Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

For the Gazette of the United States.

Mr. FENNO,

I HAVE just returned from a rational and elegant entertainment, in which my feelings have been overpowered with enjoyment, that I am impetuous to express the delightful impressions I received, and which still remain upon my mind. I attended this evening, with a numerous and respectable audience; at Mr. Fennell's first "moral, critical, and entertaining reading," delivered in the Hall of the University, with the common expectation of entertainment, which novelty generally excites; but those expectations were so greatly exceeded by the varied, exquisite, and refined pleasure, which, with the rest of the audience, I received, in the course of this reading, and the talents from which it was derived, so worthy of encouragement, that I am confident a more minute description of the entertainment will not be unacceptable to your readers or yourself.

Mr. Fennell opened with a general sketch, descriptive of his plan, and the design of his readings, composed in a style perfectly pure and classical, and spoken in a manner the most modest and unassuming: in the course of this introduction the taste was highly gratified, by the equable calmness, and the chaste neatness, with which it was delivered. No irregular attempts at false ornament or splendor, interrupted the temperate, and easy current of his address—all was calm, dignified and engaging.

The succeeding entertainment consisted of the recitation of an original poem, containing a few short quotations, written by Mr. Fennell with great poetical spirit, called, "The Cave of Nature" in which the different virtues, vices and passions are painted with uncommon force of colouring.

Throughout the whole recitation his voice possessed a fullness of tone, and a sweetness and variety of cadence, which at once astonished and delighted, whilst his countenance, accompanied with the most graceful and elegant action, expressed in the full force and energy of nature the softest as well as the most violent emotions of the human heart. Where all was so excellent it is difficult to give a decided preference to any part. The involuntary emotion which the whole audience discovered at the description of the crimes and the fall of "Ambition," rather resembled the effect produced by the operation of a real object, than the slight emotions excited by a mere picture of the fancy. The remarkable impression made by the recitation of this part of the piece would seem to give it the preference by the sanction of general opinion; yet I believe it will hardly be said by any person present that the description and expression of Hesitation, Guilt, Envy, Jealousy, Revenge and Domestic Happiness, were or could be exceeded. Joy was beautifully and delightfully painted: and perhaps in point of poetical composition this part of the poem might claim the preference. These are the most striking parts of the reading of this evening, but not the most important. Whilst Mr. Fennell exhibited an elegant pattern for the orator, and gratified the man of taste, the whole piece was fraught with wise and sententious reflections, equally calculated for the moralist and the citizen.

In retracing the impressions which have been thus left upon my mind, I cannot but reflect with satisfaction, that the citizens of Philadelphia, have so good an opportunity of displaying their taste and judgment, by the encouragement of an entertainment, rational and pleasing, whilst they contribute to their own instruction and amusement. In point of manner or morality, no objection can be raised to these entertainments, which, as they are equally distant from vice and dissipation, are alike calculated to please the old and the young, the cheerful and the grave. And whilst pantomime, farce, and the votaries of every kind of dissipation, meet with unbounded encouragement, it is to be hoped, that the friends of rational recreation, will not permit the talents of Mr. Fennell to pass unrewarded, in a city which justly boasts of its science and its taste.

A CITIZEN.