148 CHAPTER XX. The reservoirs of some use at Drury Lane-The Caravan and the dog Carlo-Story of the piece-Sheridan and his preserver-Cinderella and her Slipper, with Venus and the Graces-Cherry's Soldier's Daughter-Mrs. Jordan in the Widow Cheerly-Her epilogue, a female army-The Sailor's Daughter, by Cumberland-Mrs. Jordan's benefitThe middle dish-Bannister returns to the HaymarketFawcett makes a ballet from the action of Shakspeare's Tempest-The Gay Deceivers-Elliston and his addressMaster Betty at Edinburgh-Home and his Douglas-A really GREAT GENIUS of the north descending to works below him-Re-writing all our literature-Substitutes-Standard works to be carefully reprinted-The followers of Didot-His application at seventy-three-Elliston at the Opera HouseMrs. Jordan herself opens the season of 1804-5, in Widow Cheerly-Mathews and Elliston now at Drury-Miss Duncan's first night-Phantom Latham and his dash—A féte royal at Weymouth-Elliston and Miss Decamp-The royal game, and the Michaelmas goose on a birth-day—Another farce for Mrs. Jordan, called Matrimony-Mrs. Jordan singularly fortunate as an actress-Escapes the mortification of Mrs. Siddons and of Mr. Kemble-The first of men adore the phenomenon Betty-His first appearance in LondonThe author present-Candid account of it-The preparations of the house-Detail of the night-Barbarossa how castMrs. Litchfield makes a hit before Achmet appeared-His performance of Selim-His requisites-His faults-Acts two other parts at Covent Garden. I Now return a little to commemorate a striking event in the history of the National Theatre. The reservoirs, which had been prepared in the contemplation of its danger from fire, absolutely saved the concern, for a time at least, from sinking under its burthens. I allude to the production, on the 5th of December, 1803, of a serio-comic romance, called the Caravan, attendant upon which, in the person of a Newfoundland dog, called Carlo, Reynolds started the first formidable rival to the new management. The story merits a few lines, though I have not read it in Mariana. The Regent of some time or other, for period is immaterial, is desperately in love with another man's wife. The lady, at least on the stage, is, as usual, a paragon of fidelity. The husband, who is a Marquis of Calatrava, is sent by the caravan, from Madrid to Barcelona, with orders to the driver, who bears the discreet name of Blabbo, to starve him on the journey; but if he should be able upon the cameleon's dish, the air, to reach Barcelona, then, and in that case provided, the governor, Mr. Dowton, has sealed orders to destroy him. As to the Marchioness, silly woman, she follows her husband; and for her there are brave punishments in reserve. If she does not overcome her vulgar prejudice, the Marquis is to be put on board a fire-ship, and blown up, and her son Julio is to be thrown from a rock into the sea, to join the remains of his father. "O, this love, this love!" But Blabbo nourishes the Marquis on the journey, by dividing with him the dog's meat and his own. The Marquis is not blown up, though the ship is, and Carlo the dog, with his master's humanity, no sooner sees the child Julio thrown from the rock into the sea, than he jumps in after him, and brings him ashore in his mouth, with the utmost ease. The maternal feelings of the house had never been before at so high a pressure; the boiler was almost bursting-for here was really danger-real water, a real dog, a real splash, and a special interposition. Well might Sheridan rush into the green-room, and call out, where is my preserver ? Well might the author modestly present himself; and well might the manager say, the dog!" "Pooh! I meant The run of the dog was the triumph of fourfooted sagacity; it was succeeded by the slipper of glass, worn by Cinderella; and the reign of honest Carlo, interrupted by Mother Goose. Cinderella was attributed to a gentleman of Oxford, and he very classically rescues his heroine from the doubtful patronage of witchcraft, and produces all the effects of magic, by the influence of beauty and love, and marriage and grace, which the reader sees must be no less divine personages than Venus, Cupid, Hymen, and the Graces. Let me preserve the names of their mortal representatives-Mrs. Mountain-Oscar Byrne-his brother, Hymen— Bel Menage, Miss Searle, Miss Bristow the Prince, Mr. Byrne; and Cinderella herself, Miss Decamp. We have already noticed Mr. Cherry, and his ambition to write for Mrs. Jordan. On the 7th of February, 1804, his comedy was produced, under the title of the Soldier's Daughter. It has scenes of great interest and powerful contrast, the detec tion of villainy, and the restoration of family peace. The lovely spirit, that presides over the destinies of all, is a character called the Widow Cheerly, acted by the delightful woman, with as much zeal as skill; and as though she felt its importance to herself and it unquestionably was of the greatest, as being distinguished from either the Romp or the Woman of Fashion, and attractive from vivacity, knowledge, and goodness. Mrs. Jordan had an epilogue of the true cast for effect, in the times of invasion. Hear the muster of a female army. : "Should British women from the contest swerve? And class them thus. Old maids are pioneers-— There was a kind line of recollection of her aide De Camp behind the scene, who had been inured to service all the winter, and the epilogue closed with an unnecessary call for indulgence. "If mercy's shield protects the Soldier's Daughter." |