Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-06-04

Mas. Durr. The editor Of the Journal
appears determined that tho world shall be
made to believe, through the columns Of his
pa per, that Mrs. DUyF, was compelled to
leave England, because she hailed from the
u. States. We have said, and again repeat
il, that Mrs. Duff was re ceiveJ in the most
cordial manner, by the audience of Drury Lane
Theatre, and that she was completely success
ful, and established her fame as tragic ac-
tress in England. For the truth Of these as
sertions, we copy the annexed article from the
London .Age, a paper almost entirely devoted
to Theatricals, and we hope after its perusal,
our neighbour will for once, confess himself to
be in an error. We are aware, that the gen.
tIsman of the Journal could not be prevailed
upon to confess " all his sins Of omission or
coDsn,ission,'' but we think he 10 in justice
bound to confess himself wrong in the present
case.
The "Age" thus speaks of Mrs. Duf's first
appearance:
"The house was not full, and the audience
by no means one Of those we sometimes find in
Theatres on first nights, predetermined to ap-
plaud whatever WAS not absolutely repulsive. -
On the contrary, We never saw a house, in the
beginning, much more indifferent; nor did we
ever see more thorough triumph over such
indifference. The applause at first was reluc-
tant and guarded; but Yin every succeeding
scene il increased in frequency and fervour,
until ut length, when the second appearance of
the actress was announced, IL rose to absolute 0
enthusiasm. Under such circumstances, the
triumph, Of course, must have been complete,
and the actress had right to prize it the more
dearly, from having been accorded without ia
your, and only after q clear, unbiased cOnvic-
tion that il could not with honesty, have been
been denied.
Mrs. DUFF appears to be about eight and
twenty. Her figure is good, and her action
graceful and emphatic, but not redundant; she
seems perfectly self-possessed. From the mo-
ment she came upon The stage, to the moment
she left il, there appeared an utter uncon-
seriousness about her Of an audience. She was
absorbed in the character she represented; she
gave not only every situation, but every svlla-
BILE, in such a manner as would have most de-
lighted SoUrHERNE himself, and was never
disheartened by any omission to notice the
more delicate and most beautiful touches nor
with which the more obvious, and conse1 e1uent-
ly less valuable points were seized upon by
The audience, and vehemently clapped. Her
eye is the finest since the time Of Mrs. SID
DoNs; her voice is full Of expression, but un-
equal; she has not the quality of voice which
rendered Miss O'NEIL so popular in a par;ic-
ular range Of character: she has not, in short
what the French call, tears in the voice, and
consequently, she was less touching in her
tears than in the anguish beyond the power OF
weeping, which she conveys with surprising
excellence. II will be The fault Of the man
agement, If Mrs. DUR does not do great
things for Drury Lane Theatre. There is no
actress IN her line, now on the London stage,
with so much intellectual energy; and though
many may surpass her in physical force. the
former quality. though IT may not achieve SO
quick fame for her, will secure her one Of
higher value and infinitely more lasting.