was admirably adapted to suit with the solemnity appertaining to sacred selections.
"From the opening of the doors, to the first crash of the band, most able in all its movements, the satisfaction and delight of the audience was expressed by repeated, and increasing, plaudits—encouraged not a little by the care, and attention, evinced by the Proprietors, for the convenience of the public, in the approaches to the House—in every respect answering to the magnificence, and accommodation, within. Independent of the attraction, long, very long, to be expected from the novelty, as well as beauty, of the New Drury, some credit ought to be given to that which must ever have its weight with the people at large, as well as amateurs—a numerous, and well appointed, set of vocal performers. The names of Harrison, Storace, Kelly, Crouch, and Dignum, are too proverbial for excellence in their several lines, to need our eulogium. Miss Leake, whose unaffected correctness of style, and melody of tone, must shortly place her deservedly high in her profession, may also be deemed almost as powerful an acquisition as Miss Parke, at the other House. Mr. Meredith, from Liverpool, possesses a fine deep volume of voice, which he exerted to great advantage. This Gentleman, we recollect some years since at Ranelagh, and, if we are not very much mistaken, at the Little Theatre, as the Prodigal Son of Dr. Arnold's charming Oratorio.
"Giornovici's Concerto would have gone off much better, had the subject not been so tedious. This is a fault we have too often cause to find with Concerto Performers, who frequently give us too much of a good thing. His mode of introduction was particularly awkward—some other might be contrived than pitching him upon a plank, brought in at the hazard of discomfiting the head dresses, or breaking the noses of the ladies in the Orchestra.
"The sound was rather too redundant, in general, and the language of the Gods, now and then, too plainly heard in the pit; but, as it arises merely from the freshness of the building, this inconvenience will gradually be amended.
"The Prince of Wales was with Mrs. Fitzherbert, and Mr. Sheridan, in the box appropriated to his Royal Highness. Lord Thurlow sat, apparently well pleased, in the box beneath. Mr. and Mrs. Kemble, Mrs. Siddons, and Sir Francis Bourgeois, saw that all was well, in one of the orchestra boxes.
"From the frequent encores, the Selection was not over till a late hour. The usual cry of 'take care of your pockets' on quitting the Theatre, was superfluous: for Townsend attended to keep a 'wary eye;' so the pickpockets, of course, found it impracticable to make any 'palpable hits.'"—(Times, March 13, 1794.)
Mrs. Bellamy, taken at the Age of 30; Mrs. Abington as Lappet.
"Miss Farren has left London for Dublin where she is to perform 12 nights. The terms of her engagement, are £500, and a clear benefit. It is not true that she takes Derby in her route."—(Times, June 26, 1794.)
"The high demands made by some Actresses on the Management of Theatres, are so exorbitant, that we trust they will not be complied with. Mrs. Jordan, and Storace, have demanded, the first, £30, and the latter, £20, a night. Much as we admire the abilities of each on the stage, yet we know, from experience, that the higher the salaries of some performers are, the more they are prone to disrespect the public, and to give themselves insufferable airs."—(Times, Oct. 4, 1794.)