1849. Reception at the Haymarket Theatre. 629 [Manchester, September 29th to October 6th.-Seven nights.] Acted Hamlet as well as I could, not well, so dreadfully put out by King, Horatio, Ghost, Polonius, &c. Called, and delivered my farewell address. London, October 8th.-Acted Macbeth. Mr. Webster staggered me about the house just before I went on, implying that it was not full; there was however no appearance of room anywhere. The cheering on my entrance was very great from the whole house, but it did not seem to me that wild abandonment to a delighted feeling that the audience at the Princess's showed five years ago. 66 I never acted better, in many parts never so well, so feelingly, and so true. I said to Mrs. Warner once, "I never played that scene so well, and yet they do not seem to feel it." She observed, They are not educated to it ;" meaning they have been accustomed to things so different, they cannot quite appreciate it. The play ended most enthusiastically. Was called and greatly cheered. [The engagement at the Haymarket, varied by some performances in the country, continued to the middle of December.] Canterbury, November 10th.-Richelieu. 12th.-Hamlet. November 13th.-Dined with Brookfield. Met Kinglake, Hallam. junior, Bentinck, Spring Rice, Lushington, Forster, Mansfield. A very agreeable day. London, November 15th.-The Times communicated news to me this morning that was quite a shock to me. Dear kind, splendid Etty is no more. Another gone, another and another! What is our life's dependence? I mourn his loss, for I had a most affectionate regard for him, and he appreciated the little that I have done with even an enthusiastic spirit of admiration. Requiescat ! Read Othello;' passed the early evening with the children, my dearest companions. Poor dear Etty, God bless him! Birmingham, November 17th.-Lord Townley. November 23rd.-Acted Macbeth, but moderately the two first acts, but hearing that Peel was in the theatre, I played my very best in the three last. I am not sure that the audience fully appreciated me; it is the most difficult criticism to criticise acting well. Called. November 27th.-Dined with Forster, having called on and taken up Brookfield; met Rintoul, Kenyon, Procter, Kinglake, Alfred by myself in one way or other. The site, after much deliberation, was decided on, as the best to be obtained, by Chantrey, and the subject came under the cognizance of Deans Turton, Buckland, and Wilberforce. I consulted the late Lord Lansdowne, Rogers, and some others, whom I cannot immediately recollect; but the opinion was unanimous in regard to the inscription that 'Sarah Siddons' should be the only words engraved on the pedestal or plinth." The place and date of birth and death were added by Dean Stanley, in 1865, when the statue of John Kemble was removed from another part of the Abbey, and placed near that of his sister.-ED. Tennyson, Thackeray. old Kenyon home. Passed a cheerful evening; brought dear Leamington, December 1st.-Hamlet. Southampton, December 10th.-Macbeth. 11th.-Richelieu. December 18th.-Acted Macbeth under slaughterous obstruction. Never was worse dealt with. The Lady, oh !-Banquo-Lennox. In fact it was wholesale murder. B, who was complaining to me of being a pauper" yesterday, was drunk in the Witch tonight. The cause of his being rejected at theatres is too easily accounted for. Farewell to Chester; it has always used me well, but I have known as a boy sixteen years of age some bitter trials here; left in charge of a theatre, distressed for rent, and a company mutinous for long arrears of salary. London, December 28th.-Henry Taylor called. Talked over and read me the scenes in his play, which is much improved. To my extreme astonishment he showed me, after our discussion of the several passages, the first page, in which was a dedication* to myself. I felt quite overcome, so grateful, so proud, I could hardly keep the tears from my eyes. Have I merited such honour from such men as Bulwer Lytton, Dickens, Henry Taylor? December 29th.