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not forget that we are as much indsted to the exertions of the performer asto the genius of the author, for thofe plea ing fenfations we feel at the reprefentation of a well acted play, and that confequently the merit of the former fhould not be overlooked amid the admiration we feel for the latter. We therefore have a very great degree of fatisfaction, when we find that in no period has the merit of performers been more juftly appreciated, held in greater estimation, nor more liberally rewarded than the prefent; and when their morat character accords with the neceffary ideas of propriety and decorum, admitted to terms of intimacy and familiarity with the moft refpectable families, invited to the tables of the great, and patronized even by royalty.

bly make much deeper impreffions, and retain much fronger hold of our ima gination than thofe taught by the dull academic rules of pedantry, or the feve rity of parental authority, and the reafon is obvious; when we enter the theatre we lay afide all ideas of any thing but what paffes on the ftage, we give ourselves up to the delufions of the moment, and are completely wrapt up in the impreffion of the reality of what is reprefented before us. Our minds are perfectly relaxed, and ready to take that ftamp moft congenial to our feelings; we behold thofe precepts practifed which we before knew but in theory. We are animated and infpired by the valour of the gallant foldier, the patriotifm of the ftatefman; or fympathize in the fufferings of diftreffed merit. If we behold a virtuous man ftruggling For our part, we have always felt a with adverfity and "the proud man's ftrong inclination to imprefs the efticontumely," yet retaining with un- mation eminent performers fhould be fhaken fortitude his honour untainted, held in on the minds of our readers, we feel a generous glow of indignation and have taken every opportunity of at his undeferved fufferings, and are more fted faftly confirmed in the practice of thofe virtues we fo much admire in tim.

There are fo many examples of a nature confonant to this, to be found in the wide range of the theatre, which hile they "fix the generous purpose in the youthful breaft," ftrengthens and confirms that already formed in the more experienced, it would be needlefs to expatiate further on what is fo very evident to the leaft difcerning. How many a patriot has a Cato, or a Brutus formed! How many a gallant foldier has been animated by the fcenes of an Alexander, or a Cæfar, to acts of bravery, at once honourable to himself and glorious to his country!

Taken therefore, either in a moral or political point of view, the flage must be allowed to be productive of the heft effects; it fixes the principles yet fluctuating in the inexperienced mind, confirms the man of honour, aroufes the valour of the foldier, and infpires the patriotic breaft with that facred love of his country, which he parts but with life.

While we are thus convinced of the value of theatric exhibitions, we muft

prefenting them with portraits and me moirs of diftinguished perfons in that line On the prefent occafion we are peculiarly happy in being able to gratify them with a capital likeness of that celebrated performer, Mr. Johnfton, in the character of Douglas.

Perhaps there is no character on the British ftage more generally pleafing than that of Douglas, and we think Mr. Johnfton has been particularly fortunate in his performance of it. It is alfo a happy coincidence that Mr Johnfton is a native of Scotland, a circumftance that peculiarly fits him for a due performance and juft difcrimination of the author's meaning; and who fo competent to do ample juftice to the hero of the Grampian hills as a Caledonian.

Mr. Johnfton is of a very refpectable family in Edinburgh, where he was born. At fo early an age as ten, he conceived a predilection for the ftage, and fo attached was he to the fock and bufkin, that he formed a company of his juvenile companions, whofe tafte were in unifon with his own; took a room in a seventh ftory, painted the scenes, made the dreffes, and opened a theatre in due form, before he attained his eleventh year. At this period his forte lay in performing

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performing female characters, and in the eflimation of his young companions Mrs. Siddons herself, could not do greater juftice to Lady Randolph, Defdemona, Belvidera, &c. Having a handiome face, young Johnfton has had in fome of these fituations many violent attempts made on his virtue; and the moft fpirited Lucretia, or Pamela of them all, could not have made a more fpirited refiftance than he did to thofe attacks on his honour.

A fudden damp was however thrown on all the vaft and glorious fchemes formed by our hero, for figuring on the boards. His father not viewing his projects in that fuperior degree of eftimation he held them in himself, and forming an idea that his fon would cut a much better figure behind the counter, if not fo brilliant, than on the ftage; he fuddenly annihilated our hero's wardrobe, fcenery, &c. diffolved the company, and bound him apprentice to a merchant.

