fair fame." Fond of retirement and the study of her profession, her visits are few and select; and whatever society she frequents, she accepts no invitation but joined with the company of her brothers or other near friends. This correctness of behaviour cannot be too much praised. If the stage is really to be considered, as it ought to be, a school of morality, the lessons of it she enforces so admirably by her representations, she confirms no less by her example; and to the too general opprobrium which is attached to the conduct of theatrical life, she forms a laudable exception. Unambitious of passing into a higher sphere than that happy mean where social enjoyment is most to be found, she has refused the dazzling allurements of title and rank, where coupled with a want of those attractions which can only give satisfaction in the nuptial state. The hand of an Irish peer (Lord M.) it is said, was offered to her, which she refused, deeming the inequality betwixt them in mental feeling too great a sacrifice, on her part, for the coronet and gilded misery. It has been rumoured, perhaps on a very vague foundation, that a young Irish barrister, of rising merit, is the Romeo destined to lead this accomplished Juliet to the Hymeneal altar, she "nothing loth :" but whatever there may be in this surmise, probably but the tale of the day, we should be sorry not to see Miss O'Neill, for her own interest, continue single for a few years, till she has acquired all that consequence and independence to which her talents justly entitle her. While she continues Miss O'Neill, and an interesting unprotected female, she will find that patronage which generosity and every better bias of public regard will continue undiminished to extend to her, or, in the words of the Duenna, "In all the ag'd A friend she'll meet, And brothers in the young." But the moment she places herself under the protection of a husband, such is the whim of fashion, and the caprice of taste, the charm is over; the spell that bound prepossession to her merits is broken, and she sinks into a wife. This has been verified in a number of instances. Mrs. Siddons H began as a wife, and in that character was only known to the public; but even she had long to climb the boards. Mrs. Crawford began as Mrs. Barry, the wife of a favourite and first-rate actor, and under his wing, and with the aid of his reputation, came forward. Miss Duncan appeared at first with every advantage, but she sunk in Mrs. Davidson. The same may be said of many others. We do not mean to say by this, that Miss O'Neill should continue beyond a reasonable time in a state of single blessedness, but till she has amply fixed her reputation, and got hold of public opinion, which cannot be shaken, it is the advice of friendship, not to hazard the change of her name. When independent by her exertions, she can then command where she might at present lose. It is to be regretted that this lady's health is delicate, and that her public exertions are often too great for her highly sensible frame. The public must feel a warm interest in whatever concerns her. She is frequently subjected to severe headaches, which render her incapable of appearing, for she is above the finesse of inferior performers, to disappoint an audience by design, or, for the sake of enhancing their supposed merits. By her engagement with Mr. Harris, her salary is fixed only at £25 per week; but so overflowing has the treasury of Covent Garden been by her labours of last season, and it is no less so of this, that the manager, as a mark of his high esteem, presented her with jewels to the extent of £300; a gift equally creditable to himself as to the deserving character on whom they were conferred. In her summer excursions, we may add, she has met with an ample reward for her exertions, and thus made up for her contracted engagement; for from her appearance at the different provincial theatres, she has acquired a handsome sum, not less than £6000. For the convenience of travelling, not with the view of ostentation, she first set up her own carriage, and the regular manner of her life, and her having no fashionable extravagancies, the common bane of public characters in her line, enables her to live in a genteel and elegant manner. The public approbation was sufficiently shewn at her last benefit, which we understand produced her no less than £1100. To conclude, this lady promises to continue, for years, a deserved favourite of the town, in giving a just and improving picture of those transcendent female characters which the hand of a Shakspeare, an Otway, and a Rowe, so happily drew; and while she pleases every eye and touches every heart, the approbation of her public merit extends equally, a rare instance, to her private virtues. It would be improper to omit here, that, much to the credit of both parties, no actress ever received such a marked attention from Mrs. Siddons as Miss O'Neill. Above the little jealousy which too often actuates female minds, Mrs. Siddons not only acknowledged, in the most candid and impartial manner, her rising merit, but wished to commence with her that intimacy and friendly intercourse which shewed she considered her as her successor on the stage. Circumstances such as these deserve to be recorded, for though the line of acting the same characters varies much with these two celebrated women, yet, in pre-eminent excellence of representation, they stand both unrivalled, and though perhaps we may see their like again, yet it is greatly to be doubted, "taking them for all in all," if we shall ever see their superior. BARNARD AND FARLEY, THE END. |