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flict. Thus it is that the best insti-) tutions of society, in part, loose their value, and the best feelings of the heart are perverted to the most unfortunate ends !

But no body, who knows the purposes to which a subscription paper can be applied, is for a moment influenced by these speculations; it is known that churches rise, towns flourish, books are printed, dinners made, sickness cured, girls married, all by the wonderful influence of a subscription paper.

I had scarcely brushed from my shoes the dirt which had collected in a little morning excursion, and set myself down to business, before a tall negro with his sleeves stript up and a birch broom in his hand, entered the door and presented me with a paper. I immediately supposed it the order of some customer, and was beginning to read it with mercantile impatience, but I found only "Cash Cr." for sixpences and shillings. I took the hint there was no saying call again to a subscription paper for keeping the street clean. This was a small matter. I had just felt the necessity of clean ways. Any man (said the black) would give sixpence, rather than be at the trouble of cleaning his shoes.

mong our patrons, and as we know
your Honor's vast predilection for
literature, and the pleasure, satisfac-
tion and delight which your honor
takes in promoting schemes of utili-
ty and advantage, we do humbly take
the liberty of asking your wor-
ship's kind patronage. It is exceed
ingly cheap, and only one half to be
paid at subscribing. We are al-
ready honored with upwards of two
thousand names of the first charac-
ter and consequence, and we pre-
sent it to no others that we may
boast of having the first subscrip
tion list in America. It is the fo-
lio volumes lately advertised of Dr.
L'veytur's Unguiology; exceed-
ingly cheap at 5 dollars a volume,
a work of the first character, and
offered to none but the very dis-
tinguished patrons of letters; Sir,
shall we have your Honor's name?
There is no
Sir, I thank you.
standing against so much civility.
Where there are two thousand lite-
rati it would certainly be a disgrace
not to be found among them; and
no man will for the future be able
to claim any rank in the republic of
letters, who is not a subscriber for
Doctor Gasper Gall L'Veytur.

His

I was consoling myself with these reflections, for having spent the money which I had appropriated for a new coat when my friend SIGNALL came into the room. countenance indicated pleasure and I was proceeding to enquire the cause of his joy. The most admir able plan, said he, ever yet invented. There we shall find all the news-pa

I had hardly got rid of my African visitor before a gentleman dressed in the true style of antiquated finery, with a roll under his arm as large as a paper-hanging, and a smile on his countenance as chearful as midsummer, saluted me with the most profound submission-pers and all the pamphlets--and all "Will your Honor, (said he, unroll the literature and all the taste-and ing several yards of his package) the critics will all be there to will your Honor condescend to proclaim their opinion like Judges, oblige us so much as to favor us and the authors like criminals to awith one moment of your Honor's wait their verdict, and the Reviews, time. Gentlemen of the first re--Bet what my friend-What?cctability and character are a- Why there will be three hundred

subscribers, and two rooms, and ev- | look like nothing human will leave ery accommodation for pleasure, you no exercise for scepticism, and if you can designate which are intended for monsters, you will be more in love with the Genius of Liberty, who vanquished such frightful opponents. V.

and the finest feast for the mind; all the dainties of literature; not a publication in the United States but will be sent there express; and the manuscripts, it is expected, will be submitted for inspection; and all for ten dollars a year'tis cheap as a fourth, July oration; and the gen tility of the thing, it is glorious; and it will be so delightful to be all in a room at a time, reading,

For the Emerald.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

and talking and disputing-some It has been reported very currently, that

the gentleman whose life we have inserted below, is engaged by Mr. Bernard, for the Boston Theatre, the next season; consequently, the following remarks respecting him, may be both and acceptable. proper

T

laughing at the wit, some raging at the satire, and all parties meeting there like beasts in the Ark; the clean and the unclean together;-a more happy expedient to communicate sentiment and disseminate opinion was never discovered. I did SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE, AND not require farther information, to discover the fashionable subject of my friend Sign-all's conversation.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE PERFORM-
ANCES OF MR. HENRY E. JOHNSTON,
OF COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.

IT is the fortune of some men to have been continually thwarted in the bias of their disposition, unţil their first propensity has acquired redoubled strength from constancy of opposition; and of consequence is less likely to be subdued.

