f the tale, he is a
strange nondescript, in whose language the author has given buffoonery
by way of wit, and bombast by way of dignity. The Count De Valmont is a
most interesting personage, and so is the countess Eugenia.

Of the acting we can with truth speak more favourably than of the
writing. The characters throughout were well supported; but Mr. Wood in
De Valmont and Mr. M'Kenzie in Bertrand were so striking and impressive
that the critic's attention was chiefly attracted by them. Mr. Wood's
performance was exquisitely fine even on the first night, and every
repetition disclosed augmented excellence. In the second scene of the
second act, where Bertrand prostrates himself before Eugenia, Mr.
M'Kenzie presented in his posture of supplication, such a natural yet
terrible, picture of the humiliating effects of guilt and consequent
remorse, as could not fail to make an awful impression on the most
hardened and unfeeling sinner. In Longueville Mr. Warren was, as he
always is, correct and respectable, and Mr. Cone made much more of the
ticklish part of Florian than we had a right to expect. In L'Eclair Mr.
Jefferson was, as he seldom fails to be, diverting: But on a future
occasion we propose saying a few words, by way of friendly expostulation
with this powerful actor, who, yielding to the baneful itch for gallery
applause, is gradually sullying some of the finest talents, once the
chastest, too, upon the stage. In his Rosabelle (Mrs. Wilmot) he might
see admirable comic powers, and great histrionic skill, which the public
applause of years has not yet misled into the vulgar track--"the pitiful
ambition of setting on some quantity of _barren_ spectators to laugh" by
buffoonery.

Mrs. Wood maintained her long acknowledged claim upon the respect and
approbation of her audience, and gained for the lovely sufferer Eugenia,
all the sympathy which the author could have hoped to excite. Always
highly interesting, one can't tell why--never incorrect or
indifferent--often extremely impressive in characters of a serious cast,
we think that comedy is her _forte_. In several parts, some too indeed
which verged upon the lower comedy, we have noticed enough to convince
us, that by a studious, and as far as might be, exclusive attention to
the comic muse, Mrs. W. would soon become one of her most distinguished
favourites.

* * * * *

In our next number Mr. COOPER'S second series of performances wil