and applause. There is the anxious time of middle age, el when the hoped for goal of youth seems fading from the view, when it is necessary to count the milestones on the road of life, and the means whereby to live, and provido for those who are dependent on you are in apposition. Then there is furrowed, white haired age, with perhaps the only one comfort of having done their duty, and done their best through what hard course it may have been, and whether with good or ill success. There is no trodden path, to dramatic fame ither in acting or writing, and yet the untiring zeal with which it is sought is marvellous. I left a home almost of luxury for the sock and buskin, and I was often withecarcely a shoe to my foot, and frequently without a meal for my inwaed man. Bat my first love for the art was such that it would never allow me to repent, and to confess that ry notions of the profession were erratic, for my thin condition was accompanied by a light heart. Laughter and cheers.) anger, instead of turning my steps homewards, seemed to sharpen my wit and increare my powers of endurance, and I pushed on. Yet I was more favoured than many others of the followers of Thespis, and the cart of Thespis was in my young ambition higher than the chariot of the conqueror. I had three tugs to my bow. 'If' lacked employment as an actor my fiddle was my friend in need, and the orchestre was my home of refuge (laughter and cheers), from which Terpsichore would sometimes lure me to assume the motley garb of Harlequin. Perhaps it may interest you to know, and it does me very rauch to inform you, that the first stage I ever trod upon as an actor was that of the Warwick theatre, and I believe greater gag Warwick never witnessed. Laughter.) I dare say many good plays' have been murdered there, and I have lately heard that it is to be converted into slaughter-house. (Laughter.) "To what base uses may we not return." (Laughter and cheers.) However, there I thought my fortune was made, for my triple qualities were practically illustrated; and, to reverse Mrs Malapropis figure of speech, was one single gentleman rolled into three.' (A laugh) I was Thesses and the mob in "Alexander the Great I was first and second viblin in the orchestra; and harlequin in the pantomime of "Whit tington and his Cat," all three in one evening, and all for twenty five shillings week, one great coat covering the Grecian and the mime for the charms of music between the acts. (Loud laughter.) From there, a barn, that "hotbed of genius," as Elliston used to term it, opened its door at Bromsgrove. There I was the entire band, for the musicians of the town were dissenters. (Laughter.) However, the ingenuity of the manager turned their loss to his profit, for he converted the orchestra into a private bo for the squires of the neighbourhood, and I-the band-played behind the curtain -(roars of laughter)-besides dancing melancholy horns pipes without misic, except an occasional charitable whistler in the gallery-(renewed laughter)-and singing doleful comic-songs unaccompanied. However, variety was pleasing, especially pleasing to me, and I executed my task upon ultimately a share of one and sixpence a week, and assure you I was never happier in my life. (Cheers.) My first appearance in print was with my dear, old, and lamented friends, Douglas Jerrold and Laman Blanekerd, in magazines and cheap diterature, published by a theatrical bookseller named Duncombe, How big with fate were those days. But youth dreams of the future, and age of the past. At ten years did I was ambitious of authorship and wrote a pantomime called "Harlequin Soldier," and made all the tricks. gun that was to shoot the deserter changed into an umbrella, and his coffin into a boat. in which he and The columbine escaped-(laughter) little dreaming then that I should ever be an actor. But the child's idea was father to the man's destiny. After-experience has taught me that dramatic composition is the most fascinating and yet the most difficult to attain perfection in. The author mast have a great knowledge of human nature, "miraculously conversing" to use the words of Shirley, "with all mankind." It is not a very flattering fact for our self-esteem that the English stage of late years owes much of its existence to our prolific and witty neighbours, the French dramatists and novelists. "This should not be with the host of fine and great original talent which this country now boasts. I would say to the purveyors of the stage, with Montesquieu, that if you always translate you will never be translated, that you will first die in quarto and die again an duodecimo. While I am on this theme I may, perhaps, be pardoned for thinking that if the actor cannot live without the author, the actor is the indispensable complement, the alter ego, of the dramatic author. In regarding the intimate cohesion of two separate intelligences as the generative principle af every truly great scenic effect, I cannot conceive the actor ano auther existing without this communion of thought andl purpose, which in reality must be the