1833.

DEATH OF DR. WOOLL.

393

yard, enjoying the free breath of Heaven over herb and tree. This letter to Cooper, involving much, occupied my thoughts for most of the morning; in case either of acceptance or refusal it places me better than I am, at least I think so-hope so.

November 27th.- After a night in which I was called up very frequently by my darling Nina's illness, I was awoke in the morning by letters from Messrs. Bunn and Cooper. Mr. Cooper's informing me that Mr. Bunn would reply to my proposal; and Mr. Bunn, taking up a very friendly tone, saying nothing in extenuation of his annoyance to me, but promising that in future my wishes should be consulted, at the same time refusing to relinquish my engagement. On getting up, I applied myself to answer him, which I did not very satisfactorily to myself, but mildly and in a temper rather inclining to smooth asperities.

November 28th.-Read some passages in the Roman history (to me as fascinating or perhaps much more so than the best romance) embracing the war of the pirates, that of Mithridates. with Lucullus and its conclusion by Pompey, who seems to have been far from an unexceptionable character. Mr. Rogers called and saw dear Nina. I returned to my diary and history. I also looked over Otway's works, but saw nothing in them that tempted me to sit down and read.

November 29th.-Looked over the City Madam' and could not find cause for Gifford's reprehension of Sir J. B. Burgess's alteration of the play; his language is not equal to the racy vigour of a Massinger, but his alteration of the play, reducing it to probability, is I think judicious, though timid and sometimes feeble.

November 30th.-I sat down to look through and mark available passages in the 'City Madam' for a revision of' Riches,' which I propose to cut into three acts. I purposed walking out with the dogs to Mr. Fowler's; but the thought of saving our servants' labour induced me to dine with the children, and forego my exercise. After dinner I continued to think of Luke, until I fell asleep.

December 1st.-The news which letters conveyed to me this morning from the papers, was the death of my old master Dr. Wooll. I really regret him, he was kind, most hospitable, ready to enjoy and delighted to look upon enjoyment, in short

of a most benevolent disposition; this made the weaknesses of his character, his vanity and French-abbé-like manner less unamiable. He had little or no pretensions to profound learning, but he was a thoroughly good-natured, kind-hearted

man.

London, December 2nd.-At the theatre I began Antony very feebly, but rallied and acted parts of it better than I had yet done. I learned from Cooper that 'Sardanapalus' was to be done with a grand scene, the proposal I made in the beginning of the season to Reynolds! This I take it is the "great go!"

December 3rd.-Walked with Harley to Garrick Club; saw Raymond, &c.; they said Sheil was suspected to be the traitor spoken of by Hill.* Called on Mr. Lough; liked his simplicity and enthusiasm much, but do not admire his last work of the Centaurs and Lapithæ; liked his family. Read the first act of Virginius,' which I ought to have attended to before.

December 4th.-Dear Letitia's birthday. May God bless her and send her many happy ones! At rehearsal I gave much trouble in putting the play on the stage, as it was originally got up by me. I fear I incurred much remark and ill-will. I am sorry for it. At Garrick Club, where I dined, I chatted with Collins on the drama, and with Bartley on the subject of my late correspondence with Mr. Bunn-he saw my first letter and thought it a most temperate and straightforward one. I sent Smith orders in answer to his note and went to bed, so very tired and weak was I. Looked at the part of Sardanapalus, which Mr. Cooper had given me with "Mr. Bunn's best compliments." Acted Virginius, not to my satisfaction; was tame and inefficient in the early part, but warmed with the progress of the play and was myself in the two last acts.

*Mr. Matthew Davenport Hill, M.P. for Hull, in a speech to his constituents, made at this time, stated that an Irish member, who spoke violently against the Coercion Bill, had, in private, advised the Government not to relax any of its provisions, and asked, "Who is the traitor?" On the 5th of February, 1834, Mr. O'Connell called the attention of the House of Commons to the subject, and, on behalf of the Irish members, asked for an explanation. Lord Althorp, then leading the House of Commons, declined to assure Mr. Sheil that he was not the member intended; a duel seemed impending, and they were both put in the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms. Mr. Sheil was afterwards cleared of the suspicions raised against him, by a Select Committee appointed to report upon the matter.—ED.

1833.

KING JOHN.

395

Elstree, December 5th.-Read through the part of Sardanapalus, which I think (but had better not say) is injudiciously cut. Dined at Garrick Club, and looked at some of the magazines. A criticism in the New Monthly, finding fault with a passage in my Jaques pleased me much from its truth and good taste. Came home, and read King John, after looking over the parts of Shakespeare for one to excite attention in. I fear it is not to be done but by slow degrees, and "while the grass grows," &c. Looked at parts of Coriolanus.

London, December 6th.-Only rose to attend the rehearsal of King John, to which, if I wish to act well, I must give much of to-morrow; for I am not master in execution of my own wishes and conceptions of the part, which I ought to act grandly. At the Garrick Club, where I dined and saw papers, I took advertisement of servants and sent for one on coming home; she did not come. I looked after my John's dress, and received a letter of thanks for Virginius. Brewster called; ordered wig for Coriolanus: if the public choose to be pleased, I will spare no pains nor expense to please them. Sheil is in a predicament; I would counsel him to fight, but that I do not like to incur the possible consequences of reflection. Acted leisurely, without inspiration or perspiration; still, I seemed to produce an effect upon the audience, but I was not identified with Werner. "Je n'étais pas le personnage." Lost my temper (oh, fool!) about an interference with my order for King John's dress.

