The Rev. John L. Blake has been inducted as Rector of St. Paul's Church in North Providence. The Rev. Mr. Olney has been admitted to the order of Priests at the same place, by the Right Rev. Bishop Griswold. A new church for Universalists, in Boston, has been dedicated to the service of God. ART. 12. DRAMATIC CENSOR. September 26. Henry IVth.-'Tis all à Farce. Mr. Hilson's Falstaff was a creditable performance. We should probably have admired it more had we not taken our first stage impression of the fat knight from Cooke. The comparison which we could not but institute, was unfavourable to our enjoyment of Mr. Hilson's humour. Mr. Pritchard ranted unnecessarily in Hotspur. By raising his voice too high, he lost its management, and was not able to give that force to his periods which results from marked emphasis. He seldom errs from excess of animation, but whenever he attempts to be animated, his effort discovers itself in the elevation of his tones, rather than in variation of feature or muscular movement. September 27. Soldier's Daughter.-My Grandmother. September 29. Busy Body.-Innkeeper's Daughter. This comedy as it was performed, seemed a mere farce in five acts. The Innkeeper's Daughter is a new melo-drama, and was received with great applause. The story of it is the same, in its principal features, as that which forms the ground-work of one of Southey's most beautiful ballads, the "Mauiac." We cannot but regard the melo-drama as the fruit of a bad taste; but we think this of the Innkeeper's Daughter, as little objectional as any: no horses or cattle of any kind are introduced, to rival the two-legged heroes of the sock or buskin, and in the final distribution of rewards and punishments, a laudable attention has been paid to the principles of poetical justice. Moreover, the scenery prepared on the present occasion, is most strikingly fine and appropriate, and does the greatest credit to Messrs. Holland, Robins, and assistants. The piece was well cast, and the three principal parts, Harrop, Richard, and Mary, were well played by Mr. Pritchard, Mr. Simpson, and Mrs. Darley. Mr. Darley, also, in Hans Ketzler, entertained us by his performance and the quaintness of his costume. We must not omit to mention, and with praise, Mr. Robertson in Monckton; Mr. Bancker, who was very useful, and active in Edward Harrop; Mr. Williams in William, who, though he bad but little to say and do, said and did that little with a discretion uncommon in him; Mr. Baldwin in Langley, who played the part of the mean, cowardly, selfish, unprincipled magistrate, with much good discernment of the charac ter, and Mr Jones in Tricksey. who repre-, sented the stony-hearted, avaricious agent of the excise with very tolerable success. Mrs. Wheatley in Marian was very judicious, and represented so as to interest the feelings considerably, the faithful but oppressed wife, and the tender, apprehensive mother. September SO. Mr. Spiller made his first appearance this season, in Acres. He was received with evident satisfaction by the audience, and performed this whimsical part in a spirited Heir at Law.—Killing no Murder. Mr. Spiller played Dr. Pangloss with great comic effect. Mr. Hilson was capital in Ezekiel Homespun; and Mr. Barnes personated Lord Duberly to the life. Mr. Simpson as Dick Dowlas, was hardly ungainly enough in the Attorney's apprentice, and dressed with too much propriety as a man of fashion, for a new made gentleman. Mrs. Baldwin was an excellent representative of Lady Duberly; Mrs. Williams made a first and favourable appearance in Cicely Homespun. In fact, with the exception of Mr. Williams's Morland, the piece went off with great eclat. with some that are occasionally brought for ward, with impure ideas or indelicate language; and was very well represented. Mr. Simpson in Howard, and Mr. Barnes in Sir Solomon Cynic, acquitted themselves with especial ability. Mr. Pritchard did not throw sufficient vigour into his personation of Mandeville, which it was in his power to have rendered quite an interesting character. Miss Johnson in Albina Mandeville, played with unequal success. In passages of her performance, she was, however, very happy; particularly in old Copsley's cottage, as Herbert; and generally, in the expression of her jealousy of Cicely. The Ravens was brought out this evening for the first time, and was dismissed with deserved condemnation. Of the performance we have little to say, except that it was certainly better than the piece; which was intended by the author for a master-piece of terrible pathos, but failed entirely. The Slave. October 7. This was, to us, a very disagreeable piece; too much in opposition to the prejudices of education, as to plot; and too poorly written to furnish any remuneration to our feelings. October 8. Apostate.