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CHAPTER XVIII.

Decided hostilities of 1801-2-Kemble now challenges comparison-No coals from Newcastle-Lewis's apology-The faculty bulletins-Cooke's marriage annulled-Next month he really arrives, and triumphs-Prevalence of drunkenness -Mrs. Billington sings for both houses-Siddons, Henry, and his Integrity-As an actor-Marries Miss MurrayIsabella's own son-Mrs. Billington's accident-Quick, the cunning Isaac, at Drury-Difficult music-Nasolini-Kemble's Zanga, and Fifth Henry-Reynolds at the other house -Nothing written for Mrs. Jordan-Poaching at Strawberry Hill-The Fashionable Friends-Seduction and Sentiment-Lady Selina, Miss de Camp-Sketch of that character-Cobbett would not illuminate on the Peace-Applies for a guard-Answer of the Minister-M. Otto's house, and Mr. Bull's mistake-CONCORD declared an insult by acclamation-M. Otto found the schoolmaster not abroadAMITY versus Concord, adopted-The G. R. of the illumination without a Crown-One ordered by the sailors-Cooke and the Yankees-Mrs. Jordan in Lady Teazle-King's honourable retirement-His address-One word for the actor, two for the poet-Cumberland, C. Kemble-Mrs. Jordan leads Mr. King off the stage-Reception in the

green-room-Kemble resigns-Close of both theatres-Colman's new plan-Mrs. Jordan at Richmond and Margate— Her dress catches fire at the watering place-Bannister now manager-Season 1802-3-She acts Bizarre in the Inconstant-The merit of Farquhar in that play-Slipslop edition -Cherry a substitute for King-Garrick-" Hamlet, what Hamlet the Dane ?"-King George the Third's opinionKemble-Cooke-Hamlet and Osric combined-Also Hamlet and his uncle-Lord Thurlow in Hamlet-Not the Chancellor who was like him-The text of Shakspeare-Cooke's edition-Mrs. Jordan's painter, Romney-Character of him Takes Coates's house-Shee succeeds to his pencil, his violin, and his rooms.

THE winter campaign of 1801-2 opened with decided hostility. Whatever induced Mr. Kemble to leave his rival the first season in possession of Bosworth Field, it looked like fear of him to discontinue the performance of Richard entirely; a compliment that old Sheridan did not pay even to Garrick; for he alternated the great characters of Shakspeare with him even on the same stage. Kemble on the very first night of the season,

"Like Bellona's bridegroom, lapt in proof,
Confronted him with self-comparisons."

This was on the Saturday, the 12th of September; and the day of rest which suspends all combat except the revolutionary, only intervened, when Cooke, nothing loth, as it was supposed, was to answer the challenge at Covent Garden. The play was put up accordingly, and the hero expected on Monday in time to dress for the part; but he was so indifferent and daring, that the Newcastle Chronicle of the 12th absolutely announced his benefit there on the 14th, when he was to play Stukeley in the Gamester, though he could not but know the arrangement at Covent Garden. play of Lovers' Vows, or the return of their money, was proposed by Mr. Lewis to the pit and galleries-the boxes on the first night of a season seldom are troubled with any thing but paper.

The

There was some occasional colloquies between the groundlings and the managers, with the usual advantage on the side of him who speaks from an eminence. Lewis on these occasions was always finely tempered and manly—he was never cringing -his respect had no affected reverence—and he was too well-bred to look dissatisfaction, and presume to direct his masters. At length he obtained

his object. Cooke, it seemed, after all, by his exertions had ruptured a blood-vessel in his chest, though an iron one; and Dr. Kentish had him under his care at Newcastle. He was unable to write himself, and a Mr. Dunn acted as his private secretary upon the occasion, to make his apology to Mr. Harris. Brave punishments were prepared for him on his return to his duty. I mean, of course, his theatrical duty; that of a husband had been done away in the summer; Sir William Scott having annulled his marriage with Miss Alicia Daniels of the Bath theatre; what Shore had attracted her Hastings it is useless to enquire. On the 19th of the following month, he presented himself to the audience before the play in the dress of Richard, and they had the kindness to hear him. "He confessed that he had no permission to remain in the country after the commencement of the town season, regretted the disappointment he had occasioned, and besought their indulgence to his future efforts."

A biographer of the stage, who wishes the respectability of what he loves, is hurt beyond measure to see the prevalence of so contemptible a vice

as drunkenness among players. At first, some little excuse is made for the man, in the recollection that his original habits may have been low; and that some stimulus may be required to excite in the really distressed their melancholy mirth. The next is that of Cassio himself; that they have poor and unhappy brains for drinking;" so indeed it should seem, if by six o'clock in the day, they are unable to conduct themselves discreetly. They should remember, that their profession is now considered liberal; and not condemned to "wakes and fairs and market-towns," as formerly, the horn of the player should not be dry at all hours. The inspiration even of madeira may bestow rather mummery than character; and I can never think that an actor becomes more amusing as he becomes less articulate. A degree of impudence too is associated with this habit; the man will attempt the business of a character, who has lost the language of it; and the author is supposed deficient in point, or vulgar in diction, because the point is too troublesome to the buffoon, and he had rather run on with his own illiterate gabble.

The love of music was now growing fast upon