MEMOIR OF MACREADY. 41 insignificant pieces, the Slave was re-peared in Evadne, and was greeted with increased applause. vived and re adapted to the stage, and the part of Gambia was entrusted to Mr. Macready. It was well suited to his powers, and so completely did he conceive and embody the character, that it became entirely his own, and, like Kemble in Hamlet, Kean in Richard III., and Mrs. Siddons in Queen Katherine, so Macready in Gambia reigned supreme. On Charles Kemble's benefit he appeared as Glenalvon to Young's Old Norval, Kemble's Norval, and Mrs. Siddons's Lady Randolph; this being Mrs. Siddons's last impersonation, it was the only time Macready had the honour of acting with her. Soon after this Sheridan Knowles produced his celebrated tragedy of "Virginius," and the character was entrusted to Macready. The success of both actor and play were immense; and it has ever since been universally admitted that Macready only can fully delineate the pride, sorrow, and passion of Virginia's noble father. During the run of this To be in anything unequalled is an indication of genius that with culture and application might extend its dominion, so thought the rising tragedian, and when the managers, pleased with his splendid triumph, cast him as Othello to Young's Iago, he drew such a vivid and powerful picture of Shak-piece, Covent Garden was nightly crowded spere's jealous Moor, that he shook the position of the inimitable trio, and, with Kean, Kemble, and Young, stood an equal competitor for fame. He followed this success with Iago to Young's Othello, Beverley in the Curfew, and Pescura in the Apostate, in quick succession. Jealousies which had been gathering for some time began now to display their venom, and the career of Macready was checked for a short time. One of those disgraceful acts, which in theatrical history have too often clouded the reputation of great men was committed, and Mr. Macready was shelved, that is, paid to do nothing, lest his nightly applause should injure the fame of the Covent Garden favourites, Kemble and Young. It is a poor spirit that fears to compete with its equal. This ruinous system had long been very common, and there is great reason to believe that the present dramatic depression is attributable to its influence. To the lasting degradation of the managers thus guilty, it is recorded that real talent has frequently been either completely smothered, or allowel only a partial display, in order that certain do.. minant stars might shine without fear of being eclipsed by greater luminaries. Mrs. Siddons was thus ill used, by one who perhaps atoned for his fault by the benefits he afterwards conferred, but it was a great wrong, and might have cost our country the example of that noble woman. The Covent Garden jealousy having partially subsided, Macready again ap to the ceiling, and Drury-lane so deserted, that Kean was obliged to bring out an extravaganza, in which he was advertised to dance, sing, and harlequinade, in order to entice a full house to his benefit. Mr. Macready, who had hitherto been generally seen in minor parts, now determined to attempt the high Shaksperian walk, and he appeared for his benefit in Macbeth; and on the departure of Edmund Kean for America, in 1820, he was bold enough to impersonate Richard III. This had long been considered Kean's unapproachable study; and although Macready gave to it many beauties, and a fine intellectual reading, yet it still remains Edmund Kean's own unequalled. After running through the line of Shaksperian heroes, Macready took a trip to America, and his fame having travelled before him, his reception was brilliant. On his return, he made a tour through the provinces, and in 1832 appeared as Iago to Kean's Othello, at Drury-lane. This was the only time these great rivals ever performed together, and strangely enough the very piece compelled them to be rivals still. In 1835, he joined the Drury-lane company under Bunn's management; and, after enduring a series of insults from Mr. Bunn, he at length took the law in his own hand, and thrashed the insolent manager. For this Lynch justice he had to pay £150; but on his next appearance in Ion, at Covent Garden, the public, with tremendous applause, testified their approval of his conduct. In October, 1836, Mr. Macready became manager of Covent Garden, and at once made one of the grandest attempts for the restoration of the national drama upon record. The saloons were cleared from the vicious hordes which had so long infested them; a company embracing the chief talent of the time, viz., Vandenhoff, Phelps, Elton, Anderson, Warde, Mrs. Warner, Mrs. Nisbett, and Miss Faucit, were engaged; and the pencil of the famous Stanfield, R.A., employed upon the scenery. With this powerful support the Lady of Lyons was produced, and followed by Macbeth, Hamlet, Coriolanus, Richelieu, Werner, Tell, and other grand pieces. For two seasons the drama thus flourished, when the sudden retirement of Macready from management again threw a cloud over its history. This effort of the tragedian was not allowed to pass without a public mark of approbation, and a banquet was given to him at Freemasons' Hall, the Duke of Sussex presiding. For his