-Innkeeper's Daughter. This tragedy has been often repeated, and on the whole, with increased excellence. It is well cast, and we doubt if it can be as well played by any company in the United States. Still, however, the performance is open to objection. Mrs. Barnes in Florinda, though she certainly displays fine talents and a discriminated and tasteful conception of the character, does, as certainly, sometimes rant; so do they all-all overstep the modesty of nature, at times, and detract much from the general merit of the representation. With regard to Mr. Pritchard's Pescara, though he has acquired much credit and added much, and deservedly, to his reputation by his personation of this character, yet we think he has not apprehended it with the nicest accuracy. He has given to Pescara too much passion, too much heat--made him too subject to impulse, to suit the design of the author, who we believe, intended to draw, with his utmost ability, a cool deliberate villain of the first water; and if he has not given him phlegm, he has given him so much self-possession as to look very much like it. There is a bitter, cool scorn in Pescara's treatment of Hemeya, which we should like to see more strongly marked in Mr. Pritchard's performance, which, though good, he might easily make better. Mr. Simpson, in Hemeya, played in a very good medium style; but it requires the first rate talents-all that is great in intellect, vehement in passion, and princely in stature and motion, to do justice to this character. Mr. Robertson in Malec, was very well prepared in costume, and had studied the character with some success, but his monotony, his eternal emphasis, his whipped-up sort of energy, that resembles the 'forc'd gait of a shuffling nag,' renders it impossible that he should ever suit a discriminating audience in Malec. Indeed tragedy is not the scene for Mr. Robertson. Comedy is his forte, and we are confident, that if he would cultivate his comic talents, that he would soon rival the first comedians in the country. October 9. She Would and She Would not.-Woodman's Hut. This is a tolerable comedy, and was tolerably represented. Mrs. Darley had a manful air in Hypolita, but did not sufficiently disguise her voice when she assumed the garb of a cavalier. Her shrill piping must have betrayed her sex to any one not wilfully deaf to its evidence. Mrs. Williams in Flora, had she felt a little more at ease in her masculine attire, would have passed very well for a gallant. October 10. Isabella.-Highland Reel. We have heretofore noticed the performance of this tragedy with high approbation. Mrs. Barnes in Isabella, displayed talents of the highest order: she was well supported by Mr. Simpson in Biron, and Mr. Robertson in Villeroy. October 11. Virgin of the Sun.-Poor Soldier. October 13: Tempest-Apprentice. We had looked forward with some pleasing anticipations to the revival of this drama, but were, in many respects disappointed in its representation. There is a great deal of ribald ry in the interpolations of Dryden, which might easily have been dispensed with, and which it was unpardonable to retain. The dialogue between Miranda and Dorinda is in the most indecent strain. Nothing but respect for the feelings of the ladies who filled those characters prevented the respectable part of the audience from testifying their disapprobation. Another capital defect in the performance was in the cast of the parts. If Mrs. Darley can personate Hypolito-which she did not-it is impossible for Mrs. Barnes to play Dorinda. By a transposition, both characters would be perfect. Miss Johnson is a very dainty,' Ariel. Pritchard did extremely well in Prosperò. Barnes in Stephano, made a most magnificent sot, and Hilson in Caliban, a truly delicate' monster.' October 14. Tempest.-laddin. October 15. Apostate. Shipwreck. October 16. Wild Oats-Innkeeper's Daughter. October 17. Columbus.-Sleep-Walker. October 18. Castle-Spectre.-Children in the Wood. October 20. Love in a Village.-'Tis all a Farce. The first appearance of Mr. Incledon in America in the character of Hawthorn, being announced in the bills, the house was crowded long before the rising of the curtain. This veteran singer was, however, too much affected by a consciousness of the extent of public expectation, and his own responsibility, to be able to fulfil the one or do justice to the other. He gave, nevertheless, some evidence of those powers which have gained him so high a reputation in England, and was particularly admired in the song of My Dolly was the fairest thing,' &c. As an actor out of his songs, he is every way indifferent. The very circumstance which depressed Mr. Incledon, inspired the other performers. Mr. Darley sung remarkably well in Young Meadows.