-Went by Great Western Railway to Windsor. The day bitterly cold, with drifting snow and sharp frost. Proceeded to the Castle; saw Mr. Roberts, to whom I carried a letter from Colonel Phipps. He showed me the Rubens Gallery, the theatre of the Castle, explaining to me the position of the stage, &c., the dressing-rooms, and all that was needful. He then took me round the state rooms, displaying the furniture to me, about which I was indifferent, but was charmed with the pictures of the old masters I saw there; West and Lawrence made me turn very sick. Colonel Phipps was out shooting with the Prince. Saw Marianne Skerrett, who came to me in a small basement receiving or business room. I talked with her till time to go; she threaded the passages for me, and I took leave. Exeter, December 31st.-Macbeth. * Sir Henry Taylor's drama, 'A Sicilian Summer,' is thus dedicated: "To W. C. Macready, to whose excellent judgment in matters of art this work is largely indebted, it is with sincere respect and regard very gratefully inscribed."-ED. "Bene monent qui vetant quicquam facere, de quo dubitas æquum sit an iniquum."t [January 2nd to January 4th.-Engagement at Exeter.] [January 5th to January 19th.-Engagement at Bath and Bristol.] Bristol, January 15th.-Acted Virginius, I thought, very well. Was quite overcome in the betrothal of Virginia; for my own dear girls were in my mind; was not this to " gore my own thoughts, make cheap what is most dear?" The house was the worst of all; as to 'Virginius' it invariably now occurs. I am not surprised at the attendance being less than to Shakespeare's plays, but it seems strange that the house should be positively badworse than to 'Werner,'--much. Called. January 18th.-Acted King Henry IV. very well; and Lord Townley better, I think, than I have ever before done it. As the curtain was falling stepped forward; the audience, unprepared, gave most fervent greeting. On silence I addressed them, quite overcome by recollections, the present cordiality, and my own feelings to "good old Bristol:" "Ladies and Gentlemen,—I have not waited to-night for the summons with which you have usually honoured me. As this is the last time I shall ever appear on this stage before you, I would beg leave to offer a few parting words, and would wish them to be beyond question the spontaneous tribute of my respect. It is not my intention to trespass at any length upon your patience. The little that I have to say may be briefly said. Indeed attempt at display or effect seems to me scarcely in accordance with the occasion-to me in truth a melancholy one-and certainly would very imperfectly interpret the feelings which prompt me to address you. For a long course of years-indeed from the period of my early youth-I have been welcomed by you in my professional capacity with demonstrations of favour so fervent and so constant, that they have in some measure appeared in this nature to partake almost of a personal interest. Under the influence of such an impression sentiments of deep and strong regard have taken firm root in my mind, and it is Be this thy wall of strength, a conscience good, With no committed crime to make thee blench. * Hor. Epist. I. i. v. 60.-ED. TRANS. † It is good advice to prohibit the doing of anything of which there can be a doubt whether it is right or wrong.-ED. TRANS. therefore little else than a natural impulse for me at such a moment to wish to leave with you the assurance that, as I have never been insensible to your kindness, so I never shall be forgetful of it. Ladies and Gentlemen, I should vainly task myself to find due expression for those emotions which I shall ever cherish towards you. Let me therefore, at once and for all, tender to you my warmest thanks, joined with my regretful adieux, as in my profession of an actor I most gratefully and respectfully bid you a last farewell." I was quite overcome, and unable to check the tears that rolled down my cheeks. The audience seemed much impressed, and most enthusiastic were they as I retired from before themnever to meet them again in the same relation. Hare came round, most cordially engaging me to be his guest at the next madrigal meeting; Grainger came after him, equally cordial, and seemingly much touched. Gave the servants liberal douceurs. And so farewell to my dear old Bristol audiences-most warmly and affectionately do I remember them. [January 21st to 31st. -Engagements at Bradford, Leeds, Liverpool.] January 25th.-Farewell at Leeds. London, February 1st.