As the author had formerly written an interlude for Wignell when he was the favourite Darby, and called it Darby's Return, so now he gave Hodgkinson, the delight of the public in Shelty, a piece called Shelty's Travels. The house was overflowing the applause was great-and the actor cleared full 500 dollars above the expenses, which were 200 dollars. The play was forgotten after a few repetitions, but one line was often repeated by the author's friends, as a description of a youth driven from his parental home,

A barefoot pilgrim on a flinty world.

Nevertheless, as a tragedy it is justly doomed to oblivion. Mrs. Hodgkinson on this occasion first played an important part in this branch of the drama, and evinced great powers. Hodgkinson, Mrs. Melmoth, and Mrs. Hodgkinson, produced great effect in their respective characters: of the remainder of the performers, some were passable, while others were attended by all the imperfection of a first exhibition, united to the unavoidable hurry of a benefit play. A few words on the subject of our literary men.

Of those giants in letters and politics who, from being dependent colonists of a country that despised them, raised an independent empire whose inhabitants to the latest ages will adore them, the Franklins, Jeffersons, Hopkinsons, Henrys, Adamses, Dickinsons, and their fellow-labourers, we shall not speak. They had created a vast

republic, whose institutions were so dissimilar to those of Europe, that a new tone seemed necessary for that literature which was to form the education of the rising generations. To open the highways by which Truth should approach all who desired her acquaintance required the united labour of her friends. Bands of pioneers were formed, who aided each other in removing rubbish, and hewing down prejudices, of stubborn texture from long growth, and mischievous from the veneration bestowed upon worthless old age.

The first pioneers in this patriotic path-making were, at the time we are now considering, many of them yet in existence. Others had arisen and were at work, opening the way for the Coopers, Irvings, Pauldings, Bryants, Walshs, Hallocks, Channings, and the hundreds who are the pride or the hope of the present day. The dramatic author, whose tragedy has passed under our notice, was connected with the aspirants who resided in New-York. He was intimately associated with Elihu H. Smith, Charles Brockden Brown, James Kent, Edward Miller, Samuel L. Mitchill, Samuel Miller, Wm. Johnson, Wm. Coleman, John Wells, and others who have distinguished themselves in the regions of fancy and science. Filled with youthful ardour, and pleased with the applause of the public and the encouragement of his associates, he thought only of future triumphs; and tragedies and comedies, operas and farces, occupied his mind, his time, and his pen. The young

men above named, with Richard Alsop, Mason Cogswell, and Theodore Dwight, of Connecticut, formed a club, projected many literary works, and executed some. A magazine was supported for a short time— a review was published. Some of these gentlemen had previously been associated under the name of the Philological Society. Prehaps to this association, of which Noah Webster was a member, may be attributed those labours which have given to the world the most perfect English dictionary in existence. The youthful dramatist owed much to such associates, and particularly to the brotherly bond which long subsisted between him, Elihu Hubbard Smith, and Charles Brockden Brown-only broken by death. Let us return to the theatre.

Having brought our history down to the abdicacation of Henry and succession of Hodgkinson, we will commence another chapter with the opening of the new house in Philadelphia. For a list of the company at the time of its arrival, see Chapter VIII.

But before we drop the curtain on the dramatic reign of Kings Hallam and Henry, we must mention one act of sovereignty which we omitted in its chronological order. During the season of 1790-1, they produced a farce, in two acts, written by one of the company, Mr. J. Robinson, which was received with universal applause by the public. It was called The Yorker's Stratagem. The scene is laid in the West Indies, and the principal charac

ter, the Yorker, whose stratagem is to personate a Yankee trader for the purpose of obtaining a West Indian heiress, was performed by Mr. Harper. There is much dramatic skill evinced in this trifle, and dialogue well suited to the characters. The author played in it as a mongrel creole, a kind of tawny Mungo.

CHAPTER X.

Opening of the new Theatre in Philadelphia by Wignell and Reinagle -Mrs. Oldmixon-Sir John Oldmixon-Mr. Moreton-Mr. Fennell-Mr. and Mrs. Francis-Mr. Green-Mr. Harwood-Mr. Darley-Mr. John Darley-Mr. Blissett-Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock -Mr. Chalmers Mr. and Mrs. Marshall-Mr. Bates-Miss Broadhurst.

AFTER the long delay occasioned by the yellow fever, Wignell opened the splendid theatre, which had been prepared for him in 1792, on the 17th of February, 1794. He had brought from England Mr. Milbourne, an excellent scene-painter, who decorated the house and furnished the necessary scenery, as far surpassing any stage decorations heretofore seen in the country as the building surpassed former American theatres.

The plan of this building was furnished by Mr. Richards, who was Wignell's brother-in-law, and secretary to the Royal Academy. The model was burnt when the house was consumed. Mr. Richards likewise presented to the managers several very fine scenes, and the beautiful drop-curtain, which was destroyed likewise by the fire of 1820.

The part of the theatre before the curtain formed a semicircle, having two complete rows of boxes, and higher up, on a line with the gallery, sideboxes. The boxes were supported by pillars formed of bunches of reeds, tied together with red