-Mr. Barnes gave us Justice Woodcock with great spirit and fidelity.-Mr. Baldwin obtained much credit in Hodge-and Mr. Bancker looked and behaved very well in Eustace. Miss Johnson sung charmingly in Rosetta and Miss Dellinger, better than usual in Lucinda. Mrs. Baldwin's Deborah Woodcock was in her happiest manner, and in Mrs. Groshon, as she exhibited this evening we certainly never saw so much good acting in Margery. October 21. The Waterman-What's Next-The Quaker. October 22. Apostate.-Innkeeper's Daughter. October 23. Robbers.-Maid and Magpie. October 24. Maid of the Mill.-Animal Magnetism. October 25. She Would and She Would Not.-Aladdin. October 27. Beggar's Opera.-Midnight Hour. Mr. Incledon's performances in some of the above pieces, which we have not room to notice, having obtained great eclat, the house was crowded to-night, to witness another exhibition of his talents. Such, however, was the disgust produced by the representation of this vulgar and licentious burletta, that the curtain dropt amidst the hisses of the audience. Mr.Incledon presented himself after the play, with an American pa triotic song of British manufacture, which the house were polite enough to encore. But in no part of the entertainment had scope been given to those powers which the company had assembled to admire. A call soon became general for Black-ey'd Susan,' but no regard was paid to this expression of the public wish. The curtain rose for the farce, but the cries of Off! Off! were so loud that Mr. Simpson at last, came forward to inquire the pleasure of the company. Black ey'd Susan was the answer. Mr. Simpson replied that Mr. Incledon had left the Theatre, and even were he present, was too much exhausted by his previous exertions to be able to comply with the desire of the house. The manner as well as the matter of this tardy excuse was unsatisfactory. The disturbance continued, though the farce proceeded. In the mean time the watchmen were called in, armed with their magic wands, to keep the peace. Such an attempt to intimidate served only to excite the indignation of the audience. The hisses and groans, and calls, lasted for a long time after the curtain fell. loiterers were taken into custody, and others, The house thinned by degrees. Some of the who were accused of treating the representatives of the laws with disrespect, were arrested the next day, and bound over to keep the peace. October 28. Poor Soldier.-Critic.-Turnpike Gate. The house manifesting some displeasure on the appearance of Mr. Simpson this evening, abroad that he had made use of disrespectful that gentleman advanced and stated that he had understood, that a report had gone language on the last night-he declared himself incapable of a sentiment of disrespect towards the New-York audience, before whom he had been for eight years, and from whom he had received favours which he could never forget. With this apology the house seemed perfectly content, and the performances went on as usual. We have endeavoured to give an impartial account of this fracas. We shall now offer our opinion on the whole affair. On the ques tion of legal right there can be no doubt. An action could not be maintained against the managers for not giving what they did not advertise to give :-Every boy knows this. But in speaking of the rights of the public in the Theatre, no one who knows what he is talking about, has any reference to the statute-book. There is a tacit convention between the managers and the audience, which an intelligent public know how to enforce. Custom and common sense regulate this understanding. In England, where Theatres are established under patents, the public insist upon an adherence to usage. They would not suffer the slightest variation in the price of tickets, or in the arrangements of the house, on the opening of the new Theatre at Drury-Lane-though nobody pretended to dispute the legal title of to the Theatre, and we have no personal enmity towards the managers, with whose conduct generally we are content. It is the importance which we attach to the stage, that renders us anxious that the public should not lose that beneficial control over it which we think justly belongs to them :-And believing as we do, that the public had a perfect right to have prevented the representation of the Beggar's Opera altogether, and that they would have done well to exercise it, we cannot but regard the arrogant behaviour of Messrs. Price and Simpson, as wholly uncoming persons in their situation. the proprietors to their own building. In this city there is no patent to be obtained for the opening of a Theatre, but there are means, equally efficacious, of obtaining an exclusive privilege of amusing the public with dramatic representations. An astute manager may purchase the lease of a rival establish ment, may contrive to break up a Circus, and may prevail on popular singers not to give Concerts on their own account. A virtual monopoly may in this way be acquired, and the public left to Hobson's choice. A manager who should contrive such a scheme and carry it into effect, would stand precisely in the same relation with his audience that the manager of Drury-Lane does. Such a state of things it is to be hoped is far off from us-but should it ever arrive, we trust there is spirit enough in this community to found a Theatre, which should not become private property, nor fall under improper The Heir at Law.