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BIOGRAPHY 
 
 OF 
 
 MASTER BURKE, 
 
 THE 
 
 JRISB MOSCZUSs 
 
 THE WONDER OF THE WORLD; 
 
 AND 
 
 THE PARAGON OF ACTORS. 
 
 "O 'tis a parlous boy." 
 
 "1 spare my praises towards him. 
 
 Knowing him is enough." — Shakspeure, 
 
 This wonderful Boy is the most extraordinary instance of precocius 
 genius that has appeared in Europe during the present century, At 
 seven years of age he was introduced to the fete King ol England, 
 (ieorge the 4th, at the Pavilion at Brighton, who expressed in warm 
 terms his admiration of his musical powers. The London Critics pro- 
 nounce themselves at a loss which to admire most his histrionic er 
 musical talents. 
 
 PHILADELFHIAt 
 
 SHAKSPEARE PRESS, 
 
 32 Washington Square. 
 TURNER. 
 
1 
 
 0^ 
 
 r.- 
 
 ^:w>'- 
 
 
 i¥m--^^ 
 
BIOGRAFHir 
 
 OF 
 
 THE 
 
 IRISH ROSCIUS. 
 
 " O 'tis a parlous boy." 
 
 " I spare my praises towards him. 
 
 Knowing him is enough," — Shakspeare. 
 
 Joseph Burke is descended from one of the most 
 respectable families in the county of Galway, in Ire- 
 land ; his father being- nephew to Sir John Blake, and 
 consequently first cousin to Valentine Blake, Esq. 
 who represented the above county for some years. 
 Mr. Burke is also, as we are informed, first or second 
 cousin to Sir John Burke, whose family once possessed 
 considerable estates in the county of Galway ; but by 
 adhering to the cause of Charles, they suffered in com- 
 mon with those, who having pledged the oath of alle- 
 giance to that monarch, refused to abandon his for- 
 tunes. The descendants, therefore, of the families who 
 had been plundered of their possessions by Cromwell, 
 were obliged to trust to their talents for the means of 
 subsistance, which they employed, of course, in various 
 ways. 
 
 Ml6S?37 
 
His father is a medical man, and rose to the top of 
 his profession in his native town of Galway. He mar- 
 ried Catherine, the daughter of Joseph Blake, Esq. 
 \^ho is the son of D. Blake, Esq. of Castlehamby, 
 by Miss Hoare, the daughter of Sir J. Hoare, bart. 
 Doctor Burke for several years officiated as surgeon 
 to the town and jail of Galway ; and during the dread- 
 ful fever in 1818, he was unanimously elected to the 
 care of the fever hospital in the above place. So great 
 was the doctor's anxiety, seconded by his desire to 
 cure his numerous patients, that he had nearly fallen a 
 sacriHce to that terrible disease. On Mr. Burke's re- 
 linquishing his situation at the Fever Hospital, he re- 
 ceived the public thanks of the inhabitants of Galway. 
 
 The Blakes and the Hoares, the ancestors of Master 
 Burke, can trace their pedigree to the most remote 
 period of antiquity ; but the above great little hero 
 does not stand in need of the boast of family pride, to 
 raise hin in the estimation of the public. The Knowlans 
 and Dowlans likewise, are all Na-bock-lesh to his 
 well earned coat of arnjs, (without the aid of the He- 
 rald's othce,) which have been produced by industry, 
 genius, and talent; and long, very long, may Master 
 Burke continue to receive the reward due to his exer- 
 tions — Fame and Favor, 
 
 Master Burke, at the early age of six months, evinc- 
 ed a taste for music. He was a very delicate infant, 
 and suffered severely by teething; and nothing could 
 appease him but musical sounds ; if a discordant note 
 was touched, it always made him cry ; bnt on the oth- 
 er hand, he expressed the greatest delight with the 
 performances of persons of talent. Jf the air was slow 
 and pathetic, he kept time by bowing his little head ; 
 but when the tune was lively, it was ditHcult to hold 
 him, as he would almost jump out of the arms of his 
 nurse. 
 
