Doubts respecting Killigrew's patent solved, and the hopes of a good fee dissolved-Liston's retirement-Mr. Percy Farren-An actor's want of judgment-Exemplification of the royal visit-The valuable contents of one house, and the valueless contents of another-Gar- rick and Mrs. Piozzi-Virginius, Caractacus, and other Romans-Mr. Otway and the other "rum-uns "-Presentation of a piece of plate -A difference of opinion-Restoration of the text of Shakspeare— Joan of Arc- Value of a tail - Epigram - Barry O'Meara-A dwarf—A painter's last work not his last work-Dependence on a play-bill-How to know the contents of a parcel before you open it THE STAGE: BOTH BEFORE AND BEHIND THE CURTAIN. CHAPTER I. Reduction of prices, and consequent reduction of character-Difference of views taken in and out of Parliament-Mr. Kemble's theory and practice opposed to one another-Mr. Farley-"Stars" self-nominated-Olympic company superior to the Covent Garden one Cheap postage no benefit - Auber and Rodwell - Doctor O'Toole and Doctor Yates-The Provost of Bruges-Mr. R. B. Peake's frolics-Proposed illumination for the return of legitimacy -Not enough money taken to pay for it-Miss Joanna Baillie and Sir Walter Scott-Theatrical funds, and their annual dinnersTom Dibdin, and his annual dinner-Marriage certificate of Malibran. THE reduction of the prices at Covent Garden Theatre, the nature of the performances to which that reduction led, and the manner in which those performances were prepared, created a greater revolution in the theatrical world than had ever yet taken VOL. II. B 2 REDUCTION OF PRICES AND place, not excepting the unprecedented circumstance of uniting the two theatres. Nor is it to be wondered at. If it did nothing else, it turned into complete ridicule all the efforts the parties accessory to this desecration of their property had been for two successive sessions of parliament making to uphold it. In the memorial the proprietors had on these occasions addressed to the Lord Chamberlain, and in the petition they preferred to the House of Commons, they studiously pointed out to his lordship, and to that one branch of the legislature, the stipulations they had expressly made with their lessee, that “their theatre should be conducted as Covent Garden 66 has always been accustomed to be conducted". they made this stipulation, most certainly in their lease with me. I did so conduct it; and on a diminution of £1,500 per annum in the rent, I offered to do so again, for, by doing so, I knew I should be in a position to appeal to parliament for protection, in the event of any fresh invasion of the patent rights that had been leased to me. It will, moreover, be found, on a reference to Sir William Davenant's patent, that it authorises "his heirs, executors, administrators, and 66 65 66 assigns, to receive such sum or sums of money as was, or thereafter from time to time should be, ACCUSTOMED to be given or taken in other play"houses and places for the like plays, scenes, presentments, and entertainments!" It may be argued, that though this is an authority for demanding high prices, it is not a prohibition against taking low 66 CONSEQUENT REDUCTION OF CHARACTER. 3 ones. Virtually I think it is—inasmuch as it having been "customary" to take seven shillings to the boxes, there could be no contemplation of such a degrading reduction, that reduction not having been customary." It appeared to me they were, by making it, flying in the face of the very patent, whose prerogative they had been so lustily fighting to defend; and assuredly they were falsifying all the fine sayings they had been preaching up. It would be a difficult argument to sustain, that, reducing the prices to 4s., 2s., and 1s., and presenting on that stage the common pieces which had been worn out at the Surrey Theatre, was "conducting Covent "Garden Theatre in the manner it had been accus"tomed to be conducted." When, in the year 1832, that redoubtable display of mummery, entitled "a select committee on dra"matic literature," was entertained, under the chairmanship of Mr. T. S. Duncombe, M.P. and Mr. E. L. Bulwer, M.P., Mr. Charles Kemble was asked, (question 628,) "whether he thought the price of admission "could not be lowered a great deal?"—And he replied, "I do not think it could, so as to give that perfection of performance which you are now in "the habit of witnessing in those theatres!”—and again, (question 714,) when interrogated as to lowering the prices giving satisfaction to the public, he returned for answer, "I do not believe we should "have one person more in the theatre if we did!!!" With all this evidence lingering on his memory, as |