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THE

HIBERNIAN MAGAZINE:

OR,

Compendium of Entertaining Knowledge.

For JANUARY, 1775.

Memoirs of Mifs W. EIWITZER.

{With an elegant Engraving of that celebrated Actress, in the Cha racter of Rofetta, in the Comic Opera of Love in a Village.)

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ftage, and a fresh proof of his eager defire to please a public, which hath crowned his affiduity with their approbation. He, therefore, fent to engage her for the winter feafon, and made an agreement for her with Mr. Griffiths.

ISS WEIWITZER was born in the parish of St. Paul, CoventGarden, in London, in the year 1757, and is one of the feven children of Mr. Weiwitzer, a native of Norway (though of a family originally German) who, having acquired a decent competency by the Her first appearance on the Dublin profeffion of a Silver-fmith, is now re-flage (which was in the character of Rotired from business. Jetta in the comic opera of Love in a Village) plainly fhewed that finging was not her only excellence, but fhe was alfo a promifing actress. She convinced the audience that the thoroughly understood the author, and entered into the true fpirit of her part. She performed the character with the most exact propriety; with a vivacity that was highly pleafing, and an innocence and fimplicity which could not be affumed, and could be fhown only where it was natural. Her attitudes were well adapted, her air eafy and unconftrained; her action juft, and her manner engaging. Her voice was ftrong, clear, full and harmonious, and in perfect concord with the mufic; infomuch that the extorted burlts of applaufe from an audience accufiomed to admire a Catley in that part; but whole prejudice for her could not hinder them from applauding real merit, wherefoever they found it. Already has Mifs Weiwitzer drawn thirteen crowded audiences; the town is not yet fated with her perfor mance; and her reputation is firmly efta

As the very early difcovered that the was endowed with a fine voice, and an irable attachments to mufic; it was it her accomplishments ought not confined to private life, or fuffer ie uncultivated; but merited eveitional grace which art could bepon nature. She was, therefore, ly inftructed in mufic and finging, ut to Mr. Griffiths, an eminent of mufic, where her improvements o great, that he thought to derive profit he had a right to expect her natural talents, fo well cultihe produced her to the pubnd the charmed the ear of every i who reforted to the public gardens ndon.

e applaufe which Mifs Weiwitzer
ftly acquired, was not confined to
on alone;
her fame reached Dublin,
Mr. Ryder (who is ever attentive
orn his theatre with every excellence
can be procured) thought the
be a valuable addition to the Irish

mary, 1775.

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blished, because fixed on the bafis of juftice.

In a country like this, where few people can separate the woman from the actrefs; and where our gentlemen seem to look upon every female in public life, as one of the Fera Natura, fair game, to be hunted down or entrapped by cunning; it is not to be wondered at that a girl, young, handfome, lively, and highly accomplished, fhould be attacked by the great, the gay, and the profligate. Defire excited fome, and vanity was the motive of others. The fame of poffeffing a lady whose talents are in the mouth of every one; and who is the purfuit of many, is a powerful incitement to fundry people to attempt the conqueft of her: and fuch men, when repulfed, are the most ready to fpread calumnies against a reputation they find they cannot tarnish *.

Virtue in an actress, is, by many, thought to be incompatible; and whenever it is mentioned it is with a fneer of unbelief yet there have not been wanting fundry initances of actreffes whofe conduct hath fet detraction at defiance. The names of a Pritchard, a Fitzhenry, a Mrs. William Barry and (we may juftly add) a Sparks, have rifen fuperior to cenfure; and it is not to be doubted but the lift will be augmented with the name of Mifs Weiwitzer, fince the fhews a prudence in her conduct which could scarce be expected from her youth. Not content to fteer clear of actions which merit condemnation, fhe is ever ftudious to avoid even little indifcretions which might give room for cenfure; she has never once been seen out of her lodgings unattended by her brother, nor has any one ever beheld her in them, without the fame companion, thence every unjust fufpicion mult foon fall to the ground, and dje for want of food. So that her reputation as a woman of virtue, will be as firmly established, as her fame as an actress.

NOTE.

*Such has already been the fate of Mifs Weiwitzer, numberless attacks have been made on her; dazzling offers have been employed to feduce her; but every purfuer is confcious he has met with a fevere repulfe. Failing there, the tongues of the witling, the difappointed and the cenforious, have given a loose so unmerited calumny.

