Historical Notices of Old Belfast and Its Vicinity; A Selection from the Mss. Collected by William Pinkerton, F.S.A., for His Intended History of Belfast, Additional Documents, Letters, and Ballads, O'Mellan's Narrative of the Wars of (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896 edition. Excerpt: ...convenient habitation. "Mrs. Siddons is now here working wonders, and I would really be greatly disappointed if you do not see her. The effects of her Belvedera have done credit to the feelings of the audience. No one disappointed, even the old bigots to Mrs Cibber and Garrick. Haliday swelled; Mattear snivelled; Major Leslie cryed, and damned the play: W, Cunningham rubbed his legs and changed his posture; a Mrs. Aderton was really taken out in convulsions; and Miss Lewis, that was now Mrs. Britt, left the house. Many ladies besides these were much affected, tho' sooner recovered. "We hear no other subject. Last night in the Unhappy Marriage she is supposed to have reached the height of human powers. "She was indeed great, beyond all others I ever beheld. Fair ladies were taken out fainting in the last act. and hardly a man could stand it. Sam cried for half-an-hour after he went to bed, and many others who withstood it in the House gave up to tears when they went home. "The Edinburgh strictures are beautiful and just. As for myself, I can wonder, admire, be chilled, thrilled, &c, &c., but cannot cry--not that I feel too much for tears, but she does not melt me; I believe she is too great. At first I supposed it was my having out-lived these fine enthusiastic feelings of youth; but all ages, all characters yield to her. "I drop a tear, but it's almost a single one. I am therefore at ease enough to criticise. I see all her perfections, perhaps several little, unassuming, modest beauties not attended to by others. Many. I daresay, have spoke a speech as well, and in great places been as great; but in the delicate minutia of character, expressed by a bend, a look, in all those little decencies and graces which are...