condition of great works. (Cheers.) With good writing and exponents, the Drama, properly administered, might with propriety be tenged the people's school, for plays imperceptibly convey instruction and a knowledge of many things which it would be difficult to make comprehensible in the ordinary way; such as the inner and outer life of all nations in all times-their customs, manners, arts, laws, arms, honour, moral courage, intrepidity, glory, vice rendered odious, and virtue commended. Emulation makes the auditors choose the better side, and memory repeats to them those lessons which they have seen exemplified. (Cheers.) What can philosophy teach so forcibly as this vividly appealing to every sense. Perhaps one of the most gratifying events of my life has been associated with the formation of the Royal Dramatic College (loud cheers)-of which I hope to see before many weeks the foundation-stone laid. It has grown out of the actor's wealthy charity, God's gift at Dulwich, where I was denied a corner for the poor player, or a crumb from the rich table which the actor's means supplied. (Loud cheers.) This new institution, gentlemen, will be one of the noblest works of this charitable country-(hear, hear)-and with her Most Gracious Majesty's ready and liberal patronage, must succeed. (Cheers.) We hope and we trust we shall live to see this building grow and flourish, not only upon the land that will be given to us, but in the hearts of the people who estimate the Drama as it ought to be estimated. Our funds are flourishing; the lands that are offered are of the best; and to show our integrity of purpose, the books of the College are open to all at all times. Each subscriber's name is" therein enrolled for the inspection of friends or enemies (if any such could be found). My last act, which has been the great desire of my life, and for which I have studied more than thirty years, is accomplished in the building of a theatre which I think I may venture to assert has satisfied the requirements of the day. (Cheers.) No one can imagine the difficulties I have had to contend with in obtaining the land, for every foot I was obliged to purchase at what is called a "fancy price," my intentions having been known or guessed at. My first boyish piece of architecture was building a theatre, in which I produced a melodrama, "The Miller and his Men," painting all the scenery making the mill, the boat, the explosion, and the figures to work to my heart's delight. This was a great diffi culty then, but I overcame it, as I have this. The press, my always steadfast friend, and the public, have lauded the efforts; but among many of the congratulations that have reached me, there is one that has pleased me, perhaps, more than any other, for it shows that my care for those whose means are not capable of luxury have appreciated my effort to provide something like it for them. With your permission I will read the letter, suppressing the name : SIR, Permit a poor clerk to congratulate you on being the first manager who has ventured to make his patrons comfortable. I visited your new theatre the other evening, and though only the occupant, with my wif, of the gallery stalls, was much gratified that even fort and civility prevailed. I am sure such a wholesome change from what the theatre-going publie have been subject to cannot fail to meet with the success it deserves, and which I heartily wish you.-Trusting you will pardon this intrusion, &c. (Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, it is my pride that you approve of my work and its arrangements. To those friends who started this complimentary fete, and to those who have so readily responded to the call, I owe a deep debt of grateful acknowledgment. The letters I have received from those compelled to absent themselves are flattering beyond parallel. In fact, I hardly knew who Benjamin Webster was, or that he was so much cared for, until today. I beg leave to express thankful obligations to the Hon. Mr Berkeley, for presiding on this occasion, leaving the stern duties of the senate and its mystifying acts-(a laugh)—to do honour to one whose acts are of the mimic world, but which, I trust, are intelligible to the meanest capacity. (Cheers.) I fear I have too poorly expressed my high estimation of this, to me, eventful occasion. "I am no orator," as Brutus is; "I am poor even in thanks, but I thank you." Quintillian says the heart is the fountain of eloquence. This I beg leave to question, for my heart is brimful of thanks, but I have not words to express them. When I look around I seem to see each hand held out to me in the reality of friendship-(cheers) -and as the tyrant wished that all human kind had but one head, that he might exterminate it at a blow, and, as the poet wished that all womankind had but one mouth, that with one kiss he might embrace them all, so I wish that all your hands were joined in one, that I might grasp it with my heart in mine, and prove the sincerity of my gratitude. M: Webster resumed his seat amidst hearty cheering, which continued for some minutes. |