A Hiftory of the Proceedings of the Britifh Parliament. (Continued from page 708 of our Magazine for December, 1774.)

MR

Friday, December 8.

R. Dundas flated to the house short ly, the neceffity there was for dan ferring the Milburne Port double retur and accordingly moved, that the faid turn might be heard on Friday the 20 of January next, which was readily cont fented to on the other fide.

Mr. G. Cowper next moved the houfe for the order of the day, which being read, the house went into a committee, and after fome time spent therein, Sir Charles Whitworth, chairman, reported the following refolution," that a fupply be granted to his majefty," and the fame being reported, the speaker again refumed the chair.

Two naturalization bills were prefented, and the titles of them being read, they were ordered to lie on the table.

which

The speaker then defired, that fuch gentlemen as had petitions to present complaining of undue returns or elections might deliver them to the cle being complied with, the ing to the order of Tue into a glass, and drew following order: Dumfermline, Tuesd Petersfield, Friday Cardigan, Tuesday Linlithgow, Friday, Seaford, Tuesday Peterborough Friday, Befides the above petition one prefented from the vot Radnor, which was in cour be heard according to the or borough was drawn on Tuef

The only two gentlemen their places to answer the forth by the petitioners, w Archibald Campbell, fitting Dunfermline, Stirling, &c Medley, one of the fitting Seaford, the former committ of his caufe, with all imagi fulness, he said, to the det the committee; and the with a certain air of jocula lofs the house must sustain, of the financial knowledge cal powers of the two hono oners; one of whom he und an eminent banker in the c

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themselves on the escape they havemade, fince it is equally evident, a further taxation, if not included in the general vote of this year, must be demanded by extraordinaries, or a vote of credit meet them next feffion under the multiplied expences of that mode of raifing mo

ney.

"With regard to the Navy, I confefs it to be extremely hard, that the noble Lord fhould be attacked in the last feffion of parliament for too great profufion, and blamed in this for the reduction that was then deemed neceffary; but I am not one of those who are captivated with a fimple propofition upon paper, when all the avenues of extravagance are kept open, while the fituation of our affairs, from the worft judged policy, neeffarily leads us to open thefe fluices of expence. It is therefore in vain to hold out œconomical resolutions in our votes, when our conduct muft produce a contrary effect. I hope however, that the fentiments of gentlemen on the fubject of American affairs, begin to alter. I hope they will now fee what men, uncorrupted by the luxurious vices of a great capital, are capable of fuffering in fupport of effential privileges; and that the flattering expectations of feeing America at out feet, are now vanished.

"To those who conceive that men are to yield their rights from oppreffion and diftrefs, I would recal to their memory the fuffering of the late parliament of Paris. The haughty mind of a debauched Minifter, and an imperious Chancellor, had induced the late King of France to violate all the ancient and eftablished privileges of that augult body, the only remaining check against the defpotifm of the Monarch: even men of wit and genius were found bafe enough to vilify the claims of the parliament; for I am forry to obferve, that fortitude of mind does not always accompany excellent talents; and that many men poffeffing thofe rare gifts, are too often in duced to lend their ingenuity to the hand that pays them, in fupport of the doctrines of the day. Is it poffible for any of the people of America to undergo greater diftrefs than those worthy patriots in France have fuffered? Deprived of their offices and fubfiftance, banifhed from their friends, vilified by the Court, no profpect of a change, yet fupported by principle and a good confcience, they have now feen their day of triumph, and felt the reward of virtue, fecuring to their

country, by their perfeverance, more effential rights than have been obtained by three civil wars. After fuch conceffions from the King of France, fhall the King of Great Britain be afliamed to yield to the juft cries of two million of his subjects?"

