From the original Picture in the possession of 0t ue 1 825.5' wey's Longman, furst Reas Orme, Brown, and Green. Paternoster Row. MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF JOHN PHILIP KEMBLE, Esq. INCLUDING A HISTORY OF THE STAGE, FROM THE TIME OF GARRICK TO THE PRESENT BY JAMES BOADEN, Esq. "Nihil metûs in vultu: gratia oris supererat. LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, BROWN, AND GREEN, PATERNOSTER-ROW. YOUR MAJESTY'S favour to the subject of these memoirs has extended beyond his existence; even to the gracious acceptance of a very humble effort to do justice to his memory. YOUR MAJESTY distinguished in Mr. Kemble, the scientific artist, the illustrator of our greatest poet, the improver of scenic representation, the scholar of elegant manners, the man of unblemished integrity and honour. Such were the qualities which, to all sound dramatic taste, pointed out Mr. Kemble as the consummate director of our most liberal But it is not for me to pursue amusement. this theme, on which the HIGHEST JUDGMENT has long since pronounced. In the admired exercise of his abilities as a manager and an actor, Mr. Kemble became involved in a calamity, which threatened him with irretrievable ruin;-I mean the destruction by FIRE of Covent Garden Theatre. He had reached at this time a period of his life, which could not flatter him with hopes of any very lengthened continuance of his exertions. But at this moment of severe affliction, the Royal Mind condescended to administer that PRINCELY CONSOLATION, which was dear indeed to a spirit such as his; and the accompanying mark of the ROYAL MUNIFICENCE became doubly precious to him, from the GRACIOUS LANGUAGE, by which its acceptance was rendered, not merely a duty, but a PRIDE. |