mances commenced with *" Macbeth," and "The Citizen," at which were present the LORD LIEUTENANT and his Family, attended by all the fashionable world then in Dublin.

In the Spring of the year 1786, the COUNTESS OF ELY commenced a series of Theatrical performances at her Mansion in Ely-place. The upper part of the House was allotted to these amusements, from which, as well no doubt as from other and better claims to that title, their little Play-house was not inaptly called "the Attic Theatre." The Tragedy of † "The Distressed Mother," with the Farce of "All the World's a Stage," were among the first performances. The Tragedy of "Lear" followed in a few nights afterwards, when an Epilogue was spoken by the present SIR ROBERT LANGRISHE.

Whilst some direct the Senate, and the State,
Anxious, we hover o'er the lover's fate;
In gentle gales we waft the tender sigh,
Inspire the soft request, and kind reply;
Bid tender thoughts in female breasts arise,
And kind consent sit beaming in their eyes;
With mutual rapture make their bosoms move,
And bid the lip of beauty, say-" I love.”
Let bolder spirits martial banners wave,
And sit triumphant o'er the Warrior's grave;
No rage for glory fires our lighter hearts,
To Love, not war, belong our sportive arts;
Mirth is the pastime of each wanton sprite,
Pleasure our aim, and revel our delight.

Ariel to me consign'd the ruling power,
And lends his wand to gild this festive hour.
Here we've directed many a jocund feat,
And cheer'd with merry scenes this ancient seat.
This favor'd spot a thousand Sylphs engage
To dress the banquet, and adorn the stage;
On wings of gossamer around they float,
And swell soft harmony's expressive note,
To melt the soul,-while others gay advance,
To lead the measures of the sprightly dance.
And now selected by my choicest care,
To me intrusted comes each favorite Fair.
How sweet the task! was ever Sylph so vain,
Blest with the charge of such a lovely Train.

Soon after the commencement of these Plays, the SHANE'S-CASTLE ASSOCIATION got up a very beautiful little Theatre in Dublin, in a place called Shaw's-court, situated in that part of Dame-street, which is now the site of the Commercial Buildings. While the necessary preparations were going forward, the Irish Parliament was sitting; but the first Play was deferred till the day on which it was prorogued, because many of the Performers were Members of the House of Commons---Mr. ISAAC CORRY, Mr. CHARLES POWELL LESLIE, LORD HENRY FITZGERALD, Mr. CROMWELL PRICE, Mr. CHARLES O'NEILL, and others. At this performance, the DUKE OF RUTLAND, then LORD LIEUTENANT of Ireland, and his Lady, were present.

The Attic Theatre, in Ely-place, was again opened in 1787, when the Tragedies of "Lear," and "Douglas," were performed there. The DUKE OF RUTLAND died on the 24th of October, in this year, and was succeeded in the Government, by the MARQUESS OF BUCKINGHAM.

At the close of the year 1787, the EARL and COUNTESS OF GRANDISON indulged their friends with a few Plays at Dromana, their Seat in the County of Waterford. The first of them took place on Friday, * the 14th of December, and was honored by the presence of his Royal Highness PRINCE WILLIAM HENRY, now DUKE OF CLARENCE. † The Prince was then engaged in the duties of his profession, which had brought him to the Southern Coast of Ireland.

+"The presence of His Royal Highness PRINCE WILLIAM HENRY, in the little Theatre of Dromana, inspired both the Audience and the Performers with feelings of gratification not to be described. Early on the day of the performance he arrived from Curraghmore, the Seat of the EARL OF TYRONE, and spent the whole of the day with the EARL OF GRANDISON, anxiously waiting for the commencement of the Play. The Royal Visitor was saluted on entering the Theatre by the customary tributes of respect, the House standing, and the Band playing " God save the King." At the close of the Tragedy, the other national strain of "Rule Britannia" was sung in full chorus by every one present. A splendid Ball and Supper concluded the entertainments of the night. LADY ANNE HATTON, the COUNTESS OF GRANDISON and MISS SMITH, had each, in succession, the honor of dancing with the PRINCE-to the latter of whom he paid many compliments on her performance of Belvidera."-(Dublin Journal.)

A second performance took place on Monday, the 17th, † in which the Earl himself took a part.

In 1789, the Attic Theatre was again opened. The performances began with the Comedy of "Every Man in his Humour," and the Farce of " Lethe;" the Tragedy of "King John" followed in a few nights afterwards, and on both of these occasions the MARQUESS OF BUCKINGHAM with all his Court was present. On the latter night, a Prologue was spoken by the late LORD MOUNTJOY, and an Epilogue by the present SIR ROBERT LANGrishe.

In 1793 the little Theatre in Fishamble-street was taken by a Company of Noblemen and Gentlemen, who acted Plays there, in that and the following year, which attracted all the Rank and Fashion of the Country; and, in 1795, French Plays were performed at Roebuck-Castle, the Seat of LORD TRIMLESTON, in the neighbourhood of Dublin; among others, the " Metromanie,” a Comedy by Piron, in which his Lordship, Mr. BARNWELL, and the Compte M'CARTY, supported the principal characters.

This is the last of these Theatres to which we mean to advert, and we have now only to say a few introductory words upon that which is the subject of the following pages.

