Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-05-26
TUESDAY. MAY 90, 1929,


a, the head Of this article, when he was IN this
place some years ago reciting original poetry
and passages from the dramatic writer's we
well remember how much he was admired for
his admirable deliniarions of the passions and
Ms correct and original conceptions OF charac.
,ers. His own poetry was OF no inferior des-
.,ip,ion. and was spoken with grea, effect. We
Nave poem o. his among our papers, which II
we can Law our hauds upon, we will publish. lie
has since his re,urnt to England joined the stage
and is now the most prominent actor on the
London boards. The critics speak OF him IN
the highest terms. We have extracted the fol-
LOWING article Z, lative 10 his talents as an ac-
tor which appeared in the New Monthly Mag-
azine, because we expect those who Lave seen
him here will be curious to know what Is
though, Of him when he appears in lar dltfe'
tent attraction.
The truth, according TO the testimony OF per-
cons less interested in his success Than we &C
knowledge ourselves 10 have become, IS that
MIR. Pemberon did appear 10 great disadvah
tango in the earliest scenes Of "Virginius, Out
thai he ultimately found the cause OF passion,
and made grea, aud lasting impression on all
who were sufficiently near 10 observe the Work
ipes Of his countenancc, anc TO marx the 'ari-
cites nj his intona,ion. So far from the house
being packed t. support him, as the Mofhihs
Herald is pleased TO assume, he was absolute q
~ stranger in London, scarcely known 10
dozen PEOPLE here, though his perioI manoes
and his lectures have procured him many warm
and earnest admirers IN remote parts oil Inc
country. The play of 'Virginius' has been woe
fully hacknied OF late; one actor Is insepAraoiy
associated with its hero, and not being on '"!S
orca,ion sraced aud ngated up by Miss Foot's
beau,y. il attrac,edibul a very thin house. In
this large and half desolate Theatre, the new
,c,or-old in his own notions and habits, and
fearing lest they should offeud-had TO stand
H. hazard of the die 10 which he had been
leaking for wears, and which was TO decide his
sor,unr. And we believe that thus situatrd, he
was stuff and constrained, that respect Tor his
.o1ience. and appre aension for himself gave
{ormali,y 10 his msnner, aud that in proportion
q, his feeling was deep and his ono epuon ORR
pinal, he hesita,ed 10 give them tar u'teranee.
Bui h, did 4, last touch on Toe right key; and
becoming warmed by the situation, grapple'
with ais difficulties, AMI mastered them. Oi
the imprt s<ion he then produced an excellent
ida is given by The examiner IN whose des'
cripion we recognise the exact image OF what
". saw al Herefold, but could not so graph
cally descrioe:-SIn The S, enc with the msssen-
ger, who brinys him Intelligence Of the violence
nj the Decemyir, his counienanc- became DIS
,or;ed, his whole frame lremb'ed with rage
his voice also rising 10 an astonishing pitch OF
strength with clearn, S., upon the words, drag
esd through the strests!' Again, III the scene
before Appius, af err judgment had been pro-
uounc ed when with half distracted look he
sends away Iciius, and then endea, curing g
sooth his daughter with promise OF relief, he
brings that relief with the blow Of his dagger
saving IN quck whisper, st is this His at
,i,ude after this action was perhaps father the
atrica,, bu, the short, shrill shrek, which at
companied lis first seeing her blood on the
blade was exceedingly affecting. The subse
ouen, scenes Of insanity were, to our feelings
(whs were close before him0 SO terrible, tina
their effect remained many hours after we LET
the house There are also in the Spectator,
Two articles by a correspondent, on the Virgin
in. and the Shylock, not giving mere results
bu, entering into particulars, which bear tn,
strong marks Of fine and accurate observation
and which cannot be read by an unprejudicet
oerson. without conviction that their subJec
is man Of genius.
Amidst all the varieties OF opinion which
have been expressed. j! is, we appreheDd, fuli!
established tina, Mr. Pemberlon does possess
very high qualities for his ant, with wha!eve
imperfection they may be developed, and witt
whatever a'loy they may be mingled The ex'
isience Of these endowmenls IS not matters o
opinion, bu, Of evidence. If they have beer
observed by credible Witnesses, it matters no
by hew many they may be unperceived and de-
MED. II we have felt our blood curdle ane
GROW cold At piercing tone Of misery, it ,h'
sioay gaze Of he ixed eye haun:s US Tor Ions
srisr we have left the theatre; if we have beer
awe struck BY the visible struggles of stront
emotion. and have seen il mustered by he viii
or triumphant over il, we are as much assure,
of the existence Of power in he actor capable
of producing these results, as we are Of the ply
steal strength which we see producing an I'M
nression on matter. There is, IN botn cases
precisely the same certainty, We recognise
the symbols Of ragt, affection, or horror, will
even greater assurance than The voice OF