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Memoirs of James Huddlestone Wynne.

and his daughter, who attends him in his frantic state, accompanies him. Thither also Ximena (Mrs. Knight) who had been betroth ed to Alonzo, and hopelessly pines for his loss, wanders and meets Manuel at Alonzo's cenotaph. In the same vault she finds the Moor expiring, who confesses he had been hired to murder Alonzo, and gives her a dagger which he had received for the purpose, and the blade of which bears his employer's name, binding her by an oath to commit it undrawn into the hands of justice; this she, dying, delivers to Torrismond. De Zelos arrives at Manuel's castle, in search of his daughter, and Torrismond rushes in, glorying in his father's innocence; Mendizabel, the justiza (Mr.Holland) desires him to unsheath the dagger---be does so, and, discovering his father's name, stabs himself. De Zelos sinks, oppressed with guilt; --and Manuel, before frantic, dies, madly glorying in the thought that De Zelos is childless as himself.

In the 1st act, the description of the battle, as traced upon the memory of the aged and enfeebled warrior, was a master-piece of acting, Fancy might have viewed Mr. Kean as an aged

[186

Nestor reciting the deeds of past times to the youthful heroes of another generation: he was extremely impassioned in this scene: he was equally great when at the end of the first act, he points out the murderer of his son. If, says Torrismond, "on earth the murderer can be found!" "There!" exclaims Manuel, pointing to De Zelos. The effect was very striking, and our praise is not confined to Mr. Kean, for Mr. Rae and Mr. Wallack were eminently successful in their efforts.

The scenery is magnificent.

The lists prepared for the single combat of the Champions of Manuel and De Zelos are grand and splendid, perfectly characteristic→→ and, doubtless, accurately portrayed all the pompous forms and gorgeous ceremonies of those appeals to Heaven. Having thus far expressed ourselves, we cannot avoid expressing our doubts, whether this Tragedy will glide unobstructed down the tide of time. Repitition, we fear, will damp the admiration of those who may be at first prompted to applaud it. In fact, it does not in any one passage carry the mind to a very high pitch of elevation.

MEMOIRS OF EMINENT PERSONS.

MR. JAMES HUDDLESTONE WYNNE.
From the New Monthly Magazine.

MR. JAMES HUDDLESTONE WYNNE in Paternoster-row, the other in May-fair.
was of a very respectable family in For the first he was doomed periodical-
South Wales, and related to the Wynnes ly to write rebuses and enigmas; for the
of Wynnstay, in North Wales. His fath- other, petty fables, children's lessons in
er from misfortune having reduced his verse, or to devise new-fangled modes of
circumstances, wisely resolved on a pro- playing the game of goose. As these two
fession for young James, and that of a pillars of literature lived at so great dis-
compositor was determined on, at which tance apart, our poor poet, who had suf-
he worked with that great and worthy fered a total derangement of the muscles
man Benjamin Franklin; but he be- of his right leg, was almost reduced to a
came disgusted with his profession, and skeleton by his attendance on them,
obtained a lieutenancy in a regiment When he had written a dozen lines for a
about to set out for India. The irasci- child's play-card, or half a page of a
bility of Mr. Wynne's temper was such, monthly magazine, our poet was obliged
that it for ever kept him in hot water to go with his stock of commodity from
he had not proceeded far on his voyage Bloomsbury, where he occupied an attic,
before he quarrelled with his brother of first to May-fair, and then to Paternos-
ficers, who would not mess with him, and terrow; and the remuneration he re-
actually left him behind when the ship ceived for the effusions of his brain was
arrived at the Cape; from whence he frequently insufficient to procure him the
Feturned to England, and meeting with means of existence. Mr. Wynne would
a young lady of property, entered into often complain in the most severe terms
the state of matrimony. It was about of the want of generosity in his employ.
this time that Mr. Wynne thought of ers. The literary productions of Mr.
commencing author, and his first applica- Wynne are numerous; and, some writ-
tion in that way was to Mr. Geo. Kears- ten for his amusement, full of merit,
ley, bookseller, Fleet-street, whose lib- strongly evincing flights of true genius.
erality enabled him to support his fami- His History of Ireland the critics of his
ly. He had two other employers: one day belaboured with Herculean clubs
Eug. Mag. Vok IV.

