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 CO
 
 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON
 
 At every Library and of every Bookseller. 
 
 The Romance of a German Court, 
 
 BEING A TRANSLATION OP 
 
 LE ROI DE THESSALIE. 
 
 Two Vols., Crown, 8vo, 13s. Fost free, 15s Gd, 
 
 " The publishers who brovight the Memoirs of Karoline Bauer to the notice 
 of Eiifflish veadcvs liave just brought out a translation of ' Le Roi de Thessalie,' 
 which is entitled ' The Koniance of a German Court.' Madame do Kalomine, 
 to whom this work was ascribed in Berlin Cciurt circles, has thouarht it advisable 
 to state that she is not chf' author ; and, as I mentioned some weeks back, Ger- 
 man sro-sip now nttribute^ it to the Grand Duchess Sersje of Russia, the second 
 dauvrhter of thi> Grand Duke of Hesse. The work is eertiiiuly written by some- 
 body wlio has been entirely behind the scenes at the Coiu't of Darmstadt, and I 
 can well umler.^taud that it has excited intense wratli in what are termed 
 'exalted quarters.' 
 
 " The account of the Batteubergs is not very flatterincr, but the chapters 
 which will most attract English readers are those which give detailed accounts 
 of the proceedinas of our Royalties when they were at Darmstadt. There is a 
 most minute narr.ative of the marriage of Princess Victoria of Hesse with Prince 
 Lnuis of Batteuberff, and also of the hurried union between the Grand Duke 
 and Madame de Kalomine, which took place on the evening of tlie same d:iy, 
 together with the part which the Queen i)lay('d in the Kalomine atlair. One 
 thing is certiiin, and this is that the writer of tliis book must have been then 
 living in the Palace, and in constant and contideutial intercourse with the per- 
 sonages who are so unceremoniously introduced." — Truth. 
 
 Remington & Co., Henrietta Street, Covent Garden.
 
 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON 
 
 AFTERWARDS 
 
 DUCHESS OF ST. ALBANS 
 
 BY 
 
 MES CORN WELL BAERON-WILSON 
 
 Author of " The Life Sj Correspondence of M. G. Lewis." 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES 
 
 VOL I 
 
 NEW EDITION 
 
 REMINGTON & CO PUBLISHERS 
 HENKIETTA STREET COVENT GARDEN 
 
 1887 
 
 ;■• >'• V\ !• \ \ .'. 
 
 J ' ■> 1 , ' J .' i 
 
 ,', . ' >. ,, , ' • ;-- ,
 
 / 
 
 / 
 
 < t « t I
 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Preface to the First Edition ... ... ... •■• 9 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Introductory remarks — Summary of cliaracter ... ... 17 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Parents of the Duchess of St. Albans — Their early history 
 — Her mother's family — ^Arrival of strolling players — 
 " Romeo and Juliet " in a barn — Death of the Duchess's 
 grandfather — Removal to Cork — Death of her grand- 
 mother — Her mother's avocations — Joins the strolling 
 players — Tovir in North Wales — Returns to Cork — 
 Puritanical lover — Arrival of Mr. Mellon — Parti- 
 culars of his history — Love, courtship, and marriage — 
 Alleged nobility — Reminiscence of childhood — Re- 
 moval to London — Mr. Mellon embarks for India — 
 Birth of Harriot — Death of Mr. Mellon at sea — Anec- 
 dotes of her mother — Her violence of temper — 
 Treatment of Harriot ... ... ... ... ... 35 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Her mother again joins the players — Marriage with Mr. 
 Entwisle — His history — Visionary claims — Anecdote 
 of Mrs. Siddons — Harriot sent to school — Anecdotes 
 
 i:404.'tS
 
 6 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 — Serious effects of her mother's violence — Mr. and 
 
 Mrs. Entwisle join another company of comedians-- ( 
 
 The eccentric Thomas Bibby — Lodgings, salary, and > 
 
 circumstances — State of the drama at Ulverstone — ^^ 
 
 Miss Mellon's character as a school-girl — Her mother's 
 
 attention to her education — Miss Calvert and her 
 
 school — Harriot's first appearance on the stage, as a 
 
 mute — Her singing, dancing, and accomplishments — . 
 
 Early day-dreams — First appearance in character, as 
 
 Little Pickle — Priscilla Tomboy - Dressing for the , 
 
 stage— Juvenile characters — Improvement in her 
 
 profession,.. ... ... ... ... ... ... 56 I 
 
 CHAPTER IV. ' 
 
 Mrs. Jordan — T. Dibdin and " London stars " at Harrow- j 
 
 gate — Revolt in the green-room — Miss Wallis — Her 
 appearance and history — Embarrassment as to night 
 quarters — Novel bedchamber — Dibdin's reminis- 
 cences — Old playbill — Ludicrous anecdote — Joins 
 another company at Stafford — "Sharing" plan — 
 Harriot's wardi'obe — Church-going — " High blood " 
 — Early society — Juvenile terrors — Coffin bursting — 
 Anecdote of her mother's violence — Improved circum- 
 stances — Pi'ivate carriages — Early friends ... ... 82 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 Travelling extraordinary- — Gallantry of a letter carrier — 
 Its unfortunate result — Stafford Theatre — Habits of 
 Mr. Entwisle — Domestic scenes — Friend's pony — 
 Anecdote — Poor prisoners — Sheridan's visit to 
 Stafford — Sees Miss Mellon, and promises an engage- 
 ment at Drui'y Lane — Anecdote — Removal to London 115 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 London — She waits upon Sheridan — His appearance and 
 character — His oblivion of the promise made — 
 Lodgings in London — Anecdote of a hackney-coach-
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 man — Removal to meaner lodgings — Embarrassments 
 — State of wardrobe — Sheridan at last fulfils liis 
 promise — Interview — Engagement — Debut as Lydia 
 Languish — Michaelmas goose ... ... ... ... 136 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Performers at Drury Lane in 1795 — Appearance of the 
 house — "Lodoiska" — Characters played by Miss Mel- 
 lon — Hair-dresser—Plays Miss Farren's and Mrs. Jor- 
 dan's characters — Mr. Braham's first appearance at 
 Drury Lane — Opera rehearsal — Personal appearance 
 — Reminiscences of a contemporary actor — Miss 
 Farren — Earl of Derby — Anecdotes ... ... ... 149 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Engagement at Liverpool — Character of that theatre — 
 Success there — Anecdote and kindness of Mrs. Siddons 
 — Benefit — Returns to London — Continued improve- 
 ment — Love of flowers — Change of lodgings — 
 Anecdote — Act of kindness — Jews' festivities — Novel 
 footstool 172 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Death of Countess of Derby — Miss Farren leaves the 
 stage — Cicely Copesley in " The Will " — Reynolds' 
 reminiscences — Removes again to Liverpool — Mrs. 
 Siddons' arrears at Drury Lane — Liverpool merchants 
 — Volunteer artillery — Disturbance at the theatre — 
 Benefit — Anecdote of a sailor ... ... ... ... 190 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Returns to Drury Lane — New comedy — Advance in 
 characters — First solo at Drury Lane — Mr. Graham 
 — Sir Henry and Lady Tempest — Holly Lodge — 
 Miss Goddard — Liverpool — Anecdotes — Death of 
 Palmer on the stage — London... ... ... ... 204
 
 8 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Performances at Drury Lane — Improved class of cha- 
 racters — "Rule a Wife and Have a Wife" — Covent 
 Garden management — Professional offers — Visit to 
 Epsom Theatre, and its consequences .. ... ... 226 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Continuation of theatrical career — Miss Mellon visits 
 Southampton — Private theatricals — Contemporary- 
 actors and their salaries — Expenses of Drury Lane — 
 Theati'icals continued — Actress's paint ... ... 239 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Love and courtship — Its unlucky termination — New friend 
 — Mr. and Mrs. Entwisle remove to Cheltenham — 
 Joint benefit at Drury Lane — Visits Cheltenham — 
 Anecdote — Story about " green peas ! " ... ... 2o9 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Theatricals continued — History of the " Honeymoon " — 
 Secession of Mrs. Jordan — Succeeds to her characters 
 — Benefit — Green-room — Obtains the office of post- 
 master for Entwisle — House at Cheltenham — Master 
 of the ceremonies — Benefit at Cheltenham — Mr. 
 Coutts — First acquaintance with Miss Mellon — The 
 purse of "luck money." ... ... ... ... 277 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Season of 1805-6 : critique on a play which did not appear 
 — " The School for Friends "—Master Betty— Charles 
 Lamb and " Mr. H." — Destruction of both the royal 
 houses by fire — Sir John Duckworth : his taste for 
 Melons and passion for pigs — The "Mock Doctor" — 
 Mrs. Entwisle a promoter of Mr. Coutts's marriage 
 with her daughter — Mr. Coutts's worsted stockings — 
 Mr. Coutts mistaken for a distressed person... ... 293
 
 PEEFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 
 
 On the demise of anv individual well known to the 
 public, it may be generally observed that the oppo- 
 site feelings of praise and censure are for a time 
 more active than during their existence. In some 
 cases, these " sittings in judgment" are confined to 
 conversation, and form the topic of a " nine days' 
 wonder ; " but in more distinguished instances they 
 embody themselves into biographical memoranda, 
 sketches, or more extended works. 
 
 The Duchess of St. Albans having been one of 
 the most remarkable persons of her day, her death 
 was followed by the latter result ; and as malice is 
 ever most active, a slanderous memoir, prepared 
 during her lifetime, and including anecdotes of the 
 families with whom she was connected by marriage, 
 was immediately advertised. The publication of this 
 anonymous work was stopped by the announcement 
 
 VOL. I. B
 
 10 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 
 
 of another " Memoir," under a name whose literary 
 and moral reputation was a sufficient guarantee for 
 the fidelity of any biography to which it might be 
 attached. This well-timed act for the departed 
 ended, however, with the beneficial result of having 
 checked the effusion of malice and ill-nature ; and 
 subsequent circumstances preventing its completion 
 the field became again fairly open. 
 
 The materials from which the following pages 
 have been compiled were collected for, and entrusted 
 to me for examination and arrangement. Before, 
 however, I accepted the editorship, and ventured on 
 ground which the on-dits of the day might have led 
 the public still to suppose pre-occupied, I applied to 
 the party who had announced the second biography 
 already alluded to ; and received a written assurance 
 that the w^ork " had long since been entirely aban- 
 doned;" and therefore, as my projected publication 
 could in no way affect a work totally rehuquished, I 
 proceeded with my task. 
 
 The rough notes, or, to use a mercantile phrase, 
 the "raw material" placed in my hands, bore the 
 fullest evidence that no trouble had been spared in 
 collecting authentic details. The few surviving 
 companions of the poor provincial actress, and the 
 "troops of friends" of the much-sought, because 
 rich, Mrs. Coutts and Duchess of St. Albans, have 
 since been industriously traced out and consulted ;
 
 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 11 
 
 even the foes which envy made when she bore the 
 latter names have been communicated with. Add 
 to this, I have to return my sincere thanks to 
 several individuals who, in answer to my applica- 
 tion for intelligence, communicated many interest- 
 ing facts and anecdotes. 
 
 To test the accuracy of information, from what- 
 ever source it has been afforded me, I have also, in 
 every instance where it might be of use, consulted 
 newspapers and other public records, and have been 
 able, by private papers in my possession, to trace 
 many a mere " report " to its origin, and thus to 
 affix to it its just degree of truth or falsehood. 
 
 I will not in this place offer any detailed opinion 
 on the private character of the Duchess of St. 
 Albans. If my ideas of her moral conduct — formed, 
 after much deliberation, from the documents from 
 which this work is compiled, and from circum- 
 stances communicated directly to me — had not been 
 far more favourable towards her than those gene- 
 rally entertained, I would not have undertaken the 
 task which I have diligently, and I hope satisfac- 
 torily, performed. Before, however, a high, or even 
 a not unfavourable opinion of the propriety of all 
 Miss Mellon's conduct can be entertained, there is 
 one circumstance which requires to be placed in its 
 true light — namely, her friendship for, and subse- 
 quent marriage with, Mr. Coutts. In reference to
 
 12 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 
 
 these circumstances, I must briefly advert to a pre- 
 vious period. When Mr. Coutts became acquainted 
 with Miss Mellon, he introduced her to his three 
 excellent daughters, and their intimacy soon in- 
 creased to almost daily intercourse, which continued 
 without interruption until the time of her marriage; 
 so that, with her affectionate nature, her attachment 
 soon centred in his family, which neither time nor 
 other connexions had ever the power to remove. 
 
 As Mr. Coutts was exceedingly scrupulous re- 
 garding the perfect respectability of his future wife, 
 in addition to introducing his friends to her house, 
 he never allowed her to be without a female com- 
 panion, a lady of good connexions and irreproach- 
 able conduct, who permanently resided with her. 
 
 From the total absence of levity in Miss Mellon's 
 demeanour, and the deference of her manners 
 towards her benefactor, an impression that she was 
 his daughter became at that time very generally 
 entertained ; and it is not improbable that Mr. 
 Coutts tolerated the supposition, to save his family 
 from pain, and Miss Mellon from the awkwardness 
 of being then recognized as the future successor of 
 Mrs. Coutts. 
 
 After the demise of Mr. Coutts, the disappointed 
 inferior associates whom his widow had relinquished 
 at his desire beset her for money; several with 
 threats of vengeance, through the press, in case of
 
 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 13 
 
 Tion-compliauce. These, of course, she refused and 
 defied ; and in return they attacked her most 
 bitterly with false representations, of which some 
 of the more respectable portions of the press were 
 the inadvertent disseminators. 
 
 Mrs. Coutts therefore resolved to prosecute some 
 of the editors, who, she considered, neither knowing 
 nor caring anything respecting her, would give up 
 the original slanderers who had misled them. Several 
 of them she had traced by agents. 
 
 Lords Brougham and Abinger were retained by 
 Mrs. Coutts, who summoned the Marquis of Bristol, 
 the Earl of Lauderdale, Sir Coutts Trotter, the late 
 Sir Edmund Antrobus, and many other distinguished 
 persons (upon whose judgment Mr. Coutts had, in 
 his lifetime, most relied) to consult on the case. 
 
 A portion of the valuable documents produced 
 and referred to it mav not be irrelevant here to 
 describe, as mentioned by those who saw them. 
 They consisted of a great quantity of letters from 
 the daughters of Mr. Coutts to Miss Mellon, during 
 many years, up to the time of her marriage, all 
 couched in the most affectionate terms, making 
 daily appointments for accompanying their father to 
 Miss Mellon's house, or meeting him there, giving 
 frequent details of their mother's health, or forming 
 arrangements for bringing parties of their friends 
 to Miss Mellon's villa at Highgate : all showing, by
 
 14 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 
 
 their playful allusions, an almost sisterly intercourse 
 between ber and tbese admirably conducted persons. 
 At that time they were all married to men of high 
 rank, who likewise visited Miss Mellon, and received 
 her among their youthful families. 
 
 There were also numbers of epistles from the dis- 
 tinguished and brilliant of those days, not mere 
 matters of compliment, but denoting regard and 
 respect for lier, both when Miss Mellon and Mrs. 
 Coutts. 
 
 Finally, there were the series of private letters 
 written to her by Mr. Coutts before and after their 
 marriage, containing such advice, praise, and reproof 
 as a father might write to one of her hasty but good 
 disposition. These were imbued with a pure spirit 
 of devotion, and a refined, though unworldly and 
 romantic, view of human nature. He spoke of 
 " the absurd reports of disappointed borrowers as 
 beneath contradiction, for that all whose opinion he 
 valued were certain of the blamelessness of his 
 patronage ; " and he alluded to the marriage as 
 " having given an old man an opportunity of bestow- 
 ing wealth on a deserving individual (as a reward 
 for her good conduct and attention to him) without 
 affording ground for slander after his decease." 
 
 The distinguished advisers who perused these 
 documents said that the?/ had never entertained a 
 doubt as to the strict propriety of Miss Mellon's
 
 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 15 
 
 conduct : that tlie contents of those documents 
 must carry conviction even to the most prejudiced; 
 and that the slanderous reports were quite beneath 
 her notice, or any legal proceeding. 
 
 Mrs. Coutts, always impetuous in her ideas, 
 differed strongly from the last-mentioned point; 
 but, having placed the matter beyond her own 
 decision, she had no alternative but to abide by the 
 judgment given, therefore she relinquished (though 
 most unwillingly) the contemplated prosecatiou. 
 
 Parties who had expressed themselves unfavour- 
 ably regarding the late duchess, have, since her 
 demise, been applied to in order to ascertain if they 
 had any knowledge or just grounds for their opinion ; 
 but the answer has uniformly been that they did not 
 know anything whatever against her, as their im- 
 pressions had been derived from some of the news- 
 papers. 
 
 The press has been exonerated from having 
 originated several erroneous and offensive state- 
 raents, which have been merely published in con- 
 tinuation of former satirical contributions, and these 
 emanated from the numerous enemies whose malice 
 always attends the rapid rise of an humble individual 
 to rank and fortune. 
 
 To those who were in habits of close intimacy 
 with the late Duchess of St. Albaus during the 
 greater portion of her career, these statements will,
 
 16 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 
 
 doubtless, seem superfluous. But confirmation can 
 do no injury to a fact ; and as the breatli of malig- 
 nity lias endeavoured to taint her fair fame, it is a 
 duty due to her memory, as well as one I owe 
 myself, to set before the reader a true account of 
 the chief incident of her life which has been seized 
 upon for slanderous attacks. 
 
 I cannot conclude without publicly offering my 
 thanks for the highly interesting reminiscences of 
 the duchess during her sojourns at Brighton,* 
 w4iich have been sent to me by a gentleman of dis- 
 tinguished literary reputation, who has long been a 
 resident of that place. These are so highly credit- 
 able to the duchess in every point of view, that they 
 came most happily in aid and confirmation of that 
 favourable opinion of her which has been one of my 
 chief inducements to the present undertaking. 
 
 Margauet Baron- Wilson. 
 
 London, 
 
 October, 1839. 
 
 * See chap, ix, vol. ii.
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 INTRODUCTORY RKMARKS — SUMMARY OF CHARACTER. 
 
 The character of the late Duchess of St. Albans has 
 been so frequently misrepresented during many 
 years, and was indeed so little understood by those 
 who merely met her in society, that a main object in 
 commencing these memoirs is to give a just impres- 
 sion of her natural qualities rather than a regular 
 narrative of her life. 
 
 Hence arises the innovation of commenciugf with 
 the following brief summary of the prominent quali- 
 ties of her nature, with the hope of creating an 
 interest for the individual whose career will then be 
 described. The unreserved frankness with which 
 she placed both thoughts and deeds before the 
 examination of her associates, and even in the hear- 
 ing of her attendants, offered ample advantage to 
 anyone who might wish to collect such materials
 
 18 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON: 
 
 since her death — when no injury can be done bj 
 their repetition — for any fair and unprejudiced 
 memoir. 
 
 The ,^ood attributes in the list will be found to 
 preponderate larf^ely over the evil ones ; and on 
 examioation it will be evident that, while her excel- 
 lencies were inherent in her nature, most of her 
 defects had been fostered by, and were almost 
 inevitable consequences of, her peculiar education 
 and subsequent career. 
 
 Religion was the most remarkable and striking- 
 quality of her mind ; and in the deep sense of its 
 truth she was unostentatious as she was sincere. 
 Points of faith were considered by her too serious 
 for casual discussion, or for an introduction among 
 lighter themes ; and as no friendship can be per- 
 manent which is not based on a similitude of re- 
 ligious feelings between the parties, it is a 
 valuable fact that all her favourite friends, and both 
 her husbands, were known to be remarkable for 
 their devotional feelings. 
 
 Her relii2:ious ideas were in strict accordance with 
 the purest Christianity ; they were well defined, and 
 founded on much reflection and study of holy writ, 
 strengthened by a lively faith in that mercy promised 
 to those who act to the best of their power ; they 
 were aided too by prayer, and a feeling of universal 
 toleration and charity towards every created being.
 
 SUMMARY OF CHARACTER. 19 
 
 At all times her mind was fully prepared for dis- 
 solution, which she frequently expected, often speak- 
 ing of death without fear or repugnance ; and the 
 calm of her last hours, brightened by a confidence 
 in immortality, and sullied by no fear, was a pattern 
 how a Christian should await the inevitable summons 
 " with meekness, having a good conscience." 
 
 Her daily exercises of solitary devotion and medi- 
 tation were long and never omitted. The minute 
 book of prayer and meditations of Queen Catharine 
 Parr was always carried about her person. In these 
 beautiful little effusions the passages all bear strong 
 affinity to her own position, in appeals for escape 
 from its dangers and temptations. 
 
 A casual omission of these daily duties was con- 
 sidered by her so reprehensible, that she had almost 
 a superstitious fear that merited misfortune would 
 follow such negligence; as may be seen from the 
 following fact, well known to her family and atten- 
 dants : — • 
 
 The first occasion on which she was to take her 
 place as a peeress in the gallery of the House of 
 Lords (at the opening of the houses of parliament) 
 was an event to which she attached rather a nervous 
 importance, and great care was taken about all the 
 arrangements. Just as her toilette was completed, 
 the carriage was announced, and she hastened down- 
 stairs, fearful of losing any part of the ceremony she
 
 20 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 wished to witness. On reaching the carriage, how- 
 ever, a sudden change in her aspect was observed 
 by the persons assisting her; and instantly with- 
 drawing from the step, she dismissed the carriage, 
 re-entered the house, and announced her intention 
 of relinquishing her attendance at the House of 
 Lords on that occasion ! Her friends remonstrated 
 against this caprice, but she was inaccessible to any 
 argument ; and, retiring to her own room, she dis- 
 missed her attendants, and passed the remainder of 
 the morning alone. 
 
 The cause of this apparent whim was, that in the 
 excitement and hurry of preparation, her customary 
 devotions had been omitted, nor once recollected 
 until she had passed the threshold. Struck with the 
 negligence committed, and always swayed by the 
 strong impulse of the moment, she resolved to sacri- 
 fice the intended gratification of her vanity as an 
 atonement for the omission it had caused. In re- 
 verting to this fact, she is said to have remarked, 
 " I was struck with shame and repentance at my 
 vanity, and my spirits never felt so light and satis- 
 fied as when I cast aside the rich dress which had 
 nearly caused a neglect of my daily duty of grati- 
 tude : the sacrifice of that hour was well repaid ! " 
 
 Her Charity is too well known to require comment, 
 unless it be to correct the illiberal construction at- 
 tached sometimes to her kind deeds by the misin-
 
 S VMMAR Y OF CIIA RA CTER. 2 1 
 
 formed ; Damely that they sprung from a wish for 
 display. It will be seen in the course of this work 
 what strict injunctions all the household received, to 
 abstain from communications respecting either the 
 charities or festivities ; that the duchess often went 
 personally, in a plain dress and on foot, to avoid un- 
 necessarily exposing the distress of others ; and 
 when, during her summer excursions, she received 
 applications for pecuniary assistance, the recipients 
 state that, in sending some donation in reply to 
 their applications, the accompanying note never 
 introduced her name, but commenced with, " The 
 lady staying at so-and-so, having received an appli- 
 cation, has the pleasure of sending," &c., &c. But 
 independent of the almost impossibility of a woman 
 in her high station doing anything without its being 
 known, it should be recollected that her personal 
 appearance was familiar to the public so many years 
 in her professional career, that recognition awaited 
 her at every turn. 
 
 One of her secret charitable deeds, which failed of 
 much of its intended effect in consequence of her not 
 consulting anyone, will prove the absence of display. 
 Some years ago, when the distresses of the unfortu- 
 nate Irish peasantry had reached an unusual height, 
 so that universal famine threatened the land, there 
 were numerous subscriptions, concerts, balls, and 
 other charities, set on foot throughout England, with
 
 22 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 the hope of affording the famishing people perma- 
 nent relief. Mrs. Coutts gave a liberal donation to 
 the general fund ; but her compassion was so excited 
 by the pictures daily given of their distress by the 
 papers, that she resolved on the somewhat romantic 
 charity oi fitting out a sJdp entirely hy herself, freigltted 
 ivitk flour, provisions, hianhets, raiment; in fact, lohat- 
 ever loas liJcely to be most beneficial to the sujferers ; 
 and to send the cargo to the committee in Ireland, 
 without allowing them to learn the name of the donor ! 
 The expense, of course, was enormous — but could 
 not have been better bestowed, although, unfortu- 
 nately for the afflicted people, it might have been 
 better managed ! By a mistake arising out of the 
 secrecy observed, and the want of arrangement by 
 a person accustomed to business, this noble donation 
 all went to a branch committee, instead of the general 
 one ; so that, in place of an equal distribution with 
 the rest, the former naturally retained it for relieving 
 their own particular district ; consequently, a small 
 portion of the inhabitants revelled in profusion and 
 (to them) luxury hitherto unknown, while the rest 
 of the sufferers had not one day's want and misery 
 alleviated by her munificent charity. 
 
 A strong j)rinciple of Truth pervaded the duchess's 
 conduct, and, from matters of consequence to the 
 most trivial circumstance, an implicit reliance might 
 be placed on her word. In referring to her early
 
 S UMMAR Y OF CHAR A CTER. 23 
 
 'days, the degradations enforced by extreme poverty 
 were constantly detailed, without reserve or affecta- 
 tion ; and her subsequent mortifications, instead of 
 being concealed, with the false pride of a vulgar 
 mind, were candidly described as having caused her 
 much sorrow, together with her disappointment at 
 unkindness from persons whom gratitude ought to 
 have instigated to an opposite line of conduct. She 
 was very fond of her profession, and generally intro- 
 duced a reference to it, without effort, into her con- 
 versation ; but instead of the habitual practice of 
 retired actors describing themselves as having been 
 always Bomeos and Richards, or Ladij Macbefhs and 
 Juliets, the duchess used to say, "When I was a 
 poor girl, glad to play any part they gave me for 
 thirty shillings a week," &c. 
 
 The duchess had the misfortune of possessing one 
 of the most hasty and violent tempers which can be 
 conceived ; and of course the excitement of anger 
 led her to consider the most trifling word or deed as 
 highly offensive, and requiring her utmost resent- 
 ment, — a feeling which was fostered by the mischief- 
 loving propensity of the lower order, who, in the 
 shape of nurses, workwomen, and other attendants, 
 had unfortunately full opportunity of making up 
 histories against whoever had at the moment offended 
 her. She never doubted the truth of these crinoiuof 
 people, therefore all their stories obtained credence;
 
 24 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 but not an instance exists in which, without authority^ 
 her anger ever intentionally stated what was not 
 truth ; the facts themselves she would dwell upon, 
 with a magnifying power, until she excited her anger 
 to the greatest excess against the offender, whose 
 lightest acts were then remembered disadvantage- 
 ously. Like all passionate persons, she would 
 censure at one time what would have been over- 
 looked at another : but the only offence which dwelt 
 in her memory was any attempt of individuals to 
 rectify the matter in dispute at the expense of truth ; 
 this she would remember against them, and quote 
 when they little suspected it. Persons who knew 
 her but slightly would sometimes, for the sake of 
 momentary favour, when she was angry, agree with 
 all the violent speeches she uttered, and bear witness 
 of some deeper misdeed " against their neighbour " 
 who was absent. Those who were better acquainted 
 with lier disposition remained silent, or advanced 
 some palliative remark, well knowing that when dis- 
 pleasure bad exhausted itself in words she was very 
 likely to remark, " I think so-and-so need not have 
 told that matter to make me more angry ! " 
 
 A great dislike of mystery, or any species of con- 
 cealment, led her to bestow confidence on a variety 
 of persons not always worthy of the trust; hence 
 her actions and family affairs came into notice under 
 distorted forms. Any remonstrance from her friends
 
 SUMMARY OF CHARACTER. 2b 
 
 on this want of caution was always answered by — " I 
 am quite indifferent as to what is said of me ; I have 
 nothing evil to conceal, therefore they are welcome 
 to abuse one who is too old to care now who ridi- 
 cules her." 
 
 In naming Generosity, it is not in allusion to the 
 liberality with which she dispensed money around,, 
 nor to the profusion of expenditure attendant on all 
 her actions ; for however enlarged these views might 
 be, there was perhaps a recklessness of the value of 
 money, which is frequently seen among those who 
 unexpectedly attain a great command of its power. 
 But she possessed numerous letters from Mr. Coutts, 
 in which he has commanded her, under pain of his 
 displeasure, not to plead to him in the cause of his 
 family, who (in his opinion) had spoken and acted 
 unkindly respecting her, after the marriage ; and 
 conjuring his " blessed Harriot," by very forcible 
 terms, not to share with them any part of the wealth 
 after his decease which would be the cause of ani- 
 mosity towards her. Yet she had the generosity to 
 persevere in pleading their cause, until she procured 
 his forgiveness for the parties. 
 
 Althouo^h no notice was taken of her for some time 
 after the loss of her only friend, who left her the 
 whole of a property which he knew she would not 
 misuse, she from that time allowed among his three 
 daughters nearly £30,000 per annum, until 1832, 
 
 VOL. I. c
 
 26 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 wben the eldest dying, the sum was reduced to about 
 £26,000 per annum. 
 
 In 1836, a gentleman who knew her and Mr. 
 Coutts, and his daughters, met the duchess at the 
 bank in the Strand during one of the periodical 
 settlements there, and saw, among other papers 
 handed to his friend, an account of money which 
 she had given to Mr. Coutts's family since his demise 
 in 1822. It amounted to upwards of £380,000 in 
 the fourteen years, the interest of which lie said for 
 one year would be nearly £12,000, and he further 
 calculated that the compound interest, had the money 
 been left to accumulate, would have yielded upwards 
 of £20,000 a year, in addition to her income. 
 
 This distribution of the fortune of Mr. Coutts 
 among his children was but pure justice; because, 
 had she not been in existence, probably their father 
 would have assigned it in a similar manner. But 
 when we consider a high-spirited woman, having an 
 idea that she had not been kindly treated, and pos- 
 sessing absolute power to withhold all from those 
 who were no relations of her own, surely the forgive- 
 ness of what she considered uukindness, and this 
 unforced liberality, will make out the assertion of 
 her natural generosity — for it amounted to more than 
 justice. 
 
 In Cheerfulness, under almost every circum- 
 stance, she was truly enviable. Ill health never
 
 S UMMA TtY OF CIIA RA CTER. 27 
 
 subdued ber spirits ; aud wben tbree or four 
 pbysiciaus assembled in her room during the last 
 illness at Brighton, peals of laughter, it is said, were 
 often heard within it, from some merry story or 
 quaint idea with which the patient greeted them, 
 instead of querulous complainings. She used often 
 to relate that the first phrase Mr. Coutts overheard 
 her say was, ^^ I never lose my spirits!'^ aud his 
 first gift was the bracelet she ever wore, bearing, in 
 old English characters, that motto ; than which 
 there never was one more appropriate. 
 
 This flow of cheerfulness did not require the ex- 
 citement of numerous auditors, who generally are 
 necessary for the inspiration of witty conversation ; 
 but with only two or three young persons to dine 
 with her, or even tete-a-tete in a carriage, the most 
 exhausting and trying of social positions, the 
 same exertion was made to entertain and interest. 
 Nothing, save terror, had power to subdue her 
 joyous spirit; but she suffered from the greatest 
 excess of nervous fear; so that at times even the 
 closing of a door would cause excessive alarm, and 
 deprive her auditors of a story just at its point. 
 
 Her Wit is so generally known that it is almost 
 needless to name it. Unstudied and prompt, it 
 flowed easily into conversation, without the strained 
 effort of a constant punster; and with the most 
 rapid perception of humour in others, she delighted
 
 28 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 in the society of witty persons, generally gathering 
 them round her end of the table. But their gaiety 
 must be neither personal nor coarse ; the vulgarity 
 of quizzing was banished, and a freedom of speech 
 never attempted. 
 
 The true spirit of wit, either in conversation or 
 writing, was never better appreciated and under- 
 stood by anyone. The green-room spirit of anec- 
 dote naturally brings forward the latent brilliancy 
 of professional persons, who also may be supposed 
 to catch in a degree the sparkling style of dialogue 
 which is their daily occupation. They all attain a 
 clear and pointed delivery; hence the repartees of 
 actors always tell well when they utter them, how- 
 ever ill they may be told afterwards. 
 
 In addition to these advantages derived from her 
 profession, Miss Mellon had that magic gift, a 
 sweet, clear, elegant tone of voice, which imparted 
 grace and interest to all she uttered ; it is, there- 
 fore, to be feared, the record of a few of her witty 
 sayings in the progress of this work will give but a 
 faint idea of their effect as they came from herself. 
 
 In that best of social qualities, consideration for 
 others, it was scarcely possible to excel the duchess, 
 to the latest period of her existence. No degree of 
 indisposition or occupation on her part ever caused 
 forgetfulness of the wishes, comfort, or amusement 
 of her circle ; their different tastes were ascertained
 
 SUMMARY OF CHARACTER. 29 
 
 and retneinbered, so that the gratification of them 
 might be complete; and no sacrifice of such tastes 
 was ever required for her own convenience. 
 
 There are many amiably disposed persons, pos- 
 sessing both the power and the inclination to oblige 
 others, ])rovicled they thinh of it ; but, from a 
 deficiency of such thoughtfulness, their kindly dis- 
 position is negative in its effect, or the benefits fall 
 only on the importunate, who (being also the most 
 unfeeling) are always the least deserving. 
 
 The duchess required no excitement to be kind, 
 for, in addition to both power and inclination to 
 oblige, she had a thoughtful attention for the 
 absent, and a remembrance of their wishes and 
 interests, even during her indisposition, which is 
 delightful as it is rare. 
 
 She felt, however, that her nature did not require 
 prompting in order to confer benefits ; therefore no 
 course was so likely to impede her favourable inten- 
 tions as any application from the party requiring aid 
 — or their making interest among her circle, as 
 though their cause required influence beyond its 
 own merits. In exemplification of her " feeling for 
 another's woe," we make brief reference to the 
 incident of the day on which she had invited some 
 hundreds of persons to a dt'jeuner (in the Isle of 
 Wight), and as Gunter did not come down from 
 town the whole arrangements (about which she was
 
 30 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 always so particular) depended on the presence and 
 direction of the Swiss steward, Tonrnicr. But, on 
 the road to the Hawking-field, the duchess heard 
 that some exiled Spanish lady had just died atGos- 
 port, of the scarlet fever, leaving her sister in great 
 affliction. Instantly she drove home again, and 
 ordered Tournier to desist from his inspection, leav- 
 ing the dejeuner to take its chance, while he went to 
 offer the mourner any aid which might be service- 
 able at the moment. Someone remonstrated that 
 the infection misht be brouo'ht to her house — that 
 everything would go wrong during Tournier's 
 absence — and that she had better send a strang^er. 
 But all regard for the fete was lost in consideration 
 that the poor foreigner would be most comforted by 
 sympathy conveyed in a foreign voice, and Tournier 
 was sent accordingly. This story was related by the 
 Princess of Beira, sister of the deceased ; and at the 
 time it quite rang through the Isle of Wight. 
 
 The daily instances of this considerate feeling can 
 be testified from personal experience by all who 
 knew her intimately. 
 
 If it be urged that under the excitement of anger 
 this sentiment was sometimes forgotten, it must be 
 recollected, that very passionate characters do their 
 real feelings injustice during their anger, by their 
 forcible expression conveying much more than they 
 intend. According to the proverb, " the angry
 
 S UMMA RY OF CHAR A CTER. 31 
 
 man that is dumb thinks worse than he speaks ; but 
 the angry man who will chicle, speaks worse than he 
 thinks." JSTo justification is here offered for these 
 outpourings of her anger, which were sometimes so 
 disproportionate to their provocation ; but a pallia- 
 tion may be urged in stating their transient duration, 
 and her unlimited kindness of thought and action 
 respecting those who avoided giving offence. 
 
 The warmth of her affection was continually 
 evinced towards those to whom she felt herself 
 attached. In the instance of her benefactor, Mr. 
 Coutts, it amounted to such a romantic excess, even 
 for his memory, that at first strangers would feel 
 inclined to doubt its reality, until time imparted a 
 knowledofe of her enthusiastic character, and the 
 strong impulses by which it was swayed. Her 
 gratitude to him never missed opportunities of 
 proving itself to his descendants, and nothing could 
 exceed the constant study of their wishes and plea- 
 sure. Not content with merely making an occa- 
 sional valuable present, whose cost was nothing 
 from her splendid means, there was a continual 
 thought and question as to what they could possibly 
 like, and perhaps a dozen messages were sent 
 during the day, with various elegant costly trifles 
 she had fancied for the younger members of the 
 family, thus proving they were constantly in her 
 recollection.
 
 82 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 In confidential intercourse, the name of Mr. 
 Coutts was continually on ber lips, Lis virtues 
 magnified by the exaggerating power of affection, 
 his statue the only ornament of her state room, his 
 portrait decorating her favourite boudoir. The 
 pillow on which he died was always placed in her 
 carriage while travelling, as she never slept on any 
 other ; and the same feeling " strong in death " 
 showed itself in her last desire, on finding the 
 approach of her own dissolution, that she might be 
 *' removed to die in the room where Tom Coutts 
 had died." 
 
 Among the failings of her character, the principal, 
 as before stated, was being excessively prone to 
 anger. At times, the veriest trifle would cause 
 such displeasure that all dreaded where it might 
 chance to fall ; and under this excitement nothing 
 that could be said or done at the moment would 
 subdue it. But a hasty temper depends so much 
 on the actual state of the nervous system, that an 
 extra shade of good or bad health for the day will 
 turn the balance of the mood. Mrs. Entwisle, her 
 mother, was an exceedingly violent woman ; and 
 and this is a defect in parents which their offspring 
 are less apt to take warning from than to copy. The 
 doting fondness of Mr. Coutts could see no defect 
 in his idolized wife ; and her subsequent accession 
 of wealth brought an undue submission to her will
 
 SUMMARY OF CHARACTER. 33 
 
 from interested persons, — all of which tended to 
 foster this prevailing defect of her nature. With 
 the forgiving quality of all hasty tempers, if her 
 anger was easily excited, it was generally but short- 
 lived ; and, except when her flagging resolutions of 
 enmity were bound up again by a vow (which was 
 always repented), her displeasure would quickly 
 clear away of itself, and its object meet a doubly 
 kind reception. 
 
 She had been too long accustomed to command 
 not to be extremely wilful ; and nothing turned her 
 determination from a point on which she fixed it, 
 except her own altered resolution. 
 
 Many persons include fickleness among her de- 
 fects. Perhaps there are scarcely any dispositious 
 free from it, a love of novelty being the besetting 
 and often unknown sin of human nature; but it is 
 not just to affix it particularly to one who never 
 forgot an old or humble friend, and who not only 
 enjoyed a reference to " auld lang syne," but de- 
 lighted in conferring acts of kindness on individuals 
 whose families she had known in her early days. 
 
 Finally, if a degree of pride or hauteur belonged 
 to her disposition, it must not excite wonder, con- 
 sidering her rapid elevation and the mixture of 
 mortifications forced into her enjoyments in some 
 few instances, against which a naturally high- 
 spirited woman would rebel. These qualities were
 
 34 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 never evinced towards those of inferior rank : no 
 distinctions were made among the guests, beyond 
 the observance of customary etiquette ; all received 
 an equal degree of quiet attention ; and even the 
 fastidious George the Fourth, when Prince Regent, 
 remarked to Mr. Coutts, that " his young wife was 
 one of the best-bred women at her own table he 
 ever knew." 
 
 To those who knew her intimately we appeal for 
 the truth of this summary, in ascribing to her piety, 
 charity, truth, generosity, consideration for others, 
 cheerfulness, attachment, and gratitude. And if a 
 desire for impartiality enforces the enumeration of 
 frequent bursts of anger, or a display of wilfulness, 
 caprice, or hauteur, surely they are not unpardon- 
 able defects in one who met with over-indulgence in 
 childhood, flattery in her profession, devotion to her 
 will as a wife, and submissive adulation up to the 
 close of her career.
 
 CHAPTEH II. 
 
 Parents of the Duchess of St. Albans — Their early history — Her 
 Mother's Family — Arrival of strolling players — " Eomeo and 
 Juliet" in a barn — Death of the Duchess's Grandfather — 
 Eemoval to Cork — Death of her Grandmother — Her Mother's 
 avocations — Joins the strolling players — Tour in North 
 Wales — Returns to Cork — Puritanical lover — Arrival of Mr. 
 Mellon — Particulars of his history — Love, courtship, and 
 marriage — Alleged nobility — Reminiscence of childhood — 
 Removal to London — Mr. Mellon embarks for India — Birth 
 of Harriot — Death of Mr. Mellon at sea — Anecdotes of her 
 Mother — Her violence of temper — Treatment of Harriot. 
 
 The early history of the parents of the late Harriot, 
 Duchess of St. Albans, must be now so totally lost 
 in the great interval of time, and the mystery 
 affected by them, that there would be scarcely any 
 possibility of retracing it from living authority, even 
 if it were a matter of sufficient interest to render 
 such research desirable. A brief outline, however, 
 such as is customary in sketching the early scenes
 
 36 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 of a memoir, can be given from the narration of the 
 duchess herself, who had so grateful a sense of her 
 own fortunate career, tbat she loved perpetually to 
 contrast it with the poverty and lowliness of her 
 original station. 
 
 These details were unaffectedly given to all ranks 
 who were acquainted with her ; and she dwelt with 
 a force almost like exaggeration on the early poverty 
 and struggles of her family. Numbers of her ac- 
 quaintance, therefore, will recognize, in the succeed- 
 ing sketch of the late Mrs. Entwisle,* the details 
 which they have heard candidly related by her 
 fortunate daughter. The duchess, who was a rigid 
 adherent to truth, used to premise the history by 
 saying she had no means of vouching for its accu- 
 racy, beyond having it from her mother, as she had 
 never discovered another relation. But when it is 
 considered that, while seated as a peeress at her 
 own table, surrounded by noble, and frequently 
 royal guests, she only assigned to her mother the 
 birth of a peasant and the occupation of wardrobe- 
 keeper to itinerant actors, the humility of the 
 assertion must banish any question of its truth. 
 
 According, therefore, to Mrs. Entwisle's history 
 of herself, as told to many persons now living, she 
 was born near Cork, in 1752. Her parents were 
 
 * Miss Mellon's mother married secondly a Mr. Eutwisle, and 
 the one name is used to avoid confusion.
 
 HER MOTHER'S FAMILY. 37 
 
 labouring peasants, or, as tbej are termed in Ireland, 
 cottiers, who lived by the cultivation of some land 
 round their cabin. Their only daughter, Sarah, 
 having been engaged in the active occupations of 
 rustic life, received no education beyond the church 
 prayers, taught orally by her mother, and the tradi- 
 tional songs and poetry for which the Irish are 
 famed, and with which her memory teemed even to 
 her latter days. 
 
 Judging from her industrious habits, but passion- 
 ate character, as displayed afterwards, Mrs. Entwisle, 
 as a girl, must have been one of those specimens of 
 her countrywomen so frequently seen here, who 
 destroy, in one minute of rage, the good character 
 they have earned by a year's attention. Clever, 
 shrewd, ambitious, artful, and charitable; warmly 
 attached, yet passionate beyond control ; good- 
 natured, yet designing ; friendly, yet abusive ; she 
 must have been one of the greatest anomalies of 
 human nature. Loving her daughter to idolatry, 
 she nevertheless took advantage of that daughter's 
 generosity by false means. With but one steady 
 aim through life, viz., the aggrandizement of her 
 child (which she pursued without deviating for any 
 obstacle), yet her cruelty towards poor Harriot was 
 such as to endanger the girl's life many times, and 
 even to inspire her with a dislike for existence under 
 the harshness of her only relation. Strange to say, 
 
 
 404.'J8
 
 38 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 this capricious violence never abated the filial affec- 
 tion of her daughter; from the time she had the 
 power of evincing her attachment, until the period 
 of her mother's decease, is one long history of 
 benefits conferred, acts of affection, and dutiful for- 
 bearance, which could scarcely be paralleled for a 
 more deserving parent. 
 
 Mrs. Entwisle had been gifted with extraordinary 
 personal beauty in her youth, which was evident 
 from the traces remaining in her advanced life, and 
 described by numbers who recollect her earlier. 
 Strong natural sense, and a woman's quick observa- 
 tion, enabled her to acquire a certain tone of 
 manners from the actresses whom she attended; 
 and many good judges of manners, who had a pre- 
 judice against Mrs. Entwisle from the histories of 
 her violence, were agreeably surprised at the quiet, 
 well-bred demeanour she could assume in society, 
 when after events enabled her to associate with a 
 grade superior to her own. 
 
 To resuute the narrative given by herself : the 
 event which she asserted had imparted a colouring 
 to her fate (and consequently to that of her 
 daughter) was the unexpected arrival in the village 
 of some itinerant actors who had landed at Cork. 
 The manager, whose name was Kena, well known 
 formerly in Wales and Ireland, thought it would be 
 advisable, while his thin horses were reposing, to
 
 ''ROMEO AND JULIET'' IN A BARN. 39 
 
 defray the expenses of the night's sojourn by per- 
 forming a play in a barn ; and one was borrowed 
 from some charitable farmer, which a few theatrical 
 properties rendered equally adapted for a theatre 
 and a caravanserai. Milk, eggs, and potatoes being 
 the primitive currency tendered and taken for the 
 admissions, a measure of the latter entitled Sarah 
 and her parents to front seats ; and the sharp- 
 witted Irish girl, who had hitherto only heard a 
 neighbour read " Tracts on the Cruelty to Negro 
 Slaves," or " The Sufferings of African Missionaries," 
 first discovered that there existed other subjects for 
 literature besides these miseries of human life by 
 witnessing " Romeo and Juliet " performed in a 
 barn ! 
 
