ample being something to be imitated, a reading Dermot Mac Morogh, a treat to bad example is no example at all; a piece which we are bidden, like a mob to a gibof hypercriticism which any reference to betting, the attraction is horror, the fruit authority will overset.* No matter, let us will be a suggesting knowledge of crime, adopt it, and we may then say that this and, in the very terms of the invitation, we work seems intended to teach morality by are told that we may, perhaps, find somethe "admonition" of its hero, and poetry thing in the exhibition that will seem perby the "admonition" of its author. The sonal to each of us. (See stanza 2, canto story of the hero, such as it is, is told in the 1.) For the knowledge of crime is a sugpreface pretty much at length, and then, gesting spirit, and the less we can know of like a psalm, first said and afterwards sung, it, and the less we deaden by familiarizing it is doled out to us again in four good can- it, the horror of what we know, the better. tos of verse, "in the garb of poetry" the When some great criminal stands forth in author says, but that is a matter of opinion. the daylight, and makes crime conspicuous We think these stanzas bear about the same and likely to pass into an example, the relation to poetry that a procession of mischief of notoriety should be followed up honest, unarmed citizens does to the pomp by the remedies of invective and reprobaand circumstance of an army, the one tion, it is salutary to announce the punishtrooping along without beat of drum in an ment and infamy of a traitor, or a robber, unsatisfactory, fidgetty, uneasy fashion, in- to those who are already acquainted with commoded and annoyed by their unwonted his crimes, but should we therefore be benearrangement, the other instinct with disci-fitted by a new edition of the Newgate pline, animated by the spirit of concert and Calendar, "presented in the garb of poemoving "In perfect phalanx, to the Dorian mood, Of flutes and soft recorders." try." Quite the reverse, and on the very same principle, the hero of the present work, might better have been left undisIt is a singular idea though, and rather turbed in his grave. But passing over the melancholy, this, of an ex-president of the nausea which this affected high tone of United States attempting poetry, or any moral feeling must excite, in a work whose thing else indeed, at the hazard of a signal own morals by no means bear it out, the failure, but poetry above all. It is the next most crying sin for censure is the hit genius of utility at a castle in the air, it is the author attempts to give the militia of gravity turned dancing-master, and coming our war of Independence, whose "example" down upon the vocabulary, to order the he is disposed to leave quite out of view words to the right and left, to make them that he may set off his own patriotism by chasser, balancer, change partners, form dwelling with a perverse taste on their "adquadrilles, and move like clock-work "To the incontinent mood and jangling cadence Of an inferna! @ddle." monition," and he would have us think that he has written something so very caustic to this point that his better feelings suppressed Dermot Mac Morogh is a vicious Irish-it, lest it should indeed disturb the ashes of men, whose character Mr. Adams resurrec- some of those true defenders of their countionnizes to hang it in chains, and verse is try. Does Mr. Adams know the hardships a specific he uses to restore it as it rots, of the life of a private soldier; the privation, that it may go on "in fresh, immortal, un-the bitterness of cold; the exhaustion of consumed decay," tainting our moral at- heat, and hunger, and forced marches, with mosphere with ideas that, after all, were bleeding feet and insufficient clothing; and best forgotten. And forgotten they will be, the hourly peril of death; does he know in spite of such efforts as the present to pre- what it is to leave a wife defenceless, and vent it; it is a holy and kindly law of our children crying for bread, in the midst of unnature, that the eyes of our physical and filled fields; and to be exposed to all this for moral sense alike avoid to dwell on the foul the sake of a theoretical liberty, a liberty, subjects of disease and of corruption, that beautiful certainly, and real and holy,-but we reject them from us as far as we are from such pressing considerations as these able, and treasure up rather the ideas of abstract, and feeble in comparison. Does freshness, and health, and beauty, And he know how much reflection and philosoas we would have none but the surgeon gophy are necessary to nerve a man to this, into the dissecting-room, so, on the same and still think it much that he will not bear principle, we would recommend that none with it "six months when engaged for but reviewers should busy themselves with three;" that he seizes the time-supposing jall had done so-to return to his fireside to See Matthew, ch. i, v. 19. Also Othello, act 3, c.know if his wife is gone mad in his absence, 3. and Dr. Johnson's note, also Don Juan, canto 3, stanza like the widow of the trooper, whose story 106, &c., &c. in the first Canto of Dermot Mac Morogh, aid of falsehood or truth, which is