ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO CORRESPONDENTS. An Amateur's Correfpondence will be acceptable. M. T. in our next. Our Correfpondent M. G. is recommended to revise his performance: at prefent it is too incorrect. Letters fent us evidently for no other purpose than to put us to expence, we always return to the Poft Office unnoticed. In answer to a constant Reader we refer him to the Biographia Dramatica, or any of the Lifts of Dramatic Performances, where he will find the information he wants. AVERAGE PRICES of CORN, from Feb. 17, to March 17, 1798. Cambrid. 38 11 19 1020 o Effex 3/21 619 222 I 48 3 00 024 019 025 0 Suffex 46 4 00 024 819 000 0 Suffolk 46 4 22 622 515 3 19 7 720 6 7 Norfolk c Lincoln 6 Durham 46 10 00 39 018 028 2 Lancash. 50 9 00 030 8 17 025 o Chefhire 49 00 Derby 55 10 00 029 018 1029 of Glouceft. 52 4 00 032 313 10 26 1017 0'00 029 1014 Berks 54 1000 027 620 54 O CO 030 III 2:00 5:00 027 10 17 0,00 024 919 1029 200 0 0 0 0 6 8 e WALES. 023 118 827 4 N. Wales 48 200 025 019 225 52 032 0,21 S. Wales 60 000 0134 611 6:40 0 011 400 THE EUROPEAN MAGAZINE, AND LONDON REVIEW; FOR MARCH 1798. MRS. ABINGTON, (WITH A PORTRAIT.) INrttempting a of tent with N attempting a portrait of this cele Cibber, "That the animated graces of the player can live no longer than the inftant breath and motion that prefent them; or, at least, can but faintly glimmer through the memory or imperfect atteftation of a few furviving fpectators." In her memoirs, however, we shall be able to hold up to pofterity the early and rapid ftrides fhe made in her profeffion; and, from the various and contraited characters the appeared in with unrivalled applaufe, they will at least be able to conclude with certainty, "That MRS. ABINGTON was the firit Comic Actress of her time." None of the prefent day, for inftance, can remember Betterton, and confequently can know nothing perfonally of the abilities of this once celebrated Tragedian; but who can read this declaration of Cibber, "That he never heard a line in tragedy come from Betterton, wherein his judgment, his ear, and his imagination, were not fully fatisfied," but must reft perfectly convinced of his tranfcendant abilities. Mrs. Abington, whofe maiden name was Barton, was very early in life introduced to Theophilus Cibber; who, with a few youthful irregulars, opened the little Theatre in the Haymarket. Her firit appearance was in Miranda in The Buy Body, to the Marplot of Cibber, and here the gave fuch an early specimen of her comic powers, that this comedy was acted twice to numerous and critical audiences, who unanimously teftified their opinion of her rifing excellence. She of the seafoat, where the performed feveral continued at this Theatre the remainder other characters with unabated applause. From thence the was engaged by Shuter for Mr. Simpfon, Proprietor of the Bath Theatre, then under the acting management of Mr. King; and having gone through two feafons with increasing promife and reputation, Mifs Barton returned to London, when the was instantly engaged to join a felection from the two winter Theatres, during the fummer months, at Richmond. Here the late Mr. Lacey, one of the Patentees of Drury Lane Theatre, faw her perform frequently, and was so struck with the original vivacity and naivetè of her talents, that he gave her a cordial and friendly invitation to his family, who then refided at their beautiful villa at Ifleworth, on the banks of the Thames. Here he likewife introduced her to Garrick and Foote, and one of her earliest performances at Drury Lane Theatre was her Lady Pliant to Foote's Sir Paul, a character, interefting and difficult as it is, which the performed much to the fatisfaction of the audience. So far Fortune affifted the talents of this young Actrefs, by being engaged at one of the winter Theatres, and under the management of the best Actor of his time: but he did not come with both hands full," Mrs Cibber, Mrs. Pritchard, and Mrs. Clive, were then in full poffeflion of the flage, and as her line of playing in fome refpect clashed with those celebrated performers, it was thought necellary that her youth and inexperience fhould yield to niaturer and more tried U 2 abilities. abilities. The genius of Abington could not brook this cold delay; fhe felt her powers ripened by nature, which in others could be only gained by time and experience, and