sury was now regularly open to give him fresh supplies, full salaries always paid and Billy Oxberry himself again! In addition to which, he was a master printer, and sent out his own works to the world, a member of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and mine host at the Craven's Head, all happiness! But, just as he had established himself in all the above points, and beginning to make his way, the 'Grim King of Terrors' entered his domus on the sly, as if he had had a pique against the laughing comedian, and floored him at a single hit, to the great loss and lamentations of his numerous friends, at his unexpected and premature exit 1 It is thus the late Tom Greenwood, the celebrated scene painter, described him: Quite pleased so snug a shop to know, But ere he from the house retired, The landlord's name, below, inquired; "'Tis OXBERRY," said the man, and bow'd; PRINTER, Poet, Player, and Publican!" As a convincing proof that the late Mr. Kean, possessed a great deal of liberality of mind, as well as setting no value upon money, during his visit to the lakes of Killarney, in company with Mr. Seymour, the manager, and two other persons, the whole of the party, not exceeding four individuals; his tavern expences, boats, and boatmen, band of music, &c., the time of his stay altogether not exceeding a week, amounted to nearly, if not quite, seventy pounds! The Irish manager advised Mr. Kean to look over the items of the bill, as he thought some mistake might have occurred, the sum being very large; and not to be completely satisfied, as a matter of course, with the sum total of the bill. "No, no," said Mr. Kean, "I will not examine the contents of it, the landlord, according to rereport, is a good, honest fellow, one of the right sort of men. I have been delighted with the attention I have received, and the comforts I have had at the Inn; indeed, so much so, that I am perfectly satisfied with the account. I am well aware such trips are expensive, but they are not every day sort of things, and we must pay for superior accommodation every where. Remember, Frank Seymour, we are a long way from London, also, a great distance from Dublin, and when I have been near the Metropolis of England-Epsom Races, I have been made to pay for accommodation there; therefore, I will not grumble at the sum I have paid for visiting the Lakes of Killarney; to witness scenes unrivalled, and to hear an ECHO, that is worth double the sum it has cost me. I would not have missed the glorious sight-seeing what I have seen, for treble the money, for it is my opinion, there is no comparison between the enjoyment of intellectual pleasure, and amassing a large pile of cash. I am obliged to you, Seymour, for your attention towards me; but depend upon it, the expenses at the Lakes of Killarney, is not one of the worst errors I have committed in my life respecting the cash account, and I again repeat I have no regret about it, and we will leave the landlord to enjoy the fruits of his labour.' During the short stay of Mr. Kean at Greenock, one night, after the performances at the theatre were over, and rather late in the evening, spending an hour or two at a tavern, in a very jovial manner, and feats of agility being the argument amongst the party, all of them boasting in turn of the leaps they had made, when Kean, seeing the window open, and by way of silencing the 'great doings,' observed, "When I used to act the part of Harlequin, I have taken a far greater jump than that which now presents itself," (without looking at the height, and regardless of the danger, a row of iron rails being beneath the window,) "Impossible !" was the general cry, when to their utter astonishment, out Kean leaped, and it was supposed that he had fallen on the ground, and must have hurt himself. The company immediately left the room, and it being a corner house, and the part alluded to, at the back part of it; but to their great surprise, Kean was not to be found. They returned to the room conversing on the strangeness of the affair, and a variety of conjectures were formed as to the result. However, Mr. Kean did not make his appearance, and the company left the tavern for their homes. It appeared afterwards that Mr. Kean had received a violent fall in his flight from the window, which had shook him to the very centre, and in the moment, be scrambled himself together, as well as he could, and strolled about he knew not whither. A poor old fisherman, who lived on one of the flats, in a house at no great distance, was awoke out of his sleep by a person groaning and full of pain, at the door of his apartment, where Mr. Kean had crawled to; the poor old fisherman got out of bed, struck a light, and found the