absois so wondrous pitiful. If he knows or feels lutely revolting. He wishes to record anything of all this, where can he find in Dermot's name, he says, in deathless his heart a source of sneers at the men who darkness; his verses are, probably, as bore it all, because they bore no more. Let good a substitute as could be found; they every American of the present day discharge are rather more legible, perhaps, but likely from his heart every feeling but that of de- to be quite as little read. He will hand vout and tender gratitude towards those him down "with Arnold first," in the rolls who fought in the ranks of our war of in- of infamy, (4, 82,)-it is not clear which dependence, let him forget their faults where they cannot be denied, "Or if from their slumber the veil be removed, Weep o'er it in silence and close it again." he means is first, but his Irish correspondents to whom he hands over his poem for continuation, will, no doubt, disentangle his phraseology. We wish them better success than we can congratulate him upon, or else we hope sincerely to hear no more of the deathless darkness of Dermot Mac A sneer at those men in our day can spring only from a pride of rhetoric and pharasaical presumption, which disdains or is too frivolous to know the holiness of the Morogh. very altar of our temple. So much for feeling. Remarks upon taste and style would be infinite, as every line and stanza is open to criticism; what a piece of extravagance, for instance, is that in Canto 1, Stanza 24, speaking of Dermot. "And wherever one look his eye had cast, It seem'd as if consuming fire had past." "Who gallop'd, and gallop'd, and gallop'd, to snatch To keep it from burning the manger." HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN THEATRE. BY WILLIAM DUNLAP, New-York. 1832. 8vo. pp. 420. The history of theatres, and of those connected with them, has always obtained a cordial reception from the public, and from the amusing and instructive Memoirs of Colley Cibber down to the late publication of the Reminiscences of Bernard, many books relating to the drama, have been published, and have all, in their turn, enjoyed an extensive popularity; still, we hardly imagined that the subject of American Theatricals could have afforded Mr. What a paltry imitation of the scene in Dunlap material sufficient for the execution Donna Julia's bedchamber, is that in Dover- of a work so instructive and entertaining as gilda's; what an absurd blunder is that of the one before us. The author has entered saying, in Stanza 35 of Canto 1, that upon his labors con amore; few have had O'Rorik had left his castle with only Teague better opportunities, and none, we are sure, and two women, and in Stanza 10 of Canto could have made better use of them. But 2, mustering half a dozen others; and what however interesting this work may be to a pretty contrast is the character of O'Rorik the play-goers of the present time, it is in Canto 1, Stanza 22, with his conduct in doubly so to those whose recollections, by Canto 2, Stanzas 34, 35, 36; and then, after its perusal, are carried back to those days the total destruction of Fernes, as recorded when the Henrys, the Mortons, and Wigin these last cited verses, how did-Dermot, nells delighted their youth, when the linin Canto 3, Stanza 20, find himself in such imitable Mrs. Merry was in her glory, comgood case, to be courteous and hospitable pared with whom, if we are to believe these there, amid the croaking of the ravens. "Laudatores temporis acti," even Fanny This might go on ad infinitum,-but we Kemble herself would cease to be considered conclude, by protesting altogether against the unrivalled actress she is now regarded. this work,-principle, plan, and execution. It appears, by Mr. Dunlap, that the first To say nothing of the regret we believe regular company of actors arrived in this almost every one feels that the late first country in the year 1752, under the manageofficer of our republic should make a target ment of Mr. William Hallam, and opened of himself in this manner, and aspire to a at Williamsburgh, then the capital of Virreputation which would be a little infra dig. ginia, with The Merchant of Venice; thus, even were it gained in any moderate degree, as Mr. Dunlap observes, 'Shakspeare had there is a pervading vice of taste, a syco- the first place in time, as in merit, as the phantic affectation of wearing prevailing co- dramatist of the Western World. The fors in the most approved fashion; a catch-company met with a generous reception penny air of reaching out for popular from the warm-hearted Virginians; and afapplause, to all people and all countries, terwards played with much success in seveto good and evil passions, and by the ral of the Southern cities. On proceeding northward, they met with much opposition never performed. In the summer of 1767, in Philadelphia, from the followers of Penn, the Theatre in John-street, was built and and were, from that circumstance, prevented opened by this same company, on the 7th from playing in our sister city until a later of December of that year, with Farquar's period. On the 17th September, 1753, the comedy of the "Beaux' Stratagem," and first theatrical representation took place in