; and with but few exceptions he
tears his parts to rags, by the extravaganza of
his rant, and affected defamation. He is, how
eyef, what may be called useful man to any
company, and we should be glad to always
fhd his equal, in those departments he sustains.
Mr.. Young is now getting old, and it is not
Pobable, that he will grow wise by future ex-
Icriencc, or with the advances of age, correct
lis professional habits.
Young Bernard, member of the Bowery
Company, is promising actor, and since he
eh U.S. has made many and great improve
mcnts, and promises to become an ornament
IN tha cts Mr. Doh of b,v-
py talents, takes the lead of the low Comedy
department, and is fine actor. We do not
consider him far behind Tom Hilson; and al
though he does not take the general range
that Jack Barnes commands, in some things
he is quite his equal, and in others, decidedly
Jack IS superior We think he will ultimately
become great favourite, and meet with all
the success he pants for.
The female department ofthe Bowcry, is in
finitely superior to that of any other Theatre
of the continent. The Juiets, Belvideras,
Tsabellas, Adelgethas, &c. are sustained by
Mrs. Duff, and they have seldom had better
or an abler representative. Besides possessing
the higher gifts and attributes of an accom-
plished actress, she is lady of unblemished
reputation, and in private life, sustains the char
actcr of lady Of strict morality and piety. A
Roman Catholic by profession, she adheres
pertinaciously, to the primitive Romish Church (;
and without being bigot, adheres to all the
dogmas and positions of the order of st. Ste
phsn.
Whether considered as an actress, or a
member of private society. Mrs Duff'is entitled
to the respect of the world, and to all the en-
comiums which have been bestowed upon her
she is emphatically an honor and an orna-
ment to her profession and to her sex. The
fame she has acquired, has been honestly earn
ed; and it is in the expression Of our undivided
sentiments, that VIC declare, that in our opin-
ion, she is the first of modern actresses. Who
that has seen her in Juliet, that has not had
his feelings awakened! and where is the man
who has beheld her depicting the horror-strick-
en- feelings Of Belvidera, or shedding the pcni-
tent tears of Mrs. Haller,* that has not sympa-
thizcd with the distresses Of the melancholy and
misguided pcntent Circumstances, to which
we cannot allude without awaking recollectons
and associations, which have too long disturb
cd the repose Of this amiable lady, have in no
small degree depressed her ardor, and kept her
back in the line Of the profession. Her days
and nights, have too often been rendered days
and nights Of sorrow; and whilst she has press
ed to her bosom the babe Of innocence, the
offspring Of her early love, too often has her
pillow been strewed with thorns, and bathed
with the tears she shed, for the alterations of
ono, whom she loved not wisely but too
well.' And whilst she has toilcd in her voca-
ton, and contended with her sorrows and af-
fctions, she has watched with an anxious eye,
the budding virtues of numerous progeny,
nurtured them in the fear and admonition ofthe
strictest maxims Of christianity, and in the
midst Of her sorrows consoled herself with the
reflection, that she has served her God, and
done her duty to mankind
We learn that she will, in the course of the
war, make professional tour to England and
Ireland; and 60 where she may, she will
carry with her the best feelings and wishes of
the American admirers of her talents and her
virtues We are gratifed to learn, that the
most favorable and hattoring overtures have
been made hcr,to cross the Atlantic; and whilst
absent, we cannot but hope, she will receive
the rich rewards TO which she is pre-emncntly
entitled.
Next to Mrs. Duff, Mrs. Gfert, the wife OF
the Manager Of the Bowcry, claims the ap-
pIause of the public This lady is the daugh-