-Love Laughs at Lock management. In regard to the merits of the present controversy, we think the managers ought to have been very glad to buy off the disgrace of bringing out the Beggar's Opera, at the expense of a song. Mr. Simpson's apology is very well as far as it goes, but contains no excuse for not offering to notify to Mr. Incledon the commands of the house, or stating, (a fact which has never come out directly through the managers,) that Mr. Incledon had been requested to volunteer the song, before the call of the house, but declined on the ground of indisposition. The audience would very easily have dispensed with Mr. Incledon's song, and very readily have accepted any other which might have been tendered, as an evidence of a desire to consult their wishes. It was the apparent disregard of their feelings which roused their resentment. But admitting Mr. Simpson's atonement to have been ample, Mr. Price has made no expiation for BOSTON THEATRE. October 6. School for Scandal.-Honest Thieves. smiths. October 8. a much more serious offence. It is under- The Soldier's Daughter.-My Spouse & I. stood that it was he who attempted to overawe the expression of public opinion by the introduction of the police officers-a proceeding equally ill-judged and indecorous, and which in any other theatre than ours, would infallibly have bred a riot. And though it would be unfair to charge him with having turned in his scene shifters, candle-snuffers, and supernumeraries to break that peace which the civil authority was charged with preserving, it was at least incumbent on him to restrain such people from committing violence upon the persons of spectators. Yet as the public have chosen to let the matter rest here, we have no inclination to agitate it anew. On the contrary, we are pleased to discover so many virtues in the New-York audience." After giving abundant proofs of their patience, they may well get credit for their charity. One thing is certain, either the house is satisfied with Mr. Price, or Mr. Price satisfies the majority of those who compose it. We have felt it our duty to express the sentiments we entertain on this, as on every other subject that comes under our cognizance, without any reserve. We wish well October 20. Manuel.-Frightened to Death. This elegant Theatre has been essentially improved since the last season, by new interior arrangements and decorations; and the company of performers has received a very considerable accession of histrionick ability. Mr. Dickson, one of the co-partners in the management, and a valuable actor, having retired from his public employments, Mr. Duff has become his successor in both capacities. The theatrical corps at present, consists of Messrs. Duff, Brown, Green, Bernard, Bray, Hughes, Drummond, Adamson, Pelby, Wheatly, &c. and Mesdames Powell, Duff, Wheatly, Barnes. Brown, Bray, Drummond, &c. MR. DUFF, abstracting a little for his inaccuracy, and more for his air of pretension, is a highly meritorious actor, but not in the parts in which he supposes his excellence to consist. He aims to strut in imperial tragedy robes, and it must be confessed they are not always unbecoming; but his great forte lies in a different path, in the Rangers, the Belcours, and the Rovers of the drama. Mr. Brown arrived here from England during the last season, and is a very diligent and attentive performer. He possesses much versatility of talent; never rising however to the height of tragic grandeur, but maintain ing the level of gentlemanly propriety, chastness and accuracy, in the various characters he assumes, Mr. Green, an actor, well known upon the southern boards, is remarkable for his general and multifarious powers, without being particularly excellent, excepting in a few per sonations. His playing evinces feeling, and capacity; but his voice, deficient in harmonious intonation and extent, refuses to enforce the conceptions of his imagination. He performs with equal respectability in tragedy, and the high wrought characters of comedy; but in the extravagant humours of Jow farce, his drollery degenerates into