presented to the House, by sundry inhabitants of Boston, and was referred to the same committee. On the 20th, Mr. Gardiner, the chairman, reported, verbally, That it was inexpedient to repeal the law. He remarked, that the committee consisted of seven members-that two were decidedly against the repeal that two others had voted against it, but acknowledged that they were not perfectly acquainted with the whole nature and tendency of stage-plays-and that himself and the other two members were in favor of repealing the law,-considering it as an undue restriction of the unalienable rights of the free citizens of the state. The consideration of the report was postponed to the 24th, and again to the 25th. On the 25th, when the report of the committee was called up as the order of the day, Mr. Tudor, in a very neat and sensible speech, opposed the acceptance of it. Mr. Gardiner delivered an elaborate speech of several hours in length, in opposition to the report. He attempted to prove that theatrical entertainments were perfectly consistent with morality and Christianity; and gave a history of the stage, from the time of Thespis, in almost every nation where it had been erected. He was followed by Dr. Jarvis, and some other members, on the same side. It has been said that Jarvis exerted, on this occasion, all the powers of that peculiar style of eloquence, for which he was so celebrated, and which qualified him, in a remarkable degree, to be a leader in popular assemblies. Yet, though the gentlemen opposed to the report had undisputed possession of the floor, during the whole debate, no one offering a remark in reply to their arguments,—they failed to produce conviction in the House. The report was accepted, ninety-nine to forty-four. The speech of Mr. Gardiner was afterwards published, in a pamphlet form. It is read at the present day with little interest; for the books, from which he drew his materials, are more common, and are generally familiar to the readers of plays and visiters of the theatre. It is not, indeed, easy to conceive how a deliberate assembly, like the House of Representatives, a majority of whom were opposed, either from principle or prejudice, to the erection of a theatre, could have listened for several hours, to such a tedious detail of musty records and doubtful traditions, which had little or nothing to do with the main question before the house. When printed, the speech was advertised to be sold at the shop of John Erving, a grocer, in Marlboro'-street, on which some wag wrote the following satire, which was published in the Columbian Centinel, June 27, 1792. VOL. II. When John had, with unwearied pains, Thumbed o'er his books, and racked his brains, To cite what every author says, On Roman, Greek, and English plays, And cooked it up in form and fashion, *Rev. Mather Byles. 29 "As soon as he began to read, Their heads the assembly downward hung; So Josey Green* the poet, sung. When John his motley piece had ended, Then rose in regular succession, Poor John with bitter envy heard, Is thus most vilely thrown away? No, faith-I've something in my head- As the Spectator once advised, That paper scraps be duly prized, Because from cook's or chandler's shop, Much learning may be gathered up; So shall my speech be read, by all respected, The publication of this speech, or essay, drew from a Roman Catholic missionary, named John Thayer, some strictures on what he thought to be "not solid arguments." To these strictures a writer, (probably Mr. Gardiner himself) who adopted the signature of "Barebones," replied with great warmth and bitterness and some vulgarity. As a proof that the character of his style is not exaggerated, the following sentence is quoted as a specimen. "In imitation of the meek and humble successors of the Fishermen of Galilee, although we have no pigs in our belly, choose modestly to speak in the plural number.” * Joseph Green, well known as a poet, of a former age, wrote a parody on Byles's "Psalm for Seamen," from which the three lines here given as a quotation are taken. † Dr. Jarvis became bald in the early part of his life, and was often called, by his political friends, the "Bald Eagle of Boston." The controversy was continued for some time, and gave occasion for the following epigram : Thayer's squibs at Gardiner-Gardiner's bang at Thayer, A contest quite beneath the public care; "T is hard to say that either 's in the wrong. Some of the men, whose names are connected with the transactions related in this and the preceding number,-which may appropriately be called the prelude to the establishment of the drama in Boston,—are still living; but most of them have ceased, not only to be interested in the mimic scene, but to fill a part on the great stage of life. The name of SAMUEL ADAMS is associated with almost every political event of importance, that happened in Massachusetts during the last century. He descended from a family of Puritans, and lived according to the strictest doctrines of that sect. He was one of the most powerful enemies of the theatre with whom its advocates had to contend; and he viewed their triumph as one of the greatest moral curses, which could fall upon the people. In every company, he spoke with strong disapprobation of what was then becoming fashionable the encouraging of English players and of returned and returning refugees, who were among the most ardent promoters of the theWhen Mr. Otis, then a young man, just entering upon public life, spoke with vehemence in town-meeting, against the proposed instructions to the representatives, Adams lifted up his hands in ecstasy, and thanked God that there was one young man willing to step forth in defence of the good old cause of morality and religion. atre. JAMES HUGHES was a lawyer, and one of the bon-vivants of the day. He was a famous punster. Many of his repartees are related by those who knew him; but they are chiefly of such a nature as to exclude them from paper. His speech in the town-meeting was said to be very eloquent. His standing at the bar was respectable, and his talents as a counsellor were held in some estimation. SAMUEL DASHWOOD was a violent adversary to the measures proposed in town-meeting. He had been an enterprizing and successful sea-captain, and then kept a shop of dry goods in Marlboro'-street. On his sign-board was a representation of Noah's Ark. His personal appearance would have qualified him for the presidency in any ugly club or lodge of odd fellows that ever was formed; and the " unclean beast of Noah's Ark" was an appellation by which he was universally known, and which seemed to have been bestowed by universal consent. BENJAMIN AUSTIN filled, at various subsequent periods, various public offices. He was, for many years, commissioner of wars under the government of the United States; a representative of Boston in the legislature of Massachusetts; a senator in