 It may be imagined how the mind of the poor 
 girl was dazzled while witnessing this romance of 
 our drama — reduced, of course, in its dialogue to 
 the comprehension of the untutored audience. Her 
 sympathy for the commonplace woes of missionaries 
 and slaves was diminished in a fearful degree by 
 the better-described sufferings of the fiction ; and 
 *^ the power of witnessing plays from morning till 
 night " became her criterion of royal prerogative, 
 like the plough-boy and his " swinging gate." 
 
 The next morning the players departed ; but in 
 consideration of a liberal supply of cabin dainties 
 for their journey, Mr. Kena's wife proving herself
 
 40 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON, 
 
 to be as good a manager as ber husband, gave Sarab 
 tbe well-worn copy of the play from which the free 
 adaptation of the preceding evening had been taken. 
 
 Next to the happiness of witnessing the repre- 
 sentation, was the power of hearing the drama read, 
 and partially renewing its illusions ; not the less 
 enjoyed because half its phraseology was beyond 
 her comprehension ; on the contrary, as Mrs. Kena 
 had said, it was the most beautiful book in the 
 ■world, the difficulties consequently were voted to be 
 sublimities. Sarah, therefore, revelled in the delight 
 of listening to them during spare hours, and ulti- 
 mately knew the play by heart. 
 
 At this time a melancholy interruption to her 
 enjoyment occurred, in the death of her father, by 
 one of those fevers which so often attack the labour- 
 ing Irish after a bad liarvest. A favourable season, 
 or its reverse, makes a fearful difference in the hus- 
 bandry of the poor, who possess no capital to lay 
 up stores against such a contingency; and this is 
 more lamentably evident in Ireland, where the 
 people are too improvident to cast one thought 
 beyond the present — perhaps fortunately for them, 
 as their prospects are seldom of a nature to tempt 
 anticipation. 
 
 The year's labour of Sarah's father had met no 
 reward at the close of the season ; disappoint- 
 ment aided the ravages of fever and the want of
 
 REMOVAL TO CORK. 41 
 
 proper sustenance, so that he expired in extreme 
 wretchedness. After his decease it was found im- 
 possible to retain the plots of ground, or even the 
 cabin, whose scanty furniture and implements when 
 sold did not defray the funeral expenses. The 
 widow and her daughter then removed into the 
 town of Cork, the former gaining a scanty subsis- 
 tence by going out by the day to work, while Sarah 
 tried the monotonous drudgery of needlework at 
 home. In the latter she was tolerably successful, 
 having displayed great quickness in learning the 
 way to execute some articles entrusted to her by 
 an inferior mantua-maker, who was besides a milli- 
 ner, dyer, haberdasher, and keeper of a miscella- 
 neous shop of all- work. 
 
 This dispiriting life continued for some time with- 
 out interruption, the humble pair rejoicing still that 
 they could " keep a roof over their heads " (to use 
 Mrs. Entwisle's Irish idiom), which prevented the 
 necessity of their going to service, an occupation for 
 which Sarah's independent temper rendered her 
 particularly unsuitable. But the widow, always 
 accustomed to country air and early hours, was too 
 old for the change in their habits ; therefore, the 
 sedentary life, in their one close apartment of a dark 
 house, had a gradual effect on her health. Sarah 
 worked on still more assiduously, but her efforts to 
 preserve her sinking parent were vain ; and in 1776, 
 
 VOL. I. D
 
 42 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLOX. 
 
 Avhen in her twenty-fourtli year, she found herself an 
 orphan, destitute alike of friends and money, or 
 occupation to procure it. 
 
 Under these sad circumstances her former em- 
 ployer, the mantua-maker, undertook to receive her 
 as a sliopwoman and assistant in the house ; diminish- 
 ing her payment almost to nothing, but affording 
 her at least a respectable home ; and as there seemed 
 no better alternative, she gladly accepted the en- 
 gagement. 
 
 The arrangement answered as well at least for the 
 shopkeeper as it did for the orphan, who formed a 
 useful assistant, besides possessing the personal ad- 
 vantages which milliners appear to seek in their 
 young attendants, like blocks for exhibiting their 
 goods. She was then just four-and-twenty, and 
 must have been tall and remarkably well-formed, 
 with a brunette countenance of great beauty.* 
 
 Those who remember Mrs. Entwisle during her 
 visits to London, when she was advanced in years, 
 state that she retained many traces of considerable 
 personal beauty ; the full, laughing, dark eyes, jet 
 
 * The ducliess, in describing her recoUoctioiis regarding her 
 mother's appearance when the latter was about thirty-five, used to 
 say, " My mother had infinitely greater claims to being good-looking 
 than myself; any personal advantages I might have possessed were 
 derived from her; and, in addition, she had a fine oval face, and 
 beautifully regular features, whereas, mine are too short, and the 
 contour of my face too round for its length."
 
 HER MO THER'S A VO CA TIONS. 4 3 
 
 black hair, and remarkably fine teeth, which her 
 daughter inherited, with an elegantly formed mouth 
 (the feature which most quickly betrays vulgarity) ; 
 and although a very large person, she had the rare 
 advantage of a symmetrical arm and hand, on which 
 she founded a pardonable degree of vanity. It is 
 said also, that, like her daughter, she possessed the 
 winning attraction of a low, sweet voice in her 
 younger days ; an unusual gift for one who had been 
 brought up in the country, where toiling in the open 
 air seems either to render the voice coarse, or to give 
 an inveterate habit of speaking loudly. Perhaps poor 
 Sarah found the necessity under her new task- 
 mistress of modulating her voice to its most sub- 
 missive tone; though her hasty temper was repressed 
 only, and never wholly subdued throughout her life. 
 
 In return for her board and very scanty wages she 
 was expected, after serving in the shop until it was 
 closed, to labour most diligently at needlework, fre- 
 quently to an advanced hour of the night, and it will 
 not be supposed that her morning rest was allowed 
 to be much prolonged. 
 
 Without any companion or source of amusement 
 under the mortifications and tyranny inflicted by 
 one who knew she could not retaliate, the poor girl's 
 mind naturally reverted to her one beloved drama, 
 which she mentally acted while engaged in needle- 
 work — " woman's pretty excuse for thinking," as
 
 44 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 Sir Edward Bulwer gracefully terms our moDoto- 
 nous occupation. 
 
 She thought on tlie happy fate of an actress, com- 
 pared with her own drudgery ; and as a comment 
 on her fancy, she perceived Mrs. Kena, and one of 
 the actresses she had first seen, strolling up the 
 street, and laughing together as if life were all 
 sunshine ! Their appearance decided her fate ; she 
 quickly discovered tlieir temporary abode, found 
 their destination was Aberystwitli, and offered to 
 join the company. 
 
 Mr. Kena laughed heartily at the notion of a pea- 
 sant girl fancying it was so easy to enact heroines ;* 
 but his wife having ascertained Sarah's present em- 
 ployment and degree of skill in feather-dressing, 
 dyeing, cleaning, and new-fashioning robes, con- 
 sidered there would be great advantage in having 
 
 * She never abandoned the idea, however, that she had a very 
 fine tragic genius ; and as she had not an opportunity of showing 
 it practically, it was displayed in criticism. She was constantly in- 
 structing her daughter how she ought to play such and such cha- 
 racters, and it was impossible to resist laughing at these exhibitions, 
 several of which their visitors, still living, witnessed. The poor 
 woman would not have been allowed to rant as the tragedy queen of 
 the '' deep pieces," in a booth at a country fair ! Yet she con- 
 stantly reproached her daughter with stupidity in not acquiring the 
 lessons she gave ; and, notwithstanding the absurdity of these 
 scenes, her daughter always set an example of respect for her 
 mother, by acquiescing gently, and promising amendment, though 
 her quick sense of the ridiculous must have been often sorely tried.
 
 TOUR IN NORTH WALES. 45 
 
 such an accession. Accordingly, without naming 
 her profession to the puritanical milliner, Mrs. Kena 
 iuquirecl the character of the young shopwoman, and 
 finding the account of her industry and probity most 
 satisfactory, resolved to add the employment of 
 money-receiver at the door, to Sarah's other depart- 
 ment of dresser and wardrobe keeper. 
 
 In a few days she left her first employer, to attend 
 on " a lady going on a tour through Wales," as her 
 migratory friend chose to be described. They 
 travelled, indeed, through a great part of Wales and 
 the adjoining English counties ; their new assistant 
 consoling herself that, as she was considered to have 
 no genius for the stage, she enjoyed seeing the per- 
 formances more than those who had to labour in the 
 vocation. She was most careful and industrious 
 respecting the dresses, which were " revived equal 
 to new " under her skill ; and as " money-taker," 
 the Kenas vowed she was a treasure, for their 
 receipts had never before been so honestly managed. 
 The consequence of her great probity was, that the 
 manaorer became too rich for further trouble : for it 
 was his usual (and rather national) custom to work 
 extremely hard while his circumstances were em- 
 barrassed ; — then, just as he was becoming free from 
 distress, he thought it was time for relaxation, and 
 the company might be dismissed until his necessities 
 assembled them again.
 
 46 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 The excellent state of the treasury under Sarah's 
 control made the unthinking: Irishman lonof for 
 another tour of idleness : he crave leave of absence 
 to the troop ; and, in gratitude for the money- 
 taker's attention to finance, paid her passage back 
 again to her former abode ; where, having with a 
 heavy heart stated that the lady had finished her 
 travels in Wales, the milliner was too glad to regain 
 her industrious, clever assistant, to ask many ques- 
 tions as to how she had been employed. 
 
 While accompanying her mistress to the Wesleyan 
 meeting-hoQse, the handsome Sarah had the ill- 
 fortune to captivate the oldest, ugliest, and most 
 thoroughly disagreeable of the whole congregation. 
 He was in poor circumstances likewise ; or the 
 forlorn young woman might, perhaps, have tied her- 
 self to misery to escape the drudgery of her em- 
 ployment ; but old, ugly, cross, and poo?' also, was 
 too bad a catalogue for even a penniless semp- 
 stress ; she therefore refused her first lover. 
 
 This old man was a great favourite with the 
 milliner, who considered him as one of the elect ; 
 and two or three times in the week he came to 
 read, pray, and expound for her and Miss Sarah's 
 edification. 
 
 The young woman had been reared to great 
 devotion ; in her subsequent life she was a pious 
 woman, and made her daughter eminently so. Her
 
 ARBIVAL OF MR. MELLON. 47 
 
 uncultivated sense of propriety, therefore, detected 
 the irreverence of this man, turning from making 
 her a soft speech to read the book which his in- 
 difference profaned ; and in after years she often 
 referred to her detestation of her first lover's 
 hypocrisy. Her mistress taunted her respecting 
 the refusal, and accused her of " having vain and 
 high notions," which certainly formed a strong 
 portion of her character ; so that, between unkind- 
 ness and persecution, her only relief was when she 
 might work undisturbed in the shop. 
 
 Young, bright eyes, however, will wander, even 
 from such double action as needlework and shop- 
 keeping, to examine the neighbours in the opposite 
 windows ; and one day Sarah discovered a stranger 
 seated in the drawing-room facing her shop — a 
 young, handsome, dark man, and recently arrived, 
 as the apartments had been that morning vacant. 
 
 In the course of shop-gossip the intelligence re- 
 specting a new comer was easily obtained ; so, 
 before the evening, the history of this gentleman, 
 as far as he had chosen to give it, was universally 
 known. He described himself as " Lieutenant 
 MatJiew Mellon, of the Madras Native Infantry, ivho 
 had come to Eurojpe on sich leave, and teas travelling 
 through Ireland for chaiige of air." 
 
 Who this self-styled Lieutenant Mathew Mellon 
 really luas will always remain a mystery. The
 
 48 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 name, which sounds unreal, most probably was 
 assumed only while travelling by some young 
 Eno'lishman seekins^ adventures in Ireland. If it 
 bad been a genuine name, surely some connexion 
 of his would gladly have answered the anxious 
 inquiries of the duchess, even supposing his imme- 
 diate relations were deceased. 
 
 Mrs. Entwisle, who had all the reverence of her 
 country for high rank, used to make the most 
 extraordinary declarations confidentially respecting 
 his beino- a nobleman ! 
 
 During the preparation of this work, upwards of 
 twenty strangers have forwarded to the publisher, 
 from various parts of England, the information 
 that she had solemnly assured them " My Harriot 
 is the daughter of a lord.'' But as the nobleman's 
 title could never be won from her, or from her late 
 husband, Mr. Entwisle, it may have arisen from the 
 love of grandeur inherent in the humbler order of 
 the Irish, which actually prompts even the menials 
 to take pride in the ancient descent of their masters, 
 and to consider themselves immeasurably raised 
 above others who only serve " Cromwellians," as 
 they term the comparatively modern families of the 
 time of Cromwell. 
 
 In the scoldings given to poor Harriot, which her 
 mothers ungovernable temper could not repress 
 even before strangers, she always concluded by
 
 ALLEGED NOBILITY. 49 
 
 ■saying, " And you to do so, Harriot, with such IdgU 
 blood in your veins ! " 
 
 The vain Irishwoman seems to have forofotten 
 that, in proclaiming this grandenr, she was casting 
 a slur on her own reputation ; for, in her humble 
 capacity as a theatrical-dresser, her auditors could 
 not be expected to give her credit for a patent of 
 nobility and a certificate of marriage also, although 
 she laid claim to both, as will be seen. 
 
 The late duchess had the good taste and sense 
 never to introduce this discussion when referring 
 to her mother's history, but always spoke of Mr. 
 Mellon as an officer without rank or fortune. 
 During her mother's lifetime she always turned the 
 conversation, or laughed away the noble boast, 
 which the latter took every opportunity of making. 
 
 A gentleman who knew both in 181-i, having 
 accompanied them to a box at Drury Lane, Mrs. 
 Entwisle said oracularly, " If my Harriot knew 
 who she really was, this box woidd not be sufficient 
 for her ! Mr. Coutts is a very excellent man, but 
 in point of birth he is not half good enough for 
 Harriot." Her daughter laughingly replied, " I 
 daresay, dear mother, I am a princess in disguise ; 
 but I am so well disguised that the king, my father, 
 will have immense trouble to find me out ! " 
 
 The account of the nobleman given by Mrs. 
 Entwisle havinof been mentioned since her death to
 
 50 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 her daughter, she replied that, for her poor mother's 
 sake, she preferred behevinf^ the more humble, but 
 more creditable, story of Mr. Mellon having been 
 merely what he represented himself ; but she had 
 no means of ascertaining the truth, and she never 
 could press it on her mother further than the latter 
 might voluntarily relate. 
 
 The duchess had a singular reminiscence of her 
 childhood (which has also been transmitted for 
 these memoirs by several of her early friends), and 
 to which many have heard her mother significantly 
 refer. While Harriot Mellon was too young to 
 walk a great distance, she remembered being carried 
 in the evening to a large mansion which had a 
 quantity of lights in its great hall and wide stair- 
 case ; and from a bright room there came forth an 
 old lady in a satin mantle — the unknown texture of 
 which delighted the child while cari'ied in the lady's 
 arms. An old gentleman came in and likewise 
 fondled her, letting her play with what she con- 
 sidered the "great button " on his coat, but which 
 theatrical tinsel afterwards taught her was a star. 
 After much feasting and wonder, she was carried 
 home again a long way. She was taken there a 
 second time, and the sharp little child knew her 
 way through the house, and ran from her mother 
 to the room of the " satin lady " and the " star 
 gentleman." "I never saw them afterwards,"
 
 REMINISCENCE OF CHILDHOOD. 51 
 
 continued the duchess ; " but since ray mother's 
 death, when I went as Mrs. Coutts to visit at * * * 
 Castle for the first time, I hneio the great staircase 
 up which I had been carried more than forty years 
 previously, and I found my way unguided to the 
 drawino-.room ! " 
 
 • Mrs. Entwisle always insinuated that those grand 
 people were the parents of Harriot's father. The 
 duchess, with better sense, suggested that they were 
 probably patrons of her mother's poor days, and 
 there the matter rested ; for she was better satisfied 
 with the humble origin. Both are now immaterial, 
 where no descendants remain. 
 
 Miss Mellon's suppression of the boast, and her 
 mother's continual utterance of it, mark the distinc- 
 tion between their dispositions as strongly as an 
 entire biography. The pide of the daughter felt 
 deeply even an unmerited slight, and therefore she 
 clung to the more reputable history; the vanity of 
 the uncultivated Irishwoman to add importance to 
 the character of her daughter actually sacrificed her 
 own fame to these ill-judged vauntings ! 
 
 To return to the history of the soi'-disant Lieu- 
 tenant Mellon and the Irish belle. His listless days 
 were almost entirely passed at the open window of 
 his sitting-room, opposite to which his good fortune 
 — to banish the demon of ennui — had placed the 
 handsome young shopwoman. Their acquaintance
 
 52 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 by sight soon iucreasecl to a bow, when be threw 
 open the window ; and this ad\^anced to speaking 
 terms whenever Sarah was sent out with a cap or a 
 bonnet. Never had she been so respectfully ad- 
 dressed, or ever heard such beautiful language, 
 except on the stage ; lie was evidently the Romeo 
 of her fate ; and after a very short acquaintance 
 they became lovers, and arranged for a continuation 
 of their acquaintance. 
 
 The interruption of their romance occurred 
 through Sarah's former admirer, who eagerly gave 
 information ao^ainst her encourao;ement of the 
 formidable rival. The strict shopkeeper instantly 
 deprived her assistant of the office of basket-bearer, 
 forbidding all speech with Mr. Mellon, and keeping 
 her in the back room a prisoner. To add to the 
 annoyance of this position, in a stolen conversation 
 with Mr. Mellon, she learnt from him that the 
 period of his residence in Ireland had expired, and 
 having no means of his own independent of his 
 commission, it was impossible to maintain more 
 than himself in India ; and he resolved not to in- 
 volve her in the misery of poverty in a distant land. 
 He therefore expressed his determination to leave 
 her in Ireland until regimental promotion enabled 
 him to claim her, and with increased means ; to 
 which prudent resolution he exjiected the attached 
 girl would calmly acquiesce.
 
 REMOVAL TO LONDON. 53 
 
 Calmness, however, was never one of her con- 
 spicuous virtues, and in the present instance her 
 sorrow amounted almost to insanity, at the thought 
 of his proposed departure, and her continuance with 
 the severe task-mistress. 
 
 The alternative then proposed by Mr. Mellon was, 
 that they should be privately married ; and as her 
 former theatrical friends, the Kenas, were about to 
 embark for England, she should accompany them to 
 London, whither they were going in the hope of re- 
 cruiting some extinguished stars ; and when he had 
 sailed for Madras she was to remain in London, 
 supporting herself by needlework, until he was en- 
 abled to send for her to join him in India. These 
 arrangements seemed delightful to the country girl; 
 therefore, according to her own account, on Twelfth- 
 day, 1777, she was married to Lieutenant Mathew 
 Mellon. 
 
 The duchess, who was quite superior to any as- 
 sumption in relating this history, used to say, 
 " Recollect, I am not telling you my own story, but 
 merely giving you my poor mother's words, accord- 
 ing to her invariable assertions when we conversed 
 on the matter ; which I, however, have no reason to 
 doubt." 
 
 The arrangements for accompanjdng the Kenas 
 to London did not require long preparation ; and on 
 arriving there they took lodgings beyond the
 
 54 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 Bishop's Palace, Lambeth. Here they remained 
 until the vessel in which Mr. Mellon was to sail had 
 gone round to Portsmouth, and in March, 1777, he 
 left her to proceed on his voyage — and she never 
 saw him more. 
 
 In heavy sorrow, yet buoyed up with sanguine 
 expectations for the future, when she was to be such 
 a grand personage, the friendless bride having 
 before Mr. Mellon' s departure obtained an engage- 
 ment as a sempstress, contrived to subsist with the 
 greatest economy. Mrs. Keua, whose husband was 
 much from home in some temporary capacity at one 
 of the theatres, was her fellow-lodger and labourer ; 
 their only relaxation being an order of admission 
 for the theatre, which, coming frequently, revived 
 her former mania, and her knowledge of theatricals 
 became more extended. 
 
 In the meantime, no letters came from Mr. 
 Mellon, and the friends of the anxious wife used to 
 visit the docks in order to inquire of the captains 
 just arrived whether they brought any communica- 
 tion or intelligence for her. These inquiries were 
 for some time vain, and at last they brought her 
 word from an East India vessel that a Mr. Mellon 
 had died of consumption during his passage between 
 the Cape and Madras. 
 
 On the 11th of November, 1777, her two kind 
 compatriots thought her misfortunes were increased
 
 TREATMENT OF HARRIOT. 55 
 
 by the birth of her little girl. They did not guess 
 bow amply that child would repay all her maternal 
 care. 
 
 Friends and foes all unite in saying that the late 
 duchess was the most affectionate, attentive, and 
 obedient daughter, to one of the most violent, 
 capricious, and unmanageable of mothers that ever 
 existed. 
 
 Unbounded love subsisted between them ; and, 
 notwithstanding that the furious temper of Mrs. 
 Entwisle often endangered her child's life, yet that 
 child's education, advancement, and success in the 
 world, formed the sole objects to which her mother's 
 strong faculties were directed. She always claimed 
 for Harriot a degree of deference which she did not 
 exact for herself ; implying in every manner a right 
 of superiority on the part of the little girl. If the 
 latter escaped to enjoy a game of play with children 
 of apparently her own rank, her mother, in a fit of 
 violence, would drive her home, reproaching the de- 
 generate taste of " one with such good blood ; " and 
 when the best provincial families began to notice 
 and invite the clever, well-behaved little player to 
 their houses, the gratified mother never attempted 
 to intrude herself with the child, merely bringing 
 her to the door, and calling again, or waiting in the 
 hall, until she came away.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Her mother again joins the players — Marriage with Mr. Entwisle 
 — His history — Visionary claims — Anecdote of Mrs. Siddons 
 — Harriot sent to school — Anecdotes — Serious effects of her 
 mother's violence — Mr. and Mrs. Entwisle join another com- 
 pany of comedians — The eccentric Thomas Bibby — Lodgings, 
 salary, and circumstances — State of the drama at Ulverstone 
 — Miss Mellon's character as a school-girl — Her mother's 
 attention to her education — Miss Calvert and her school — 
 Harriot's first appearance on the stage, as a mute — Her 
 singing, dancing, and accomplishments — Early day-dreams — 
 First appearance in character, as Little Pickle, Priscilla Tom- 
 boy — Dressing for the stage — Juvenile characters — Improve- 
 ment in her profession. 
 
 In the spring of 1778, Mr. Kena having finished 
 his engagement in one of the pantomimes, prepared 
 to leave Loudon with his wife ; and as their former 
 dresser and treasurer had no other friends, there 
 needed but Httle persuasion to induce her to re- 
 sume the occupation she had so faithfully fulfilled. 
 Accordingly, they departed on a tour through the 
 
 (
 
 MARRIAGE WITH MR. ENTWISLE. 57 
 
 northern countieSj where Mr. Kena expected to 
 collect some stray performers who might be leaving 
 other companies. Tiiey went through the customary 
 vicissitudes, sometimes joining the company of 
 others, occasionally with one of a very inferior 
 grade under Mr. Kena's direction; but in each 
 change of fortune they were accompanied by their 
 industrious assistant, with her little baby ; and her 
 exertions in taking in dressmaking, &c,, greatly aided 
 their common fund. 
 
 While they were in Lancashire their orchestra 
 was much assisted by the skill of a young musician 
 named Entwisle, who, though quite a lad, exhibited 
 great talent and proficiency on the violin. He was 
 the son of a very respectable person, who occa- 
 sionally played the organ at "Wigan, and who was 
 likewise connected with the cotton manufacture of 
 Bolton. The elder Mr. Entwisle had a numerous 
 family, and not any means of establishing them in 
 trade; therefore his son Thomas resolved to become 
 a professional musician, for which his talent well 
 qualified him. 
 
 While engaged in Mr. Kena's orchestra he became 
 attached to the handsome widow, Mrs. Mellon, to 
 whom he was married in 1782. That he had not 
 attained years of discretion at that time appears 
 from his own account of the matter, as written to a 
 
 VOL. I. E
 
 58 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 friend, — "At eiglitccn years of age I was Tvedded 
 to Mrs. Entwisle." * 
 
 Mrs. Entwisle was considerably older than her 
 husband ; and, for some years, either her beauty or 
 her violence, maintained the most unbounded in- 
 fluence over him ; but time, which alters all things, 
 did not leave her dominion unshaken. 
 
 He was a very simple man, respectable in his 
 appearance, and had received a tolerably good, plain 
 education for his class of life ; but his tastes were 
 for idle society, of habits and manners beneath him- 
 self; consequently, not at all in accordance with 
 the grand projects which his newly-married partner 
 had already formed for her daughter's rise in the 
 world ! To little Harriot Mellon he was greatly 
 attached ; and his personal comfort was frequently 
 sacrificed (perhaps at her mother's instigation) in 
 order that the child might have the benefit of early 
 education, which they always managed. 
 
 At first, while they were too poor to hire any con- 
 veyance during their tours, Mr. and Mrs. Entwisle 
 used to carry Harriot and his celebrated Cremona 
 
 * On the back of their certificate of marriage, which was in the 
 possession of the duchess, there was written in another hand — 
 " At this time little Harriot was not quite two years old." But 
 this was erroneous, and must have been done afterwards, in order 
 to make their young charge appear the greater wonder in acting 
 so early, for she was two years and a half older than would seem 
 by this account.
 
 VISIONARY CLAIMS. 59 
 
 violin alternately ; and afterwards, when their 
 means were increased so as to allow of payment 
 for one of the group to be conveyed from one town 
 to another, it was always Harriot who was thus 
 sent, and wrapped up in some rather finer habili- 
 ments than the pedestrian pair. 
 
 That she repaid their affection a thousand-fold, 
 throughout their lives, will be hereafter seen. Even 
 after her marriage with Mr. Ooutts, and subsequent 
 to her mother's death, she had this man to live in 
 the house with her benefactor, although the low 
 associates and the degraded habits of Mr. Entwisle 
 used to disgust and sometimes alarm her husband, 
 who was accustomed to refined society. 
 
 All unassuming and simple as Mr. Entwisle was, 
 it would even seem there was a shade of romance 
 attached to his history also, his genealogy having 
 been closely examined since his demise, the profes- 
 sional skill of a lawyer having been attracted towards 
 the search. After the decease of Mr. Entwisle, in 
 1819, some persons " learned in the law " wrote to 
 inform Mrs. Coutts that she might establish through 
 her stepfather's name a very good claim to a large 
 estate in Lancashire, if she would commence pro- 
 ceedings against the present holders, and assuring 
 her it was worth while to pay even £10,000 with 
 the almost certainty of obtaining nearly £LO,000 
 per annum at the close of the litigation ! Mrs.
 
 60 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 Coutts, bowever, had a different opinion as to the 
 result, suspecting that after the expenditure of the 
 £10,000 in expenses she would only be enabled to 
 exclaim, with the Irish baronet — " What a fine 
 estate I might have, only that the right owners 
 keep possession of it." 
 
 The claim, indeed, seems so thoroughly visionary 
 that it is merely mentioned here in order to give the 
 authority for Mr. Entwisle's romance, which was 
 sent to Mrs. Coutts from the uuromantic precincts of 
 the attorney's office, after their investigation. 
 
 According to this account there had been, about 
 four generations back, a Sir Fleetwood Haversham, 
 who, with his wife, Lady Betty Haversham, lived at 
 a very fine place in Lancashire, in great splendour. 
 Unfortunately, Sir Fleetwood's gambling propensi- 
 ties were unbounded ; and at the races in his neigh- 
 bouring county, his face and his ill-luck were equally 
 well known. Year after year was timber sold ; then 
 fields ; then the park : until, through his infatuation 
 for the turf, he wasted the entire estate, having no 
 son on whom it could have been entailed. At last, 
 the whole property, and even the family mansion, 
 passed into other hands. Sir Fleetwood himself is 
 said to have died a prisoner for debt, and his wife 
 did not long survive him. But on her death-bed she 
 sent for her former housekeeper (who had retired from 
 service), beseeching this humble friend not to forsake
 
 MR. ENTWTSLE'S HISTORY. 61 
 
 the young Miss Haversham, who would soon be left 
 an orphan, without friend or fortune, but to bring the 
 child up in the best way her means would admit. 
 
 The housekeeper, who, on retiring from service, 
 had established herself as a pastrycook, took the 
 little orphan girl under her charge when Lady 
 Betty Haversham died, and brought her up to the 
 mysteries of pastry. In time she became a belle, 
 and captivated the heart of a German musician 
 named Entwisle, who had come over to England with 
 George the Second's band. He niarried the dower- 
 less girl, and they had a numerous family. Most of 
 the sons were musical ; and Thomas, born in 1764, 
 was a remarkably fine violin player. This was the 
 individual who married Mrs. Mellon, and who 
 survived all his family. 
 
 On these ill-founded premises his step-daughter 
 had been advised to go to law for the recovery of 
 an estate which, even by the showing of the ad- 
 visers, had been legally sold by its wasteful owner, 
 some generations back. Fortunately, the good 
 judgment of her own professional advisers coincided 
 with her opinion of the affair, which no one else has 
 had the speculative folly to agitate.* 
 
 * The orphan daughter of Sir Fleetwood Haversham bestowed 
 on one of her own daughters the now extmct family name : a sister 
 of Mrs. Mellon's husband bearing the name of Fleetwoad Haver- 
 sham Entwisle. This is mentioned by one who had seen her 
 singular signature, without knowing its derivation.
 
 62 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 Soon after the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ent- 
 wisle, the rambling Mr. Kena brought his party 
 back to Wales, where he resolved, if possible, to 
 make enough money to enable him to indulge in 
 another of his idle fits, and to disband the company 
 for a time. 
 
 The youthful Mrs. Siddons was then the universal 
 theme of the good people in Wales, her family 
 having lived so much there ; and her marriage with 
 Mr. Siddons was arranged at Brecon against the con- 
 sent of her parents. 
 
 The play-goers of Brecon related a story respect- 
 ing the mother of Mrs. Siddons, which Mrs. Ent- 
 wisle used to repeat in after years to her daughter, 
 as a precedent for maternal violence, and an excuse 
 for her own committal of any act which had been 
 thought right by so celebrated an individual as the 
 " mother of all the Kembles." 
 
 Mrs. Roger Kemble (mother of Mrs. Siddons) 
 was particularly averse to the attachment between 
 her clever daughter at eighteen and the handsome 
 but penniless actor, Mr. Siddons, who had for some 
 time belonged to Mr. Kemble's company. She ex- 
 pressed her disapprobation in no measured terms ; 
 and made her husband also issue his fiat against the 
 ill-starred lovers. 
 
 Mr. Siddons was naturally irritated against the 
 manageress ; therefore, being a popular favourite
 
 ANECDOTE OF MRS. SIDDONS. 63 
 
 with the Brecon audience, he ventured on a strange 
 experiment — viz., he wrote a comic song, describing 
 the course of his true love, and its interruption 
 through maternal mercenary views ; and this he had 
 the bad taste to sing in one of his characters on the 
 stage. 
 
 The song raised a hearty laugh against the un- 
 popular lady, whose hasty temper was no secret in 
 the small town of Brecon ; and the effusion was 
 tumultuously encored. 
 
 At its conclusion, when the author-singer was 
 making his exit, Mrs. Kemble advanced to the wing 
 so as to be seen from the house, and, taking the law 
 in her own hands, she inflicted such summary punish- 
 ment on the facetious lover that his reappearance 
 that night was impossible, and another Thespian 
 had to step into the character without even " a short 
 notice." 
 
 Lady Eleanor Butler, who knew the parties, 
 used to wind up this anecdote with the speech of 
 Mr. Roger Kemble, after his daughter's marriage ; 
 it has been ascribed to his father, but it is given 
 here as related by the ladies of Llangollen. Mr. R. 
 Kemble had always a dislike to his daughter marry- 
 ing an actor ; and before their acquaintance with 
 Mr. Siddons he told her that if she ever did so it 
 would make him discard her for ever. Notwith- 
 standing this heavy paternal threat, she took the
 
 64 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 imprudent step of marrying one wliose handsome 
 appearance was liis sole recommendation, as be had 
 not the least talent for his profession. 
 
 When the penitent daughter knelt for pardon 
 after the marriage, her father inquired, did she 
 remember his threat of what he would do if she 
 married an actor? She replied in the affirmative, 
 but trusted to his mercy. Her father then raised 
 her, and said, " I may forgive you without breaking 
 my word ; for you certainly have not married * an 
 actor,'' whatever the gentleman himself may think is 
 his vocation." 
 
 For the short time Mr. Kena continued with his 
 company in the North Wales circuit, Mr. Entwisle 
 was the only performer in the orchestra, the funds 
 having: rather diminished since Mrs. Entwisle had 
 given up the treasurership, her time being wholly 
 occupied in the care of her infant Harriot. 
 
 It must be admitted that, with all her passionate 
 habits, she was desirous of bringing np her little 
 daughter with good principles, although she had 
 rather a violent method of instilling them, as the 
 following story will prove. When Harriot Mellon 
 was about four years old, and as full of fun as pos- 
 sible, she was sent to a day-school for little creatures 
 like herself, kept by an aged dame, whom they 
 denominated their " granny.'' Harriot was always 
 playing tricks on her schoolfellows, hiding their
 
 HARRTOT SENT TO SCHOOL. 65 
 
 bonnets, cloaks, satchels, &c., and one of tliem in re- 
 taliation played on her a trick which had nearly pro- 
 duced fatal consequences. A little girl's primer was 
 missing when she wanted to say her letters from it — 
 (it afterwards appeared that one of the scholars, by 
 her own confession, had in jest put it into Harriot 
 Mellon's school-bag to cause trouble). The " granny" 
 ordered a general examination of property, and at 
 the top of Harriot's bag was the unlucky primer 
 discovered. In vain the poor child protested she 
 knew nothing of its being there; she was loaded 
 with opprobrium, having the extra accusation of 
 falsehood joined to the petty larceny. 
 
 She was sent home to her mother, guarded by 
 some other children, with an account of her mis- 
 demeanour upon the circumstantial evidence. Mrs. 
 Entwisle was engaged in making up some clothes, 
 and being too busy to leave off, she told the children 
 they might go back and inform the " granny " that 
 Harriot should be properly jpunislied before long. 
 The busy little fry dropt their curtsies and set off, 
 rather frightened at Mrs. Entwisle's flashing eyes, 
 which seemed capable of scorching the work she was 
 finishing. Harriot was left alone with her mother, 
 in too great terror to speak, to cry, or to move. 
 Mrs. Entwisle, however, without comment continued 
 her employment, which, having finished, she folded 
 up as calmly as if nothing were to ensue. She
 
 66 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 then took Harriot in her arms, without question or 
 allowing her to speak, to the courtyard and placed 
 her under a pump; here she held the child and 
 inundated her with water, keeping it pouring over 
 her long after she had become through terror in- 
 sensible. In this state she threw the child into a 
 dark shed and closed the door, allowing her to 
 remain a considerable time without notice. So long 
 a period elapsed without Harriot's voice being heard 
 that the passionate woman became alarmed for the 
 results of her anger, and opened the door of the 
 shed; there in a heap on the ground lay the little 
 creature insensible, just as she had been thrown 
 in, her clothes streaming and her face the hue of 
 death. 
 
 Mrs. Entwisle concluded she had murdered her 
 only darling, and the wild cries of horror which she 
 raised alarmed the neighbourhood. The child was 
 undressed by some humane persons, placed in a 
 warm bed, and after some time recovered ; but she 
 was afraid to open her eyes, for Mrs. Entwisle was 
 in suchi a passion of grief at her own barbarity, 
 that the still confused child thought it was continued 
 anger against her and she had better lie still. 
 
 At length, hearing her mother threaten to kill 
 herself, she ventured to speak, and the revulsion of 
 feeling nearly caused the fitful Irishwoman to smother 
 by her embraces the partially recovered treasure.
 
 THE ECCENTRIC THOMAS BIBBY. 67 
 
 It was some time before poor Harriot was well 
 enough to revisit school, and when she did no more 
 tricks were played upon her. 
 
 Mr. Entwisle in the first year of their marriage 
 being obliged (through Mr. Kena's idleness) to seek 
 another engagement, it was considered that Lanca- 
 shire, his native county, would afford the best pros- 
 pect. Accordingly, having packed up his famous 
 Cremona, they set out, carrying Harriot alternately, 
 and near Preston they encountered the Lancashire 
 strolling manager, Bibby, who being then in want of 
 a musician was very glad to engage so excellent a 
 performer. 
 
 In the early part of the summer of 1783 Mr. 
 and Mrs. Entwisle, with Harriot Mellon, then in 
 her sixth year, arrived at Ulverstone, in Lancashire, 
 being attached to the dramatic company under the 
 management of the eccentric Thomas Bibby. Mr. 
 Entwisle was leader of their slender orchestra, and 
 his wife, besides making the dresses, used to take 
 characters in processions, &c. 
 
 That odd creature, Thomas Bibby, who still lives 
 in the memories of some of the oldest inhabitants 
 that attended the drama, had been brought up as a 
 tailor, at Bouth, near Ulverstone, but he soon turned 
 itinerant manager, and used to stroll about with his 
 company through all the towns in the north-eastern 
 counties, so as to revisit each town after an interval
 
 68 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 of two years. On the first occasion of the Entwisles 
 going to TJlverstone they lodged in the house of a 
 person named Laycock. a Lancashire " dogger," or 
 maker of a species of sahot much used there. The 
 daughter of this person is still living. That his 
 charge for rent could not have been very great may 
 be inferred from the circumstance that the profes- 
 sional exertions of Mr. and Mrs. Entwisle only 
 procured a joint salary of seventeen shilHngs and 
 sixpence per week. This sum was augmented by 
 the former taking musical pupils in humble life; and 
 his wife, with her remarkable industry, aided their 
 means by dyeing silks, cleaning feathers, lace, and 
 exercising other " fine arts " acquired under her first 
 patroness, the provincial milliner and dyer. 
 
 The above-named salary, miserable as it now 
 seems, must have been quite in proportion with 
 the receipts of the theatre. The price of ad- 
 mission to the pit was one shilling ; to the gallery, 
 sixpence, and as for boxes, they were a luxury not 
 then introduced to the dramatic patrons at TJlver- 
 stone. 
 
 Notwithstanding their slender means, however, 
 Mrs. Entwisle devoted a portion of them to sending 
 her little Harriot to a day-school, kept by Miss 
 Calvert, a most respectable, clever, and extremely 
 pious person, some of whose pupils now living 
 recollect " the black-eyed child of the players," who
 
 JIIISS MELLON' S CHAR AC TEE AT SCHOOL. G9 
 
 was a great pet in the school, of which she was one 
 of the juniors. 
 
 In the generality of dramatic biographies the 
 children are represented as having possessed a 
 studious turn, and to have given early indications 
 of their future success by wondrous outbreakings 
 of theatrical inspiration. Alas, for poor Harriot 
 Mellon ! Instead of precocious histrionic powers and 
 habits of study, her former schoolfellows bear testi- 
 mony that she was the most laughter-loving, playful, 
 and thoroughly idle little truant that ever disliked a 
 school book. She was perpetually bringing herself 
 and friends into trouble by imparting to them her 
 merry fancies during school hours, which, after the 
 forbidden whisper, were sure to cause the betraying 
 laugh, and she was continually punished by extra 
 lessons and kept in school after the other pupils 
 had departed. 
 
 She possessed an extraordinary facility of retain- 
 ing for a time what she had but slightly examined, a 
 dangerous gift in childhood, inducing the student to 
 skim over a variety of useful matter, which is after- 
 wards as lightly forgotten as it was lightly acquired. 
 
 As Harriot Mellon knew she could learn a lesson 
 by reading it through twice, she never thought of 
 looking into a school-book at home ; and Mrs. 
 Entwisle believed her darlino; child was workino- 
 quite hard enough by staying in school four or five
 
 70 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 hours daily. So that, as she used to relate, her 
 custom was to enter the schoolroom with a face of 
 importance, as though conscious of being well pre- 
 pared with her learning ; and then, after making a 
 knot of little creatures giggle by her nonsense, she 
 would creep behind the open door, where, reading 
 her lesson, she could defy the world and its cares. 
 
 The casualty which rendered this system fre- 
 quently abortive was, when some of the tittering 
 group became outrageous in their mirth. In this 
 case the ringleader was always known without any 
 questioning, and the awful and particularly incon- 
 venient result was, " Miss Mellon, come directly and 
 say your lesson." 
 
 This was more easily ordered than executed by 
 one who had never thought of the hated book since 
 the preceding day, so that the poor little culprit 
 was put in the corner and daily detained after school 
 hours. 
 
 When Mrs. Entwisle discovered " her Harriot " 
 was not allowed to come away with the others her 
 anger knew no bounds. Down she would go and 
 tell the schoolmistress, on her regal throne, that 
 " she knew Harriot was not near so stupid as other 
 children, who were allowed to go home in proper 
 time, therefore it was envy that caused her being 
 kept after school hours, in order to disgust her with 
 too much learning ; and if her daughter might not
 
 MISS CALVERT AND HER SCHOOL. 71 
 
 leave school at the same time the others came away 
 she should be removed altogether ! " 
 
 Miss Calvert was a person of quiet, gentle 
 manners, and not wishing to encounter the energy of 
 Mrs. Entwisle's remonstrances, she contented herself 
 with imposing an extra lesson, which, to the quick 
 little child, was no punishment ; so that half the 
 time she was put in the corner to study, she was 
 making signs and talking by her fingers to her com- 
 panions, who, to Miss Calvert's great surprise, were 
 " still idling, though that chattering Harriot Mellon 
 was put in the corner ! " 
 
 At Ulverstone there seems to have existed a very 
 strong and precocious notion of the " rights of 
 woman ; " for at the little girls' schools there, it was 
 customary to " bar out for a holiday," a practice 
 confined to boys' schools elsewhere. 
 
 Harriot Mellon, though sometimes backward in 
 her lessons, never could be reproached for neglecting 
 a holiday. She was a frequent ringleader in these 
 insurrections, collecting all the girls (most of them 
 older than herself), and dragging tables and forms 
 against the door which she had locked ; then, speak- 
 ing through the key-hole, she would demand a holi- 
 day, with immunity from punishment for the whole 
 band. And such was the lax discipline of those 
 days, that these little atoms dictated to their instruc- 
 tors on the two points, and always succeeded.
 
 72 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 The rigid governess frequently prefers the lively 
 child ; and out of school hours Miss Calvert liked to 
 have Harriot with her, to whom she taught quan- 
 tities of poetry orally ; and, strange to say, she was 
 Miss Calvert's favourite companion at church, where 
 she delighted the good teacher by repeating her 
 responses correctly, and behaving with the most 
 steady attention ; showing thus early, perhaps, 
 what a creature of impulse she was destined to 
 become. 
 
 The Entwisles at that time were so poor that they 
 were unable to pay the full amount even of the 
 trifling stipend of the school; but the kind mistress 
 remitted a portion of it rather than distress them or 
 lose the care of their pretty, giddy, affectionate 
 child. It was this early friend that treasured up 
 one of her favourite's remarks, and a relation of 
 hers wrote it to Miss Mellon in after days. It is 
 about as brilliant as the epitaph on the " duck 
 which Samuel Johnson trod on." It is as fol- 
 lows : — Miss Calvert one day endeavouring to check 
 the invincible love of chattering which was inherent 
 in her pupil, said, " Oh ! Harriot, does your tongue 
 never lie?" And her companion, who knew 
 thoroughly she meant "lie quiet," slyly answered, 
 " No, ma'am, it never lies, that is so naughty ! " 
 
 One gi'eat source of Harriot Mellons influence 
 over her fellow-pupils was, the wonderful fact that
 
 HARRIOTS FIRST APPEARANCE ON THE STAGE. 73 
 
 she had actually been a performer in a play with 
 Manager Bibby's actors. The character, to be sure, 
 was not a very arduous one, being that of one of 
 four little mourners ranged round Juliet's bier. 
 But then, as the smallest and prettiest of the little 
 girls, she was placed in front nearest to the lamps, 
 and was consequently t\iQ prima donna of the juvenile 
 mutes ; and she used to look forward to the giving 
 out of that particular play (and the consequent 
 white frock with its broad, black sash) as an event 
 exceeding all others in importance. The future 
 comic actress, therefore, decidedly came out first in 
 tragedy. 
 
 Although too young to appear in any character, 
 except such as one of the little princes in the Tower, 
 she already could recite with considerable fluency, 
 and she likewise could sing very prettily to the 
 accompaniment of the violin. Those who remember 
 her singing thus, state that she was always placed 
 standing on a table, so that her sweet httle silvery 
 voice mio^ht be on a level with her audience.* Mr. 
 
