he thought I had made it public. I only mention this to show you that he is an unassuming, modest boy; so much so, that we never could get him to speak of the business at Corunna, where he was himself concerned, but the accounts of him from every other quarter were, indeed, most gratifying. "With regard to myself I have not much to say; the audience are, of course, very kind, and my reception was most brilliant. But, entre nous, I do not think I shall make as much money as I expected. With every good wish, I remain, dear sir, "Your most obliged, humble servant, She was in truth greatly admired on the present visit, and the warmth of the Irish having a convivial tendency, she received a variety of invitations from persons of consideration in Dublin, who were curious to know the effect of such exhilarating powers in society. But, like Mrs. Siddons, she was no showy talker, nor anxious to display her wit, though every countenance invited her sallies, and would have been delighted with a sketch of life from one so able to display it. But she made no sign in company of her professional powers; she coveted nothing but what they might easily afford her, the respect due to the manners of a gentlewoman, whose conversation, never obtrusive, was always marked by good sense and the most exact propriety. But, as if the spirit of Daly had survived in the theatre disgraced by his conduct, it was there alone that respect failed toward a lady who was one of its rarest ornaments. Performers below mediocrity were appointed to act with her, and, in addition to the want of talent, there was a total want of decency among them. The Dane had got among them, and they were powerful only in "potting." Cues they were unable to give, they knew nothing of the stage business; and she was so much annoyed in her own situations, that with some of the bad she absolutely refused to play at all. Perhaps she was most injured among this crew of raff by her own virtue. There was (like Gray's solitary fly whose May of existence had long flown by) an actor of the name of Barrett, now old and in distressed circumstances. He had witnessed her début, and she provided for him, and extended her bounty to others who had formerly been known to her in the profession. There is an esprit de corps among actors that is capable of liberal and generous interpretation, and nothing but the most despicable malignity, one would think, could see in such humane goodness anything invidious or partial; but, perhaps, in compliment to the manager's injustice, they viewed her with sullen ill-will at the theatre, and she soon was to receive the intelligence of actions of defamation and periodical libels, all growing out of the engagement she had made to divide the house with Jones, by which he got considerable audiences and she very little money. A fellow of the name of Corri had raised himself to some notice by the continuance of his libels on Mrs. Jordan and her friends, among whom he was certainly warranted to include Sir Jonah Barrington and his family. The libeller classed Mrs. Jordan some way or other with her Grace the Duchess of Gordon, probably as a matchmaker, but the matter is not worth inquiry. Sir Jonah prosecuted the printer, and did everything that could be done to restrain the ungentlemanly and malapert exuberance of Mr. Gold, who was counsel for the defendant. His speech, highly disgraceful to him, came into the public prints and greatly annoyed Mrs. Jordan, whose sentiments upon the occasion are thus expressed in her letter to Sir Jonah. She does not date her letters farther than by the day of the week in which they are written; a modest presumption, unsustained by the fact, that they can be only of temporary interest. [Copy.] "BUSHY HOUSE, Wednesday. "MY DEAR SIR:- Not having the least suspicion of the business in Dublin, it shocked and grieved me very much; not only on my own account, but I regret that I should have been the involuntary cause of anything painful to you, or to your amiable family. But of Mr. Jones I can think anything; and I beg you will do me the justice to believe that my feelings are not selfish. Why, indeed, should I expect to escape their infamous calumnies? Truth, however, will force its way, and justice exterminate that nest of vipers. I wanted nothing from Mr. Crompton's generosity, but I had a claim on his justice, his honour. During the two representations of the Inconstant,' I represented to him the state Mr. Dwyer was in, and implored him, out of respect to the audience, if not in pity to my terrors, to change the play. As to the libel on Mr. Dwyer, charged to me by Mr. Gold, I never, directly or indirectly, by words or by writing, demeaned myself by interfering in the most remote degree with so wretched a concern. I knew no editor, I read no newspapers, while in Dublin. The charge is false and libellous on me, published, I presume, through Mr. Gold's assistance. Under that view of the case, he will feel himself rather unpleasantly circumstanced should I call upon him either to prove or disavow his assertions. To be introduced any way into such a business, shocks and grieves me; he might have pleaded for his companions without calumniating me; but for the present, I shall drop an irksome subject, which has already given me more than ordinary uneasiness. "Yours, etc., "DORA JORDAN." The calumniated lady seriously turned her thoughts in consequence to an action for defamation, but the peculiarity of her situation rendered that the very last thing that a sound adviser would recommend. To be sure, a generous nature like hers would feel itself prompted to show her sons that they had no ground, for a moment, to impute to their mother what malignity had charged upon |