With these impressions, we attended the first appearance of Mr. Cooke, in the character of _Richard the Third_, last winter. We thought that he "bustled" through the scenes with at least as much spirit and effect as any of his predecessors whom we remember in the part, and was not deficient in the delivery of any of those rememberable speeches and exclamations, which old prescription hath set up as _criteria_ of comparison. Now that the grace of freshness is worn off, and Mr. Cooke is no longer a novitiate candidate for public favour, we propose to enter into the question--whether that popular actor is right or wrong in his conception of the great outlines of the character; those strong essential differences which separate _Richard_ from all the other creations of Shakespeare. We say _of Shakespeare_; for though the Play, which passes for _his_ upon the _Stage_, materially differs from _that_ which _he_ wrote under the same title, being in fact little better than a compilation or a cento of passages extracted from other of his Plays, and applied with gross violations of propriety (as we are ready at any time to point out), besides some miserable additions, which _he_ never could have written; all together producing an inevitable inconsistency of character, sufficient to puzzle and confound the _best Actor; yet_, in this chaos and perplexity, we are of opinion, that it becomes an Actor to shew his taste, by adhering, as much as possible, to the spirit and intention of the original Author, and to consult his _safety_ in _steering_ by the _Light_, which Shakespeare holds out to him, as by a great _Leading Star_. Upon these principles, we presume to censure Mr. Cooke, while we are ready to acknowledge, that this Actor presents us with a very original and very forcible portrait (if not of the _man Richard_, whom Shakespeare drew, yet) of the _monster Richard_, as he exists in the _popular idea_, in _his own exaggerated_ and _witty self-abuse_, in the overstrained representations of the parties who were _sufferers_ by his _ambition_; and, above all, in the impertinent and wretched _scenes_, so absurdly foisted in by some, who have thought themselves capable of adding to what _Shakespeare wrote_. But of Mr. Cooke's _Richard_: 1st. _His predominant and masterly simulation._ He has a tongue can wheedle with the DEVIL.