"I know all the arguments which are used to entangle weak men in fupport of the prefent arbitrary tenets. The fubject, indeed, is complicated, and men are confounded more than convinced. It is faid, that legiflation exifting in the parliament of Great Britain, taxation, which is a part of legiflation, must neceffarily be included. The various privileges which fubfift in every free state, are hardly to be determined by any reafoning a priori. Such dilemmas occur on every fubject. Can any pofition appear more ridiculous to those who maintain the doctrines of virtual representation, than that a borough should fend two Members to Parliament without houfe or inhabi tant? And yet there are many who hear me, ftrenuous advocates against American Charters, that hold their feats in this house underfuch a curious reprefentation. At the fame time I confefs the basis of the conftitution depends on preserving their privileges entire, fince no man can fay how far the reform would reach; and the whole art of Government confifts in preferving to every one his established rights. The most certain fcience we know is mathematics; yet ifI was to say to many men, that two lines might approach nearer and nearer to all eternity, and never could meet, they would think the affer tion ridiculous and abfurd. Nevertheless there is nothing fo certain as the truth of that theorem. It is equally true that legiflation may exist without the power of taxation, The kingdom of Ireland within our own dominion,is aproof of what thefe learned gentlemen affert to be fo impoffible. A worthy member in my eye, being preffed with this argument in the laft feffion of parliament, from the fairness of his mind, avowed as his opinion, that we could tax Ireland. I remember there were fome gentlemen in the gallery when this declaration was made, whom I immediately perceived, by the contorti→ ons in their countenance, to be Irish Members. Next day the worthy Member chofe to make fome apology to his friends. He faid no parallel could be drawn between Ireland and the Colonies; for Ireland had a paraphernalia; and this fatiffied both the English and the Irish Mem

bers

bers. For my part, I do not see what difficulty can occur in leaving different Colonies on the fame footing of raifing money by requifition as the people of Ireland. If it is thought this manner of railing fupplies might throw too much power into the hands of the crown, that power might be limited, fo as not to be exerted except upon the addrefs of both Houses of Parliament, fuch as has been lately adopted refpecting the prerogative in regulating the coin. I am ftill hopeful, that the tense chords on which our American creed has been faid and fung, will be relaxed. I perceive, I think, the tone of the noble Lord is not fo loud or fo lofty as on fome former debates on this fubject. I hope it does not proceed from want of health, in which cafe no man could feel more forrow for his Lordthip than myself; but I hope it arises, from a more serious and deep reflection on the subject, where his own good fenfe has had room to operate, free from those violent affociates who seem to have pre. sipitated his Lordship into fuch rath and cruel measures, contrary to his own natural good temper. Here then I shall conclude as I fet out, hoping that generous, juít, pacific measures will be adopted; but till infifting, that no man can determine properly on the number of forces to be employed, until we know the measures that are pursued refpecting America."

Saturday 17.] Agreed to the following refolutions of Friday, viz.

That 17,547 effective men, including 1522 invalids, be employed for the land fervice for 1775.

That 627,6891. be granted to his majefty for maintaining the faid men.

That 385,1861. be granted for maintaining the forces in the plantations, North America, Newfoundland, Gibraltar, Nova Scotia, &c.

Alfo 11,4731. for the pay of generals and general itaff officers.

122,221 for the out penfioners of Chelfea hofpital.

£28,059 for the office of ordnance for band fervice.

And 32,7481. for the faid office, for fervices performed and not provided for. Read a fecond time, the malt bill. Monty 19.] This day the fpeaker took the chair at half after two. Mr. Burke's bill to permit the importation of

Indian corn and maize under certain reArictions, was read a third time, paffed, and ordered to the lords for their conwurrence.

The house went into a committee of the whole house, on the bill for granting to his majefty a duty on all malt, mum, cyder and perry, for the service of the year 1775; and after fome time spent therein, Sir Charles Whitworth reported, that they had gone through the same with amendments: the report ordered to be received on Tuesday.

Mr. Cooper prefented a bill for preventing mutiny and desertion, and for the better payment of the army and their quarters; which was read a first time, and ordered to be read a fecond time.

The speaker defired to know if there were any petitions to prefent, complaining of undue elections, and none appearing but fuch as were referred to those already drawn, and ordered to be heard. The order of the day was called for, when a petition from the county of Effex was prefented, complaining of the informal manner the faid election was opened and conducted, which was ordered to be heard on Friday the 7th of July.

The order of the day being called for, the house went into a committee of ways and means for raising a supply granted to his majefty. Lord North ftated to the committee the whole of the fupply and grants; and fhewed, that a land tax of three fhillings would only leave a furplus of a few thousand pounds, which, confidering the deficiency, would not admit of any reduction. His lordship therefore moved, that a land tax of 3s. in the pound be laid on all lands, hereditaments, and penfions, in that part of Great Britain called England, the principality of Wales, and town of Berwick upon Tweed; and a proportionable cefs upon that part of Great Britain called Scotland, for the fervice of the year 1775; which was agreed to without one diffenting voice; and the faid refolution ordered to be reported on Tuesday.

