1803.-Albany-New-York Company-John E. Harwood-Parallel between Harwood and Hodgkinson-John Bull-Harwood's Dennis Brulgruddery-Hogg's Job Thornberry-Bonaparte in England-Mr. Searson -The Theatre of New-York sold by Auction-Conceit can Kill, Conceit can Cure-Lewis of Monte Blanco, or the Transplanted Irishman - Harwood's Military Irishman-Mr. and Mrs. Darley-Mr. HuntingtonMr. Cooper returns from England-Bankruptcy of the Manager of the New-York Theatre 200 CHAPTER XXX. 1805.-Mr. Twaits-Twaits and Cooper-Captain Smith-Boston Theatre Boston-Death of Mr. Hodgkinson-Philadelphia Company-Mr. Cain -Lessons on Intemperance-New York Theatre under Johnson and Tyler-Miss Ross-Mrs. Wheatley-Mrs. Jones-Mr. and Mrs. Young —Mr. Fennell, a star-Play of the Wanderer-Tars from Tripoli-Manhattan Stage-New-York Theatre leased to Mr. Cooper—Mr. Robinson -Mr. Jones-Mr. and Mrs. Johnson's return to Europe CHAPTER XXXI. 215 Philadelphia Company in 1806-Mr. Cooper opens the New York Theatre -Company-Mr. Morse-Mr. Cooper's Second Season of Management -Theatre Remodelled-Boston Theatre-New York Theatre under Cooper and Price-Mr. Twaits's Prince of Wales-Death of Mr. Hallam -Theatre in Lexington, Kentucky-Death of Mrs. Warren-Master Payne's first Appearance-Comedy of Man and Wife-The Duke of Buckingham-Mr. and Mrs. Duff CHAPTER XXXII. 241 1809.—Mr. and Mrs. Poe-Mr. and Mrs. Young-To Marry or Not to Marry-Grieving's a Folly-Mrs. Mason-Her Widow Cheerly-Mr. Simpson-His Debût-His Early History-Engaged by Dr. Irving for New-York-Mr. Cooper's De Montfort-Foundling of the Forest— Venoni-Mr. Oliff, and other Prompters, at New York-Mr. Dwyer— His Debût and Early History-Mr. Cooper goes to England, 1810—Mr. Bray-Mr. Wood at New-York-Mr. and Mrs. Stanley-Arrival of Mr. Cooke. 265 CHAPTER XXXIII. A short Chapter of Additional Autobiography 278 Charleston Theatre — Solee — Williamson — Placide - Co-partnership of Placide, Greene, and Twaits-Destruction of the Richmond Theatre by Fire, and Dissolution of the Charleston management of that period-Mr. Scraps-Mr. Cooke's Father-Miss Rock-Cooke and Matthews-Kean— Cooke's Monument-Mr. and Miss Holman-Dr. Wilson's Letter to Dr. Hosack-Dr. Hosack's Letter introducing Mr. Holman to a Friend in Philadelphia-Letter to Dr. Hosack on the Death of Mr. Holman-Con- THE AMERICAN THEATRE. CHAPTER XX. 1797 The two Theatres in New-York-Lailson's Circus Two Theatres in Boston kinson to New-York Wignell returns to Philadelphia and Hodg - Mr. Cooper joins the New-York Company The New or Park Theatre opened, January 29th, 1798 Mr. Wignell closes the Philadelphia Theatre, and assigns as the. causes Mr. Moreton's ill-health, and the defection of Messrs. Mr. Cooper's Hamlet - Tragedy of Chalmers and Melocosmiotis to relinquish New-York, and engages both the Boston houses The Park Theatre leased to Mr. Dunlap Biography of Mr. William B. Wood. Fennell and Cooper Mr. THE yellow fever having taken possession of Philadelphia, in August, 1797, Solee's intended opening in the old theatre in Southwark was prevented, and, as before noticed, he (or rather the company directed by their own whims) was playing at John Street, and Wignell's company, well directed and organized, in Greenwich Street. An extract from a letter will give a notion of the relative success. VOL. II. B "Solee opened here last Friday, the 18th of August, to 374 dollars, and played again on Monday to 315 dollars. I hear much praise of Mrs. Williamson's Little Pickle. Last Wednesday, the 23d of August, Wignell opened with Venice Preserved, and Who's the Dupe? to upwards of 1000 dollars. The performance was highly approved, and Mrs. Merry left a lasting impression." This splendid exhibition has been noticed. Harwood appeared in Gradus, which he played very finely. Another extract: "We went to John Street, where, to a very thin audience (130 dollars) was performed The Gamester and Romp. Mrs. Barrett's personation of Mrs. Beverley was very respectable, and her appearance majestic; there was not much else to praise, except Mrs. Williamson's Romp. Barrett is not equal to a first place in a company now and here. Wignell was present and most of his performers, who were tittering at the performance of the tragedy." On the other hand, "Williamson declares Cooper's Pierre 'execrable,' Moreton's Jaffier 'very so-so,' and Mrs. Merry's last night's performance below par.' Barrett says, 'he saw nothing to be frightened at.'" Fennell made his first appearance in New-York, in the character of Zanga, early in September, adding still more to the reputation of the Greenwich Street Company. Another extract: "I last night (September 11th, 1797) saw Mrs. Merry's Juliet with much delight. NEW-YORK THEATRES. 3 There were a great many people present, the first and most respectable of our people, while at John Street, Bunker's Hill was performing to a mere rabble, amounting to a house of 200 dollars, and even the rabble execrated it. On Friday night Wignell played Columbus to something above 600 dollars. The John Street company put off until Saturday. On Saturday Wignell repeated Columbus to, I think, less than 200 dollars. The John Street company put off until further notice." Thus Hodgkinson was playing in the Haymarket theatre, Boston, to houses below expenses, but paying the salaries of himself and family, and his partner borrowing money in the hope to keep together the company for the new house, and be repaid in the autumn by opening it. He advanced to Solee, as one engaged by Hodgkinson, to a large amount, which he had finally to lose. The John Street theatre, under Solee, was closed October 3rd, 1797, with Jane Shore and The Poor Soldier; Jane Shore, by an American lady ; Alicia, by an English lady; both first appearances. The American had figure and voice, though in the main abominably bad. The English woman was Irish, and had played several times in other places; it was an Irish first appearance, and reminds us of the gentleman who, coming to join a company after they had left the place, exclaims-" I'm first, after all." While Wignell was using Rickett's circus as a theatre, Lailson was building a new one, likewise |