“I gave my mother all the information you require in
the letter I sent yesterday, and I thought that might save the additional
trouble and expense of postage, for I have a great deal to do. Though I play
seldom, whenever I play I have to study the character; but as necessary
information cannot in London be conveyed half a mile, I will with pleasure
endeavour to do it from seventy miles’ distance. You desired to be
acquainted with some of the gentlemen of the company. Their names are as
follows:—Tyler, Curtis,
Stanewix, Gill,
Kelly, Woolley,
Baker, Davies,
Barrett; Mesdames Tyler,
Maxfield, Kelly,
Davies, Collins,
Balls, and Lings. Mr
Tyler is the chief singer, and has £1, 11s. 6d. salary a week.
He plays, besides, in middling parts, is good-natured and rather formal, and
about thirty-eight years of age. Mr Curtis is a kind of
pompous fool, never seems to attempt anything in acting, stands always in one
position, and as erect as if he had a spit thrust through him. Mr
Gill is—nobody. Mr Stanewix is a young
beginner—he has been but nine months on the stage. I do not well know what to
make of him. His understanding is above mediocrity, but I believe he will never
be a good actor. He plays French parts and fops. Mr
Maxfield is the tragedy hero. It so happened that he did not
till last night play one of his best castes, when he played ‘George Barnwell’ with
some merit; but though this man is their Richard
III., their Essex, &c.,
such is the nature of this company that last night, after playing
‘George Barnwell,’ he went
on as a sailor in ‘Captain
Cook,’ without a word to say, or anything to do.
Kelly is a Jack in all parts—a young man who would
have merit in some caste, if
| DANGER FROM PRESS GANG. | 93 |
“I expect every day to be pressed, and neither appearance nor friends can save me. Masters of houses have been taken away. I know a common sailor who sometime ago was a player.”
