HISTORY

OF THE

AMERICAN THEATRE.

BY

WILLIAM DUNLAP,

AUTHOR OF MEMOIRS OF GEORGE FREDERICK COOKE, &C.

Where is that palace whereinto sometimes

Foul things intrude not?

The corruption of the Theatre is no disproof of its innate and primitive utility.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET.

1833.

CONTENTS

OF

THE SECOND VOLUME.

CHAPTER XX.

1797. The two Theatres in New-York-Lailson's Circus-Two Theatres in

Boston-Wignell returns to Philadelphia and Hodgkinson to New-York

-Mr. Cooper joins the New-York Company-The New, or Park Theatre,

opened, January 29th, 1798-Mr. Wignell closes the Philadelphia Thea-

tre, and assigns as the causes Mr. Moreton's ill-health and the defection

of Messrs. Fennell and Cooper-Mr. Cooper's Hamlet-Tragedy of

André-Joan of Arc-Chalmers and Melocosmiotis-Mr. Hodgkinson

determines to relinquish New-York, and engages both the Boston Houses

-The Park Theatre leased to Mr. Dunlap-Biography of Mr. William B.

Wood .
Page 1

CHAPTER XXI.

Autobiography-Scenes before the American Revolution-Scenes during the

War of the Revolution-First Visit to a Theatre-London and its Thea-

tres-Pedestrian Tour to Oxford with Dr. S. L. Mitchill-Old Soldier

of the 47th

38

CHAPTER XXII.

Salaries and Expenses-Miss Westray and Miss E. Westray-Holcroft—

Mr. and Mrs. Barrett-Yellow Fever of 1798-The Theatre of New-York

not opened until the 3rd of December, 1798-Saved by bringing out

The Stranger-Biographical Notice of Kotzebue

CHAPTER XXIII.

70

Boston Theatre, autumn of 1798-Names of Performers there engaged-

Mrs. S. Powell—Mr. Villiers-New-York Theatre-Sterne's Maria, or

The Vintage-The Natural Daughter-Great success of The Stranger-

Lovers' Vows-Count Benyowski-Schiller's Don Carlos-Biography of

Schiller

91

CHAPTER XXIV.

1799. The Italian Father-Philadelphia Company-New Agreement for

the New-York Theatre-Wignell and Reinagle's failure in Philadelphia—

Proposals to Mrs. Merry-Her Letter in answer-Mr. Hodgkinson offers

himself and family for the New-York Theatre, and is engaged-Death of

Stephen Wools-Fennell opens a theatre in New York, and shuts it again

-Yellow Fever of 1799-Letter from Kotzebue -New-York Theatre

opens 18th of November-False Shame-Force of Calumny-Wild-goose

Chase-Robbers-Death of Washington-Mr. Cooper leaves New-York

-Virgin of the Sun-Pizarro

CHAPTER XXV.

-

-

105

1800-Theatre at Mount Vernon Gardens-Mr. Corré- Effects of the De-

parture of Mr. Cooper — Theatre opens Oct 20th, 1800 - Names of Per-

formers - Mrs. Powell - Mr. Fennell — Fraternal Discord, or Bruder

Zwist-Mr. Harper-Mrs. Jefferson's first appearance-Mr. White-Mr.

Winstanley-Joanna of Montfaucon-Abälino-Zschokke-De Montfort

-Joanna Baillie

128

CHAPTER XXVI.

Mr. Hodgkinson prefers being a Salaried Performer to sharing Profits.-Mr.

White's Romeo-The Abbé de l'Epée-Philadelphia Company-Engage-

ment of Mrs. Merry and Mr. Cooper for New-York-Starring-Miss E.

A. Westray-Mr. Placide-Hodgkinson's Falstaff-Opening of the The-

atre in October 1802-Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock-Mr. and Mrs. Johnson

arrive from England - Mr. Prigmore — Mr. Wilson — Blue Beard - The

Wheel of Truth -The Voice of Nature Mr. Cooper departs for Drury-

Lane - Consequences of the Wheel of Truth - Jonathan Oldstyle and

Andrew Quoz

145

CHAPTER XXVII.

Letter against Theatrical Exhibitions from John Murray, Jun, a Quaker, to

Wm. Dunlap, and his Answer

CHAPTER XXVIII.

184

Boston Theatre and Mrs. Powell-Miss F. Hodgkinson-Alphonso-Mrs.

Gannett-Mrs. Wignell-Mrs. Hodgkinson-Miss Brett-Messrs. Claude

and Clarke-Mr. Hodgkinson's Bankruptcy in Philadelphia-Death of

Mrs. Hodgkinson and Miss Brett, 1803

190

CHAPTER XXIX.

1803.-Albany-New-York Company-John E. Harwood - Parallel be-

tween Harwood and Hodgkinson-John Bull_Harwood's Dennis Brul-

gruddery-Hogg's Job Thornberry-Bonaparte in England-Mr. Searson

-The Theatre of New-York sold by Auction-Conceit can Kill, Conceit

can Cure-Lewis of Monte Blanco, or the Transplanted Irishman - Har-

wood's Military Irishman-Mr. and Mrs. Darley-Mr. Huntington-

Mr. Cooper returns from England-Bankruptcy of the Manager of the

New-York Theatre

200

CHAPTER XXX.

1805. Mr. Twaits-Twaits and Cooper-Captain Smith-Boston Theatre

Boston-Death of Mr. Hodgkinson-Philadelphia Company-Mr. Cain

-Lessons on Intemperance-New York Theatre under Johnson and

Tyler-Miss Ross-Mrs. Wheatley-Mrs. Jones-Mr. and Mrs. Young

—Mr. Fennell, a star-Play of the Wanderer-Tars from Tripoli-Man-

hattan Stage-New-York Theatre leased to Mr. Cooper-Mr. Robinson

-Mr. Jones-Mr. and Mrs. Johnson's return to Europe

CHAPTER XXXI.

215

Philadelphia Company in 1806-Mr. Cooper opens the New York Theatre

-Company-Mr. Morse-Mr. Cooper's Second Season of Management

-Theatre Remodelled-Boston Theatre-New York Theatre under

Cooper and Price-Mr. Twaits's Prince of Wales-Death of Mr. Hallam

-Theatre in Lexington, Kentucky-Death of Mrs. Warren-Master

Payne's first Appearance-Comedy of Man and Wife-The Duke of

Buckingham-Mr. and Mrs. Duff

CHAPTER XXXII.

241

1809.-Mr. and Mrs. Poe-Mr. and Mrs. Young-To Marry or Not to

Marry-Grieving's a Folly-Mrs. Mason-Her Widow Cheerly-Mr.

Simpson-His Debût-His Early History-Engaged by Dr. Irving for

New-York-Mr. Cooper's De Montfort-Foundling of the Forest—

Venoni-Mr. Oliff, and other Prompters, at New York—Mr. Dwyer—

His Debût and Early History-Mr. Cooper goes to England, 1810—Mr.

Bray-Mr. Wood at New-York-Mr. and Mrs. Stanley-Arrival of Mr.

Cooke.

265

CHAPTER XXXIII.

A short Chapter of Additional Autobiography

278