 When Master Burke was only twelve months old, 
 lie could sing the airs of every song he heard, with the 
 
most exquisite taste ; and as soon as he could articu- 
 late any of the words of the air, he alwaj^s applied 
 them to the right part of the music. His extraordinary 
 taste for music excited the astonishment of every per- 
 son who saw and heard the child ; and when he had 
 arrived at the age of two years and a half, ladies were 
 afraid to play in his presence, as in case they touched 
 any false note, he immediately exclaimed, " You have 
 no taste 1" 
 
 A small violin was put in his hsinds when he was 
 three years old, which he handled in such a superior 
 style, as to induce his father to lose no time in procur- 
 ing the first performers on the above instrument which 
 the town aftbrded, to instruct him. This extraordinary 
 child made such rapid progress with the violin, that in 
 the short space of three months, he could play twelve 
 tunes with good taste and fine execution. 
 
 When Master Burke had attained his fifth year, it 
 was discovered he possessed great dramatic talent^ 
 and requisites for the stage. In a comic song, abound- 
 ing with recitation, he astonished all his hearers ; and 
 in order to ascertain the eftect of his own gestures and 
 actions upon an audience, when alone^ he rehearsed 
 before a looking glass. 
 
 At the suggestion of his father, he studied the parts? 
 of Tom Thumb and Lingo, with so much success and 
 confidence, that he appeared in the above characters 
 at the Theatre Koyal, Dublin, in May, 1824. The 
 audience were delighted with the great capabilities 
 displayed by the little hero; and his exertions were 
 crowned with the most decided success. Since which 
 period he has performed at Liverpool, Newcastle, 
 Brighton, Margate, and at several other provincial 
 Theatres, to overflowing houses. He also appeared 
 at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, about three years 
 since, with the highest marks of approbation a London 
 audience could bestow on an actor. In Doctor Pan- 
 gloss> Dennis Brulgruddery, Crackj Murtoch Delaney, 
 
Looney M'Twolter, Dr.O'Toole, Sir Callagan O'BraN 
 lasifhan, Dr. Lenitive, General Bombastes, Lord Du- 
 berly, and Patrick and Darby, he has been received 
 with thunders of applause. 
 
 The musical education of Master Burke, and his 
 performances on the violin, have been principally un- 
 der the guidance of Mons. Ambroise, of the lloyal 
 Academy in Paris. It must be admitted that Master 
 Burke has proved himself an apt pupil, and he like- 
 wise reflects the greatest cradit on the talents and ex- 
 ertions of his instructor. As a performer on the violin, 
 this highly gifted little creature (when only eight years 
 old) was considered to have no competitor at twice his 
 age ; he reads and plays any piece of music, however 
 difficult, with the greatest ease. Mons. Ambroise 
 likewise taught his pupil duncing. 
 
 AVe are assured that, previous to his performance of 
 Doctor O'Toole, in the farce of the Irish Tutor, he 
 never saw any other performer play the part ; and so 
 ^\ pleased was O'Keefe, the veteran dramatic author, 
 \^ ith the great talent displayed by this child, at Chi- 
 chester, he presented him with a pair of silver shoe 
 buckles, worn by himself when a boy ; he also gave him 
 a lock of his hair, and requested that on his death it 
 would be worn in a ring by him. Miss Paton, at Liv- 
 erpool, was likewise so enraptured with his musical 
 performances, that she could not refrain from saluting 
 the young hero, as a tender mark of her approbation ; 
 and it is also the avowed opinion of Mr. Elliston, take 
 him for *'all in all," he never saw any thing like such 
 a prodigy as Maste Burke. 
 
 At the Surry Theatre he is an immense favorite ; in 
 fact, he might be termed one of the wonders of the 
 w^orld. The pen of the critic falls short, in attempting 
 to describe the superior talents possessed by this un- 
 rivalled youth. A new piece, entitled the March of 
 Intellect, had been written for him, in which he sus- 
 tains six different characters. He is first seen as a 
 
