PAGE

234. 'Double deafness.'

Cf. But yield to double darkness nigh at hand.' Samson Agonistes, 593.

The Shakespear Gallery. Cf. ante, note to p. 184. 235. The gay creatures,' etc.

Comus, 299.

Messrs. Young, etc. Charles Mayne Young (1777-1856), who succeeded Kemble as the chief tragedian at Covent Garden, and retired in 1832; William Abbott (1789-1843), a member of the Covent Garden company for many years from 1812; John Emery (1777-1822), one of the best actors of his time, especially in rustic parts, associated almost entirely with Covent Garden from 1798 till his death; Sarah Booth (1793-1867), who first appeared at Covent Garden in 1810.

'Tis much. Cymbeline, Act 1. Sc. 6.

236. Airy shapes, etc. Cf. Paradise Lost, 1. 775 et seq.

Mr. Grimaldi's Orson. In Valentine and Orson, the part in which Joseph Grimaldi (1779-1837) made his first appearance (1806) at Covent Garden. "Tricksy spirit. The Tempest, Act v. Sc. 1.

237. Mrs. Bland.

Maria Theresa Bland (1769-1838), who made her first appearance at Drury Lane (as Miss Romanzini) in 1786. Hazlitt heard her in Liverpool in 1792. See vol. vII. p. 193.

After the songs of Apollo.' Love's Labour's Lost, Act v. Sc. 2.

My Wife! What Wife? By Barrett, produced July 25, 1815.

Keep such a dreadful pudder [pother], etc. King Lear, Act III. Sc. 2.

238. Good Mr. Tokely [Master Brook],' etc. The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act 11.

Sc. 2.

"In the likeness of a sigh. Romeo and Juliet, Act 11. Sc. 1.

239. Mr. Meggett. This actor from Edinburgh made his first appearance at the Haymarket on July 19, 1815. Genest (VIII. 486) says that he was 'cruelly used by the bigotted admirers of Kean.'

The Mountaineers. By George Colman the younger, produced in 1795.
Mr. Harley's Fidget. In The Boarding House, a musical farce by Samuel
Beazley (1786-1851), first produced on August 26, 1811.

Mr. Harley. John Pritt Harley (1786-1858) made his first appearance in
London at the English Opera House in July, 1815. Soon afterwards he
joined the company at Drury Lane, where he remained till 1835, and made
a great reputation as a comic actor and singer.

The Blue Stocking. Moore's M.P., or the Blue-Stocking (1811).

240. Mr. Wallack. James William Wallack (1791 ?-1864), a versatile actor well known for many years both in London and America.

Mrs. Harlowe. Sarah Harlowe (1765-1852), a low comedy actress who first appeared at Covent Garden in 1790.

'Warbled, etc. Cf. In amorous ditties all a summer's day.' Paradise Lost, 1. 449.

'As one incapable, etc. Hamlet, Act iv. Sc. 7.

The Iron Chest. By George Colman the younger, produced by Kemble in 1796.

241. The Squire of Dames. The Faerie Queene, Book III. Canto VII. The giantess was Argante.

Mr. Capel Lofft. Capell Lofft (1751-1824), a well-known politician and
miscellaneous writer, the patron of the poet Bloomfield and Napoleon.
The letter referred to by Hazlitt appeared in The Morning Chronicle,
August 3, 1815.

Mr. Foote, An actor from Edinburgh who had made his first appearance in
London on July 18, 1815.

PAGE

242. Mr. Gyngell. Gyngell's Exhibition of the original Fantoccini, the Microcosm, the Moving Panorama,' etc. was on view at this time at the theatre in Catherine Street.

Living in London. Attributed to Jameson, produced August 5, 1815.

"Want of decency,' etc. The Earl of Roscommon's Essay on Translated Verse,

114.

243. Quod sit, etc. Horace, Ars Poetica, 188.

The King's Proxy. By Samuel James Arnold.

Plato. The Republic, Book VII.

