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Stanton happens to belong to feveral families of theatrical profeffion in various parts of the kingdom; and this circumftance, from the mere identity of the names, may have lead to a fuppofition that the family of Mr. Betty was included in the number.

'It is, however, certain, that mifs Stanton always discovered a great predilection for the amufements of the theatre; and fhe and her fifters, in their own family, used frequently to divert themselves with reciting plays and other pieces of poetry-an amusement not only innocent, but, under certain reftrictions, extremely laudable.

Mr. Betty, at the time of the birth of his fon, lived within a small diftance of Shrewsbury, from whence he remov ed a few years after, to the neighbourhood of his native place, in the north of Ireland. He occupied a farm, and alfo carried on some bufiness relating to the linen manufactory, near Ballynahinch, in the county of Down. He remained in this fituation, till the rifing celebrity of his fon rendered it neceffary for him to give up his employments, in order to attend the young gentleman in his theatrical excurfions.

'Mr. Betty, as well as his lady, has been always attached to the entertainments of the theatre, and has been occafionally in habits of intimacy with fome of the moft eminent profeffors of the dramatick art, both here and in Ireland. Hence it is natural to fuppofe that the fubject of acting would be frequently introduced in the family, and mafter Betty muft neceffarily have imbibed fome notions refpecting it, and perhaps fome inclination towards it, at a very tender age. The early enthufiafm and precocious excellence of children, in different arts and acquirements, may generally be traced to fome caufes of this kind. The work of education begins infenfibly, and at a very early period in the infant mind: and it is extremely difficult to diftinguifh a natural propenfity from an acquired habit. Almost all the extraordinary inftances which have occurred of premature abilities have happened in the art or profeffion which has been exercifed by the parents. Mrs. Betty being herself an accomplished speaker, and ding in a diftrict

where the English language is fpoken in its worst state of depravity, thought it neceffary to pay particular attention to the education of her fon in that or namental and neceffary acquirement. He was, therefore, exercised at an early period, in the habit of reciting paffages from the best authors, and was taught to pronounce the language with prepriety.

In the fummer of 1802, the play of Pizarro was brought out by the Belfast manager with much splendour, and Mrs. Siddons was the Elvira. As Mr. Betty and his fon happened to be in the town, they were induced to go to the theatre, being the first time that mafter Betty had ever feen a play. From this moment his fate was decided. When he came home, he told his father, with a look of fuch enthusiasm, and a voice fo pathetick,that those who heard him will never forget the expreffion-that he fhould certainly die if he must not be a player. The wonderful acting of Mrs. Siddons, in Elvira, not easily to be for gotten by the most phlegmatick, had left an impreffion on his glowing mind which nothing could ever erafe. It was fortunate for himself that his first, and therefore most durable impreffions, were ftamped by fuch a model. He talked of nothing but Elvira; he spouted the fpeeches of Elvira ; and his paffion for the ftage became every hour more vehement and uncontrolable. He returned with his father to Ballynahinch, but not to his ufual occupations. The Siddonian accents ftill rang in his ear; and her majestick march and awful brow ftill filled his fancy. Every thing was neglected for his favourite object; and every thing not connected with it became tirefome and infipid, His propenfity grew vifibly more rooted by time; his importunities were irre fiftible; and his parents, at length, finding all oppofition unavailing, were compelled to think feriously of the practicability of indulging him.

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It may be remarked, as a ftrong proof of the correctnefs of his natural tafte, that though Rolla is the hero of the piece, and a part which is entinent ly calculated to ftrike the romantick mind of youth, yet it made on his but a flight impreffion. Elvira alone was the heroine of his imagination; for he

faw the character only through the medium of the actress. He was inftantly able to feparate the genuine ore from the furrounding drofs, and faw at once what was to be imitated and what to be avoided. A part of very inferiour interest became predominant in his mind, because it was in the hands of a great actress.

In purfuance of the refolution he had taken, Mr. Betty returned with his fon to Belfast, in order to confult Mr. Atkins, and to ask his opinion of the boy's qualifications. Mr. Atkins is the manager of Belfast Theatre, and a man of friendly difpofitions and liberal character. In his prefence, master Betty repeated fome paffages from the part of Elvira, with the wild and unskilful vigour of untutored genius. The manager was a good deal ftruck with what he had heard, but wished to have the opinion of Mr. Hough, his prompter, for whofe judgment he had a confiderable deference. That gentleman was accordingly fent for, and immediately difcerned in the boy's recitation and action great capabilities for a first rate actor. He gave him a few inftructions, and at the fame time pointed out to him the part of Rolla, as a much fitter object of his study, than that of Elvira, to which he had been directed by his feelings on feeing the performance of Mrs. Siddons. The young gentleman felt the full value of the knowledge he had received, and, in the ardour of his gratitude, told Mr. Hough he was his guardian angel. The father and fon now returned once more to Ballynahinch, and mafter Betty happening to find the tragedy of Zara in the house, began to study the part of Ofman, in addition to that of Rolla and fome others. Some time afterwards, Mr. Hough accepted a preffing invitation which he had received from Mr. Betty, to pass a fhort time at his houfe in the country, with a view of obferving the boy more narrowly, and in order to give him more detailed inftructions. Mr. Hough foon found that his pupil poffeffed a docility even greater than his genius; for, whatever he was directed to do, he could inftantly execute, and was fure never to forget. He found that his feelings could take the imprefn of every pallon and fentiment, and