child eight years of aj^e, and his simplicity and man- 
 ners are truly admirable. Next, as an Irishman, he is 
 viewed to great advantage; his brogue is not only as rich 
 as gold, but the peculiarities of the character are sus- 
 tained with infinite humor and effect. In the Counsellor 
 he is quite at home; and his mode of cross examining, 
 and "laying down the law," is equal to that of any old 
 Bailey barrister of twenty years' standing. It is a most 
 excellent and highly finished portrait. In the Italian, 
 we were astonished, delighted, nay enraptured, with 
 his exertions, beyond expression. His performance 
 on the violin was a masterpiece. His tones were bril- 
 liant, and his execution of the first quality. In the 
 Sailor, Jack Ratlin, he was equally rich : it was an 
 ably drawn picture of a British seaman, "and to hand, 
 reef, and steer," appeared as easy to him, as if he had 
 been bred on board a 160 gun ship. His hornpipe so 
 delighted the audience that he was encored, with the 
 loudest peals of applause ever heard in any theatre. 
 But the grand climax to the whole, vras his personifi- 
 cation of Napoleon. His attitudes, the reserve, sud- 
 den impule, hasty strides, and dignity possessed by 
 the above greatest hero in his day, in the whole world, 
 was represented by Master Burke in such a superior 
 style of the histrionic art as completely to beggar alt 
 description. In so young a child we never saw any 
 thing like so much mind before 
 
 His performance throughout, (save the dancing and 
 violin,) appeare to be intuitive. He is quite a master 
 of his art, the stage is completely his own, his en- 
 trances and exits are marked by the best taste possible, 
 and his bye play is equally as imposing with the au- 
 dience as the most experienced actor. His articulation 
 is disitnct; his emphasis correct; and his judgment far, 
 very far above his years. His very soul seems to be 
 absorbed in the characters he has to represent, he 
 never tires, but goes through the whoJe af his partSi 
 with the most unceasing energy* 
 
8 
 
 For the last twenty years we have seen all the juve- 
 nile performers in the kingdom ; but we never witnes- 
 sed any thing like the great talents displayed by Master 
 Kurke— he leaves them all at an immeasurable distance. 
 He must be seen to have justice done him — and the 
 lovers of talent, we assert, without fear of contradiction, 
 in witnessing his performances, will experience a treat 
 of the highest quality. Well may it be called the 
 inarch of intellect; for such a capacious display of 
 mind is not often to be met with in any person. 
 
 In private life, although a child in appearance, his 
 opinions and manner display the intellect of man. It 
 is also worthy of notice, that the brother of Master 
 Burke, a child only three years of age, possesses great 
 musical abilities. At the Nottingham Theatre, for 
 the benefit of Master Burke, he played Robin Adair,, 
 on the violin. This little boy also led the band in the 
 national anthem of " God save the king." The audi- 
 ence were delighted beyond description. 
 
 We have now to speak of Master Burke's profession- 
 al attainments. On viewing him iu the combined light 
 of actor and musician, we certainly think we are war- 
 ranted to declare that he is the most astonishing in- 
 stance of precocious talent it ever fell to the biograph- 
 er's lot to record ; for though there are many extraor- 
 dinary examples handed down to us of early genius 
 being evinced in either of the above sciences, yet we 
 believe they have never been so admirably united iw 
 one so young till now. 
 
 Although Master Burke is only in his twelfth year» 
 he possesses as tine a power of observation and as cor- 
 rect an idea of genuine humour as any actor we ever 
 saw. His attitudes, too, are astonishing, varied, easy 
 and graceful : while his by-play, self-possession, and 
 attention to the business of the scene, even in the most 
 difficult characters, are no less curious than gratifying 
 to witness. 
 
9 
 
 Though his tragedy is of a very superior order, we 
 think that the bent of his genius is decidedly comic : 
 there is a playful gaiety in his manner, and an arch- 
 ness and vivacity in his looks, all admirably adapted 
 to the service of Thalia. Indeed, in some of his favor- 
 ite performances, his acting was so easy, so utterly 
 void of art, that the stage seemed his proper home, 
 and the happiest imitation of the varieties of human 
 life a part of his own nature. There is one character 
 in particular which we will notice, for it induced us to 
 make the above remark. It is in a farce called At 
 Home for the Holidays, where Master Burke had to 
 represent a young lad returned from school, who is al- 
 lowed the absolute mastership of the family for one en- 
 tire day. The glee he displayed when he compelled 
 his old tutor to learu the lessons with which he had 
 been teased during the past month, was delightful ; his 
 audacious ease, and high good humor, when he ordered 
 the servants about, was truly laughable. 
 