It would be needless to enumerate the vast variety of applications which are daily made by means of a subscription paper. But I cannot help noticing to my readers that of a patriotic Frenchman who is so zealously striving for the honor of our ungrateful country that he has To members of the theatrical spent three or four years on a na- world this remark is particularly tional picture. Here among a mot-applicable; and the gentleman of ley group of characters, the work of whose life we have now undertaken "nature's journeymen" no doubt, the sketch, belongs to that commuthe English commander at York-nity. town is surrendering his sword to the French and American Generals. As it is beneath the dignity of your character to ask about price, you will not regret the 12 dollars paid for this la-folded, in early life; for at the age bor of ingenuity. If you should not of twelve years, he was the manahappen to know the likenesses, you ger of a small band of his schoolwill recollect that time makes strange fellows who had united for the puralterations, and derive another plea-pose of acting plays. The leisure. sure in finding how surprisingly he has changed the appearance of our American officers. The strange group in the clouds you will learn are the heathen deities, and as they

Henry Erskine Johnston, is a native of Scotland. He was born at Edinburg in the year 1777. His inclination for theatrical exhibition un

time which could be obtained after the hours allotted to study had passed, he devoted to his favorite pursuit; and many plays under his direction were got up and represented.

Young Johnston bore a conspicuous part in these juvenile exhibitions, and during several years that they continued, he performed all the first characters as well male, as female, in the higher department of tragedy. Returning home one evening in the character of Calista --, his female garb, which had attracted the attention of some young men, while he was performing, now induced them to use some unbecoming freedom with his person; but he retorted so vigorously upon them with his fists, that their punishment was exemplary, and his revenge complete.

burg stage, for the benefit of a friend. In this attempt he succeeded beyond his expectation. The composition he recited, requires great compass of voice and expression of face, and has baffled many respectable actors who have attempted it. But the very judicious and impressive manner of young Johnston, attracted the notice of Mr. Stephen Kemble; and he immediately made him an offer, the liberality of which it was impossible for his parents and friends to resist..

Accordingly, he soon gratified his countrymen by making his regular After leaving school, his father debut, in the characters of Hamiet placed him in the office of a wri- and Harlequin on the same night. ter to the Signets; but this seden- The powers of Garrick, it is said, tary life ill accorded with his natur-never drew a more numerous audial feelings and previous pursuits;ence, than were convened on this and the stale language of old deeds, occasion. And the expectation of was disgusting to an admirer of superior excellence which his first Shakespeare. Here, therefore, he effort had raised, his personation of felt uneasy in his situation, and grew Hamlet served to realize. His figlanguid in the execution of his la-ure, features, voice, and masterly bors! and his master seeing his dis- conception, attached a dignity to the inclination to the profession of the part which few actors, excepting law, allowed him to retire from his Mr. John Kemble, had ever given service. it on those boards.

His friends next endeavored to

In Harlequin too, he occasioned turn his attention to the art of paint-equal surprise by the versatility, as ing, as profitable employment; but engaged with visions of theatrical fame, he never dabbled with the pencil. It was yet confidently hoped that as his age increased, and his character became more firm, he would relinquish all thoughts of the stage; and he was placed under the care of an eminent Linen-draper in Edinburg. Here, it is probable his affinity to the theatre, increased his ardour to belong to it: and after continuing three years behind the counter, he resigned the yard-stick for the truncheon.

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he had done before in the strength of his scenic powers. He performed Harlequin with the ease of a vetran. His eminence soon gained him, among his intelligent countrymen the appellation of the "Scotch Roscius," a title never bestowed on an actor by the highly judicious Caledonians, without he possessed superior claims to the Roman name. It is somewhat remarkable, that with the exception of Ross, he is the only actor of extraordinary merit, which the stage of that country has produced.

In the year 1794, and the twen- After playing at different Theatieth of his age, he recited "Collin's tres in the Northern Circuit, he Ode on the Passions," on the Edin-, went to Dublin to perform twelve

nights, seven of which were devot-story, but participators of his feeled to his representation of Douglas; ings, as if he had told it in the glowa character which the manager, ing language of Shakespeare. Mr. Daly, had often made an at- Mr. Johnston, is an actor whose tempt to personify; but his failure services to the theatre are of the utgave Mr. Johnston great advantage, most consequence, as he can assume and the audience repeatedly mani-almost any part to accommodate fested their warmest eulogium on the business of the stage, with honhis mimic exertions. After leav-or to himself and credit to the manaing this city our hero has drawn ger. By him, therefore, he ought the plaudits of public approbation, to be highly valued; as he is able in almost every principal provincial by his versatile powers, to perform Theatre in England. the services of many. He enjoys

:

writer, Mr. G. P. Lewis, whose works stand very high in public opinion, and whose dramatic compositions are an ornament to the stage. To be continued.

FOR

Mr. Editor,

THE EMERALD.