unparalleled services in dramatic reform, the Duke of Cambridge, as chairman of a large meeting held at Almack's, presented Macready with a valuable piece of plate, representing the restoration of Shakspere and the stage. The ex-manager of Drury Lane now crossed the Atlantic for the second time, and, after gathering fresh laurels from the western world, visited Paris, where he was received as a second Roscius. He reappeared a short time in London, at the Princess's, and in 1849 took another trip to show brother Jonathan his stage studies; but, in consequence of a foolish jealousy on the part of the friends of Mr. Forrest, a riot ensued, in which lives were lost, much to the disgrace of an American mob, and especially Mr. Forrest's choleric patrons. Mr. Macready, having issued a public address, judiciously withdrew, and on his arrival home, was received on the Haymarket stage with torrents of applause which are beyond description. Macready now determined to retire from public life, and his farewell performances were announced, but iliness prevented his concluding them until 1850, when in November he commenced, at the Haymarket, his final delineations, which, it is expected, will conclude in February of the present year. For a short time Macready appeared only at the Haymarket, but soon determined upon trying another dramatic revival. Drury Lane was engaged. The house was in a dilapidated state, and a considerable sum had to be laid out to fit it for the reception of the public. The company, pieces, and style of management were nearly the same as the Covent Mr. Macready has for many years reGarden campaign. Clara Novello, Phil-sided in the Regent's Park, but has lately lips, and Braham, were attached to the staff, and the mask of Comus produced with great splendour. At length, in 1843, in consequence, we believe, of the rent of the theatre being exorbitantly raised, Mr. Macready resigned his office; and, with one or two trifling exceptions, Drury Lane remained valueless property until taken by Mr. Anderson in 1849. purchased an estate at Sherbourn, in Dorsetshire, where he intends to close his days with his wife and family in social enjoyment. A few days ago we were told an anecdote of this great tragedian, which, never having appeared in print before, we give to the reader. The Philanthropic Society, in the days of Charles Kemble, took Covent Garden theatre for one night, The managerial efforts of Macready to have a benefit, and agreed to pay £250 will ever stand forth as the brightest por- for the house and company. Hamlet was tions of his career; and he who expended the piece chosen for representation, with £20,000 to elevate our people by an Kemble as the Prince of Denmark: the day acquaintance with the beautiful and drew near, when the sudden death of John sublime, and boldly braved the calumny Philip Kemble rendered it impossible for of the press, and the opposition of the his brother Charles to appear. In this diprofligate, by scouting from the temples lemma, a deputation of gentlemen was of our national poet ignorance and abo-appointed by the Society to wait upon mination, will rank not only as a nob.e Mr. Macready, who was also attached to actor, but as a philanthropist of no com- the company, to solicit him to take the mon order. part. They were introduced into his ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST WANTS. 43 library, where he sat in his dressing- beautiful, that he is quite unable to repregown reading the Times, and taking no sent entirely vicious characters. Iago, notice of the strangers present. in his hands, reveals sparks of goodness The spokesman explained the object smouldering beneath his foulest deeds; of their visit. Macready, looking at them and even the consummate demon, Rifor a moment, exclaimed, "Gentlemen, chard the Third, displays points redeemyou first apply to the Colonel, and then able. come to the General. No, Sir, I shall This we consider a true reading of have nothing to do with it." Annoyed human character; for man, while he can at this proud reply, the deputation re-ever be supremely good, can never beminded Mr. Macready that "as they had come instinctively bad; the soul, God has purchased the company for the night, breathed into us, can never lose its divine they could, if they pleased, command his intensity. services, but did not wish to act so uncourteously." The tragedian, now seeing the position of affairs, replied, "Ah! al! I see you can; so, if you will allow me to choose my own piece, I will perform." This was of course done, and the Society had a rich benefit, to which Macready added a handsome subscription, which he has since continued annually. There are many anecdotes recorded of this great actor, but their truth is so doubtful, that we prefer omitting them. One, in which he is said to have rescued a child from the flames in Birmingham, we have excellent authority for stating to be quite a romance. The genius of Macready is peculiarly intellectual and refined; indeed, so closely is his mind associated with the good and Macready is not an actor only, but also a scholar and a man of letters. He has lately edited an edition of Pope's poems for the use of schools, and by its extensive sale