exprefs them in their appropriate lan guage. Whatever was properly prefented to his mind he could immediately lay hold of, and seemed to feize, by a fort of intuitive fagacity, the spirit of every fentence, and the prominent beauties of every remarkable paffage. The happy moment at length arrived, which was to realife our hero's hopes and wishes. Mr. Atkins, induced by the reports he had received, and folicitous to bring forward fome extraordinary novelty, on account of the extreme depreffion of the times, offered him an engagement to play at Belfast for four nights. Accordingly, about the middle of Auguft, in the year 1803, he announced the tragedy of Zara, the part of Ofman to be undertaken by a young gentleman only eleven years of age. The fingularity of the exhibition drew together a great crowd of people, who were equally astonished and enraptured at the performance of the young actor. A gentleman of the profeffion, who was prefent on the occafion, himself a good tragedian, and a competent judge of the art, affured me that his performance even at that time, was striking and correct beyond all belief. He difcovered no mark of embarrassment on his first appearance, and went through the part without any confufion or mistake. The applaufes were, of course, tumultuous and inceffant. The actors of the regular company were confounded to fee themfelves fo completely schooled by a mere infant, and even those who had formed the most fanguine expectations concerning him, were amazed at his fuccefs.

The following day he was announced for the intcrefting part of young Norval, in the tragedy of Douglas. His performance of this part, it was juftly thought, would afford a fair test of his real capability, as the character, without requiring any violent ftretch of the imagination, might, in fome degree, be affimilated to his years and figure. The deriding, as well as the "admiring throng," now made a point of attending the theatre; and the next day the

* The much lamented infurrection in Dublin, which cauf.d the death of lord Kilwarden, bad recently taken place, and had spread a great alarm over all parts of the country:

whole town of Belfast, with scarcely any exceptions, were of one fentiment concerning him. He not only confirmed the favourable impreffion of his first performance, but he displayed new excellencies of a very high order, and fuch as are fuppofed to be of the most difficult attainment. The jealoufy, rage, and defpair of Ofman, a usual gradation of paffions, were more easy to reprefent than the chaftened spirit and modeft heroism of the gallant Douglas. It was thought impoffible that a boy could be brought to comprehend or to pourtray these nice effects of contending principles. But every obftacle was furmounted. He played the part with fuch unaffected, yet energetick fimplicity, that the most incredulous were fatisfied, and his fame, among the inhabitants of Belfast, was firmly established. He next played Rolla with equal fuccefs, and afterwards Romeo, which concluded his engagement.

In the mean time, Mr. Jones, the manager of the Dublin Theatre, had heard of this dramatick prodigy; and foon after his laft performance at Belfaft, offered him an engagement on very advantageous terms. After fome negociation, the particulars of an agreement were fettled, by which he was to play nine nights at the Theatre royal, CrowAreet.

To be continued.

STATEMENT OF DISEASES. We are compelled to content ourfelves with offering our readers only a general statement of the prevalent difeases of the month. From various caufes, among which we cannot number any negligence on our part, we are obliged to omit the detail of that very valuable document.

STATEMENT FOR APRIL. Omitted last month through mistake. Pneumonick inflammation in various forms has continued to prevail, during the month of April. It has been often complicated; efpecially with diseases of the abdominal vifcera. Rheumatick affections, both chronick and acute, have fill appeared. Typhus mitior has be❤ome more common; and a few cafes

of typhus gravior and of scarlatina ánginofa have shown themselves.

STATEMENT FOR MAY.

Fevers, marked with the typhoid character, have been uncommonly numerous during the month of May. Their fymptoms have varied, from the flow nervous fever to what is commonly called putrid fever. The difease has not hitherto appeared to be of a fatal nature. Hepatitis has been sporadick, as ufual at this feafon. Rheumatick and dyfpeptick complaints not very frequent. In the two laft months the vaccinating practice has become general.

NOTES.

WE invite the attention of the readers of poetry to the Effay on Pope, which adorns the pages of our Miscellany. If there be any, who do not join in the opinion of its author; who lay Pope on their shelves befide Horace and Boileau; who think that he poffeffed, in a high degree, "that power which conftitutes a poet; that quality, without which, judgment is cold and knowledge inert; that energy, which collects, combines, amplifies, and animates,” we shall rejoice to give them an opportunity of vindicating their favourite.

Our warmest acknowledgments are due to our friend, who is interested in every thing which interefts literature, for favoured us. We fhall be proud to the letters from Italy with which he has convey any thing to the world which comes from fuch a fource; and fhall therefore eagerly give them place in our

next.

We venture to promise our readers a banquet in our next on an effay of Gilbert Wakefield's not published among his works. We have alfo on file, together with other matter of more than common interest, two unpublished letters of Dr. Franklin, several letters from Europe, befides thofe to which we have already referred.

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MONTHLY ANTHOLOGY,

FOR

JUNE, 1805.

ORIGINAL ESSAY BY GILBERT WAKEFIELD.

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qually been the production of diftant ages and uncultivated peo

ple, as of the later periods of civilized life. But though poetry has proved the exercise of genius and the delight of taste, in all ftages of fociety and the rudest

nations of the world, it does not etry, and the characteristical dif appear that the effentials of potinctions of poetry from profe, have been yet afcertained by any criterions univerfally admitted to be juft. Though philological writers have at all times employed themselves fo frequently and fully upon the business of compofition at large, much difference of opinion ftill remains upon the point in queftion. I fhall fubmit to the confideration of this fociety fome concife remarks; which might be eafily expanded and enlarged upon, with no little ufefulnefs and entertainment, by a reader of taste, who fhould choose to take the task upon him. I can hardly doubt, but that the obfervations, which I am going to lay down, however imperfectly illuf trated, comprehend a fatisfactory folution of the question.

Three things, and three only, are effential to the conftitution of poetry, and unite to diftinguish it from profe:

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