she was determined to give them fair play. Accordingly, in the middle of a featon, we find her quitting her engagements at Drury Lane, and accompanying her husband to Dublin, where the ftrength of great theatrical powers were exerted in the rivalfhip of two contending Theatres. Mrs Abington being engaged at Smock Alley Theatre, he made her debut in Mrs. Sullen, in The Stratagem, to the Archer of Mr. Brown, the then acting Manager; a performer of very confi. derable merit, and in fome parts of comedy unrivalled. Her next character was Beatrice, which was followed by those of Corinna, Clarinda, Fiora, and Volunte-Larly Fanciful, Leanthe, Maria in the N-njuror, fecona Conflantia, Portia, Fin Laly in Lethe, &c. &c. and every night he appeared fo added to her reputation, that long before the clofe of the feafon fhe was confidered as one of the firit and most promifing actreffes on the Rage. What gave an additional eclat to this young actress's general merit, was her willingness to exert herself to the utmolt for the benefit of a Theatre which had to contend with very confiderable forces under the management of Meffrs. Barry and Woodward and towards the clofe of this feafon an opportunity offered, which produced both reputation to herfelf and much pr fit to the Managers. The farce of High Life Below Stairs had been brought out fomne time before in London with very great applaufe; and though Bairy and Woodward were very induftrious in producing the pieces which were beft received there, in the multiplicity of other bufinels they overlooked this Wilkinfon, who was at that time at Smock Alley, luckily feized upon it; he communicated his intentions to Mrs. Abington, who not only approved of his choice, but confented to play the part of Kitty the other parts lay within the compafs of the Company-and as the two Principals had frequently feen the farce in London, they were quite perfect in all the management of the ftage bu fincis. Under these favourable circumftances this popular farce was brought out, and world. received with unbounded applaufe. The theatrical records of that day, giving an account of its reception, thus speak of Mrs. Abington: "When Mrs. Abington advanced in Mrs. Kitty, the whole circle were in furprife and rapture, each congratulating the other on fuch an acquifition to the stage. Such a jewel was invaluable, and their own tastes and judgments, they feared, would be juftly called in question, if this daughter of Thalia was not immediately taken by the hand, and diftinguished as her certain and ftriking merit demanded.” The audience were as good as their word upon this occafion, as Mrs. Abing ton, during her whole ftay in Ireland, was fo great a favourite with the ladies of the first fashion and diftinction there, that whenever the appeared, the houses were numerously and brilliantly attended, her company fought after by the first families of diftinction, whilft her acknow ledged talte in drefs and manners ren dered her the decided arbitress of fashion and elegant deportment. Diftinguished merit like this could not long efcape the penetrating eye of Garrick; he accordingly offered her fuch terms as he could not well refute, and the returned to Drury Lane Theatre, after an abfence of fome years," with all her blufhing honours thick about her." Her first appearance was in the character of the Widow Belmour, in Mr. Murphy's excellent comedy of "The Way to Keep Him," wherein the not only confirmed the report of her former repu tation, but drew that applaufe from the author (as expreffed in his dedication of the last edition), which will be a lafting test of her intrinsic merit. And here we cannot but paufe on the inward fatisfaction Mrs. Abington must neceffarily feel on her return to Drury Lane Theatre; when he had to reflect, that by her own fpirited, yet prudent conduct, he had been the architect of her own fame and growing fortune. Had fhe, like other young actreffes, been content to vegetate in the foil where she was firft planted (and which, perhaps, it would have been prudent for another perfon to have fo advited her), time and chance might have railed her to an eligible fituation; but true genius, generally fpeaking, is its beft advifer-he knew beft what she could do, and what another might call presumption, five found Mifs Barton about this time was married to Mr. Abington, well known in the mufical from |