 * It is said that the sweetness of her voice remained unaltered 
 to the close of her days. A few months before her decease she 
 found, at Holly Lodge, an old collection of Scotch melodies, in 
 which her benefactor formerly took great delight, and she sang a 
 verse of all the collection, with considerable taste and animation. 
 She was a great patroness of music in all degrees, from her own 
 unrivalled concerts of opera singers down to the provincial bands 
 of the towns and villages she visited. 
 
 VOL. I. F
 
 74 MEMOIRS OF MTSS MELLON. 
 
 Entwisle used to carry her to different houses to 
 dance hornpipes to his playing; and after executing 
 the dance on the same elevated stage, she used to 
 run round its edge to levy contributions for her 
 avaricious relatives. 
 
 Since the rage for innumerable accomplishments 
 has prevailed in educating females, Miss Mellon 
 used erroneously to underrate her own useful educa- 
 tion, and to lament her comparative deficiency of 
 accomplishments, while she undervalued the real 
 advantages she had received. It was not within the 
 means of the Entwisles to have her taught drawing, 
 or instrumental music: but even at this earlv ag-e, 
 at Ulverstone, she danced beautifully, an accom- 
 plishment for which she afterwards obtained much 
 commendation in her profession ; and Mr. Entwisle 
 instructed her in vocal music sufficiently well for 
 easy glees, or to lead a chorus. In the latter duty 
 her name first appeared in the bills at Drury Lane. 
 
 Those who remember the family m 1784 say " the 
 Entwisles were always taking pains with Harriot." 
 She is said to have read accurately at a very early 
 age, and was such a winning little child that all the 
 poor actors in the company took pleasure in teaching 
 her some of the fine speeches she was to hear in the 
 evening's performance. 
 
 It was generally remarked in her after-intercourse 
 with society that her knowledge of our own language
 
 HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS . 75 
 
 was excellent, even to the various readings of 
 Shakspeare's quaint idioms, in which, wherever 
 there was a question raised, she was considered 
 good authority. 
 
 In her ordinary conversation, to say merely that 
 she spohe well is not sufi&cient. Her diction was re- 
 markable for its grammatical precision ; and whether 
 suffering from illness or enjoying mirth her power 
 of language was equally fluent. 
 
 Her style was also good in earlier days, many 
 contemporaries having heard Mr. Sheridan say, 
 when she first came to town, " that Miss Mellon had 
 the best choice of language, in ordinary conversation, 
 of any female of her age that he had met." 
 
 Her writing was a good, clear, bold hand, 
 "dashed off" Hke her every other action; and it 
 is surprising how the writing and orthography 
 could be kept up without practice, for having secre- 
 taries on her establishment she did not actually 
 write two letters in a whole year. 
 
 Many persons who knew the duchess state that 
 she had a habit of collecting her ideas in the re- 
 quired order before she began to dictate, thus avoid- 
 ing the usual misunderstandings, and the sentences 
 consequently flowed without interruption or hesita- 
 tion, as if read from a previous sketch. 
 
 The foregoing powers of mind, and the posses- 
 sion of much really useful knowledge, indicate that
 
 76 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 she received a degree of early care reflecting great 
 credit on Mr. and Mrs. Entwisle. Although for 
 many years obliged to live on a stipend amounting 
 to less than a pound per week to maintain three 
 persons, they always contrived to send their little 
 charge to school, or obtained lessons for her from a 
 schoolmaster, paying by lessons in music from Mr. 
 Entwisle, or by the neat-handed Mrs. Entwisle's 
 skill in brightening up old feathers, silks, and laces. 
 And as their straitened circumstances must, in early 
 days, have kept them from advantageous society, it 
 is evident there must have been continued watchful 
 attention from some quarter to have instilled such 
 good choice of language in one who had excessive 
 powers of imitation, and was, therefore, more likely 
 to cull weeds than flowers from her lowly young 
 playmates. 
 
 The little Harriot was not insensible, at this early 
 age, of the use to which her studies were to be 
 applied. She always spoke of the stage, to her 
 wondering companions, as the profession to which 
 she would belong ; and, with the most agreeable 
 certainty of success, the conceited little creature 
 commenced all accounts of her marvellous projects 
 with " When I am a fine London ijlayer.''' 
 
 Several of Mr. Entwisle's musical pupils in Lan- 
 cashire are at present living : there is one at Ulver- 
 stone, now in his sixty-ninth year, who states that
 
 FIRST APPEARANCE IN CHARACTER. 11 
 
 *' Harriot Mellon, after their first stay at Ulver- 
 stone, received tuition from the headmaster of the 
 Town-bank School, Mr. Pearson. That young 
 gentleman subsequently became a clergyman, and 
 ultimately a D.D. He was at one period tutor to 
 the Marquis of Douro, and Lord Charles Wellesley, 
 with several other noblemen, and he lately died at 
 Esher." 
 
 A detail of Mr. and Mrs. Entwisle's movements 
 after this time could have no reference or interest 
 as regards little Harriot, until 1 787, when she made 
 her first appearance in character. 
 
 The theatre at Ulverstone was a roomy barn, 
 belonging to the White Hart Hotel, fitted up with 
 some care, and capable of holding many more per- 
 sons than constituted the play-going population of 
 Ulverstone. The price of admission then was one 
 shilling for the gallery, and one shilling and sixpence 
 for the pit, or dress portion of the house. 
 
 Mr. Entwisle's former pupil now became their 
 landlord, and it is remarkable that, in all their 
 various wanderings, the Entwisles are described as 
 " having lodged with very respectable persons," 
 generally mechanics, or the humblest grade of 
 tradesmen, but all having borne a good reputation 
 in their lowly station. Their landlord, who like- 
 wise performed in the orchestra, now states that 
 " Harriot Mellon at this time was a fine, well-grown
 
 78 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 girl, lookino^ two or three years older than her real 
 age, and having a sweet, clear utterance, which was 
 heard throughout the theatre ; she had a nice 
 address, and played as if she had acted all her life; 
 but, of course, she could only take very young 
 characters." 
 
 Manager Bibby having been importuned by the 
 actors who had instructed Harriot to allow her to 
 make a delmt at once, and the Entwisles being 
 equally urgent that she should increase their stipend, 
 he agreed to her trying the character of Little PicMe. 
 The following is the copy of a portion of the pla}'- 
 bill of her first appearance : — 
 
 THEATEE, ULVERSTONE. 
 
 Wednesday, October 16th, 1787, \\\\\ be presented, c^c. 
 
 After which, the Farce of 
 THE SPOILED CHILD. 
 
 Old Pickle ... 
 
 ... Mr, Farquh arson 
 
 Tag 
 
 Mr. Bibby 
 
 Miss Pickle ... 
 
 Mrs. Blanchard 
 
 Maria ... 
 
 Miss Valois 
 
 
 and 
 
 Pickle 
 
 Miss Mellon (her first appearance). 
 
 She was so well known and popular amongst the 
 inhabitants of the town that there was an exceed- 
 ingly good attendance. The landloi'd made her a 
 kite rather taller than herself; his mother made her 
 the smartest of all laurel-green tunics ; and, with
 
 PRISCILLA TOMBOY. 79 
 
 her sparkling eyes, blooming cheeks, and pro- 
 fuse black ringlets under a fancy riding cap, she 
 was as pretty a Little Pickle as ever played at 
 marbles. 
 
 Manager Bibby was so satisfied that he gave the 
 debutante ten shillings, and Mrs. Entwisle took 
 admirable care that her daughter should not injure 
 herself in expending them, for she did not leave her 
 one penny, even as an experiment to teach her the 
 value of money. 
 
 The first appearance of his juvenile actress had so 
 much exceeded Manager Bibby's expectations that 
 he resolved she should try another ; and he fixed on 
 Priscilla Tomboy, in " The Romp." 
 
 The part was soon acquired by the little Harriot, 
 whose head, though in a state of joyous delirium, 
 retained its faculty of memory ; and she was so 
 thoroughly stage-struck that a week before the night 
 of performance she would go to any of the shops 
 where they had patience to hear her, and, without a 
 book, repeat the whole piece, including the stage 
 directions ; a mixture which strangely puzzled her 
 unlearned auditors. 
 
 On the eventful afternoon she was early dressed, 
 and she went to every one of the actors, seeking 
 commendations of her appearance. But, alas! they 
 all discovered, what they might have known earlier 
 — that she looked too childish ! Miss Mellon often
 
 80 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 said no disfippointment in after-life was more heavy 
 than that caused by the general exclamation, " Oh, 
 Harri, what a baby you look ! " 
 
 Mrs. Entwisle, however, who had the skill of 
 making old silks look like new, imagined some 
 expedients to make a young lady look old. She 
 procured a quantity of black wool, which she 
 fashioned into a huge Uts ; over this she drew 
 Harriot Mellon's long hair, pomatumed and powdered 
 until the edifice on her head gave her an addition of 
 four inches in height and of five years in appearance. 
 The pomatum was of the most primitive kind, con- 
 sisting of the caudle-ends that fell to their weekly 
 share, melted at the fire, which also roasted poor 
 Harriot's cheeks with primitive rouge. In order to 
 give breadth to correspond with the additional 
 height, a quilted pink calamanco petticoat, which 
 could stand by itself, was added. She was now 
 considered rather too broad, therefore an addition 
 in height was again made by a pair of high-heeled 
 shoes, in which she went nearly as much on tiptoe 
 as an opera-dancer. 
 
 After these improvements, a second round of 
 criticism pronounced her appearance charming; 
 and although it is not easy to fancy Priscilla Tom- 
 boy executing her feats in high-heeled shoes, her 
 success was complete.
 
 IMPROVEMENT IN HER PROFESSION. 81 
 
 The manager found the expedient of introducing 
 his clever little comedian so profitable that he got 
 up all the line of pieces in whicli a youthful charac- 
 ter was employed ; and for two years slie continued 
 in that constant practice of her profession which is 
 so essential for those who are too young to have ac- 
 quired a fixed style.
 
 CHAPTER lY. 
 
 Mrs. Jordan — T. Dibtlin and " London stars " at Harrowgate — 
 Eevclt in the green-room — Miss Wallis — Her appearance and 
 history — Embarrassment as to night quarters — Novel bed- 
 chamber — Dibdin's reminiscences — Old playbill — Ludicrous 
 anecdote — Joins another company at Stafford — " Sharing 
 plan" — Harriot's wardrobe — Church-going — " High blood " — 
 Early society — Juvenile terrors — Coffin bursting — Anecdote 
 of mother's violence — Improved circumstances — Private car- 
 riages — Early friends. 
 
 During one summer, Miss Mellon and the Entwisles 
 were staying at Otley, a small village some miles 
 from Harrowgate ; but they sometimes walked over 
 to the latter place, in order to see the " London 
 stars," who occasionally came to act in Mr. Butler's 
 company. Mrs. Jordan played several of her best 
 characters there, supported by the elite of the com- 
 pany, the manager and his wife, T. Dibdin, Miss 
 Hilliar (afterwards Mrs. Dibdin), the Tayleurs, and 
 others of less note.
 
 REVOLT IN THE GREEN-ROOM. 83 
 
 It was in Mr. Butler's company that Miss Mellon 
 first saw Miss Wallis (now Mrs. Campbell, of Kin- 
 gancleugb), a young lady much respected in her 
 private and professional career, who had come for a 
 few nights from Co vent Garden, and was staying 
 with Lady Loughborough. That Mr. Butler was 
 desirous of showing attention to Lady Loughborough 
 through her ])rotegee^ was evident, by a singular 
 notice, written up in the green-room, which caught 
 the eyes of Harriot Mellon, and she never forgot it 
 in the course of nearly half a century. It was this : 
 " Notice. The gentlemen of the theatre are re- 
 quested not to wear their hats while Miss Wallis is 
 in the house." Miss Mellon observed, however, that 
 an unusual number of hats were in requisition on 
 that particular evening ; and, on inquiring the reason, 
 she was told by one person that he had a cold — 
 another had a headache — a third was liable to rheu- 
 matism — a fourth feared a sore throat, which would 
 prevent his singing — and a fifth having had his hair 
 curled and powdered, dreaded the air would dis- 
 arrange it ! In fact, every theatrical discomfort 
 was made an excuse for wearing hats, even by those 
 who did not do so habitually ; such is the love of 
 opposing their manager's orders inherent in the 
 thoughts of actors ; and there was scarcely an indi- 
 vidual (except one in a King-Charles-wig, which 
 defied any covering) who did not act in direct
 
 84 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 opposition to what they denominated " Butler's 
 stuff." 
 
 Miss "Wallis was at that time very young. She 
 was exquisitely fair, with expressive blue eyes ; all 
 the movements of her fine figure indicated native 
 grace and elegance, but her voice had more sweet- 
 ness than strength. She retired from the stage 
 within a few years after Miss Mellon's first appear- 
 ance in London, and, during that time, they had 
 belonged to different theatres ; but she played at 
 Drury Lane for Wewitzer's benefit, in 1796, as Roxa- 
 lana, in the Sultan, and Miss Mellon was charmed 
 with her talent. At Bath, the ladies presented her 
 with a testimonial of their esteem and respect for 
 her admirable private conduct ; and every member 
 of the most slanderous of all professions would bear 
 testimony to her respectable character. Miss Wallis 
 left the stage to be united to a gentleman of ancient 
 Scotch family — Mr. Campbell of Kingancleugh, at 
 that time in one of the regiments of guards, now a 
 captain in the navy. 
 
 At the time Miss Mellon and Mrs. Entwisle went 
 to Harrowgate to witness the performance of Mrs. 
 Jordan, they were too poor to hire a lodging by the 
 week, and beds were not to be obtained at even the 
 minor inns, as during the season the visitors' ser- 
 vants occupied all their accommodation.
 
 NOVEL BEDCHAMBER. 85 
 
 After the play, the mother and daughter were too 
 tired to return on foot to Otley, having already 
 walked from thence during the sunny afternoon. 
 Miss Hilliar volunteered half her couch to the young 
 Harriot Mellon, if any other lady of their company 
 would be equally kind to Mrs. Entwisle. The latter 
 proposition caused as many unanswerable excuses 
 among the theatrical heroines as Mr. Butler's bare- 
 headed order had drawn forth from the heroes. One 
 lady had a cough, another such a small room, a 
 third had an invalid baby for her companion. In 
 short, the temporary lodgings of actresses being 
 generally inconvenient, none would accept the com- 
 panionship of the full " Rubens' beauty " in August ; 
 so she had to sit up in the stage throne all night, the 
 property man looking sadly at this treasure of cotton- 
 velvet and brass nails, lest an unguarded nod or 
 start might break its occupier's slumbers and the 
 throne's back together. 
 
 Harriot Mellon and Miss Hilliar talked the whole 
 night without thinking or wishing for sleep one 
 instant ; the latter confiding to her new friend the 
 tendresse between herself and the afterwards cele- 
 brated Thomas Dibdin, whom she was about to 
 marry. This was the first love-secret little Harriot 
 ever heard, and she felt herself at least ten years 
 older for the conj&dence reposed in her. The two
 
 86 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 youDp^ girls became vowed friends, and their friend- 
 ship was renewed and maintained afterwards in 
 London, until death broke the bonds. 
 
 During Mrs, Entwisle's walk homewards, on the 
 following morning, her temper was not in its gentlest 
 mood after an uncomfortable night's rest, and, as 
 usual, Harriot had to encounter its keen edge. " Miss 
 AVallis is just that nice, clever young lady I should 
 wish you to be, you stupid creature ; but you don't 
 mind the lessons in acting which I gave you. The 
 day will come when she will have a carriage ; you 
 will be splashed by it ; and I hope she will drive 
 over you ! " 
 
 Mr. T. Dibdin, the dramatic author, has recalled 
 the following souvenir of those days : — 
 
 " On another occasion, during the same summer, 
 they came again to Harrowgate on the arrival of 
 some London performers, and after the play was 
 over they supped with the narrator, who had invited 
 several of the Harrowgate company to meet Miss 
 Mellon and her mother. During the evening, the 
 observant young girl gave such clever, spirited 
 imitations of some of the acting she had just wit- 
 nessed, that a very young comedian who was present 
 remarked to her, ' Your talent will one day place 
 you on the London boards, and then do not forget 
 to use your interest towards procuring a situation 
 for me ! ' 'It will not be wanted,' Miss Mellon
 
 OLD PLA YBILL. 87 
 
 replied, ' for you look as if you were destined to be 
 a London manager, and then you will be more likely, 
 if willing, to serve me.' " 
 
 This circumstance is only worth remark, as the 
 two predictions were, many years afterwards, exactly 
 fulfilled. 
 
 Towards the close of 1789, there was a deficiency 
 in the number of actresses in Bibby's company ; and 
 as the active life (and, perhaps, the late hours) of 
 Harriot Mellon had increased her stature greatly 
 beyond her years, the manager was glad to give her 
 an older line of parts than she had hitherto tried, or 
 the theatre must have failed altogether for want of 
 a young heroine. 
 
 On the 31st of October, he wished to produce 
 Inckle and Yarico ; the characters of Yarico, Wow- 
 ski, and Patty were sustained by Mrs. Blanchard, 
 Miss Yalois, and Mrs. Farquharson ; and there re- 
 mained Narcissa, and no one to act it, so it was given 
 to little Harriot Mellon. 
 
 A curious old playbill, with her name and the date, 
 is still extant, beginning thus : — 
 
 " On the 12th of December, 1789, the company 
 will perform. As you Like it ; or, Love in a Forest, 
 written by Shakspeare.' 
 
 j> 
 
 Here was a grand effort requiring all their forces, 
 for there were four actresses and eight actors
 
 88 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 wanted ; Rosalind, Celia, and Audrey, of course, 
 were first claimed, leaving Phebe for little Harriot. 
 
 Great was her pride on being allowed to try such 
 a character, " written by Shakspeare," as the play- 
 bills kindly explained ; it seemed such a rise in 
 her profession that the Little Pickles and Priscilla 
 Tomboys sunk into mere practisings for this event. 
 
 *' As You Like It " was always a favourite play 
 with the late duchess; and in her days of better 
 acting she obtained much commendation in each of 
 the other female characters, frequently selecting one 
 or other for her benefits. 
 
 It is curious that, in an hotel-barn, while almost 
 a child, and poor in the extreme, she first tried a 
 woman's character, in Phebe : and that, twentv- 
 six years afterwards, she retired from Drury Lane 
 stage, as Aiidrey in the same piece, to become the 
 richest woman in England. 
 
 From the number of actors required, Mr. Entwisle 
 was obliged to act Duke Frederick; but his name 
 does not frequently appear in the country playbills ; 
 indeed, he was too dull of intellect to make an 
 actor.* 
 
 * Copy of tlie cast from the playbill : — Jacques — Mr. Penn . 
 Orlando — Mr, Blancliard. Oliver — Mr. Farqiib arson. Banished 
 Duke — Mr. Dunn. Duke Frederick — !Mr. Entwisle. Adam — 
 Mr. Leigh. Corin — Mr. Cocker ; and Touchstone — Mr. Bibby. 
 Audrey — Mrs. Ferguson. Celia, ■with the song — Miss Valois. 
 Phebe — Miss Mellon ; and Rosalind — Mrs. Blanchard.
 
 JOINS ANOTHER COMPANY AT STAFFORD. 89 
 
 The after-piece was the Quaker, in which Gillian 
 was entrusted to Harriot. 
 
 After this grand step in her profession, the 
 company removed to Blackburn ; and, before Mrs. 
 Entwisle would allow Harriot to perform, she de- 
 manded an increase to her salary. Mr. Bibby con- 
 sulted his accounts, and made her the tremendous 
 offer of four shillings and sixpence per week ! 
 
 This illiberal proposal roused the spirit of the 
 applicant ; or, more probably, she seized on it as a 
 pretext for executing her plan for improving their 
 condition. Therefore, declining the agreement for 
 Harriot, she at the same time relinquished, in her 
 husband's name, his engagement of leading the 
 orchestra. 
 
 Harriot and Mr. Entwisle had under these cir- 
 cumstances no course but to submit ; and the next 
 question was, where were they to go? But the 
 ambitious Irishwoman had already settled this. 
 During her travels with the Kenas, they had been 
 for a short time with the company of the western 
 midland counties, under the management of Mr. 
 Stanton. Here she had seen very superior arrange- 
 ments, and that the manager's family were invited 
 to the best houses on their circuit : so that, intent 
 on her one view of advancing her little girl in 
 society, she always longed to join this company 
 if possible. Hearing that they were playing at 
 
 YOL. I. G
 
 90 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 Stafford, the family trio made tlieir way tliifcber. 
 Mr. Entwisle and Harriot waited on the manager, 
 and gave a specimen of their abilities, with which 
 that gentleman was so satisfied that he promised 
 them both an engagement in a month or so. 
 
 Whilst waiting for this engagement, she acted in 
 some of the smaller towns, and a company with 
 whom she was associated were fortunate enous^h to 
 obtain "a bespeak," a technicality scarcely re- 
 quiring explanation for even the unprofessional. 
 The manager, attired in the best suit his wardrobe 
 affords, calls upon the principal family in the 
 vicinity of the town, and requests them to name a 
 play which they will honour with their presence ; if 
 they do so, the night is also nominated by them, 
 and the playbill is grandly headed — " The bespeak 
 of the Right Honourable Lord and Lady," &c., &c. 
 
 On the occasion to which allusion is now made, 
 the play bespoken by the patrons of the drama was, 
 " The Country Girl," which was not one the 
 company had been in the habit of performing ; but 
 from the celebrity of Mrs. Brown in the York 
 circuit, and of Mrs. Jordan (who was accused of 
 imitating her) at Drury Lane, it was just then very 
 popular. The manager bowed his acknowledgments, 
 said his company would be quite read}'- on the 
 following Thursday (this was on Monday) and came 
 away well satisfied.
 
 LUDICROUS ANECDOTE. 91 
 
 The company were called together, the happy 
 
 announcement made, Sir — - — and Lady had 
 
 given "a bespeak," and the "Country Girl" was 
 the play. Everyone had heard of the piece, some 
 had seen it, but no one had a copy. This was a 
 diflficulty that had not been anticipated ; but diffi- 
 culties are only made to be surmounted; and the 
 next hour an adventurous Thespian was seen en 
 route to Leeds for a copy of the play. As, for 
 reasons best known to himself, he chose the primi- 
 tive mode of pedestrianism on his journey, it may 
 be supposed it was late on Tuesday night ere he 
 returned, worn out with fatigue. On Wednesday, 
 the book (there was only one) was divided leaf by 
 leaf, and given to each to write out his part. At 
 that period, although not half a century ago, the 
 schoolmaster was not abroad ; some of the company 
 could not write, and it would not be very far from 
 the truth if we added, that one or two actually could 
 scarcely read, but relied for the acquisition of the 
 text on hearing the part read over to them several 
 times. Miss Mellon was cast for Peggy, not only 
 because she was the youngest person and the best 
 actress in the company, but also in consequence of 
 having the best " study," as memory is technically 
 termed. 
 
 It was Thursday morning, the play day, ere she 
 had written out the whole of the part, and then she
 
 92 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 discovered she must provide herself with a dress of 
 the fop of the day, for the scene in which Peggy 
 goes in boy's clothes to the park ! Applying to 
 what the manager facetiously denominated his ward- 
 robe, would have been totally useless ; and, in this 
 dilemma, Mrs. Entwisle bethought her of all the 
 persons known to her in the vicinity, to whom she 
 might confide her trouble. Among others, she 
 applied to the housekeeper in a wealthy family, who 
 said she would ask one of the young gentlemen of 
 her master's family. This Mrs. Entwisle wisely and 
 firmly declined. After a great deal of anxiety on 
 the subject, the housekeeper mysteriously said, she 
 had an idea she could procure a small suit else- 
 where, and promised to call on Mrs. Entwisle after 
 the rehearsal, to relate the success of her project. 
 
 To the theatre went the hapless Harriot, in a 
 state bordering on distraction, anticipating the 
 necessity of representing the country girl in a snuff- 
 coloured, square- cut coat (taken in all its tawdriness 
 from the wardrobe), made for a man some six feet 
 high. 
 
 The afternoon came and went, and no house- 
 keeper. At about four o'clock, however, she made 
 her appearance, and behind her followed a lad with 
 a large parcel. The hearts of mother and daughter 
 fluttered — " there was the dress at last ; " it proved 
 to be so. Their old lady said '* she had called upon
 
 LUDICROUS ANECDOTE. 93 
 
 another old lady, who lived in a similar capacity, 
 and was happy to say she had procured, not the 
 clothes of any of the young gentlemen, but the 
 wedding dress of her old master; and as he was 
 only a * diuarfy,'' even in his youth, they'd be sure 
 to fit Miss Plarriot." 
 
 It may be supposed that Miss Harriot looked 
 rather saddened when she heard they were at least 
 thirty years old ; but fashions then did not change 
 with the rapidity of the present day, and at all 
 events, be they what they might, they would be far 
 better than anything the theatre's wardrobe could 
 afford. The valuable collection was opened, and 
 displayed to their longing eyes a light amber- 
 coloured silk coat, trimmed with silver ; a white 
 satin waistcoat, ditto smalls, and pale-blue silk 
 stockings ; shoes, laced stock, ruffles, buckles ; in 
 fact, every item of the wardrobe worn on the 
 wedding day. 
 
 What a happy girl was Harriot Mellon ! The 
 things were a little out of date it was true, but 
 they were new — never but once had been profaned 
 by a male form ; a little cotton in the shoes was re- 
 quired, and with a little tucking up and taking in, 
 the dress fitted to a miracle. After a profusion of 
 thanks on one side, and admiration on the other, 
 the old lady departed, and Miss Mellon and her 
 mother went to the theatre.
 
 U MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 Half-past six arrived, and the one musician (Mr. 
 Entwisle) led off with " Rule Britannia," " Britons 
 Strike Home," and "The Bonny Pitman," an air 
 then, and perha(3S now, a favourite in the north. 
 Up went the curtain, and the play commenced. The 
 house, or barn, was crowded to excess. The elite 
 of the neighbourhood all attended, being more 
 anxious to testify their respect to the baronet who 
 patronized the performance than their admiration 
 of the dramatic company. 
 
 The play, hurriedly as it had been produced, went 
 on capitally. The family whose " bespeak " had 
 proved so attractive were in what, out of courtesy, 
 must be termed tlie stage-hox ; and at an early part 
 of the evening they singled out Miss Mellon (pro- 
 bably from her extreme youth and talent) as the 
 principal object of their applause. 
 
 Those who look at plays through the medium of 
 metroj3olitan performances can scarcely conceive 
 what a young aspiring actor or actress feels when 
 making their incipient steps in a place scarcely the 
 size of a dining-room, where they can hear every 
 murmur of applause or displeasure, and catch a 
 glance of hope from the " very well indeed ! " of a 
 fashionable party on one side, or be depressed by 
 the adverse " Oh, dear ! " of another. 
 
 Miss Mellon (or rather her mother for her, for 
 she was too busy in re-reading Peggy) was satisfied
 
 LUDICROUS ANECDOTE. 95 
 
 she had made an impression on the great people ; 
 and her scene en gargon was anticipated as the com- 
 pletion of a triumph. At length it came — on she 
 went, amid the gratifying plaudits of the entire 
 audience. She looked beautiful, and as to her 
 dress, it was magnificent. That the country folks 
 thought so was apparent ; but what was even more 
 gratifying, the " great party," the baronet and his 
 lady, evidently took particular notice of it. This 
 notice continued, in fact, throughout the scene, and 
 the play ended amid tumultuous applause. Miss 
 Mellon sung between play and farce (accompanied 
 by the single fiddle), aud was encored ; and finished 
 her evening's exertions by performing Miss Biddy, 
 in " Miss in her Teens." All succeeded capitally, 
 so that the mother and daughter retired to rest 
 congratulating themselves on the result of the 
 evening's entertainments. 
 
 On the following morning, whilst sitting at the 
 window, after their frugal breakfast, they observed 
 a groom coming towards the house, and the livery 
 
 was that of Sir . A hundred hopes were raised 
 
 at his approach, and all but confirmed when he 
 rapped with his whip (there was no knocker) at the 
 ^ cottage door. "A letter for Miss Mellon." To fly 
 downstairs, receive it, ask the servant to wait, rush 
 up again, and tear it open, was the work of a second. 
 No eulogiums, no present, but a somewhat stiff, yet
 
 96 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 courteous note, "requesting Miss Mellon, for par- 
 ticular reasons, to say how she became possessed of 
 the male attire worn by her on the previous 
 evening." 
 
 It may be as well to pass over the correspondence, 
 which ended at length in a meeting between Mrs. 
 
 Entwisle, Miss Mellon, and Sir ; when, angry 
 
 as he was, the ingenuous manner of both, and the 
 round, unvarnished tale delivered, disarmed him. 
 
 The truth lay in a nutshell. The housekeeper to 
 whom Mrs. Entwisle had applied (not being able to 
 oblige her herself, and not knowing when or for 
 what the dress was required) went to the house- 
 keeper of the very gentleman who bespoke the 
 play, having, it is presumed, on some of their old 
 lady meetings, seen and admired the wedding dress 
 that had been put away since the baronet's marriage. 
 This, as an article of attire that would assuredly 
 not be called into requisition by the family, had 
 been lent ; hence the observation in the theatre, 
 the letter, and the explanation. Miss Mellon was 
 of course cleared from any imputation, and found 
 at her benefit a friend in the famil}^ ; and the poor 
 housekeeper, after a severe reprimand, was for- 
 given. 
 
 On leaving the place. Miss Mellon received as a 
 
 present from Lady the first good frock she 
 
 ever possessed, and from that period she looked so
 
 ''SHARING" FLAN. 97 
 
 well on the stage that even had she possessed less 
 talent she would still have been a desideratum to a 
 country manager. 
 
 1789.— When Mr. and Mrs. Entwisle, with Harriot 
 Mellon, joined the theatrical company of Mr. Stan- 
 ton, it was conducted on the general method which 
 prevailed in provincial circuits forty years ago — -what 
 is called a " sharing plan!' As this system is now 
 scarcely practised, it may not be uninteresting to 
 give a brief detail of its meaning. 
 
 The manager provided the dresses, scenery, 
 theatre, &c., and was entitled to four shares of the 
 general profit. The leader of the musical depart- 
 ment had a salary of one guinea per week; the 
 stage manager and wardrobe keeper twelve or 
 fourteen shiUings ; and every performer on the 
 stage, whether good or bad, was entitled to one 
 share from the profits. As they were not expected 
 to provide anything professionally from their one 
 share, while the manager from his four shares had 
 to furnish theatre, scenery, and dresses, it seems 
 wonderful that the love of dominion should have 
 induced anyone to become captain of such " a 
 troop." He was likewise obliged to defray the 
 expense of extra instruments in the orchestra. The 
 theatres were always temporary, generally being 
 the town hall fitted up with portable decorations. 
 
 When it is considered that the price of admission
 
 98 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 was but two shillings to the pit, there being na 
 boxes, and one shilling to the o^allery, it is only sur- 
 prising how so many inrlivicluals were maintained by 
 the profits of these small houses. 
 
 The principal towns in Mr. Stanton's circuit 
 were Stafford, Newcastle-under-Lyne, Burton, Ash- 
 bourne, Walsall, Bridgenorth, Nantwich, Newport, 
 Drayton, Leek, and Lichfield. 
 
 Within the last forty years several of these towns 
 have had good-sized theatres erected, many of them 
 planned by the friends of Miss Mellon's juvenile 
 days, and the sons of the manager, one of whom 
 was a pupil of Columbo, the painter of the opera- 
 house scenery. The family of Mr. Stanton were 
 all well brought up and clever ; his daughters were 
 Mrs. Nunn and Mrs. Goodall, names of very good 
 repute in the theatrical world. The former, who 
 had appeared in London, in 1786, as Clarissa, after- 
 wards took considerable pains in giving instruction 
 to Harriot Mellon. Mrs. Goodall (who was married 
 to a naval officer) was the celebrated E/Osalind. Mr. 
 Stanton's family were much respected, and during 
 their circuit visited at all the principal houses in the 
 different neighbourhoods, and this was doubtless 
 the motive for Mrs. Entwisle's anxiety that they 
 should patronize and introduce her little girl, a 
 point of which she never lost sight. 
 
 The Entwisles occupied lodgings in a cottage be-
 
 '' SHARING" PLAN. 99 
 
 longing to a poor, but liighlj respectable individual, 
 a shoemaker named Thornton, and the rooms (still 
 standing) are so miserably small that the admeasure- 
 ment has been taken as a curiosity : they were each 
 but 10 feet long by 4f feet across ; and the window 
 about two feet square. For this accommodation 
 half-a-crown per week was paid. 
 
 The next consideration was, to procure an in- 
 structor for Harriot ; and a Mr. Caulkin there tauo-ht 
 writing and arithmetic to the hand that was destined 
 to sign the distribution of thousands; though at that 
 time it could not command sufficient to pay the 
 schoolmaster, one of whose relations took lessons 
 on the violin as an equivalent from Mr. Entwisle. 
 
 As the company was very superior to tliat which 
 they had left, Harriot Mellon had to relinquish her 
 Phebes and Gillians, and resume the children's 
 character — Little Pickle, the Eomp, &c,, for whicli 
 she was suited ; consequently she had only half a 
 share from the theatre, and Mr. Entwisle (who was 
 not then leader, but one of three who played in 
 addition) was stage keeper and property man also, 
 therefore he had a whole share. 
 
 The company consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Stanton, 
 eight actors, four actresses, and the leader of the 
 band, who received a guinea per week, but no 
 share. 
 
 Accordino^ to their moderate charge for admis-
 
 100 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 sion, if the theatre produced about eight pounds 
 nightly, the performance taking place three times 
 per week, would give twenty-four pounds ; after 
 deducting the weekly expenses of about six pounds, 
 seventeen guineas would remain for division ; the 
 twelve performers would have a guinea each, the 
 manager and his wife taking five guineas for their 
 performances, use of scenery, dresses, &c. 
 
 On such small means, it cannot be supposed that 
 Harriot's wardrobe was very splendid. It is known 
 at Stafford that her morning dress was too shabby 
 for her to appear at the churches there, and her 
 mother used to send her regularly to Ingestrie 
 Church (built by Lord Talbot, and adjoining his 
 mansion), because she was less liable there to incur 
 remark on the poverty of her appearance. 
 
 The vale between Lord Talbot's estate and the 
 town was a great gathering place for the children to 
 play; and Harriot, whose love of amusement was 
 unconquerable, used to steal out perpetually from 
 her close room to this pretty spot, where she was 
 unrivalled among the "young ladies " as a player 
 at ball. Numbers of her playmates are now living, 
 and well remember the disagreeable interruption 
 which Mrs. Entwisle would cause in her daug^hter's 
 athletic amusements, by driving her home with 
 heavy blows (some of which occasionally fell on the 
 associates), and amidst dreadful reproaches, the
 
 "HIGH BLOOD." 101 
 
 perpetual taunt that she was " a disgrace to the 
 high blood in her veins." 
 
 The wondering children, who were all better 
 dressed than the vagrant member of the aristocracy, 
 used to torment poor Harriot dreadfully respecting 
 the visionary grandeur. She bore it all with perfect 
 good humour, if they would only play ball with her; 
 and their assemblies were deliofhtf ul until the lio^ht- 
 footed Mrs. Entwisle would slip in amongst them, 
 and disperse the terrified mockers of high blood like 
 chaff before the wind. 
 
 Mrs. Entwisle, in addition to being dresser to the 
 actresses,* continued her usual industry, in cleaning 
 feathers, silks, laces, &c., and exacted that Harriot 
 should assist her, frequently obliging her daughter 
 to put down the play-book from which she was 
 studying, in order to lend the aid of her little fingers 
 for some delicate process. But all the time she was 
 thus engaged, she had to repeat the play to her busy 
 mother, who gave her lessons in what she called 
 " the high style of London acting,'' which she de- 
 spondingly averred Harriot would never attain. 
 
 The family of the manager soon became interested 
 in, and attached to, the little player, who, notwith- 
 standing her active and rather ungirlish amusements, 
 
 * Among these was the celebrated Mrs. Davenport, on -whom 
 the duchess settled an annuity for life of £30, in memory of 
 " auld lang syne."
 
 102 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 bad very engaging manners, and was extremely 
 docile and grateful under their care. They now 
 began to take her out to juvenile parties with their 
 younger children, for which Mrs. Entwisle was most 
 grateful ; and Harriot, in neat clothes, lent by her 
 friends, soon became very popular, from her pretty 
 style of singing, and executing the fancy dances of 
 those days. 
 
 Giddy as she was, nothing could exceed her care 
 of articles lent to her ; if it were not too late, it is 
 said, they were always returned on the same evening 
 after the party, or, at the furthest, early next morn- 
 ing. Her attention was frequently rewarded by a 
 present of tlie dress which she had so punctually 
 restored ; and she began now to have a wardrobe of 
 her own, entitling her to appear at church in 
 Stafford, without a recurrence of former discredit. 
 
 Mrs. Entwisle, who appropriated the whole of 
 Harriot's earnings to the family expenditure, was 
 very proud of her girl's success. Yet the harshness 
 with which she treated her is fresh in the memory 
 of all who knew them. 
 
 Although Miss Mellon was blessed with most 
 robust health, she was at all times extremely nervous 
 at any sudden alarm, for which she accounted in a 
 very natural manner. After her mother married Mr. 
 Entwisle, they went on a visit to a member of his 
 family who had some employment in a country
 
 COFFIN BURSTING. 103 
 
 church, and their house (formerly the parsonage) 
 stood actually in the churchyard. The graves being 
 frequently dug close to the lowly tenement, the earth 
 had risen nearly half-way up the one-storied dilapi- 
 dated building, which had no windows towards the 
 churchyard. One Saturday night a sister of Mr. 
 Entwisle's was proceeding to perform the usual ablu- 
 tions on the little Harriot Mellon, and, for this 
 purpose, had placed her seated on the dresser, with 
 a large tub of water at her feet. Suddenly a loud 
 sound, as of something being burst asunder, was heard: 
 the wall behind the dresser was rent open, and the 
 little girl violently pushed forward, actually into the 
 tub of water. There Harriot lay screaming (Miss 
 Entwisle being too much frightened to lift her), 
 until the noise attracted the notice of her mother, 
 who ran to the kitchen, where she found her child 
 overwhelmed with bricks and mortar ; while, above 
 her, the end of a coffin protruded two or three feet 
 into the opening of the wall ! Having rescued the 
 youthful sufferer, it was ascertained that a grave 
 had been dug against the house (which was sunk in 
 the floors below the level of the churchyard), and 
 the body which was interred had swollen, and burst 
 its narrow home with such force that the end of the 
 coffin had pushed against the old wall (decayed from 
 long damp) and carried down everything before it. 
 When her spirits were depressed in after days. Miss
 
 104 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 M. often said tliat tlie ghastly-looking black and 
 silver coffin frequently occurred to her fiiucy with 
 something of its old terrors ! 
 
 The terror, also, in which little Harriot continually 
 lived, from the unrestrained violence of her mothers 
 temper, affected her nerves to a degree which re- 
 turned to her in her latter years, when the slightest 
 cause of alarm produced in her extreme fear, before 
 she had time to summon reason to conquer it. 
 
 With the exaggeration of childish terror, she more 
 than once thought her mother was going to fulfil the 
 threat of taking away her child's life. The following 
 occurrence was related to the agent sent to Stafford 
 to collect materials for this work by an individual 
 who was at that time a youth in the theatrical com- 
 pany :— 
 
 Harriot Mellon was announced at Bridgenorth 
 during the winter of 1790 for some juvenile cha- 
 racter, and the narrator took his place in the orches- 
 tra to see the performance. The overture had 
 terminated, and had been played again, yet still the 
 curtain was not raised. After a considerable delay 
 the piece commenced, and when the scene came 
 wherein Harriot Mellon should have appeared, 
 another child went through the character. Alarmed 
 at the absence of his playmate, the narrator left the 
 orchestra, and heard the following strange tale : — 
 Mrs. Entwisle, it appeared, had had a quarrel with
 
 ANECDOTE OF HER MOTHER'S VIOLENCE. 105 
 
 her daughter respecting the performance ; and she 
 had beaten poor Harriot so severely, while dressing 
 for her part, that the latter ran out of the house 
 without her frock, shawl, or bonnet, her mother 
 following with vows of vengeance. Fear lent the 
 girl wings to avoid her parent's rage ; she ran 
 through the North Gate and entered some fields, 
 where her mother soon lost all trace of the fueritive. 
 It was perfectly dark, and a severe frost had for 
 some time prevailed. The performance concluded ; 
 but the frightened child did not return. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Entwisle searched every house in Bridgenorth 
 likely to have sheltered her, but all in vain ; and all 
 the manao^er's sons were out during;' the entire nio-ht, 
 taking various directions about the environs of the 
 town, and carrying their piteous inquiries to the 
 different farmhouses. No intelligence was to be 
 obtained of her having taken shelter from the severe 
 cold, which the searchers found almost too intense 
 to endure ; therefore the general dread was that the 
 despairing child had fallen, or thrown herself, into 
 the river. 
 
 The manager's kind family came in at different 
 times next day from their fruitless search, greatly 
 distressed at the fate of their little companion. It 
 was Sunday, and about midday, the family party 
 had just assembled at dinner, when Harriot Mellon 
 slowly put her face into the room, but scarcely 
 
 VOL. I. H
 
 106 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 bearing the appearance of anything human. Her 
 arms were pressed tightly across her figure, sliiver- 
 ing with cold ; her fine complexion was totally con- 
 cealed by a thick coating of black, which was 
 furrowed by the tears she had shed during the night; 
 and on seeing her friends they flowed again pro- 
 fusely. One of the daughters hurried the half-clad 
 girl out of the room, while she exclaimed, " Oh ! let 
 me but go near the fire ! " and having been washed 
 and dressed from her j^ouug friend's wardrobe, she 
 re-entered in terror, and gave the following account 
 of the way she had passed the night : — " After 
 escaping from my mother, I ran on in the dark 
 across numbers of fields, still frightened, and think- 
 ing I heard the sound of her steps and voice on the 
 wind. I wandered on until I was obliged to stop, 
 from being so tired ; and I cried a long time. Then 
 I saw some lights at a distance, which I took for 
 Bridgenorth ; and I set out again to reach them, 
 though I was almost too cold to move. When I 
 came near to the lights I found they were great 
 smoky fires from brick-kilns and coal-pits. To 
 warm myself I drew near to the fires, but the fright- 
 ful men I saw attending them alarmed me so much 
 that I was obliged to hide myself in the thick smoke, 
 and to change my place very often to escape being 
 seen by them. When daylight came I left the 
 smoke, which could no longer hide me; and I
 
 ANECDOTE OF HER MOTHER'S VIOLENCE. 107 
 
 wandered through the fields until I saw the dear 
 church-steeples of Bridgenorth ; but I dared not 
 enter the town for fear of being seen, so I lingered 
 in the most lonely fields until I knew by the sun 
 that most people would be in their houses at dinner, 
 and then I came to you ! " 
 
 From the extreme severity of the night, and her 
 partial state of clothing, it was surprising the poor 
 girl had not perished with the cold. Her very long 
 black hair, covered with hoar frost, was matted in 
 heavy masses; her face and neck blackened with the 
 brick-kiln smoke, and scored with her tears ; so that 
 altogether the pretty Harriot was changed to the 
 semblance of a sprite from the lower regions. 
 
 She had not broken her fast since the preceding 
 day's dinner, and was quite faint from exhaustion ; 
 but while they administered some food, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Entwisle, by an unfortunate chance, entered 
 the room ! Like a startled hare, Harriot flew into 
 a corner behind the chairs to avoid her mother, 
 who passionately exclaimed, " Let me reach her — I 
 will be the death of her ! " All violence was, how- 
 ever, prevented by the family of the manager, 
 except the violence of a tongue which nothing 
 could allay. " Where have you passed the night, 
 you young hussy ? You, a high-born person's 
 child, to go away from your mother — yes, you are 
 a great person's daughter, though you behave so ill
 
 108 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 to me — but we little guessed the wretch you would 
 turn out ! " 
 
 These and similar speeches of violence continued 
 for some time without intermission, the family pity- 
 ing the poor cowering girl too much to allow the 
 angry woman to approach her hiding-place. At 
 length, when the manager calmly, but with decision, 
 told her he could not feel justified in trusting her 
 good, unoffending child home again until Mrs. 
 Entwisle pledged her word solemnly that she 
 would act more kindly for the future, she gave 
 this promise with a very bad grace ; and then a 
 fresh scene ensued, to induce poor Harriot to go 
 home. She clung in an agony of terror to the 
 friendly manager, and" he was obliged to leave 
 the house, half-leading, half-supporting, tlie ter- 
 rified child to her home, where he reminded Mrs. 
 Entwisle again of her solemn engagement, and left 
 the disunited family. 
 
 There was not much hope of amendment in this 
 violent woman, and, indeed, her temper was im- 
 paired by the weak extravagance of Mr. Entwisle, 
 whose love of low conviviality induced him to waste 
 in company the money which was so much wanted 
 at home. 
 
 Her patrons found the only way to secure even 
 quiet for poor Harriot was to allow her to study 
 her characters at their house ; for the disputes at
 
 IMPROVED CIRCUMSTANCES. 109 
 
 her own home rendered study impossible. These 
 visits formed her manners for her profession. 
 
