Memoir of John Murray
John Murray to Lord Byron, 13 May 1817
Your favour of the 23rd arrived yesterday, and I instantly
sent the lines upon Tasso to
Mr. Gifford, who called with them
soon afterwards, and assured me that they were exceedingly good, and that there
was besides a difference in the style, which would, by being novel, prove
additionally interesting. Moore’s Poem is to appear on the 22nd inst., and I will try
to send it. Mr. Sheil, the author of
‘Adelaide,’ has had most extraordinary success on the stage with
his tragedy, called ‘The
Apostate,’ merely from forming a ![]()
| ‘CHILDE HAROLD,’ CANTO IV. | 385 |
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series of interesting
situations. I read it with Mr. Gifford in MS., and we both
thought it impossible that it could succeed. I went, fully convinced that it
would be damned; but nothing could exceed the applause which it drew
throughout. It had the advantage of giving four exceedingly appropriate
characters to C. Kemble, Macready, Young, and Miss
O’Neil; neither of whom ever had an opportunity of acting
better. Its success has been complete, and it must be acted as long as four
good actors can be brought together.
William Gifford (1756-1826)
Poet, scholar, and editor who began as a shoemaker's apprentice; after Oxford he
published
The Baviad (1794),
The Maeviad
(1795), and
The Satires of Juvenal translated (1802) before becoming
the founding editor of the
Quarterly Review (1809-24).
Charles Kemble (1775-1854)
English comic actor, the younger brother of John Philip Kemble and Sarah Siddons.
Elizabeth O'Neill (1791-1872)
Irish-born actress who excelled in parts such as Ellen in the adaptation of Scott's
The Lady of the Lake; she retired in 1819 following her marriage to
William Wrixon-Becher (1780-1850), Irish MP.
Richard Lalor Sheil (1791-1851)
Irish barrister and playwright; author of
Adelaide, or the
Emigrants (1814),
The Apostle (1817), and other tragedies.
He was an Irish MP (1830-50).
Charles Mayne Young (1777-1856)
English Shakespearean actor who began his professional career in 1798; he was admired in
Hamlet. He was a friend of Sir Walter Scott.
