228 



An Irishman's Notes 



mime and spectacle. One hope, how- 

 ever, a Briton, who at every step 

 anxiously recurs to his country's re- 

 finement with pride, ventures sincerely 

 to cherish; and it is, that the liberal 

 judjfnunt which lately founded the 

 Musical Academy, will not deem their 

 exertions for success final, until it has 

 secured a vent for this talent, and 

 established a National Opera. Of the 

 higher order of vocal expression, we 

 can boast no instance; of musical 

 passion we know nothing : surely not 

 from want of ability, or from coldness 

 of soul ; but the absence of a sphere, 

 and the means for fame. 



Talma, the leading tragedian, (so 

 well known in this country,) plays at 

 the first theatre. He is in every respect 

 popular: I believe deservedly so. It 

 is tlio reproach of this house, that the 

 jnflncnce behind the scenes excludes 

 all rival talent, and the hero is report- 

 ed to be no way negligent to preserve 

 the policy. The public body has 

 reason to regret, that, though in every 

 line of character the company presents 

 ability, yet are tliese constellations 

 that never form a system, and move 

 each one unreflccted in its own dis- 

 tinct sphere- It is not denied that 

 Talma is fearfully jealous. Tiie little 

 of private life that prevails in France 

 holds a strong tendency to affect pub- 

 lic opinion. Talma has acquired a 

 good fortune, and expends it with 

 something like a British spirit. In his 

 house and grounds he plans and im- 

 proves, — then improves improvement; 

 sinks a lake, and lifts a hill, — then 

 sweeps both away, and winds a river 

 ■where they were. Any thing of pro- 

 fusion in moneyed matters greatly asto- 

 nishes the fine folks of Paris; needy 

 and niggardly, they cannot contain 

 their wonder and admiration when 

 they behold any one indifferent to its 

 Talue. Here, then, is Talma high in 

 estimation: besides, he is identified 

 ■with what may be termed (though not 

 professionally,) the tragical Cortnities 

 of his country's revolution. He was 

 intimate with some of its most conspi- 

 cuous actors; and the fiiendliness with 

 Avhich Napoleon, in the elevation of his 

 fortunes, is reported to have received 

 him, attaches much imi)ortance to his 

 character. It seems to be fixed 

 highly in every mind, and becomes 

 evident as soon as he is spoken of, — I 

 niiuht add landed, for bis name is the 

 sign for applause. The new plays in 

 ^hich latterly he has successfully 



in Paris, No. IV. [April 1, 



appeared, introduced him in charac- 

 ters for public approbation, which, by 

 a great facility of political imagina- 

 tion, have been tortured by his audi- 

 ence into portraitures of the late Em- 

 peror ; and the little attention Talma 

 seemed to pay, either in dress or 

 manner, to undeceive them of Iheir 

 fancy, has, above all, heighlhened hi* 

 popularity. Indeed he was forbidden 

 by authority from crossing his hands 

 on his back ; because somu people saiil 

 Napoleon was used to walk in that 

 position, when, in meditative mood, 

 he strolled to digest his plans for 

 greatness. 



Thcforbiddingfcaturcs of the J''rcnch 

 stage, to the mind's eye of a if riton, if 

 were here superfluous to repeat: tho 

 severity with which the rules of their 

 old school bridle the free impulse ot' 

 nature, — whether in the poet or his 

 artist, — is notorious. It is the highest 

 meed of Talma's praise, that in action 

 and delivery, in every respect, he has 

 usurped a freedom before his career 

 unknown; and it gives a hfipe of still 

 wider felicity, that his hearers have 

 continued to appreciate the flij;hts of 

 his talent. But tiie stranger who has 

 been won to theatrical taste by the 

 love of an English muse, and has been 

 accustomed to hear Young named the 

 pnpil of art, and Kean called the child 

 of nature, will feel himself sadly dis- 

 appointed when his eye meets Talma: 

 he is indeed ruled. His figure is low 

 and broad, his head large, and his ap- 

 pearance altogether unpromising. His 

 voice is variable and sonorous; and, 

 when awhile it swells as he seizes a 

 happy moment, and bursts from the 

 trammels that control his powers, how 

 electrically is the bosom stirred ! But 

 this is seldom ; and then, in a minor 

 way, he seems fond to add to the jire- 

 scriptions of the school. He measures 

 his every step, slowly Mciglis each 

 motion, and affects at every turn a 

 mannered peculiarity. He pats his 

 head, strokes his brow, and adjusts an 

 elbow; and chills by the mechanical 

 jirccisiou with which such habits are 

 incessantly repeated. On our stage 

 he would, in all probabilit}', have ex- 

 celled Kean ; on liis own boards he has 

 always moved, not only unrivalled, but 

 unapproached. 



]\lademoisclle Duchcsnois isTalma'.s 

 female support. Of her it is almost 

 pain to write, that she is very ugly ; 

 and, what is still more unfortunate, 

 bcr's is plaintive talent: her musical 



tones 