 About this time the sharing system of the theatres 
 was exchanged for regular salaries ; Harriot Mellon 
 had fifteen shillings, and her stepfather one guinea 
 weekly, besides the profits of his playing at dances 
 during the three unoccupied nights of the week. 
 This enabled them to take much better lodo-ino^s, 
 the first floor at the house of a painter, in the part 
 of Stafford called Digiake. It is a very respectable- 
 looking building, having a garden at the back, to 
 which Harriot was perfectly devoted, and she used 
 to beg flowers from everyone, until' the crowded 
 plants choked each other. 
 
 They lodged here until her London engagement, 
 after which she never performed at Stafford ; but 
 she always retained an affection for the widowed 
 landlady, Mrs. Walker, and annually sent her some 
 gowns, a winter cloak and shawl, with other articles 
 of dress. She also remembered that the old lady 
 was extremely particular respecting her tea, and 
 there was always in the parcel a quantity of loaf 
 sugar and a sufficiency of tea to last until her next 
 parcel. Miss Mellon continued this grateful dona- 
 tion until her old friend's decease. In one of her 
 letters she asked most anxiously about an old ward- 
 robe in which her clothes had been kept, begging 
 they would take care of it. This, with the old oak
 
 110 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 table in the room, are now preserved as relics at j 
 Stafford. \ 
 
 At Burton-on-Trent tliere is a little anecdote 
 remembered respecting her early love of fun, show- 
 ing the merry, innocent creature she was ; and, 
 even in those days, she was superior to the false 
 pride of which her mother set her so bad an ex- j 
 ample. 
 
 j^fter having performed Little Fickle at Burton, i 
 she found a very kind patroness in the wife of a ' 
 rich coach-maker, a Mrs. Deakin, who always had | 
 little Harriot to sleep at her house while stajdng in i 
 that town. \ 
 
 As the Eutwisles were too poor to pay for a con- 1 
 veyance, the party had arrived on foot ; and some 
 visitor at Mrs. Deakin' s, who had seen Harriot thus 
 entering the town, stupidly asked her afterwards 
 "Why she did not travel by the coach?" The j 
 arch girl, looking significantly at her patroness, 
 replied, " Because the coach is a public conversance, 
 sir, and I never in my life have been in any but i 
 private carriages ! " 
 
 "Indeed!" returned the other, incredulously; 
 " and pray. Miss Harriot, where did you find these 
 private carriages ? " 
 
 "Why, here, in Mr. Deakiu's building-yard, to be 
 sure ! " said the young hoaxer, laughing. "I never 
 had money to pay for a real ride, but I get into 
 every one of the new carriages in the yard when I
 
 PRIVATE CARRIAGES. Ill 
 
 am here, and rock myself in them for hours, they 
 are so nice. Is not that going in private carriages, 
 sir?" 
 
 While at Burton-on-Trent, Harriot had been much 
 noticed also by one of the principal families, who, 
 hearing from the manager a most favourable account 
 of her steadiness and good conduct, gave her an in- 
 troduction to their friends at Stafford, the family of 
 Mr. Wright, the banker; and from hence may be 
 dated her rise in the world. Some of the family 
 were older, some younger, than Harriot ; but they 
 all united in being very fond of the lively " player 
 girl," and in making every interest for her advance- 
 ment. The amiable girls took delight in dressing 
 her for the characters she played, contributing 
 gowns, gloves, and shoes, and the use of their 
 jewellery. She had a general invitation to their 
 hospitable house for all the nights when she did 
 not perform ; and as the principal families of Staf- 
 ford visited there three nights at least in each week, 
 she had the advantage of being in their society. 
 
 Thus she gradually became acquainted with, and 
 patronized by, the following ladies : — The Misses 
 Williamson, whose father was a barrister, and died 
 chairman of the quarter sessions. Miss Fernehough, 
 whose family, with the Wrights and the Williamsons, 
 were the leading individuals of the place ; Miss 
 Fernehough afterwards married General Sir Frede- 
 rick Eobioson, went to Jamaica, and died there.
 
 112 DEMOTES OF MISS MELLON, 
 
 The Misses Keen, whose father was a marshal, as it 
 is termed there (some situation connected with the 
 Welsh judges). His widow was excessively partial 
 to Harriot Mellon. Miss Hughes, a friend of the 
 Misses Wright, and Mrs. Barrs, the banker's 
 sister. 
 
 All these ladies vied with each other in acts of 
 kindness to their young protegee^ having her with 
 th.em during the mornings and at their evening par- 
 ties. All who are living now bear testimony to her 
 excellent conduct, from their first acquaintance to 
 the time she left Stafford finall}^, when she was 
 between seventeen and eighteen. Her conduct was 
 also fully estimated among the inferior classes ; and 
 such was the fair name she bore, that any insult to 
 her would have been taken up seriously by her 
 legion of humble champions, the famed " Stafford 
 shoemakers," who still claim her birth for their 
 county. The thoughtful Mrs. Entwisle also, in 
 order to set malice at defiance, never allowed Har- 
 riot to return home alone in the eveuing^. She took 
 her to parties, and called for her again, without 
 entering the houses; for the elite of Stafford society, 
 who were happy to have the youthful actress among 
 them, did not think it requisite to invite her rela- 
 tions, and Mrs. Entwisle was sufficiently delighted 
 with her daughter's elevation without any attention 
 extending;' to herself. 
 
 Miss Mellon, whose height increased rapidly, now
 
 EARLY FRIENDS. 113 
 
 began to take pride in neat personal appearance ; 
 and the old wardrobe at Mrs. Walker's being filled 
 by the liberality of her friends, she became compara- 
 tively a great belle. 
 
 A very estimable patroness of hers, still living at 
 Stafford, says, with reference to this and the four 
 succeeding years, " A better-conducted, more indus- 
 trious, or praiseworthy girl there could not be. She 
 was very handsome, very lively, highly amusing, 
 and perfectly lady-like, although not what is termed 
 accomplished ; she sang pleasantly, and was an ad- 
 mirable dancer. I was introduced to her by Miss 
 Wright, and assisted her benefit, sometimes lending 
 her my dresses. She was the most punctual and 
 particular person I ever knew. If it were not too 
 late, she would invariably return everything she 
 had borrowed on the same night ; and all was kept 
 in such good order that it was impossible to decide 
 whether the dress had been used. Her mother was 
 very careful of her, always accompanying her home, 
 though it were but a few yards. But Harriot was 
 universally respected." 
 
 Another authority of an humbler grade, who was 
 professionally connected with the family, states : 
 *' Miss Mellon was a great favourite among the 
 principal families, and with all the young people of 
 both sexes ; she was a very steady, prudent girl, 
 remarkably handsome, and always smiling and plea- 
 sant looking. The mother was a gay, pretty
 
 114 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 "woman ; but very rouG^li with her daughter occa- 
 sionally. Although Harriot's salary was fifteen 
 sliillings per week, they were in straitened circum- 
 stances, because her step-father was disposed to 
 drinking and low company. Miss Mellon's situa- 
 tion between the two, who disagreed exceedingly, 
 was greatly pitied ; so that even among the poorer 
 classes (especially the shoemakers, with which 
 Stafford abounds) she was an excessive favourite, 
 and greatly respected. In those days, when young 
 women did not venture through the streets after 
 nightfall, she would have been secure through the 
 estimation in which she was held. She had the best 
 benefits of any that were taken — a houseful and 
 presents in addition. 
 
 " Miss Mellon and Mrs. Nunn were the best 
 actresses we ever had in Stafford. She could show 
 a little temper sometimes at the theatre, and was 
 uncommonly particular about her dresses. She had 
 her own way very much with the manager, and was 
 made much of by him (as well as by his eldest son, 
 who was said to be attached to her) and the few of 
 the first people in Stafford who were admitted 
 behind the scenes, including the nobility and gentry 
 who came during the races. She lived entirely with 
 the young ladies of the leading families, until she left 
 for London — her home being so uncomfortable she 
 had no peace there."
 
 CHAPTER Y. 
 
 Travelling extraordinary — Gallantry of a letter carrier — Its un- 
 fortunate result — Stafford Theatre — Habits of Mr, Entwisle — 
 Domestic scenes — Friend's pony — Anecdote — Poor prisoners 
 — Sheridan's visit to Stafford — Sees Miss Mellon, and pro-' 
 mises an engagement at Drury Lane — Anecdote — Removal to 
 London. 
 
 The characters in which, from the age of fourteen 
 to eighteen, Miss Mellon gradually advanced and 
 improved in the Stafford circuit were : Priscilla 
 Tomboy, in " The Romp ; " Sophia, in the " Road to 
 Ruin ; " Betty Blaclcberry, in " The Farmer ; " Jenny 
 Wronghead, in " The Provoked Husband;" Kathleen, 
 in "The Poor Soldier ;" Cowslip, in ''The Agreeable 
 Surprise ; " Beatrice, Gelia, Audrey, and, latterly, 
 Lydia Languish, Letitia Hardi/, and Moggy, in " The 
 Highland Reel ; " her excellent dancing having been 
 very effective in the two latter. 
 
 When the company went from Stafford to 
 Uttoxeter, Mr. Entwisle' s party was delayed beyond
 
 116 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 the otliers through the dilatory habits of that gentle- 
 man. His wife, after expressing her impatience, 
 set off and provided herself with a seat in a travel- 
 ling market-cart; Mr. Entwisle went to an adjoin- 
 ing village, where he was to preside over some 
 games ; therefore poor Harriot was left without 
 conveyance or money. She had been latterly play- 
 ing such womanly parts that, although scarcely six- 
 teen, she would not condescend to let the childish 
 tears fall, but they gathered fast as she thought 
 over her troubles, and how she was to rejoin her 
 party. Not wishing to disgust her friends by a 
 history which must expose the family dissensions, 
 the poor young girl resolved to walk the distance, 
 upwards of ten miles. On the road she was over- 
 taken by a letter-carrier of the name of Cornwall, 
 who, wondering to see Miss Mellon out of charge of 
 her mother, inquired the cause. Her poor little 
 heart was so sad at her lonely position tliat the 
 rebel tears would come after his kind question, 
 which was only answered by sobs. At length he 
 gathered the truth ; and the good-natured man 
 placed her in a cottage, requesting her to wait until 
 his return. He then rode back to Stafford, pro- 
 cured a pillion to his saddle, and calling for Miss 
 Mellon mounted her behind him ; in which manner 
 they arrived at Uttoxeter. AVhether or not the 
 actors, in gratitude for his care of their young
 
 STAFFORD THEATRE. 117 
 
 friend, made him drink too many libations, certain 
 it is that the poor fellow in returnin^^ home was 
 stopped and robbed by footpads ; and all the con- 
 solation he received was the magistrates' clerk say- 
 ing that " perhaps riding with pretty Miss Mellon at 
 his back all the morning had turned his head, and 
 prevented his looking before him ! " 
 
 The theatricals of Stafford were for many years 
 exhibited in the Town Hall, which stood on pillars, 
 and the market was held beneath it. A question 
 was raised in 1790 as to pulling down this edifice; 
 and Mr. Stanton considered it necessary to provide 
 a theatre for his performances before this was 
 decided. Accordingly a subscription for building 
 by shares was commenced, and the present theatre 
 erected. The wear of nearly half a century has not 
 improved its first appearance, which was of the 
 most unpretending kind ; and it still bears the one 
 original coat of paint of its youthful days. It is a 
 dilapidated brick-building, scarcely higher than a 
 sincrle-storied house, and has an iron o^ratingf a foot 
 or so from the roof in front for the admission of air 
 and light. It is calculated that a full attendance 
 would produce about forty-five pounds ; but on 
 grand occasions ten additional pounds have been 
 manao-ed. 
 
 While the theatre was being built, the company 
 removed to Leek, in Staffordshire ; and the follow-
 
 118 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 insf statement from an authentic source there is 
 given verbatim to show the exact state of Harriot 
 Mellon's home. 
 
 " While residing: at Leek Mr. Entwisle endea- 
 voured to increase his means by giving music 
 lessons ; but in that quiet provincial town there 
 were few gentlemen desirous of becoming Paganinis 
 of their day, and consequently he had few pupils 
 for the violin. His acquirements as a piano player 
 were very slender, but they sufficed to teach the 
 rudiments to such young ladies as had inherited the 
 spinnets and musical taste of their grandmammas ; 
 therefore his pupils were chiefly among the fairer 
 class. Unfortunately the time expended in these 
 tuition mornings seemed to Mrs. Entwisle greater 
 than was warranted by the emolument, and this 
 theme was a frequent source of family discord. 
 The situation of Miss Mellon, who had to remain in 
 the same room with the disputants, where she was 
 generally studying some character to be performed 
 in the evening, really deserved commiseration. 
 
 " Another source of discomfort soon exercised its 
 influence. Staffordshire was then more of a dancing 
 than a musical county, and as the theatre was open 
 only three nights a week, the violin of Mr. Entwisle 
 was in great demand at divers places of amusement 
 in the neighbourhood. It frequently occurred that 
 his return from the village Almack's was about the
 
 DOMESTIC SCENES. 119 
 
 hoar of Mrs. Entwisle's early breakfast. Her just 
 indignation found utterance, but banished all pre- 
 parations for breakfast, and during the war of 
 words which ensued the hour for Harriot's rehearsal 
 at the theatre would arrive. She was constantly 
 sent there breakfastless, with an injunction to make 
 an excuse for Mr. Entwisle's absence through severe 
 indisposition. 
 
 " During the course of the rehearsal she generally 
 had the annoyance of hearing that her father was 
 walking about the town in perfect health, and seek- 
 ing to drown care according to his own system. 
 
 " For a creature young, ingenuous, naturally 
 abstemious, industrious, proud, and ambitious, it is 
 not possible to conceive a situation much more 
 humiliating or painful, without a penny from her 
 scanty salary which she might calculate on the 
 power of using, her talents taxed to the utmost — 
 (not for the necessities of herself, or even her 
 mother, but for the folHes of one who was no rela- 
 tion) — and the results of the temper he excited in 
 her mother all falling on the unoffending girl, who 
 was the chief support of both parties." 
 
 One of their common exhibitions of mutual anger 
 was the destruction of glasses, cups, plates, &c., 
 belonging to their lodgings, and these had to be 
 replaced out of Miss Mellon's salary. An indi- 
 vidual now living, who was at that time connected
 
 120 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 with tlie company, recollects the pretty Harriot 
 coming in tears to the theatre early one morning to 
 borrow from the property-man some of the tin 
 stage-cups in order to have her breakfast, the 
 earthenware having suffered demolition by wrath 
 during the preparation of the tea. 
 
 It is not surprising, therefore, that the principal 
 residents of the place took a great interest in the 
 exemplary girl, wlio, encountering wretchedness at 
 home and admiration and homage abroad, conducted 
 herself with a degree of propriety beyond all praise. 
 She soon became a morning and evening guest at all 
 the best houses, repaying her friends by a constant 
 fund of good temper and liveliness, so that they 
 often regretted when her mother called for lier ia 
 the midst of her imitations and anecdotes. 
 
 In some of the towns where Mr. Stanton's 
 company performed Harriot Mellon's patronesses 
 considered her so superior to her position, that, 
 besides having her with them whenever she was not 
 at the theatre, they would not allow her to lodge with 
 the Entwisles, but gave her a bed in their own 
 houses. 
 
 Thus at Drayton, when the company stayed there, 
 the clergyman of the parish, the Rev. P. Stubbs, 
 always allowed his wife to have Miss Mellon on a 
 visit at theij' house during the whole time of her stay 
 in the neighbourhood, and she used to sleep with
 
 FRIEND'S PONY. 121 
 
 one or other of his daughters, if " sleeping " it 
 might be called, when the merry creatures talked 
 and laughed almost throughout the night. These 
 estimable friends of her youth, of whom the duchess 
 often spoke, all married extremely well at Liverpool, 
 and used to patronize her benefits there after her 
 London engagement. 
 
 In 1792 Stafford new theatre opened, and Miss 
 Mellon' s salary was raised to one guinea per week, 
 an advantage to her mother but not to herself, for 
 the former rigidly kept her without the slightest 
 portion of her own earnings. 
 
 , A little illustration of this system comes in the 
 form of a reminiscence from a lively contemporary 
 of hers while there. The Misses Wright, who were 
 Harriot Mellon's standard of taste for everything, 
 possessed a beautiful pony, on which they used to 
 ride daily round the pretty environs of the town. A 
 great object of Harriot's secret ambition was to be 
 allowed a trial of her equestrian powers, and when 
 these friends one day volunteered the use of the 
 pony and an ample riding skirt nothing could exceed 
 her joy, though she had too much good sense and 
 modesty to have asked so great a favour. 
 
 Off trotted Harriot, with her own Welsh hat at 
 the back of her head, looking the happiest creature 
 on earth, and though she grasped the pommel with 
 both her hands, her laughing friends felt the greater 
 
 VOL. I. I
 
 122 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 security that she would not fall. Concluding that 
 her high spirits would induce her to ride on, 
 unmindful of time, they made up their minds that 
 nothing but the darkness would bring her back, 
 therefore the party were astonished when in about 
 a quarter of an hour they espied poor Harriot 
 jogging back again, holding by the pommel and 
 looking very sad. 
 
 One of the gentlemen went forth to assist her in 
 alighting, but this she declined, " hoping she might 
 have the pony a little longer." 
 
 " Oh, certainly, Harriot — all day if you like. 
 But have you come back for your luncheon ? " 
 
 "No, sir, thank you, I should never want to eat 
 if I might ride all day ; but — " 
 
 " But what brought you back so soon ?" 
 
 " That ill-natured turnpike man, sir," she replied, 
 with her eyes full of tears, " he would not let me go 
 through because I had not a penny, although I 
 assured him the first time I had one I would run up 
 to the gate with it. And then I went to ask my 
 mother for the mone}'^, but she does not like to give 
 it, and so, sir — and therefore — " 
 
 And there sat the poor, innocent girl, with burn- 
 ing cheeks drying up her tears, her feelings divided 
 between the shame of making her demand, and the 
 grief of relinquishing her ride. Her want was soon 
 supplied, and in future the pony, skirt, and turnpike
 
 POOR PRISONERS. 123 
 
 money formed the loan together from the friends, 
 whose opinion of Mrs. Entwisle's justice to her 
 child was not much increased by the adventure. 
 
 One class of sufferers in Stafford excited her pity 
 more than any other, and in walking with her 
 patronesses they often gave her the means of 
 evincing it. The poor prisoners confined in the 
 gaol for small debts had a basket suspended from a 
 window to gather any passing contribution from the 
 charitable, and Harriot Mellon, who had known 
 some of the evils of poverty, had a dreadful horror 
 that persons should be incarcerated for debts which 
 might have resulted from misfortune or the pro- 
 fligacy of others. The power of putting a contri- 
 bution into " the poor debtors' basket '' was a great 
 delight to her, and her friends used to allow their 
 donations to pass through Miss Mellon's hands. It 
 is related that when she first took a benefit at 
 Stafford she stipulated with her mother that she 
 must retain a certain sum to contribute to her 
 *' poor dear old debtors." 
 
 Charity was also a leading virtue in the character 
 of Mrs. Entwisle, although at seeming variance with 
 much of her treatment towards her daughter; and 
 from the time they began to rise in the least degree 
 above pecuniary difficulties, she displayed this ex- 
 quisite feminine quality, in every way within her 
 limited means — giving personal attendance to the
 
 124 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 sick, where she had no other offering to make ; and 
 when some kind patron would send her a Christmas 
 or Easter present in money, a portion of it always 
 was devoted to the purchase of common clothing for 
 infants, or to materials for a dinner to indigent 
 persons in her parish. The almost boundless spirit 
 of charity possessed by the Duchess of St. Albans, 
 therefore, was instilled from her childhood by the 
 admirable example of her singular but warm-hearted 
 parent. 
 
 In connexion with the foregoing may be added 
 here, that immediately when Miss Mellon, as a 
 London actress, could command sufficient money, 
 she wrote to her friends, the bankers at Stafford 
 (whose family state the circumstance) requesting 
 them to undertake, at her expense, the distribution, 
 at Christmas, of an ample quantity of beef, plum- 
 pudding, vegetables, bread, ale, &c., to all the 
 prisoners in the gaol of Stafford. She made like- 
 wise numerous private presents from her own 
 knowledge of the inhabitants ; and had distribu- 
 tions of coals, blankets, and clothing among the 
 poor there. All these were continued. every season. 
 
 The town of Stafford is remarkably quiet and 
 dull even for a provincial place, the inj3ux of 
 strangers being comparatively small ; and there 
 would be nothing to interrupt the monotony, if it 
 were not for the races.
 
 SHERIDAN'S VISIT TO STAFFORD. 125 
 
 These take place in October, and during the 
 week it would seem as if the neighbourhood was 
 enlivened by magical power. This is the great 
 event for dramatic speculation there, and accord- 
 ingly the theatre is then always opened. 
 
 The two members, Mr. Sheridan and the Honour- 
 able E. Monckton, were appointed stewards of the 
 races in 1794; and went down to Stafford in 
 October to attend their sporting duties. 
 
 Mr. Stanton, of course, brought his dramatic 
 company to open the theatre ; and, as was custo- 
 mary, the stewards of the races bespoke a play. 
 This was the gala Dight, and all the gay world 
 attended ; the members accompanying the two 
 families of Williamson and Wright. 
 
 The play was " The Belle's Stratagem;" the farce, 
 " The Eomp ; " and Harriot Mellon, not then quite 
 seventeen, had the nervous ordeal of playing before 
 the arbiter of London theatricals. 
 
 Mr. Sheridan expressed himself greatly pleased 
 with her talent, and as he was surrounded by her 
 best friends, they spoke most warmly in favour of 
 her disposition, conduct, and industry. 
 
 He said " it was a pity her talents were confined 
 to so small a theatre ; " and Mr. Wright instantly 
 urged him to engage her for Drury Lane ; to which 
 the other replied, "He would think of it, and it 
 should be done when he went to town."
 
 126 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 The kind advocates of Harriot Mellon knew Mr. 
 Sheridan too well to attach any value to a mere 
 promise. However, the next evening the Misses 
 Williamson invited him to meet their protegee at 
 tea; and, after some professional discussion. Miss 
 Mellon received a confirmation, in his positive 
 promise, of an engagement for Drury Lane when he 
 returned to London. 
 
 In complimenting her on her accurate mode of 
 speaking, he inquired how she had been educated? 
 — and when she ingenuously told him that her 
 studies had been confined to her own language, he 
 made the gratifying and well-remembered reply, 
 " There was no occasion for any other, as I never 
 heard a more eles^ant or accurate diction on or off 
 the stage." 
 
 Thus making her happy at the moderate expense 
 of a compliment and a promise, he departed, after 
 his week of acting popularity. Mrs. Entwisle was 
 enraptured, and saw visions of benefits and coronets. 
 Mr. Entwisle dreamt of the bliss of perfect idleness ; 
 and as for Harriot, she was not sane enough even 
 to think or dream ! She did nothing but watch the 
 post which was to bring news of the engagement. 
 But all her friends doubted whether their volatile 
 member would give the matter a second thought ; 
 and they were right ; he was in too great pecuniary 
 difiiculties.
 
 ANECDOTE. 127 
 
 In the midst of this " hope deferred," Harriot 
 Mellon took her benefit, which was a profitable one, 
 amounting to upwards of fifty pounds, including 
 presents ; but over this she had no command, 
 beyond receiving some clothes, purchased by her 
 mother, and the sum she insisted on putting into 
 the debtors' box, which her mother superstitiously 
 thought it would be unlucky to deny her. 
 
 The close of this year was the last of her acting 
 with the Stafford company ; and on the final night 
 of their performance there, she made her farewell 
 curtsy as the chambermaid, in O'Keefe's farce of 
 " The Dead Alive." 
 
 Before leaving Stafford with the company, she 
 went in despair to Mr. Wright, entreating he would 
 remind Mr. Sheridan of the forgotten promise. 
 This constant friend complied with her request, 
 and received from Mr. Sheridan a complimentary 
 answer, stating his opinion that " it was scarcely 
 worth while for a lady of Miss Mellon's talent to 
 appear towards the close of a season which the 
 manager intended should be a short one ; but when 
 they were about to reopen the house he trusted to 
 hear again from her," &c., &c. 
 
 This diplomatic, evasive reply was more satis- 
 factory to Miss Mellon than to her less sanguine 
 counsellor ; however, they were obliged to wait for 
 another opportunity.
 
 128 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 The winter had been very severe, and the poor of 
 Stafford suffered such misery that a comtnittoe was 
 formed for their relief, and some gentlemen pro- 
 posed having an amateur play for charitable pur- 
 poses. Accordingly, on the lOthof June, 1795, they 
 performed " The Road to Ruin," Gold/inch, by 
 Captain Hey wood — Jacob, by Mr. "Woolwich, 
 amateurs — the other characters by Mr. Stanton's 
 company. 
 
 Miss Mellon played Soplda, whose school-girl's 
 spirits were admirably represented by her own buoy- 
 ant gaiety. It was a favourite character with her 
 audience, and the rounds of applause she received 
 (as stated by those who remember her attractive 
 appearance on the charity night) seemed given with 
 a feeling that it might be the last opportunity they 
 would have of complimenting the clever young 
 creature who had grown up among them. 
 
 Strange to say, among her numerous admirers afc 
 Stafford, all her confidantes assert positively that 
 she had no preference for anyone. She was said 
 to have the best line of characters given to her in 
 consequence of the attachment of the manager's 
 son; but if such were his feeling it was uareturned 
 by her. Indeed, the terror felt by this poor girl 
 respecting her mother's violence always crushed 
 the romantic portion of her nature ; and Mrs. Ent- 
 wisle was a perfect Argus in her own family; so
 
 ANECDOTE. 129 
 
 that Miss Mellon dared not have liked anyone with- 
 out her approbation ! 
 
 About this time she formed an intimacy with a 
 young person (at the house of a country patron) 
 whose father kept mills in the country. This new 
 friend was extremely anxious to have Harriot stay- 
 ing with her at " the cottage near the mill ; " and 
 accordingly, when the acting season was over, the 
 latter accepted the invitation. Grreat was her 
 delight, after being used to smoky lodgings and 
 confined air, to have a pretty rural bed-chamber, 
 with snowy curtains, and the windows half hidden 
 with woodbine and clematis. They walked to 
 church through flowery lanes, and were perfectly 
 good friends for two or three days; until the 
 miller's landlord, with his friend (a pair of London 
 dandies), called to see them, or rather, to see the 
 new guest. 
 
 The miller hurried up to Miss Mellon's door, 
 telling her of the great honour the young gentlemen 
 conferred in coming to visit her, and that she must 
 make haste down directly. But the careful Mrs. 
 Entwisle had lectured her daughter so well, and the 
 kind banker's family at Stafford were so particular 
 in their injunctions, that Miss Harriot would not go 
 down. A second message came by the miller's 
 daughter, but the young actress was inexorable, 
 saying, " it was an insult for men of superior rank
 
 130 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 thus to suppose she was to go at their bidding, to be 
 stared at without respect." 
 
 The visitors went away ; and the miller, alarmed 
 at his landlord being offended, gave poor Harriot as 
 severe a scolding as ever she received at home ; and 
 even her young friend joined against her — taunting 
 her with the airs of an unknown actress, in not 
 feeling proud of anyone's notice. So poor Harriot 
 Mellon went to bed in tears. 
 
 The estates adjoining those of the mill belonged 
 to a Mr. Jervis, an uncle to the great admiral, Sir 
 John Jervis, afterwards Lord St. Yincent. Mr. 
 Jervis was a magistrate, and had such a dislike to 
 the drama that ho never would grant a license for 
 theatrical performance within his jurisdiction. It 
 was at his house that the miller's young landlord 
 was staying on a visit at this time. 
 
 For the magistrate's severe judgment on the fol- 
 lowing morning the miller related the impertinence 
 of the strolling player girl, hoping his worship would 
 aj^ologize to the landlord in his tenant's name. 
 
 The old gentleman said that probably her refusal 
 at first was all artfulness, in order to induce the 
 young men to return. But the miller replied, that 
 " it was worse than art, it was obstinacy ; for they 
 had pressed her to change her mind, and she would 
 not, so he was going to send her home in a cart 
 that afternoon." 
 
 Mr. Jervis said, " So a pretty player girl is really
 
 ANECDOTE. 131 
 
 modest enough to dislike insulting admiration. Go 
 home and tell her that I shall call upon her to-day, 
 and Mrs Jervis will accompany me." 
 
 Nothing could exceed the surprise at the mill re- 
 specting the turn affairs were taking ; but they saw it 
 was their best policy to make friends again with their 
 young guest ; and by the time that squire Jervis 
 and his lady arrived, Miss Mellon had forgotten her 
 grievances, and was all sunshine. 
 
 The strangers closely questioned her motives and 
 general habits, which must have been satisfactory, 
 for the old lady said, " Instead of your going home 
 this afternoon, Mr. Jervis and I wish you to come 
 and stay a little at our house, to show our neigh- 
 bours that we are not prejudiced against all people 
 of your profession." 
 
 Who now so happy as merry Harriot Mellon, 
 except her ambitious mother ! who, on hearing the 
 story afterwards, was fully sensible of the difference 
 beween visiting a squire and a miller. 
 
 The amiable old pair took a great fancy to the 
 artless, animated Miss Mellon, or, as she was always 
 called there, " Little Harriot the player." She 
 managed so well as to remove the prejudice of the 
 magistrate; and actually, by her ingenuous grace, 
 wheedled him into granting a license for the ob" 
 noxious performances, besides patronizing them 
 afterwards. 
 
 Whenever she was in their neighbourhood these
 
 132 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 strangely -acquired friends always honoured her with 
 an invitation to make their house her temporary 
 home ; but the poor old lady at last became bed- 
 ridden, and her husband died suddenly of apoplexy 
 about the time Miss Mellon came to London. 
 
 She heard afterwards there was a sketch of a will 
 found in his writing, in which was a list of names 
 for bequests, without the sums being inserted : 
 among these were — " To little Harriot the player 
 girl."* 
 
 It has been frequently asserted that Miss Mellon 
 was engaged by Mr. Sheridan in 1793, and appeared 
 during that year at Drury Lane. These statements 
 are perfectly erroneous. In the first place, there 
 was no theatre open at Drury Lane in 1793. The 
 old house had been pulled down, as Suett said, "to 
 prevent the unpleasantness of its coming down of 
 its own accord;" and the immense new theatre, 
 afterwards destroyed by fire, was not opened until 
 March 12th, 1794. 
 
 As the former Drury Lane company was obliged 
 to be removed to the Haymarket, from 1792 to 
 1794, the establishment was too uncertain and ir- 
 regular for the managers to increase the confusion 
 
 * Miss Mellon was more fortunate regarding the testamentary 
 kindness of some of her other friends of early years ; several of 
 these, even in comparatively humble grade, bequeathed to their 
 young favourite some trifling testimonial of their former regard ; 
 which she received at different periods, long after she had left the 
 provincial circuit.
 
 ANECDOTE. 133 
 
 and trouble by the engagement of debutantes ; and 
 there were no additions made to their number. 
 These erroneous statements have probably arisen 
 from a book written by Wewitzer in his old age, 
 entitled " Dramatic Chronology,'' professing to record 
 first appearances, and other theatrical events, during 
 a long course of years. In order to save himself 
 the trouble of research, the work was compiled 
 chiefly from hearsay ; some of his authorities forgot 
 dates ; others did not choose to remember them ; 
 many wilfully misled him; and, respecting first 
 appearances (of all things proverbially deceitful), it 
 is well known that he used to ask his favourites 
 " What character would you like to have named as 
 your first?" This valueless work, which often 
 misleads those who are disinclined to troublesome 
 research, states that Miss Mellon appeared as Lydia 
 Languish in 1793. Yet in another book the same 
 author names 1795. The former was done to make 
 her appear older than she really was, in the hope of 
 annoying her, for having refused to lend him money 
 when she could not afford it, in consequence of her 
 mother having a building mania at Cheltenham, and 
 borrowing all her daughter's earnings. 
 
 During the spring of ] 795, Miss Mellon still went 
 on Mr. Stanton's circuit, though earnestly watching 
 the affairs of Drury Lane. The season there con- 
 cluded on the 22nd May ; and Mr. Wright, true to 
 his promise, a short time afterwards again addressed
 
 134 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 Mr. Sheridan, regarding the hopes of an engage- 
 ment which had been held out to the good little 
 protegee of Stafford. 
 
 The novelty of the great theatre, wliicli had filled 
 it for one season, could not extend to the next ; 
 therefore it was deemed advisable to select some 
 clever debutantes, and fortunately Mr. Wright's 
 letter arrived just in time to remind Mr. Sheridan 
 of Miss Mellon. 
 
 The reply contained a promise of engagement for 
 her appearance in the ensuing September, provided 
 her talent answered his expectation on further 
 examination. 
 
 The Entwisle party were at Bridgenorth when Mr. 
 Wright received this important intelligence; but 
 Harriot was invited to Stafford to see a grand 
 assaiit cTarmes given at the Town-hall by the 
 Chevalier d'Eon ; and then she learned the de- 
 lightful intelligence of her chance of engagement in 
 London. 
 
 Her grateful remembrance of the disinterested 
 kindness shown by this excellent family used often 
 to affect her to tears, even in later years. When she 
 had the means of keeping a house worthy to receive 
 those she so much valued, they were frequently her 
 guests, and continued so during the lifetime of Mr. 
 Coutts, until increase of years deprived them of the 
 inclination to move from home. Her affection ex-
 
 REMOVAL TO LOXDON. 135 
 
 tended to the generation not yet born when she was 
 at Stafford ; many who are still young remember 
 the dress-frocks and enormous dolls constantly sent 
 from Miss Mellon, which formed their joys of early 
 days. 
 
 After the knowledge of her London prospects, Miss 
 Mellon could not settle herself to her former career ; 
 and, indeed, so short a time would intervene before 
 the opening of Drmy Lane, that the Entwisles 
 thought it desirable to go at once to London, and 
 effect all their arrangements. There had been some 
 money saved from Harriot's benefits against this 
 anticipated event, so they would be spared from any 
 immediate pecuniary difficulty. 
 
 When Miss Mellon went to take farewell of her 
 best friends, Mr. "Wright, sen., with a care almost 
 paternal, gave her a small sum of money for her 
 own use, and uttered the gratifying prophetic words 
 (remembered by his descendants), " Farewell, 
 Harriot; Heaven bless you, child. If you conduct 
 yourself as well as you have done ever since you 
 have been known to our family, I shall see or hear 
 of you riding in your own carriage ! "
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 London — She waits upon Sheridan — His appearance and character 
 ■ — His oblivion of the promise made — Lodgings in London — 
 Anecdote of a hacliney-coachman — Removal to meaner lodg- 
 ings — Embarrassments — State of wardrobe — Sheridan at last 
 fulfils his promise — Interview — Engagement — Debut as Lydia 
 Languish — Michaelmas goose. 
 
 After baving seen the bumble, respectable, and 
 gradually rising career of Miss Mellon during ber 
 provincial life, we bave now to trace tbe more anxious 
 period from ber debut in London. 
 
 Tbe family party reacbed tbe metropolis in June> 
 witbout friend or acquaintance, trusting solely to tbe 
 promise of a manager almost unknown to tbem, and 
 with a very slender stock of money to support tbem,. 
 in case of any delay respecting an engagement. 
 
 Tbe tbeatre bad closed during tbe preceding montb^ 
 tbercfore tbey considered tbat Mr. Sberidan was 
 likely to be disengaged, and able at once to inform
 
 SHE WAITS UPON SHERIDAN. 137 
 
 them of his decision. Accordingly, Miss Mellon, 
 accompanied to the door by her mother, waited on 
 him the day succeeding her arrival, to state the hopes 
 which had 'brought her to London. After much 
 hesitation, she was received by the great manager in 
 the most slovenly of morning costumes, unshaven, 
 and bearing the exhausted, dull look of the over- 
 night's conviviality. 
 
 The wit of R. Brinsley Sheridan, Moore clearly 
 proves, was frequently " borrowed plumage " from 
 others, or else studiously planned in advance ; he 
 says, " It is certain that even his hons mots in society 
 were not made at the moment ; but that frequently, 
 like a skilful priest, he had prepared ' the miracle of 
 the moment ' beforehand ! '' 
 
 Convivial wit, however, genuine or borrowed, 
 often dazzles the world into blindness towards 
 defects ; yet when we consider that his character 
 displayed, glaringly on its surface, a frequent habit 
 of inebriety, a want of strict principle to defray just 
 debts (and to escape which he would condescend to 
 any paltry trick or subterfuge) ; a carelessness as to 
 falsely making use of, or betraying, his best friends 
 to serve the purpose of the moment ; a continual 
 habit of raising the hopes of others by hollow pro- 
 mises, without a power of fulfilling them ; and an 
 indifference for truth, which made him the selected 
 secondary aid in an act which will go down a sad 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 138 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 history to posterity;* — whea we recollect these 
 points in his character, our moral judgment must 
 diminish the enthusiastic admiration our literary 
 taste would entertain for the author of the " School 
 for Scandal " — the finest comedy in our language. 
 
 Mr. Sheridan had not only forgotten his promise 
 to Mr. Wright, but even Miss Mellon's name and 
 appearance ; nor was it until the production of his 
 own letter to Mr. Wright (in which he had desired 
 Miss Mellon to come to London), that he could recall 
 any recollection of the circumstance. 
 
 He then became prodigal of fine speeches to the 
 mortified young creature, who was nearly fainting 
 from this her first experience of worldly sincerity. 
 He praised her mode of speaking, her effective 
 personal appearance for her profession, and sent her 
 away with an indefinite promise about " keeping her 
 in his mind," which she could not very clearly 
 understand, nor, perhaps, had he any intention that 
 she should ! 
 
 On Miss Mellon rejoining Mrs. Eutwisle, the 
 latter overwhelmed her with reproaches for " not 
 having made Mr. Sheridan give her an engagement 
 for the opening season ! " and, on the next day, the 
 matron resolved to try her own skill for her daughter. 
 
 * The ■wcll-knoTvn part wliicli lie took in the proceedings in 
 irliament regarding the Prince 
 Fitzherbert must be known to all. 
 
 Parliament regarding the Prince of Wales's marriage with Mrs
 
 LODGINGS IN LONDON. 139 
 
 But the diplomacy of the manager (whom Mrs. Gore 
 has lately defined as " the arch master of finesse ! ") 
 far exceeded the arts of his untutored country- 
 woman ; and she returned home from her fruitless 
 errand, saying, " I saw he was telling me lies all the 
 time, yet I could not catch him out with a direct 
 one ! 
 
 The proverb of " fair words cost nothing " (which 
 must have originated in Ireland) seems to have been 
 Mr. Sheridan's motto ; for instead of stating at 
 once the unwelcome truth, that " there was no 
 vacancy for another actress at Drury Lane," he hept 
 these poor people in uncertainty du7'ing three months^ 
 by his unmeaning promises, thereby preventing them 
 from returning to the country, or accepting engage- 
 ments from minor companies. 
 
 At first they had taken lodgings near tbe Strand, 
 in order to have a respectable address for the 
 manager's expected communications ; but as their 
 means gradually melted, the provident Mrs. Ent- 
 wisle considered the situation to be too dear, and 
 accordingly they removed to a small house in New 
 Street — of whicb more hereafter. 
 
 The following circumstance of genuine country 
 simplicity occurred during their temporary stay in 
 the Strand : — On the second day after their arrival, 
 while Mrs. Entwisle had found her diplomacy over- 
 matched by the senatorial manager, Harriot Mellon,
 
 140 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 who was enchanted with the little " snatch *' of the 
 London sights which she had obtained on the pre- 
 ceding* day, could not resist violating her mother's 
 strict injunction as to staying at home ; she re- 
 solved to venture out, and walk on in a straight line 
 for a short distance, when she would return, ere her 
 watchful guardian's mission was over. 
 
 She set forth towards the city, to enjoy a repe- 
 tition of the preceding day's wonder ; and walked 
 on, unconscious of distance or time, until she arrived 
 at a large place with pillars, and having statues of 
 kings and queens (which she afterwards discovered 
 was the Royal Exchange), and there she began to 
 feel very weary. But the magic city seemed even 
 to provide for her wishes in anticipation; for no 
 sooner did she experience fatigue, than a kind old 
 gentleman, with a bunch of hay in his hand, inquired, 
 " Did she want a coach ? " This was the very thing 
 she required, enabling her to explore further, and at 
 the same time repose herself; so she told the old 
 coachman he was to " drive her all over London, 
 and then bring her home." " La' love ye, miss," 
 said the man, " that would cost ye a sight of money." 
 " But look here, sir," said she, producing her purse, 
 " I have a shilling to pay you." The good-tempered 
 old Jehu, wondering at her simplicity, said, " Ah, 
 miss, I can only set you down a quarter of the way 
 home for that money; but get in, and we'll see about
 
 ANECDOTE OF A HACKNEY-COACHMAN . 141 
 
 it." To her infinite delight, she was established in a 
 jingling old carriage, whence, with the windows 
 down, she glanced at the bright shops as it hurried 
 past, until the vehicle stopped, and the driver an- 
 nounced that he had exceeded the shilling fare. 
 What was she to do ? Fatigued, without money, and 
 (worst of all) not having as yet seen enough of 
 beautiful London, she inquired, with tears in her 
 eyes, " Would not dear old Mr. Coachman put her 
 on just another street?" Having ascertained that 
 she had no further means of paying, and was but 
 just arrived in London, the kind-hearted man, shak- 
 ing up his multitudinous capes, said, " Well, then, 
 sit still, and don't cry, my dear; bless your pretty 
 face ; I've got daughters myself, and I'd rather drive 
 you half over Lunnun than leave 'e to find your way 
 alone ! " And he actually drove her the entire dis- 
 tance to her own home, saying, as he let her out, 
 " This is a bad job, but I must take it out of another 
 fare. Now don't you go out by y'rself never no 
 more in Lunnun, 'cause you won't find many such 
 fools as me." 
 
 Miss Mellon used to relate this with great pleasure, 
 adding, " You may have heard of individuals leaving 
 a fortune to persons they only met travelling ; but 
 did you ever before hear of anything equal to my 
 dear hackney-coachman relinquishing his fare 
 through good feeling ? ''
 
 142 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 Mrs. Entwisle having discovered the ruinous ex- 
 pense of furnished lodgings, for poor people, resolved 
 to take part of a cheap unfurnished house ere their 
 little stock of money was exhausted ; and to pur- 
 chase with it the few articles of furniture they 
 would require. 
 
 The cottage, selected through economy, was in 
 New Street, near the present Surrey Zoological 
 Gardens, upwards of three miles from the theatres, 
 the neighbourhood of Drury Lane being at that time 
 very expensive; for Tavistock Street had as yet 
 some of the fashion remaining, which made it the 
 Bond Street of some sixty years back. 
 
 Saint George's Fields, on the contrary, were then 
 almost a wild, with great ponds of water, where 
 cockney sportsmen sought snipe in winter, as they 
 used likewise in " the Five Fields," which have since 
 been metamorphosed into Belgrave and Eaton 
 Squares, then a dismal swamp ; while mounds of 
 earth and stagnant pools existed where the Blue 
 School and New Bethlem have been since erected. 
 The immediate vicinity of the Surrey Theatre was a 
 receptacle for itinerant showmen in winter, and bird- 
 fanciers and dog-sellers in summer ; so that the 
 necessity of passing through such a " cordon " 
 (which was anything but a " cordon samtaire ! ") 
 occasioned the rents to be exceedingly low : that, 
 together with taxes, of the house of which Mrs.
 
 STATE OF WARDROBE. 143 
 
 Entwistle hired a part, being within £10 per annum. 
 It was next door to a shop, occupied then, as now, 
 by a baker, and was a miserably small, inconv^enient 
 place. 
 
 Miss Mellon, however, did not think it either 
 miserable or ill furnished ; for it was the first 
 " place with furniture of their own '' she had ever 
 inhabited, and it consequently seemed to her a very 
 high degree of respectability. 
 
 This rise in worldly grandeur made her feel any 
 sort of slight more bitterly ; and in after days, when 
 arrayed in velvet and reclining in splendour, she used 
 laughingly to relate the mortifications which almost 
 always attended her Sunday walks with her mother. 
 
 On fine Sunday afternoons it was the custom for 
 very well-dressed people to walk in the mall of St. 
 James's Park ; and when Mrs. Entwisle and her 
 Harriot had been to church, they used to set forth 
 on their three miles' journey to reach this promenade. 
 
 Miss Mellon used to describe that they were then 
 in mourning for Mr. Entwisle's brother; and as 
 cheap black becomes "shabby" much sooner than 
 colours, it may be supposed that all the beauty of 
 the future duchess did not prevent her dress from 
 being rather dowdy. 
 