 Of his performance of Richard and Shylock, we can 
 only observe that he spoke the dialogue with great 
 correctness, evidently appearing to feel the sentiments 
 he uttered, and displayed, in some of the impassioned 
 scenes that true energy which is as removed from the 
 boisterous rant of certain actors we could mention, as 
 the cool courage of a Henry differs from the bragga- 
 docia of a Pistol. We cannot better close this memoir 
 than by the following extract from Mr. Stafford's very 
 interesting History ot Music : — '• Master Burke is, at 
 the age of twelve years, one of the finest violinists in 
 the kingdom. The ease, the feeling, the brilliance and 
 fineness of his tone, and the scientific acquirements of 
 this mere child, are allowed, by all who have heard 
 him, to be most surprising." 
 
 Old Heads on Young Shoulders^ a one-act piece, com- 
 piled by Mr. Monscrieff, in which Master Burke per- 
 forms the part of a faithful servant, who is left in the 
 care of a young lady (his master's intended,) whom a 
 
10 
 
 party of ruffians have attempted to carry off. Master 
 li. by assuming the disguises of a gardener, valet, 
 cook, and a veteran seaman, contrives to intimidate 
 the above ruffians into the behef that the house is full 
 of company, till his master really arrives uith his 
 friends. Master Burke supported his characters very 
 cleverly, and certainly by his acting, in a measure, 
 contrived to dispel the author's absurdity of a child 
 tViuhtening a band of robbers. 
 
 In this piece iMaster Burke appears to give instruc- 
 tions to the orchestra towards the composition of an 
 overture after the plan of De Begnis' well known bufia 
 scena. He also accompanied Miss Soraerville, on the 
 violin, in two duetts ; his ettbrts were rewarded by re- 
 peated bursts of applause. 
 
 This talented boy took his farewell of a London au- 
 dience, at the Surry 1 heatre, which was absolutely 
 crowded to excess. He sustained the character of 
 Richard III; Tristam Fickle in the Weathercock; 
 Shotto, in Old Heads on Young Shoulders; and Six 
 characters in Whirligig Hall. This Evening's task, 
 therefore, included the assumption of no less than 
 eighteen different characters. He nttered from memo- 
 ry at least 3000 lines, and dressed no fewer than 
 twenty times. 
 
 Setting talents out of the question, what an under- 
 taking for a boy of twelve years of age ! He played a 
 difficult overture on the violin, an accompainment on 
 the violincello, and a prelude on the piano forte, in a 
 manner which stamped him as a Musician of the highest 
 attainments. To conclude he spoke such an address 
 in such language as a boy might speak; no straining 
 after etfect, but w ith the pathos and simplicity of a 
 child, taking leave of his home and his friends. He 
 was much affected, and his feelings were universally 
 reciprocated by the audience. 
 
11 
 
 Our hero arrived in New- York, in November, 1830, 
 and the excitement and admiration occasioned by this 
 Paragon of Actors in that city are unparailelled in the 
 Annals of the Drama. This prodigy is performing at 
 the Arch Street Theatre, Philadelphia, where his pre- 
 eminently fascinating and versatde powers are so un- 
 precedented in attraction that it is almost iniposible to 
 obtain a coup c/W/ through a cievicel 
 
 BIAST£]Il BURHIII. 
 
 The following votive effusion is addressed by his sincere admirer, 
 WiUiain Bennet, 
 
 Heaven gifted child ! whom every muse 
 
 With equal right may claim her son. 
 If seraphs e'er with mortals choose 
 
 To hold communion, thoa art orre. 
 
 While music 's tide voluptuous swells 
 
 Along thy viol's thrilling strings, 
 Or thy own voice with dulcet spells 
 
 Unlocks our feeling *s deepest strings. 
 
 How rapt we sit! as when the swains 
 Of Bethlehem paused, entranced, to hear 
 
 Above them poured celestial strains 
 From angels ' harps and voices near. 
 
 And when thou wieldest Thalia's wand, 
 And call 'st boon Laughter from her bower, 
 
 What mind so torpid to withstand 
 The witchery of thy comic power ! 
 
 Sweet child ! whom heaven awhile hath lent 
 
 To prove how gifted man may be. 
 Ere all those varied powers be spent 
 
 Hov/ bright a course remains for thee ! 
 
 And e'en that course when fully run, 
 Thou still shalt draw the admirer 's eye, 
 
 To view the rank thy name hath won 
 Among the stars of glory 's sky. 
 
