Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 35.djvu/287

Macready in Bulwer's 'Sea Captain.' On 22 Jan. 1840 he played at Drury Lane Ruthven in 'Mary Stuart,' a new play of James Haynes. Once more at the Haymarket he was the original Halbert Macdonald, 23 May 1840, in Talfourd's 'Glencoe, or the Fate of the Macdonalds.' Richard Cromwell in Serle's 'Master Clarke' followed. The first production of Bulwer's 'Money,' postponed on account of the death of Macready's daughter Joan, took place on 8 Dec. 1840. With much reluctance Macready accepted the part of Alfred Evelyn, in which he scored a success. Count d'Orsay, among others, superintended the mounting of the piece, which ran for the unprecedented number of eighty nights, causing an extension of the season for two months by special license. Ugone Spinola in Troughton's 'Nina Sforza' was played on 1 Nov. 1841.

On 27 Dec. 1841 Macready, supported by his old staff and with the addition of Miss Fortescue, Henry Marston, Compton, Hudson, the Keeleys, &c., opened Drury Lane with the 'Merchant of Venice' and a pantomime. 'Acis and Galatea,' 5 Feb. 1842, with Stanfield's scenery and Handel's music, was the great success of the season. In Douglas Jerrold's 'Prisoner of War' Macready had no part. He played on 23 Feb. Gisippus in Gerald Griffin's play of that name, and by a display of temper assisted in ruining the chances, small enough, of Darley's 'Plighted Troth' on 20 April. On 19 May he played Lord Townly, and on 20 May 'Marino Faliero.' Mrs. Nisbett, Charles Mathews, and his wife, Madame Vestris, now joined the company. 'King John' was given on 24 Oct. 1842, Macready's King John proving one of his best impersonations. Westland Marston's 'Patrician's Daughter,' 10 Dec. 1842, with Macready as Mordaunt, was a barren success, as was Browning's 'Blot on the 'Scutcheon,' on 11 Feb. 1843, in which Macready somewhat petulantly resigned the principal part, Thorold, to Phelps. For his benefit he played Benedick and Comus. Knowles's 'Secretary,' 24 April, in which Macready was Colonel Green, was only acted thrice, and W. Smith's 'Athelwold,' in which he was Athelwold, twice. On 14 June 1843 he played Macbeth, and this was the last night on which he appeared as manager. He had done well in many respects, producing the best plays he could get, adopting for the first time since the Restoration the genuine text of Shakespeare, securing the best company, and purging the stage from notorious abuse. He refused to encourage long runs, and thus impaired his own fortune. He had, however, shown himself vain, self-seeking, arrogant. While generous to his company, he had never been gracious, scarcely perhaps loyal. While winning himself a high position, much personal popularity, and the friendship of men of eminence, he had failed to secure either the regard or the affection of those with whom he worked.

In September 1843 Macready started once more for America, visiting various places between New Orleans and Montreal, and obtaining a social and financial success. On his return he revisited Paris, accompanied by Miss Helen Faucit. Their performances were received with much favour, and Théophile Gautier, George Sand, Eugene Delacroix, Louis Blanc, Hugo, Dumas, Sue, loudly expressed their admiration. Until 1848, when he went on his final visit to America, he played principally in the country, appearing occasionally in London at the Princess's, where in 1846 he was the original James V in the 'King of the Commons' of the Rev. James White. From 7 Sept. to 7 Nov. of this year he was at the Surrey. On 22 Nov. 1847 he played at the Princess's the last new part, Philip Van Artevelde, in his own botched adaptation of Taylor's play. Greatly to Macready's disappointment, it was a failure, running only five nights.

In April and May 1848 he appeared at the Marylebone Theatre, then under Mrs. Warner, competing with Phelps at Sadler's Wells, and on 10 July he took by royal command a benefit at Drury Lane, playing Wolsey to the Queen Katharine of Charlotte Cushman, in three acts of 'King Henry VIII,' and Oakley in the 'Jealous Wife' to the Mrs. Oakley of Mrs. Warner. Late in 1848 Macready paid his last visit to America, which was destined to have a lamentable conclusion. The unfavourable reception of Edwin Forrest, the American tragedian, upon a visit to London in 1845, was attributed by that ill-conditioned actor to Macready and Forster, who were charged with having hired roughs to drive him from the stage, and to have induced the press to condemn his efforts. These absurd charges won some acceptance in America. Two pamphlets, for and against Macready, were published in New York in 1849. These were entitled 'Replies from England, &c, to certain Statements circulated in this Country respecting Mr. Macready,' and 'A Rejoinder to the Replies,' &c. A criticism by Forster of Forrest had been flippant, injudicious, and insolent. Nothing connecting Macready with any hostility to Forrest is, however, traceable, and Mr. Archer holds that the attempt of roughs to drive Forrest from the London stage never took place. Forrest, on the other hand, owned to having in Edinburgh, on 2 March 1846, hissed what he called in the