cunning upon the subject of theatres as the persons engaged in them, know a good thing from a bad one, and will not allow their judgments to be perverted. James Smith put down a very amusing couplet on this preparation of Coriolanus:

"What various wonders does each scene disclose

"Where all is Roman, save the Roman's nose!"

But disclaiming all personalities, and indulging in no predilections, I cannot deny, and I will defy any one to deny, that Coriolanus was put upon the Covent Garden stage in a manner worthy of any theatre and any manager. As there has been a little hole made in the journal, we may as well take the liberty of filling

it up.

March 24.-The Italian Opera-"I cry ye mercy" -Her Majesty's Theatre opened this evening, and introduced an exquisite singer in the person of Madame Persiani. She has a true but thin voice, with an altogether unequalled style of execution; and, but that she is infernally ugly, she would go a great way towards pushing Giulietta Grisi from her stool. Boisragon (son of the popular Cheltenham physician) appeared in the part of Rodolpho, and succeeded well: he has an excellent voice, and is altogether bien organisé. Last season my worthy friend Knowles, with his usual good judgment and good heart, sent me this letter in Boisragon's behalf:

24

MONSIEUR BOISRAGON.

66

66

"MY DEAR SIR,

"Wednesday night,

"29, Alfred Place, Bedford-square.

"I want you to prove to-morrow a vocalist, whom "I think it would be to your interest and his to hear; as to his merits I say nothing more. Pray, by the "kindness you have shown me-substantial-pray ap'point an hour to-morrow, when he may present himself, and give you a taste of his quality. I am not trifling-I would not trifle with you. The more private the better, perhaps with a sprinkling of the "orchestra. I request that you will send me your "sweet response to-night.

66

66

66

"A piano will do. I am, as always, in earnest. "Your debtor and friend,

"J. S. KNOWLES."

And in compliance with Knowles's wish, I had the pleasure of hearing Monsieur Boisragon. If his prejudice had not run in favour of a debût on the Italian stage, I should have been most happy to have introduced him on that of Drury Lane; and whenever Monsieur Boisragon thinks of English music, and I can give him the trial, I will, for he has an excellent organ-Tati the most forbidding tenor in existence I should say a very common 'taty indeed.

March 28.-Morton, the dramatist, died at five minutes past three in the afternoon-never spoke after six the preceding evening-the water on the

chest choked him.

The last official letter I received

from Morton, was on his retirement from the office of reader to Drury Lane in 1833; and, in returning me his pass-key and all MSS. then in his possession, he slipped in with them these few words:

"Eyes, look your last

"Arms, take your last embrace."

"DEAR BUNN,

"This packet clears my cupboard and conscience. "That the clearance may be mutual, pray send me a farce entitled Love and Agility.

"Yours, &c.

"15, Store-street, July 3, 1833.

"A. Bunn, Esq."

"THOMAS MORTON.

a

Morton was a worthy and honourable 66 and man, "fellow of infinite jest." I liked him living, and I was truly sorry to hear of his death. Colman and Morton-well, we have but one or two more left of their school and times, and I hope they may yet be spared to us.

Mr. Charles Kean's engagement was now drawing to a close, and not merely for the vast contribution his exertions had been the medium of bringing to the treasury, but as a mark of good fellowship to the man, and admiration of the artist, his admirers were

VOL. III.

C

bent upon giving him a dinner, and something more substantial by way of dessert. I had the pleasure of undertaking it, and the pleasure of carrying it through; and the recollection at this present moment is as great a pleasure as either of the two former ones. Before entering, however, upon the reward he received, beyond his salary, for his exertions, let us examine the extent to which he deserved it. In the first chapter of the first of these volumes will be found a recapitulation of the receipts attracted by Mr. Kean senior on his debût before a London audience; and it will be a matter of theatrical curiosity to contrast them with those attracted by his son on the present occasion. The difference, when all things are considered, will be found to be so trifling, as to be scarcely worth noticing; and the result will prove that while the generally high salaries of performers are, beyond any doubt, the cause of the total decay of the drama, there are instances when the payment of an exorbitant salary is not merely a justifiable, but a prudent measure; and if ever there was one instance more than another when it was justifiable, it was the present one. Between the 8th of January and the 3rd of March, Mr. Charles Kean played forty-three nights-twenty-one of them in Hamlet, seventeen in Richard the Third, and five in Sir Giles Overreach; and the following is a general recapitulation of the receipts, and the nightly average of them as well:

AND MR. CHARLES KEAN.

27

21 nights of Hamlet produced £6,236 Os., nightly average £296 19s.

The nightly average Mr. Charles Kean's father played to was 4847. 9s., exhibiting an apparent nightly excess over that his son played to, of 1747. 19s. But it must not be forgotten that the prices of admission in 1814 were, 7s. to the boxes, 3s. 6d. to the pit, 28. to one gallery, and 1s. to the other, and the halfprice was in proportion; whereas, in 1838, the prices were 5s. to the boxes, 3s. to the pit, and 2s. and 1s. to the galleries, with a proportionate reduction in the half-price. That the reader may judge of the difference such reduction makes, a statement shall be submitted to him. The largest receipt Mr. Charles Kean played to was 4647. 3s. 6d., on which occasion seven hundred and seventy people paid to the boxes -which number, at 5s. each, makes the sum of 1927. 10s.; but had the prices been 7s., the amount would have been 2697. 10s., a difference of itself of 771. Then seven hundred and sixty-eight people paid to the pit-which number, at 3s. each, makes a sum of 115l. 4s.; whereas, at 3s. 6d., the amount would be 1347. 88. In these two items alone arises a difference of 96l. 4s., which, added to 31. 18s.-difference in the half-price to boxes and pit, makes a total of 100l. 2s. In addition to this, is to be taken into consideration that the father played only three