 The young men used to look under her bonnet 
 with unrestrained expressions of impertinent ad- 
 miration, notwithstanding the Medusa-looks which
 
 144 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 her mother assumed to awe them. The females, 
 envious, perhaps, of the brilliant country belle, with 
 her bright eyes and rosy complexion, used to laugh 
 and sneer aloud at " such rusty black silk gowns," 
 or " the poor creatures' cotton stockings," or 
 " bonnets such as had been worn two years ago ! " 
 
 Miss Mellon used to be quite disheartened at the 
 satire attracted by their " best dresses ; " and with 
 the offended dignity of a "householder," she would 
 make her mother return to their little Surrey cage 
 (with its sitting-room about two yards square, hold- 
 ing a table and three rush-chairs only), and, in a 
 fever of vexation, she would burst out crying, and 
 say, " Perhaps those impudent people have not a 
 nice place icith furniture of their own like ours ! " 
 
 The summer rolled on, and the heart-sick Miss 
 Mellon, fretting through " hope deferred," after 
 having applied to Mr. Sheridan as often as she 
 dared without offence, began to feci that they had 
 acted foolishly in relying on the promises of a 
 stranger, and that the wisest plan would be to sell 
 off their valuable "table and three chairs," and re- 
 turn to the kind family of the Stantons, to rejoin 
 the theatrical company. 
 
 Mrs. Entwisle, however, always persevering, tried 
 one more chance, by having a letter written to 
 Mr. Wright at Stafford, stating their position. 
 He instantly wrote impressively to remind Mr.
 
 SHERIDAN FULFILS HIS PROMISE. 145 
 
 Sheridan of the promised engagement, wbicli had 
 tempted the poor people to give up their livelihood ; 
 and so effectual was his remonstrance, that the 
 manager instantly wrote to desire Miss Mellon 
 would call on him. With admirable coolness he 
 told her that a young actress having seceded from 
 the compan}^ Miss Mellon had been always " kept 
 in his mind," as he had formerly said, and had now 
 a chance of taking the absent lady's place; and as 
 a specimen of her declamation, he requested her to 
 read the scenes of Lydia Languish and Mrs. Malaprop 
 aloud, from his own play of " The Rivals." 
 
 She felt greatly frightened, and answered, with 
 the naive, unaffected manner which she retained 
 through life, " I dare not, sir, for my life ! I would 
 rather read it to all England. Suppose, sir, you did 
 me the honour of reading it to me ?" 
 
 There was something: so unassumino; and child- 
 like in the way she made this daring request, that 
 the manager entered into the oddity of the matter, 
 and read nearly the whole play to his delighted 
 young auditor. She became so identified with the 
 drama, that she forgot all dread of the author, and, 
 on his request, she read the scenes of Lydia and her 
 Aunt with so much spirit, that Mr. Sheridan " ap- 
 plauded " repeatedly, told her she could play either 
 character, and gave her an engagement ! 
 
 By this time the company were coming back from
 
 146 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 the provinces, and there were several private meet- 
 ings of performers at the theatre, which Miss Mellon 
 having received permission to join, never failed tO' 
 attend. Mr. Sheridan having told her she should 
 make her c?eZ>?(nn " The Rivals," but that he had not 
 decided whether as Lydia or Mrs. Malaprop, she 
 studied it continually; Mrs. Entwisle, of course, 
 giving her own high-tragedy conception of each 
 character as the model. 
 
 She always accompanied her daughter to the re- 
 hearsals, waited at the theatre, and went home with 
 her. When the acting season commenced, they had 
 the double journey to the evening performances also; 
 so that, for a length of time, Miss Mellon and her 
 mother walked at least twelve miles each day; 
 which, perhaps, was useful in maintaining the fine 
 health which was natural to both. 
 
 The house opened on the 16th September, and 
 Miss Mellon went on the stage to join in the 
 national anthem. 
 
 *' The Rivals " was produced after a few rehearsals, 
 and the dehut announced as " Lydia Languish by a 
 young lady, her first appearance." 
 
 ' She was exceedingly alarmed and nervous, so that 
 her performance was very inferior to her rehearsals, 
 or the spirited reading to the author; but the 
 following criticism from tlie leading dramatic paper 
 of the day seems not unfavourable : —
 
 DEBUT AS LYDIA LANGUISH. 147 
 
 " * The Rivals ' was performed last night, with a 
 new actress as Lydia Languish. The lady, whose 
 name is said to be Melling, or Millen, was greatly 
 agitated. Her appearance is strikingly handsome, 
 her voice musical, her action graceful, when not 
 checked by fear ; and there were some tones of 
 archness at times, which practice may increase ; so 
 it would be unfair to call last night a failure, though 
 she did not succeed." 
 
 After this rather feeble first appearance, she and 
 Mr. Sheridan thought it desirable that some time 
 should elapse, for her to become acquainted with 
 the size and extent of the house, by joining in 
 choruses, &c., ere she tried a prominent character; 
 and to this plan they adhered until October. 
 
 On Michaelmas-day the country family felt the 
 absence of the customary gift which some of their 
 farming friends were always sure to send them 
 hitherto ; and Miss Mellon's salary of thirty 
 shillings per week certainly would not admit of 
 any such dainty being purchased. 
 
 Mrs. Entwisle had brought her up with the firm 
 belief in the necessity of complying with the super- 
 stitious customs attached to certain days, the omis- 
 sion of which would infallibly be followed by ill 
 luck; and therefore, the Christmas mince-pie, 
 Shrove-Tuesday pancakes, Easter tansy-pudding,, 
 or Michaelmas-goose, must be tasted, though in.
 
 148 JiJEMOIES OF MISS MELLON: 
 
 ever so small a quantity, nay, even though dis- 
 agreeable to the partaker, as was lier own case 
 respecting the Michaelmas dainty. An anecdote 
 regarding the latter has been sent us by an indi- 
 vidual who recollects her in New Street. To him 
 she regretted bitterly that, on her first metropolitan 
 29th of September, she should not be able to pur- 
 chase a goose, for the sake of tasting a small portion 
 to bring good luck. He adds, that the girlish de- 
 light she felt was excessive, on being informed that 
 at some cook-shop near Drury Lane she might pur- 
 chase even ojie quarter, from the dish she only 
 desired for its consequent good fortune. The little 
 portion was accordingly procured, and Miss Mellon 
 and her relatives were quite satisfied in having thus 
 fulfilled a superstitious duty at the appointed season. 
 It must be admitted, even by us " doubters " 
 concerning luck, that, if we are to judge by the 
 event. Miss Mellon's system of tempting the smiles 
 of Dame Fortune was more successful than any 
 which " reasoning people " can recommend !
 
 CHAPTER YII. 
 
 Performers at Drury Lane in 1795 — Appearance of the house — 
 Lodoiska — Characters played by Miss Mellon — Hair dresser 
 — Plays Miss Farren's and Mrs. Jordan's characters — Mr, 
 Braham's first appearance at Drury Lane — Opera rehearsal — 
 Personal appearance — Reminiscences of a contemporary actor 
 — Miss Farren — Earl of Derby — Anecdotes. 
 
 Miss Mellon first appeared at Drurj Lane on the 
 17th of September, 1795. In compliance with the 
 opinion of some experienced theatrical collectors, 
 the dramatic history of each year will be given 
 without interruption, in order to show the pro- 
 gressive improvement in her cast of characters. To 
 prove the difl&culty of obtaining a new or important 
 part by a debutante totally without interest, it will 
 be sufficient to give the following names of es- 
 tablished favourites, extracted from the bills of
 
 150 
 
 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 performance during Miss Mellon' s first London 
 season. 
 
 Signora Storace 
 Miss Pope 
 Miss Bramwell 
 Miss Heard 
 Mrs. Kemble 
 Mrs. Hopkins 
 
 Thus there were four or five first-rate actresses 
 for every line of character in this unrivalled com- 
 pany, of which the principal actors were — 
 
 Mrs. Sicklons 
 Mrs. Jordan 
 Mrs. Crouch 
 Mrs. Bland 
 Miss De Camp 
 Mrs. Powell 
 
 Miss Farren 
 Miss Collins 
 Miss Leak 
 Miss Redhead 
 Mrs. Goodall 
 Mrs. Booth 
 
 . Kemble 
 
 Kelly 
 
 Suett 
 
 C. Kemble 
 
 Bensley 
 
 Bannister, jun. 
 
 Braham 
 
 Waldron 
 
 Dignum 
 
 W roughton 
 
 Burton 
 
 Sedgwick 
 
 Palmer 
 
 King 
 
 Baddely 
 
 Barrymore 
 
 Bannister 
 
 Dodd 
 
 Ackin 
 
 Benson 
 
 Packer 
 
 Moody 
 
 Caulfield 
 
 Wewitzer 
 
 Hollino'sworth 
 
 Maddocks 
 
 Russell 
 
 Miss Mellon had never seen a theatre larger than 
 the town-halls in which she had played during her 
 provincial circuits; many of these did not exceed 
 the dimensions of ordinary sitting-rooms ; and the 
 curtain just cleared from touching the actors' heads. 
 "What must have been her feelings on first treading 
 the stage of " the wilderness," as Mrs. Siddons 
 styled the enormous new Drury Lane, where the
 
 APPEARANCE OF THE HOUSE. 151 
 
 mere opening for the curtain was forty- three feet 
 wide and thirty-eight feet high, or nearly seven 
 times the height of the performers ? The diameter 
 of the pit was fifty-five feet; the height to the 
 ceiling fifty-seven feet ; and there were seats 
 altogether for 3,600 persons; so that on " a crush 
 night " upwards of 5,000 persons might have been 
 squeezed into this enormous pile. Miss Mellon used 
 to say that, notwithstanding her unusual height, 
 she felt herself " a mere shrimp " when the curtain 
 was raised and she saw the multitude of faces before 
 her ! 
 
 The season opened with " First Love," and " No 
 Song, No Supper; " previously to which pieces the 
 company assembled on the stage to sing the national 
 anthem, and Miss Mellon among them. 
 
 " Lodoiska," a musical romance of Mr. Kemble's, 
 had been produced with great expense (as managers' 
 pieces generally are) ; and, to give it effect, every 
 person in the theatre, except the really principal 
 performers, was expected to go on in some part, 
 however trifling. Miss Mellon and Mrs. C. Kemble 
 (then Miss De Camp) were among the captives in 
 " Lodoiska " on the 1st of October, as stated by the 
 books of Drury Lane ; and the following is a literal 
 copy of the first London play-bill in which Miss 
 Mellon's name appeared : — •
 
 152 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY LANE. 
 This present Thursday, Oct. 1st, 1795, 
 Their Majesty's servants will act a comedy called the 
 
 WHEEL OF FORTUNE. 
 
 Sir David Daw ... ... Mr. R. Palmer. 
 
 Governor Tempest ... Mr. King. 
 
 Mr. Penruddock Mr. Kemble. 
 
 Mr. Woodville Mr. Whitfield. 
 
 Mr. Sydenham ... ... Mr. Palmei*. 
 
 Captain Woodville ... Mr. C. Kemble. 
 
 Weazle Mr. Suett. 
 
 Servant to Woodville ... Mr. Maddocks. 
 Officer ... ... ... Mr. Phillimore. 
 
 Jenkins ... ... ... Mr. Russell. 
 
 Coachman ... ... ... Mr. Jones. 
 
 Cook ... ... ... Mr. Banks. 
 
 Servant to Tempest ... Mr. Webb. 
 Footmen — Messrs. Tnieman, Cooke, Evans, Welsh. 
 
 Mrs. Woodville Mrs. Powell. 
 
 Emily Tempest ... ... Miss Farren. 
 
 Dame Dunckly ... ... Mrs. Mattocks. 
 
 Maid Miss Tidswell. 
 
 To which will be added, for the first time this Season,. 
 The Romance of 
 
 LODOISKA. 
 
 The music composed and selected from Cherubini, 
 
 Kreutzer, and Andreozzi, by 
 
 Mr. Stokace. 
 
 Polanders. 
 
 Prince Lapanski ... ... Mr. Aikin. 
 
 Count Floreski Mr. Kelly.
 
 '' LODOISKAr 
 
 153 
 
 Baron Lovinski 
 Varbel 
 Adolplius ... 
 Gustavus ... 
 Eirst page... 
 Second page 
 Princess Lodoiska 
 
 Mr. Palmer. 
 Mr. Suett. 
 Mr. Caulfield. 
 Mr. Trueman. 
 Master Welsh. 
 Master Gregson. 
 Mrs. Croucli. 
 
 Captives. 
 
 Miss Leak, Miss De Camp, Miss Miller, Miss Mellon, 
 
 Mrs. Boimaison, &c. 
 
 Tartars. 
 
 Kera Khan Mr. C. Kemble. 
 
 Thorak ... ... ... Mr. Disfmim. 
 
 Khor Mr. Cooke. 
 
 Japhis ... ... ... Mr. Bannister. 
 
 Tamuri ... ... ... Mr. Banks. 
 
 Camazin ... ... ... Mr. Boimaison. 
 
 The Horde. 
 Messrs. Danhy, Maddocks, Phillimore, Welsh, Evans. 
 Boxes, 65. ; second price, 3s. Pit, 8s. Qd. ; second price, 2s. 
 Gallery, 2s. ; second price, Is. Upper gallery, Is. ; second 
 price, Qd. 
 
 It is curious to observe the total absence of pre- 
 tension and " large letters " in this bill. 
 
 In the present day it would appear that the 
 dignity of a great actor requires his name to be in 
 enormous type, and placed in a line by itself; but 
 here we see Mr. Kemble was satisfied to appear in 
 the same line and the same sized letter as Mr. Kinor. 
 
 The captives in " Lodoiska " have nothing to do 
 beyond running, in screaming terror, through the 
 
 VOL. I. L
 
 154 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 flaming castle of Lovinski, when the Tartar horde 
 attack it. But as actresses of such talent as Miss 
 De Camp and Miss Leak also devoted themselves to 
 the not very arduous task, Miss Mellon was in 
 goodly society. Between October and the Christ- 
 mas holidays they performed in " Lodoiska " eigh- 
 teen times. 
 
 After appearing as a captive five times, Miss 
 Mellon had a new part given to her, Ladij Godt'oaj 
 in O'Keefe's " Peeping Tom," when that farce was 
 produced for the first time at Drury Lane, October 
 15th, by Mr. Colman's permission : it was thus 
 cast — * 
 
 EarlofMercia Mr. Caiilfield. 
 
 Mayor of Coventry ... Mr. Watkins. 
 
 Count Lewis ... ... Mr. Trueman. 
 
 Harold ... ... ... Mr Dis:nuni. 
 
 o 
 
 Crazy ... ... ... Mr. Suett. 
 
 Peeping Tom ... ... Mr. Bannister, jun. 
 
 Lady Godiva ... ... Miss Mellon. 
 
 Emma ... ... ... Miss De Camp. 
 
 Mayoress ... ... ... Mrs. Hopkins. 
 
 Maid Mrs. Bland. 
 
 * This piece was played eiglit times before Christmas. On 
 the 30th, Miss Mellon is named as one of the chorus singers in 
 Storace's opera of the " Cherokee," and on the 11th November, 
 among those of the " Pirates." On the 14th, she played Clara in 
 the " Adopted Child," a part which had been Miss Leak's ; and 
 on the 26th, Lucy in the " Recruiting OflScer." On the 25th, 
 " Alexander the Great " was performed, in which Mr. Kemble, 
 Mr. C. Kemble, and Mrs. Siddons sustained the principal parts.
 
 CHARACTERS PLATED BY MISS MELLON. 155 
 
 On the Isfc December, Miss Mellou played Maida in 
 the " Spoiled Child ; " the 3rd, Lucy in the "Country 
 Girl ; " the 7th, Miss La Blonde in the " Romp ; " and 
 on the 14th, Lucy in the " Devil to Pay." As the in- 
 imitable Mrs. Jordan played her four best characters 
 in these pieces. Miss Mellon had an opportunity of 
 studying how they should be represented; and so 
 enchanted and engrossed was she by the delightful 
 actress before her, that she used to declare her own 
 acting was merely mechanical, her interest being 
 diverted from her own characters ; and she would 
 have played all the otlier parts together, rather 
 than have lost one word of Mrs. Jordan's. 
 
 On the 10th, she sang in the " Surrender of 
 Calais;" on the 18th, played Blanch in "King 
 John; " and on the 30th, Peggy in "The Suicide." 
 
 " Twelfth Night " was performed on the 12th 
 January, 1796; and it must be recollected that Mr. 
 Kemble, as manager, was especially careful in getting 
 up Shakspeare with the best cast the theatre could 
 command. 
 
 The character of Maria is of considerable im- 
 portance, and had been previously played by Miss 
 De Camp. To Miss Mellon's astonishment and 
 
 The choruses were very well filled ; in them were Mrs. Bland, 
 Miss De Camp, Miss Mellon, Miss Leak, Miss Ame, Mrs. Mad- 
 docks, Mrs. Boimaisou, Miss Chatterly, and many other good 
 . vocalists.
 
 156 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 delight she found her own name as the representa- 
 tive of Maria, Miss De Camp having taken Olivia ; 
 Mrs. Jordan was the Viola. 
 
 At this period, Miss Mellon could not afford to 
 employ a hairdresser constantly ; and Avith her 
 mother's assistance she easily arranged her beautiful 
 hair ; but it was a sort of professional whim of hers 
 that neither of them were worthy to dress the hair 
 of a Shakspearian character ; therefore, she alwa^^s 
 treated herself to a coiffeur whenever it was her 
 good fortune to receive one of these " honourable 
 distinctions," although it must have fallen heavily 
 on a salary of thirty shillings a week. 
 
 On the 16th, she played Miss Grantham in "The 
 Liar; " and on the 18th, a pantomime was produced 
 entitled "Harlequin Captive, or the Magic Fire;" 
 the characters are not named in the bills, but there are 
 above twenty distinguished actresses enumerated in 
 this piece. She first appeared before royalty on the 
 1st February. On the 9th, she played Gleone in " The 
 Distressed Mother ; " and on the 20th, in the " Shep- 
 herdess of Cheapside ; " on the 27th February and 1st 
 March, as Lettuce in the revival of " The Plain 
 Dealer ; " and on the 3rd, in the " Mountaineers." 
 
 Sheridan gave the first demonstration of the 
 estimate he formed of her talent when the Trip to 
 Scarborough was to be performed on the 5th March. 
 The character of Berinthia had been played about a
 
 PLAYS ONE OF MISS FAREEN'S CHARACTERS. 157 
 
 fortniglit previously by the elegant Miss Farren; 
 that lady was now suffering from indisposition, and 
 Mr. Sheridan, who cast this piece himself, bestowed 
 Berinthia upon his new debutante, Miss Mellon, 
 which she played with considerable success ; and 
 in after years it was a favourite character of hers. 
 
 Luc?/ in " The Devil to Pay " was represented by 
 her on the 8th, and on the 12th, she sang in " The 
 Iron Chest ; " — on that memorable night which led 
 to the author's more memorable preface (against 
 Mr. Kemble), and which he afterwards vainly en- 
 deavoured to suppress. 
 
 Mrs. Jordan had performed Ainanthis in " The 
 Child of Nature " (one of her most charming efforts) 
 on the 10th, and was announced to repeat it on the 
 14th; but being taken suddenly ill on the preceding 
 day, the managers consulted as to the substitute best 
 suited to take her place without long notice. It 
 was decided that the debutante Miss Mellon had 
 been so perfect in her hasty study to replace Miss 
 Farren some eight days before, that she should be 
 allowed to try Mrs. Jordan's character, under similar 
 circumstances. 
 
 This was a great compliment to the young girl, 
 who had scarcely had five months' experience of 
 London acting and actors : particularly when it is 
 considered what a list of comic actresses there were 
 in that company, all likely to know the part better
 
 158 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 than herself. She was nervous in undertaking it ; 
 and lest her wish to accommodate might be misin- 
 terpreted into presumption, she begged that an 
 apology might head the bills of the performance. 
 Accordingly, they commenced thus : " The public 
 are most respectfully informed that, in consequence 
 of the sudden indisposition of Mrs. Jordan, Miss 
 Mellon will undertake the character of Amanthis, 
 and humbly solicits their indulgence." 
 
 The criticisms of the day give the best possible 
 encomium on this performance, by saying that she 
 in many points closely approached the celebrated 
 original. 
 
 After its conclusion, the performers assembled 
 round her with such kind congratulations that the 
 agitated girl burst into tears, to their great surprise; 
 for hitherto they had seen her the most laughter- 
 loving person in the theatre. To conclude her little 
 triumphs, it was understood that as she had suc- 
 ceeded so well in Miss Farren's character of Ber- 
 inthia, she was to repeat it on the 17th, which she 
 did with increased courage and animation. 
 
 On the 8th and 31st, she again appeared as Liicy in 
 " The Devil to Pay ; " the 19th and 28th, " The Iron 
 Chest" was repeated. April 4th, the pantomime was 
 performed for the thirty-sixth and last time. April 
 13th, in a new musical drama, called " The Smug- 
 glers," performed about ten nights, she played Mar-^
 
 MR. BEAHAirS DEBUT AT DEUR7 LANE. 159 
 
 geiy. After the play, slie was in " The Critic." May 
 4th, Mr. John Kemble was taken seriously ill. Had he 
 read the announcement in the bill, its grammar might 
 have been fatal to him : — '' The lyiibllc are respect- 
 fully informed that Mr. Charles Kemble will read the 
 characterofili"aAmoM(i, and hopes for ?/ozfr indulgence." 
 May 6th, Miss Mellon advanced another step; in- 
 stead of her former character of Miss La Blonde in 
 ** The Ptomp," she played Penelope, which had been 
 performed by the popular, handsome, and clever Miss 
 De Camp. On the 23rd she had a part in a new 
 three-act piece called " Celadon and Florimal ; " and 
 in the revived " Gentle Shepherd " the character of 
 Jenny. 
 
 The last night of the season, June 14th, she 
 played Miss Grantham for a benefit (the proceeds to 
 be divided amon g^t^^Zt^ performers), and sung for the 
 fifteenth time in the musical piece of " Mahmoud," 
 which had been brought out on the 30th of April for 
 the first appearance of Mr. Braham at Drury Lane. 
 
 At the rehearsal of this opera, an incident 
 occurred, which was at first embarrassing to the 
 novice, who was only making her way in her pro- 
 fession, surrounded by a company who were all 
 experienced actors, and full of confidence. But the 
 sequel, showing that Mr. Kemble undertook her de- 
 fence, gave her courage and much gratification. 
 Mr. Kelly, who had been greatly annoyed that the
 
 160 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 choruses ^yere not (in his opinion) loud enough, found 
 fault with several of the singers for their want of 
 exertion ; and, among others, with Miss Mellon, 
 saying " he could not hear her ; and if ladies did 
 not choose to siug above their breaths, they might 
 as well sing over the music at home." 
 
 Miss Mellon replied that " she sang as loud as she 
 could ; but she did not profess to be a fine vocalist." 
 
 Mr. Kelly, who was sorry for having singled her 
 out, replied that he did not allude particularly to her ; 
 and so far that morning the matter rested. 
 
 A day or two passed, and still these unfortunate 
 choruses were executed in such a faint way that Mr. 
 Kelly was again anp;ry, and decidedly out of temper; 
 and he insisted on hearing each singer separately, in 
 one particular chorus. Now, although Miss Mellon 
 could take parts in simple glees, she never affected 
 to sing difficult concerted music ; and Kelly, in his 
 I)lagiarisms from the Italian masters, about that 
 time first introduced difficulties into his choruses. 
 Miss Mellon, when it came to her turn, sang so 
 very faintly that it appeared really as if it pro- 
 ceeded from unwillingness, if not from incapacity. 
 Mr. Kelly was about to say something very severe, 
 when John Kemble came to the rescue. " Come, 
 come, Mr. Kelly," said he, "Miss Mellon is never 
 inattentive to her business, and it is not lier fault if 
 she be ' ill at these numbers ! ' "
 
 PERSONAL APPEARANCE. 161 
 
 A word from the stag-e raanasfer was of course 
 sufficient, and the matter dropped. As Mr. Brahara 
 made so great a sensation with the pubhc, Miss 
 Mellon had the mortification of sinofino; these 
 awkward choruses some forty or fifty nights. A 
 glance at the theatrical advertisements in the 
 papers of that time will show that she was as yet 
 deemed of little importance ; as her name, though 
 in the playbill, was seldom advertised. 
 
 Indeed, in a theatre where Mrs. Jordan, Miss 
 Earren, Mrs. Groodall, Miss De Camp, Miss Leak, 
 Miss Heard, and Mrs. Bland performed, little 
 opportunity was likely to be accorded to a young 
 actress, whose talents were unknown, until some 
 necessity of the theatre called them forth. 
 
 A great favourite of the present day, who, about 
 that time, first came out at Drury Lane, describes 
 thus his early recollections of Miss Mellon's style 
 -and appearance. The definition seems so exactly 
 like what many remember from subsequent years, 
 that it is given without alteration : — •" Miss Mellon 
 was a remarkably handsome brunette, but did not 
 look a bit like an actress. She was much more like 
 one of the genuine beauties of a quiet village two 
 hundred miles from town. It was, I suppose, this 
 rusticity that made her for a long time unnoticed ; 
 I don't mean unnoticed merely as an actress, for 
 with our company she was of course prepared for
 
 162 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON, 
 — — — <« 
 
 that, but unnoticed as a heaufy. She had really 
 more claim to that title than (two or three ex- 
 cepted) most actresses of the day. Miss Farren 
 was then, despite the small-pox, the reigning toast;, 
 she was. an elegant woman. Mrs. Jordan was in 
 her bloom : she was a fascinating: one. Mrs. 
 Goodall was delightful; and Miss De Camp set half 
 the young fellows mad ; nay, Mrs. Bland was voted 
 a charmer by many ; the coarse sirjnora had admirers;, 
 to say nothing of the majestic Siddons, to whom 
 none dared express admiration ; the Cleopatra 
 looking Mrs. Powell, and that most graceful and 
 lovely of all syrens, Mrs. Crouch. These ladies 
 had each a style, you could classify them as 
 divinities ; but Miss Mellon was merely a coun- 
 trified girl, blooming in complexion, with a 
 very tall, fine figure, raven locks, ivory teeth, a 
 cheek like a peach, and coral lips. All she put you 
 in mind of was, a country road and a pillion ! I 
 cannot call to mind when I saw her first, which 
 convinces me that she did not make any impression 
 upon me at once. I must have met her at the call 
 of the company previous to the opening in 1795. It 
 happens in this, as in a hundred other cases, where 
 persons have subsequently achieved celebrity, that 
 one regrets not having paid more attention to their 
 early efforts ; but I had my own battle to fight at 
 that time, and was more inclined to watch the 
 master efforts of the great people, than to trouble
 
 REMINISCENCES OF AN ACTOR. 163 
 
 my head about novices. I remember her in Lady 
 Grodiva, because I went to the front to see Bannister 
 (Jack), playing Peeping Tom. The lady has very 
 little to do, and the part is generally given to some 
 fine looking woman ; I presume her personal 
 appearance was the sole ground of the selection ; 
 there was no one in the theatre who could brings the 
 requisite advantages, and would go on for so slight 
 a part, except Miss Mellon. She was always a little 
 inclined to emhonjjoint. I believe it was under- 
 stood that she should play some of the secondary 
 parts, formerly assigned to Miss De Camp and Mrs. 
 Gibbs. Very little was expected from her, and she 
 rather agreeably disappointed Kemble, who had no 
 great opinion of new-comers. Miss De Camp in- 
 creased in public favour so rapidly, that it was 
 deemed inexpedient to send her on for any but im- 
 portant parts. Miss Mellon, therefore, had many 
 characters which, though not exceedingly promi- 
 nent, were better than she had probably expected. 
 She was a good-humoured, pleasant creature in the 
 theatre at that time, and mixed with this pleasant- 
 ness a decision admirably calculated to repel any 
 disagreeable attentions. This I remember she 
 proved to old Dodd,* who was (though a capital 
 
 * Dodd was one of those whose vices and follies grow with their 
 years; when young, he had no personal advantages ; and, when 
 advanced in life, was in expression feebly idiotic ; yet he imagined 
 himself an Adonis ; and made desperate love to every woman who 
 possessed the double charm of youth and beauty.
 
 164 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 actor) a man of unbounded vanity, and ot" very in- 
 different cliaracter ; and who received two or three 
 severe checks from Kemble for his frivolities with 
 regard to the younger actresses. Miss Mellon at 
 once put an end to all annoyance, in a prompt and 
 spirited manner, and she spoke aloud too. Every- 
 body was pleased, except Dodd, who, I believe, 
 never foro-ave it. 
 
 " Had there been anything very remarkable in 
 attire or in manner about her, I think I should have 
 noted it ; for Avho that saw it foro^ets Dio^nura when 
 he acted in full dress uniform and blue silk stock- 
 ings ? Every one remembers Munden in his early 
 days, and Delfini, for they made themselves remark- 
 able by their eccentricities ; but Miss Mellon (save 
 from her rustic good looks) had nothing peculiar to 
 attract my attention. 
 
 *' I recollect, on the reunion of the company after 
 the vacation (I don't know which vacation, though, 
 perhaps, 96, 7, or 8, it was a general thing), hearing 
 several actors and actresses speak of having met 
 Miss Mellon in the provinces (for when Drury 
 closed she went to other theatres for practice), and 
 that at York or Liverpool she became a great 
 favourite. Our great folks spoke very highly of 
 her indeed — Bannister, Mrs. Orouch, and others ; 
 and she was often praised for her good-natured 
 readiness to play for anyone in cases of illness,
 
 REMINISCENCES OF AN ACTOR. 165 
 
 &c. On these occasions (if very sudden) the higher 
 performers would say, ' Miss Mellon can do it ; I 
 saw her play it very well at such a place.' These 
 things made her very popular with the management, 
 for she was indefatigable ; and, after flaunting as 
 the fine lady, in the absence of some greater actress, 
 she returned to the secondary business she was 
 accustomed to play with a good grace and good 
 humour. ^ 
 
 " Old Wewitzer was at this time her friend and 
 adviser; but whether she knew him previously to 
 her coming to Drury I don't know : I fancy he was 
 a friend of the family ; he knew her mother very 
 well. Miss Heard was a great friend of hers ; so 
 were Miss Leak, Miss De Camp, and Mrs. Jordan, 
 who were so situated in the theatre at that time 
 that their kindness amounted to a sort of patronage. 
 
 " The only thing more that I can recall is, her 
 asking leave to be at the wings on the night of the 
 production of Vortigern. Kemble was very par- 
 ticular in keeping them clear; but on this occasion, 
 and in her case, he relaxed somewhat of his severity. 
 Everybody was on the qui vive to see this assumed 
 Shakspearian play ; and though Kemble had stamped 
 it as a ' Fudge,' a vast number of us were of a 
 different opinion, merely for the purpose of opposing 
 the stao^e manag:er. 
 
 " When the uproar began, the sensation behind
 
 166 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 the scenes was immense. Young Ireland, who was 
 a dashing follow, and who had attained great favour 
 with the little people from his affability, had quite 
 a party on his side. The play proceeded, and tlie 
 riot was at its heiglit ; and this brings me to Miss 
 Mellon. Slie turned as pale as death, trembled like 
 an aspen leaf, and I really expected was about to 
 faint. As she was by no means one of the fainting 
 order, I set this down to her tenderness for the 
 young author (or finder), but I was mistaken. She 
 had never witnessed the condemnation of a play 
 before ; and she told me afterwards, that she ex- 
 pected, from the noise, that they would leap on the 
 stage, demolish the scener}?-, &c., and perhaps (as 
 they did a little time before in Ireland) act violently 
 towards the performers. Her fears were not un- 
 natural ; for, some forty years ago, when a theatrical 
 riot did occur, it was an appalling scene." 
 
 Miss Farren, who only played two seasons after 
 Miss Mellon's appearance, was greatly admired by 
 the young professional novice. The attachment of 
 the Earl of Derby was then well known, and his 
 intention declared of offering her his hand in case 
 of the demise of the first countess. Miss Farren 
 was therefore treated as if the aerial coronet was 
 already on her brow. She was in very good private 
 society before her marriage, however ; and when the 
 Duke of Richmond gave amateur theatricals, at his
 
 MISS FAR REN. 167 
 
 house in Privy Gardens, Miss Farren was the 
 principal director, by the request of numerous dis- 
 tinguished persons. The chief performers were, 
 the Hon. Mrs. Darner, Lord Henry Fitzgerald, and 
 the Earl of Derby. It is said that the proposal of 
 his lordship was made in his quaint theatrical cos- 
 tume, with his face pain]ted and smeared for a dress 
 rehearsal. 
 
 An occurrence regarding Miss Farren's last season 
 of playing would prove that, about the close of the 
 last century, theatrical managers really loere 
 ^^ managers^'' of the actors whom they engaged 
 and paid ; a degree of absolute power which is 
 rather doubtful in these enlightened days, when the 
 whims and tempers of the company are frequently 
 more difficult to satisfy than the tastes of their 
 patrons, the public. 
 
 Anyone who is conversant with modern theatri- 
 cal affairs must be aware of a circumstance which 
 occurred two or three years, since when a young 
 actress, who was refused the gratification of some 
 whim respecting a new part she had learnt, threw it 
 up in anger; at the same time saying that "her suc- 
 cessor should not benefit by her taste in costume," 
 she destroyed, in the presence of the manager, the 
 whole set of patterns and models of historical dresses 
 which he had enabled her to procure, and which 
 there was no time to replace. The end of the story
 
 168 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 was, that, under the pressure of time, the manager 
 had no alternative but to let the " hasty " young 
 lady have her way regarding the character. 
 
 It is also well known that, recently, a certain 
 beautiful danseuse was so implacably offended with 
 a manager respecting a peculiar costume, which her 
 exquisite dancing had almost identified with herself, 
 and which the manager had ventured to hint his 
 wish that another lady might wear on some parti- 
 cular occasion, that she refused to appear again, 
 obtained an accommodating physician s certificate 
 of indisposition, and, in short, so completely upset 
 the arrangements when too late for any substitution, 
 that a compromise was respectfully tendered, and a 
 promise that the celebrated garment should be held 
 sacred to her own person from that day forth. 
 
 Miss Farren should have lived in those days of 
 " liberty," for it would seem she possessed the 
 spirit for their enjoyment. The year before her 
 retirement the performance of " The Provoked Hus- 
 band " was announced, Miss Farren to take her 
 celebrated character of Lady Toionlc?/, in which 
 her early success had been so great that, after her 
 first appearance in it, tbe (Jfhutante had been en- 
 gaged at both the great theatres. From that time, 
 however, it would seem that the changes in the 
 lady's fortunes were more rapid than the changes 
 in the wardrobes supplied by the management;
 
 MISS FAR REN. 169 
 
 and the future countess, on examining the dress 
 intended for her, refused to wear it. Both parties 
 were resolute : the managers denied her a new 
 dress, the actress rejected the old one, and the play 
 was suddenly advertised to be withdrawn. 
 
 Green-room gossip soon flies through the play- 
 going portion of London. The cause of their 
 disappointment became quickly known (perhaps 
 intentionally) to the resolute spirits who govern 
 the pit and gallery ; and, on the night when the 
 play should have been acted, a most tremendous 
 riot took place in the house, in which severe 
 rebukes and loud calls for Miss Farren pre- 
 dominated. 
 
 Some sort of apology was made for that lady, 
 who fortunately was not among the performers; 
 but the rioters insisted so resolutely on " The Pro- 
 voked Husband " being played soon, that there was 
 no peace until someone was sent on to announce its 
 performance for a certain night. 
 
 Accordingly, on the appointed evening, the play 
 was performed to a house crowded almost to suffo- 
 cation by parties wishing to see who had conquered 
 in the green-room. Miss Farren, notwithstanding 
 her fame, her talents, and her prospects, had found 
 the impossibility of contending against the manage- 
 ment, which was supported by the public; and the 
 admired favourite appeared in the despised satin 
 
 VOL. I. M
 
 170 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON: 
 
 dress, in which she had to make many apologetic 
 and deprecating movements to her angry audience 
 ere they would allow her to proceed with one 
 syllable of the play. 
 
 Miss Mellon being then just introduced to the 
 principal green-room (through the amiability of 
 Mrs. Siddons), very wisely thought it better to 
 listen to the conversational style of the grand 
 actresses than to indulge her own bavarderie ; and 
 a great penance this silence must have been to her. 
 Accordingly, when Lord Derby and other theatrical 
 noblemen would assemble round Miss Farren, Miss 
 Mellon used to stand near this glass of fashion. 
 The great lady was very partial to the rustic belle, 
 and doubtless she derived much professional benefit 
 from her intercourse with the most elegant actress 
 on the stage, whose refined readings of Lady Teazle 
 and the more elevated class of comedy are to this 
 day quoted as beyond attainment. Lord Derby 
 was a very singular-looking little man for a lover. 
 Although at this time but forty-five, he looked 
 fifteen years older. He had an excessively large 
 head, surmounting his small, spare figure, and wore 
 his hair tied in a long, thin pig- tail. This, with his 
 attachment to short nankeen gaiters, made him an 
 easily-recognized subject in the numerous carica- 
 tures of the day. 
 
 Miss Farren's conduct was always unexceptionable,
 
 ANECDOTE. 171 
 
 :and after their marriage they lived most happily 
 together. 
 
 Miss Mellon was one evening standing near the 
 green-room fire, and, while waiting for the play to 
 begin, she was humming some popular dance, and 
 just tracing the steps unconsciously. She was 
 roused by the voice of Miss Farren, whispering, 
 *' You happy girl, I would give worlds to be like 
 you ! " 
 
 Poor Miss Mellon, recollecting her thirty- shilling 
 salary, thought she was ridiculed by " a lady with 
 thirty guineas a week, who was to marry a lord; " 
 and she replied, with some slight vexation, that 
 ^' there certainly must be a vast deal to be envied 
 in her position by one who commanded what she 
 pleased ! " 
 
 Pressing her hand kindly. Miss Farren's eyes 
 became full of tears as she replied, " I cannot com- 
 mand such a light heart as prompted your little song!"
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Engagement at Liverpool — Character of that Theatre — Success 
 there — Anecdote and kindness of Mrs. Siddons — Benefit — 
 Returns to London — Continued improvement — Love of 
 flowers — Change of lodgings — Anecdote — Act of kindness 
 — Jews' festivities — Novel footstool. 
 
 After the success of Miss Mellon in London, which, 
 though not very remarkable, was unexpected by her 
 country friends in those days of superior comic 
 actresses, she had proposals of engagement from 
 several provincial managers, who, two years 
 previously, would have refused an application 
 from her. Such is the "stamp on the gold" 
 ajffixed by even a short probation on the London 
 boards. This is more especially the case at Liver- 
 pool, where the audiences require a continual 
 succession of metropolitan performers, thereby in- 
 creasing the difficulties of the manager in no trij3ing 
 degree ; for the Stars, being aware of the demand.
 
 ENGAGEMENT AT LIVERPOOL. 173 
 
 are proportionably particular and troublesome about 
 their engagements. 
 
 Among those who wrote to offer Miss Mellon a 
 short engagement between the Loudon seasons, 
 was Mr. Aikin, the Liverpool manager; and, as 
 Lancashire was endeared to her from childish re- 
 collections, she accepted his proposal at once, as 
 being also a step further in her profession than 
 almost any other provincial engagement could have 
 given her. 
 
 The Liverpool theatre was, at that time, con- 
 ducted on principles different from those of any 
 other provincial establishment ; it was kept open for 
 about three months in the summer season, com- 
 mencing when Drury Lane and Oovent Garden 
 closed, and ending at the recommencement of their 
 performances. The company consisted of London 
 performers, none of whom were permitted to act 
 until pledged to remain during the entire season. 
 But this system, at first a source of great profit, 
 became afterwards a trouble and expense unpre- 
 cedented ; as the London theatres sometimes varied 
 in the periods of their opening or closing, the actors 
 had to run away from Liverpool, or were unable to 
 reach that place by the day appointed. 
 
 An attempt was made to imitate the plan of Tate 
 Wilkinson, by having a provincial company. This 
 the inhabitants of Liverpool resented warmly ;
 
 174 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 " London actors or none " was the universal cry ; 
 of which those ladies and gentlemen taking advan- 
 tage, asked such salaries as alarmed the proprietors. 
 To let in provincials by two and three at a time was 
 the scheme that next suggested itself; and Mr. 
 Kemble and Mrs. Siddons (as yet untried in 
 London) were selected as the best actor and actress 
 the provinces possessed. But they were each 
 hissed, hooted, and pelted off the stage ; and that not 
 only for one or two nights, but consecutively for a 
 mouth. Mrs. Siddons at length prevailed over 
 ignorant clamour and senseless opposition ; but the 
 peerless Kemble was hissed, whenever he appeared, 
 for one whole season ! Even to this day a prejudice 
 against country actors prevails there ; and it is not 
 at all uncommon to see seven or eight metropolitan 
 actors in the same play in one night, at the Liver- 
 pool theatre. 
 
 In ] 796, Miss Mellon arrived there with the 
 Entwisles, on the 10th of June, taking lodgings at 
 a hosier's ; and on the 22nd made her appearance 
 at the Theatre Royal, Liverpool, where she was 
 destined afterwards to become so great a favourite. 
 Her engagement was for the season at two pounds 
 per week, and half a clear benefit ; which were 
 thought very handsome terms. She improved ex- 
 ceedingly here ; and as she had " understudied " 
 many principal characters whilst in town, she had
 
 SUCCESS THERE. 175 
 
 now an opportunity of essaying lier powers in their 
 representation. It was usual then (and is to a 
 certain extent now) to retain, in the two royal 
 theatres, an actress or two to study every character 
 played by the principal performers, and especially in 
 new pieces ; so that, in cases of illness affecting the 
 greater one, a substitute should be prepared. Miss 
 Mellon was thus not only minutely perfect in all the 
 leading parts of the new plays, but had assiduously 
 studied the business and points of such parts as 
 were represented by Mrs. Jordan, Miss De Camp, 
 Mrs. Goodall, Miss Farren, &c. Nor was this all : 
 ardently loving her art, eternally in the theatre, she 
 was actually able to repeat nearly entire plays ; and 
 could tell the " situations," as they are termed, in 
 every stock play of the time. The stage-manager 
 found her an invaluable resource. She assisted him 
 to cast the characters, described the costume and 
 scenery of new pieces, which he had probably never 
 seen at all, but which she had often witnessed 
 during the (then) minute process of previous re- 
 hearsal. 
 
 Of course, Miss Mellon's kindness could not be 
 more appropriately repaid than by casting her such 
 characters as she chose ; and as she was too wise to 
 make any very unreasonable request, she might be 
 said to have completely her own way in the theatre. 
 In her performances here she had manifold advan-
 
 176 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 tages ; perfect, long before the cast of the play had 
 been put up in the green-room, she came to re- 
 hearsal as if she had played the part fifty times. 
 Young, and with a quick ear, she had caught the 
 tones of some of the original performers, but who 
 had not been seen in plays presented for the first 
 time at Liverpool ; she had therefore the place of 
 the London favourite ; and it occurred more than 
 once, that when the originals subsequently acted 
 the parts there, they were deemed copiers or 
 borrowers from Miss Mellon ! 
 
 The following were Miss Mellon's characters at 
 Liverpool in 1796 : — Julia Faulhier, in " The Way 
 to Get Married ; " Sophia, in " The Eoad to 
 Ruin ; " Cowslij), in " The Agreeable Surprise " 
 twice ; OjMt'a, in " Hamlet ; " Priscilla Tomboy, 
 four times ; Maria, in " The School for Scandal ; " 
 Phoebe, in " Rosina ; " Fatima, in " The Revenge; " 
 Nancy Lovell, in " The Suicide ; " Hero, in " Much 
 Ado about Nothing ; " TiJhurina, in " The Critic ; " 
 Eosina, in " The Spanish Barber ; " Estifania, in 
 *' Rule a Wife ; " Miss Grantham, in " The Liar ; " 
 Boxalana, in " The Sultan ; " Cecilia, in " Specu- 
 lation ; " Little Ficlde ; Mariana, in " The Dra- 
 matist ; " Thisbe, in " Crochet Lodge ; " Joanna, in 
 "The Deserted Daughter;" Nancy, in "Three 
 Weeks after Marriage ; " Cherry, in "The Beaux* 
 Stratagem;" Miss Woburn^m "Every One has his
 
 BENEFIT. Ill 
 
 Fault ; " Angelina, in " Love makes a Man ; " 
 Madge, in " Love in a Village ; " Bosalind, in 
 "As you Like it;" Miss Tittup, in "Bon Ton;" 
 Miss Leeson, in " The School for Wives ; " jE7m- 
 meline, in " The Doldrums ; " Maud, in " Peeping 
 Tom;" Louisa Dudley, in "The West Indian; " Miss 
 Lucy, in " The Virgin Unmasked ; " Flora, in " The 
 Wonder ; " Sahina Bosni, in " First Love ; " Pollys 
 in " Polly Honeycomb ; " The Page, in " The Follies 
 of a Day ; " Fanny, in " Lock and Key ; " Clara, in 
 " The Masked Friend; " Lady Touchwood, in "The 
 Belle's Stratagem ; " Fanny ; Joanna, in " The 
 Page;" Agnes, in "The Mountaineers;" Lady 
 Flippant, in " Fashionable Levities ; " Dorothy, in 
 " Heigho for a Husband ; " Nell, in " The Devil to 
 Pay ; " Annette, in " Robin Hood ; " Emily Tempest, 
 in " The Wheel of Fortune; " Sophia; Annabel, in 
 " The Man in Ten Thousand ; " Barbara, in " Love 
 aud Money ; " Mrs. Kitty, in " High Life below 
 Stairs ; " and Miranda, in " The Tempest." 
 
