or a "tiny bit of playfulness," which the kids like to laugh at, the

airy nothing" procure a local habitation and a name

TROL

of them at

I remain, my dear Sir,

Your's, truly,

PIERCE EGAN.

**No LUCK! no

No go!

I will be looke

for! but should winning be the result, why ther

the sweetener

either at the Blun

Magazine, or the Treasury, not being "partiklaı to a shade," d'ye see, where it comes from! Some Coves, it is said, are only to be tempted

by a sop in the

inclined for the gift of

but my taste is more

Esq.

Pay to my Order,
A. BUNN.

Poor Pierce! I really wish him all the good his varied talent deserves. They say, that Fortune knocks at every man's door once in his life-time; but if she ever did at Egan's, I am very much afraid he was not at home.

CHAPTER XI.

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 Robert 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-Unprecedented termsOne man found to refuse what all the rest of mankind were trying to possess-A droll and a deep letter from MalibranExtraordinary interference of the Lord Chamberlain-Killigrew's Patent-George the Third's Patent, and the fees paid for itCharles Kemble's opinion of the Lord Chamberlain's powersA surviving regicide-Deaths of Bellini, and Isaac Pocock, &c.

ALTHOUGH it is absolutely necessary to enter into the fact of the dissolution of the UNION, which terminated with the present season, it is not important to go into the minutia. Notwithstanding, at the onset of its proceedings, my secrecy as to the exact nature of OUR CONSTITUTION was stipulated for, and religiously observed, it was not so strictly maintained by others, who were acquainted with its formation. Between

222

SECESSION OF THE CAPITALIST.

the one who found all the money and the one who was invested with all the authority, many persons sought to draw a line of distinction, and naturally to produce a difference of opinion not amounting to a matter of much moment, but enough to disturb in some slight degree the harmony of affairs. Our respective positions had been very clearly laid down in a deed, bearing date the 24th of April (1834), and had been duly acted up to-but still the few "distinctions without a difference" that would be sure to arise between the impressions of a gentleman not long habituated to theatrical pursuits, and the experience of one whose life had been principally occupied with them, were likely to be exaggerated by officious and jealous people, whose object for the most part is accomplished when any mischief has been effected. The alterations of the prices had disconcerted my calculations and plans, and such a vital alteration as that seemed to me to be but the forerunner of otherspetty misconceptions led to petty remarks on the part of those who did not, or would not, see the probable consequences of any breach between myself and my backer, and discord appeared to be their aim. In the midst of the slight dissensions such unworthy cavillings gave rise to, he was urged by his family and friends to disconnect himself if possible with the stage; and having possessed me of his wishes, I felt bound if possible to carry them into effect. It would be irrevelant to my purpose, and a proceeding of questionable delicacy, to fill up my book with deeds and

agreements, calculations and arrangements, plans and promises made and entered into at the time, for the due fulfilment of our respective responsibilities. It will be enough to say that on the 6th December, in this year, I took the pecuniary onus off the shoulders of my friend and transferred it to my own, which had hitherto borne the practical one. All questions of a financial nature have been long since placed in the legal hands of our respective advisers, by whom the heavy debt due to my estate has yet to be adjusted, and to the discomfiture of those who wished a contrary result, Captain Polhill and myself are on terms of our accustomed intimacy. The retirement of the capitalist from any concern, and above all others from a theatrical one, is calculated either to shake its stability or embarrass its exertions-very likely both. If I had no past liabilities to contend with, I had no current capital of consequence to go on with. I had to fight my way single-handed; and such as it was, " alone I did it." There were two important points now remaining to be decided: one was to see if, without the means it could thus far rely upon, it were possible to carry on the UNION; and if not, the next was how to get rid of it-nous verrons.

Though the secession of " the capitalist" took place at the worst period of the whole year (the three weeks preceding Christmas), we had the prospect, on weathering that, of alighting on the best (the Christmas holidays). Following up therefore the plan of the last season, we produced a pantomime at Covent