The Capital, once elegant and gay,

Now owns our revels of superior sway: Each vapid man of fashion, in her streets, Thus coldly greets the brother fop he meets: "What, still in town! they tell me, now-a-days, "That we must go to those Kilkenny Plays. "They've Hunting too, they say, that's not amiss, "I'm sure there's nothing can be worse than this. "The Colonel's gone; To-morrow I leave town, "Come and I'll draw you in the Dog-cart down! "There will be room enough for you, you'll find, "For I shall leave the Pointers all behind."

Such festive numbers join our gay career, One thinks the Polish'd World's assembled here; Old ocean's bounds no freckled sons retain, And Naiads pour salubrious springs in vain: The dripping Deities desert the shore, And, half attir'd, our warmer world explore, So close, considerate charmers crowd our scenes, *That scarce a cambric muslin intervenes.

Superior healing powers these sports possess,
To all that Baths bestow, or Springs possess:
Whate'er your malady, our Doctors say,
Whether disturb'd by night, or pain'd by day,
Acute, or Chronic, we prescribe a play.
Whatever your disorder is, we cure it,
Or else we teach you Patience to endure it.
From us originates bon ton,-and we
Give laws to laughter, wit, and revelry;
Sanction'd by us, dramatic taste expands,
And dignifies the games of neighbouring lands;
Nay, should to play at Leap-frog be the fashion,
From us proceeds the Leap that leads the nation.t
And these our scenes ev'n Fate's Decrees controul,
And tranquillize the tumults of the soul.

Here Grief forgets her sorrows, Want her care,
Disease her pangs, and Misery her despair;
Here, with illumin'd mind, and moral, fraught,
We hold a Magic Mirror to the thought,
On whose refulgent surface you can see
All that you are-and all you ought to be.

And now 'tis done-but ere the scene shall close,
While every heart with grateful feeling glows,
We'll pour our thanks to you, for all that's past,
'Twas our first passion, and shall be our last;
Thus our fond objects, strengthening every year,
With an augmented interest appear.

Your charms increase, your charity beams brighter,
Our views expand, and Misery's chain is lighter
And may these liberal pleasures never stop,
Till envious Time shall bid our Curtain drop!

The Ladies about this period were not guilty of encumbering their persons with an unnecessary quantity of Dress.

A fashionable celebrity had been acquired by the peculiar Activity of one of the principal Performers.

Our THEATRE opened on MONDAY, with additional splendor. Being found too small last year to receive all its fashionable Candidates for admission, it has been enlarged with much judgment, and a due regard to its internal accommodation. Mr. PowER opened the Performances of the Night, as usual, with an occasional Prologue, which he

delivered in his own emphatic manner. It contained some just criticisms on the present state of the DRAMA, and concluded with a beautiful and mournful tribute to the MEMORY of Mr. Fox, which might serve for his ELEGY. The Entertainments for the Evening were BARBAROSSA, and WHO'S THE DUPE.-[Kilkenny Paper, Wednesday, October 8th, 1806.]

Our Plays proceed with great spirit, and increased attraction. The RIVALS drew a crowded House on WEDNESDAY. We feel ourselves totally inadequate to do justice to the excellent manner, in which it was got up. It is allowed to be one of the best acting Plays on the Stage, and certainly the best adapted to call forth all the powers of our Company. We should not shrink from comparing our Sir Anthony Absolute, our Captain Absolute, our Faulkland, and, though last, not least, our own Sir Lucius, with any that we have ever seen upon the London Boards. On FRIDAY we had the Tragedy of OTHELLO. The jealous Moor was represented with very singular success. We were particularly pleased with his Speech to the Senate, from the ease and simplicity with which it was delivered. Among the numerous Spectators of Rank and Fashion, there were the EARL and COUNTESS, and COUNTESS-DOWAGER of ORMONDE, the COUNTESS of CARRICK, the Ladies of the Bishops of MEATH and OSSORY, and the distinguished Families of WoODSTOCK, KNOCTOPHER, FLOOD-HALL and KILFANE, &c. &c. &c. [Kilkenny Paper, Wednesday, October 15th, 1806.]

SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER, with OSCAR and Malvina afforded high entertainment on FRIDAY last. Old Hardcastle was rich, mellow, and forcible, and young Marlow particularly amusing in the scene with Miss Hardcastle, which considerably increased the interest that was felt for him in the subsequent discovery of his mistake, through which, he exhibited the manner, and the feelings of a Gentleman. The Comedy possesses a great deal of genuine humour, with some good situations, and went off with the success it deserved. The interesting After-piece of OSCAR and MALVINA followed. We had the splendid Spectacle of PIZARRO ON MONDAY, which drew one of the fullest Houses we have had yet. The Child of CORA was the loveliest Babe, and, we believe, the youngest Roscius ever exhibited. The entire went off to the full approbation of a crowded and brilliant Audience.-[Kilkenny Paper, Wednesday, October 22d, 1806.]

The CLANDESTINE MARRIAGE, on WEDNESDAY, gave us one of the happiest representatives of Lord Ogleby that we have ever seen. The demeanor of the old Nobleman was maintained in it throughout. His antiquated gallantry, his foppish peculiarities, his flowery phrase, and polished, though affected, manner, gave us all the vanities of the old beau, which contrasted well with the honest sturdiness of Old Sterling. Canton was an agreeable variety to both, and we must say, that we have seldom witnessed a more entertaining personation of that Character. — [Kilkenny Paper, Saturday, October 25th, 1806.]