Garrick's "Lethe," a farce which appears the city of New-York, by special permis- to have been, at that time, a great favorite. sion of the Governor, but, for reasons which This theatre was situated on the north side are not stated by Mr. Dunlap, the perform- of John-street, opposite to the present Arances of the company in New-York were cade, and was the scene of all the glories of closed on the 18th of March of the succeed-the old American company. We pass over ing year. Negociations were then entered the constant perambulations of the corps into with several gentlemen of Philadelphia, throughout the country, which are detailed and the result was that "the players" made at length by Mr. Dunlap. their first appearance in that city in April, On the 24th of October, 1774, the first 1754; they, however, met with great op- Congress passed a resolution discounteposition, and as Mr. Dunlap observes, nancing "extravagance and dissipation, "Pamphlets were published and distri- among which they included theatres and buted gratis, during the whole theatrical acting of plays." The company then micampaign, and every effort made to show grated to the West-Indies, and did not the evils attendant on plays, players, and return until after the conclusion of the playhouses." But in vain, the followers of revolutionary war. The city of NewPenn were forced to submit, and the com-York, however, was not during that time pany performed with great success; their deprived of theatrical amusements; the stay, however, in Philadelphia was short. English officers then quartered here enThey soon after departed for the Island of rolled themselves into a company, and Jamaica; their absence was not long, for commenced the performance of plays in the we find them shortly after on their return to John-street theatre; following, as it apNew-York. Lewis Hallam, their manager pears, in the steps of their Boston brethren. and leader, died in the West Indies, and was succeeded by one David Douglass, atlantic histrionic career in Boston, as well as "The military Thespians began their transwho married his widow, and arrived with their less brilliant career of arms. As no theahis company in our city. This gentleman tre had been built in the town of Boston, some appears to have acted with much energy, place admitting of the change must have been he caused a new theatre to be built on fitted up as such. The accomplished Burgoyne, Cruger's wharf, between what are now who commenced dramatic author in 1775, by called Old Slip and Coffee-house Slip, but the Maid of the Oaks,' now produced his se in consequence of having neglected to ob-cond drama in that strong hold of Puritanism tain magisterial permission, he was proand unconquerable liberty; and the 'Heiress' hibited for some time from opening his was preceded by a farce called the 'Blockade house. At length, after much solicitation, Yankees, who then held the soldiers of Britain of Boston,' doubtless intended to ridicule the he was allowed to perform thirteen nights, cooped up on that narrow neck of land, protectbut on the expiration of their allotted time, ed by their ships; soon after expelled them although they played with much success, with disgrace; and subseqently received the the company departed, and again opened in surrendered sword of the unfortunate poet on Philadelphia, in a new theatre built ex- the meadow of Saratoga; as dear to us as the pressly for them. Between 1759 and 1761 Runnimede to our English forefathers. our players were engaged in performing at Newport, Williamsburgh, Annapolis, and were performing Burgoyne's farce, an alarm Perth-Amboy; in this last year, however, and when a sergeant entered and announced was given that the rebels had assaulted the lines, the company returned to New-York, and the fact, the audience supposing his words, commenced playing in a new theatre in The rebels have attacked the lines on the Beekman-street, but here, as usual, their Neck,' belonged to the farce, applauded the performances were limited to a few nights. very natural acting of the man, and were not From this time, until 1767, we hear little disturbed until successive encores convinced of them, they went their rounds on this con-them that it was not to the play that the words, tinent and the English West-India Islands, however apropos, belonged, and that the We may remark, en passant, that the first prompter of the speaker was not behind the scenes, but behind the trenches. This was, American drama on record was written by as far as is known, the second drama written in Thomas Godfrey, of Philadelphia, and was America, and the first, so written, that was entitled "The Prince of Parthia," of its performed, although not by professors of the merits we have no information; it waslart histrionic, but amateurs. Another piece in "It is remembered, that while the officers a dramatic form was published about this time, nell was a man below the ordinary height, with and perhaps ought to take chronological prece-a slight stoop of the shoulders; he was athletic, dence. It bears no date, but as it was printed with handsomely formed lower extremities, the by James Rivington, in New-York evidently knees a little curved outwards, and feet remarkprevious to the