Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/188

 HISTORY OP BISHOP AUCKLAND. 161 cated to Mr. NichoUs, who inserted them in the third volume of '^ literary niustrations of the Eighteenth Century," page 775. Ralph had, however, whilst in London, imbibed a love for the stage, and when in Edinburgh he formed an intimacy with Mr. Yates, of the Adelphi, who had then newly entered into the profession. This friendship increased his dramatic ardour, and a subsequent acquaintance with Mr. J. Russell served to confirm it. He had at that time some difference with his father on accoimt of his expensive habits. This and some other matters induced him to take to the stage as a profession, and in July, 1818, he made his first appearance at York as Dandie Dinmont in " Guy Mannering," imder the assumed name of Sherwin. He continued for some time to perform with the York company, sustaining the characters of countrymen, Scotchmen, and sailors. His Tyke, in particular, was much admired. It is said that at this time he was visited by an uncle, a physician, who had returned from the East Indies with an independent fortune, and who, after expostulating with him on the profession he had chosen, offered to be at the expense of finishing his medical education, and sending him out to the same situation which he himself had occupied. The reply of Ralph to the proposition was : " It is my father's duty to do all this for me, and I will not receive the obligation from any other person." He afterwards joined the Lichfield and Birmingham company, and when the disastrous fire occurred at the latter theatre, he lost all his theatrical properties in the conflagration, a circumstance sufl&cient to damp the ardour of many an aspirant to histrionic honours. But not so Ralph. The minor theatre at Birmingham was opened for the benefit of the sufferers by the fire, and. after performing three nights, his share of the proceeds, after expenses were paid, amounted to the sum of seven shillings and fourpence ! He, however, realised a considerable sum by solo performances at Lichfield ; and soon after he was engaged at the Brighton theatrd, where he was first seen by Emery, who afterwards said, on his death-bed, " When I am gone, Ralph, of all the actors I know, is most likely to supply my place." Surfeited at length with itinerant acting, he sought, and obtained his father's forgiveness, and was received under the paternal roof once mora It is probable he would then have relinquished the stage altogether, but hearing of the death of Emery he again felt " his soul in arms and eager for the fray," his truant disposition returned, and he abruptly left his father's house and repaired to London. After some diflSculty, the doors of Drury Lane were opened to him, through the mediation of the late Mr. Oxbury (from whose " Dramatic Biography" these particulars are taken), and he appeared on February 14th, 1823, in his favourite character of Dandie Dinmont A beautiful portrait of him in that character was engraved in London at the time, copies of which are in the possession of several of the old inhabitants of our town, and are said by those who knew him to be a most excellent likeness. The result of his appearance in this character was an immediate engagement for three years, at seven, eight, and nine pounds per week. Here he performed Paddock in " My Spouse and I," Giles in " The Miller's Maid," Donald in " The Falls of Clyde," Robin in " No Song, no Supper," and several minor characters, in all of which he well supported his theatrical reputation. Oxbury in his Biography thus describes him : — In person, Mr. Sherwin is five feet nine inches in height, very stout made (which our country readers will readilj believe when we state his weight to be fourteen stones), with eyes black, jet black hair, and a florid complexion ; hia countenance is peculiarly handsome and intelligent, and bears the impress of good humour — the most .valuable imprint Nature ever gave to a comedian's face. His general appearance partakes so much of the gentleman farmer (perhaps rather more of the latter than the former), that it is difficult to conceive how he could adapt himself to any other line of character than those pourtrayed by the late Emery. In private life he is unassuming, intelligent, and polite ; a determined b(m vivanty and though prolmbly rather more devoted to the jolly god Bacchus than prudence might suggest, never infringing on the decencies of society by his irregularities. His yo6al pretensions are extremely moderate, his voice being a baritone of small compass; he sings the Utile aUotted to him respectably^ and in society oompeDsates by the hmnour of his manner for any defect of his glottis. Digitized by Google