 On the 17th August she took her half-benefit, 
 playing Sahina Bosni, in " First Love " (speaking 
 the Address and Epilogue) ; Polly, in " Polly 
 Honeycomb ; " and The Page, in " The Follies of a 
 Day; " introducing two songs. She realized £130 
 by this night, and about £25 by the engagement. 
 
 A greater honour than the theatrical engagement 
 awaited Miss Mellon, in the flattering notice of Mrs.
 
 178 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 Siddons, who was that summer at Liverpool. After 
 the closing of the Drurj Lane season, the latter had 
 found the impossibility of obtaining any money 
 from Mr. Sheridan, who was never very forward 
 with the settlements ; but this year, she afterwards 
 mentioned to Miss Mellon, there was a slight cool- 
 ness between him and herself, because she would 
 neither give her credence nor her acting to Ire- 
 land's deception of " Vortigern." She was, there- 
 fore, obliged to make very hard terms with the pro- 
 vincial managers, to compensate for the London 
 deficiencies ; and, after acting a fortnight at Man- 
 chester, she arrived at Liverpool, at the same time 
 as Miss Mellon. She played there a fortnight also, 
 her splendid performance taking such an effect on 
 the comic actress, that the latter lost all her night's 
 rest, and was crying half the morning ! 
 
 The following account of the distinguished kind- 
 ness of Mrs. Siddons to the unknown Miss Mellon,, 
 who was more than twenty years her junior, is 
 given on the indisputable authority of the in- 
 dividual who introduced the parties, himself an 
 actor of great talent, and well known to Mrs. 
 Siddons. His anecdote is in such a genuine form 
 that his words are quoted literally : 
 
 " While I was engaged at the Liverpool Theatre,, 
 in 1796, Mrs. Siddons came down for a short time. 
 I had the pleasure of knowing her intimately, from
 
 KINDNESS OF MRS. SIDDONS. 179 
 
 my father having been in her father's company, and 
 her son some time in mine, studvino^ to become an 
 actor. Mrs. Siddons said to me one morning at 
 our rehearsal, ' There is a young woman here whom 
 I am sure I have seen at Drury Lane.' 
 
 " I told her, ' It is Miss Mellon, who has just 
 come out.' 
 
 "'She seems a nice, pretty young woman,' re- 
 turned Mrs. Siddons, *and I pity her situation in 
 that hot-bed of iniquity, Drury Lane ; it is almost 
 impossible for a young, pretty, and unprotected 
 female to escape. How did she conduct herself 
 while with your father's company ? ' 
 
 " I replied, ' She conducted herself with the 
 greatest propriety, although she had several tempta- 
 tions. I have never heard one word to her dis- 
 credit.' 
 
 " ' Nor have I,' said Mrs. Siddons, ' heard of any- 
 thing in the least degree wrong in her conduct since 
 being in London.' 
 
 " Mrs. Siddons then desired me to present Miss 
 Mellon to her, who coloured highly at the honour, 
 and looked very handsome in her bashfulness. 
 
 " Mrs. Siddons now took Miss Mellon by the 
 
 hand, and, after a few kind encouraging words, 
 
 led her forward among the company, and said — 
 
 " ' Ladies and gentlemen, — I am told hy one I 
 
 know very well, that this young lady, for years in his
 
 180 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 father's company, conducted herself loith the lUmost 
 propriety. I therefore mtroduce her as my young 
 friend.' 
 
 " This electrified the parties in the green-room, 
 who had not looked for such a flattering distinction 
 for the young actress; but of course they were all 
 too glad to follow Mrs. Siddons in anything ; and 
 Miss Mellon was overwhelmed with attention. 
 
 " I heard afterwards from some members of 
 Drury Lane that on the return of Mrs. Siddons 
 and Miss Mellon to their duties in London for the 
 succeeding season, the former paid her a similar 
 compliment as at Liverpool, making the same state- 
 ment regarding her excellent conduct in every 
 company in which she had hitherto performed, and 
 by thus bringing her forward under such advan- 
 tacreous circumstances, she was now in the first 
 green-room, where her inferior salary did not entitle 
 her to be without the recommendation of Mrs. 
 
 Siddons. 
 
 " Several patrons of the drama and amateur 
 frequenters of the green-room, T understand, were 
 present on the occasion; among the number was 
 Mr. Coutts, who was stated to have been all his life 
 partial to theatrical society." 
 
 This statement is copied from the letter of one 
 who certainly has not a favourable prejudice respect- 
 ing Miss Mellon, for in the same communication he
 
 RETURN TO LONDON. 181 
 
 dwells on some defects of her disposition. Hence 
 the above striking testimony in favour of her vir- 
 tuous conduct during the many years which, in 
 provincial management, she must have passed under 
 the surveillance of the gentleman's father, his 
 family, and the members of their company, reflects 
 great credit on his candour and on the demeanour 
 of the poor player girl. 
 
 The notice of the queen of the drama, besides 
 beins: flatterino: in the hio^hest de2:ree for the 
 "young, pretty, unprotected girl " for whose good 
 conduct she so amiably pledged herself, must have 
 been also an unusual distinction from Mrs. Siddons, 
 who, though represented to have been amiable and 
 exemplary in the highest degree, was so deeply 
 engrossed in the studies of her profession that her 
 friends say her manner was always reserved and 
 abstracted, her mind evidently preoccupied with 
 study, and indifferent to the general current of life 
 around her. 
 
 On the 20th September, 1796, Drury Lane opened 
 with "The Prize," "The Child of Nature," and "The 
 Devil to Pay," and in consequence of the absence of 
 Mrs. Jordan, who was not to appear until November, 
 Miss Mellon had again the honour of taking two of 
 her characters — Amanthis in the second piece and 
 Nell in the third. That incomparable comedian had 
 so completely identified herself with both that no
 
 182 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 innovation was ever attempted or expected. The 
 critics, therefore, in praising Miss Mellon' s atten- 
 tion and progress in her profession say, " She 
 came very close in several points to her admirable 
 original." 
 
 This seems to have been a season of modest 
 demands on the theatrical treasury, for it is recorded 
 that while Mr. Kemble asked a thousand guineas 
 and a benefit ensured to £300, Signora Storace 
 demanded £150 weekly, stipulating to sing but 
 three times per week. 
 
 On the 12th January, 1797, Miss Mellon first 
 played Hero in " Much Ado about Nothing " on the 
 London boards, with Benedich by Mr. Kemble, and 
 Beatrice, Miss Farren. As she measured her own 
 improvement by the additional characters from 
 Shakspeare assigned to her by Mr. Kemble, this 
 was marked as a great event, and joyfully told 
 beforehand to all her friends, the light-hearted, 
 innocent girl little dreaming of the true force of the 
 phrase regarding Hero being " done to death by 
 slanderous tongues." 
 
 During this season, which closed early in June, 
 she obtained the character of Charlotte in " Who's 
 the Dupe," besides being continually employed in 
 her usual line of character and frequently replacing 
 Miss Farren, Mrs. Jordan, and others of comic 
 celebrity.
 
 LOVE OF FLOWERS. 183 
 
 Miss Mellon had from her childhood the greatest 
 possible love of flowers, and all who have visited 
 her at Holly Lodge and Stratton Street will agree 
 that the liking did not diminish with her increased 
 means. 
 
 In early days at every cottage where they lodged 
 while on the country circuit of theatres there was 
 some little scrap of earth called *^' Harriot's garden," 
 and if the flowers failed to flourish there it did not 
 arise from their not being planted thick enough. 
 
 Everyone gave " the pretty player child " a plant, 
 and she stuck them all into the two feet square of 
 which she was temporary owner, until hollyhocks 
 jostled sunflowers to death, and sweet-pea strangled 
 mignonette. 
 
 "When she arrived in London the market for 
 flowers at Covent Grarden was the first place to 
 which she went with her mother, who knew what 
 would most please her, and for many years, as she 
 related, the sight of these expensive and unattain- 
 able exotics made her more conscious of poverty 
 than the greater evils of being forced to go home on 
 foot after acting during bad weather, a trial which 
 would have nearly killed a London girl, but to 
 which Miss Mellon was inured by her country life. 
 She likewise felt the loss of the simple rural luxuries 
 which even wealth cannot command in the metropolis, 
 and certainly the breakfast of a person of limited
 
 184 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON, 
 
 means on first arriving in London is nofc calculated 
 to give much hope of future comfort. 
 
 After passing some time at the economical house 
 in New Street, the Eutwisles and Miss Mellon began 
 to find that the distance of three miles from the 
 theatre more than counterbalanced the cheapness of 
 that neighbourhood, therefore tbey gave it up, and 
 removed their scanty furniture to No. 17, Little 
 Russell Street (exactly opposite the theatre), and of 
 which they could only afford to hire the second 
 floor.* 
 
 Her provincial benefits amounting to a consider- 
 able sum (according to her estimation in those days),, 
 she ventured to take the first floor ; the succeeding 
 season bringing also its improvements, she rented 
 the whole house, which indeed only extended her 
 possession to the ground floor. The latter apart- 
 ments Mrs. Entwisle considered might be let for a 
 shop, so as nearly to pay the whole rent, but Miss 
 Mellon received an application from a tenant con- 
 
 * They took possession of this " grandeur " on the 17th of 
 March, 1796, and the Duchess of St. Albans, to the very last 
 anniversary during her lifetime of St. Patrick's Day, always made 
 a pilgrimage on foot to this dirty, narrow street (or rather lane), 
 where, in a plain dress and without her carriage or servants, she 
 might contemplate and show to her companions the humble spot 
 from whence she had risen. The shopkeepers who occupied the 
 adjoining houses have often seen her there on St. Patrick's Day, 
 shedding tears of pleasure at contemplating the miserable little 
 building I
 
 ANECDOTE. 185 
 
 nected with her own loved profession, which she 
 favoured beyond any other more advantageous one, 
 and she let the ground floor at a rate which was 
 quite a matter of charity. Her tenant was Mrs. 
 Benson, the sister of Mrs. Stephen Kemble, both 
 daughters of Satchell, the musical instrument 
 maker to the Prince of Wales. 
 
 Mrs. Benson had become an early widow, under 
 circumstances which excited to the utmost Miss 
 Mellon's compassionate nature. Mr. Benson, a 
 young country actor, had obtained, through his 
 brother-in-law, Mr. S. Kemble, an engagement at 
 Drury Lane immediately after his marriage ; and 
 in the summer he was engaged at the Haymarket. 
 In addition to the toils of his profession, he tried 
 the labour of literary composition, and was author 
 of two successful dramas, " A Trip to Portsmouth" 
 and " Love and Money," acted in the same year. 
 His mind, being thus overtasked, unfortunately 
 gave way ; brain fever came on, and he threw him- 
 self out of the window of the garret where they 
 lodged, in Brydges Street, Oovent Garden, and was 
 killed on the spot. 
 
 The young widow's sister, Mrs. Kemble, was 
 absent at the time with Mr. S. Kemble at Edin- 
 burgh, where the latter had claimed to be manager 
 of the theatre ; but he was opposed by the fascina- 
 ting and popular Mrs. Esten. The dispute was 
 
 VOL. I. N
 
 186 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 both lengthy and expensive; Mrs. Esten's right 
 being supported by the Duke of Hamilton, Mr. 
 Kemble's by the Duke and Duchess of North- 
 umberland, and other distinguished friends. Mr. 
 Kemble's proving to be the most numerous party, 
 Mrs. Esten offered to relinquish her pretensions for 
 a valuable consideration ; this sum had just been 
 paid, and consequently had left the new manager's 
 treasury very low. 
 
 Hence little could be done for poor Mrs. Benson, 
 who, having some taste for making fancy articles, 
 Miss Mellon advised her to turn it to advantage, 
 and to attempt millinery, in the small shop of the 
 latter's house. 
 
 Miss Mellon likewise exerted herself to procure 
 some allowance for the widow from the theatrical 
 fund. She had a general invitation to a place at 
 the plain table of her kind young landlady; and, 
 altogether, with her own exertions in millinery, she 
 was enabled to make out a subsistence, until her 
 position gradually improved through the connexions 
 whom Miss Mellon and others recommended to 
 patronize her. 
 
 This poor young woman, notwithstanding her 
 increasing prosperity, died early, literally of a 
 broken heart we must say, notwithstanding the 
 sneers of the less feeling sex against what has been 
 insinuated to be an impossibility.
 
 JEWS' FESTIVITIES. 187 
 
 Miss Mellon was a great favourite with a wealthy 
 Jewish family, in humble life, named Emanuel, who 
 evinced the utmost kindness to her at all times, and 
 invited her to several of those domestic parties and 
 religious ceremonies at which it is not customary 
 to admit the strangers to their faith. One of 
 these festivities was a grand dinner and ball, given 
 after the marriage of some member of the family, 
 and which, from the number of connexions entitled 
 to be present, was given at an hotel in the city. So 
 mighty an occasion required the dignity of Miss 
 Mellon' s one white satin gown, and the extravagance 
 of fresh white shoes and gloves, which caused sad 
 devastation in her weekly salary; but her Hebrew 
 friends were not married every day, therefore she 
 reconciled herself to the alarming expenditure by a 
 resolution of economy in the succeeding week, and 
 she set forth anticipating the pleasure of the ball 
 after the banquet. On arriving at the hotel, she 
 found the drawing-room filled with dark, clever- 
 looking guests, the ladies wearing a greater pro- 
 fusion of diamonds than she ever saw at court in 
 after-days : such earrings, such shoe-buckles, such 
 gown-loops, glittered in the daylight — mixed with 
 every coloured gem that bad taste could devise, and 
 mostly displayed on brightly-coloured dresses ! On 
 the repast being announced, she was handed into 
 the dining-room by some " dark individual," and
 
 188 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 found two wide tables laid out for more than a 
 hundred guests. The tables groaned with the pro- 
 fusion of edibles, and there was a vast deal of 
 gaiety. Miss Mellon, while seated, advanced her 
 foot by chance, and finding a footstool, gladly took 
 possession of it. Strange to relate, she found it 
 too warm to endure ! and while sliding her delicate 
 satin shoes from such a dangerous neighbourhood, 
 she felt herself splashed excessively. In despair 
 for the fate of her satin dress, she could eat no 
 dinner, wondering what had happened. The parties 
 were placed so close together that it was impossible 
 to satisfy her curiosity as to what had formed her 
 uneasy footstool ; but when the ladies rose, she 
 resolved to ascertain this, and pretending to stoop 
 for her glove, she peeped beneath the cloth, and 
 discovered an enormous roast goose, the gravy of 
 which had somewhat injured the appearance of the 
 valued satin robe and shoes ! As far as her 
 momentary glance could extend, she saw dishes of 
 viands all the way under the table ; which so 
 amused her that, instead of fretting about her mis- 
 adventure, she laughingly told it all to her Hebrew 
 neighbour. He and his friends were so angry at 
 an attempt having been made to deprive them of 
 what was " in their bond," that, as soon as the 
 ladies departed, all the attendants were summoned, 
 and the doors locked on them. On examination it
 
 JEWS' FESTIVITIES. 189 
 
 was found that each had pockets of leather within 
 his coat, to convey home the savoury dainties they 
 had surreptitiously obtained from the table after it 
 was laid out. They were doomed to have a foretaste 
 of these treasures ; for one of the younger guests, 
 delighted at their consternation, took the liberty of 
 throwing a cold pie at one of the culprits, an 
 example which was so quickly followed, that, when 
 the cold missiles were exhausted, they seized on the 
 warm ones ; and the attendants were glad to dive 
 under the tables, and take the place of the abstracted 
 dishes ! When all was thrown, the gentlemen said, 
 *' Now help yourselves ! " and proceeded to the ball- 
 room, where Miss Mellon's " dark friend " sought 
 her instantly, to relate the capital revenge they had 
 taken ; but the poor actress, who was prevented 
 from enjoying the anticipated ball, thought to her- 
 self, as she moped in a corner, "Yes, very fine 
 revenge ; but it does not give me my dinner, my 
 dance, my dress, nor my shoes ! "
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Death of Countess of Derby — Miss Farren leaves the stage — .Cicely 
 Copesley in " The Will " — Eeynolds' reminiscences — Removes 
 again to Liverpool — Mrs. Siddons' arrears at Drury Lane — 
 Liverpool merchants — Volunteer artillery — Disturbance at 
 the theatre — Benefit — Anecdote of a sailor. 
 
 The decease of the first Countess of Derby was 
 announced in the green-room on the 15th of March, 
 1797. She was the only daughter of the Duke of 
 Hamilton, and had been married to Lord Derby 
 twenty-three years. 
 
 This event, though long expected, threw Miss 
 Farren into such a state of nervous depression as to 
 render her unequal to continue her theatrical per- 
 formance. 
 
 Lord Derby, according to his promise, came soon 
 after the funeral to claim her hand, as a tribute of re- 
 spect for her conduct ; and it was arranged that she 
 should take leave of the stage when her spirits were 
 equal to the effort. On the 8th of April she appeared
 
 HISS FAB REN LEAVES THE STAGE. 191 
 
 finally as Lady Teazle , to the most crowded house 
 as yet seen in old Drury. Her spirits gave way in 
 the last scenes, and when Mr. Wroughton repeated 
 some few lines written for the event, her agitation 
 was so great that Mr. King bore her off the stage. 
 
 Miss Mellon, with her warm heart overflowing, 
 stood bathed in tears by the wing, and followed to 
 the sofa where Miss Farren was placed. As the 
 latter recovered a little, she was assisted to her 
 dressing-room ; and passing the weeping girl, ad- 
 dressed her kindly, and said, smiling, " So there is 
 a way to cloud even z/our enviable spirits." 
 
 On the 1st of May, six weeks after Lady Derby's 
 death, the Earl's second marriage took place ; and 
 Miss Farren's amiable private career continued until 
 her death in 1829, during which long interval she 
 was loved and respected by the distinguished circle 
 who gladly received her as an ornament. 
 
 Theatrical contemporaries are exceedingly jealous 
 if old intimacies are not continued as usual, by those 
 wh.0 have been raised by marriage : forgetting that 
 a woman who marries into a superior family can no 
 longer have a choice of her own associates. 
 
 Great were the disappointments therefore when 
 the new Lady Derby omitted sending wedding 
 presents among her green-room friends. Miss 
 Mellon (whose recent introduction had saved her 
 from being excited by false hopes) was astonished
 
 192 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 at the measures pursued to express covertly their 
 
 auger. 
 
 Two very useful theatrical assistants are the call- 
 boy and the dresser, as everybody knows ; and these 
 worthies were questioned regarding Miss Farren's 
 liberality to them. The dresser, whose lawful 
 wages were nine shillings weekly, had received one 
 extra week's pay ; and the poor little busy call-boy, 
 a donation of half-a-crown. 
 
 At this statement, the outcry against Miss 
 Farren's parsimony rose to its full height ; and every 
 one had a story to tell, of which Miss Mellon (being 
 the stranger) had to hear all the recitals. 
 
 It is not likely that Lady Derby could have been 
 aware that such paltry suras were given to her at- 
 tendants ; they are too miserable even for parsi- 
 mony. But it was a pity, for her name's sake, that 
 she was not as careful of her servants as Miss Mellon, 
 who, in 1815, when she retired, settled £30 per 
 annum on her dresser for life, and something pro- 
 portionably liberal on the call-boy. 
 
 Mr. Anderson, the theatrical coiffeur, like the 
 generality of his countrymen, possessed probity and 
 a respectable education, and was engaged by Miss 
 Mellon to settle her trifling weekly bills directly her 
 salary was paid. He states that her great anxiety 
 was to pay everyone as soon as the money came, 
 and to limit her expenditure within her means.
 
 CICELY COPESLEY IN " THE WILL." 193 
 
 Her character for probity soon became popular in 
 tlaat poor neiglibourhood ; and the owners of all the 
 little shops not only offered credit to herself, but 
 also to anyone whom she would introduce. In 
 these early days she suffered in several instances 
 from having given belief to the assurances of some 
 professional persons, that they would redeem the 
 credit she procured for them ; and when they failed 
 to do so, the shopkeepers had such faith in Miss 
 Mellon's integrity, that they were content with a 
 shilling per week as an instalment from her ; and at 
 this rate she would defray the whole debt to which 
 her good nature had rendered her liable. 
 
 However absurd it may seem for a duchess with 
 £90,000 a year to have paid her friends' debts 
 formerly by shilling instalments, it should be re- 
 membered that it was in the same proportion to her 
 weekly stipend as if she had latterly paid by 
 tbousands. 
 
 On the 16th April, 1797, a new comedy was 
 played at Drury Lane, entitled, " The Will," from 
 the brilliant pen of Mr. Reynolds. The female 
 <;haracters were supported by Mrs. Jordan, Miss 
 Mellon, Miss Tidswell, and Mrs. Booth. This 
 comedy had very good success, and all the per- 
 formers did justice to what was assigned them, 
 perfectly satisfying the clever author, by his own 
 account.
 
 ]94 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 In his memoirs, published in 1827, writing of Miss 
 Mellon, he says, " Cicely Copesley, the gamekeeper's 
 daughter, in my comedy, was performed by Miss 
 Mellon with considerable effect. I little thouorht at 
 that time that I was to become the vassal of this 
 young, handsome. Cicely Copesley. Mrs. Coutts is 
 now my ' Lady of the Manor,' for under her I hold 
 a small copyhold estate near Chelmsford, in Essex; 
 and by an old feudal law (which, though obsolete, is 
 still unrepealed) she might compel me, gout and all, 
 to attend and serve at her next Highgate public 
 breakfast in armour." 
 
 This passage having been read aloud one morn- 
 ing in 1828, at Holly Lodge, made the subject of it 
 laugh until the tears stood in her eyes ; and some- 
 one urged her to claim her feudal right of " armed 
 attendance " from the author of " The Will." 
 
 " In any other case," she replied, " I might be 
 rigid ; but from liim I would be happy to accept the 
 * Will ' for the deed." 
 
 After the close of the London season. Miss Mellon, 
 with Mr. and Mrs. Entwisle, arrived, June 21st, 
 1797, at Liverpool, where they remained until Sep- 
 tember 13th. 
 
 The following were her characters in forty-five 
 nights' performances : — 
 
 Friscilla Tomboy; ilfar/«, in " George Barnwell ;" 
 Nell ; Bell, in the " Deuce is in him ; " Uoxalana ;
 
 3IBS. STDDONS' ARREARS AT DRURY LANE. 195 
 
 Ophelia ; Jessy Oatland, in a " Cure for the Heart- 
 aclie ; " Bosalind ; Maud; JP/ora, in the "Midnight 
 Hour;" Fanny;, Joanna, in the "Page;" Little 
 Pickle, four times ; Miss Dorellon, in " Wives as 
 they were ; " Fanny; Priscilla Tomboy; Jessy Oat- 
 land; Miss Jenny, seven times; Agnes, in "Ray- 
 mond and Agnes ; " Phillis, in the " Conscious 
 Lovers ; " Albina Mandeville, in the " Will," five 
 times ; Ruth, in " Honest Thieves ; " Madge ; Kitty,. 
 
 in " Abroad and at Home ; " Pvuth ; Nell ; Dolly, in 
 the " Woodman ; " Jessy ; Annette, in " Robin 
 Hood ; " Stella, in the " Smugglers ; " Dolly, in the 
 *'Page;" Miss Peggy, in the "Country Girl;" 
 Boxalana ; Miss Hoyden ; Emily Tempest ; Fanny ; 
 Amanthis, in the " Child of Nature ; " Ruth ; Lady 
 Danvers, in "Fortune's Fool;" Harriet, in "He 
 would be a Soldier ; " Josephine, in the " Children 
 of the Wood ; " Chloe, in the " Lottery ; " Rosalia, 
 in the "Italian Monk;" Lady Danvers; Nancy; 
 Julia Faidkner ; Sophia, in the " Lie of the 
 Day." 
 
 In the summer of 1797, Mrs. Siddons again met 
 Miss Mellon at Liverpool. The latter not being 
 rich enough to allow her salary to be in arrear, had 
 been paid with tolerable punctuality ; but Mrs. 
 Siddons' debt from the Drury Lane treasury being 
 less easy to defray, she had been obliged to leave 
 town without any portion of it, although she had to
 
 196 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 maintain a numerous family. In speaking of this 
 distressing circumstance to an actor of the Liverpool 
 company, she estimated her arrear of salary at 
 nearly seventeen hundred pounds. 
 
 The pursuits at Liverpool that season were more 
 of a warlike than dramatic nature. Eight French 
 ships had anchored at Bantry Bay during the 
 spring ; and an invasion was expected at various 
 maritime places in England. The merchants of 
 Liverpool, amidst the prevailing consternation, 
 bravely resolved to defend their fine town to the 
 utmost ; and, in order to render their good inten- 
 tions effectual, some of the very leading merchants 
 practised gunnery at the fort, until they could work, 
 serve, and manage the guns, from the batteries, as 
 well as regular artillerymen. 
 
 This praiseworthy exertion was not made without 
 undergoing the quizzing inspection of the idlers of 
 Liverpool; and the new artillery students had to 
 encounter a battery of impertinence from the 
 domestic foe at every public place. 
 
 Mrs. Siddons, at that time, had produced her 
 grand study of Jane Shore ; of which performance 
 Miss Mellon related that, besides affecting the 
 majority of the female spectators, it had the rare 
 power of causing hysterics in a well-known literary 
 gentleman, who was present at the first repre- 
 sentation in London and was carried out, in con-
 
 DISTURBANCE AT THE THEATRE. 197 
 
 sequence of the iDterruption his cries caused to the 
 performance. 
 
 At Liverpool, this clief-cV ceuvre was announced, 
 and the house was full to excess. Miss Mellon 
 expecting that, perhaps, another scene of hysterics 
 might result; but the wretches in the gallery, 
 seeing the principal merchants with their families 
 present, thought this a delightful opportunity of 
 indulging their wit respecting the *' soldiering." 
 Accordingly, they formed two bands, one on each 
 side of the gallery, and kept up a cross-dialogue of 
 impertinence, about " charging guns with brown 
 sugar and cocoa-nuts," and " small arms with 
 cinnamon-powder and nutmegs," from the com- 
 mencement of the play until its very end. 
 
 Miss Mellon is described to have been in an agony 
 for the object of her theatrical devotion ; she cried, 
 she ran about behind the wings as if she were going 
 out of her senses. But Mrs. Siddons, calm, though 
 deadly pale, merely said to her, with a slight 
 tremor in her voice, that " she would go through 
 the time requisite for the scenes, but would not 
 utter them." 
 
 She went on the stage, said aloud, " It is useless 
 to act," crossed her arms, and merely murmured the 
 speeches ; and it is a fact, that the enjoyment of all 
 the Liverpool patrons of theatricals was totally lost, 
 through an unmanageable gallery, while the queen
 
 198 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 of the drama went through the entire character of 
 Jane Shore in dumb show, on the first night it 
 was attempted there. 
 
 Miss ]\Iellon's benefit was always the principal 
 consideration with Mr. and Mrs. Entwisle, as they 
 calculated on deriving the principal advantages 
 arising from her exertions. During the bathing 
 season at Liverpool, a great many of the inhabitants 
 of Wigan usually go to the former place for their 
 summer excursion : and when Miss Mellon arransfed 
 with the Liverpool manager, her mother stipulated 
 for the half-clear benefit to be when they knew the 
 Wiofan visitors would be there. 
 
 Mr. Entwisle's father was well known and 
 respected among the inhabitants of Wigan ; there- 
 fore, his son wrote to the different families, stating 
 whom he was, and requesting their patronage for Miss 
 Mellon's night. The consequence of this was, that 
 her benefit was unusually great, amounting to up- 
 wards of £270, from which only the sum of £50, for 
 the expenses of the house, were to be deducted, and 
 she had half the remainder. 
 
 The benefit was taken August 28th, Miss Mellon 
 playing Peggy ^ in " The Country Girl ; " Uoxalana^ 
 in " The Sultan ; " and Miss Hoyden, in " The Trip 
 to Scarborough." A very singular production was 
 written for this occasion, described in the bills as 
 " An Address in praise of the British Navy, by a
 
 BENEFIT. 199 
 
 seaman of Liverpool, now on board H.M.S. 
 Venerable, to be spoken by Miss Mellon." 
 
 She was always considered an admirable reciter 
 of prologues and addresses ; a peculiar talent, in 
 which she excelled many whose acting she never 
 could hope to approach. 
 
 The failure of some of the superior performers in 
 reciting this class of composition may perhaps arise 
 from the deficiency of excitement to identify them- 
 selves with these trifles, as they would do in an 
 entire character : whereas, to an inexperienced 
 young comedian like Miss Mellon, everything was 
 new and delightful : she was led on by the applause 
 given to her youth and beauty, her gay spirits rose, 
 and, becoming soon engrossed by whatever she had 
 to recite at the time, she did it naturally and with 
 animation. 
 
 After the play, she recited an epilogue on 
 " Jealousy," in which she portrayed its effects on 
 the characters of a Spanish, Italian, French, and 
 English husband. This was a very clever comic 
 composition, which she used to repeat for the 
 amusement of her domestic party sometimes. The 
 national peculiarities were given in the various 
 ways in which these jealous husbands would express 
 their feelings ; and such was the accuracy of ear aud 
 power of imitation possessed by Miss Mellon, that 
 she gave the broken English of the Frenchman,
 
 200 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 Italian, and Spaniard in a manner quite distinct 
 from each other, and in the different national 
 accents and modulations of tone which those accus- 
 tomed to live on the Continent could readily dis- 
 tinguish. 
 
 Within the last two years there was a striking and 
 laughable proof of " powerful stage illusion," which 
 had a parallel, half a century ago, during Miss 
 Mellon s acting days at Liverpool. 
 
 The modern case related to a poor Jack Tar, just 
 discharged from a merchant vessel, and for the first 
 time in London. He treated himself to one of the 
 theatres, where a nautically-named drama had 
 tempted his curiosity ; but the simple fellow soon 
 became so entranced by the scenic action as to 
 forget the absence of reality, and when he saw 
 some English sailors " having the worst of it," he 
 could bear the illusion no longer ; he shouted " fair 
 play," jumped over the orchestra, and helping the 
 weak party, soon drove their assailants from the 
 stage ; the result of ^vhich knight-errantry was his 
 being locked up in the station-house, and brought 
 up next day by " the enemy " for assault, for which 
 he was fined. 
 
 A pendant to this genuine sailor-deed was Miss 
 Mellon's adventure at Liverpool, a circumstance 
 which ran through all the papers and anecdote 
 books of those days, and which she used to tell
 
 ANECDOTE OF A SAILOR. 201 
 
 frequently and with great humour. It was likewise 
 a source of pride to her, she used laughingly to 
 aver, " as proving what a fine tragic actress Harriot 
 Mellon must have been, only that none but a poor 
 sailor ever thought so." 
 
 The following was her general style of relating 
 it : — " When I was a poor girl, working very hard 
 for my thirty shillings a week, I went down to 
 Liverpool during the holidays, where I was always 
 kindly received, and derived the greatest advantage 
 from all my benefits. I was to perform in a new 
 piece, something like those pretty little affecting 
 dramas they get up now at the minor theatres; and 
 in my character I represented a poor, friendless, 
 orphan girl, reduced to the most wretched poverty. 
 A heartless tradesman persecutes the sad heroine 
 for a heavy debt owing to him by her family, and 
 insists on putting her in prison unless someone will 
 be bail for her. The girl replies, ' Then I have no 
 hope — I have not a friend in the world.' * What ! 
 will no one go bail for you to save you from prison ? ' 
 asks the stern creditor. ' I have told you I have 
 not a friend on earth,' was my reply. But just as I 
 was uttering the words, my eyes were attracted by 
 the movements of a sailor in the upper gallery, 
 who, springing over the railing, was letting himself 
 down from one tier to another, until finally reaching 
 the pit he bounded clear over the orchestra and 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 202 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 foot-liglits, and placed himself beside me in a 
 moment, before I could believe the evidence of my 
 senses. 
 
 " ' Yes, you shall have one friend at least, my 
 poor young woman,' said he, with the greatest ex- 
 pression of feeling in his honest, sun-burnt counte- 
 nance, ' I will go bail for you to any amount. 
 And as for you* (turning to the frightened actor), 
 ' if you don't bear a-hand and shift your moorings, 
 you lubber, it will be the worse for you when I come 
 athwart your bows.' 
 
 " Every creature in the house rose; the uproar 
 was perfectly indescribable : peals of laughter, 
 screams of terror, cheers from his tawny mess- 
 mates in the gallery, preparatory scraping of violins 
 from the orchestra ; and, amidst the universal din, 
 there stood the unconscious cause of it, sheltering 
 me, ' the poor, distressed, young woman,' and 
 breathing defiance and destruction against my 
 mimiic persecutor. It was impossible to resume 
 the play, so the orchestra played ' God save the 
 King,' while the curtain dropped over the scene, 
 including the chivalric sailor. He was only per- 
 suaded to rehnquish his care of me by the illusion 
 being still maintained behind the scenes; the 
 manager pretending to be an old friend of mine, 
 unexpectedly arrived to rescue me from all diffi- 
 culties with a profusion of theatrical bank-notes.
 
 ANECDOTE OF A SAILOR. 203 
 
 To these the generous sailor would fain have added 
 from liis own hardly- earned gains ; which being 
 gratefully declined by such a newly-made heiress as 
 myself, he made his best sea-bow to all on the stage, 
 shook hands heartily with me and the manager, and 
 then quietly went home, under care of some of the 
 party."
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Keturns to Drury Lane — New comedy — Advance in characters — 
 First solo at Drury Lane — Mr. Graham— Sir Henry and 
 Lady Tempest — Holly Lodge — Miss Goddard — Liverpool — 
 Anecdotes — Death of Palmer on the stage — London. 
 
 On the .I2th of January, 1798, Miss Mellon played 
 Emily Tempest, in " The "Wheel of Fortune," to the 
 Penruddock of Mr. Kemble, which she considered 
 one of his finest characters ; and she even asserted 
 that his personal appearance was so admirably cal- 
 culated to sustain it, that many who might equal 
 his Coriolanus and Pizarro would never be able to 
 play with effect the misanthropic Penruddock. 
 
 In the after-piece of " Who's the Dupe ? " she 
 had a new character of Charlotte. February 10th, 
 she played Nanc?/, in a " Bold Stroke for a Wife ; " 
 14th, Cicely Copesley ; 16th, Emily Tempest. On 
 the 19th, O'Keefe's new comedy, " She's Eloped," 
 came out, and was acted only once. The author
 
 ADVANCE IN CHARACTERS. 205 
 
 speaks thus bitterly of the cause of its failure : " The 
 comedy as I wrote it, and the comedy as altered by 
 me to order, were nearly distinct pieces. I was 
 forced to cut out, mangle, and change whole scenes 
 and characters. John Bannister, who did Plodden, 
 remarked to me, 'Mine was a very good part when 
 I first got it, but now I can make nothing of it ! ' 
 Mrs. Jordan did Arahel ; Miss Mellon, Grace ; John 
 Palmer, Hyacinth ; the last new part he played 
 before his sudden death." It was unfortunate for 
 Miss Mellon that this piece was not successful, for 
 O'Keefe had taken pains to make her part a very 
 good one, in consequence of the care she had 
 bestowed in acting his Lady Godiva two seasons 
 previously. 
 
 On the 19th of March, 1798, the part of Susan, in 
 the " Follies of a Day," was given to Miss Mellon. 
 This was, indeed, a great step. Mrs. Jordan was 
 very partial to playing this part, which is an excel- 
 lent one. The farce is an unmusical version of Le 
 Nozze di Figaro; ifc was written by Holcroft for 
 Covent Garden theatre, and he himself enacted 
 Figaro in it. Miss Mellon had played Susan during 
 the previous summer at Liverpool, and was per- 
 fectly at ease with it. When she assumed it at 
 Drury Lane, her laughing, joyous manner was well 
 suited to the part, and she " looked " it decidedly 
 better than her great predecessor. The next month
 
 206 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 she played Betty BlacJcberry, in a sort of musical 
 medley, extracted from different dramas, entitled 
 " The Nosegay of "Weeds ; " in this she sang a song — 
 the first solo she ever dared to venture upon at 
 Drury Lane. She was successful, and was encored, 
 but the piece, if it deserves that title, did not enjoy 
 a long reign. 
 
 Colman's " Ways and Means " was this season 
 transferred from the Haymarket, for the purpose of 
 exhibiting Bannister in Sh^ David Bunder. Miss 
 Mellon had played Harriett (a lively romping girl, 
 who is deeply in love, and not averse to Gretna 
 Green) so much to his liking at Liverpool, that he 
 begged she might be cast in that character here. 
 His wish being acceded to, the performance raised her 
 so much in the estimation of the presiding powers 
 that she was soon afterwards given Miss Tittup, in 
 " Bon Ton; " and, to crown all. Cowslip. Though 
 " The Agreeable Surprise" is now but seldom played, 
 it was then very attractive. Mrs. Sumbal Wells, one 
 of the prettiest and most eccentric of women, made 
 her name and her fortune by it : " Cowslip-hats " 
 and '^ Cowslip-gowns " were, during her and 
 Edwin's time, the rage. Mrs. Gibbs had sub- 
 sequently captivated the town in it; and lastly, 
 Mrs, Jordan had consented to play it. Bannister, 
 no doubt, had exerted his influence to obtain the 
 character for Miss Mellon, for he was the Lingo.
 
 FIRS T SOL AT DR UR Y LANE. 207 
 
 She performed it with great applause, although so 
 nervous that when the symphony ceased for her 
 song she was afraid to commence it. The audience 
 seeing her confusion gave her a cheering round of 
 applause, and the leader repeated the symphony : 
 she sung it amid enthusiastic plaudits, and was 
 loudly encored. 
 
 Will it be credited that at this period she received 
 but two pounds per week ? and so precarious, for a 
 season or two, was her retention even at that paltry 
 pittance, that a letter is extant addressed to Mr. 
 Peake (father of the well-known dramatist), begging 
 him to obtain for her a re-engagement at that sum. 
 This letter was the property of the late Mr. 
 Mathews, and was sold recently at the auction of 
 that gentleman's library. 
 
 During that season she played Cherry, in " The 
 Beaux' Stratagem," to the Archer of John Kemble ; 
 and Fink, in " The Young Quaker," to Bannister's 
 Young Sadboy. She was so much liked as Cherry 
 that a very popular engraving (which obtained a 
 great sale) was made of her in that character. 
 
 Indeed, from this time she was looked upon in the 
 theatre (from her readiness to supply the place of 
 any actress who was absent) as entitled to any good 
 part the manager could place at her disposal ; and 
 her attention and correct study made him feel secure 
 in relying on her efforts.
 
 208 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 Of her CoivsUp, a Thespian magazine speaks 
 thus : " Bannister is cloicg all his possible to make 
 us forget that he was not the original Lingo. He 
 comes very hard on the heels of the great * master 
 of scholars,' but in the dialogue only ; in the songs 
 no one ever did, nor is it likely ever will, equal 
 Edwin. Still Jack dashes at them quite in the right 
 way ; and, having now long lost the perfect Lingo, 
 we must not find fault with the best one (now) 
 upon the stage. Miss Mellon carried cream as Cow- 
 slip. She is a very improving actress, and showed 
 none the worse for the timidity which she displayed 
 in the attempt. If the pretty inmate of Cowslip 
 Lodge* were here, it would be a very different 
 thing ; but as she is not, we have no objection to her 
 very pretty substitute. A little more energy, a 
 little more archness, a little more boldness in depict- 
 ing the simplicity of the little dairy-maidy and the 
 performance would be an excellent one. As Mrs. 
 Jordan is not very fortunate in that part, and feels 
 huffed at playing it, Miss Mellon stands a chance of 
 keeping it." 
 
 Soon after Miss Mellon's arrival in London this 
 season, the well-known and respected magistrate of 
 Bow Street, Mr. Graham, was presented to her by 
 R. B. Sheridan. At that time he had the manage- 
 ment of Drury Lane Theatre, under the direction of 
 * Mrs. Wells had a cottage of that name.
 
 MR. GRAHAM. 209 
 
 tlie Lord Chancellor. Mr. Grraham felt so much 
 pleased with her artless manner and unassuming 
 cheerfulness in her humble professional engagement, 
 that he took a great interest in her welfare ; and, on 
 inquiring into her conduct in former theatrical 
 circles, he received the most satisfactory accounts 
 from her provincial acquaintance, justifying the 
 favourable opinion he had inferred from her short 
 London career. 
 
 When her improved judgment and knowledge of 
 the world induced her to relinquish the society of 
 some few who had introduced themselves to her at 
 first, and who were more specious than advantageous 
 for a young, unprotected female, their unbounded 
 animosity raised some most unkind reports against 
 her, which depressed even her elastic spirits. Mr. 
 Graham, from his situation as magistrate, and his 
 theatrical sway, had unusual means of forming a 
 just opinion on the reports. " He thoroughly 
 believed in her innocence, therefore always stood 
 forth her champion ; for which she was grateful, and 
 in all her little difficulties consulted him as her 
 friend." (This creditable testimonial is quoted from 
 a recent letter of Mr. Grraham's widow.) With the 
 consideration of a parent, he saw how advantageous 
 it would be for an unjustly calumniatedyoung person 
 to have the benefit of female patronage ; and, feel- 
 ing sure of her respectability, he gave the strongest
 
 210 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 and most flattering evidence of it in his power — 
 namely, by presenting her to his wife, at their own 
 house. 
 
 This was a great event for the friendless girl. 
 Her new patroness, in addition to being a very ele- 
 gant woman, was both well connected and moved in 
 good society. Therefore she felt cheered and sup- 
 ported against the malignity which at first had 
 depressed her mind. 
 
 It was in this house that Miss Mellon became 
 acquainted with Sir Henry and Lady Tempest 
 (cousins of Mrs. Graham), with whom she was soon 
 a great favourite, from her sprightly, artless manners. 
 Sir Henry Tempest* had just then built part of the 
 villa at Holly Lodge ; and, as they frequently had 
 the merry actress staying there, it may be supposed 
 what delight she experienced in leaving close, dark 
 Little Russell Street, for the pure, dry air, and rural 
 walks of Highgate.f 
 
 * The name of Sir Henry Tempest is often confused witli that 
 of his first cousin, Sir Harry Tempest Vane, who married the late 
 Countess of Antrim, mother of the Marchioness of Londonderry. 
 
 t All who have seen this charming villa must be struck with 
 the beauty of its grounds and the surrounding landscape ; but with 
 the poor town-sick girl, who had passed most of her early life in the 
 country, the rural freshness of Holly Lodge became quite a mania, 
 like the seaman's dream of green fields. In case of illness, she 
 always fancied the air there was endowed with some especial quality 
 for her recovery. Even after a subsequent change had made her 
 mistress of the spot, and long possession might be supposed t*
 
 HOLLY LODGE. 211 
 
 But to return to Mr. and Mrs. Graham. They 
 continued firm friends of Miss Mellon from soon 
 after her arrival in London to her retirement from 
 the stage. So intimate was she with the family of 
 this respected magistrate that, in 1813, when her 
 house in Little Russell Street fell in, Mrs. Graham 
 took Miss Mellon and her then recently adopted 
 young companion to stay in their fine house in 
 Queen Street, where they remained until Miss Mellon 
 had time to take and furnish a house in Southamp- 
 ton Street. 
 
 The circumstances respecting this new companion 
 of Miss Mellon's are so creditable to her disposition, 
 that they must be given at greater length than the 
 above slight allusion. 
 
 Mrs. Graham had a sister many years her junior, 
 who had died, leaving a youthful daughter, who soon 
 after experienced the loss of her father also. Miss 
 Mellon conceived an extreme affection for this in- 
 teresting young creature, whose story she imparted 
 to Mr. Coutts ; and, with the concurrence of her old 
 friend, she made an offer of taking her altogether 
 from the charge of her aunts, Mrs. Graham and 
 
 have weakened the impression, her early attachment continued in 
 full force — " Little Holly Lodge " being to the last spoken of as 
 her favourite enjoyment. In any allusion to the final distribution 
 of her property, it is reported that she used to say, " But Holly 
 Lodge I must save for the Duke, as being what / loved best of all 
 I possessed."
 
 212 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 Lady Tempest. This was in 1812. The aforesaid 
 guardians of the young lady considered that, as Miss 
 Mellon's property, after seventeen years on the 
 London boards, was considerable, it would enable 
 her to place her young protegee in a position suitable 
 to her birth ; while their confidence in her care of 
 the orphan girl, and the strictness with which Mr. 
 Coutts made her discard every exceptional acquain- 
 tance, caused them to feel that the situation would 
 be most favourable for the orphan. 
 
 Sir Henry and Lady Tempest having given a 
 willing sanction, Miss Mellon received her young 
 charge from her guardian, Mr. Graham, whose sole 
 stipulation was, that she should never be brought 
 into the green-room or dressing-rooms of the theatres, 
 as Miss Mellon already kept a person of her own age 
 to accompany her during all her professional duties. 
 
 This young lady. Miss Eleanor Goddard, grew up 
 under the most affectionate and watchful care of 
 Miss Mellon, which she repaid by great attachment. 
 From 1812 she remained with Miss Mellon until her 
 marriage with Mr. Coutts in 1815, continuing during 
 the six subsequent years of his lifetime, the five 
 years of widowhood of Mrs. Coutts, and for four 
 years after her marriage with the Duke of St. Albans 
 • — when increasing ill-health in the invalid Miss 
 Goddard obliged her to leave her friend and patro- 
 ness, after living together nineteen years, without
 
 LIVERPOOL. 213 
 
 one interval of separation. As a proof that, with 
 the duchess, earliest friends had the strongest portion 
 of her regard, she allowed this ladj a handsome 
 income after their separation, and in the will of the 
 duchess Miss Goddard is one of the few annuitants 
 who are named, the same sum being continued to 
 her as heretofore. 
 
