389

No. X.

THOMAS HARRIS, Esq.

LATE MANAGER AND PROPRIETOR OF COVENT-GARDEN

THEATRE.

THE life of this gentleman comprises a most important era in the annals of the drama of England.

Mr. Thomas Harris was born in 1749; and, after receiving a good classical education, was brought up by his father, who appears to have been engaged in considerable mercantile speculations, to assist him in an extensive line of business. Commercial pursuits, whatever claims the recommendation of a parent might have given them upon his attention, were, however, by no means congenial with the natural bent of his inclinations.

The theatre was, perhaps, in the fullest blaze of its lustre and glory about the time that young Harris was preparing to fill the respectable station in society of a British merchant. Garrick and his satellites were then in the zenith of their reputation, and the subject of the present notice was precisely at that age when the magic of such a constellation was most likely to interest his fancy and engage his attention.

Desirous of becoming personally acquainted with the heroes whose histrionic achievements had afforded him so much gratification, young Harris became, from an almost nightly visitor of their public exhibitions, a frequenter of their private societies. Tom's Coffee-house and the Shakspeare Tavern were the principal places of resort of the most celebrated performers of the day; and to these haunts our embryo manager occasionally repaired, with the hope of obtaining an introduction to the individuals of whose talents he had conceived so exalted an opinion. Opportunities were soon

afforded him; and in proportion as his acquaintance with the sons of Thespis increased, his zeal and attention to his commercial concerns, which had hitherto been indefatigable, relaxed; until his rage for the diversions of the theatre absolutely absorbed every other consideration, and he finally relinquished the most advantageous mercantile prospects in order to embark his whole property in, and devote his entire attention to, the drama. Accordingly, in 1768, Mr. Harris contracted with the executors of John Rich for the purchase of Covent Garden theatre, for the sum of 60,000l., a measure sufficiently bold and extraordinary in a young man who had not completed his one and twentieth year. Soon after the purchase, however, Mr. Harris was induced to invite some well-known colleagues to share the labours and fortunes of his enterprize. His auxiliaries were Messrs. Colman, Rutherford, and Powell. The first, to great learning, superadded a passion for the stage that led him to aspire to be at once proprietor, author, and manager; a passion which made him sacrifice, and, with much more temerity than Mr. Harris had done, very ample, and, indeed, very illustrious dependencies. The last of this memorable trio brought with him a genius, which, when kept in due subjection, and not turned from its natural course, was calculated to make even Garrick himself totter on his throne of Thespian supremacy.

Partnership in wit, and the ingenious arts (says the author of notice of Mr. Harris in the Public Characters * for 1802--3,) is perhaps less likely than any other to hold long together. As a proof of which, it is a very curious fact, that on this diffidence of his own judgment, and this submission to the apprehensions of his friends, Mr. Harris nearly involved the ruin of the theatre; and although few people could write so well as Colman, or perform so well as Powell; and although Rutherford and Harris were alike sensible of the claims and talents of both these coadjutors, no brilliant success attended the house, nor could any business be carried on

The late Mr. Pratt.

with that prompt decision and undivided spirit necessary to great designs and adequate exertion, until Mr. Harris had bought out two of his colleagues, and found himself in the free and uncontroled exercise of his own excellent judgment in the conduct of the whole. In the purchase of the shares of Powell and Colman, Mr. Harris was materially assisted by the late Thomas Longman, Esq. The theatre was before an unwieldy concern under the influence of too many masters; and the heads of great houses are seldom in such union as to produce, from a consent in the parts, a completeness in the whole. Some opposition of authority, or some clash of interest or opinion, is constantly happening to clog the wheels of that machine which should always be kept in harmonious movement. It was now

"A mighty maze, but not without a plan."