grimace, and he becomes constrained in his action, and indefinite in his delineation. MR. Bernard, has long stood his ground as the best comedian on the American Stage, in certain respects. His Major O'Flaherty, Lovegold, Lord Ogleby, and parts of that elevated and marked peculiarity have probably never been excelled since the time of KING, and in America have never been equalled. Nor should his talents in performing rustics be forgotten; there never was a better Farmer Ashfield, and although in Robert Tyke he may have found a rival in Mr. Hilson, yet let not "Old Timotheus yield the prize, "But both divide the crown." Mr. Bernard is not yet so much impaired in his intellectual or physical powers, but that he can generally distance most of the competitors who run the race of excellence against him. Mr. Bray is an actor of much merit in particular branches of low comedy. In the bumpkin. simpleton, and characters in which the defects of general nature form the peculiarities, his powers are evinced, in a more striking manner, than in those, where the whims and eccentricities of the mere individual predominate. Of Mr. Hughes it is not the least merit that he is rising, from mediocrity towards excellence, in the path which he follows. In the representation of stedfast old men, of the Friendlys, and sedate monitors of the stage, his abilities are to be discovered. Mr. Drummond and Mr. Pelby are, according to the green room phraseology, the walking gentlemen of the stage. The former has an air of sickening affectation, which any talents that he possesses cannot redeem from censure; and the latter, by bestowing great attention upon his study, and learning to acquire the ease of the man of fashion, will no longer commit solecisms, either in language or manner. In justice we ought to observe that he is daily improving, and the effect of his diligence is evident. Mr. Adamson, a new performer from the Charleston theatre, has performed Ezekiel Homespun with much impression as to feeling and conception, but he had no dialect. It is impossible to give a settled opinion with regard to him. The same observation may be applied to Mr. Wheatly, who made his appearance for the first time, we believe on any stage, in Careless, in the School for Scandal. It is surprising what the habit of performing, and a minute attention to stage business will effect in building up the reputation of a man who begins even a bad actor. Mrs. Powell, an actress, who has for twenty years filled the most difficult characters of the drama upon the Boston stage, continues occasionally to perform. Respectable in regard to talent, she never offends the spectator by extravagant errors, and singularly attentive to her professional reputation, she is sure never to neglect her costume, nor to be deficient in memory. Mrs Dulf has improved since she played in Boston some years ago, when she was an interesting woman, and is now an interesting performer. She possesses pathos, and having the command of a powerful and harmonious voice, she frequently produces great effect. Mrs. Wheatly has talents of no common order. Lively in ber deportment, and powerful in the personification of comic characters, sustaining them with a rich colouring, and never flagging attention to their spirit, she is a valuable acquisition to this theatre. In the fine lady, however, she fails in her manner, which is deficient in refinement; a requisite so essential, that without it the character is destroyed. We would extend this bint into a further intimation, that all the points of repartee, and the insinuations of the double entendre, are sharper in proportion as they are polished. "As in smooth oil the razor best is whet, Mrs. BARNES is a natural and very meritorious actress "in privileged old maids and disappointed widows." Few performers are more useful, and few more deserving of applause than this lady, for her spirited style of playing, and her vituperative energy of voice. Mrs. Brown, without possessing striking excellence, is an actress of no inferior powers in nearly the same line of character in which Mrs. Barnes excels. Mrs. Brown's manner, however, is better adapted to high, than to low life. Mrs. Bray is a lively little villager, who performs with effect, and Mrs. Drummond, if she would infuse more life into her manner, more manner into her action, and more sound into her voice, would render her pretty person and face highly acceptable to the public. The record, at the head of the present paper will show that very little novelty, thongh some variety of entertainment has been brought forward since the opening. The annunciation of Mr. Duff in Macbeth, attracted the curiosity of a large number of persons. He sustained the part with spirit, but much inaccuracy of perception was ob |