LIST 
 
 CHARACTERS AND OVERTURES, 
 
 PEEyORMED BY 
 
 IXEASTER BURKE, 
 
 During his engagement at the Arch-street Theatre, Philadelphia, 
 December, 1830. 
 
 14. Young Nerval — Douglas; Overture to Guy ?»Iannering ; Terry 
 O'liourke, alias Doctor O' Toole — Irish Tutor. 
 
 16. Doctor Panglos — Heir at Law; Overture to Taneredi ; Sis Cha- 
 racters in Whirligig HalU 
 
 18. Duke of Gloster — Richard III ; Overture to La Caravanne ; 
 Terry O'Rourke, alias Doctor O'Toole. 
 
 20. Young Norval ; Six Characters in the March of Intellect ; An 
 
 Italian Air, w ith Variations on the Violin. 
 
 21. Dennis Brulgruddery — John Bull; Concerto on the Violin; Six 
 
 Characters in Whirligig Hull. 
 
 22. Shylock — Merchant of Venice ; Overture to Guy Mannering; Six 
 
 Characters in the March of Intellect. 
 
 23. Sir Abel Ha'.idy — Speed the Plough ; Overture to the Caliph ot 
 
 Bagdad ; Terry O'Rourke, alias Doctor O'Toole. 
 
 24. Duke of Gloster — Richard III; Overture to the Exile; Sir 
 
 Callaghan O'Brallaghan — Love a la Mode, 
 
 27. Master Burke's Bemkit — Romeo — Rameo and Juliet ; Over- 
 
 ture to Guy Mannering ; Looney Mactwolter— /iciiea'. 
 
 28. Doctor Panglos; Italian Air with Variations on the \'iolin ; Six 
 
 Characters in the March of Intellect. 
 
 29. Hamlet — Hamlet, \st ex. 2d Acts; Overture to Tancredi ; Crack — 
 
 Tur7ipike Gate. 
 
 30. Mr. IMaywood's BK.NF.Frr — Young Norval — Douglas, 3d S: Ath 
 
 Acts ; Overture to Guy Mannering ; Sir Callaghan O'Bralla- 
 ghan — Loie a la Mode 
 
 Stajce. 
 
TIASTEH BURKE 
 
 Information ^^athered from 
 various jiiriorican authorities, 
 
 T. Alls ton Brown in his 
 "I-Iistory of the /mierican Sta^e" 
 1870. 
 
 T/aster Burke made his first 
 appearance at the lark Theatre 
 New York, November 22nd, as 
 Young Norval in Douglas and as 
 Dr. C'Toole. After the first 
 piece he led the orchestra in 
 the overture. Ke was known as 
 the Irish Roscius and traveled 
 throughout the states, First 
 appearance in Philadelphia 
 December 14th, 1830, as "Young 
 Ivorval^' at the Arch Street 
 Theatre. After realizing a 
 fortune he retired to Batavia, 
 -E. Y, 
 
i 
 
Hj]I^Y DICKINSON STCWJl 
 
 in his 
 "Personal Recollections." 
 
 .iloany, N, Y. 1875. 
 faster Burke in point of 
 precocious musical and dra- 
 matic talent and genius, 
 eclipised all the juvenile 
 aspirants that ever appeared 
 in this or any .other country. 
 Burke's "Dr. Panf-rlos" "Sir 
 Peter Tea 20.6" ^»I)r . C Toole" 
 "Romeo" "/oun?: llorval" were 
 performed in a manner that 
 excited the wonder and admira- 
 tion of the playgoing pu]jlic 
 of two hemis])heres. one 
 would scarcely realize the 
 fact, after witnessing Burke's 
 rernarkaoie delineations of 
 the most difficult characters 
 'oelonring to actors of upper 
 years and longer experience, 
 and the next day meeting the 
 boy in the street cutting up 
 capers, rolling his hoop, 
 flying his kite, playing 
 marbles, etc., utterly regard- 
 less of the remarks, as well 
 as astonishment of the passing 
 crowd, and apparently uncon- 
 scious of the enviable and 
 important position he occupied 
 
before the world, we repeat 
 it could hardly be realized 
 that this mere child, who was 
 seen the previous evening ren- 
 dering in the moat artistic 
 manner the difficuly characters 
 of Sir Peter Teazle 
 
 1/r. Burke is now fifty- three 
 years of age and resides in 
 llev/ York, engaged in the pro- 
 fession of teacher and compo- 
 ser of music. Ke m^oves in 
 the first circles of society 
 in that city, honored and re- 
 spected "by all who know him. 
 Is it not somewhat remarkable 
 that, Yvith the many rare quali- 
 ties Burke is admitted to possess, 
 and doubtless the numerous 
 advantageous opportunities 
 present during his ?-aany years 
 experience in f empale society - 
 
I 
 
he being deemed v^hat is called 
 "a gcod catch" - that he should 
 
 h so lorif--: re^iain a cache lor, which 
 we understand he still is. 
 
