BOSTON HAYMARKET THEATRE.

387

Thus, literally, was this extraordinary performance spoken and published at the time.

J. B. Williamson, the manager of the Boston Federal Street theatre, about this time, June, 1797, broke up his company, and part of them joined Harper's company at Providence. Hodgkinson left New-York for Boston, to pass through Newport, and to employ a portion of the NewYork company there, and make arrangements for opening the Haymarket.

Mr. Williamson went to Charleston, S. C. and was for a time the principal performer there, and his wife a great favourite in the romps and other lively characters of comedy. She died at Charleston on the 31st of October, 1799.

On the 18th of June, three of the proprietors of the Boston Haymarket theatre, viz. Messrs. Osborne, Gardner, and Blake, arrived in New-York. They wished to see Hodgkinson, to make an agreement with him for their property. "He might have it on his own terms." The next day Hodgkinson returned from Boston, having engaged the Haymarket for four years for himself and partner. This theatre was a large wooden building, which had been erected from a spirit of opposition, partly political, and was owned by the democrats or anti-federalists. It was opposite to the southern corner of the Mall or Common.

The articles of agreement were, that, for the use of said house for four seasons, consisting of sixty playing nights, commencing in June or July, and

terminating in October or November, and for the use of all scenery, wardrobe, &c. belonging to the theatre, the managers shall pay 10 per cent. on the gross receipts; the house not to be used as a theatre during this period, except by consent of said managers; and, after the present year, if the managers choose, they may pay fifty dollars per night, in lieu of the ten per cent. This agreement was signed by John Winthrop, Caleb Stimson, Joseph Blake, jun., and George Blake. This was an additional step in the road to ruin.

On the 24th of June, the articles of agreement between the managers of the old American Company, and Carlisle Pollock, Jacob Morton, Edward Livingston, and William Henderson, on behalf of the proprietors of the new theatre, were formally agreed to on the plan above stated. The seasons to be from the first of October to the tenth of June, and at least one hundred nights of playing, "unless some public calamity prevents it.”

Hodgkinson went on with the company, and opened the theatre in Hartford on the 3rd of July; sixty-seven dollars in the house-another step on the downhill road. After a few nights' playing, the house was closed, and the deficiencies remitted from New-York. The proprietors of the Hartford theatre were discontented, and Hodgkinson, to satisfy them, promised to send on a company of comedians, when he arrived in Boston. In consequence of this promise, he entered into engagements with Solee, forwarding him to Hartford and

HODGKINSON'S COMPANY.

389

afterwards to New-York, where he opened the John Street theatre in opposition to Wignell's Greenwich Street house.

On the 24th of July, 1797. Hodgkinson opened the Haymarket theatre, Boston, with The Grecian Daughter and Romp. His receipts were 220 dollars. He engaged Mr. and Mrs. C. Powell, at 32 dollars per week; Mr. and Mrs. S. Powell, and Miss Harrison, at 42 dollars; Mr. and Mrs. Simpson, and two Miss Westrays, at 50 dollars; and Mrs. Peck, at 12 dollars; in addition to his company, already too large for the time.

Collins and Crosby having quarrelled, were preparing for the settlement which honour required; but the magistracy interfered, and the heroes, after lying in jail some hours, were examined. Sir Richard was dismissed and Collins remanded to prison, but afterwards liberated, on condition of removing his honour out of the commonwealth. This man's real name was Phipps.

Mr. and Mrs. S. Powell were afterwards at New-York, valuable members of the company, and will be hereafter mentioned. The Miss Westrays proved distinguished ornaments to the drama, in every point of view. The history of the American theatre would be deficient if many pages were not devoted to Mrs. Wood, (then Miss Westray), and Mrs. Darley, (Miss E. Westray). Their mother, Mrs. Simpson, was long on the New-York theatre, playing the line of old women.

Mr. Hodgkinson had now increased his expenses in Boston to upwards of 1100 dollars per week, and played on his second night (Mrs. Johnson's first appearance that season) to 144 dollars, which, at three nights the week, at that rate, amounted to 432 dollars for the week's receipts. To oppose Wignell, he had engaged Solee to go to New-York and Philadelphia, with Mr. and Mrs. Barrett, Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Williamson, Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard, (who wisely joined Wignell) Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, and Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock. This company, many of them good performers, failed in John Street, NewYork, as we have seen, and Hodgkinson's letters induced his partner to support Solee by his credit, ultimately to great loss.

Hodgkinson's next managerial step was to engage Chalmers at 25 dollars, and Williamson, a singer, at 18, and despatch them with Messrs. Cleveland, S. Powell, Dickinson, Kenny, Seymour, McKnight, and Simpson-and Mesdames S. Powell, Cleveland, Simpson, Seymour, with Misses Westray, and E. Westray, to Hartford, paying all expenses and guaranteeing their salaries. Mr. Hodgkinson's partner sent on money and advice; the one was taken, the other rejected.

CHAPTER XVIII.

The Orchestra-The Swiss Catholic Priest-The Inquisition-The Victim's Tale-The Ex-noble-Young, an English musician, executed for murder-M. Pellesier-Monsieur and Madame Gardie, their Story and Tragical Death.

We have noticed the improvements made by Mr. Hodgkinson in the orchestra at New-York, improvements rendered necessary by the excellence. of this branch of theatrical arrangement in the rival company of Philadelphia. Instead of the "one Mr. Pelham," and his harpsichord, or the single fiddle of Mr. Hewlett, performers of great skill filled the bands of the two rival cities. In NewYork, the musicians were principally French, most of them gentlemen who had seen better days, some driven from Paris by the revolution, some of them nobles, some officers in the army of the king, others who had sought refuge from the devastation of St. Domingo.

The stories of these men would fill volumes. We will select one. The subject of it was not French, and the cause of his taking refuge in America was not revolutionary. The singularity of his appearance and behaviour attracted the notice of the manager, and on inquiry he was stated to have been a priest, and to be versed in languages, ancient and modern. The manager was studying