If Presented to the I IBRARYp/7V UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO om the estate of MARION WALKER RECOLLECTIONS AND EEFLECTIONS. THE EECOLLECTIONS AND KEFLECTIONS OF J. E. PLANCHE, (SOMERSET HERALD . % professional ^uiobiocprapbi?. '• I ran it through, even from my boyish days, To the very moment that he bade me tell it." Othello, Act i., Scene :S. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: TINSLEY BROTHERS, 18, CATHERINE STREET, STRAND. 1872. All rights reserved. don: dl try. evans, and co., printers, whitefriabs. TO MY DEAR GRANDCHILDREN Ji gtbicat* THESE RECOLLECTIONS OF A LIFE THE DECLINE OF WHICH HAS BEEN CHEERED BY THEIR SMILES AND BLESSED BY THEIR AFFECTION. J. E. PLANCHE. ADVERTISEMENT. Some of the anecdotes that will be found in the following pages appeared in the "London Society" Monthly Magazine from April to October, 1871 : but considerable additions " " have been made to them, and the Recollections which were brought to a close with the Proclamation of Peace, in • 1856, have been continued to the present year. They are limited as strictly as possible to such public and professional matters as it appeared to me would be interesting to the general reader or on which I felt myself entitled to comment —avoiding reference to my own family and private affairs except where it was necessary for explanation, and rigidly observing the same reticence with respect to those of others. J. R. P. College of ftrais, imne, 1872. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Letter to "Walter Arnold— Birth, Parentage, and Education— My Parents and their Connexions—Anecdotes of my Child- hood—The Stadtholder of Holland—The Peace of Amiens—My Schoolfellows—Andrew Planche one of the original founders of the Derby China "Works in 17")'! CHAPTER II. Early Recollections—Mrs. Jordan—John Kemble—Mrs. Siddons — Mrs. Powell—Amateur Theatricals—John Reeve—Wyman —Miss Beaumont—My first and only appearance in Public— Death of my Father—Production of "Amoroso"—Drury Lane Theatre in 1818—James Smith—Samuel Beazley—Sir Lum- ley Skeffington, Bart 21 CHAPTER III. " " My first Visit to Paris—Potier in Le Bourgomestre de Saardam —Stephen Kemble, Acting Manager of Drury Lane— Eis Falstafl'—Dowton's—The Green Rooms and the etiquette ob- " served in them—Elliston at the Olympic Pavilion— Rodolph the Wolf, or Little Red Riding Hood," a speaking Pantomime —Reception of—Elliston's haranguo to tho Carpenters—Anec- " dotes of— Abudah, or tho Talisman of Oromanes "—Michael Kelly— His Music and Eccentricity—Anecdote of Mrs. Charles I ONTEN I PAOB ble and Barley "The Vampire" at the Lyceum melJamee Arnold—Richard Brinsley Peake -John Tay- ' — 1 >r. Charlee Mathews the lor (of mi ") Kitchener— " " elder— Kenilworth at the Adrlphi -My Marriago aai second Vi -it to Pari —Baptism of the Duke of Bourdeaux— " je de Gonteau Potiei in Biquet ft La Eoupe"— Engaged a1 the Adelphi—Production by Monorieffof "Tom lv mblo— andJerry" Introduction to Charlee Comparison— oft] companies, Drury Lane and Coyent Garden Pro- " duction of "Maid Marian —Reflections on tin- subject of 33 Adaptations of Popular Novels CHAPTEB IV. Reform of Theatrical Costume—Revival of"KingJohn"atCovent harden—Doctor Samuel Mr. Francis Douce—Diffi- Meyrick—— — — cult ies and opposition encountered Fawcett Farley Alarm of the Performers—Triumpl iccess of the play —Iteilcc- dresses and deco- tinnsonthe general subject of accurate stage rations—Absurd attempt at imitation at the Victoria Theatre —Visit to Paris in 1824—Kemhle—Young—Croznier—Merle —Madame Dorval—Mazurier—Fanny Kemble—Production Covent Garden of "A Woman Never Vexed"—Prologue and to five-act play first dispensed with- -Visit to Paris Rheims to witness the coronation of Charles X.—The Di dt' Northumberland at Calais—Talma—The family of the Viscount Ruinart de Brimont, Mayor of Rheims—Story of Mrs. Plowden- Cardinal de Latil, Archbishop of Rheims— ( Pronation of the King and installation of the knights of the rand Chateaubriand- Anecdote of Talley- rand—Production of "The Pageant of the French Corona- " tion at Covenl Garden and Drury Lane "Success; or, a " Hit if yon Like H al the Adelphi o2 CHAPTEB V. " Weber's « Iberon "—Letters <>!' the < lomposer—State of Music in ,1 in 1826— Critical opinions of Weber's compositions CONTENTS. xi Remarks on the Company at Covent Garden—Madame Vestris the only singing actress—Miss Goward—Braham—Miss Paton —Miss Harriet Cawse—Charles Bland—Defence of the story —Letter from Charles Kemble—Production of George Soane " and Bishop's opera, Aladdin," at Prury Lane—Bon mot of Tom Cooke's .......... 74 CHAPTEE VI. Vauxhall Gardens—Engagement of Bishop, Braham, Sinclair, Miss Stephens, Madame Vestris, and Miss Love—Yisit to Paris—Mrs. Salmon—T. P. Cooke with the gout—Odry and his Wife—Return to London with Potier and Laporte— Greenwich Fail* — Reflections on National Costume — The French plays at Tottenham Street—Anecdote of H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester—Weber's Concert—Death, and Funeral —Verses on the occasion ....... 