244. Mr. and Mrs. T. Cooke. Thomas Simpson Cooke (1782-1848), who composed the music for The King's Proxy.

1. 23.
The Examiner proceeds to quote from The Morning Chronicle a
favourable notice of a new musical farce (by E. P. Knight) entitled A Chip
of the Old Block, or, The Village Festival, and adds: This account is from
the Chronicle. It is much too favourable. The piece is one of the most
wretched we have seen. A statute fair would be more entertaining.
political claptraps were so barefaced as to be hissed. Matthews sung a
song with that kind of humour and effect of which our readers will easily
form an idea.'

The Maid and the Magpie.

Arnold's version, produced August 21, 1815.

245. The Hypocrite. By Isaac Bickerstaffe, first produced in 1768.

246. Sleek o'er his rugged looks. Macbeth, Act III. Sc. 2.

Major Sturgeon. In Foote's The Mayor of Garratt.

The

Mrs. Sparks. See Leigh Hunt's Dramatic Essays (ed. Archer and Lowe),

P. 177.

Mrs. Orger. Mary Ann Orger (1788-1849) appeared at Drury Lane in 1808. She was the wife of Thomas Orger, a Quaker.

247. Has honours, etc. Cf. Some have greatness thrust upon 'em.' Twelfth Night, Act 11. Sc. 5.

Mr. Decamp. De Camp (Mrs. Charles Kemble's brother) had played Isidore in Coleridge's Remorse (January 23, 1813). For another failure of his see Lamb's Letters (ed. W. C. Hazlitt), 1. 377.

Mr. Edwards's Richard III. September 25, 1815.

'Sole sway and sovereignty.' Cf. 'Give solely sovereign sway.' Macbeth, Act 1. Sc. 5.

248. Mr. Incledon. Charles Incledon (1763-1826), the tenor, a good singer but a bad actor, appeared at Covent Garden from 1790 till 1815.

249. Lovers' Vows. Mrs. Inchbald's version of Kotzebue's Natural Son, first produced at Covent Garden, 1798, revived at Drury Lane, September 26, 1815.

Mrs. Mardyn. Mrs. Mardyn had been very successful in Dublin. A false
report was afterwards spread that she had eloped with Byron. See Byron's
Letters and Journals (ed. Prothero), 11. 217, and Mrs. Baron Wilson's Our
Actresses, 1. 198-207.

Mr. Dowion

for the first time. October 5, 1815. 'Merry jest.' Titus Andronicus, Act v. Sc. 2.

250. Mr. Lovegrove. William Lovegrove (1778-1816), who made his reputation at Bath, and appeared in London in 1810.

Wewitzer. Ralph Wewitzer (1748-1825), who had had a long career, chiefly in secondary parts. This was one of his last appearances.

1. 18. The Examiner article continues: The new farce [at Covent Garden, October 5, 1815], called The Farce-Writer, has been very successful; we wish we could add deservedly so. It is a happy instance of lively dulness.

PAGE

The wit consists entirely in the loco-motion of the actors. It is a very badly written pantomime.'

250. The School for Scandal. September 27, 1815.

Little Simmons. Samuel Simmons (1777-1819), a regular member of the
Covent Garden company from 1796, and very successful as a comedian.
Moses in The School for Scandal was one of his parts.

"Cast some longing, etc. Gray's Elegy, St. 22.

251. Fawcett. John Fawcett (1768-1837), for many years manager of Covent

Garden.

Mrs. Gibbs. For an account of this actress, said to have been the wife of
George Colman the younger, see Mrs. Baron Wilson's Our Actresses, 1. 83-90.
Mr. Blanchard. William Blanchard (1769-1835), one of the Covent Garden
comedians. See Leigh Hunt's Critical Essays, p. 122.

Mr. Farley. Charles Farley (1771-1859), actor, dramatist, and stage

manager.

last line. The Examiner continues: Miss O'Neill has resumed her engagement at this house, and plays her usual characters to crowded audiences with even increased effect. We should attempt to describe her excellency in some of them, but that we feel ourselves unable to do her even tolerable justice.'

252. Mrs. Alsop's Rosalind. Covent Garden, October 18, 1815. Mrs. Alsop did not continue long on the stage. She was the daughter of Mrs. Jordan and Richard Daly, the Irish theatrical manager.

'No more like,' etc. Cf. Hamlet, Act 1. Sc. 2.

Her Nell. In The Devil to Pay.