A single judgment, and that sound, was now alone to be consulted, and the general improvement of the drama, with a mind disposed to encourage the genius which he had the acuteness to discover, joined to an elegant classical taste, and a most liberal disdain of expense on every public occasion, with an uncommon degree of readiness and activity to avail himself of local as well as permanent objects, has fully shown his competency for the undertaking. By these means he not only gratified the taste of the public, but so effectually and invariably secured its good will, that no disturbances ever took place at his theatre, from his first taking the management to the period of his resignation of it. This wise, manly, and respectable conduct on the part of Mr. Harris, not only secured him the steadfast patronage of the late king; but, being coupled with a zealous and unshaken loyalty, warmly attached our late amiable monarch to his interests; a circumstance that could not fail of proving highly advantageous to the property.

About the year 1790, Mr. Harris nominated Mr. Lewis acting manager of Covent Garden, and thus relieved himself of a considerable part of the Herculean labour he had so long

and so ably sustained. He sold this respectable performer two-twelfths of the theatre, which Mr. Lewis afterwards transferred to Mr. John Kemble. Messrs. Martindale and White, who had married the daughters of Powell, had one quarter of the property between them, which on their demise was bequeathed to their widows.

In his public capacity, Mr. Harris was of course brought in contact with the most celebrated characters of his time. It would be digressing too far from our immediate object were we to enter into a detail of the extended connections of a gentleman placed in a predicament so likely to enlarge the circle of his acquaintance, as Mr. Harris was in his situation of manager of Covent Garden theatre. We should, however, be guilty of culpable negligence were we to omit mentioning that to the early intimacy of Mr. Harris with Mr. Sheridan, the public is indebted indirectly for most of the invaluable dramatic productions of that universal genius. It was at the entreaty of Mr. H. that Sheridan was first induced to turn his attention to the stage. Those admirable comedies, the Duenna and the Rivals, were both brought out at Covent Garden during Mr. Harris's management.

These two gentlemen, in the progress of their connection with each other, endeavoured to establish a friendly feeling between the rival theatres of Covent Garden and Drury Lane. They thought it no way necessary, either for their private interests or those of the public, that the ancient system of jealousy and hostility should any longer prevail; but that a general intercourse of liberal emulation, corresponding with the generous sentiments they themselves entertained, might be established. Accordingly they arranged with their respective partners for their mutual and joint interest. They purchased the Opera House also conjointly, by which union their property as well as their persons appeared for a considerable time inseparable. The decided part which Sheridan took in politics, soon occasioned an almost total division of their interests, but not so with their friendship; and their mutual good.

offices in each of their theatres after this separation reflects the highest credit upon both.

Besides his intimacy with Sheridan, Mr. Harris maintained for five and twenty years a constant intercourse with that father of the modern stage, Macklin; and it is for ever to be remembered to his honour that, in conjunction with his friend Mr. Palmer, the late member for Bath, he set on foot and liberally contributed to the subscription which provided a comfortable subsistence for the latter years of that extraordinary

man.

In 1792, Covent Garden theatre was, at a considerable expence to the proprietors, enlarged, and the prices of admission necessarily increased. On this occasion a good deal of opposition was manifested by the audience, which was, however, silenced by a singular incident. Mrs. Webb, a remarkably large woman, having to say in her part, "I will be heard," the audience burst into roars of laughter, and, fortunately for the manager, retained their good humour until the curtain fell. After which no further opposition was attempted.

Garrick and Mr. Harris were in the early part of their acquaintance exceedingly shy of each other, but they soon grew intimate, and a lasting friendship followed. The narration of the long series of conflicts that were waged betwixt Messrs. Harris and Colman would answer no good purpose. It is enough to mention, that all animosity was entirely done away with three years previous to the latter mentioned gentleman's quitting the property, and a good understanding was re-established between them up to the period of his decease If Mr. Harris was for the time warm in his resentments, he was by no means difficult to appease; and he never appeared to greater advantage than in his dispute on a particular occasion with some of the principal performers of Covent Garden.

The proprietor of a theatre has an undoubted right to withhold his countenance from the dissatisfied performers, who endeavour to compass their object by cabal and conspiracy. It has been justly observed that the government of a theatre