Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 1.djvu/70

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. i. JA. 22, me.

process of inhalation was effected.^ The boat for which they waited turned out to be an open barge, and, as sitting or standing was alike rendered impracticable by the lowness and frequency of the bridges crossing the canal, the Ambassador and his suite were forced to lie down in the pouring rain all night long on the straw at the bottom of the barge.

Once at Amsterdam, however, Busino's good temper returns. He explored the city, and is eloquent in praise of its neatness, cleanness, and convenience. He notes espe- cially the bridges of stone and oak over the waterways, so constructed that they opened in the centre by themselves, on the masts of approaching vessels striking certain pro- jecting arms, which turned on pivots. Their next stage was Rotterdam, whence, by order of the States General, a sumptuous ship of war carrying six guns conveyed them to Flushing. Here they entered the packet boat for England, expecting to have it to themselves ; but they found it crowded with passengers musicians, women, mer- chants, Jews, tatterdemalions, and gentle- men an d his Excellency's cabin in the stern was so low and narrow that it could not even contain four persons. The wind was high and the sea was rough, and it was a sick and weary company that disembarked on the English shore 37 days after leaving Venice, and 46 days after the Ambassador received his commission. They put up at the Post at Gravesend, pending arrange- ments for their state entry into London ; and from this point their adventures can be read in the Calendar of State Papers above referred to.

MALCOLM LETTS.

TWO LETTERS BY THOMAS HOLCROFT.

THE following letters are mentioned at 1 1 S. xi. 245, at the end of my ' Bibliography of Holcroft,' as printed in Dunlap's 'Ameri- can Theatre.' Their inaccessibility and the fact that they are hidden away unindexed in that work, on a remote subject, seem to afford reason for reprinting in ' N. & Q.' The first (see Dunlap's ' Hist, of the Ameri- can Theatre,' pp. 180-82) was addressed to Thomas Cooper on the occasion of his being approached by Wignell with offers of an American tour engagment :

You do not like the word lamontation. You will 4ess like, the word 1 am going to use. But before I use it I will most sincerely assure you I mean

it kindly. I do not like rhodomontade heroics. They are discordant, grating, and degrading. They are the very reverse of what you imagine them to be. It was not from report, but from your letter itself, that I collected my idea of lamentation, and compared to your sufferings, I repeat, Jeremiah never lamented so loudly : at least, such is my opinion, and I hope you do not intend, by a hackneyed and coarse quotation, to deter me from saying that which I think may awaken your attention. If you did, it was ID a moment of fprgetfulness ; for you know that a man of principle ought not to be so deterred. I speak plainly from the very sincere wish, which I so long have cherished, of rousing you at once to the exertions of genius, and the 'sagacity of benevolence and urbanity. It is to exercise benevolence and urbanity myself that I am thus intent in wiping from your mind all impressions of supposed rudeness or rigour in thus addressing you.

And now to business : after just reminding you that, though you did not wish me to apply for a London engagement for you, it would have looked quite as friendly had you written to me without this personal motive.

Mr. Wignell, the manager of the theatres of Philadelphia and Baltimore, in America, has applied to me, offering you four, five, and six guineas a week, forty weeks each year, for three succeeding years ; and ensuring benefits to the amount of a hundred and fifty guineas. I have reflected on the subject, and have consulted your other true and tried friend, Mr. Godwin ; and notwithstanding that this offer is so alluring, it is our decided opinion that, were it ten times as great, it ought to be rejected. As an actor, you would be extinct, and the very season of energy and improvement would be for ever passed. I speak of men as they are now constituted ; and after the manner, as experience tells me, that their habits become fixed ; ineradicably fixed. Mr. Goawin indeed expresses himself with great force, mixed with some little dread, lest money be a temptation you could not withstand. How- ever, we both knew it to be but right that the decision should be entirely your own ; and I therefore send you this information. Be kind enough to return me your answer; and without regarding my or any man's opinion, judge for yourself. It is right that Mr. Wignell should not be kept in suspense. Yours kindly and sincerely,

T. HOLCROFT. September 3d, 1796.

The above is a transcript cf a letter which was dated August the 26th, and directed to ycu at Swansea, where I suppose it is left. Let me request an immediate answer.

A gentleman has just been with me on the part of Mr. Daly, who is to be in town in nine or ten days, and wishes to engage you for the winter season, but this I think as prejudicial, except that it is something nearer home, and not so durable an engagement as America. Ireland is certainly the school of idleness. However, all these matters must be left to yourself.

Dunlap comments as follows : " This was directed 'Mr. Cooper, Theater,. Cheltenham,' by as true a friend as ever man had, but the views of youth are ever widely different from those of age. Cooper chose to embark upon