Q

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Memoirs of James Huddlestone Wynne

[188

but critics are often more ill-natured than ered with rags like a pauper; writing by candid; his Miseries of Authorship does the porter, that "the pity he had expehis feelings much credit-alas! he was rienced was brutality; the officiousness able to give a faithful picture of those to serve him insolence; and if ever Mr. "miseries ;" and his poem of the Prosti- K. did the like again till he was requesttute is full of moral and tender sentiments, ed, he would chastise him in another the offspring of a good heart. Many way." This would have been a wren others of his pieces have much to recom- pouncing upon an eagle; for Mr. Kearsmend them, and would not disgrace men ley was a tall stout man-a Colossus to of greater celebrity. Wynne.

Notwithstanding the preceding, Mr.

Mr. Wynne's eccentricities were numerous, and some of them so tinctured Wynne was not without his attachment with pride as make their possessor ap- to dress and fashion. A short time prepear truly ridiculous. The noblest vious to his publishing his History of inds are ever hardiest in distress; but Ireland, he expressed a desire to dediMr. W. was insolent in rags, turbulent eate it to the Duke of Northumberland, when in want of a meal, and would in- who was just returned from being lordsult his best friend for doing him an act lieutenant of that country. of kindness unsolicited; of which the following anecdote is an instance.

For this

purpose he waited on Dr. Percy, and met with a very polite reception. The Mr. Wynne's figure was below the duke was made acquainted with his middle stature; his face thin and pale; wishes, and Dr. Percy went as the meshis head scantily covered with black hair, senger of good tidings to the author. collected in a tail about the thickness of But there was more to be done than a a tobacco-pipe; his emaciated right leg formal introduction; the poor writer inwas sustained by an unpolished iron :— timated this to the good doctor; who in he wore his gloves without fingers, and the most delicate terms begged his achis clothes in tatters. In such a trim he ceptance of an almost new suit of black, one day entered the shop of Mr. Kears- which, with a very little alteration, might ley, the bookseller, who possessed a be made to fit. This, the doctor urged, heart susceptible of every good, and a would be best, as there was not time to hand, ever ready to relieve distress. Mr. provide a new suit and other things necK.'s shop was the lounge for gentlemen essary for his debut, as the duke had apof literary attachment, who stopped to pointed Monday in the next week to inquire the occurrences of the day; and give, the historian an audience. Mr. several persons of fashion were present Wynne approved of the plan in all rewhen Wynne entered, and began to talk spects, and in the mean time had prein a way that shewed want of good- pared himself with a set speech and a breeding. His shabby appearance, to- manuscript of the dedication. But, to gether with his unbridled loquacity, digress a little, it must be understood threw Kearsley into a fever until he got that Dr. Percy was considerably in starid of them; after which, moved at the ture above Mr. W. and his coat suffiindelicacy of his appearance, Mr. K. from ciently large to wrap round the latter, the purest motives, took a suit of his and conceal him.-The morning came clothes, almost new, and with other ap- for the author's public entry at Northpendages, bundled them together in a umberland-house; but alas! one grand handkerchief, and, with a polite note, mistake had been made in the hurry of sent them after Mr. W. to his lodgings, business no application had been made As this was done without the knowledge to the tailor for the necessary alterations of a third person, and in so políte a way, of his clothes; however, great minds it would not be unreasonable to suppose are not cast down with ordinary occur that Mr. Wynne received the gift with rences; Mr. Wynne dressed himself in thankfulness, at least with good manners; Dr. Percy's friendly suit, together with but the result proved otherwise. He a borrowed sword, and a hat under his stormed like a madman, and in a rage arm of great antiquity; then taking returned the bundle, though he was cov. leave of his trembling wife, he set out for

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"If John marries Mary, and Mary alone,
Tis a very good match between Mary and

the great house. True to the moment, of a rich merchant in the thorough, a he arrived-Dr. Percy attended-and friend of Dr. Madan's, who had marthe duke was ready to receive our poet, ried two wives, and (what must appear whose figure at this time presented the extraordinary) lived in tolerable harmony appearance of a suit of sables hung on a with both under the same roof. This hedge-stake, or one of those bodiless book Mr. Wynne borrowed, and returnforms we see swinging on a dyer's pole. ed it again with the following epigram On his introduction, Mr. Wynne began written on one of the leaves in red ink : his formal address; and the noble duke was so tickled at the singularity of the poet's appearance, that, in spite of his gravity, he burst the bonds of good man- But if John weds a score---O what claws and ners and at length, agitated by an en- It can't be a match, but a bundle of matches." deavour to restrain risibility, he leaped from his chair, forced a purse of thirty guineas into Mr. Wynne's hand, and burrying out of the room, told the poet be was welcome to make what use he pleased of his name and patronage.

In the year 1780, Mr. Wynne addressed an ode to her Majesty on her birth-day, which was well received; it began thus :.