86 CHAPTER VII. New acquaintances—William Jerdan—Mr. and Mrs.Crofton Croker —Tom Hood—John Hamilton Reynolds—Rev. George Croly —Miss Landon—Anecdotes of them—Brief notes of a tour through the Netherlands, north of Germany, and Holland in 1826—The Opera at Hessen-Cassel and Berlin—Berlin first " " lighted with Gas—The Rust Kammer at Dresden—Book Fair at Leipzig—The old Chateau and Gardens at Gotha— The Castle of Wartburg and its Collection of Armour—The Rhine—Visit to Ferdinand Reis at Godesberg—"The Lays and Legends of the Rhine" composed and dedicated to Sir Walter Scott 97 CHAPTER VIII. "Shere Afkun"—"The Album "—Robert Sulivan—Campbell— The Misses Jewsbury—Redgrave—Cope—Song by Mary Jane Jewsbury—Andrews, the Bookseller of Bond Street—Wash- \ IT.\ i PAGE ng— Epi Lndrei [ntrbduction to the 1 laviiKirk.'t Th( Laporte's appearance there- Operatic- comedy, "The Rencontre"- Mr. David Morris, Anecdoti Poole Kenny—Elliston at the Sumy— Price al Drury the < Joburg A lotes of < Uossop's Stanfield David Roberta [ncrea management — acquainl 'lr. ami Mrs. Borace Twiss Mrs. Ark- wright- Mr. I'i irnwall), his wife and daughter Adelaid William Harness T. J. Pettigrew—John tton — Sir Charles and Lady Morgan -Sir Gore Ousely— Sir Robert Kerr Porto r Hi- sisters, Jane and Anna Maria — Haynes Bayly Samuel Lover—Mrs. Opie—Peyronet Briggs, R.A.- Miss Agnes Strickland—Miss Pardoe—Mrs. Jameson —G. P.R.Jamea Oolley Grattan Francis Mahony (Father Proul Tommy Hill 110 CHAPTBB IX. American Relations—Second tour in Germany—Wurtzburg—Our fat friend there—Nuremberg < hir learned friend there— I; ttisbon —Descent of the Danube—Death of Mr. Canning and its coi to me al the Eaymarkel Vienna— Salzburg—Munich—Lake of Constance Falls of the Rhine —Black Forest—Basle—The Vosges—Source of the Moselle " " " —Paris— Opera of Lc Philtre — Ballet of La Somnani- " bule"—Production of The Merchant's Wedding" at invent den- — Di ment with the Proprietors Transfer of my i to Drury Lane- "Charles XII."— It success - Present from Mr. Price Origin of the Dramatic Author's Act 135 1 CHAPTEB X. Marschner's" Der Vampire" -"The i'-ii-and"—Song of "Gentlo Zitella"—( tences of its singular success -Treatment of l-i itic Authors by the Musical Publishers- A stop put to Mr. Price 1' ivi Drury Lane —Anecdotes of him—Drury CONTENTS. xiii PAGE Lano Beefsteak Club—Practical joke played on John Hughes —Billy Dunn the Treasurer—Anecdotes of him . 131 CHAPTER XI, Elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries—Consequent ac- quaintance with. Hallam—Gage Bookwood—Hudson Gur- ney—Crabb Bobinson—"Literary Union Club" dissolved " " and reconstructed as The Clarence "—Foundation of The " Garrick Club —Opening Dinner—Duke of Sussex in the chair—Anecdotes of Theodore Hook— Thackeray—James Smith—Sir Henry Webb, Bart. ' 101 CHAPTER XII. Captain Polhill and Alexander Lee take Drury Lane Theatre— Madame Vestris takes the Olympic—Production of the " " Olympic Bevels —Opening Address by J. H. Beynolds— Beflections on late and early termination of performances— Anecdote of Liston—Invitation to write for Drury Lane— Farce of "The Jenkinses"—Miss Mordaunt, afterwards Mrs. " Nisbett— The Bomance of a Day"—"The Legion of Honour "—Miss Poole—" A Friend at Court "—Miss Taylor, " afterwards Mrs. Walter Lacy— The Army of the North"— " The Love Charm"—Illiberal and impolitic opposition— " " Olympic Devils . 178 CHAPTER XIII. " is:;j-ls;;.3—Laporte lessee of Covent Garden— His First Cam- " " paign"— Beputation — Junction of the two National Theatres under the Management of Mr. Bunn—Engaged by Mr. Arnold to manage the Adelphi during his lesseeship of that Theatre —Madame Malibran—De Beriot—Thalbcrg— "The Students of Jena"—Last Appearance and Death of Edmund Kean 191 mv \ rs. HAPTEB XIV. ( antic An;i: re' A : and il q of the Dramatic Authi iety —Inefficiency of its Protection omparison of the Laws affecting the Drama in Frai and England—Great Advantages enjoyed by the French Authors— E on the Position of English Dramatists . 196 CHAPTER XV. 1833-1834- Production of "Gustavus Third"—"Seoret Service" —"Loan of a Lover"—Visit to the Theatre— — Kensington ry G. Denvil His Engagement by Dunn -Appears in • " Shylock," "Eichard III.," Bertram," and "Manfred"— Production of "TheEed Mask"—John Cooper— Reflections " on respectable" Acting—Ellen Tree's effective Pcrformai. —Extraordinary Excitement—Alteration of last Scone—Ec- " " flections on the sensational Drama ..... ^11 CHAPTER XVI. " Publication of The of British Costume"—Anecdotes of History — in connection with it —W< 3t Etty—Wilkie—Abra- ham Cooper — Haydon — Maclise — My Acquaintance and Friendship with many others—The Dinners at Fonnereau's— The Sketching Society—Henri Monnier, the French Painter and Actor 223 CHAPTER XVII. " " " with Bunn Telemachus and The Court Beau- ties" a1 the Olympic— End of the Union of the two Patent Theatn Failure "i' the Scheme — Production of "The ' — I.