the dames de la halle. Theatres at Paris. Splendid performance of Gluck's "Iphigenia." Sacchini's Edipe. Cheron, the bass-singer. Madame St. Auberti. London, in 1787. Introduction to Mr. Linley and his accomplished daughters, Mrs. Sheridan and Mrs. Tickell. John Kemble's singing in "Richard Cour de Lion!" Mrs. Jordan and Mrs. Crouch. Ora- torios at Drury Lane. Madame Mara. The Au- Jack Johnstone and Mrs. Billington, in "Love in a Vil- lage." Jack Long, the eccentric Irishman. A guinea put up to auction. The Rev. Father O'Leary and whisky punch. John Philpot Curran. O'Leary and Dr. Johnson. First appearance of Storace at the Opera House, in Paesiello's "Schiavi per Amore." Fine taste of his late Majesty, in a suggestion as to the 1 Introduction to Tate Wilkinson. Anecdotes of that eccentric individual. Winter campaign at old Drury. Revival of "Selima and Azor." The Author's adven- ture with two young ladies. The late Mr. Cobb and Pilon, the French poet. Anecdotes of Parsons, the comedian. The Author resigns his situation in the Italian Opera of the Emperor of Germany. Madame Mara, and Monsieur Ponté, the French-horn player. Shakspeare's Jubilee. Miss Pope, and the awkward dramatic amateur. Revival of "The Tempest," with Purcell's music. First performance of "The Haunted Tower." The author engaged at the Ancient Concerts. Harrison, the well-known tenor singer. The laughing song in "L'Allegro." Irish wit. Anecdotes of John Palmer. Musical Festival at Norwich. Quarrel between Giornovick and Shaw, the leader at Drury First year of George Colman the Younger's manage- Superfluous vocal question by Madame Mara. Charles Bannister and Robin Hood. Margate. The Author, Mrs. Crouch, and Johnstone, exert themseves to serve an unfortunate and destitute young woman.. The Mrs. Siddons at Calais. Irish brigade at Lisle. Mili- tary ardour of Sir Watkin Lewes. The Chevalier St. George. John Kemble. Cambray. Chantilly. Paris. Revolutionary orator, in the person of the Author's valet. Unlucky head-dress of Mrs. Crouch at the grand opera. La Rive, the celebrated French actor. Dick England and Viper Jackson at Paris. The National Assembly. Grétry's opera, ERRATUM. Page 110, lime 21; for "natural daughter," read "wife." REMINISCENCES OF MICHAEL KELLY. THE following Memoirs of an active life have been thrown together, somewhat in the manner of a journal; incidents are recorded as they occurred, -scenes are retraced which have long since passed, -and characters recalled to literary life which have long quitted this sublunary stage. I aim at nothing but setting down facts as I remember them; and thus deprecating the severity of criticism by a candid avowal of my object, proceed, without further preface or apology, to my narrative. I was born in Dublin.-My father, Thomas Kelly, at the period of my birth, was Master of the Ceremonies at the Castle, and a wine merchant of considerable reputation in Mary Street, He was known for his elegant and graceful deportment, and no lady would be presented at the Irish Court, who had not previously had the advantage of his tuition. My mother's name was M'Cabe; she was of a very respectable family in the county of Westmeath. At a very early age, she was placed for education in a Roman Catholic convent on Arran Quay. My father (who was of the same religious persuasion,) having a young relation placed also at this convent; when visiting her, had many opportunities of seeing Miss M'Cabe, and the results of those meetings were, a mutual attachment, an elopement, and a marriage. Her father, who was extravagantly fond of her, soon pardoned the runaways, and, as a proof of the sincerity of his forgiveness, added to it £.5,000, which was considered no mean fortune in those days! My father and mother were both excessively fond of music, and considered to sing with taste: all their children (fourteen in number) evinced musical capabilities, and I, the eldest of the family, was, at three years old, daily placed with the wine on the table, to howl Hawthorn's song in Love in a Village, "There was a Jolly Miller," for the entertainment of my father's company; for company, unfortunately for his family, he had every day; and no man in the city, so justly renowned for hospitality, gave better dinners or better wine. |