"Heard ye the welcome sound of joy?
Heard ye the swelling notes of praise?
What theme like virtue can employ
The lyre, or wake the poet's lays ?"
Mr. Wynne now bego extend his
fame, and several period booksellers
with great eagerness solicited his litera
ry assistance. The Rev. Dr. Madan
had just written and published a very
singular book in vindication of polyga-
my, called Thelypthora. It was com-
posed purposely to extenuate the conduct

John!

what scratches!

A hundred more instances might be produced of Mr. Wynne's ready wit and humour, but, as they still live in the memory of his friends, we shall conclude with observing, that his only faults were, negligence with respect to exterior appearance, and obstinacy in refusing to accept obligations, tendered, from the purest motives, by many who were desirous of serving him in distress. His whole garb at times was not worth a crown. His morals were noble; and those who had the advantage of his friendship, received him with a smile of respect, and always left him with regret. At length nature began to decay, bis limbs and intellect forsook him; but the affection of his children threw a veil over his infirmities. Upon the great stage of action he acted well his part; and here we drop the curtain.

·RIGHT HON. RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN,

Continued.

other things observed, that if Mr. Fox had concluded such a treaty he would have lost his friendship.

if

THE death of the Marquis of Rockingham in the summer of 1782, occaTo this flight and the sarcasms with sioned such a breach in the cabinet, that Mr. Fox with his nearest friends seced- which it was accompanied, the Chanceled from administration. Thus thrown lor of the Exchequer, instead of returnagain into opposition, Mr. Sheridan ex- ing a cool answer, made a dct and erted himself with great zeal in attacking contemptuous allusion to the ofessionLord Shelburne not only in the house, al pursuits of Sheridan, saying that proper through the medium of the press, and in his talents were exercised in their the formation of political associations or sphere, they would receive the plaudits clubs, where his oratorical powers were of the audience, and it would be his forof singular efficacy. tune sui plausu gaudere theatri." Mr. Sheridan gladly caught at this advantage, and in his reply, after animadverting on the personality, said that "if ever he again engaged in dramatic composition, he should probably be led, from the ex

The first time he came into contact with Mr. Pitt was on the discussion of the preliminaries of peace, on which occasion, he directed some strange language against ministers, and amongst

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ample just shewn, to improve upon one he delivered on that subject February 7, of Ben Jonson's last characters, that of 1787, lasted five hours and forty minutes, the Angry Boy in the Alchymist." This felicitous application of theatrical knowledge occasioned much laughter at the time, and had the effect of fixing upon Mr. Pitt the appellation of the Angry Boy, which continued many years.

and had such an electrifying effect upon the house, that the debate was adjourned till the next day, to give the members time for reflection, after being so long under the influence of the magician's wand. Nor was his speech on the seOn the resignation of Lord Shelburne, venth charge, respecting bribes and preand the accession of the coalition minis- sents corruptly received by Mr. Hastry, Mr. Sheridan was nominated one of tings, less admired as an eloquent comthe Under Secretaries of State in the position, though unfortunately the beauoffice of Mr. Fox, but the contention ties of both are lost to posterity, for the occasioned by the famous India Bill of want, of a correct and minute report, that eminent statesman, produced anoth- The same year Mr. Sheridan displayed er change in a very few months, and Mr. great energy in the service of the Prince Sheridan with his friends resumed their of Wales, when the debts of his Royal seats on the opposition bench, where Highness came under the consideration they became fixtures for a series of years. of parliament, and his zeal on this occaFrom this period, Mr. Sheridan dis- sion, completely established him in the tinguished himself as the vigilant assail- confidence of his illustrious patron, whose ant of all the measures of Mr. Pitt with friendship he enjoyed to the close of his out a single exception, and it is remark- life. able, that while Mr. Burke and Mr. Fox commended the sinking fund bill, and that for the consolidation of the custom and excise duties, our orator alone, constantly and pertinaciously found fault with these acts. But his greatest display of eloquence, as a member of the House of Commons, was on bringing up the third charge against Mr. Hastings he astonished and delighted the numer "on the resumption of the Jaghires and ous hearers in Westminster Hall for the confiscation of the treasures of the four days successively. Princesses of Oude." The speech which

When the impeachment of Mr. Hastings was determined upon, and the charges concluded, Mr. Sheridan was nominated the third on the list of managers, and, very indiciously, the principal part allottedim, was that which related to the Princesses of Oude: in summing up the evidence on which subject

POETRY.

To be concluded in our next.

Poetry.

WRITTEN ON THE SEA SHORE AT --------, KENT. Now on the bed of of death it shews her laid!