CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Inutility of Biography-Various views of managemenat nd various managers-Lord Byron and Mr. Robins-Receipts to Kean's first appearance—Mr. Henry Harris—Mr. R. Sheil -Mr. C. Kemble-Mr. Elliston-King George and King Robert-Break up of the old understanding between the two Theatres-and its consequences Mr. Price and Mr. Bish-A bad actor a bad bargain-The American Stage the ruin of the English Stage-Advantages of utilityCurious illustration thereof Combination of Kean and Young in tragedy, and Liston and Mathews in comedyIngredients of an utilitarian-Failure of the theatres the fault of the public-Sir Robert Walpole, and his medical advisers Page 1 CHAPTER II, Indifference of the public to theatrical amusements-Advantages possessed by the Foreign stage-Consequent cultivation of the art-A few singers do not constitute an Opera -Difficulties under which the large theatres labour-Folly of reduced prices-Necessity of reduced salaries-Lord Page Chamberlain - Difference between authority and oppression-Sir E. L. Bulwer and the Marquis Conyngham -Licences to be had for asking-Hardship on the Haymarket theatre complained of by the manager to the public -The Duke of Sussex's opinion of the proper support of the London Stage 322 CHAPTER III. Performers and their salaries, past and present-Their deportment under different circumstances-The article of engagement of a leading actor, and its mutual advantages--Consequences of befriending a performer-James Smith and the Zoological Gardens-Horses and Actors, managed by old Astley-Cox versus Kean Singular letter - Salaries of Mathews, Munden, Fawcett, Quick, Edwin, Irish Johnstone, C. Kemble, Macready, Ellen Tree, compared with those of Farren, Liston, Power, George Cooke, John Kemble, Mrs. Jordan-Different notions of comfort-Actors the destruction of dramatic literature-Knowles-Bulwer -Colman-Inchbald-Morton-Reynolds, &c. CHAPTER IV. A London manager as he is, and as he ought to be-The conceit of authors and actors contrasted-Times when theatres were prosperous—Garrick's salary and season— "Orders" the cause of all kinds of dis-orders-The press and its privileges-Difference of value in paper and other currency-Disadvantages of people not paying for their admission-Increase of newspapers-A favour no boonIndividual opinion founded on general criticism-Disadvantages of steam to a theatre-Success and talent not synonymous-Reasons why no one ever should be a manager 74 CHAPTER V. The value of experience exemplified-The general result of all prosecutions-The Garrick Club-What it ought to effect, and what it does-Thomas Campbell's reception in it-Sin. gular success leading to singular disaster-Kean and Macready's Shaksperian language-Madame Malibran's mind defined in her correspondence-Mr. Hackett and Mr. George Colman-Mr. Dowton's opinion of American editions of English plays-Mr. Kean's death, and his last appearance preceding it-Union of the two Patent theatres -Causes, or rather reasons, for its necessity Page 91 CHAPTER VI. A good address very desirable-Mr. Henry Harris's opinion of the author's-Opposition to it-Mr. Bulwer and his Bill -The Duke of Gloucester-False reports likely to lead to other reports-The Duke of Wellington's favourite maxim -Symptoms of hostilities-Mr. Sheridan Knowles, and his co-mates in exile"-Memorial to His Majesty, and its gracious reception-Different views taken by different authors -The King a better judge than his subjects-Two theatres better than nineteen, in an undramatic city, logically discussed-A trip to Paris 107 CHAPTER VII. Mems. of a Manager during a Continental trip-Terms on which to meet a bad dramatist-French honour, and its reward-Opinions on the novelties of the day-Mademoiselle Falcon and Madame Vestris-Death of a celebrated theatri- cal character-A man can never be drowned who is born to be hanged-Mr. Braham and his talent for anecdote― Opening of the patent theatres after their union-Free List -Some on it "more free than welcome"-John Barnett Page Ambassadors-foreign and otherwise-Advantages of a tout ensemble-the decline of Pantomime, the cause, and the loss supplied-A humorous instance of stage direction-Gus- tavus and St. George-Ducrow's parrot, and the Hebrew Melodies-Count D'Orsay and Mr. Kenney-Mr. Farren and Prince Talleyrand-Cabinets of St. James's and the Tuileries-The case of a wig-The best way to cut a play- Alarm at the prospect of war allayed-William Godwin- Jephtha's Vow-a rash one-How to make a splendid fortune -The Lord Chamberlain in a dilemma-Three kings-one real one, and two dummies-Mr. Braham and Mr. Macready -Mr. Liston and His Majesty" ego et rex meus" - The Page and the Peer-A good performer a bad judge-Captain Fitzclarence and his mother-How, in reality, to cast a play ricarde-Duke of Devonshire-Duke of Wellington-Lord A visit to Germany, and its theatres-Advantages of a Dutch- town- Meat regulated by quantity rather than quality— Arnheim-Lord Howick-Mrs. Trollope's ideas of comfort -Professor Livius at Dusseldorf- The value of Kings and Kings' bones-the Rhine a case of Rhino-A touch of Poetry -Distance between the "diet of worms," and a cold chicken -singular rencontre of three singular characters-Studying German — Heidelberg and its glories— Strasburgh and its pátés — Mr. Charles Kemble - Reduced prices, and their consequences-Young actors in Shakspeare's plays - Mr. Dissolution Difference between a capital fellow and a fellow of capital-Mr. Stanfield and Mr. Ducrow-Family sorrows —Mr. Farren and a distinguished nobleman—Additional verses to a popular song-Death and drunkenness-Sir Ro- bert Peel and the Patent Theatres A distinction between ways and means— -Mr. Poole and the horn blower-Death of Mathews-Italian airs-Laporte's opinion of them in a letter -Bunn's opinion of them in a song—Malibran's engagement |