 Drury Lane closed on the 14th of June, and Miss 
 Mellon arrived on the 28th at Liverpool, remaining 
 until September, having played Rosalind ^ three 
 times; Amanthis ; Ann Lovely, twice ; Nell, in ^' The 
 Devil to Pay;" Jessy e ; Josephine, twice; Alhina ; 
 Maud ; E. Bloomly ; Rose Sydney, in " Secrets 
 worth Knowing ; " Charlotte, in " The Apprentice ; '* 
 Lydia Languish ; Fanny, in " The Shipwreck ; " 
 Phyllis, in " The Conscious Lovers;" Lady Teazle ; 
 Tilhiirina ; Madge; Annette; Miss Grantham; Eva, 
 in "Curiosity;" Kitty; Jacinta, in "Lovers' 
 Quarrels;" Lucy; Estifania ; Aiigela, in "The 
 Castle Spectre," three times; Joanna; Barbara; 
 Little Pickle; Miss Dorillon ; Fadladininida, in 
 " Chrononhotonthologos ; " Susan; Letitia Hardy; 
 Cowslip ; Miss Wooburn ; Donna Olivia ; Miss Price ; 
 Moggy M'Gilpin, in " The Highland Reel ; " Rose; 
 Sydney ; Miss Lucy ; Nancy ; Jane, in " Wild Oats ; " 
 Miss Leeson, in " School for Wives ; " Agnes ; Sahina 
 Rosfiy. 
 
 She took an entire benefit at Liverpool this season,
 
 214 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 September 3rd, playing Donna Olivia, in " The Bold 
 Stroke; Miss Price, in "Ben the Sailor;" and 
 Moggy M'Gilpin, in the " Highland Reel." After 
 the play, she gave an address of thanks to the Liver- 
 pool audience ; and, before the second farce, recited 
 her famous description of jealousy, before mentioned, 
 in a Spanish, French, Italian, and English husband. 
 Prior to the benefit, Mr. Entwisle did not forget 
 his customary solicitations to the visitors from his 
 native Wigan, to patronize his step-daughter. With 
 their attendance, and her great popularity at Liver- 
 pool, after paying all expenses, she cleared £240 ; 
 and her salary had likewise been augmented, so that 
 she departed quite " a person of property ! " 
 
 Mr. Gibson, the performer on the violin at the 
 Ulverstone Theatre, with whom the Entwisles and 
 little Harriot Mellon resided while in that town nine 
 years previously, relates that he was at Liverpool in 
 1798, when Miss Mellon was acting there, and this 
 being three years after her having a London en- 
 gagement, he concluded his former lodger must be 
 so inflated with success as to despise all her former 
 connexions. Coming down the High Street one 
 day he recognized at some distance her tall figure 
 walking with Miss Thwaytes and some other young 
 ladies of Liverpool who patronized her. The play- 
 mate of her early days could not brook the chance 
 of being addressed distantly by one whom ho had
 
 ANECDOTE. 215 
 
 nursed for hours in her childhood, and seeing no 
 other means of escaping a mortifying acknowledg- 
 ment, he arrested his steps before a print-shop, and, 
 bending forward, affected to be totally engrossed by 
 •examining the pictures until he concluded that the 
 party had passed him. 
 
 His plan, however, was not destined to succeed, 
 for the quick eyes he sought to escape had recog- 
 nized him at a distance, and, having mentioned to her 
 companions the humble but respectable friend she 
 was about to accost, the whole party drew up at the 
 print-shop. Nothing could exceed the trepidation 
 of the bashful violinist on finding himself surrounded 
 by such an assemblage of elegantly-dressed young 
 ladies, for they were all engrande toilette^ going to an 
 oratorio to which they were taking Miss Mellon. 
 The latter soon dispelled his awkwardness by ex- 
 tending her hand and kindly saying — " My good 
 Gibson, I shall not allow you to shun me in that 
 way. I have told these ladies how kind and in- 
 dulgent you were in my childish days, therefore 
 they know I am anxious to see you." 
 
 She then entered into numerous details with him, 
 making inquiries after every persor^ she had known 
 at Ulverstone, until at length, being fearful of her 
 young patronesses risking their places at the festival, 
 she said — " I have not heard half enough of dear 
 old Ulverstone, but these ladies are taking me to
 
 216 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 the Oratorio, therefore I must not keep them •wait- 
 ing. My mother and her husband are living here 
 with Qie, and if you will come to dinner to-day we 
 shall be very glad to converse with you on old 
 times ! " 
 
 Gibson says her appearance at this time (she was 
 then in her twenty-first year) was very striking 
 from the brilliancy and contrast of her complexion, 
 eyes, and teeth; her features, however, were but 
 little altered since her childhood, and what struck 
 him the most was the sweet, low sound of her voice, 
 so childlike in its tone that he could have closed his 
 eyes and fancied, while she spoke, he was again 
 listening to the little child saying her lesson or 
 learning some of her future speeches. 
 
 He did not fail to join the dinner part}'', when, 
 instead of seeking to mystify the provincial musician 
 by fictitious accounts of her wonderful success on 
 the London boards, she candidly told him of all her 
 disappointments, hopes deferred, and the other dis- 
 advantages attending a debut made without especial 
 patronage and interest. 
 
 On the 2nd of August, 1798, at Liverpool, she 
 was to have playc^ in the after-piece " The Deserter," 
 when the performance was suddenly and tragically 
 closed by John Palmer falling dead whilst perform- 
 ing the character of the Stranger. 
 
 This appalling death is too well remembered in
 
 DEATH OF PALMER ON THE STAGE. 217 
 
 the fcheatrical world to require any allusion, except 
 that Miss Mellon, by being at the theatre, knew 
 some particulars of the sad cause which have not 
 generally transpired. 
 
 Palmer had been labouring under great mental 
 distress arising from pecuniary difficulties, and had 
 arrived at Liverpool with the intention of visiting 
 America, leaving his children in London until better 
 prospects arose. 
 
 Mr. Aikin, the manager, prevailed on him to per- 
 form the Stranger on the 12th of July, and the repre- 
 sentation was so fine that, by general desire, he was 
 induced to repeat it. While rehearsing on the 
 morning of performance he received an express 
 relating the sudden death of his son, a youth 
 universally beloved, and of great promise in point 
 of talent. 
 
 The play, of course, was deferred, for the wretched 
 father was carried almost senseless from the theatre. 
 It was the general opinion that, after an interval of 
 some days, he should be roused from his apathy, and 
 perhaps nothing could excite an actor like profes- 
 sional exertion. Therefore he was uro^ed to re- 
 appear, and the broken-spirited man made but little 
 resistance. 
 
 He arrived at the theatre tolerably calm in the 
 evening, but was silent as if afraid to trust himself 
 in conversation, whilst respect for his misfortunes 
 
 VOL. I. p
 
 218 ME3I0TRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 threw a solemuifcy over the generally gay party in 
 the greeu-room. 
 
 He went through the play almost mechanically, 
 until the fourth act, when the Stranger has to refer 
 to his children. He was dreadfully agitated ; the 
 audience feeling too deeply even to encourage him ; 
 finally, in uttering the well-known words, " There is 
 another and a better world ! ^^ he expired* — a case, 
 
 * The following is the announcement of Mr. Palmer's death ia 
 the Gentleman's Magazine for August, 1798 : — 
 
 " Deaths. — While performing the part of the Stranger on the 
 Liverpool stage, Mr. John Palmer, the comedian. It is universally 
 admitted that a fit of apoplexy occasioned Lis death, but profes- 
 sional men differ on the cause of it, some asserting that his con- 
 stitution must have been prone to apoplexy, and that his life 
 would have been so terminated at all events, while others affirm 
 tlie fit to have been occasioned by the efibrt of the moment. 
 Doctors Mitchell and Corry gave it as their opinion that he 
 certainly died of a broken heart, in consequence of the family 
 afiSictions which he had lately experienced. He received on the 
 morning of the day in which he was to have performed the Stranger 
 for the first time the distressing intelligence of the death of his 
 second son, a youth in whom his fondest hopes were centred, and 
 whose amiable manners had brought in action the tenderest affec- 
 tions of a parent. The play in consequence of this was deferred 
 till tlie Friday following, during which interval he had in vain 
 endeavoured to calm the agitation of his mind. The success with 
 which he performed the part called for a second representation, in 
 wliich he fell a sacrifice to the poignancy of his own feelings, and 
 in which the audience were doomed to Avitness a catastrophe which 
 will never be forgotten. On the preceding Sunday he dined with 
 Messrs. Hurst, Hammerton, and Mara. After dinner Mr. Hurst 
 complained that of late he had always found himself exceedingly
 
 DEATH OF PALMER ON THE STAGE. 219 
 
 if ever there was one, of a broke?! heart! The 
 theatre was closed for some time afterwards. His 
 funeral was magnificent, defrayed by tlie corpora- 
 drowsy after his meals. Mr. Palmer, in a most friendly and feeling 
 manner, said, ' My dear Dick ' (for so he familiarly called Mr. 
 Hurst), ' for God's sake endeavour to overcome those alarming 
 symptoms,' and after a short pause added, 'I fear, my dear friend, 
 that my own afflictions will very shortly bring me to my grave,' For 
 some days, however, he seemed to bear up against these trying mis- 
 fortunes with much resolution, and on the Wednesday following 
 performed the part of Young Wilding in ' The Liar ' with a con- 
 siderable degree of spirit. On Thursday morning he appeared 
 rather dejected, and all the efforts of his friends were scarcely 
 capable of rousing him from the state of melancholy in which 
 he appeared to have sunk. In the evening of that day he 
 appeared in the character of the Stranger, in the new play of that 
 name; and, in the two first acts, exerted himself with great effect ; 
 in the third, he displayed evident marks of depression. In the 
 fourth act, Baron Steinfort obtains an interview with the Stranger, 
 whom he discovers to be his old friend. He prevails on him to 
 relate the cause of his seclusion from the world ; and, as he was 
 about to reply to the question of Baron Steinfort, relative to his 
 children, he appeared unusually agitated. He endeavoured to 
 proceed, but his feelings evidently overcame him ; the hand of 
 Death arrested his progress, and he instantly fell upon his back, 
 heaved a convulsive sigh, and instantly expired without a groan. 
 The audience supposed, for the moment, that his fall was nothing 
 more than a studied addition to the part ; but, on seeing him 
 carried off in deadly stiffness, the utmost astonishment and terror 
 became depicted on every countenance, Hammerton, Callan, and 
 Mara were the persons who conveyed the lifeless body from the 
 stage into the scene-room. Medical assistance was immediately 
 procured ; his veins were opened, but they yielded not a single 
 drop of blood ; and every other means of resuscitation was had re-
 
 220 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON: 
 
 tion, and attended by many of the best families in 
 the neighbourhood. The managers of Drur}'- Lane 
 and the Hay market gave free benefits for the 
 
 course to without effect. The gentlemen of the faculty, finding 
 every means ineffectual, formally announced his death. The 
 piercing shrieks of the women, and the heavy sighs of the men, 
 which succeeded this melancholy annunciation exceeded the power 
 of language to describe. The chirurgical operation upon the body 
 continued about an hour ; after which, all hopes of recovery having 
 vanished, he was carried home to his lodgings. Mr. Aikin, the 
 manager, came on the stage to announce the melancholy event to 
 the audience, but so completely overcome with grief as to be in- 
 capable of uttering a sentence, and was at length forced to retire 
 without being able to make himself understood ; he was bathed in 
 tears, and, for the moment, sunk under the generous feelings of his 
 manly nature. Incledon then came forward, and mustered suffi- 
 cient resolution to communicate the dreadful circumstance. The 
 house was instantly evacuated in mournful silence, and the people 
 forming themselves into parties, contemplated the fatal occurrence 
 in the open square till a late hour next morning. As an actor, his 
 death is a great loss to the stage, and therefore to the public. His 
 figure and manner gave an importance to many characters, which, 
 in other hands, would have passed unnoticed. In delivering a 
 prologue, and in the graceful and insinuating way in which he 
 impressed an occasional address, he was unequalled. A more 
 general performer since the days, and during the latter part of the 
 days, of the inimitable Garrick the stage has not boasted ; and, in 
 the peculiar province to which his talents were adapted, he not 
 only stood without a competitor, but possessed very great execel- 
 lence. The province to wliich we allude was certainly the 
 sprightlier parts of comedy, of which the predominant feature is 
 easy confidence, such as Dick or Brass, in ' The Confederacy ; ' 
 Brush, in ' The Clandestine Marriage ; ' and Lo7'd Duke, in ' High 
 Life below Stairs.' In all these parts, but particularly the latter,
 
 DEATH OF PALMER ON THE STAGE. 221 
 
 bereaved family, by which considerable sums were 
 collected. 
 
 During that season Miss Mellon progressed fur- 
 
 the authors might be sup^josed to have written them on purpose 
 for him, which was indeed the case with Brush, a subordinate part, 
 but rendered very conspicuous and very entertaining in the hands 
 of Palmer. This province seemed to be what may be more imme- 
 diately termed his forte ; but he possessed considerable merit in a 
 variety of characters. His Colonel Feignwell, in ' A Bold Stroke 
 for a Wife,' was an admirable proof of the force and versatility of 
 his powers, and, perhaps, was altogether equal to any comic per- 
 formance ever seen. Sir Tohy, in ' Twelfth Night,' was also a part 
 in which he manifested uncommon abilities, and which he sup- 
 ported with such force, humour, truth, and spirit as to produce all 
 the effect of real life. Another of his most successful exertions 
 was Sergeant Kite, in which he must have completely satisfied the 
 wishes of Farquhar, who, in all probability, never saw it performed 
 with equal pleasantry, correctness, and humour. This part, 
 though so well performed by Mr. Palmer, he relinquished for 
 Brazen, in the same excellent comedy ; but, whether he had not 
 studied it with equal attention, or whether the public regretted 
 the loss of so exquisite a Kite, he certainly did not make such an 
 impression upon them as might be expected from the nature of his 
 talents. The merit of his Josejjh Surface has been universally 
 admitted, and it was indeed a proof of great skill. The hypocrisy 
 was presented with a smooth and specious subtlety that left nothing 
 for the author to desire beyond what was evident in the performance. 
 But Palmer did not excel in comedy only. He was very forcible 
 and impressive in the turbulent parts of tragedy, such as usurping 
 tyrants and ambitious ruffians. There was, however, one part in 
 which he sustained a dignified serenity, mingled with the emotions 
 of tender affection, and supported by gentlemanly manners, that 
 might rank with the very best efforts of his theatrical powers : 
 Villeroy, in the tragedy of ' Isabella.' StuTcely, in ' The Gamester,'
 
 222 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 ther in the favour of the audience of Liverpool ; 
 and having been so successful at her benefit, she re- 
 was also another proof of Mr. Palmer's ability that deserves a dis- 
 tinct notice. Nothing could be more finished than bis artful mode 
 of deluding the credulous and irresolute husband, his insidious 
 attempts to excite and to work upon the jealousy of the wife, and 
 the shame, confusion, and mortification of conscious cowardice 
 when he is reproached and insulted by the virtuous Lewson. His 
 manners in private life were those of the polished gentleman ; and 
 the feelings of his heart were such as the circumstances which we 
 have already related forbid we should mention again. Though 
 Mr. Palmer's character has been often the subject of public 
 notice, it is but justice to say that Censure has been rather too 
 severe in her animadversions. If he was brought into embarrass- 
 ments by iiis desire of becoming a manager, he only indulged a 
 natural ambition, and such as his abilities might warrant. In his 
 attempt to establish the Royalty Theatre, he was in a great degree 
 deceived by ' the glorious uncertainty of the law ; ' for he certainly 
 consulted many professional men of acknowledged ability on the 
 occasion, and was emboldened by their opinions to persevere in 
 raising an expensive edifice, which would most probably have 
 afforded him an ample fortune if his efforts had not been sup- 
 pressed by authority. He, perhaps, gave into a style of living 
 which, considering his large family, and the precariousness of his 
 profession, it is impossible to reconcile with the rules of rational 
 economy ; but allowance ought to be made for the manners of the 
 times, for the prevalence of the passions, and indeed for the 
 influence of a handsome person, that exposed him to expenses 
 which the prudent may condemn, but which they, perhaps, would 
 liardly have avoided if they had been placed in a similar situation, 
 with similar recommendations. He was a most affectionate father^ 
 and many of the embarrassments under which he laboured arose 
 from the excess of parental fondness. His sudden death is a fatal 
 blow to his family ; for as it was understood that he would 
 certainly have succeeded to the management of Drury Lane
 
 DEATH OF PALMER ON THE STAGE. 223 
 
 turned to towD, after having "led the business," as 
 it is termed, in the old comedies and farces ; and 
 
 Theatre, it is not improbable that he would finally have sur- 
 mounted all his troubles and have left a comfortable provision for 
 his offspring. For variety of talents and professional industry, 
 Mr. Palmer has not left his superior on the English stage. His 
 rise to the great share of public patronage which he enjoyed was, 
 however, very slow, and opposed from time to time by obstacles 
 •which would have discouraged any other man less confident and 
 persevering. An application was made in his favour to Mr. 
 Garrick to grant him an engagement at the early age of fifteen ; 
 but the manager, having condescended to hear him rehearse, 
 declared that he would never make an actor. The soundness of 
 Mr. Garrick's judgment was by no means proportionate to the 
 splendour of his mimic powers, as this inimitable performer after- 
 wards pronounced a similar opinion on Henderson and Mrs. 
 Siddons. His first part was Harry Scamper, in Foote's pleasant 
 piece of ' The Orators,' and Charles Bannister made his dehnt at 
 the same time in the character of Will, an Irishman. He was 
 discharged at the end of the season, and played afterwards at 
 Sheffield and Norwich. He returned to the Haymarket Theatre, 
 Vfhen Mr. and Mrs. Barry were engaged there, and distinguished 
 himself very much by his performance of several respectable parts. 
 In consequence of this success, Mr. Garrick enrolled him in the 
 Drury Lane corps, but trusted him with nothing of importance till 
 the death of his namesake, Mr. Palmer, son-in-law to the celebrated 
 Mrs. Pritchard, and who was in considerable repute for the ease 
 and elegance with which he played the genteelest cast of cha- 
 racters. From this period Mr. Palmer had constant opportunities 
 of displaying an uncommon versatility of powers, and at length 
 became an imiversal favourite. With the exception of the last 
 four or five years, Mr. Palmer had been imprudent in the manage- 
 ment of his domestic affairs ; but his misfortunes were still greater 
 than his imprudence. Being involved for some years past in 
 pecuniary embarrassments, his creditors not long since insured his
 
 224 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 then contentedly went on Drury stage for third and 
 fourth-rate characters. Her talents, however, were 
 
 life at Blackfriars for £2,000, which sum they are of course entitled 
 to. lie might have justly said, even to the end of liis career, in the 
 language of the poet Young — 
 
 ' Woes cluster ; rare are solitary woes ; 
 They love a train — they tread each other's heel.' 
 
 His funeral took place on the Gth, and was conducted with the 
 most solemn respectability. The hearse was preceded by mutes on 
 horseback, and followed by Messrs. Aikin, Holman, Whitfield, 
 Incledon, Mattocks, and Wild. The chief mourners were, Mr. 
 Hurst (as his oldest acquaintance), and a Mr. Stevens, cousin to 
 the deceased. Next came jMajor Potts, Captain Snow (the gentle- 
 man who performed near two years since at Covent Garden, under 
 the assumed name of Hargrave), Captain Kennedy; Messrs. 
 Hammerton, F'arley. Tomkins, Toms, Emery, Demaria (the painter), 
 Clinch, HoUingswood, and the rest of the company ; the whole of 
 whom accompanied the corpse in mournful silence from Liverpool 
 to the neighbouring village of Walton, where the body was 
 interred. The procession set out at eight o'clock in the morning, 
 and reached the church about half-past nine. Prayers being read. 
 over the body, it was committed to a grave, seven feet deep, dug in 
 a rock. The coffin was of oak, covered with black cloth, and on 
 the plate was simply inscribed, ' Mr. John Palmer, aged 53.' He 
 was, however, three or four years older, but there was no person in 
 Liverpool who correctly knew his age. A stone is to be placed at 
 the head of the grave with the following inscription, being the very 
 words he had just spoken in the character of the Stranger : — 
 
 ' There is another and a better world ! ' 
 
 Mr. Palmer has left eight children. We learn, with much 
 satisfaction, that a play was performed at Liverpool Theatre on 
 the 13th, when the receipts of the house amounted, it is said, to 
 £400, including a donation of j£50 from the Countess of Derby.
 
 DEATH OF PALMER ON THE STAGE. 225 
 
 HOW known, and when any opportunity occurred she 
 had reason to believe they would be called into 
 requisition. 
 
 Mr. Taylor, proprietor of the Opera House, generously gave a free 
 night at his theatre, for the benefit of the orphans of Mr. Palmer, 
 when the receipts amounted to £700 ; and Mr. Sheridan has, with 
 equal liberality, advertised the 15th of September for the same 
 purpose at Drury Lane Theatre."
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Performances at Drury Lane — Improved class of characters — 
 " Rule a Wife and Have a Wife " — Covent Garden manage- 
 ment — Professional offers — Visit to Epsom Theatre and it& 
 consequences. 
 
 In January, 1799, we find Miss Mellon acting Lucy 
 in the "Virgin Unmasked," a great part of Mrs. 
 Jordan's ; there is no doubt, therefore, that some 
 temporary illness deprived Drury Lane of that 
 lady's services for a time, and that Miss Mellon had 
 the good fortune to act in her place. 
 
 Soon after this, M. G. Lewis wrote a strange 
 farce, with the title of " Twins ; or, Is it He or his 
 Brother?" Mr. Bannister's success in " Three and 
 the Deuce " led to this attempt ; he, of course, re- 
 presenting the brothers. In this farce a very good 
 original part fell into Miss Mellon's hands ; but, 
 alas ! Lewis was not more successful than O'Keefe ;. 
 the farce failed entirely.
 
 IMPROVED CLASS OF CHARACTERS. 227 
 
 Celia, in "As you Like it," was given to Miss 
 Mellon October 15tli. This was her first per- 
 formance in that character, in which the contem- 
 porary critics gave her considerable praise, for the 
 graceful and buoyant manner in which she played 
 it. The Morning Advertiser says : " Miss Mellon'^ 
 Celia is quite fascinating; a marked improvement 
 appeared in her performance throughout the play." 
 
 In October she played Inej^^ in " The Wonder ; " 
 Ann Lovely, in the " Bold Stroke for a Wife ; " 
 Charlotte, in " The Apprentice," to J. Bannister's 
 Dick; no other characters being named in the 
 advertisement; and November 7 th, Lydia Languish, 
 great improved, according to the critics' accounts ; 
 Ann Lovely, Estifanid, Gelia, Kitty Pry ; with only 
 her name and Suett's in the bills, Gharlotte and 
 Dorcas. 
 
 Miss De Camp, who was on very intimate terms 
 with Miss Mellon, gave her the character of Tulip, 
 in the play of " First Faults." It succeeded very 
 well; but its popularity was injured by an attack 
 upon it, made by Mr. Earle, who said the play was 
 his, and that Miss De Camp must have seen it in the 
 theatre to which he had presented it for acceptance. 
 It was generally thought that the tenacious author 
 was in the wrong, but still the play was hurt by it. 
 For the third time, therefore, the attempts of authors- 
 to further the interests of Miss Mellon failed.
 
 228 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 November 14tli, she acted Miranda, in "The 
 Tempest," and was very highly commended by the 
 press. This was followed by Dorcas, in " The 
 ]\[ock Doctor," a part she had studied with great 
 care, and which she played (with one exception) 
 better than any other actress on the stage. 
 
 In the early part of 1800 she came into a class of 
 performances which fell to her in consequence of 
 the temporary withdrawal of Mrs. Jordan. She 
 played Estifania, in " Rule a Wife and Have a 
 Wife;" having been carefully tutored in all the 
 points of the character by John Bannister (who 
 played the Copjjer Captain). She was considered to 
 have made " a hit, a very palpable hit." The part 
 is of a coarser quaUty than those which now 
 succeed upon our stage; her attempts to trick 
 Michael Perez, who is doing exactly the same by 
 her, and to win him when she deems him rich ; her 
 indignant rage at the cheat put upon her ; her jeers 
 when he claims his valuables ; her exhibition of the 
 tinsel he has passed off for gold, and her fine 
 climax, " a copper — copper captain ! " are stated 
 to have been quite admirable. In this part, as in 
 that of Dorcas, she flung off that appearance of 
 laziness (for it was not apathy) which was the first 
 and the besetting fault of many of her assumptions. 
 Bannister had evidently succeeded in imparting to 
 her a little of his own mercurial spirit; and had
 
 ''BULE A WIFE AND HAVE A WIFE:' 229 
 
 she, at that period, been given a succession of 
 similar casts to act with him, good judges say there 
 can be httle doubt the name of Mellon would now 
 stand far higher in the annals of the drama. But 
 she was, unfortunately for herself, more useful 
 than important to the manager ; she was the re- 
 presentative of a number of inferior, though by no 
 means insignificant characters ; that is to say, poor 
 in themselves, but producing an effect on others in 
 the piece. After the triumph of Esttfania, her 
 ambition was struck down by two or three of these 
 parts in succession ; and it is a well-known dramatic 
 axiom, that" alternating great and trivial characters 
 will injure the powers of the finest actress in the 
 world." 
 
 What has been said of her Estifama, and the few 
 remarks which follow, are rather embodiments of 
 the opinions of an actor who has continually per- 
 formed with her in the piece, than a statement of 
 personal opinions or recollections. 
 
 " The whole play of ' Rule a Wife and Have a 
 Wife,' or rather, the whole of the comic portion of 
 it, suited not only the powers, but the person of 
 Miss Mellon. She looked the reckless but beauti- 
 ful trickstress to the life. In it she could evolve all 
 her youthful recollections of Mrs. Abingdon, blend- 
 ing them with the touches taught her by Bannister, 
 so that the picture was perfect. It does no discredit
 
 230 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 to the fame of Mrs. Glover to say that, in this part, 
 MissMellon's comedy was of the same school as her 
 own. Even the admirable actress above named 
 could not exceed Miss Mellon's reading of the re- 
 torting passages — 
 
 ' Sir, there's your treasure ; sell it to a tinker to mend old 
 kettles. 
 
 'Let all the world view here the captain's treasure ; here's a 
 shoeing horn, a chain, gilt over, how it scenteth ! and here's 
 another of a lesser value ; so little, I would shame to tie my 
 monkey in't. These are my jointures ! Blush, and save a labour, 
 or these — these will else blush for thee ! ' 
 
 " In scene 2, act 5, Bannister and herself kept up 
 the ball merrily; her feigned sorrow and repentance, 
 the meek, despairing look, and flattering accent, with 
 which she uttered — 
 
 * I know you'll kill me, and I know 'tis useless to beg for mercy ; 
 pray let me draw my book out and pray a little,' 
 
 were inimitable ; and sustained, if not heightened, 
 by her by- play through, his speech — 
 
 Michael. * Do : a very little : 
 
 For I have further business than thy killing — 
 
 / have money yet to borrow — speak when you're ready.' 
 
 " Here she cowered shudderingly beneath the up- 
 lifted sword of the captain, and then broke forth 
 into tones half angry, half derisive, whilst her atti- 
 tude made her look like a statue. 
 
 Estif. ' Now, now, sir — now ! ' (producing a pistol.)
 
 ''RULE A WIFE AND HAVE A WIFE." 231 
 
 " This situation, which has been borrowed in a 
 hundred melodramas since, then always electrified 
 the house ; and the applause was fairly divided be- 
 tween the actress and actor. Bannister's balked, 
 vexed, angry, yet fearful expression, can never be 
 forgotten ; nor his transition from triumph to 
 dupedom — hers, from well-feigned fearfulness to 
 daring and triumph." 
 
 At the commencement of the winter season of 
 1800, Mrs. Jordan had permission to star for a 
 month or six weeks. This gave Miss Mellon Albina 
 Mandeville ; it was the second part in which she 
 appeared en horame. She had very considerably the 
 advantage of Mrs. Jordan in her dashing repre- 
 sentation of the young naval officer. The latter 
 great actress not unfrequently annoyed her friends 
 by assuming this and other characters, wherein she 
 had to " don the manly garb," in which she 
 appeared to disadvantage; moreover, she was never 
 very tall, and at this period was remarkably embon- 
 point, and forty-four years of age. Miss Mellon, as 
 far as appearances went, had all the advantage; but 
 there, of course, comparison is at an end. In the 
 representation of the giddy, but free-hearted girl ; 
 the dashing, daring lieutenant, running headlong 
 into danger, whilst her woman's heart is fluttering 
 in fear for the event ; in her fine change of expres- 
 sion to the oi2^,dino^, dawdlino^, almost idiotic school-
 
 232 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 girl ; in ber burst of cbildisli rapture, when she- 
 laughingly screamed forth, " School's up ! school's 
 up ! " Mrs. Jordan has never been approached, will 
 probably never be equalled, and certainly cannot 
 possibly be excelled. It was most creditable to the 
 talents of her successor that she could be, and was, 
 received at all in this part, after such a performance 
 as that of the great original. 
 
 Violetta, in " The Indian ; " Wishwell, in " The 
 Double Grallant ; " and Blanche, in " The Iron Chest," 
 were added to her list of stock parts this season. 
 
 The perfect good humour with which Miss Mellon 
 yielded up the characters in which she had gained 
 temporary honours, disarmed all jealousy — a feeling 
 not uncommon in the breasts of even the greatest 
 actresses. It was not a mere assumption of good 
 humour either ; her nature was too careless, her 
 temper too hasty, for any consideration of prudence 
 ever to check the utterance of what she felt at any 
 period of her life. Most of her annoyances arose 
 from the ungovernable, yet artless way in which her 
 unfavourable opinions were communicated by her to 
 the actual objects of them. This unfortunate frank- 
 ness she inherited from Mrs. Entwisle, whom no 
 consideration could withhold from expressing all the 
 violence she felt. 
 
 Hughes (who began revolutionizing the drama, by 
 getting up a real fox-chase on Covent Garden stage
 
 COVENT GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 233 
 
 in 1792), after progressing at the Surrey, and making 
 it a valuable property, died. His successor, llr. 
 Cross, endeavoured to infuse more of the dramatic, 
 and less of the equestrian, into his performances ; 
 and was from 1798 to 1806 perpetually on the look- 
 out for actors and actresses who had received a 
 regular theatrical training ; for as most of Mr. 
 Hughes's company had been brought from the fairs, 
 it may be reasonably inferred that their declamation 
 was by no means of an exalted character. 
 
 Mrs. Entwisle was known to Mr. Wallack (father 
 of the present performers) and Mr. Johannot (father 
 of Mrs. W. Vining), each of whom were engaged 
 with, and interested for. Cross and Astley, at 
 different times. When the lady, as it was very 
 natural she should do, complained of the disagree- 
 able necessity of walking three miles home from 
 Drury Lane in dreary nights, one mile of which 
 was over a road-way, nearly impassable from mud, 
 neglect, want of lighting, and, above all, from the 
 very dregs of the community that infested it — when 
 Mrs. Entwisle spoke of these hardships, it was 
 natural the two gentlemen should suggest a remedy, 
 especially if it were one bringing with it concurrent 
 advantages. Miss Mellon was just the person they 
 wanted. Though not a good pantomimist, she had 
 all the requisites for becoming one. She had a fine 
 person, sung agreeably, and would have been the 
 
 VOL. I. Q
 
 234 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 very fair ideal of their youthful heroines ; moreover, 
 she spoke well ; and though little dialogue was then 
 allowed, and even that was to be accompanied with 
 the harpsichord, yet in occasional addresses they 
 had long felt the want of a regular actress. 
 
 In 1799, Cross produced a pantomimic and 
 dramatic spectacle, entitled " Cora ; or, the Virgin 
 of the Sun " (founded on Pizarro) ; then " Sir 
 Francis Drake," " Rinaldo Rinaldino," &c. In all 
 of these Miss Mellon would have been a feature of 
 attraction. Johannot urged to Mrs. Entwisle that 
 her daughter's situation at Drury Lane was pre- 
 carious — that she was only retained to go on in the 
 absence of others, and had no chance of making any 
 fame of her own — that her pittance was miserable, 
 and there seemed scanty hopes of its increase ; 
 whereas, with Cross or Astley she could at once 
 secure a greater salary, be made of importance, and 
 would no doubt become so valuable to either of 
 them that she might ultimately make her own terms. 
 
 Mrs. Entwisle, no doubt, saw all these advantages, 
 and weighed them well ; but she also saw the tre- 
 mendous disadvantages attendant upon such a 
 change. The line of demarcation has long been 
 removed. Our minor theatres now contain some of 
 our best performers, and the distinction is nearly 
 lost between patent and unpatented houses ; but in 
 1800, to go to a minor theatre (unless in such a case
 
 PROFESSIONAL OFFERS. 235 
 
 as Palmer's, wliose taleat enabled him to do what- 
 ever he pleased) was to shut the door of Drury Lane 
 against you for ever. 
 
 Miss Mellon wisely resolved upon poverty and re- 
 spectability ; and this, although Cross, who was 
 suffering from a defection of his troops, would have 
 given her double the salary she had at Drury Lane, 
 or double anything which they would have advanced. 
 This was not the only offer of such a nature which 
 was wisely declined by her ; as it was inferred that, 
 after being among the Kembles, the Farrens, &c., 
 she declined, from a principle of pride, joining " a 
 troop ; " for by that somewhat derogatory title were 
 the equestrian and pantomimic companies known. 
 
 Old Astley had at this time a scheme in his head 
 for rendering his theatre in Dublin what, in fact, 
 our minors now are, and this scheme he s-ucceeded 
 in carrying out, despite all the opposition (parlia- 
 mentary and otherwise), indictments, and actions of 
 the patentees of the London and Dublin theatres. 
 He rightly judged that many performers, who 
 would not face the ordeal of the Amphitheatre in 
 Westminster, would be less scrupulous in Dublin, 
 where they were unknown, and ran no risk of en- 
 countering their acquaintance, who sustained places 
 in the more elevated walks of the drama. 
 
 He made no direct offers ; for at that period, if he 
 had done so to performers already under articles,
 
 236 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 he had but little doubt that he would have been 
 proceeded against, on the principle of endeavouring 
 to entice away retained servants ; but he caused 
 overtures to be made indirectly to many actors and 
 actresses, and, among others, to Miss Mellon. A 
 very brilliant prospect was held out ; and it is 
 possible she might have accepted a situation with 
 him in Ireland, had it not fortunately happened 
 that the necessities of Drury now called so fre- 
 quently upon her services, that she was uncon- 
 sciously become of importance to the theatre. 
 
 It is curious to reflect what chanoi-e in the com- 
 plexion of her fortunes might have resulted from 
 her acceptance of Astley's offer. In all human 
 probability she would in that case have never 
 become Mrs. Ooutts. 
 
 Towards the close of this year, some strolling 
 players fitted up for a theatre a room at the George 
 Inn, Epsom. Some one or more of these itinerants 
 were known to Miss Mellon, and she promised to 
 perform one night for a benefit; her 'name, however, 
 was not to appear in the bills,* but was to be men- 
 tioned round the town. 
 
 * Attached to one of these bills is an announcement of IMr. 
 Farrcll, the union piper, who was to give a public breakfast on 
 28th July, 1800, at the Grotto, Prestbury ; where there were to 
 be the following diversions to please the ladies and gentlemen : 
 
 " A pig, whose tail will be shaved and soapeJ, to be given to 
 the first person who can catch it by the aforesaid tail, and throw it
 
 VISIT TO EPSOM THEATRE. 237 
 
 It may be questioned whether it was probable that 
 she would prove attractive there; but the strollers, 
 it appears, thought so ; and Miss Mellon named, to 
 a party in power at Drury Lane, her intention. He 
 stated that he saw no great harm in it; but advised 
 her not to ask the stage manager, but to go, and 
 keep her own secret. To Epsom she accordingly 
 went. The theatre was adorned with a large 
 carpet for a curtain ; two screens made the wings on 
 each side ; and there was no scenery whatever. 
 The good people of Epsom, however, mustered in 
 great force; and she was so much applauded, and 
 so admired by the beaux of that racing town and 
 its vicinity, that it was deemed very desirable to re- 
 eno-aofe her services. As no ill had resulted from 
 her first trip, impunity induced carelessness ; and, 
 a remuneration now tempting her, she again ap- 
 peared at Epsom, was again applauded to the very 
 echo, and, in fact, deemed a great feature " for that 
 night only.'' She returned to town the next day, 
 reaching her lodgings about five, and found that a 
 "call'' had been left at her house, requiring her 
 attendance for the rehearsal at eleven on that 
 morning. This was the first time she had ever 
 
 over his shoulders. To concUide with a race in sacks by two of 
 the fastest running women in England." 
 
 It is to be hoped that the patrons of the drama were devoted 
 generally to more intellectual amusements than those offered by 
 Mr. Farrell.
 
 238 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 been absent from the theatre when her services were 
 required ; and she became alarmed. She im- 
 mediately sought out "Wewitzer, wlio treated the 
 matter lightly ; but said, he supposed she had been 
 " put down ; " that is to say, marked in the 
 prompter's list to be fined. This, of course, 
 increased lier uneasiness ; and on reaching the 
 theatre she hurried to the prompter to ascertain the 
 fact. It was so. The amount of the fine was a 
 mere trifle, fines being in proportion to the salary of 
 the performers ; but it was a serious evil to be 
 suspected of inattention to her profession ; and it 
 was evident that she had incurred that danger. 
 Nothing further was said upon the business, save 
 the exaction of the fine ; but Miss Mellon discovered 
 that someone had been mean enough to write to the 
 stage manager, informing him of the trip taken by 
 the truant actress. Such was the strict discipline 
 of Drury Lane at that period, that had not the 
 manasrcr been diss^usted with the meanness of the 
 anonymous writer, her freak would probably have 
 cost Miss Mellon her engagement.* 
 
 * Those who are curious about the select few who formed the 
 company at Epsom, will find their names recorded. The ladies 
 were, Mrs. Askey and Mrs. Humphreys ; the gentlemen, Messrs. 
 Langdon, Murjihy, Humphreys, and ISeabrooke ; and as a proof 
 that the most humble aspirants to a niche in the temple of fame 
 may at some time or other obtain it, it may be noticed that a bill 
 of their performances (and probably the only one) is yet extant^ 
 and carefully preserved in the library of the British Museum !
 
 CHAPTER XIL 
 
 Continuation of theatrical career — Miss Mellon visits Southamp- 
 ton — Private theatricals— -Contemporary actors and their 
 salaries — Expenses of Drury Lane — Theatricals continued — • 
 Actress's paint. 
 
 For the two SLicceeding years Miss Mellon' s history 
 contains hardly anything worthy of record — beyond 
 a repetition of similar events — and her continued, 
 though slow, rise in her profession. 
 
 On the 6th January, 1801, " Inkle and Yarico " 
 was performed at Drury Lane. The characters of 
 Yarico, Woivsh', and Patty, were supported, for the 
 first time, by Mrs. Crouch, Mrs. Mountain, and Miss 
 Mellon. After an encomium on the two former, the 
 Dramatic Oracle says, " Miss Mellon in Pattu seemed 
 next to attract attention, and very justly. The 
 archness and cunning, the pertness and loquacity, of 
 the chambermaid, she admirably exhibited ; and 
 such an exhibition must be acknowledged to evince 
 no inferior powers of comic delineation."
 
 240 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON, 
 
 " The Double Gallant " was revived on the 20th, 
 in which Miss Mellon played WisInocU. The 
 Morning Chronicle in its critique saj^s, " The sum 
 of comic abilities displayed last night was con- 
 siderable. Miss Mellon obtained great applause in 
 WisJiwell. Where playfulDess rather than sensibility 
 is to be portrayed, she certainly stands unrivalled. 
 Had all the performers been equally jjerfed in their 
 jmrts, the play would probably have been received 
 still better." 
 
 Miss Mellon was now only in her fifth season ; 
 and being without patronage or interest, had no 
 means of attaining a high cast of character ; yet it is 
 evident, by the gradually increasing praise of the 
 critics, that unaided she was making her way in 
 public estimation, by her talent, good humour, and 
 good looks. 
 
 January 27th, she played Wishcell, in the " Double 
 Gallant." 28th. — Lydia Languish. March 12th. — 
 Alethea, in the " Country Girl ; " Mrs. Jordan per- 
 forming Peggy. April 10th. — Gelia, in "As you 
 like it," to Mrs. Jordan's Uosalind. 
 
 In the summer of this year (1801), Miss Mellon 
 received an offer to perform at Southampton, for 
 the first time, from Mr. Maxfield, the respectable 
 veteran manager of that circuit, who is still living. 
 It has been frequently stated that "she was in the 
 habit of performing at the Portsmouth Theatre,
 
 MISS MELLON VISITS SOUTHAMPTON. 241 
 
 where lier liandsome appearance secured an over- 
 flowingf house amono^ the officers of the o-arrison and 
 ,the harbour." This is quite erroneous. Mr. Maxfield 
 was manager of all the theatres on the circuit ; and 
 he says Miss Mellon only played one season for him, 
 that being at Southampton. 
 
 She was greatly admired in that town for her 
 naivete, sweetness of maner, and that buoyant good- 
 humour which seems to have been the most winning 
 charm of her style. 
 
 Her characters at Southampton were, Rosalind; 
 AlhinaMandenille ; Friscilla Tomboy ; Angela; Aura, 
 in the " Altered Custom of the Manor ; Peggy, in 
 the " Country Girl ; " Lady Teazle ; Letitia Hardy ; 
 Yiolante ; and Lydia Languish. 
 
 These performances were very highly patronized ; 
 and although her engagements at Liverpool, and 
 other more profitable circuits, did not allow her 
 to revisit Southampton professionally, it was a 
 favourite rallyiug- place during her summer tours in 
 after years, and on arriving there she always 
 referred with pleasure to the kind patronage she 
 had formerly received. 
 
 On the 24th September, Drury Lane reopened, 
 and the " Wheel of Fortune " was performed again, 
 with Kemble's matchless Penruddoch. Miss Mellon 
 maintained her own part of Emily Tempest with 
 increasing merit, as appears from the following
 
 242 ME MO IBS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 criticism : " Miss Mellon, by a pleasing mixture of 
 vivacity and tenderness in Emiljj, strongly indicated 
 an improvement in her profession." Another 
 critique gives the young comic actress a lesson not to 
 spoil her pretty face by crying : " Miss Mellon 
 appeared as Emily, and gave to the part a high 
 degree of interest from her captivating sprightliness. 
 However, she should never attempt seriously to cry; 
 the audience, accustomed to her merry face, thought 
 she was jesting, and hailed her tears with laughter." 
 
 In the theatrical notices of the contemporary press 
 may be traced Miss Mellon's improvement both as 
 an actress and in the estimation of amateurs. On 
 the 24th October, she performed Berintlila, in the 
 *' Trip to Scarborough;" and the True Briton of 
 the day following attributes to her a polished style^ 
 and declares her to be an accomplished representa- 
 tive of all elegant comedy, praising the success of 
 her efforts for the point and precision with which 
 she delivered the dialogue. 
 
 On the 6th of the following month, the reproduc- 
 tion of the " Wedding Day " procured for Miss 
 Mellon the part of Lady Contest ; and, according to 
 the Dramatic Magazine, she " played so well, and 
 looked so pretty, that there arose a considerable 
 contest in the house who should cong^ratulate her 
 most heartily on her Wedding-day.^^ 
 
 It was not only by the public that the young
 
 PRIVATE THEATRICALS. 24S 
 
 actress was sought after : her services were some- 
 times required for the private theatricals with, 
 which the nobility occasionally disported them- 
 selves; and we find by a treasured relic of those 
 days that, on the 28th of the same month (Novem- 
 ber), she formed part of a dramatis ^^ersonce at the 
 Hon. Mrs. Damer's, Strawberry Hill. 
 
 This relic — a " bill " printed in due form — proves 
 that her playmates on this occasion were of no 
 ignoble rank. The performances consisted of " The 
 Fashionable Friends," and " Lovers' Quarrels ; " 
 acted by the Earl Mount Edgcombe, Messrs. Berry, 
 Brownlow North, Campbell, Burn, and Mercer ; 
 Lady Elizabeth Cole, Mrs. Burn, the Misses Berry, 
 the Hon. Mrs. Damer, and Miss Mellon. 
 
 Besides performing parts in both the pieces, Miss 
 Mellon undertook the character of stage-manager, 
 besides being privy-councillor in all matters relative 
 to costume and other little etceteras known only to 
 the initiated in Thespian mysteries. That her office 
 of manager was no sinecure may be inferred from a 
 remark she afterwards made, and which, at this dis- 
 tance of time, we may venture to repeat — that "there 
 never was such a stupid task as drilling fine people ! " 
 
 So high had her services at this period risen in 
 public estimation, that her absence from the theatre 
 only one night was not allowed to pass unnoticed. 
 During the same evening she was performing with
 
 -244 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 the " fine people," the " Old Maid " was being acted 
 at Driiry Lane; and the Messenger complained of 
 the character of Mrs. Earlowe having been allotted 
 to Mrs. Humphries. " The part," says the critic, 
 " should have been played by Miss De Camp or Miss 
 Mellon, for the piece deserves the best comic per- 
 formers that the theatre will afford." 
 