occupation of that city by the ably small. His large blue eyes were rich in British, and purports to have been originally expression, and his comedy was luxuriant in printed in New-England,' it must have been humor, but always faithful to his author. He published as soon, if not before The Blockade was a comic actor, not a buffoon. He was a of Boston' was played by the British officers. clown who did not speak more than was set That it was written before hostilities com-down in his part. The vice of impudently menced, its politics and whole scope and ten-altering and adding to an author, has always dency evince. Though its form is dramatic, it existed, and is increasing in proportion to was not intended for representation, but by its the increase of our theatres and the decline humor and satire to attract readers and gain of the drama. In proportion as plays are proselytes to the cause of royalty or toryism. worthless, players will foist in their own nonIt is entitled The Americans Roused, or a sense to amuse the auditors of worthless plays; Cure for the Spleen,' and the dramatis per- but if the drama is to be supported or revived, sonæ are Sharp, a country Parson, Bumper, a the practice must meet the reprehension of country Justice, Fillpot, an Innkeeper, Grave- managers and audience. Mr. Wignell's taste airs, a Deacon, Trim, a Barber, Brim, a Qua-was too good to permit his falling into such an ker, and Puff, a late Representative." error. Ryan was passable, and Lake merely bearable." To resume, the house in John-street was, now called the Theatre Royal, and the From the following it will be seen that company of officers performed with great Washington was a frequent spectator of success during their stay in this city. On the performances of this company, and on the 12th of December, 1796, Hallam and one occasion an interesting scene took place. Henry opened the John-street theatre, with a regular company, and now the drama may be said to have taken a permanent foothold in the city of New-York. Mr. Dunlap thus characterizes some of the principal performers. "When Wignell took his benefit this year, Father of an Only Child,' and the character he requested something from the author of the of Darby in the Poor Soldier,' in which he was as popular in America, as Edwin was in England, suggested an Interlude, in which Mr. John Henry was full six feet in height, Darby, after various adventures in Europe and and had been uncommonly handsome. He in the United States, returns to Ireland and This trifle played Othello better, we believe, than any man recounts the sights he had seen. had done before him in America; it is recorded was called 'Darby's Return,' and was for that he wore the uniform of a British general years extremely popular, and several times officer, his face black, and hair woolly. This published. The remembrance of this performmust not appear strange, however improper, for ance is rendered pleasing from the recollecthe writer saw John Kemble, in 1786-7, play tion of the pleasure evinced by the first presithe Moor (Mrs. Siddons the Desdemona) in a dent of the United States, the immortal suit of modern military of scarlet and gold lace, Washington, who attended its representation. coat, waistcoat, and breeches; he wore white The eyes of the audience were frequently bent silk stockings, his face was black, and his hair on his countenance, and to watch the emotions (not woolly, but long and black) was cued in produced by any particular passage upon him the military fashion of the day. Bensley played was the simultaneous employment of all. Jago, and very well, in a modern suit of blue and When Wignell, as Darby, recounts what had red. Thus Mr. Henry dressed in the manner befallen him in America, in New-York, at the of his cotemporaries. He was at this time a adoption of the Federal Constitution, and the victim to the gout. His Irishmen were very inauguration of the president, the interest exfine, and he had great merit in serious and pa-pressed by the audience in the looks and thetic fathers. Of the merits of Mr. Hallam changes of countenance of this great man, bewe have repeatedly spoken. In person he was came intense. He smiled at these lines alludof middle stature or above, thin, straight, and ing to the change in the governmentwell taught as a dancer and fencer. In learning the latter accomplishment, he had received a hurt in the corner of one of his eyes, which gave a slight cast, a scarcely perceptible but odd expression to it in some points of view; geneally, his face was well adapted to his profession, particularly in comedy. Biddle was an actor merely decent. Harper, who was then considered handsome, was marked with the small-pox, had expressive eyes and fine teeth. Wools, formerly the singer of the company, was now old, and of little value as a player; he was a gentlemanly, modest, and honest man. Wig There too I saw some mighty pretty shows; A man who fought to free the land from wo, I don't know what, he's not a great man sure, DERMOT. As we poor Irishmen love one another." How looked he, Darby? Was he short or tall? The president looked serious; and when Kath- touching in a powerfil degree, as her singing leen asked, gave her advantages in this