Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-08-04

the services of Mrs. Siddons were afterwards
transferred thither. Mrs. Siddons lost one of her
daughters, the youngest, whom it was expected Sir
Thomas Lawrence would wed, 179S; her husband
died in 1902, and her eldest daughter in l803
which events gave an hitherto prosperous life
prosperous beyond tho ordinary list ofmorals the
hrst distaste, and she began, for the first time pro-
baby since she first knew the enchantinp breath
OF popular applause, to wish for retirement In
lSOS the conhagration of the theatre for n season
suspended her efforts She, however, accepted
an engagement at the house Mt fifty pounds n
night, which she opened, and performed her part
OF Lady Macbeth in dumb show in the midst of tho
o. +. riot Mrs. Siddons took leave ofthe profess
sion, on the 29th of June, 1912, her last perfor
nance being the character Df Lady Macbeth. In
1913 she performed the same character for the be-
neht of her brother Charles, and in 1916 the char
actcr of Queen Catherine, for the same object. On
the 9th OF June IN that year she performed Lady
Macbeth, to crafty the Princess Charlotte of w ales
and the FRINGE ofSaxe Coburg, which was, we be.
lcve, her last appearance the stage She, sub
sequent to that time, gave public readings of Shaks
Peare and Mon but generally speaking, she lived
IN close retirement since 1916. She resided in
Upper Baker street, and continued in good health.
and capable of taking air till within few DAYS of
her death.
Mrs. Siddons gifted with noble & comman
ding person, most beautiful but energetic counte
nancca voice powerful &, melodious, & with all the
charms both ofmind and body that are calcuatedto
make an impression on mankind. She was very
Queen Her great natural talents were perfected
by diiigent study, and she not only comprchended
she knew all the parts she undertook Her ar
ton was noble and impressive; and her character
unsuiiled by any vice, gave dignity to her profess
sion, such as never before belonged to it in En-
gland She was as exemplary in her duties as she
was admirable as an actress. In her time, she was
admired by Pitt, Burke, Sheridan, and all the great
political characters of the last so years ROYALTY
did not disdain to honor her with its countenance:
ana II ever woman was at once popular with the
multitude, honored by the great, and respected by
the good, it Mrs Sidtons She had three
children, who all died before her. Her son was
proprietor and manager of the Edinburgh Theatre
ana died a few years ago. The death of her two
accomplished daughters and of her husband we have
already mentioned. The daughters were said to
nave possessed the happiest minds and the most
delightful persons; the eldest sister was an accom-
Plished and scientific musician Thus did this cell
ebrated actress see all that could her with
the world perish before her. Her grand children
indeed, and her brother remain, and it was reserved
to her. as one ofthe last pleasures of her existence
TO see her nice though not gifted with her extraor
binary talents, attain high degree of public appro
baton. Mr. kemble announced the event at Co
vent. gardep, where the performances were imme
diately changed. Early in the forenoon bills were
posted up at the doors of the theatre, announcing
the melancholy event, and that Mr.. Warde would
perform the part of Lord Townly, in The Pro-
vaked Husband, and Miss f. Tree that of LADY,
Townly, in place of Miss e. Kembe.
Mr. Sddons at the time of her death, would un
doubleday bequeath her fortune her own children,
ana her grandchildren. Her George is in In
dia, where he had writership given to him, we
believe, by the late Lord Melville. Miss Siddons
resided with her mother when she died; and there
arc grandchildren, the offspring of Mr.. Henry Sid
dons, who live with their mother in Edinburgh.
Inns statement Is requisite, because some of tho
morning papers have asserted that Mrs. Sddons
has left her fortune to Mr.. Horace Twiss and tho
children of Mr.. Charles Kemble