 Burlce made his first appearance 
 in Albany at the Fearl Street 
 Theatre in 1832. 
 
H. H. Phelps' "Players of a 
 Century, a record of the ATosiuy 
 Stage, 1880** 
 
 Burpee made his first appear- 
 ance in Albany June 20th, 1831; 
 bain~ at this tirie thirteen yaars 
 of age 
 
 It is said of young 3ur>:e 
 that his readings were alYv'ays 
 
 discrirainatinf: and forcible, 
 and entirely frae from the drilled 
 mannerisms of most child actors, 
 and that ail his attitudes and 
 gestures were easy, striking and 
 appropriate. Kis performance 
 of Richard the Third, Shylock 
 and Sir Giles was so good that 
 none sneered at the absurdity 
 of a child assuming such char- 
 acters, v/hile his comedy, especi- 
 ally in Irish parts, was full of 
 genuine humor and he never failed 
 to convulse his audience with 
 laughter. His rich native brogue 
 contributing not a little in such 
 parts as The Irish Tutor. 
 
 3urlce's success throughout 
 the country Y/as phenominal. In 
 
Boston 'balls, parties sleigh- 
 rides and social featherings 
 were dispensed with. The 
 theatre v;as the center of the 
 fashionable and literary world 
 and the boxes were filled to 
 the utmost capacity. ' 
 
 For several seasons he 
 proved attractive; but, his 
 popularity waning he revisited 
 Jurope and studied music under 
 the best masters. He re-appear ■ 
 ed in iunorica on the stage at 
 '^'allack's National as late as 
 1839, and afterward devoted 
 himself entirely to music. 
 
 He assisted in the enter- 
 tainments of Jenny Lind, Gullien 
 and Thalberg, He afterwards 
 studied law and, for some years, 
 resided just out of Albany, on 
 the Troy Road, and was leader 
 of a musical association. 
 
 He no longer cares to revive 
 the raemories of these - his most 
 famous days - s will be seen 
 by the following letter: 
 

^'Batavia IT.Y. 
 June 30, 1879 
 
 T'r. H. F. Fhelps, 
 
 Lear Sir: 
 
 TheT-3 is nothin;; of 
 any possible interest in the 
 Y/ay of personal incident, or 
 reminescence , during ray resi- 
 dence in .ilbany, that I recol- 
 lect to furnish you v/ith. 
 
 Perhaps some of those 
 who still renember me may, but 
 I doubt it. 
 
 Respectfully yours 
 
 (Si^^ned) Jos. Burke.*' 
 
Clarence Kutton 
 
 "Curiosities of The 
 
 .toerican Stage, 1891." 
 
 ^Two precocious youths, 
 vi^hose careers upon the 
 American Stage were not 
 unlike that of Master Betty 
 in England, were Master Payne 
 and Hastjr 3ur'ce. 
 
 John Howard Payne is remem- 
 bered now as the author of 
 ''Home Sweet Home.-* He is 
 almost forgotten as the writer 
 of the tragedy of Brutus, and 
 some sixty other plays; and is 
 forgotten entirely as a very 
 successful child actor. He 
 made his first appearance as 
 Young Norval at the Park Theatre, 
 New York, in 1809, when he was 
 but seventeen yc;ars of age. He 
 was called the -'Favorite Child 
 of Thespis." His performance 
 was declared to be exquisite; 
 one enthusiastic .-entleman 
 glvin..^ him Fifty Dollars for 
 a single ticket for his benefit 
 at Baltimore. He supported 
 
^'iss 0»l\Uell in the British 
 Provinces, and T'''rs. Duff in 
 New York. Soon he was "billed 
 as "'Twister" Payne, not "I'aster; 
 
 His T;0pularity ceased, 
 and, except as a playwright, 
 the stage knew him no more. 
 