the same body, for the county of Suffolk; and, at the time of his death, which happened in 1820, he was one of the selectmen of the town. He was long known as a political writer in the Independent Chronicle, under the signatures of Honestus and Old South; and as one of the principal leaders of the democratic party in politics. He was, without question, the most influential newspaper writer of his day, perhaps of any other. He retained, to the end of his life, his aversion to plays, and wrote, not many years before the close of it, a series of essays in one of the papers, to prove that Shakspeare had no genius! Notwithstanding the singularity of his opinions in this respect, he was, where politics were not concerned, a man of liberal and enlightened views, of kind and benevolent feelings; a pleasant companion, with a fund of anecdote and good-natured raillery, which rendered his presence not only agreeable, but desirable. WILLIAM TUDOR was one of the most active and influential advocates of the theatre, both in town-meeting and in the legislature. He was a lawyer of great respectability. He had passed several years in the army during the revolutionary war, as Judge-Advocate-General, was attached to the staff of the commander in chief, and left the army with the rank of Colonel. He afterwards filled several important public offices; was a senator for the county of Suffolk, secretary of state, and clerk of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, which last office he held till his decease. He died July 8, 1819. Dr. CHARLES JARVIS was one of the warmest politicians in that party, which acknowledged Samuel Adams and John Hancock as its leaders and heads. He had talents and handsome powers of oratory, which he unceasingly exercised in the cause of his adored idol, Democracy, under their banners, though surrounded by friends and patients, of an opposite opinion. An intimate friend of his, in a letter to the writer of these reminiscences, says-" Except *, * and ** and *** strong declamation in Fanueil Hall, was his delight. I have been filled with admiration, when I have seen together in congenial efforts two such men as Samuel Adams and Charles Jarvis-Cato and Pericles! equally ardent and equally honest in the same patriotic cause. Both of them diminished their popularity by their steady adherence to their political principles. Politics destroyed Dr. Jarvis. A combination of circumstances, growing chiefly out of the peculiar state of political feeling, swept him off his ground, and reduced him to poverty; and had it not been for his appointment as a surgeon of our Marine Hospital, he would hardly have had the means of living; all which broke his spirits, affected his mind, and brought on a premature old age. Dr. Jarvis was a generous, brave, and fighting fellow, and always disposed to stand by the weakest. He could beat most men in argument, and, after that, with his fist. He followed Hancock, but I never saw him in company with Bowdoin. He was a constant attendant on Samuel Adams's levee, on Sunday evenings, AFTER SUN-SET, and went, probably, from thence to his favorite cock-pit. There was no disguise about him. You might always know where to find him. He and Hypocrisy never sat in the same chair, at the same time. He was never seen at any other meeting, than a town-meeting; he may have some queer tricks and pranks to answer for in another world, but no baseness, treachery, nor deceit." Dr. Jarvis died in the autumn of 1809. *** MICHAEL MOSES HAYS, was a Jew, not very fastidious in regard to the religion of his forefathers-a very benevolent man, and a correct and upright merchant. JAMES PRINCE was a merchant; afterwards United States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts, in which office he sustained the reputation of an upright officer, and a benevolent man. He was one of the most prominent among a number of individuals, who about the year 1817, projected and carried into effect, the scheme of the Massachusetts General Hospital. He died in 1821. WILLIAM WIDGERY belonged to the state (then the district) of Maine. He was, for many years, a member of the legislature, where it was almost impossible to keep his tongue still, although it is said he could not speak without stammering. He was famous for little, short, pithy remarks, upon every topic and occasion,-which could not be called speeches,-keeping the Senate in a laugh, very much to the scandal of some of the grave members;—for it was the same to him, whether people laughed with him, or at him. He was a member of the convention for ratifying the Federal Constitution, and stood forth as an obstinate and immoveable "Anti-Fed." When, after the ratification, there was a grand procession through the paved streets of Boston, and those who represented the Farmers were strewing grain as they marched along, Widgery, as he stood on the side walk, exclaimed with a loud voice "This is just the thing, and a true emblem of your doings-sowing your seed on stony ground, which will never take root, nor come to any thing." It is well known that some othersmuch greater men than Widgery-were of the same opinion. He was a member of Congress in 1813. He has been dead several years. THE DEBUT. If My door has a strong bolt upon it; we have a stout middle-aged woman in the house, and there is a ferocious Irishman within call. any body does not like any part of what is coming, it will be as well to take it quietly, and not waste his money on rattans or cowhides, which are provided for in the following words of the manifesto lately read at the head of my domestic corps. "And if any person or persons, having any weapon or weapons in his, her, or their hands, shall ask for said gentleman, said person or persons shall be requested to leave said weapon or weapons on the outer side of the street door; and if said person or persons shall thereunto say Nay, the said Patrick shall be forthwith called, who shall break said weapon or weapons after using it or them upon the back or backs of said person or persons, according as his, her, or their age, sex, and appearance shall in the opinion of said Patrick justify." It will be remembered by many of my fashionable readers-I suppose I have many,—that a young person rendered himself unenviably conspicuous at a large party, during the present season, by drawing a chair up to the supper table, and sitting down with a table-spoon in his hand, and a pyramid of ice before him. Although I took it to be a small pudding, calculated for one person, the misapprehension was so natural to a novice, that I might have been spared the sneers and sarcasms so unfeelingly cast upon me. And, let me tell them, that the thick-skinned idiot they have baited from society, may live to care as little for their icy contempt, as he does for their frozen dumplings. On that memorable evening, I turned my back forever to the flowered car |