Elstree, December 7th.-Rose at a very early hour with perfect pleasure to return home by the Crown Prince coach; endeavoured on my way to keep my thoughts on King John, but they ludicrously mixed themselves with other subjects and lulled me into invincible slumbers. Arriving on a very rainy and tempestuous day, I found my darling Nina better, but very thin, and dearest Willie better, but fretful and not quite well. After breakfast I read, with a desire of improvement, King John, and remained in the drawing-room (coming down only twice for short periods) until past four o'clock. I then took up 'Sardanapalus,' which I read, comparing it with the original, and marking my book by it-I do not think, with whatever adjuncts, that it can do; it seems to me very undramatically prepared; and most injudiciously have the selections of its poetry been made. After dinner (what with

a yule log, and good port wine, I enjoyed my fireside) I returned to my tiresome task of collating 'Sardanapalus.'

London, December 9th.-Came to town by Billings, and went to rehearsal, at which there was no Hubert: an unusual and not very pleasant occurrence. From the theatre went to dine and see the papers at the Garrick Club. Returning to chambers, wrote notes and was a good deal disturbed by loss. of temper as well as time (a loss attributable only to my own folly) on the subject of my armour for King John. I went to the theatre thinking, first, of my dress and, secondly, of King John. I am ashamed, grieved, and distressed to acknowledge the truth: I acted disgracefully, worse than I have done for years; I shall shrink from looking into a newspaper to-morrow, for I deserve all that can be said in censure of me. I did what I feared I should do, sacrificed my character to my dress! Wallace and Talfourd came into my room, and I felt what they thought of my performance; it has made me very unhappy.

December 10th.-I feared to look into the papers, but found them, on going to meet Fladgate by appointment at the Garrick Club very indulgent indeed. The Herald remarked, in objection, upon my dress, so that I suffered as I ought, but not in the degree I merited. Went with Fladgate to call on Chantrey, who received us very kindly, and with whom we had a most interesting conversation. Our purpose was to ascertain his price for a bust of Mrs. Siddons, to be placed in Westminster Abbey by the Garrick Club. He told us two hundred guineas, but that the price should be no obstacle; he spoke most pleasingly and liberally. Fladgate was delighted with him. On leaving him to inquire, at his request, of Deville if he had a cast of Mrs. Siddons, we arranged our plan of operations, viz., to learn all, ask the practicability of the plan, and then at a "house-dinner" engage members of the Club to support it. We went to Deville's, saw the casts of Siddons, Miss O'Neill, &c. I was very much gratified with Chantrey's conversation. He observed that, to satisfy relations or friends, it was desirable that the likeness of a bust should be as exact as possible, but that in the case of a person of genius, we must have something to engage the attention and respect of those who could never be able to judge of a likeness. His remarks on the necessity of supplying the want of colours by shadows

1833.

CORIOLANUS.

397

pleased me much: that if he copied exactly a face, as it actually was, it would neither have effect nor resemblance; but that he was obliged to vary, always with due caution and care, the exact surface, giving prominence where shadows might be needful to give the corresponding effect to colour.

December 13th.-I acted Hotspur in a way that showed me my ability to play it much better, and indeed very well. I took more time over the opening speech, but found as I proceeded the want of study, and how very little pains would make it good. I also found in the progress of the scene the vast benefit derived from keeping vehemence and effort out of passion. It is every thing for nature. The reading the letter was not bad chiefly on that account. At home I looked through the leaves of Victor Hugo's play.

December 14th.-Awoke late, and got up in great haste to dress for rehearsal. Was there in time; saw the play, 'Coriolanus,' in so disgraceful a state, that it was useless to bestow a word upon the mise en scène: had not even the power to try myself in the feeling of the part. After rehearsal went to pay in some money at Ransom's, and called at the Garrick Club.

Elstree, December 15th.-Dow called while I was looking through Shakespeare's 'Julius Cæsar,' with an eye to its mise en scène. On his departure I walked round the garden and then read the 'Coriolanus' of Plutarch. After dinner read the part of Coriolanus, and afterwards answered a tax-collector's charge of £2 8s. for armorial bearings.

December 16th.-Called at Brewster's, and was disappointed. in my wig. Walked to Garrick Club, where I saw newspapers, Winston, and took down a servant's advertisement. Came home, and sent notes after servants and wrote to H. Smith about to-morrow. Dozed through the afternoon.

London.-H. Earle called to see Nina; a note from H. Smith with directions for his money to-morrow. Acted languidly and ineffectively most of the two first acts of 'Coriolanus,' but in the third act I assumed the character, and in the last blazed out; the audience were much excited. Wallace came into my room, and said it was splendid.

December 17th.-Awoke in the night by my dear child's illness, which begins to make me very uneasy. May God