CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Page 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 comedy, Ingredients of an utilitarian-Failure of the theatres the fault of the public—Sir Robert Walpole, and his medical advisers . . . . . . . . . . 1 CHAPTER II. Indifference of the public to theatrical amusements-Advan tages 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 . . . . . . . 32 CHAPTER III. Performers and their salaries, past and present–Their deport ment 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. , i 52 CHAPTER IV. A London manager as he is, and as he ought to be The conceit of authors and actors contrasted—Times when 74 CHAPTER V. Page 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 . . 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 King a better judge than his subjects—Two theatres · · · · · 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 Page 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 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-on 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 Page ricarde-Duke of Devonshire-Duke of Wellington-Lord 176 CHAPTER X. | A visit to Germany, and its theatres—Advantages of a Dutch town - Meat regulated by quantity rather than quality - 197 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 terms--One man found to refuse what all the rest of mankind were trying to possess -- A droll and a |