 Faster 3urke v/as a more 
 unusual wonder for he was a 
 musica^ as well as a theatri- 
 cal phenomenon. He led the 
 orchestra in operatic over- 
 tures, played violin solos, 
 sung humorous songs, and as 
 a prodigy both in music and 
 drama "i^r. Irelend Delieves 
 that he has oeen unapproached 
 by any child who has trodden 
 the .^erican Stage," 
 
 As a r::an he was considered 
 one of the most perfect violin- 
 ists of his time and he v/as 
 last heard here (iT.Y. ) in 
 public at the concerts of 
 Jenny Lind, Jullien and Thalberg 
 many years ago. 
 
I'ary Caroline Crawford - 
 
 «The Romance of the /inaerican 
 
 Theatre, 1925. »' 
 
 '♦....If Celeste lool^ed to be 
 only a child, Master Joseph 
 Burke actually was a child. 
 His success was of the most 
 decided character; his nights 
 of performance attracting - 
 Ireland tells us - houses 
 averaging Twelve Hundred 
 Dollars. 
 
 Christopher Columbus Baldwin, 
 of 'Worcester, has an interesting 
 reference in "Diary'^ to the 
 talents and drawing power of 
 Master Burke: 
 
 *He is now twelve 2/ears 
 of age and is the most 
 famous actor on any Am- 
 erican stage. He is 
 about the co mon size 
 of a boy of twelve years, 
 trim., weil-built with 
 light hair and dark eyes 
 and rather a pleasant 
 looking lad. Tnere is 
 nothing in his phrenology 
 that indicates such talents 
 
as he undoubtedly possess- 
 es. He is very pleasant 
 as an actor and has none 
 of those indescribable 
 faults '//hich so many child 
 actors have, such as attempt- 
 ing to change their voice, 
 or countenance, and -v/orst 
 of all -their gait, without 
 concealin^^ the great agony 
 they are put to in doing it. 
 
 I went to sje 
 successively, 
 of hiin on the 
 and concluded 
 boy after ail 
 
 him four nights 
 I became tired 
 last night 
 him to be a 
 There v/ere 
 
 good houses each night 
 
 t II 
 
 Burke died at the Park Avenue 
 Hotel, January 19th, 1902. Aged 
 
 87 3^ears. 
 
This Evening ^^»« ^l elo-drama of 
 
 The Maid & Magpie. 
 
 Or, Which is ^ rp Thief? 
 
 Gerard, Mr BARTLEV, '^ a »i stice, Mr GKOVE, 
 
 Francoenr, Mr PERKINS, i^vcraid. Mr C. F. YOUNG, 
 
 Blaisot, Mr POWER, Bertrand, Mr SALTER, 
 
 Isaac, l\lr T, P. COOKE, 
 
 Dennis, Mr Mintoli, Durutete. Mr Cooper, Sentinel, Mr. Sanders '^ » 
 
 ' Annette, Miss KELLY, 
 
 Mrs Gerald, Mrs TAYLEURE. 
 
 After wbich, a new Burletta, entitled 
 
 Military Tactics. 
 
 The Principal Characters by 
 
 Mr. BARTLEY Mr POWER. Mr PEARMAN, 
 Mr WRENCH. Mr BOWMAN, 
 Miss POVLY. 
 
 After which, '^ t< A 
 
 MASTER BURKE, the INFjlAT PH(EJ>fOMEMOJV, 
 V^ perform on the Violin and sing** PADDY O'RAFFERTY.'' 
 
 To conclude wit.. 4 new Gn T I^jitoinim©, called 
 
 i'he Monkey Island; 
 
 Ottraiig Outang, (Sovereign of Monkey IslandJ Mr J. COOPlil^, 
 
 Pl.ivOi cheeks. (Priine Minister, afterward* Pantaloon) Mr BARNES, 
 
 Goaeral JackoO, (afterward.s Clown) Mr J. S. GRIMALDI, 
 
 FOKKIGNERS. 
 
 A/'r. (a Persian Mariner, afterwards Harlequin) Mr ELLAR, 
 
 Dinarzade. (a Female Mountaneer, botrothed Ij Azim. biii; kidnapped 
 
 by the Wild Men, afterwards Columbine) Miss ROMER, 
 
 IMMORTALS. 
 
 isBODKN, Tfunkulo, [Boatman] Mr ^ 5 * W, 
 
 SLKNERY. 
 
