Part 13 (1/2)

{22} ”Holland's edifice.” The late theatre was built by Holland the architect. The writer visited it on the night of its opening [April 21, 1794]. The performances were Macbeth and the Virgin Unmasked.

Between the play and the farce, an excellent epilogue, written by George Colman, was excellently spoken by Miss Farren. It referred to the iron curtain which was, in the event of fire, to be let down between the stage and the audience, and which accordingly descended, by way of experiment, leaving Miss Farren between the lamps and the curtain. The fair speaker informed the audience, that should the fire break out on the stage (where it usually originates), it would thus be kept from the spectators; adding, with great solemnity -

”No! we a.s.sure our generous benefactors 'Twill only burn the scenery and the actors!”

A tank of water was afterwards exhibited, in the course of the epilogue, in which a wherry was rowed by a real live man, the band playing -

”And did you not hear of a jolly young waterman?”

Miss Farren reciting -

”Sit still, there's nothing in it, We'll undertake to drown you in a single minute.”

”O vain thought!” as Oth.e.l.lo says. Notwithstanding the boast in the epilogue -

”Blow, wind--come, rack, in ages yet unborn, Our castle's strength shall laugh a siege to scorn” -

the theatre fell a victim to the flames within fifteen years from the prognostic! These preparations against fire always presuppose presence of mind and promptness in those who are to put them into action. They remind one of the dialogue, in Morton's Speed the Plough, between Sir Able Handy and his son Bob:

”Bob. Zounds, the castle's on fire!

Sir A. Yes.

Bob. Where's your patent liquid for extinguis.h.i.+ng fire?

Sir A. It is not mixed.

Bob. Then where's your patent fire-escape?

Sir A. It is not fixed.

Bob. You are never at a loss?

Sir A. Never.

Bob. Then what do you mean to do?

Sir A. I don't know.”

{23} A rather obscure mode of expression for JEWS'-harp; which some etymologists allege, by the way, to be a corruption of JAWS'-harp.

No connection, therefore, with King David.

{24} The Weekly Register, which he kept up without the failure of a single week from its first publication till his death--a period of above thirty-three years.

{25} Bagshaw. At that time the publisher or Cobbett's Register.

{26} The old Lyceum Theatre, pulled down by Mr. Arnold. That since destroyed by fire [16th Feb., 1830] was erected on its site. [The Drury Lane Company performed at the Lyceum till the house was rebuilt.]

{27} The present colonnade in Little Russell Street formed no part of the original design, and was erected only a few years back.

{28} An allusion to a murder then recently committed on Barnes Terrace. [The murder (22nd July, 1812) of the Count and Countess D'Antraigues (distantly related to the Bourbons), by a servant out of livery of the name of Laurence--an Italian or Piedmontese, who made away with himself immediately after.]