-Found my beloved Nina, beyond all evasion of even hope, ill; seriously, alarmingly ill. My blessed first-born, my own beloved Nina! She looked at first better, but when afterwards I looked at her-O God, how painful was the sight! My beloved one! Dressed; went to Windsor by railway, taking at the Paddington Station a special engine to return at night, for which I paid seven guineas. Dined at Castle Inn. Went in cab to the Castle; passed with my ticket into my room, a very handsome one, partitioned off from a passage; pictures of Moretto, Tintoretto, Parmegiano, &c., exquisite. Dressed; was kept in a state of irritable expectation. Mr. Wallack came to speak to me. Acted Brutus in a style of reality and earnest naturalness that I think did, and I felt ought to, produce an effect on my auditors. I cannot describe the scene my Nina agitates my heart and shakes my nerves; I cannot write. Colonel Phipps came to me from the Queen and Prince Albert to express how much they had been pleased. I requested him to offer my duty, and that I was most happy in the opportunity of offering any testimony of my respectful homage. Came away by special train. Carriage was waiting for me. Reached home about half-past twelve o'clock. February 3rd.-Dr. Bright and Elliotson came. After seeing my beloved child they came to me in my study, where I was waiting for them. They spoke to me, and from their language I collected that the case was desperate. I felt that hope was gone. My blessed, my beloved first-born! Liverpool, February 4th.-Brutus. Dublin, February 6th.—With deep and devout thanks to Almighty God for my deliverance from the dangers of the night, I came on 1850. Farewell Performances at Liverpool. 633 shore. Went to the station, and took my seat in the railway carriage at Kingstown. Heard that nothing like the gale of the night had been known there since January 6th, 1839. I could walk with difficulty for the wind up to the station. Came to Dublin to Morrison's Hotel. We had been fifteen hours instead of four on our passage. I had more than once expected death. The captain was certainly much alarmed; indeed so, I believe, were all at heart. February 7th.-Macbeth. 8th.-Letters, full of comfort in their love and sweet spirit, from my beloved wife and from dear Letitia. Both of them, dear creatures, wish to hope, and, as I think, unconsciously persuade themselves to do so. Changes, like miracles, have occurred. My hope, alas, does not extend beyond that remote possibility! I must prepare to lose sight of my beloved child in this world. At my time of life the distance of separation cannot be very long; but I cannot help murmuring over her departure from an existence which was so full of enjoyment to her. Blessed child! But God's will is first and last. February 9th.-Richelieu. [February 11th to February 15th.-Engagement at Belfast.] Liverpool, February 18th.-Macbeth. February 19th.-Something past one o'clock-my servant gone to scek a special engine to convey me to Hastings, to catch one last living look of my dear blessed Nina. I know not what is my state of mind; I am certain my head is strange and heavy, but I have packed up my clothes, made my arrangements as were needed— clearly; and I sit here waiting, with anxiety to depart, the carriage that is to take me away. I cannot, to myself, disentangle this state of mind. This day brought me accounts teeming with promises of comfort and joy. I arranged in my bed this morning the difficult task of what I should say to my audience this evening. I rose to receive a handful of letters, all full of good newsCatherine's and Letitia's-with an account of my Nina more promising than any I have yet received! A sweet consolatory one from Forster; from Ransom's, with the purchase of railway stock from James G. King, with further investment in stock; from Morley, giving me my terms for to-morrow night from Mr. Bennett. I rehearsed, receiving at theatre letters wishing me to remain here, &c. Wrote to Catherine, to Letitia, and to my Nina; a line to each. Letter, &c., from a Mr. McNicoll. A Mr. Mountfield, a gentlemanly young man, had called on me in the morning about tuition. Arranged some accounts, and laboured hard at the few sentences I wished to deliver in addressing the audience. Acted, with great care and peculiar effect, Cardinal Wolsey and Lord Townley. Called. Went forward: the whole house stood up to hear me and such a house as is rarely to be seen. Everything to gratify the pride and vanity of a person in my position-and the telegraphic despatch was waiting me at my hotel! ; |