Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 2.djvu/482

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [11 s. vm. DEC. is, 1913.

SAMBEL (STJMBEL) : WELLS (11 S. viii. 408). The maiden name of Mrs. Wells was Mary Davies. She was a native of Birming- ham, and the daughter of a carver and gilder. Upon the death of her father she adopted a theatrical life, and while engaged at Shrewsbury married an actor in the com- pany named Wells, who afterwards left her.

After a few years of the usual provincial drudgery she was engaged at the Haymarket Theatre, where she appeared 1 June, 1781, as Madge in 'Love in a Village,' and Mrs. Cadwallader (Becky) in Foote's farce of ' The Author.' In the latter character she at once became the rage, so completely identifying herself with the part as to acquire the nickname of " Becky " Wells.

The next season she was at Drnry Lang, and subsequently at Covent Garden. She appears to have excelled in innocent, un- sophisticated characters, even simpletons, and, though incapable of a wide range, she was for some years extremely popular.

Her friendship with Capt. Topham, who in conjunction with the Rev. Charles Este started a brightly written newspaper called The World which was chiefly devoted to theatrical intelligence was of material as- sistance in keeping her name before the public.

Her vagaries w^ere many, and the irre- proachable Miss Pope of Drury Lane Theatre, once expostulating with her, asked what the world would say of such conduct. " O," replied Mrs. Wells, " The World never speaks ill of me."

One of her best 'parts was that of Cowslip in O'Keeffe's excellent farce 'The Agreeable Surprise.' There is a very good print of her in that character, with Edwin as Lingo.

On the occasion of her playing the part at the Richmond Theatre in 1792, after Edwin's death, The World contained the following lines :

While Lingos from country, and Lingos from town, All strive for one sprig from poor Edwin's renown, In one point at least all true critics agree, That Wells, in her Cowslip, unrivalled must be, As far above praise in that innocent part As nature, pure nature, prevails over art.

Among her other pa.rts were : Capt. Ikacheath, Widow Brady ('Irish Widow'), Maud (' Peeping Tom ')," Kitty Pry (' Lying Valet '), Jacintha ('Suspicious Husband'), Julia (' Midnight Hour '), Marianne (' Drama- tist '), Constance ('Animal Magnetism'), Rose ('Recruiting Officer'), and Jane ('Wild Oats').

On her marriage with her second husband, whose name was Sumbel, not Sambel,

she embraced the Jewish faith, and adopted Leah as her first name in the place of Mary.

According to a statement contained in a brief account of her in GUUfancTs Dramatic Mirror, Mr. Sumbel publicly denied the marriage.

In April, 1799, she played Portia at the Haymarket for a benefit, and was announced as "Mrs. Sumbel (late Mrs. Wells)," and after the play she gave imitations of popular performers, "for which she had previously shown considerable ability.

As Mrs. Leah Sumbel she, in 1811, pub- lished her ' Memoirs ' in three volumes, but by this time her stage career was over.

Bernard, mentioning her in his ' Retro- spections of the Sta,ge,' says :

" The last time I encountered this lady -was about a year after my return from America [1821 J in the street leading to Westminster Bridge ; though old and faded, she was still buoyant and loquacious- a young rough-looking companion was with her r whom she instantly quitted to welcome me home. After about five minutes' conversation with her about past and present times, I begged not to keep her from her friend any longer ' Friend ! ' she- replied, 'he's no friend he's my husband.' "

I am not aware that her death has been anvwhere recorded, but she was dead when O'Keeffe wrote his ' Recollections,' published in 1826, for he mentions her among past favourites thus :

MRS. WELLS.

The violet withers, and the snowdrop sinks,

Carnations droop, and fragrant stocks and pinks.,.

The beauteous tulip, too, must droop its head, *

The rose it fades, for ah ! my Cowslip 's dead. WM. DOUGLAS.

125, Helix Road, Brixton Hill.

The following may assist your corre- spondent MB. ~ ISRAEL SOLOMONS in his inquiry regarding Mary Sumbel. An ac- count of this lady, Mary Sumbel, " Becky " Wells (1759-1826 ?), appears in Mr. John Fyvie's book ' Comedy Queens of the Georgian Era,' and reference is there made to her ' Memoirs,' published in 1811.

SENEX.

Chiswick.

CHARLES LAMB'S " MRS. S "' (11 S. viii.. 262, 318, 375, 414). To all who reverence the name of Charles Lamb every item of fresh intelligence concerning either the man or his writings is of worth, and readers of ' N. & Q.' cannot but feel indebted to SIR HARRY B. POLAND for his communication at the last, reference, and to MR. CECIL CLARKE for having called forth such a valuable addition to our store of Eliana.

In reply to SIR HARRY'S question, the list of Lamb's friends arid acquaintances