we anticipate it will become a standard school-book. In these days of dramatic decline, when the opera, ballet, and farce, threaten to drive the legitimate drama entirely from the stage, when Drury is falling into ruins, and the monuments of Garrick and Kean, which guard the lofty portals, seem spectres of days gone by, we look upon Macready's retirement with melancholy forebodings, and close this tribute to his memory in the earnest hope that his mantle will descend, not upon one, but upon the whole army of Thespian heroes. course of mankind, and consequently to the amelioration of the condition of the ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST WANTS. "AND what is that?" we think we hear our readers say. Well, without any circumlocution, we at once reply" a uni-human family, is duly considered in all versal language," and we confidently anticipate a universal assent to our designation of the desideratum. Before entering upon this interesting question we are desirous of avowing our belief in the Mosaic account of the confusion of tongues, as recorded in the Holy Scrip tures; while, at the same time, we confess we see nothing inconsistent with this belief, in expecting there will be a period in the future history of our race, when the whole world shall again be of one language and of one speech,' there being no warranty in the pages of inspiration which, we consider, can fairly be construed to indicate that the curse of a diversity of tongues was to be perpetual. its various bearings, and the numerous and vast advantages which would result from a uniformity of speech, it cannot fail to be a matter of surprise and regret that an adequate effort has not long since been made to realize among civilized nations a consummation so devoutly to be wished. That such an effort has not been made must, we apprehend, be set down in a great measure to the account of the insane international antipathies, and international wars, and warlike preparations upon which professedly civilized nations have hitherto so wantonly lavished their best energies. When nations wake up to the obvious common-sense fact that their interests are identical with peace When the impediment which the and amity-and thank God there is a manifold difference of language has gleam of hope that the process of this proved, and still proves to the free inter-awakening is row going on-then ther The coming will be some chance of concerted action | more and more felt, from the increased for promoting mutual international ad- intercourse of nations. vantages, and among others this of a universal language, when many shall run to and fro without let or hindrance, and when knowledge shall be universally increased. Great Industrial International Exhibition, which must be ranked among the wonders of the world, and as one of the blessed fruits of international peace, will prove an occasion when the want of a common language will be more intensely felt than it ever has been since the time of the abortive attempt to build Babel; and it occurs to us that this golden opportunity ought by no means to be allowed to slip without making an energetic effort to give a world-wide currency to the project, as might then be done-setting forth its practicability, the vast attendant moral and social advantages, and soliciting the co-operation of the many individuals who will then be assembled in London, and who will be so well qualified by their position in society, mental grasp, and literary and scientific attainments to give it effect. With this view we conceive that a concise but comprehensive paper should be published in different languages-say three, English. French, and German, and distributed in properly selected circles of those who may visit the metropolis at the approaching event; such paper bearing the names and addresses of reputable parties. Look, now, only at the civilized portion of the human race, in what an abnormal, unnatural position they stand in with regard to each other; all springing from the same origin and inheriting a common nature, possessing the same affections, aspirations and wants, physical and spiritual-fellow-travellers on the same mysterious journey, and all alike bound to an interminable hereafter, and each needing the friendship and cooperation of others. Notwithstanding this identity of nature and interests, yet are they divided into innumerable sections, separated from each other by difference of language, as it were by immense walls-Chinese fashion-which not more than one here and there can scale, and then only after having consumed no small portion of the best of his life in perplexing his mind, and risking the damaging of his health by poring over the declensions of nouns; conjugations of verbs; ascertaining whether the names of things are male or female, We are happy to know that this proand which things have really no gender at ject, the thoughts of which has warmed all; variations of adjectives; idiomatic us many a time since it first presented peculiarities, &c., &c., and when all this itself to our mind, is by no means new, it is done, which, by-the-by, is compara- having engaged the serious attention of tively but rarely done perfectly, he then persons eminent for