s.

d.

0 6

Sending for the Sexton

....

Parson's Fee (his blessing into the bargain).. 2 6

Clerk for saying amen, &c.

Gin for ditto

... 1 2

.. 0 4

...... 3 0

Rum and brandy for bell-ringers, and other ne

cessary expences ....

Total 7 6

Now can any thing be more reasonable? I am sure the most economical cold-blooded lovers that ever sighed in silent groves, or moaned by moonlight, never could grumble at or be deterred from marriage one moment, when the job can be done at so reasonable a rate. I hope to be thanked by all impatient young swains, and love-sick ladies, for the information I have here given. They will see at once how unnecessary is the expence and fatigue of a long journey to Scotland: to say nothing of the killing of half a dozen or a dozen post-horses, by bribing the post boys to whip them on beyond their strength. To be sure in this case love is the principal spur; but it is a pity that love and cruelty should be so closely united. Now all candidates for wedlock of the description here alluded to; more especially those who reside in or near the West of England; will perceive immediately, how preferable Guernsey is to Gretna Green! As for a little sea sickness during the short voyage that is nothing; nay, 'tis rather an advantage. The little assiduities and attentions that may be necessary from the commencement of the first qualms that may be felt, and the violent

Y

agitations continued through the whole crisis of seasickness these I repeat are rather a recommendation than a draw-back to the expedition. These fits, let

me call them, clear the head, give a freer circulation to the blood, and of course produce higher spirits and much quicker palpitations of the heart; and to set the heart to work on such occasions, is a consideration of some value. Besides, it gives exercise to those various sensations, feelings and anxieties that will naturally be called into action as soon as the marriage ceremony has taken place; not only during the honeymoon, but probably for a long period afterwards.

As far as respects Mr. Bernard, and his "All for Love; or the world well lost," suffice it to say that he took a cottage in the island, intending to make it a summer place of entertainment, in the way of a tea garden, with singing, &c.; but the scheme it is to be feared did not answer his expectations, for he soon afterwards left the Island and sailed for America.

Having already spoken of Guernsey and Jersey, we returned after the lapse of more than a year to London. During our second season at Covent Garden, Mrs. Lee had many first-rate characters given her; some written purposely for her, as well as many songs: but on account of her weak state of health, she was obliged to decline the performance of some of them. Mr. Harris, the manager, was very liberal and indulgent; so was Mr. Lewis: I think it impossible for so large a concern as Covent Garden, to be better conducted than it was at that time. Great changes have since taken place. Mrs. Lee was more seriously ill by the latter end of

January: we removed to Kentish Town for the benefit of the air some flattering symptoms of improvement appeared, but on the first of March she died. Previous to this we had both engaged with Mr. Macready to go to Birmingham for the summer; when the time came I went by myself: I was well received and handsomely treated, both by the manager and the audience: Mr. Macready was a very good conductor of a Theatre; a little too fond of bustle, and Pantomime perhaps; but he had a great deal of industry, and on the whole, was a worthy, clever man. I was with him two seasons at Birmingham; my son, Herbert Lee, was afterwards with him at Bristol, and played a great deal of the leading business. I corresponded with Mr. Macready, and we remained on friendly terms till his death.

From Birmingham I went to Woolverhampton, Worcester and Cheltenham. The managers were Mr. Watson and Mr. Hoy: the latter was not manager many years, and I never heard of any one lamenting his leaving the profession. Mr. Watson was quite a different sort of character: he had been manager at Cheltenham and other towns, many years; nobody knew more of the eccentricities of the profession than he did : in the early part of his life he was well acquainted with Mr. John Kemble, and many eccentric and truly humorous stories are told of them.

Mr. Watson was, in every sense of the word, a man of the world, and a very clever manager; cautious to a fault but he had a great deal of candour about him, when he found people worthy of being so treated. Το persons who acted with duplicity he was always a

match, but those who meant rightly and so conducted themselves, he was not behind hand in fair dealing. This was my opinion of him when we parted, and I cannot but say, that I liked him better than many others, who, with more specious pretence about them, had much less fairness and liberality. Mr. Watson and I in the way of business occasionally corresponded.

But to return to my narrative.

While I was at Woolverhampton, I occasionally used to meditate among the tombs in the church-yard: especially over the grave of Mr. Whitely, the manager who is spoken of in another place. He was buried in or near this church porch; and if I forget not, lies without a stone or inscription to his memory. This is to be lamented, because he was certainly a man of original talent; many droll jokes and whimsical incidents that have delighted the public in modern dramas, had their origin in the facetious brain of this eccentric man. Had London been the circle in which he moved instead of the Country, he would have made some figure in dramatic history. He subscribed himself James Augustus Whitely.

During the winter I had kept up a correspondence with Mr. Macready, and returned to Birmingham in June, which was earlier than the Theatre had usually opened. We began with great eclat, and had a very good season. As to business, I had more and better than I wished for: the former season I generally played old characters, but this year I chiefly played young ones, and I was well thought of by both the manager and the audience. But I was soon called away, sooner than I expected.

Before my second season at Birmingham was quite over, I agreed with Mr. Harper for his Theatrical property at Barnstaple and other places: I was to take possession on or before the twenty-fourth of September. I put things in train as well as I could by letter, and travelled from Birmingham west-ward for Wells, Bridgwater, and Taunton: I arranged all that was necessary in those towns, and set off for Poole in Dorset. I took the Theatre there for the next season.* I went on to Weymouth, and spoke to Mr. James Biggs, and two or three other performers that I knew: I then sailed for Guernsey. The Royal Court granted me a licence to perform in this Island during the next winter: I then sailed for Plymouth; transacted business there, and took a chaise for Barnstaple about upwards of sixty miles I commenced management the day after 1 reached the spot. This was all done in less than three weeks from the time I left Birmingham.

*The Theatre at this time was the Property of Joseph Garland, Esq. (Brother to one of the Members for Poole) The next season I took my Company there; and paid Mr. J. Garland a full year's rent, though I was there only about three months: -I also paid him the rent for the year that was past, (left due by the former manager): I mention this, because only two years ago since the present moment he appeared to have forgot that he ever had any dealings with me. Now if I had owed him money he would not have forgot it; he most likely would have readily remembered it; but, 'tis a common thing with many. money-getting men, they appear at times as if they had lost the better half of their memories. I do not mention this with the least intention of insinuating any thing derogatory to the character of the gentleman in question. He is doubtless a very honorable man: I make the remark philosophically, to prove what has been before advanced; that, at a certain age our memories get more and more imperfect and uncertain,