great actor perfectly insensible: although he did not know the value and consequence of his guest, yet, like the good Samaritan, if he did not pour oil into his wounds, he dressed himself, and placed the object of his commiseration in his stead, something like a bed, watching over him with all the care and kindness of the most attentive friend. After Mr. Kean had been asleep for about three or four hours, he started up, as if from a trance, and seeing the poor old fisherman's head decorated with a cap, then looking at the miserable state of the room, also at the rags and old pieces of sail made up for a bed, something after the manner of the affrighted Hamlet at the appearance of the ghost, addressing the old veteran with his eyes darting fire : Angels and ministers of grace 66 compose your "Puir body," answered the fisherman, in a tremulous tone;" sélf-compose yourself! you dinna ken where you are. I am no speerit, but poor old Sandy Pike, the fisherman, at your bidding!" "Do not mock me, sir," (answered Kean, in a state of confusion, and theatrical sort of rage,) "but tell me where I am, and how I came here, undressed in this beggarly, wretched apartment?" "Puir body," said old Sandy Pike, "I dinna ken that circumstance All I know is, that I found you insensible at my door-step, quite foued, when I put you into my bed, and I hope you are now much better, for you were, puir body, in a pitiable plight when I took you in." Kean looking at him, with a sort of expression, which, perhaps, no other man living could have done so much with his eyes, exclaimed, in a tone of gratitude, that penetrated the very soul of the old fisherman-" Kind creature! disinterested old man! worthy soul! and you did not know me?" "I dinna ken," replied the old fisherman, "that I ever saw you before, puir body, wfth my e'en !" "Know then, good old man, that my name is Kean, the actor," said the leaper. Kean, the great mon," exclaimed the fisherman, surprised beyond description, "you! that I saw in King Richard, last night. I had heard of your great abilities and fame, and I could not resist the opportunity of going to the play-house. But do not deceive me!" Kean a little more composed, felt for his pocket book, and gave the old fisherman a five-pound Bank of England note, at the same time telling him to go to the Inn, and bring back with him a post-chaise with the blinds up, and not to mention to any person who had ordered the carriage. "I will never part with this bank bill," replied the old fisherman, overjoyed with the honour of having such a guest, come what may, but treasure it up on account of the abilities of its once great owner." Sandy soon returned with the post-chaise, but during the short interval, Kean roused himself as well as he could, then grasping the hand of the old fisherman, and thanking him, a thousand times, for his humanity, darted like lightning into the post-chaise, and very soon afterwards was in bed at his own lodgings. He received no other hurt but a few bruises, which, after a day or two's care, he resumed his professional duties, laughing heartily at the circumstance, observing I forgot the old adage to look before you leap!' also gratefully praising the Samaritan like feeling and conduct of old Sandy Pike, the Greenock fisherman! 66 During his stay at Woodland Cottage, his secretary, Mr. Phillips, left him, thinking it incompatible with his idea of respectability, and also at variance with the rules of propriety, to remain any longer under the same roof with the JEWESS he, therefore, wrote the great, little man a letter, excellent in point of composition, on the subject, a sort of moral sermon, and recommending Mr. Kean to give up the lady in question, and to turn aside from his ERRORS. He received the letter in good part, and read it over two or three times, smilingly, said to Seymour, who was then with him on a visit, "This is well done, and kind of the old boy, there is something like real friendship about it, and I cannot quarrel with his intentions; but, I believe, it is generally understood that we are born in ERROR, live in ERROR, and, I am sadly afraid, there are too many of us who die in ERROR ! But no more of that we have other fish to fry at present, and let us proceed with the business at issue." The following sort of remembranee, by way of EPITAPH, is inserted here, that the proprietor may insert it under the leaves of the Oak Tree, at Woodland Cottage, if he thinks proper : IN ONE OF THE MOST SEQUESTERED, YET TRULY DELIGHTFUL, ROMANTIC SPOTS IN THE ISLE OF BUTE; AND FAR REMOVED FROM THE BUSY HUM OF THE GREAT WORLD, EDMUND KEAN, ESQ., WHO DIED AT THE PREMATURE AGE OF FORTY-FIVE YEARS, ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1833, AT