In the year 1797, he made his the friendship of several eminent first appearance on the Covent-Gar-literary characters, among whom, den boards, in Douglas; few the-is that celebrated and much admired atrical gentlemen ever met with a warmer reception than Mr.Johnston; unassisted by interest, which, too often buoys up indifferent merit, he passed the ordeal of public favor by superior talent only and imparted beauties to the character, which the author would have been proud to have witnessed; but, which was rewarded by the reiterated plaudits of an elegant audience. It often happens that the fame and applause THE reputation of the Phi Beta an actor gains from his spectators, Kappa society, distinguished as it is by his first scenic exertions, is less- by men of learning, talents and reened or destroyed by a second ap-spectability, increases with its age; pearance, in an opposite character. and the exercises, on the anniversary But, Mr. Johnston has proved be- celebration of the 28th ult, diminish yond all doubt a great versatilityed nothing from its fame. A Foem of genius, and the talent of calling by Benjamin Whitwell, Esq. on Huit into action in every species of man Life, and an Oration on Phicharacter; to confirm this state-losophy, by Thomas B. Adams, ment, we beg leave to call the atten- Esq. were the exercises of the day. tion of our readers to his assump-| The Poem possessed many tion of the following parts in Panto- charms and indeed was highly atmime, in which he has displayed tractive. It was an allegory. Exevery requisite for the perfection of perience is made the sage, who his art. Oscar, Don Juan, Raymond, holding a mirror in one hand, rePerouse, Brazen Mask, Henry in the flecting the vices and faibles of menDeserter, Three Fingered Jack, &c.kind, scourges them with the other. These parts have proved his full The ps.udo critics and learned possession of powers to convey sen-men of the present day, the pettytiments, and describe the passions, fogger of law, the rotary of fashion unaccompanied by that useful assis-and the sponge of wealth pass in tant, speech, in which he has made review before him, and each rehis auditors not only masters of his ceives the punishment proportion

THE EMERALD.

66

ed to his crime. The reflections |tion, as it certainly was in delivery on the subject occasionally couched in beautiful poetry; and oftentimes glowing with happy metaphor, met the tremulous effusion of decorous approbation.

The idea of attacking not the fool but the fally, not the individual but the species of fixing his arrow without aiming at a particular mark, though

"Shot at a venture it may wound a king,"
seems to be merely varying the ex-
pression of the thought of Shakes-
peare's Jaques, who says,

Why who cries out on pride,.
That can therein tax any private party?
Doth it not low as hugely as the sea,
Till that the very means do ebb?
What woman in the city do I name,
When that I say, the city woman bears
The cost of princes on unworthy shoul-
ders?

and again,

if it do

......Let me see wherein My tongue hath wrong'd him him right, Then he hath wrong'd himself: if he

be free

Why then, my taxing, like a wild-goose

flies

Unclaim'd of any man.

Yet from the reputation of this genCorrectly cold and regularly low.” tleman, we have no doubt that his oration, if printed, would afford that pleasure in the perusal which was lost in the utterance; and would serve to confine that reputation for learning, which Mr. Adams had previously acquired.

For the Emerald.

PHILOS:

ON THE USE OF CIVIL AND NATU
RAL HISTORY.

CURIOSITY is seldom weary of contemplating those objects, of which it is in continual search. The stranger feels its operation when he wishes to investigate the antiquities of the place where he resides or through which he passes. The native is pleased with the same inquiry,because the persons,the places, and the circumstances of which Curiosity in pursuit of knowledge history is composed, is near to him. is a happy disposition of mind, and can never be better occupied than We observed some licences of in exploring and developing the hispoetry adinitted by Mr. Whitwell, torical concerns of one's own counbut not sufficient in number to sub-try. In America the historian and ject him to the censure, advanced the naturalist have an extensive field against some American poets, to explore and many parts of it yet whose productions are replete not untrodden. Whether the former with beauties, but those allowances records the civil history of the times, to poets, those licentia poetica which or the latter describes a plant thro always betray a deficiency of genius. every genus, species and variety, The oration by Mr. Adams was de- the principle is the same: Both are ficient in force of utterance. Hence serviceable to the mind, both imwe could not follow him. It is said portant to society. The former deto contain evident marks of labori-lineates the resources of the human ous research into ancient philoso-intellect, exhibiting a picture of phy, and much discrimination of man, in every situation of good and Anowledge. The sentences which evil fortune, and under various govstruck our ears however, induce us ernments; the latter beautifully reo consider it in respect to composi-presents the infinite gradation of

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