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A child of the name of Beatty, a native of Belfast, has been very lately added to the force of the company, “mercy on us, a bearne; a very pretty bearne” indeed—but so young, as even in the part of Douglas, to throw an appearance of ridicule and fantocinity over the whole performance. This folly of exhibiting children, is not quite modern. “There is, Sir,” says Rosincrantz to Hamlet “an aiery of young children little eyases, that cry out on the top of question, and are most tyrannically clapped for it.—These are now the fashion”—but I believe it never was, before this year, the fashion to introduce one infant to play the first characters among men and women—oh! 'tis a dainty device to attract an audience, Daly's poney races were not much worse.

Though I only take notice of this part, it is meet to set it down, that the infant played Romeo to Mrs. Kni---ton's Juliet, and that they looked like an overgrown girl and her doll. I should not be much amazed to see him advertised for Henry the VIII. or Sir John Falstaffe.—He has also played Prince Arthur: this was as it should be, mirabile dictu!—Since the first part of this note was written, this ill-fated Baby has been exhibited in Hamlet!!!—Absurdity, cruelty, and contempt, could have devised nothing more insulting to good sense, humanity, and the Public.

The victory of Beatty over Hargrave, (Infelix puer atque impar congressus Achilli) was like the battles in Mother Goose's tales, in which fairies never fail to overcome giants; but the wonder is not greater than that one individual should subdue the good sense of a whole city, into a thraldom.

This was the modest title under which the “little eyase,” was announced “ad captandum vulgus,” and it did its office with a vengeance. I heard some of my brethren of the pit discoursing, “who this Roscius could be;” one learned gentleman asserted, that it was one Garrick's christian name; but the general opinion seemed to be, that he was a French actor, who had been guillotined in the early days of the revolution. Those critics I observed to be particularly loud and judicious in their applauses, as might be supposed.

Children have ever been an engine of pity and pardon;

La quale (dispositione) accompagnata del' ajuto ordinario delle forze umane, può un giorno, rendere quel giovine de sommo talento. Vit. de Sisto. V.

I do not deny the boy's abilities, but I protest against turning the stage into a nursery; and I lament that a promising child should be deprived “del' ajuto ordinario,” which might make him an useful man, to be converted into a source of theatrical revenue, and public ridicule.—“Young men,” says Bacon, “should be learners, while men grown up are actors:”—This is true in every sense.

The number of good actors who were not men of education is very small: but now a days we imagine that all talents come by inspiration, and that great abilities are the result of the temporary exertion of what are called, our energies.—“Tout est bien, sortant des mains de l'auteur des choses, tout dégénère entre les mains de l'homme.” Many persons seem to have read no farther in Emile than the first sentence, which is the most false and sophistical in the whole work—et c'est beau-coup dire.

Fatendum Latinos fere à Græcis vinci lepôre, sed vincere gravitate. Voss. de Poet. Lat. c. 7.

Were it not for some men of education who, luckily for the pleasures of the world, became managers and actors, we should still have Cato played in a full-bottomed wig, and Coriolanus en habit galonné, and peruque a la reine—

Pope.

“Il portait,” says Scarron of M. Destin, des chausses troussées a bas d'attache comme celles des comediens quand ils reprèsentent un héros de l'antiquité.”

I have given, perhaps, to Beatty more than his share of attention, but I shall not lament my trouble, if I should have any influence in dissuading him from persisting, at present, in his dramatic pursuits, and in restoring him to the lessons of his masters 'till he can say with the son of Ulysses:—

This lady has some neglected capabilities about her, but she is one of the most inanimate actresses I have ever seen.

In heroic soubrettes, the Annas, the Cleones, and the Cephisas, Mrs. Kn---ton might be very respectable. We could wish to see her name substituted in general, for that of Mrs. Chal---ers, who is by no means fit even for the parts she plays.

It is very agreeable to me to be able to say, that in some passages of the character of Amelrosa, Mrs. Kn---ton was an exception to herself—she was animated and affecting.

Phi---ips has some merit as a singer;—his voice is, however, better adapted to a room, than to a theatre—and to the accompaniment of a forte-piano, than of an orchestra—but he is, as I am informed, so intolerably vain, that it is sometimes difficult to induce him to play. Singers have ever been remarked for their capriciousness, but even he whom Horace ridicules for that folly, did not, as would seem, presume to carry it farther than his own private circle.

“Omnibus hoc vitium est cantoribus, inter amicos Ut nunquam inducant animum cantare rogati.” Tigellius would never, I dare swear, disappoint the public. Poor Mr. Phi---ps, who, like other fine gentlemen, is rather nervous, has been prodigiously disconcerted at this mention of him; but to do him justice, I think he will take care not to deserve a repetition of my notice, and that I shall have the pleasure of reclaiming him from lounging Dame-street, and founding clubs.

Mr. Phi---ips is reported to have refused the part of Leander in the Padlock, as below his mark; and still more wonderful to relate, they had no one to supply his place, Mr. Phi---ips being the only professed singer at present on the Irish stage, except Messrs. Co---e and Li---say, who, I suppose, declined the character also. I should have been much pleased to have seen either of those latter gentlemen attempt it, “it would be argument for a week, laughter for a month, and a good jest for ever.”

Mr. Phi---ips, I am told, piques himself on being much of a gentleman, I am exceedingly glad of it; and as it is now become quite vulgar to be indisposed, we hope he will get entirely well of those sudden and periodic colds that so often affect him, and deprive us of the pleasure of hearing him. Is Mr. Phi---ips ashamed of a title which the first Lord of the Treasury boasts of, that of a servant of the Public?

At present I shall say no more of this muscadinsongster—but