character which Her ragic actresses do not usually possess. force was opera. From her father she had his countenance showed embarrassment, from derived instrctions; and her husband's prac the expectation of one of those eulogiums tice on the violin continued to improve her in which he had been obliged to hear on many knowledge in this branch of her profession. public occasions, and which must doubtless have been a severe trial to his feelings; but Her voice, both in speaking and singing, was Darby's answer that he had not seen him, be- powerful and sweet. cause he had mistaken a man all lace and "Mrs. Hodgkinson was very fair, with blue glitter, botherum and shine' for him until all eyes, and yellow hair approaching to the flaxen. Her nose the show had passed, relieved the hero from visage oval, and rather long for her stature, was prominent or Roman; her apprehension of further personality, and he in- which was below the middling. Her general dulged in that which was with him extremely carriage on the stage was suited to the characrare, a hearty laugh." ter she performed; and in romps, full of arch We would much like to follow Mr. Dun-ness, playfulness, and girlish simplicity. As a lap through the whole of this interesting general actress, she was as valuable in female work, but our limits forbid. We give as her husband was in male characters." some extracts at random which we had From this work also we learn that the marked for quotation. His account of Tammany Society once condescended to Hodgkinson and his wife, both of whom bestow their patronage on a tragedy bearwere great favourites with the play-goers of ing the name of their tutelary saint; the the day. play, though a regularly nominated candi "This physiognomy was capable of varied date for the favor of the public, failed to expression, and with the unbounded animal obtain that success which this circumstance spirits of the possessor, and skill in the stage now-a-days ensures. We extract the foltoilette, Hodgkinson passed for handsome, and lowing spirited description of a scene enacted undoubtedly had the power of expressing every thing but the delicate or the sublime. He had before the curtain on the 25th of November, great physical strength, and a memory capable of receiving and retaining the words of an 1793. "One of the side boxes was filled by French author to an extent that was truly astonishing, officers from the ships of war in the harbour. What is called, in the technical language of The opposite box was filled with American the theatre, a length,' is forty lines. A part officers. All were in their uniforms as dressed in a play is calculated by the number of for the rejoicing day. French officers and sollengths, and twenty is a long part. Hodgkin- dier-sailors (we find the expression in a note son would read over a new part of twenty made at the time), and many of the New-York lengths, and lay it aside until the night before militia, artillery, infantry, and dragoons, he was to play it, attending the rehearsals mingled with the crowd in the pit. The house meantime, then sit up pretty late to study it, was early filled. As soon as the musicians as it is called, and the next morning, at rehear- appeared in the orchestra, there was a general sal, repeat every word and prompt others. His call força ira.' The band struck up. The ambition for play-house applause was inordi- French in the pit joined first, and then the nate, and he was as rapacious for characters whole audience. Next followed the Marseillois as Bonaparte has since been for kingdoms. Hymn. The audience stood up. The French As an actor he deserved great praise, and took off their hats and sung in a full and solemn was at that time the delight of the New-York chorus. The Americans applauded by gesaudiences. From Jaffier to Dionysius, from tures and clapping of hands. We can yet Vapid to Shelty, he was the favourite, and was recall the figure and voice of one Frenchman, received with unbounded applause. His ear who, standing on a bench in the pit, sung this for music was good. He had cultivated the solemn patriotic song with a clear loud voice, He sung both serious and comic songs. while his fine manly frame seemed to swell From the Haunted Tower to the Highland with the enthusiasm of the moment. The Reel, no one pleased so much as Hodgkinson." hymn ended, shouts of Vivent les François,' From this it will be seen that HodgkinVivent les Americains," were reiterated until son was an actor of singularly varied the curtain drew up, and all was silent." powers. Like Garrick and Henderson, In 1796, Mrs. Merry, then late Miss the tragic and the comic muse seem to have Brunton, and Mr. Cooper, then a youth of contended for the possession of his person. twenty, arrived in this country; the forOf Mrs. Hodgkinson our author thus mer had been a prodigious favorite at home, speaks. and had played successfully in opposition art. "As an actress in girls and romps she was to Mrs. Siddons. Mrs. Merry was, pertruly excellent. In high comedy she was far haps, the greatest actress America has ever above mediocrity, and even in tragedy she seen. Mr. Dunlap has an exceedingly inpossessed much merit. In Ophelia she was teresting memoir of Mr. Cooper, which its |