On Friday Night we had a masterly delineation of the distracting frenzies of the GAMESTER. The sighs and tears that attended the Representation to its close, were the best test of the powers of Beverley upon the sym

pathies of the Audience. The fidelity and feeling of the trusty and affectionate Jarvis were well given. The Farce of the LIAR followed: the Hero of which delivered his romances with a felicity and vivacity peculiarly his own. On Saturday we had in HENRY IV. our favorite Falstaff. The appearance of the fat Knight, and the flashes of his wit, kept the Audience in a roar. HIGH LIFE BELOW STAIRS, went off with considerable spirit. We think that this is likely to be in future one of our most favorite Farces, Between the Play and Farce, Mr. LANGRISHE, in his happiest manner, delivered a parting Epilogue. Never, at any period, have we witnessed a more numerous and brilliant Assemblage than what our City has witnessed, for the last three weeks. We understand that arrangements for the ensuing Season have been already made, and we rejoice to hear it, for the Sums allotted to the different Charitable Institutions have been, as usual, very considerable this year, and, from the increased attractions of our Stage, will, no doubt, be greater in the next.-[Kilkenny Paper, Wednesday, October 29th, 1806.

PROLOGUE,

Written by Mr. Bushe, and spoken by Mr. R. Power,
At the opening of the Theatre, the 5th of October, 1807.

Grateful we look around,-each rank appears
Increas'd in numbers with increasing years;
The Prologue regular, the printed sheet,
The Journal-Critics, make our stage complete;
But merit will have foes. Amus'd we find
We've whet the spleen of some malignant mind,
Who swells our fame, when he would wound and probe,
Which, grateful for his labours, fills *The Globe.

But some I miss, who say that little worth
Attend these sports, for they're of Irish birth.
Can Mrs. Coolan in these ranks be found,
Once known by Coghlan's more Hibernian sound?
For twice ten years in Clonakilty known,
She spent, last season, full six weeks in town;
Return'd t' admiring friends, I heard her say,
Reading the Peepers, while she teests her tay,
Kilkinny plays, O what a name I hear!
"How harsh, how barbare to a travelled ear:
"Things low, like these, with me are ne'er in vogue,
"Who can't, unfortoonate, endeuer the brogue;"
And then, with conscious simper, wonders tells,

O' th' Lord Mayor's Ball, Vauxhall, and Sadler's Wells.
Her Brother too, not here? but he is undone,
Alas! he made his grand debut in London.
Array'd in recent spoils, observe the Booby,
+ Allen for Coats he owes, for Half boots + Hoby.
In this here country, nothing could be done
For Limbs so fine, and Shape so in the ton,
Yet still with frequent eye he looks behind,
Lest some rude Tipstaff bring the Debt to mind.
In proud pre-eminence behold him strut,
Rais'd to a Peer's buffoon, or Witling's butt.
Complete his glories, should his art o'ercome
The scruples of some Siren pure from Rome;
What Triumphs does St. James's lounge afford!
He walks with, and is laugh'd at by, a Lord!

But sad misfortune, should he chance to meet
Some good, old friend-some kinsman in the street:
"Lord, the wild Irish !—they in hosts come down,
"And leave their native Bogs, to take the Town.
"Oh! what a bore! and yet they're right, believe it,
"To quit that Country, who have Means to leave it.'
Where'er he turns, contending cares invade,

Asham'd to own them, and to cut afraid :
Perplex'd, his secret hand behind bestow'd,
He half averted gives th' unwilling nod.

Thro' meanness, thus, at fashion, makes th' attempt,
And, most contemptible, to shun contempt.

The Scotchman's nobler pride, and patriot part,
Displays a wiser head, and better heart;
Proud of his kilt, which marks, and brings to mind
His native land, with every blast of wind,
Proud of his Country-men, and prompt to prove,
Ever, in every clime, his kindred love;

From mutual aid success awaits each hour,

And gives in India Wealth, in England Power:

A London Newspaper, called The Globe, had taken some very laughable liberties with the Gentlemen of the Kilkenny Theatre.

+ Two eminent and well known Tradesmen in London.

1807.

But by the beauty of th' Hibernian Fair,
Inspiring here, acknowledg'd every where;

By Swift-Burke-Congreve, and by each, whose Name
(Himself, tho' dead,) shall live to endless fame,
By Kirwan's shade-by him at whose command,
Commerce enrich'd, and Freedom bless'd the land;
No Irish lips could blast their Country's name,
But his, whom every country would disclaim

But, here, no jibes we dread, no terrors know,
For Patriots guard, when scoffers aim the blow;
Seen thro' the increasing end, our Merits pass,
Our Faults diminish, by the inverted Glass.

Let Fools think Irish genius, fond to roam,
Like Prophets, never can exist at home,

Yet when our Muse, o'erwhelm'd with passion's strife,
Pourtrays the warmer scenes of various life.
The smiles of feeling, and the tears that speak,
The transient gleams that mantle Beauty's cheek,
Like Sunbeams, flitting o'er the ripen'd corn
'Midst summer showers, that, as they pass, adorn,
These here are found, from every storm to guard,
A flattering passport, and heartfelt reward.

The Right Hon. Henry Grattan.

RUSSETT

Mr. Waller.

SKIRMISH

FIRST SOLDIER

Mr. Duffy.