The Will. By F. Reynolds, produced in 1797.

253. John Du Bart. October 25, 1815. The piece, attributed to Pocock, seems to have been founded on an exploit of the French naval hero, Jean Barth (1651-1702).

That which took place in Hyde Park. Hazlitt refers to the extraordinary thanksgiving jubilee, which took place in London on August 1, 1814, and following days. Part of the programme consisted of a sham fight on the Serpentine.

254. Mr. Bishop.

composer.

Afterwards Sir Henry Rowley Bishop (1786-1855), the

'Guns, drums,' etc. Pope, Satires, 1. 26.

The Beggar's Opera. October 28, 1815. Cf. ante, pp. 193-5.

Miss Nash. Miss Nash had played Polly at Bath, November 4, 1813, a performance described by Genest as 'very good.'

255. Mrs. Davenport. Mary Ann Davenport (1765?-1843) first appeared at Covent Garden in 1794.

256. 1. 15. The Examiner adds: A new farce has been brought out at DruryLane in the course of the week, called Twenty per Cent. It has succeeded very well. A voluble lying knave of a servant in it by Mr. Harley, who plays this class of characters well, is its chief attraction. It is deficient in plot, but not without pleasantry. It is improbable, lively, and short.' The

farce was by T. Dibdin.

Miss O'Neill's Elwina. Covent Garden, November 11. Hannah More's
Percy was produced in 1778.

1. 15.
The Theatrical Examiner for November 12, 1815, on Kean's
Bajazet, and Mrs. Mardyn and Mrs. Alsop in The Country Girl, is clearly
Hazlitt's.

257. There is one short word, etc. Fudge.' See The Vicar of Wakefield, chap. xi.

PAGE

258. 1. 24.

The Examiner continues: Miss Stephens has appeared twice in Polly, and once in Rosetta. She looks better than she did last year, and, if possible, sings better. Of the new Farce at Drury-Lane [Who's Who? or The Double Imposture], we have only room to add, that there is one good scene in it, in which Munden and Harley made a very grotesque contrast, with some tolerable equivoques; all the rest is a tissue of the most tedious and gross improbabilities. The author's wit appeared to have been elicited and expended in the same moment.'

Where to Find a Friend. By Leigh, produced at Drury Lane November 23, 1815.

260. Johnstone. John Henry Johnstone (1749-1828), a member of the Drury Lane company from 1803 to 1820. He began his career as a singer.

'The milk of human kindness.' Macbeth, Act 1. Sc. v.

261. Cymon. Garrick's play was produced in 1767.

"Sweet Passion of Love,' Act 111. Sc. 2.

"It is silly sooth, etc. Twelfth Night, Act II. Sc. 4.

Now I am seventy-two.' Cymon, Act 11. Sc. 3.

Split the ears, etc. Hamlet, Act II. Sc. 2.

262. What's a Man of Fashion?

Reynolds.

An indifferent farce' (according to Genest) by

Collins, Epistle to Sir Thomas Hanmer, 59-63.

263. With pleased attention,' etc.
Collins is referring to Fletcher.

"Where did you rest last night?' The Orphan, Act IV. Sc. 3.
'A cubit from his stature.' Cf. St. Matthew, vi. 27.

The Honey-Moon. By John Tobin (1805).

"He still plays the dog.' Cf. Henry VI., Part III. Act v. Sc. 6.

last line. The Examiner adds: Mrs. Marden [Mardyn] played Miss Hoyden on Wednesday in the admirable comedy of the Trip to Scarborough. She seemed to consult her own genius in it less than the admonitions of some critics. There was accordingly less to find fault with, but we like her better when she takes her full swing.

"If to her share some trifling errors fall,

Look in her face, and you'll forget them all.'1

Mr. Penley's Lord Foppington had very considerable merit.

264. The Merchant of Bruges. A version by Douglas Kinnaird, Byron's friend, of Fletcher's comedy, The Beggar's Bush.

That every petty lord, etc. For this and the other passages quoted see The
Beggar's Bush, Act 11. Sc. 3.

266. 1. 17.