 After having represented Miranda, in the " Tem- 
 pest," on the 23rd and 26th of December, Miss 
 Mellon played Estifania, in " Rule a "Wife, and Have 
 a Wife," to John Kemble's Leon ; on which occasion 
 the True Briton, of January 6th, 1802, compliments 
 her for very excellent acting in a part that demands 
 much taste and judgment. 
 
 The name of Mrs. Jordan, and the character of 
 Nell, in " The Devil to Pay," are so completely 
 identified, even at the present time, that it must 
 have required no little reliance on her own powers 
 to induce Miss Mellon to undertake the character, 
 with the impressions of her prototype's acting so 
 fresh upon the public mind. On the 2nd of January, 
 however, she mustered sufficient courage to personate 
 the part, and had the good fortune to succeed in it. 
 She might have owed a portion of her success to 
 having had so excellent a Johson to play to as 
 Bannister. 
 
 The 11th of October, 1802, was rendered some- 
 what remarkable by the return to the stage of Mr. 
 Cherry, after a cession of tioenty years. The char-
 
 CONTEMPORARY ACTORS' SALARIES. 245 
 
 acter lie chose for his reappearance was, Sir Ben- 
 jamin Dove, in " The Brothers ; " the Sojjhia of the 
 play was Miss Mellon, " whose acting," criticizes the 
 Messenger, " only wanted a little more anxiety and 
 distress at the discovery of her supposed lover's 
 baseness to be as interesting as the author could 
 possibly intend she should be." 
 
 Those who knew the extreme gaiety, even in later 
 days, of her to whom this notice alludes, can readily 
 suppose her expression of sadness must have cost 
 her no small effort — her imitation of sorrow must 
 indeed have been "getting up a sad face." The 
 criticism was possibly a just one ; yet, on the other 
 hand, it must not be forgotten, that when once per- 
 formers become popular in comic characters, they 
 get but little credit for portraying sentiment, be it 
 ever so well done. Listen's Octav'ian was, we have 
 heard from an eye-witness, a highly creditable per- 
 formance ; but then " mirth had marked him for her 
 own," and the audience seemed to consider it as a 
 sort of fraud upon their risibility that he did not 
 burlesque the part, and withheld their applause for 
 pathos, to one from whom they expected fun. It is 
 not unlikely that a similar feeling on the part of her 
 audience prevented Miss Mellon in Sophia from re- 
 ceiving the commendation she may have deserved. 
 This opinion is much strengthened by the criticisms 
 on her Emily Tempest, quoted in a former page. 
 She was, however, more successful as Lady Gon-
 
 246 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 stant^ in *' The Way to Keep Him," which she 
 played on the 8th of November. She finished the 
 year in the part of Berinthia, which she performed 
 on the 31st of December. 
 
 Mr. Boaden has, in one of his Dramatic Bio- 
 graphies, given a Hst of most of the salaries at 
 Drury in 1802 ; and it is an interesting document, 
 inasmuch as it proves that large sums were then, as 
 now, given to performers of great talents. John 
 Kemble, as actor and manager, had £56 14s. per 
 week — that is to say, forty guineas per week as 
 an actor, and fourteen guineas per week as manager. 
 The latter was paid throughout the whole year; 
 the former, during the season only : his annual 
 income from the profession thus exceeding two 
 thousand per annum. Mrs. Siddons had forty 
 guineas per week, or about twelve hundred guineas 
 for the season ; and Mrs. Jordan, nearly one thou- 
 sand guineas. At that period, as at the present 
 time, where money was lavished upon one, it was 
 doled forth in a truly parsimonious spirit to others. 
 Thus, Mrs. Sparks,* the Mrs. Malaprop of the 
 theatre, had but £3 per week; Grimaldi, the ini- 
 mitable, only £4 ; and Mrs. Crouch's salary was 
 reduced by one-half in consequence of her having 
 been somewhat disfigured by the overturning of her 
 
 * Miss Mellon, on her accession to fortune, settled an annuity 
 for life on Mrs. Sparks, who was a most respectable and valued old 
 friend of hers.
 
 CONTEMPORAR V A CTORS' SALARIES. 
 
 247 
 
 carria^^e ! Dovvton we find at £8, but King and 
 Suett were then living, and in possession of all the 
 capital parts in the line in which lie excelled. 
 
 Out of the followino; list of manaorers and actors 
 (many of whom were very young at the time) only 
 nine survive : 
 
 THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY LANE. 
 
 Mr, 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 Kemble, as actor and manager 
 
 • • • 
 
 
 5G 
 
 14 
 
 
 
 Bannister ... 
 
 
 • .» • 
 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 
 
 King 
 
 
 • a . 
 
 
 IG 
 
 
 
 
 
 Pojie 
 
 
 • • • 
 
 
 13 
 
 
 
 
 
 Kelly 
 
 
 ... 
 
 
 IG 
 
 
 
 
 
 Wroughton... 
 
 
 • . • 
 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 
 
 Suett 
 
 
 . • • 
 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dowton 
 
 
 • • • 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 C. Kemble ... 
 
 
 ... 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 Barrymore ... 
 
 
 ■ • • 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 Byrne, ballet-master 
 
 ... 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 Palmer 
 
 ... ... 
 
 • • • 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 
 
 Wathen 
 
 ... ... 
 
 • • . 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 Raymond ... 
 
 ... ... 
 
 • • • 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 Wewitzer ... 
 
 ... ... 
 
 • • . 
 
 
 G 
 
 
 
 
 
 Sedgwick ... 
 
 • . • . . ■ 
 
 • • • 
 
 
 G 
 
 
 
 
 
 Powell 
 
 ... ... 
 
 • • • 
 
 
 G 
 
 
 
 
 
 Holland ... 
 
 • • • ... 
 
 • • . 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 Caulfield 
 
 ... ... 
 
 ... 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 Powell, prompter 
 
 (he had 
 
 emoluments 
 
 
 
 
 besides)... 
 
 ... ... 
 
 a • a 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dignimi, tenor-sin 
 
 ger 
 
 • • • 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cooke, bass-singei 
 
 ' . . . ... 
 
 ... 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 Grimaldi 
 
 • • • • • • 
 
 ... 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 Parker 
 
 ... 
 
 • • • 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 De Camp ... 
 
 • • • • • • 
 
 ... 
 
 £ 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 255 
 
 14 
 

 
 248 
 
 31E3I0IRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 Mrs. Jordan must be taken at an average. She 
 was sometimes paid more tliaii tliirty — nay, 
 sometimes fifty guineas a-week — but the 
 average gives 
 
 Siddons 
 
 Crouch 
 
 31 
 42 
 14 
 
 (Next year after her accident only £7.) 
 
 Miss De Camp (the late Mrs. C. Kemble) ... 
 
 Mrs. Mountain... 
 Bland 
 
 X(-)|7L»»» ••• ■•• ••■ ••• ••• 
 
 Young (late Miss Biggs) ... 
 Powell 
 
 XjlII ocll ••• ••• ••• ••• vat 
 
 Miss Mellon 
 
 Tyrer (Mrs. Liston) 
 Mrs. Harlowe ... 
 Miss Menage ... 
 Mi"s. Sparks 
 Misses Hicks, Campbell, Henry, Southey, and 
 
 C. Campbell, £3 each 
 Mrs. Byrne 
 
 Gentlemen, including stage-manager ... .. 
 
 Ladies ... 
 
 To this is to be added at least twenty per- 
 sons who received £2 or £1 10s each, say.. 
 
 Amount received by the four persons in 
 power — 
 R, B. Sheridan, Esq. 
 
 — Richardson, Esq. ... ... 
 
 — Grubb, Esq. 
 T. Sheridan, Esq, ... 
 
 12 
 
 12 
 
 12 
 
 11 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 15 
 
 5 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 £199 10 
 
 
 
 . 255 14 
 
 
 
 . 199 10 
 
 
 
 . 35 
 n 
 
 
 
 . 31 10 
 
 
 
 . 15 15 
 
 
 
 . 9 
 
 
 
 G 10 
 
 
 
 £552 19
 
 EXPENDITURE OF DRURY LANE. 249 
 
 Other expenses, including lighting (wax 
 candles were then used), printing, servants, 
 say ... ... ... ... ... ... 100 
 
 Eent, interest of £129,000, say £130,000, 
 would be £6,500 per annum, which, as the 
 theatre was open thirty-two weeks, gives a 
 trifle over a weekly rent of ... ... ... 200 
 
 The total weekly expenditure of old Drury 
 Lane, not including tlie payment of dramatic 
 authors £852 19 
 
 On the 7lli of January, 1803, Miss Mellon ap- 
 peared in a character which was a great favourite of 
 her own, and consequently not the less relished by 
 her audience, — Cherry, in " The Beaux' Stratagem." 
 This performance must have been, in later years, a 
 cherished reminiscence, for she frequently quoted 
 from the play. She played the part again on the 
 22nd of the same month. 
 
 On the 3rd, 10th, and 18th of January she repeated 
 Lady Constant, in " The AYay to Keep Him." On 
 the !14th and 27th she pei'sonated Patchy in the 
 " Busy Body ; " and on the 20th, Viletta, in " She 
 Would and She Would Not:" but the crowninof 
 event of the month was her accession to the character 
 of Mrs. Page, in the ^' Merry Wives of Windsor," 
 on account of the illness of Miss Pope. Her success 
 in this attempt — one which she had ever been 
 ambitious to make — was always treasured up in her 
 memory as her most pleasing dramatic recollection. 
 
 VOL. I. E
 
 250 3fEj\rOniS OF MISS MELLON; 
 
 She retained the identical dress worn on that occa- 
 sion ; and, after her second marriage, produced it 
 at St. Albans' House durino^ a debate coucernins: 
 tableaux. Sir W. Beechy painted a full-length por- 
 trait of Miss Mellon in this character, which has 
 been twice engraved. 
 
 Miss Mellon succeeded Mrs. Bland in the part of 
 Alem, in " The Hero of the North," on the 29th of 
 January. The Dramatic Critic decides in favour of 
 the change, and remarks that, " though Mrs. 
 Bland's great vocal attractions were useful, yet, 
 considering the situation in which the character is 
 placed. Miss Mellon's fine figure is much better fitted 
 for it, in addition to her greater merits as an 
 actress." In the month of February she was almost 
 nightly before the pubhc, in the characters of Lady 
 Constant; Cherry; Alethea, in "The Country- 
 Girl ; " and Alexa. 
 
 On the 16th of April, Alliughara's comedy of the 
 *' Marriage Promise " was played for the first time. 
 Miss Mellon having rather a sentimental part, of 
 Mary Woodland. The True Briton says, "C. Kemble, 
 Dowton, Mrs. Powell, and Miss Mellon, exerted their 
 respective talents with the happiest effect. Miss 
 Mellon spoke the epilogue with considerable arch- 
 ness." This piece was nightly repeated until the 
 3rd May. 
 
 On the 11th of May, for the benefit of Palmer and
 
 THEATRICALS CONTINUED. 
 
 251 
 
 Suett, Miss Mellon, for the first time, played, Bosaria 
 in " She Would and She Would Not," her character 
 in that piece having hitherto been Viletta. 
 
 Miss Mellon liaving- now, without patronage or 
 interest, established herself as a favourite in public 
 estimation, thought (with the advice of her craving 
 family) that she might venture on a half benefit, even 
 in huge old Drury. The partaker in the benefit was 
 Miss Stephens (afterwards Mrs. J. Smith), who was 
 an elder sister of the since celebrated vocalist, Miss 
 Catharine Stephens, the present Couutess Dowager 
 of Essex ; to whom, afterwards, Mrs. Coutts was 
 extremely generous and partial. 
 
 The play selected for this benefit, on the 1st June, 
 1803, was, " A Bold Stroke for a Husband," thus 
 cast : — 
 
 Don Julio ... 
 Don C^sar 
 Don Carlos 
 Don Vincentio 
 Donna Victoria 
 Ninette 
 
 Donna Olivia 
 
 and 
 
 Mr. Eussell. 
 Mr. Cherry. 
 Mr, Barrymore. 
 Mr. Collins. 
 Miss De Camp. 
 Mrs. Harlowe. 
 
 Miss Mellon. 
 
 After t)ie play, •' The Soldier Tired," and several other songs, by 
 
 Miss Stephens; 
 
 Followed by the " Scotch Girl ; " 
 
 Concluding with 
 
 LODOISKA. 
 
 Before this year, Miss Mellou's friends were few,
 
 252 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 and her circle of acquaintance so limited, that she 
 could only anticipate a loss if she had attempted to 
 take a share in the house. She generally had, there- 
 fore, what is termed " a ticket night ; " that is to 
 say, she sold tickets to her friends, one half of the 
 amount of which she gave to the manager, and 
 retained the other herself. Her joint benefit house 
 was very well filled. 
 
 On the 20th September, Irish Johnstone made his 
 first appearance at Drury Lane, as Charles Merton, 
 in the " Marriage Promise," Miss Mellon playing 
 Mari/ Woodland, and it is really curious to observe, 
 at that period, what trifling characters the best 
 performers thought it their duty to take, if called on 
 to do so, as may be seen in the following farce, a 
 revival of old insfredients. 
 
 THE IRISHMAN IN LONDON. 
 
 Mr. Frost ... ... ... Cherry. 
 
 Edward... ... ... ... Bannister, jun. 
 
 Captain Seymour ... ... Holland. 
 
 Colooney ... ... ... Bartley. 
 
 Murtoch Delaney ... ... J. Johnstone. 
 
 Caroline ... ... ... Mrs. Sankey. 
 
 Cubba ... ... ... ... INIiss Tyrer. 
 
 Louisa ... ... ... ... Miss Mellon. 
 
 All these performers are now dead, excepting 
 Messrs. Holland and Bartley, and the wife of Mr. 
 Liston, then Miss Tyrer. 
 
 On the 4th of October, " The Rivals" was per-
 
 THEATRICALS CONTINUED. 253 
 
 formed. Of Lydia Languish tlie True Briton says, 
 *' Miss Mellon displayed strong marks of improve- 
 ment in this character ; there was always spirit in 
 her acting, and there is now more polish in her 
 style." The Po<s^ remarks, ^' Miss MeWon, in Lydia, 
 is entitled to no common praise. She has much of 
 the naivete and giddy cunning of Mrs. Jordan, with 
 grace and simplicity spontaneously imparted by her 
 own nature and judgment. The approbation she 
 was flattered with was not inferior to her merits." 
 The comedy was repeated very frequently until the 
 holidays. 
 
 On the 3rd of January, 1804, Miss Mellon played 
 Alethea to Mrs. Jordan's Miss Peggy ; and the 
 Morning Post says, " Miss Mellon, who in many 
 respects most happily imitates Mrs. Jordan, drew, 
 next after the latter, the greatest share of attention 
 and applause. Her manner is full of sweetness, 
 simplicity, and refinement." 
 
 Gelia, in "As You Like It," which she played on 
 the 7th of January, the Dramatic Magazine criticizes 
 thus : — " Miss Mellon evinced all the tenderness 
 and anxiety of friendship which characterizes a 
 sensible heart, and seems admirably qualified for the 
 natural delineation of such characters." Her prin- 
 cipal parts during this spring were Cherry, Lady 
 Constant, Lydia Languish, Alethea, Dorcas, and Miss 
 Prue.
 
 254 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 In speaking of the quantity of wliite paint used 
 by English actresses, in comparison to what the 
 French employ, Miss Mellon said, the latter showed 
 their superior knowledge of stage effect ; for what 
 was gained in complexion by paint was lost in ex- 
 pression. 
 
 Hence, many of our comic actresses, whose faces, 
 off the stage, have the charm of varying expression, 
 totally lose that advantage where it is most required ; 
 and this because they choose to act behind a mask of 
 white paint. 
 
 Miss Mellon said, she spoke from experience ; for 
 when first she appeared in Loudon, the theatre 
 seemed so immense, and the distant audience looked 
 so dark and dingy, that she thought her own brunette 
 complexion would be proportionably deepened to a 
 mulatto tint ; and forgettiug that the chief recom- 
 mendation of her face was its lively expression, she 
 at first put on a coating of white powder, so as to 
 resemble a simpering doll ; uutil wounded vanity 
 soon convinced her of her error. 
 
 Tn one of her first London engagements, the 
 envied character of Lydia Languish was yielded to 
 her endeavours ; and as she had taken the utmost 
 pains with the " study," so as to play her very best, 
 she resolved that no negligence of toilette should 
 mar her suitable appearance. 
 
 It was evident that the representative of Lydia
 
 ACTRESS'S PAINT. 255 
 
 Languish, the lovely, young sentimentalist, should 
 heighten all her natural advantages, and hide de- 
 ficiencies, in order to do justice to Captain Abso- 
 lute's taste. Accordingly, Miss Mellon, while 
 sweeping the train of her dress before the glass to 
 see that it folded gracefully, was resolved that her 
 skin should emulate the white satin near it : for, 
 like all brunettes, the first requisite for beauty, in 
 her estimation, was the possession of a f\xir, trans- 
 parent complexion. 
 
 Sending her mother, therefore, to borrow Sir 
 Anthony's hair powder box and powder puff, she en- 
 veloped her face, neck, and arms in such a white coat- 
 ing: as would have rivalled the faces of her friends the 
 Staffordshire millers. Over this came rouge in pro- 
 portion, like the red currant jelly on a shape of 
 blanc-mange, until she scarcely looked human in 
 her attempt to attain extra loveliness. 
 
 Thus arrayed, after a few more sweepings of her 
 train and shakings of the powder puff, she descended 
 and went through one or two acts, no one having 
 had the good nature to tell her how completely she 
 was disfigured, and as to herself, every time she 
 looked at her alabaster reflexion in the glass she 
 was additionally delighted to think that although 
 th.e old king had sent a warning to Mrs. Siddons 
 never to wear white paint, the present was quite a 
 different case — Lydia Languish and Lady Macbeth!
 
 256 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 At the end of the second act Suett, who was to 
 play in tlie afterpiece, called the " Embarkation," 
 and had been witnessing the comedy from the house 
 " en amateur," came round to talk over the first 
 part of it. 
 
 Going up to Miss Mellon, to whom he always 
 told her faults and gave friendly professional scold- 
 ings, he exclaimed — " Why, Peggy, child, what a 
 fright you have made yourself ! Your little nose, 
 glaring with white, looks broader than it is long, 
 and as for your fat cheeks, they look like two of 
 your landlady's muffins. How dare you put on so 
 much white paint, eh ? " 
 
 Miss Mellon was quite indignant that he had 
 accused her of a crime which she had not committed, 
 so she replied (making a distinction without a dif- 
 ference) — " I never wore white paint in my life, sir, 
 and to-night I merely put on a little iclilfe powder.''^ 
 
 " Well done, Peggy ! " Suett replied ; " both are 
 meant to humbug, so the matter's equal. Shall I 
 tell you for what you are suited with that quantity 
 of white and red ? Just let me lengthen the corners 
 of your mouth upwards, and then you will be ready 
 to act as clown in the pantomime." 
 
 She was very angry, and gathered up her satin 
 train to depart to her own room, her friend calling 
 to her — " Go and wash your pretty face, Peggy ; 
 go and wash your nice, brown, merry face."
 
 ACTRESS'S PA TNT. 257 
 
 Too wise even in her anger not to take some 
 opinions besides ber own, sbe applied to the dresser, 
 wbo bad not witnessed the bair-powder addition, 
 This experienced dame sided completely with tbe 
 old actor, and Miss Mellon, finding berself in tbe 
 minority, wisely determined not to take tbe " powder 
 as before." 
 
 Mahomet insists npon all the faithful performing 
 daily ablutions, forgetting that half their days may 
 be spent in a desert, where the means of doing so are 
 not to be procured, thus making whole caravans cheat 
 their conscience by pouring sand over themselves, 
 pretending to fancy it is water. In like manner 
 Miss Mellon' s eccentric old friend desired her to 
 wash the powder from her face, forgetting that in all 
 probabiUty it would decline to come off. In fact, 
 so it proved ; she had pat on such a quantity that 
 on the application of water it formed itself into 
 *' vermicelli," whose little rolls adhered past all 
 management to her face. Most heartily did she 
 then wish she could see her unappreciated brown 
 complexion looking no darker than usual, or else 
 that she could restore the white powder to its late 
 mask-like appearance. But this was impossible 
 from the moisture of the underlayer; however, by 
 dint of great exertion she and the sympathizing 
 dresser removed the most prominent portions and 
 applied a little fresh carmine, so she was ready when.
 
 25S MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 called, and with smarting red cheeks had to go 
 through the concluding and best scenes. 
 
 When the play was ended the old actor came 
 up, and peering into her face, said — " Why, Peggy, 
 my child, you look as if you had been mixing your 
 landlady's muffins now,* and the paste had fallen all 
 over your face. But you bear a scolding very well, 
 Peggy, and you've played your character very well 
 also. Now go home and eat some muffins, and 
 remember my maxim, that those who chiefly please 
 by arch expression and manner should never act 
 behind a mask of white paint, or, as you call it, onhj 
 a little powder, Peggy, child ! "f 
 
 * Mr. Silcock, with whom she lodged in Little Russell Street, 
 was a painter and glazier. His wife kept there a little shop, and 
 sold milk and muffins. 
 
 t Why Suett clianged her name from Harriot to Peggy none but 
 himself could tell, but these unmeaning changes are not uncommon 
 in the theatrical world, I understand.
 
 CHAPTER XIIL 
 
 Love and courtship — Its unlucky termination — New friend — Mr. 
 and Mrs, Entwisle remove to Cheltenham — Joint benefit at 
 Drury Lane — Visits Cheltenham — Anecdote — Story about 
 " green peas ! " 
 
 About this time Miss Mellon formed a romantic 
 attachment, which must have had a powerful in- 
 fluence over her mind, for the remembrance of the 
 disappointment evidently closed her heart ever after- 
 wards ao^ainst a similar feelino^. 
 
 A gentleman named Barry, recently arrived from 
 the West Indies, possessing considerable advantages 
 of appearance and manner, had been introduced 
 to her, and had paid her attention for some time. 
 
 Mrs. Entwisle, finding that Harriot was not in- 
 sensible to his proffered regard, was much incensed 
 that all her care and ambitious schemes should 
 terminate in her daug^hter's marriao-e with one of 
 their own rank.
 
 2G0 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 The lover had to undergro a serious ordeal from 
 the considerate matron as to " his means of support- 
 ing Harriot, whose prospects he would destroy in 
 takinof her off the stao^e." But he was firm under the 
 examination, and answered readily as to his family 
 connections and expectations, mentioning a lady of 
 good property (known to them) as his aunt, to 
 whom he was heir. 
 
 Foiled in the hope of interrupting the course of 
 true love, Mrs. Entwisle was obliged to let it flow 
 in the path so inferior to what she had projected ; 
 at least, she had no excuse for positively putting 
 a stop to the bright current, but it had to chafe and 
 fret round the obstacles she constantly flung in its 
 career. 
 
 She still maintained her careful surveillance in 
 protecting her daughter while from home ; and, in 
 the parties of pleasure to Yauxhall, and places 
 within their means of reaching, she always enacted 
 chaperon. When these had been proposed and 
 arranged by the lover, the fitful woman often 
 would suddenly refuse to go, assigning as the 
 reason one of those headaches (or temper spasms) 
 which ladies summon so easily, and Mr. Barry 
 would be dismissed for the day. Poor Miss Mellon 
 would then have to sit at home in her holiday 
 costume, disappointed and mortified, and listen to 
 Ions: histories of the trouble which mothers took
 
 LOVE AND COURTSHIP. 261 
 
 for their uno-rateful dauo^hters' amusement and 
 interest. Mrs. Entwisle always concluded with 
 descriptions of illness (contradicted by her fulV 
 rosy countenance), and lamentations that, in her old 
 age, she should not have a carriage, like other ladies 
 whose children were on the stage. 
 
 All this was sufficiently annoying to the hasty- 
 tempered object of her lecture, whose vexation 
 generally gave way in tears. But the final pro- 
 ceedino- of Mrs. Entwisle was to assault the charac- 
 ter of the man who interfered with her ambitious 
 prospects ; and there was scarcely anything too bad 
 to affix on Mr. Barry during his absence. 
 
 The most placid female heart will not endure an 
 attack on the object of its affections in absence ; 
 the most timid mind will then summon an un- 
 suspected energy, in repelling the "galling fire;" 
 and it will not be supposed that the easily-excited 
 Miss Mellon calmly suffered these attacks to pass 
 unheeded or unanswered. 
 
 The discomfort of such scenes it were needless to 
 describe, where a violent, determined woman chose 
 perpetually to counteract the first attachment of her 
 warm-hearted child, whose freshness of heart en- 
 dowed its object with every perfection that could bo 
 conceived. 
 
 Miss Mellon had often endured temporary vio- 
 lence, nay, actual cruelty, from her mother, who
 
 262 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 would soon afterwards become as wildly induli^ent; 
 but, in this instance, where the ruling passion of 
 her nature was crossed by her daughter's romantic 
 attachment, her former alternations of good and bad 
 temper seemed to have settled permanently into the 
 latter. Under these circumstances, Miss Mellon 
 thought her heart must break ; when, fortunately, 
 she discovered that invaluable resource for an over- 
 charged young heart, a confidante ! At the house 
 of one of her benefit patrons, she had, some time 
 previously, been introduced to a very beautiful girl; 
 and they commenced that degree of intimacy in 
 which young women delight, extending to the 
 mutual loan of books, music, or patterns, as ex- 
 cuses for morning gossip : a pastime in which Miss 
 Mellon loved to indulofe. 
 
 It happened that, during the heiglit of her 
 mother's displeasure against Mr. Barry, Miss 
 Mellon's new friend called to pass the morning 
 with lior ; and, as they stood at the window to- 
 gether, tlie individual who occupied Miss Mellon's 
 thoughts passed, and bowed to her friend. 
 
 On inquiry, it appeared that he was a very 
 intimate acquaintance of tlie latter and her family — • 
 a recommendation for them with Miss Mellon be- 
 yond any otlier tliafc could have been advanced at 
 the time. Miss Mellon, with all a woman's infatu- 
 ation for the tastes of one she loved, at once re-
 
 LOVE AND COURTSHIP. 263 
 
 solved that ^' lu's friend should be Iter friend, and 
 she would have none other." From that time her 
 regard was fixed on the young lady ; and, from the 
 trifle of a passing bow, arose an attachment which 
 led to these young women living together thirteen 
 years, without the interval of a week's separation! 
 
 All the long-suppressed griefs were gradually 
 unfolded to her new friend ; and the history of her 
 attachment confided, without the name of the 
 party ; but the little arts women employ to hear 
 that name pronounced by others which may not be 
 uttered by themselves, are so palpable to all except 
 the infatuated speaker, that a constant companion 
 can scarcely remain in ignorance on the subject. 
 
 In the meantime, the banished lover, who vainly 
 sought an opportunity of meeting Miss Mellon with- 
 out the maternal guardianship, was fearful of losing 
 the fair object of his affections ; and he ventured ou 
 the rash experiment of sending a letter to her 
 which reached her hands unseen and unsuspected. 
 
 This letter contained tlie usual protestations, the 
 perusal of which for the first time creates a momen- 
 tary paradise in the untried mind ; until it is 
 startled, in the course of time, by receiving similar, 
 words from another, and another ; and the once- 
 duped heart suspects bitterly that none among them 
 could have been genuine. Miss Mellon had but just 
 opened tliis illumined page in the book of life, and 
 as yet had not turned to its reverse.
 
 264 MEMOIES OF HISS MELLON. 
 
 Mr. Barry proposed their immediate marriage, 
 and that she should leave the stage, as his means 
 were amply sufficient, through an allowance given 
 him by his opulent aunt, to support them in private 
 life ; and after the decease of his relative, their for- 
 tune would be considerable. His evil genius must 
 have dictated, and watched over the delivery of, 
 this letter, for it was fatal to the plan it was 
 intended to effect. Miss Mellon, enchanted with 
 its contents, was bewildered as to a suitable reply ; 
 and her new confidante, just then coming in, was 
 admitted to the secret, which she knew already, 
 viz., the name of the gentleman ; his proposal was 
 also confided to her. 
 
 To this her friend raised no objection, beyond Mr. 
 Barry being considered totally without property. 
 Miss Mellon refuted this by the story of the rich 
 aunt, to whom he was heir ; and that, even at the 
 present time, the allowance she made to him was 
 sufficient to admit of his bride leaving the stage : in 
 confirmation she showed the letter. 
 
 It is needless to dwell on this circumstance beyond 
 stating that the icliole story icas a fahncation as to 
 the aunt, that lady being, in reality, aunt to Miss 
 Mellon's new co7ifidante, and merely an acquaintance 
 of Mr. Barry, who w^as a person of no property ! 
 His attachment, therefore, to the handsome Miss 
 Mellon was not without interested motives, for he 
 must have calculated on her remainins: on the
 
 ITS UNLUCKY TERMINATION. 265 
 
 stage and exerting her talents for their mutual 
 support. 
 
 Miss Mellon had been too well inured to poverty 
 and privation in her youth to dread encountering a 
 moderate degree of it for one in whom her affections 
 centred. The vision of a cottage ornee had many 
 times floated in her imagination as being delightful, 
 even for those who could command splendour ; 
 therefore, had Mr. Barry candidly stated himself to 
 be " a bankrupt in all save love," her romantic 
 heart would have rejoiced in devoting itself to his 
 interests. But he had mistaken her character, as 
 worldly men frequently cannot understand the 
 generous, unsophisticated natures they are judging 
 by the world's rules, and thus deceive themselves by 
 over- cleverness. By not venturing on what he 
 deemed the " rash experiment " of telling her the 
 truth she was lost to him for ever. She hated any- 
 thing like deceit, and all her life considered mystery 
 and evil to be nearly synonymous, even in the 
 common intercourse of society. But when she 
 detected a premeditated deception towards her in 
 one whom she considered perfection, her proud 
 nature resolved to sacrifice him, cost what it might 
 to her heart. He received a decisive refusal, and 
 they never met again. Miss Mellon left town for a 
 provincial engagement. With cruel kindness her 
 friends united in persuading her that she had not 
 
 VOL. I. s
 
 266 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 been the object of a real attachment, thus adding an 
 unnecessary pang — the most cruel to a proud 
 woman — that she had bestowed her affections where 
 they were unrequited. When she returned to London 
 she learned that the gentleman had embarked for 
 the West Indies, and within a short time he died 
 there. 
 
 This circumstance apparently seared her heart 
 against risking that " fatal dream again ; " for all 
 who knew her unite in saying she never afterwards 
 showed the least preference for any one of her 
 admirers. 
 
 The disappointment of her affections did not 
 render her unjust or capricious in friendship. The 
 young lady who was first liked for her friend's sake 
 was now regarded for her own. Every act that 
 kindness could suggest was lavished on her by Miss 
 Mellon, who could not bear her absence, and whose 
 affection being in one instance thrown back on itself 
 seemed to have acquired more depth for those in 
 whom she trusted. 
 
 The regard between these two amiable young 
 women was so great that Mrs. Entwisle's violence 
 was passed over unheeded by the stranger, for the 
 sake of her daughter's society, and she now began 
 to look on their house almost like her own home. 
 
 About this time Mr. Entvvisle, being uo longer 
 engaged in the orchestra in Drury Lane, and nothing
 
 JOINT BENEFIT AT DRURY LANE. 267 
 
 else offering in London, thought he would try his 
 fortune in the sale of music at one of the waterinof- 
 places. Mrs. Entwisle was of course to accompany 
 him, and Miss Mellon, who remained attached to the 
 theatre, was to have her young friend to live alto- 
 gether with her in Little Russell Street. This 
 arrangement was very desirable for the sake of peace, 
 the two young women living quietly together, visit- 
 ing Mrs. Entwisle whenever the theatre was closed, 
 and not seeing enough of her to renew former pain- 
 ful scenes, while Mr. and Mrs. Entwisle followed 
 their ow'n pursuits without the check which the 
 superiority of Miss Mellon and her friend must have 
 imposed. 
 
 They went to Cheltenham in March, and opened 
 a music shop in the High Street, letting the upper 
 part of the house furnished. 
 
 Miss Mellon took a joint benefit with Mr. Barry- 
 more on the 24th of May in this year, by which both 
 parties realized a considerable sum. The play 
 selected was " First Love." It was cast thus — 
 
 Lord Sensitive ... ... ... Wrougliton 
 
 Sir Miles Mowbray ... ... Dowton 
 
 Frederick ... ... ... Barrymore 
 
 Bluster ... ... ... ... Siiett 
 
 Sabina Rosni ... ... ... Mrs. Jordan 
 
 . Lady Ruby ... ... ... Miss Mellon 
 
 This was succeeded by " The True Lover's Knot, " 
 and the " Gentle Shepherd."
 
 268 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 When the Drury Lane season terminated at the 
 end of June, Miss Mellon went immediately to stay 
 with her mother in Cheltenham, and in order to 
 render this duty not incompatibl-e with her profes- 
 sion, she accepted the offer of the manager of the 
 Cheltenham theatre to perform there for a few 
 nic^hts. The engagement, which was for five nights 
 and a benefit, was a very good one, and the benefit 
 produced a considerable sum. 
 
 Here again she had an opportunity of playing the 
 parts of Miss Farren and Mrs. Jordan, which she 
 had under-studied so carefully. On July 3rd she 
 played Letitia Hardy, in *' The Belle's Stratagem," 
 and Nell in " The Devil to Pay." On the 5th, Miss 
 Peggy in " The Country Girl," and Maria in " The 
 Citizen." On the 7th, Miss Dorillon in " Wives as 
 they Were," with Goioslip. On the 10th, AmantJiis 
 in " The Child of Nature," with Boxalana, and on 
 the 12th Miss Mellon took her benefit as Widow 
 Cheerly in " The Soldier's Daughter," and Nell in 
 " The Devil to Pay." 
 
 In order, probably, to enhance the value of her 
 appearance, Miss Mellon would only engage herself 
 for this short time, after which she made another 
 tour to Liverpool and reaped a golden harvest. 
 
 It seems to be a singular fact, that wherever she 
 performed in the provinces, although not a first- 
 rate actress, she always secured the largest benefits.
 
 VISITS CHELTENHAM. 269 
 
 There was a general feeling in her favour, from her 
 unaffected good-nature, cheerfulness, industry, and 
 the probity of her nature, which seemed to lead the 
 inhabitants of each place to give their best support. 
 It is quite astonishing in these parsimonious days to 
 hear of the sums of money sent to her benefits by 
 families who had known her from youth ; and she 
 never returned to London without some hundreds 
 of pounds collected by her provincial engagements 
 and benefits. 
 
 Cheltenham had proved so profitable, that Mrs. 
 Entwisle advised her to return, and to try the 
 experiment of another benefit. Accordingly, in 
 September, she re-engaged herself for three nights 
 there, performing on the 6th, 3fiss Peggy, with 
 Mrs. Kitty, in " High Life; " and on the 8th, her 
 favourite, Rosalind, in " As you Like it," with Lady 
 Contest, in the " Wedding Day." 
 
 A great patroness of hers was there — the late 
 Viscountess Templetowu, the amiable Lady Mary 
 Montaofue, daucrhter of the Earl of Sandwich. Wiien 
 Miss Mellon's second benefit was announced. Lady 
 Templetown bespoke the pieces,* and mentioned 
 
 * The play-bills are still extant, at Mr. Shenton's, Cheltenham. 
 " September 11th, 1804. Under the patronage of Lady Temple- 
 town, for the benefit of Miss Mellon. ' The Child of Nature.' 
 Amanthis, Miss Mellon ; with ' Lovers' Quarrels,' Jacintha, 
 Miss Mellon. To conclude with ' The Midnight Hour,' Flora, 
 Miss Mellon."
 
 270 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 her protegee so effectually among the distinguished 
 visitors at Cheltenham, that the second benefit 
 exceeded the first. 
 
 On the 15th September, Miss Mellon was again 
 performing at Drury Lane. The inhabitants of 
 Cheltenham were greatly impressed by the extra- 
 ordinary affection subsisting between Mrs. Entwisle 
 and her daughter. Every substantial comfort, 
 every trifling ornament for her house, was sent 
 in profusion ; every article for which the former 
 could find a use, or expressed a wish was pro- 
 cured instantly by her attached child ; and this 
 affection extended to her step-father also, whose 
 tastes were considered in every way by Miss 
 Mellon, in gratitude for his early kindness. He 
 had a severe fit of illness while she was there, and 
 the affectionate solicitude, care, and anxiety she 
 evinced until his recovery, could not have been 
 greater had she been his daughter ; impressing 
 everyone with a conviction of her warmth of feeling 
 and the excellence of her disposition. 
 
 Another object on whom she delighted to lavish 
 her affection was the young lady who resided with 
 her. Miss Mellon would never enter into any 
 amusement that her friend did not partake ; and 
 in her own very extravagant toilette she not only 
 presented her companion with equally expensive 
 materials, but even to the most triflino' articles she
 
 ANECDOTE. 271 
 
 always purchased two precisely alike, that both 
 might appear in them together. 
 
 From this uniformity of dress they were generally 
 mistaken for sisters, although Miss Mellon s friend 
 had the advantage in personal beauty. 
 
 The Duchess of Devonshire used to quote the 
 dustman's compliment to her eyes as the most 
 flattering^ one she ever received. Miss Mellon used 
 to say the only civil speech made to her, which was 
 worth remembering, was from two old men, selling 
 veg-etables in C event Grarden as she and her friend 
 passed. " There's a pair of sisters," said one 
 observer ; " the tallest one a king might marry." 
 Miss Mellon felt quite envious of her friend's 
 success; until the second man of cabbages ex- 
 claimed, " Yes, so he might ; but as for the dark- 
 eyed one, I would marry her myself;" which he 
 evidently thought the higher lot ! 
 
 When Mrs. Entwisle visited London, on the 
 disagreeable errand of borrowing the money which 
 her dauo-hter raisfht have saved from a benefit or a 
 country engagement, she always began in a most 
 peevish and irritable mood. This arose, perhaps, 
 from the consciousness that she was doing wrong 
 towards her daughter ; as self-dissatisfacfcion fre- 
 quently seeks a pretext to find fault with an object 
 whom conscience suggests has been ill-used. 
 
 On one of these unpleasant occasions in Little
 
 272 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 Russell Street, early in the year 1804, Miss Mellon 
 was unable to give the sum demanded. The old theme 
 of her small salary was then made the channel of 
 various reproaches, and the success of other young 
 debutantes was forcibly contrasted with the cast of 
 parts assigned to Miss Mellon — just as if the latter, 
 the principal party concerned, could not be alive to 
 mortification without having it pointed out to her. 
 Mrs. Entwisle then entered into a self-laudatory 
 account of all she had done for her daughter ; in- 
 cluding: dramatic instructions which would have 
 made anyone else a second Mrs. Siddons ; but, 
 unfortunately, her daughter " was a block, a stupid, 
 giggling thing, satisfied at being tied down to 
 comedy and forty shillings a-week for the rest of 
 her dramatic life." 
 
 Then followed accounts of her own sufferings 
 and privations, when her feeble health and delicate 
 appetite (she w-as a model of robust health and 
 strength) required to be sustained by the luxuries 
 of the table. " Any other woman," she would 
 remark, " who had brought up a child with such 
 care, would have been rewarded by seeing her at 
 the head of her profession, and at the top of the 
 list of high salaries. This would enable her to keep 
 a carriage for her kind mother, and to secure 
 delicacies for her declining years. But a spiritless, 
 muddling creature, content to laugh and live on
 
 STORY ABOUT " GREEN PEAS ! " 273 
 
 forty shillings a- week, could never have the means, 
 if she had the will, of being kind to anybody." 
 
 The hasty Miss Mellon was not likely to endure 
 these goading reproaches in silence ; therefore a 
 clash of warm tempers ensued, in which every 
 mutual grievance was recapitulated. 
 
 Mrs. Entwisle wound up her list by saying, that 
 *' the poverty of her daughter not allowing of 
 niceties for her mother'^s failing appetite, must 
 •cause the death of the latter, which would lie at 
 Miss Mellon's doer, because she did not study and 
 strive to advance in her profession.'' 
 
 " Suppose even I icere rich, mother, what could 
 you fancy ? '' inquired Miss Mellon. 
 
 " You hnow what I should like, you careless, 
 unfeeling creature ; my only fancy is for some ham 
 and green peas.'' 
 
 " Green peas in winter, mother ! Why, Queeu 
 Charlotte herself has not green peas now." 
 
 "' She does not want them, perhaps, so much as I 
 do ; but leave the room, Harriot, for you have worn 
 out my spirits with your ingratitude." 
 
 As her sitting apartment in those days was 
 limited to the singular number, she had nowhere 
 else in the house to go when ejected from that one 
 little room ; for it was Sunday morning, and the good 
 •old muffin seller below had just set out to church, 
 leaving the shop and back parlour in total darkness.
 
 274 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 Miss Mellon therefore put on her poke-bonnet 
 and cloak, and resolved to take a walk until her 
 mother's " delicate nerves " had subsided to a 
 reasonable state of quiescence. For this purpose 
 she crossed Covent Garden Market ; the church 
 bells had ceased tolling, and the greengrocers were 
 hastily closing their shops, when, just between the 
 last two shutters of a window, she espied what she 
 had considered a luxury beyond Queen Charlotte's 
 reach — a pint of green peas. 
 
 Here, then, was the object of her mother's longing 
 within her reach ; and could she hesitate because a 
 hasty word had passed between them ? 
 
 The shutters were now closed, and the shopman 
 gone in ; but she tapped at the door, and stated her 
 errand. The man regretted extremely, but it was 
 now during: the forbidden hours, and he dare not 
 incur the penalty. She urged that no one would be 
 aware of the matter but themselves ; that it was to 
 gratify the fancy of a poor invalid ; and, at last (she 
 had been ready to cry before), the force of her own 
 eloquence brought down a shower of her tears to aid 
 the persuasion. 
 
 The man of peas could not withstand such an 
 appeal ; the half door was opened to admit Miss 
 Mellon, and then closed altogether; a candle 
 brougfht from the inner room, and the coveted 
 vegetables were placed on the counter. 
 
 As they looked to be about a sixpenny worth in
 
 STOR Y ABOUT " GREEN PEAS ! " 275 
 
 the ordinary season, she made up her mind to pay 
 six or eight times that amount for the rarity, and 
 asked tlie price. It was half-a-guinea. 
 
 She considered for a moment that her lodging 
 and other expenses of last week were to be paid out 
 of the salary which she had received late the pre- 
 ceding evening. It was but a moment's pause, 
 however ; the forty shillings were untouched in her 
 purse, and the object of her mother's fancy was 
 before her; so she paid the sum and tripped away 
 with her prize, one of the happiest beings in London. 
 
 Re-entering the house gently by means of a 
 latch-key, she unfastened the windows of the 
 ground-floor apartment, prepared the fire, and put 
 down the peas to boil, with some ham which was in 
 the house. 
 
 When her landlady came home from church she 
 chid the young actress for such unsuitable occupa- 
 tion, instead of waiting for her return, when she 
 would have attended to the culinary preparations. 
 But Miss Mellon would not relinquish her post. She 
 had resolved that the "delicacies" should be pre- 
 pared by her own hands ; and when they were 
 ready she placed them in a close-covered dish, as a 
 little surprise for the violent parent who had treated 
 her so harshly. 
 
 The wondering Mrs. Silcock, who was let thus far 
 into the secret, was to carry up the dinner, and to 
 leave the door open so that Miss Mellon might enjoy
 
 276 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 hearing her mother's exclamations of surprise before 
 she entered the apartment. 
 
 Accordingly, the neat little table was laid for two 
 persons ; the dishes placed on the table before the 
 sullen inhabitant of the room, who was angry with 
 herself for having been unreasonable; therefore, 
 longing to find just cause of auger against some 
 other person, she drew near with a discontented 
 countenance — Miss Mellon watching for the effect 
 of her little surprise through a crevice of the door. 
 But when the covers were removed, and Mrs. 
 Entwisle found that all her harshness had not been 
 able to banish her daughter's good-nature, instead 
 of uttering the expected exclamatiou of pleasure, 
 she threw herself on her knees, called every bless- 
 ing on the head of her daughter, poured forth a 
 torrent of self-accusation, and called on Heaven to 
 punish her unnatural wickedness toAvards an angel ! 
 The over-excited daughter, who was listening to 
 her in agony, interrupted the penitent's appeal by 
 falling insensible into the room. 
 
 By the time she was restored, Mrs. Entwisle had 
 calmed herself down from her passionate contrition, 
 and these two warm-hearted but high-tempered 
 beings had one of those soothing and perfect recon- 
 ciliations which are only known to those of hasty, 
 but forgiving, temperaments.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Theatricals continued — History of the "Honeymoon" — Secession 
 of Mrs. Jordan — Succeeds to her characters — Benefit — Green- 
 room — Obtains the office of postmaster for Entwisle — House 
 at Cheltenham — Master of the ceremonies — Benefit at Chel- 
 tenham — Mr. