Wilson

Mifs.
M. A. Mica

Engraved by Page from a Painting by. Mifs R&Drummon

For FEBRUARY, 1821.

A New and Improved Series.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ILLUSTRIOUS AND DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS.

Number One Hundred and Forty-six.

MISS MARY ANN WILSON.

WHEN to that extrordinary share of Miss Wilson adds to her eminent qualitalent which, in this young lady, may truly ||fications as a singer, that action in the chabe styled wonderful, are to be found united, racters she performs which is truly classical; with youth's early bloom, every attractive she treads the stage with a grace and ma. grace of person, affability, native dignity, jesty worthy the best days of the very best and amiability of conduct and manners, actresses, her predecessors. Her elocution the artist and the biographer feel equalis excellent; for which she has taken lesinterest in transmitting to posterity a faith-sous, as a private pupil, of Mr. Alvey, of ful portrait and a lasting record of that East-street, Walworth, under whose tuition celebrity which may, in this instance, be her improvement, in a course of extensive deemed, and that justly, well-merited; instruction, reflects equal credit on herself and the reader will recollect, as the eye and on her teacher. wanders over this short memoir, how much the ear has been charmed by harmonic skill and power, almost before unequalled.

Miss Mary Ann Wilson was born on the 10th of April, in the year 1803, in the vicinity of Berwick upon Tweed; her parents occupied a considerable farm in that part of the kingdom, and she is the second of four daughters, who are all living.

Miss Mary Ann Wilson was introduced to Mr. Welsh, and earnestly recommended to him by a lady now residing in Italy; who, about five years ago was struck with the fine natural voice of the young lady, and Miss Wilson was articled to Mr. Welsh in 1817.

Mr. Welsh has been peculiarly fortunate in his female pupils; nor can we forbear expressing the tribute due to their master; for he has given those pupils to the world, who unite to their own native sweetness of voice extraordinary science, and have the strongest claims to public favour and attention.

We cannot forbear summing up the character of this young lady in the following lines from Dr. Young's Narcissa, and which seem peculiarly adapted to Miss Wilson :

"Sweet harmonist! and beautiful as sweet; "And soft as beautiful; and fair as young." We congratulate Mr. Elliston on this great acquisition to his Theatre. On Thursday, January 18th, she made her debut in Mandane, in the favourite opera of Artaxerxes. Almost overpowered with her grateful emotions at the reception she received from an overflowing audience, she yet went through the arduous task of a first appearance (on any stage), with that dignity, and proper courage, accompanied by the most unaffected modesty, which moved every heart in her favour, and which evinced itself by tears of rapture from many who witnessed this triumph of youthful merit, and scientific harmony. It is needless for us to add, that Miss Wilson has been received every succeeding time of her performance with increased applause.