THE STAGE OF THE PRESENT DAY.

373

actors, once more gave us warmth and energy for classical correctness; Macready effected a compromise, and united the salient points of the two schools with something of his own.

It is a disgrace to this country, and well justifies the accusation of the shopkeeping spirit with which foreigners taunt us, that neither the State nor any body of men interested in literature and art, and wealthy enough to give a form to their aspirations, can be induced to found a National Theatre, or any school of acting where artistic training could be obtained, where public taste might be educated, and encouragement given to a higher class of dramatic composition than now finds favour among theatrical managers. Such an institution would draw to the stage quite a different class to that which now affects it, more especially of women, and it is among women that the change is most urgently needed, for while gentlemen and artists are by no means uncommon in the ranks of the profession, the ladies, with any pretentions to artistic powers, may almost be reckoned upon the fingers. It is only through such an institution that we can ever hope to see revived the genius and glories of

OUR OLD ACTORS.

APPENDIX.

NOTE A.

THE STORY OF THE PATENT.

HE account of the manner in which the patent

THE

fell into Rich's hands, I take from a letter of John Moody, the actor, addressed to the Editor of the "Monthly Mirror" for 1798, which runs as follows: "Mr. Editor. I send you an anecdote, which whether founded on fact, or otherwise, you have just as I received it; if false, it will be contradicted; if true, it is worth recording. Mr. C. Rich, a younger brother of John Rich, the late patentee of Covent Garden Theatre, told me that Sir Thomas Skipworth's patent fell into his father's hands in the following manner. Mr. Rich, the father of John and Christopher, was an attorney; he had a client to whom Sir Thomas stood indebted for a large sum of money, and Mr. Rich meeting the attorney of the latter made his demand, the other replied that there was no means of paying him, but a Patent to act

plays by. They then agreed to put it up by auction. They did so, and Mr. Rich brought it in for fourscore pounds. This patent sold in the life of Mr. C. Rich, after the rate of four score thousand ! for the present proprietors gave Mr. Colman £20,00 for his quarter. This information I had from Mr. C. Rich at Mr. Coombes in Cook's Court, above five and twenty years ago, where I had the honour to dine. It may be further stated that no receipt having passed, the present proprietors had to pay Sir Thomas Skipworth's relations a large sum of money to substantiate the property."

After Sir William Davenant's death the patent had descended to his wife, from her to his sons Charles and Alexander, who it would seem disposed of it to Sir Thomas. Cibber's account of the transaction is somewhat different, but I am disposed to prefer Moody's story.

In 1802, John Kemble gave Lewis £23,000 for a sixth of the Covent Garden patent, the total value of the property being then estimated at £138,000. Under Garrick's management the value of Drury Lane was increased sixfold.

NOTE B.

BURIAL PLACES OF CELEBRATED ACTORS.

Cibber, Garrick and Henderson lie in WESTMINSTER ABBEY. Betterton, Mrs. Bracegirdle, Mrs. Oldfield, Mrs. Pritchard, Mrs. Cibber, Miss Younge, Barry and Foote in THE CLOISTERS. Estcourt, Kynaston, Wilks, Macklin, King, Raymond, Rae, in ST. PAUL'S COVENT GARDEN. Mountfort, and George Powell in ST. CLEMENT DANES. Burbadge and Tarleton in ST. LEONARD'S, SHOREDITCH. Hart, at STANMORE MAGNA. Nell Gwynne and the two Bannisters in ST. MARTIN'S IN THE FIELDS. Mrs. Elizabeth Barry in ACTON CHURCH. Booth in COWLEY CHURCH, UxBRIDGE. Quin in BATH ABBEY. Rich in ST. Andrew's, HOLBORN. Mossop in CHELSEA. Ross and Mrs. Abington in ST. JAMES'S CHURCH, PICCADILLY. Suett in the churchyard of ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL. Perdita Robinson in OLD WINDSOR. Woodward in ST. GEORGE'S, HANOVER SQUare. Kean and Mrs. Yates in RICHMOND. Peg Woffington in TEDDINGTON. Parsons at BLACKHEATH. Joe Miller was buried in the GREEN GROUND, Portugal Street, upon which a portion of King's College Hospital now stands, his tombstone was to be seen as late as 1850. Munden in ST. GEORGE'S, BLOOMSBURY. Mathews the elder at PLYMOUTH. John Kemble at LAUSANNE. Mrs. Siddons in the NEW BURIAL GROUND, PADDINGTON.

Cooke at NEW YORK. Mrs. Jordan at ST. CLOUD. Gentleman Smith at BURY ST. EDMUNDS. Charles Young, SOUTHWICK CHURCHYARD, near BRIGHTON. Elliston in ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, WATERLOO ROAD. William Macready at KENSAL GREEN.

NOTE C.

LONGEVITY OF ACTORS.

It is a remarkable fact that actors, whose lives are in direct defiance of all the accepted laws of hygiene, should be exceptionally long lived. To quote a few famous instances: Betterton died at seventy-five; Wilks at seventy-six; Colley Cibber at eighty-six; Mrs. Abington at seventy-eight; Mrs. Bracegirdle at eighty-five; Mrs. Porter at between eighty and ninety; Quin at seventy-two; Macklin at one hundred and seven; O'Brien at nearly eighty; Gentleman Smith at eighty-three; King at seventy-four; Yates at ninety-seven; Kitty Clive at seventy-four; Miss Pope at seventy-five; Keely at seventy-five; Roger Kemble at eightytwo; Mrs. Siddons at seventy-six; Mrs. Sparkes at eighty-three; John Bannister at seventy-five; Charles Young at seventy-nine; Munden at seventyfour; Quick at eighty-four; Dowton at eightyeight; Betty at eighty-three; Miss O'Neil at