CHAPTER XXXII.

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 Debut-His Early History-Engaged by Dr. Irving for New-York-Mr. Cooper's De Montfort— Foundling of the Forest-Venoni-Mr. Oliff, and ether Prompters at New-York-Mr. Dwyer-His Debut and Early History -Mr. Cooper goes to England, 1810—Mr. Bray—Mr. Wood at New-York-Mr. and Mrs. Stanley-Arrival of Mr. Cooke.

On the 6th of September, 1809, the theatre of NewYork was opened for the winter campaign with Lewis's Castle Spectre, and Bickerstaff's Romp. Mrs. Poe was the Angela and Priscilla Tomboy; Mr. Young, Osmond; and Mr. Poe, Hassan. Mr. and Mrs. Poe, Mr. Anderson, Miss Delamater, Miss Martin, (a daughter of John E. Martin, deceased,) and Miss White, were the additions to the company-a feeble company of recruits-to replace Harwood, Mr. and Mrs. Darley, and Mr. Hogg. It appears to have been the intention to open the theatre on the 30th August" the favourable season, and unprecedented good health" of the city, say the managers, are their inducements—but then the great improvements could not be ready in time.

Mrs. Young was brought forward as Cowslip, on the third night of performance-but as Cowslip, she had only beauty to recommend her.

Mr. Cooper now went through his usual characters. Mrs. Twaits was the heroine of tragedy. Mr. Robinson played Cassio, and many other important parts, far beyond his abilities. Mr. Twaits played Michael Perez, and Mr. Young played Iago. The company was weak, but a reinforcement was crossing the seas, and soon arrived.

Mr. Foster, a brother of Mrs. Young, made his first appearance as Ganem, in The Forty Thieves, on the 15th of September.

As the year 1808 was rendered memorable in the history of the American theatre by the death of the accomplished lady and talented actress, Mrs. Anne Warren, so 1809 is little less entitled to the same distinction from the loss the stage sustained in the death of Mr. John E. Harwood, one of the best comedians the American theatre has possessed. On the 21st of September, in the 39th year of his age, this accomplished man and excellent actor expired at German

town.

On the 18th of November, in the same year, 1809, Mr. Giles Leonard Barrett died, at the age of 65. Mr. Barrett had been more successful in Boston where he made his first appearance on coming to America, than in any other metropolis, and he breathed his last in that city. He had considerable versatility. His figure must have been fine in early life, his face At a later period, Mr. Barrett would not

never.

have been a prominent actor on the American boards. His son, Mr. George Barrett, is justly estimated as equal to any performer in the higher line of genteel comedy now among us.

In the same month of November, at Philadelphia, died Mr. Owen Morris, aged ninety. He played the old men of comedy for many years in the Old American Company, and afterwards in Wignell's Philadelphia Company. He had the appearance of a very old man in 1787, twenty-two years before his death. It is an error to suppose players are short-lived.

Actors, we mean good actors, and respectable men, are a long-lived race. A friend has remarked that he could recollect thirty actors, generally of high eminence, who died within the space of forty years, at or beyond the age of seventy and adds, "it would be difficult to show as large a number out of the same proportion of merchants or traders." Macklin died more than 100 years of age; we saw him act, with power and spirit his Shylock, and Sir Pertinax, at the age of 94; Mrs. Bracegirdle died at 85; Mr. Yates, 97; Mr. Blisset, the elder, 84; Colley Cibber, 86; and a very long list of names might be added of those who lived beyond the "threescore and ten" allotted to men in general who live to old age. There are now, or lately were living, in competency or affluence, many more who could be mentioned as proofs of longevity among actors. The improvidence of actors is another vulgar error. When we speak of actors, we do not mean message-carriers, or the candle-snuffers and dram-drinkers of the stage. Of the hundreds who

have retired from the stage in affluence, or with competency, or now live and act with the same advantage, we will only mention the names of Quin, Yates, Garrick, Smith, Cibber, Farren, Siddons, Matthews, Darley, Jefferson, Wood, Hull, Mattocks, Melmoth, Barry, Clive, Pritchard, Johnson, O'Neil, Bartley, Pope, Quick, Dodd, Bannister: we could fill our page with names who are honoured for their talents, and enjoy in private life the more estimable reward of esteem for their virtues. It is the lot of the historian of the stage to record vice and folly, and that record is remembered longer than the page which speaks of virtue-so the pages of the historian are filled with war and crime, and the years of peace passed over. Men's good deeds are written in sand -their evil ones on brass.

On the 9th of October, Mrs. Inchbald's comedy of To Marry, or Not to Marry was performed; Lord Danbury by Mr. Twaits; Sir Osborn Moreland, Mr. Cooper; Willowear, Mr. Young; Lavensworth, Mr. Robinson; Amos, Mr. Poe; Lady Susan Courtley, Mrs. Oldmixon; Mrs. Sarah Moreland, Mrs. Hógg; Hester, Mrs. Young. This comedy was played several nights in succession-that is, on play-nights.

On the 18th of October, the comedy of Grieving's a Folly was played with little success; and on the 21st, the arrival of Mrs. Mason and Mr. Simpson was announced-a strong and very seasonable accession to the company. That evening the lady made her appearance in Mrs. Beverley. The choice was bad. Comedy was Mrs. Mason's forte, and a most

charming comedian she was. But we have ever remarked the predilection of those who have great talents in comedy for exhibiting themselves on stilts, and luxuriating in tears and sighs. The best of all gentlemen comedians, Lewis, began with tragedy-Bannister, the first of rich, not low, comedy players, made his attempt as a votary of Melpomene these were men of ordinary height: but if the comedian is low in stature, the more violent is the propensity to seize the sceptre and the truncheon. Mrs. Mason did not want size, but she had no other requisite for tragedy, except good sense, which did not appear in the choice of Mrs. Beverley. Her second character was the Widow Cheerly, in Cherry's pleasant comedy of The Soldier's Daughter, and we never expect to see the part so well played again. She was from that time established as a first-rate comedy actress.

Mr. Simpson made his debut as Harry Dornton, in the fine comedy of The Road to Ruin. Mr. Cooper had played the part, and played it well, but Mr. Simpson's Harry Dornton was fully successful. On Mrs. Mason's second appearance, Mr. Simpson played Frank Heartall, and lost no favour with his audience.

Of Mr. Simpson's early history, all we know is from himself, in a very obliging answer to our inquiries; and we know no better mode of conveying the knowledge so obtained than by using his own words:

"I know not of any intelligence I can give you