 ».— iLUxj Loadstone Ro.k- -Storm and Shipwrftck, (Wilson) 2. — Romantic 
 
 Landscape on Monkey Islu " Coyle) S. — Cocca Nut Grove, (Wilson) Ccatt 
 
 of the Kin? of Monkey Iglaii:. : I'roadstai", (Wilson) 5. — Interior of aa 
 
 In«, — 6. Pawnbroker's Sho;-), [Pitt]— 7. Sea View. 9. Lodging: House and 
 
 Doctor's Shop. — 9. InsiJe o "^f^etor's House. — 10. Wood.— H. Landscape, — 19 
 
 NajTcificient Fairy Palaee. [^'valkar] 
 
 Guv Maiiijeiing, Henry Bertm ;j, Mr. BrAham, Lucy 
 xjeii.^wi. Miss Noel, ffiow Rath) Mrg rv'^iiilies, Mrs. Egerton. 
 
THE 
 
 A^D ^ 
 
 Daily Bills of the Play. 
 
 " Nothinjf tixt^nuate nor set down aughi in malice." 
 
 Xu 814 Saiarday, Vuly lof 1824. P^ Ji— '• 
 ^ ""^QK 
 
 Mr. Connor, Mr. T. P. Cookf. ...a, . ' -'^wtl'f t ^^^^^ 
 
 a joint Benefit here last nigh* We were s*'^ ^ * ,• *^^rr^L, 
 and '' forgery ,'' {not murder, if^ppily) hau ' V'^ . ' 
 
 Connor in respect of his tickets. — The house vvas c^"' '/i^f^A f) 
 
 IMrss Harvkt and Mr. Pjjilipps, were asfain most ^. ' ably r^ 
 ceived in The Da>'her of Seville, last night — There was a goti' i?. 
 
 An Opera, upon an ex^jnsive scale, requiring two orchestras, .s to 
 be produced here, and has had two general rehoi :*al3; the music by 
 Weber, which is very scientific and efi"ective ; each rehearsal Ijas oc- 
 cupied six hours. Mr. Braham is the principal character in it, and 
 has paid particular attention to both lehearsals. The Overture to 
 the Opera is oy the same :composer, and the same which waa pcT- 
 formcd at the Oratorios last seas'^jn with great applause. 
 
 J|?apmnrfect €{)catr&» 
 
 The whole of tht entertainments last night, were of a most mirth- 
 creating description — ^jiist such SS should always be found in this fa- 
 vorite temple of humor. The first piece was Matrimony, in which 
 Mr. ViMNG and Mrs. Chatterley sustained with excellent effect the 
 characters of the imprisoned couple who are, by sympatliy for a sup- 
 posed mutual misfortune, brought buck to love and forhearancc towards 
 each other. In that popular piece Sweethearts md IVivcs, Madame 
 Vestris, Mrs. T. Hill, Mr. Vinino, nnd Mr. Liston, as usual de- 
 lighted the audience in an extraordinary degree. The last portion of 
 the performance ^as the new Farce of l4 Year in an Hour, in which 
 ]>Tr. Liston again kept up the horse-laugh he had so often before raised 
 as Billy Lackaday. — There was a numerous audience — This evening, 
 Rosina, Every One has his Fault, and Fish out of fFater. 
 
 EDrurp Hanc Cticatre* 
 
 IMadame Catalaxi was here again last night. It is not add ing to 
 her popularity, nor the iuteresis of the Theatre, to make her uselessly 
 the cause of excluding the persons on the iVce-list. 
 
 Sadler's Tf^dis. — 1 his little Theatre has been well attended this 
 week, inconsequence of the numeious attractive jueces that ha?e 
 been produced. — Messrs. Lancaster, Vale, King, Miss Johnstone, 
 Miss Vincent, &c. acted extremely well. 
 
 Davis^s Amphitheatre — The splendid spectacle of 1 he Battle of. 
 ffaterloo, with Mons. Ducrow's astonishing horsemanship, and the 
 melo-drama of jJgamemnoji, continue to draw excellent houses. 
 
 Vauxhall — This Evening the grand Annual J\:\&iiiLz Fkat ! 
 
i 
 
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