The houfe adjourned at three o'clock. Tuesday 20.] Sir Charles Whitworth brought up the report of the refolution of the committee of ways and means of Monday, relative to a three fhilling land tax, for the fervice of the year 1775: And the speaker being juft going to declare the fenfe of the house, Mr. Hartley member for Kingston, arose, and in a very mild, fenfible speech, enlarged upon the very extraordinary conduct of adminiftration concerning American affairs. He faid, the accounts from that country were truly alarming; that the refolutions of the continental con

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grefs evidently proved, that the people were determined not to fubmit to the late acts paffed in relation to America, nor to any of a like complexion: that the troops now ftationed at Boston, and the inhabitants of that town, had no means of procuring fubfiftence but by fea, or from the country; that either method was now equally difficult, as the harbour would be frozen up, and the land aaniage, even if subfiftence was to be had, rendered impracticable, as the country would be covered with fnow; and that under fuch circumstances, the fituation of the troops would be no lefs deplorable than that of the miferable inhabitants.

He continued to fay, that he was not well verfed in fieges, but if he underflood right, he took it, that the town of Bolton was furrounded by General Gage with lines of circumvallation; and that fuch being the very critical state of things, refpecting both the fituation, the temper, and difpofition, of the military and natives, he fubmitted it to the gentlemen on the other fide, how they could reconcile it to the duty they owed to the nation in their public, or to their conftituents in their private capacity, to agree to a long adjournment, while things remained in fo dangerous and alarming a fiate, without taking any one ftep to avert the numerous and fatal mischiefs which they portended. For his part, he affirmed folemnly, he would much rather fit on Christmas day, and continue to do so, de die in diem, than go to the country in fo critical a season, without, at leaft, agreeing to fome measures, though they fhould extend no further than prevention.

This introduced a fpirited debate, in which Mr. T. Townfhend, Mr. Rigby, Sir Wm. Meredith, and Mr. Cornwall, had a confiderable fhare; but Mr. Burke fpoke much longer than the reft, and moft pathetically lamented the fituation of America, highly ridiculed the conduct of administration, and placed the fituation of Gen. Gage in a clear point of view. He obferved, that he knew not for what purpose administration had fent an army there; but that if it was judged expedient at all, it should have been an army of execution, not an army of obfervation. That the general in his laft letters had represented himself as being at once befieged and befieging; that he complained his cannon had been ftolen, and other infults offered to his troops;

but that he had the happiness to command a patient army: on the idea of a patient army the honourable member expatiated with great freedom, and kept to his point, that if an army was at all neceffary, it thould be executive; but that he knew no bufinefs Gen. Gage had there in fo lamentable a fituation; that if he fhed a drop of the blood of his fellow fubjects, he would open the fluices for a torrent on both fides, and God knows where it might end; while on the other if he did not, he must be exposed with his army to fuch tameness and patience, as no army ever fhewed before. He obferved that they had had a speech breathing nothing but war with America, for which thanks had been voted, and now they had fupplies breathing nothing but peace, for which he fuppofed thanks were likewife to be given. On the whole, the gentlemen of this fide of the queftion, apprehensive that a vote of credit might be moved for at the close of the feffion, were willing to poftpone the refolution concerning the land lax, till after the holidays, when being informed better of the state of our country, they might be enabled to judge of the prudence of having reduced the navy establishment, and of the fufficiency or infufficiency of the propofed land tax aid of three fillings.

On the other hand, Sir William Meredith complained of the impropriety of the prefent converfation tending to inflame the minds of the people by furnishing matter for Newfpapers; wished it had been avoided, as the gentlemen had no propofition to offer; and then juftifying the measures already taken by adminiftration, he obferved in reply to Mr. Burke, that Gen. Gage had been fent to Bofton for three very good purposes; firft, to protect the magiftrates; fecondly, to protect the property of the merchants, which had been grofly violated; thirdly, to enforce the execution of the acts of the British Parliament; which points he had in a great measure accomplifhed; and he added, that fuch steps would not have been neceffary if the declaratory bill repealing the ftamp act had never been brought into that house. Mr. Burke retorted, that if the declaratory act was the accurfed thing that had caufed all the mifchief, they had nothing to do but tofs it overboard. For his part, he was ready to facrifice every thing for peace with America; but he still was of opinion Gen. Gage and his troops had no

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