learning and science manages to stammer out, probably in a at various intervals, and in different councrippled manner, and through much ridi- tries since the year 1653, among whom culous blundering, one of the scores of may be mentioned Wilkins, bishop of foreign languages, and to read its litera- Chester; Leibnitz and Descartes. ture. Looking at this great question in latest author on the subject we are all its aspects the incalculable advan- aware of is the Rev. Edward Groves, tages which would result to the civilized whose treatise appeared in 1846, entitled world, and then to the whole world, from" Pasilogia," an able essay, in which an openness of speech, and among other benefits the large amount of additional time which studious men could then give to the advancement of physical and moral science, upon which human progress and happiness so intimately depend -we say, when all these things are duly considered, we cannot bring ourselves to believe that this world of ours will always be the Babel it is at present. If we can but continue to ward off the voluntary curse of international war, the inconvenience of the confusion of tongues will be The he has, in our opinion, successfully combated every opponent, and brought the scheme, both for a vocal and written language near, if not quite, to working order. We cordially recommend this work to our readers. Our hope and desire is, that this great project, perhaps the greatest yet propounded, may find a place in the goodly list of reforms so ably advocated in the "PUBLIC GOOD." H. M. * Orr and Co., Paternoster-row. PAUL VAUBAN. PAUL VAUB A N. 4.5 He is a PAUL VAUBAN was born in the Rue des "And where was he born?" GrandBornes, Faubourg St. Martin. It is mere Vauban would exclaim, pointing to truly a miserable enough Rue, and Fau- the little stucco image of Napoleon on bourg, too, to be born in, or brought up the chimney-piece; "was it not a barn either; and the fate of Paul seemed as more coldly furnished than even this miserable as that of any of his compeers; chamber is? and where did he sit before yet he, and his mother and grandmother his sun went down? was it not on the had for many years looked at the future proudest throne in the world? through the medium of a prediction, and man and a Frenchman," the old dame sunbeams and gladness glorified the horo- would add with pride, as she patted the scope of the poor blouse-clad youth. curly-haired boy on the head, and Philosophers smile at the credulity of smoothed back his locks from his brow, ignorance, and deplore the illusions of "and nothing is impossible for him and superstition; but if philosophers gene- fortune " rally were condemned to live in Faubourg St. Martin, and to eat brown bread and melon broth from day to day, even they might be fain to exchange their wisdom for superstitions, and might rejoice in the possession of dreams that could sometimes dispel the too real coldness and darkness of poverty's estate. Whether it was to his advantage or not, Paul and his grandmother lived and breathed in a world of dramatic illusions. Paul Vauban, albeit he was born and reared in one of the darkest purlieus of Paris, was, in truth, as sunny-faced a gamin as ever pushed his feet into wooden shoes, reckoned a long blue blouse as the whole stock of his wardrobe, or sailed corks in the Canal St. Martin. fate never seemed to have chosen a more unlikely subject to make a king of than poor Paul Vauban, His slight handsome form would not have disgraced a royal robe; his fair curling locks would not have dishonoured a velvet cap and plume; and When Paul Vauban was born, the more stupid boys than he have sat upon most approved sibyls of St. Maur sur-thrones before this time: nevertheless, rounded his couch; and Madame Rouette, the wisest of them, declared that he would be a lucky boy. He was not born with a golden spoon in his mouth, like some favoured infants, it is true; neither did silver form any of the paraphernalia of his nursing service; but he was born under a lucky star, nevertheless, Madame Rouette said, and was destined yet to sit upon a throne. He was born on the day, and at the hour that Napoleon was born, and was not that a sign of something? If Paul Vauban's father had not died when Paul was a little child, he might have been an honest and skilful workman as his father had been, and then there would have been no romance in his life; but his mother being constrained to fill his father's place as provider for the family, he was transferred to the care of his grandmother, to be tended according to the most approved modes known to In nations where events are subject to that most excellent woman, and to be the restrictions of prescription, this pro-taught the antiquated notions of the phecy would have been smiled at as soon as expressed, and when it would have been forgotten; but in France, where events occur as if in mockery of all system, the prophecy was remembered and believed, and its fulfilment ardently hoped for. same. Grandmere Vauban had two great ideas filling her mind, and they seemed to exclude all other ideas; one had reference to the capacity of Paul, the other to her own ability. With that confiding spirit so common to woman, she be |