RICHMOND, IN SURRY. NO WORDS CAN BE MORE APPLICABLE TO THE MEMORY OF THIS MOST DISTINGUISHED ACTOR ON THE ENGLISH STAGE, THAN THOSE FROM OUR IMMORTAL BARD! BUT WHOSE VERY SOUL HE SEEMED TO INHERIT BY CONCEPTION; SHAKSPEARE, RENDERED HIM UNEQUALLED, UNRIVALLED, AND WITHOUT A COMPETITOR : THEREFORE, TAKE HIM FOR ALL IN ALL," WE SHALL NOT LOOK UPON HIS LIKE AGAIN! IT IS A TRUE RECORD OF THE MOVEMENTS OF THIS GREAT ACTOR IN HIS BUSY CAREER THROUGH SOCIETY AND THOUGH WITH SINCERE REGRET FORM MANY ERRORS, WE ARE LED TO EXCLAIM ALAS POOR HUMAN NATURE ! YET, NEVERTHELESS, HE WAS A MAN FOR A' AND A' THAT! CHAPTER XVI. The PILGRIMS anxious to visit the SOURCE of the THAMES; one of the most important features in their Pilgrimage: also to follow the STREAM to the finish of it. The NORE -explanation and authorities upon the subject. A trip to Gloucestershire; friendly reception at Fox-hunter's Hall. SIR HENRY TALLY-HO, Bart., a choice spirit, one of the Olden Times: TURF, FLOURISH, and SPRIGHTLY, quite at home; A southerly wind, and a cloudy sky, The chase admits of no delay, MAKEMONEY, in a new character, a second JOHNNY GILPIN, who went faster and further than he intended(but a miss is as good as a mile,)—and, the Old Citizen, none the worse for his unexpected gallop! Outline of an Oxford Scholar. Unlooked for incidents. The old Citizen sporting a toe. Sketch of an accomplished thief, &c. "WE ought to see the Source of the THAMES, or else our Pilgrimage will not be complete," said Makemoney, "the trip, both by land and water, will afford us great variety of scenes; and I am quite sure that distance is of no consequence to my brother Pilgrims, so that the trip is attended with pleasure and profit." Distance, my dear friend," replied Turf, "is quite out of consideration with me at any time; and if Jerusalem, or Jericho, were named, I should not demur! So let us be off!" "Nor I," said Flourish, "under a good leader, I would march to the end of the world; and never acknowledge that I felt tired. But surely Gloucestershire cannot be termed a great distance from the Metropolis?" "A fig for distance," said Sprightly, "either rowing, sailing, turf, or turnpike, I am ready, only mention the place, my dear uncle, and you will find us jolly Pilgrims on the alert." "Gloucestershire, I think, is the spot," said Makemoney, "but I know that Wiltshire claimes the honour of it also. However, I am not historian enough, or scholar, to decide the question; but I have read, that from an infant spring, near Cricklade, not far from Malmesbury, denominated THAM ES HEAD! is the source from whence the mighty river springs:First the fam'd authors of his ancient name, The winding Isis, and the fruitful THAME ; And silent Darent, stained with Danish blood! "I understand," replied Turf, "in a place called Trewsbury Meadow, in the confines of Gloucestershire, called THAMES, or Isis Head, the spring tumbles forth in a confined vale, from a layer of loose, or flat stones, through Oxford, Henley, Maidenhead, Windsor, Eton, Richmond, down to the Nore. The definition of the word Thames is not necessary for us Pilgrims to enquire into ?" "Not at all," answered Flourish, "it has occupied the time and pens of some of our greatest writers, both in ancient and modern times. Holinshed, Stowe, Speed, Pope, &c. It is quite sufficient to our purpose to understand that however Gloucester may claim the honour of the SOURCE of the Thames, it first becomes navigable in Wiltshire. It is, I am told, 240 miles in length; 188 of which are navigable, when it joins the Medway. The latter river, it is said, embraces the sea. Therefore, I think, let us begin at the Source, and follow it until we come to the NORE. Let us finish all well!" "Nothing could be more apropos," replied Turf, "I have a worthy friend of mine in Gloucestershire, not far from the spot, Sir Henry Tally-ho, Bart., who will not only receive us with all the warmth of a brother, but he will tell us all about the matter, and furnish us with some fine cattle to visit the SOURCE of the Thames. He is one of the old school, an accomplished sportsman, of ancient pedigree and good, but a gentleman in every point of view. He is a high-spirited fellow, and I know we shall all be at home to a peg. His mansion is the seat of hospitality; and my brother Pilgrims will experience, at Foxhunter's Hall, all that they can wish for, where they will be surrounded with pleasure; comfort, at their elbows; and happiness wait upon their nightcap," "That's your sort," said Sprightly, "the character you have given of this fine old fox hunter, is inviting in the extreme: but, my friend, Turf, is at home every where. In fact, he is a sort of polar star to us wandering Pilgrims!" |