"School for Scandal," and we do not think we shall exceed the truth, in observing he stands at present unrivalled in that character. The public have seen him perform Stockwell in the "West Indian," and if their approbation is any proof of merit he may be considered its happy representative. There are besides, Prospero, in "The Tempest," Thoroughgood in the Tragedy of " George Barnwell," and several other characters which live on our memory as the efforts of an excellent and valuable actor. The person and features of this gentleman have their due proportion of regularity and expression, which are requisites of the utmost advantage to the heroes of the Sock and Buskin.

In looking over the best Dramatic Biographers, and Stage historians of this country, we cannot find any actor that most distantly approaches Mr. J. Johnstone. Moody enjoyed when in the zenith of his Theatrical glory, great eulogium for his delineation of Irish characters. We remember that veteran of the Sock about 16 years back, and we have seen him repeatedly play that cast of character which is supported by Mr. J.; but had the two Comedians been contemporary rivals in the opposite Theatres and were paralleled, it would have been placing a Scotch pebble, beside a diamond, indeed Moody would have been lost in the lustre of the other.

Johnstone may be considered one of the greatest players that ever trod the Stage, his acting is nature coloured in the richness of her own perfection.

Sir Callaghan O'Brallaghan and Major O'Flaharty, are parts in which he is particularly happy in supporting the gentleman with the finest vein of

humour. Teague, in Knight's excellent Farce of "Honest Thieves," is the portrait of a low Irishman, and Johnstone gives it such exquisite colouring that it provokes the audience to the most irresistible laughter; his words drop like honey from his mouth, there is no labour to be whimsical, but his humour comes with so much ease that it instantly rivets public attention and keeps the risible faculties in a continued state of relaxation during his scene,

In O'Keefe's Comedy of the London Hermit, he performs an Irish gardener, and there never was a character rendered so truly whimsical as Tully, particularly when he reads his "describing Book," (as it is called) to his master's visitors. We have observed in our remarks on Mr. Colman's Dramatic works, that the part of Dennis Bulgruddery in the Comedy of "John Bull," is in itself so pregnant with humour, that an indifferent actor must receive applause in playing it. Mr. Rock assumed the Irish landlord this season and gave the part with much ability, and Mr. Waddy we think even exceeded him in richness of delineation, but when we turn our recollection to the original representative, comparison will not bear reflection. Johnstone stands alone, his style of painting the passions and native oddities of honest Dennis * exceeds description, his beauties are to be seen and felt with delight, but cannot be minutely illustrated, they are like the masterly touches of a fine picture, the more the specta

* Mr. Denman supported the above character at the Hay-market Theatre, with considerable humour, and received the reiterated plaudits of the House.

tor points out its perfections, the more his eye will discover for gratification and praise.

His performance of Martoch Delaney in the "Irishman in London," and the part of Looney Mactwolter in "The Wags of Windsor," must be ever remembered with delight, his merit is original and peculiar to himself, and when imitated shews the imbecility of the copyist.

Mr. Kelly has long and we think justly, enjoyed public favour as a scientific singer, and a composer of considerable ability. The music to Mr. Franklin's whimsical and entertaining After-piece, of "The Counterfeit," is highly creditable to his genius.

Among the few acquisitions the Stage has of late possessed, Mr. Blanchard deserves our notice as a Comedian, whose talents will be estimated in a few years of the highest value to the Theatre, his person is well formed for the line of character generally supported by him.-His features are strongly marked and of a flexible nature, and calculated to bend into any passion the personage of the Drama may require.

In calling to our recollection the great variety of parts he has assumed on the boards of Covent Gardẹn Theatre, no one is more entitled to panegyrie than his Marquis de grand Chateau, in "The Cabinet," which is a performance of the first description; he enters with the utmost skill into every lineament of the old beau, and pourtrays his peculiarities with the nicest discrimination; indeed it is nature concealing art. No parts try the strength of an actor's genius so much as those of Shakespeare,

and it is possible for a performer to get public credit in delineating a modern character, such as a coxcomb, &c. without being able to de common justice to the labours of the immortal bard, but BLANCHARD has the ability to decorate the beauties of the poet in inestimable colours, of which we have a proof in his personification of Fluellin in "Henry the Fifth," and if the reiterated plaudits of a London audience, may be considered a sanction to our opinion, we must be permitted to pronounce it an excellent piece of playing. His Pistol in "the Second Part of Henry the Fourth," was given in warm and animated tints, but free from unjust extravagance.

Mungo in the musical piece of "The Padlock," had a good representative in this Comedian, who gave the songs with a great humour. He has also assumed the part of Snarl in "The Village Lawyer," and rendered the old gentleman a medium of inuch mirth to the audience.

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Blanchard succeeded Mr. Fawcett, in the part of Proteus, in the Opera of " Family Quarrels," and played it with so much propriety, that the public did not feel the loss of the original; many other of his efforts on that stage shew him to be not only a very useful but an excellent Comedian.

Within these few years Mr. FARLEY has shewn himself an actor of no ordinary merit, he has sustained several characters on the indisposition of the principal performers with much original humour. Fawcett's part of William, in "The Irishman in London," did not lose the least importance in the possession of Farley; he imparted to the character all the spirit it required without imitating the ori

ginal representative, but there is a talent peculiar to this Comedian, and of a nature highly valuable to the Theatre, namely the art of getting up a Ballet. No person connected with our English Theatres was ever more successful in this particular, and few happier in the support of the leading personage of this description of entertainment. Had not Mr. Harris exchanged the services of Farley for those of Dibdin, in the manufacture of dumb shew, we think he would have had for these two last years much better Pantomimes than the trash that has been offered to the Public. Mr. F. is very great in the new and splendid Ballet of Valentine and Orson, which is got up with much taste, and deserves Publie patronage.

Dubois is entitled to great eulogium for his masterly acting; it is a great pity that the energies of this Performer's frame and mind, should have been so long suffered to waste at Sadler's Wells-he certainly is the best buffoon on the Stage.

The manner in which the audience receive Mrs. St. Ledger, and the gratification they express at seeing so fine a formed woman, accompanied with all the graces of person which she displays with great judgment, prove the verity of our remarks on this Lady's talents, in page 98, that it is the interest of the Managers to bring Mrs. St. L. before the Public as often as possible. Her fencing Scene, indeed the whole of her performance, clearly shews that the audience as well as herself, have been grossly insulted, from her having been kept so long from public notice.