The PRIVATE THEATRE OF KILKENNY was opened, for the first time, on the 2d of February, 1802. There was a second Season in the month of October in the same year. October became afterwards the appointed time of meeting. The Plays, with the amusements attendant on them, did not at first occupy more than a week, but they soon came to employ two, and for the latter years were never concluded in less than three; the last Performance took place on the 28th of October, 1819, when the Theatre of Kilkenny was finally closed.

The circumstances that led to the formation of this Establishment, which, with some intermissions, extended its useful and amusing labours through so many years, and attracted in its time so large a share of attention, are thus stated in one of the public Prints of that Town :--"The hospitable Mansion of KILFANE was, not long since, enlivened by a few Theatrical

Representations, got up by the highly-gifted Family there, with the aid of some of the principal Gentlemen of our County. Their little labours, undertaken for the mere purpose of their own private amusement, have led to a public result of a very interesting nature, for the same Gentlemen have been prevailed upon to exert those talents for the Drama, which they lately evinced at Kilfane, to promote the cause of Charity in Kilkenny."

To describe the advantages that accrued from this Establishment to the Charitable Institutions of Kilkenny were unnecessary, for they are recorded in the public acknowledgments + of those who have presided over them; but this was not its only good--it collected together a great portion of the educated and the affluent, and induced them to spend their time and their money at home; which, probably, but for its attractions, would have been spent abroad. Nor is this all—it often brought into the same social circle, many who at other seasons of the year were separated by those differences of politics or religion, that too frequently, and too fatally, divide us; and offered many favourable opportunities for the mutual exercise of courtesies and kindnesses, that might not have otherwise occurred, and which generous dispositions were not able to resist ; so that the local relief which it was the means of collecting for the poor, was hardly less useful than its influence, so far as it extended, upon the habits and the feelings of the rich.

And who was the Founder of all this ?---alas! he is in the * grave.---But he lived to see the termination of those classical amusements, to which he gave additional importance and respectability, by the weight and the purity of his own character. He gathered round him an association of Gentlemen, united by sympathy of taste, by regard for each other, but above all, by one common feeling of respect and affection for him. Even in this little sphere, it was a source of delight, and to ruder natures a subject of instruction, to see the gentleness and good feeling with which he softened and reconciled the rival pretensions that sometimes encountered him in distributing the business of the Drama---No Monarch ever "bore his faculties so meekly," and none, perhaps for that reason, ever reigned so completely in the hearts of his subjects.---But it is almost criminal to speak of the late Mr. RICHARD POWER, as the Founder only of these little pleasures, without reference to his other and higher qualities---qualities that will long endear his name to the good who survive him, and which have drawn from one of the best and warmest hearts, united with perhaps the finest talents that IRELAND ever yet produced, the following tribute to his Memory.

"When it is recollected that RICHARD POWER did not belong to any profession, never engaged in politics, filled no office, occupied none of those stations, the duties of which bring men under the observation of the public, it may seem extraordinary to those who did not know him, that his protracted sickness should have excited an interest so intense, and that his death should have produced a sensation of general regret.

+ Vid. Contents, "Charitable Institutions."

• Mr. R. Power died December the 18th, 1824.

D

"Those feelings have expressed the loss sustained by society in private life, by the death of one of its worthiest members, and greatest ornaments. It would be great injustice to his higher claims upon the attachment of his many friends, to enlarge upon the accomplishments of a mind embellished by the cultivation of the fine arts, directed by a correct taste, and imparting to his conversation that grace without effort, and interest without display, for which he was distinguished. Talents and acquirements are of small account in the estimation of those who mourn over departed worth, with a sorrow justified by the moral excellence of him whom they deplore. His principles were pure, his sense of honor high, his affections generous and kind.---In the domestic connexions, he was a fond relation; in his closer intimacies, the steadiest and most devoted friend; in his general intercourse, frank, cordial, and conciliating.---It was truly said of him, that he never made an enemy, or lost a friend;' and in a Country distracted by civil and religious discord, a man could not be found, of any sect or party, who felt unkindly towards him.---Yet this popularity was not earned by the compliances of a timid or assenting character; he had a benevolence of disposition which made it pleasure to him to make others happy, and he shrunk from giving pain almost with the same instinct that men shrink from suffering it.---This made him prompt to approve, and slow to censure; indulgent to error, and encouraging to merit; yet there was something about him that repelled and rebuked whatever was sordid or mean; and when firmness was required, his integrity was uncompromising, and his courage not to be shaken.

"Upon those qualities his afflicted friends will long meditate, and fondly dwell; but, in the words of his favorite author,

"To add greater honors to his age,

"Than man could give him;-he died fearing God."

A mortal and wasting disease had, in the midst of health, prosperity and enjoyments, fastened on his life, and for more than three years was sustained with a patience which mere Philosophy could not inspire. In that dreadful trial, his mind was fortified by faith in revealed Religion, as his heart was imbued with all the charities which it inculcates; and those who witnessed his sufferings, can never, while they live, forget the serene temper, and the sublime, yet humble and pious, resignation with which he endured them.

"It is a trite and inaccurate expression to say, that by a memorial, such as this, justice is rendered to the memory of one who has gone to a better world.---The spirit, separated from earth, requires no such justice at our hands, and soars above the low considerations of praise or censure: With us, however, who survive, human passions remain, and a melancholy gratification of the best of our feelings is derived from the performance of such a duty, and by indulging in the praises of a departed friend, however vain and unavailing to the dead.

"Nor yet unprofitable are such tributes. If even a fictitious standard of excellence has been considered useful for the contemplation and imitation of mankind, how much more salutary must