In The Examiner the article continued as follows: The new musical farce, My Spouse and I, continues to be acted with deserved applause. It is by much the best thing brought out this season. It has a great deal of all that is necessary to a good farce, point, character, humour, and incident. It was admirably supported. Harley played a lively character of the bustling Fawcett-cast very happily. He may now stick very comfortably in the skirts of public favour, if he does not chuse to fling himself out of them. The only faults of this piece are, that it is too long in the second act, and that Miss Kelly continues somewhat too long in breeches, for the purposes of decorum. Mr. Barnard, as a country lad, played very well, and was deservedly encored in a song, "But not for me the merry bells." This piece is described by Genest as an indifferent musical farce by C. Dibdin, Jun."'

1 Pope, The Rape of the Lock, 11. 17-18.

PAGE

266. Smiles and Tears. By Mrs. Charles Kemble (Maria Theresa De Camp, 1774-1838), produced December 12, 1815.

268. Lucy Lockitt. In The Beggar's Opera.

269.

Deaf and Dumb. A version (1801) of Bouilly's Abbé de l'Épée.

Father and Daughter. Mrs. Opie's (1769-1853) first publication (1801).
In The Examiner Hazlitt adds: 'Mr. Liston spoke an indifferent

1. 29.

epilogue inimitably well.'

George Barnwell. Cf. The Round Table, vol. 1. p. 154.

'A custom more honoured, etc. Hamlet, Act. 1. Sc. 4.

'These odds more even? Cf. Measure for Measure, Act 111. Sc. 1.

"A good hater.' See Boswell's Life of Johnson (ed. G. B. Hill), 1. 190, n. 1.
"He is the fitter for heaven. George Barnwell, Act II. Sc. 3.
"Could he lay, etc. Ibid. Act IV. Sc. I.

270. 1. 10.

The Examiner concludes: Both Pantomimes are indifferent. That at Drury-Lane consists in endless flights of magpies up to the ceiling, and that at Covent-Garden stays too long in China. The latter part was better where Mr. Grimaldi comes in, and lets off a culverin at his enemies, and sings a serenade to his mistress in concert with Grimalkin. We were glad, right glad, to see Mr. Grimaldi again. There was (some weeks back) an ugly report that Mr. Grimaldi was dead. We would not believe it; we did not like to ask any one the question, but we watched the public countenance for the intimation of an event which "would have eclipsed the gaiety of nations." We looked at the faces we met in the street, but there were no signs of general sadness; no one stopped his acquaintance to say, that a man of genius was no more. Here indeed he is again, safe and sound, and as pleasant as ever. As without the gentleman at St. Helena, there is an end of politics in Europe; so without the clown at Sadler's Wells, there must be an end of pantomimes in this country!'

The Busy Body. Mrs. Centlivre's comedy (1709).

"His voice, etc. As You Like It, Act 11. Sc. 7.

271. Barnes. Mrs. Barnes from Exeter.' December 29, 1815. 'The divine Desdemona. Othello, Act 11. Sc. 1.

'That flows on,' etc. Ibid. Act III. Sc. 3.

Zanga or Bajazet. In Young's The Revenge and Rowe's Tamerlane respectively. 272. Then, oh, farewell!' For this and the other Othello quotations see ante, P. 189.

273.

A New Way to Pay Old Debts. Sir Giles Overreach was one of Kean's
greatest parts. See Doran's Annals of the English Stage (ed. Lowe),
III. 390-1.

It has been considered, etc. Part of this passage was repeated in The Round
Table. See vol. 1. pp. 156-7, and notes.

'Two at a time, etc. The Beggar's Opera, Act 11. Sc. 4.

Edwin. John Edwin, the elder (1749-1790), one of the great comedians of

his day.

A New Way to Pay Old Debts, Act v. Sc. 1. lbid., Act 11. Sc. 1.

274. 'His fortune swells him,' etc.
'Come hither, Marall, etc.
'I'm feeble, etc.
Ibid.
A Midsummer Night's Dream.
January 17, 1816.

We hope we have not been, etc.
paragraph of one of his Round

As altered by Reynolds, and produced

Hazlitt probably refers to the concluding Table essays. See vol. 1. p. 64.

1 See Johnson's Lives of the Poets, Life of Edmund Smith.