This was a fevere difappointment to young Johnfton, but he had how ever that perfeverence and fortitude in his own mind that prevented him from falling into defpair; he comforted himfelf with the reflection, that fome favourable opportunity would fill occur to carry his favourite object into execution, which was now nothing lefs than appearing on the Edinburgh Theatre. As his judgment and knowlege became more matured, aided by the converfation and advice of fome good judges of theatrical abilities, he paid more attention to the ftage, and was a confiant vifitor to the theatre; cautioufly concealing his intentions however, from his family. When he had about three years of his apprenticeship ferved, a performer at Edinburgh who knew his abilities and penchant, requefied him to appear for his benefit, with which he complied. The character chofen, was the arduous one of Hamlet, and never we believe was fo Battering an applaufe beflowed on fo young an actor, as that which he received. Fired by the praises and encou ragement, of his fellow citizens, Mr. Johufton now threw afide all thoughts of trade, and with much difficulty procured a difcharge from his mafter. This

event happened in the year 1794, and when he was but eighteen years of age. He now performed feveral characters both in Glafgow and Edinburgh, with great applaufe: thofe he chiefly attached himself to in tragedy were, Hamlet, Douglas, Oroonoko, Romeo, George Barnewell, Tancred, Zaphne in Mahomet, and Dorilas in Merope; in comedy, Petruchia, Don Felix in the Wonder, Dick the Apprentice, &c. &c.

After furmounting the difficulties arifing from the oppofition of his family and connections, there were others to encounter he had no conception of, till he was initiated into the fecrets of the green room: jealoufy of his rifing merit in fome, envy at the unbounded encomiums paid him every night of his appearance in others, were not the leaft of his troubles; but the favour of the public enabled him to overcome all, and look with contempt on the little arts employed by fome managers to depress the efforts of his genius.

Having entered into an engagement with Mr. Daly to perform a few nights in Dublin; he came here contrary to the advice of his friends, who predicted he would never fucceed on a Dublin ftage; the event has thewn the futility of their conjectures, and the difcernment and tafte of a Dublin audience, who have univerfally beftowed the praises due to fterling merit.

Since Mr. Johnfton's arrival in this city, he has performed Douglas (twice), Zaphne, Hamlet (three times), Romeo, and Tancred.

Mr. Johnfton feems to have taken particular pains to diveft himself of the Scottish accent, and we think his endcavours have nearly fucceeded; a Scotticifm will however, now and then break forth, but we have no doubt a little more attention and ftudy will eradicate that blemish.

An introductory Address on the First Ap-
pearance of Mr. Johnston, in the Cha-
racler of Douglas, at Grow-fireet
Theatre, January 5th, 1796
Writ-
ten on the Occasion by Vir. Jackson,
and Spoken by rs. Jackfin.
TIMID, untutor'd, and of tender age,
When trembling firft I ventur ́d on your
ftage,
A 2

You

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Such converfe utter'd in our Northern [ing tale, Young Norval would devour the pleafHe burn'd for action, to enroll his

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For this he anxious hovers on your

shore,

A kind reception humbly I implore.
If genius prompts him and not vain de-
fire,

Promote his feelings, and encrease his
fire,

With cheering breath the kindling embers blow,

And give the bursting flame a brighter glow.

Extracts from the Records of the Prif bytery of Dumbarton.

T Dumbarton the 5th day of

"AJuly 1689. The Prefbytery being met, were, as ufual, duly conftituted by prayer, &c. Compeared before them Janet Carftairs, and laid her affair upon the table!"

At the next meeting, "The Prefbytery being duly met and conftituted, &c. inter alia,-A motion being made, that Janet Carstairs fhould be called the appeared accordingly; when after fome debate, the Prefbytery inspected her affair!"""

Prefbytery having met, and being duly Hereafter, upon a future day, "The conftituted, Janet Carstairs again appeared, when fome of the members entered very deeply into her affair!"

Pofterity is left miferably in the dark concerning this affair; for at no other meeting is there the fmalleft notice taken either of Janet or it!

Account of the Life of the Abbe Sieyes.

E MANUEL Jofeph Sieyes was born at Frejus, in the department of Var, the 3d of May 1748. He was the 5th child of his parents, who had two more after him. His firft ftudies commenced in the houfe of his father, under a preceptor; who, at the fame time, took his pupil to the college of the Jefuits, to receive public leflons with the other children of the town. The Jefuits took notice of this fcholar. They propofed to his father to fend him to their great feminary at Lyons, one of the best eftablishments for education they had in France. It was at the time of the commencement

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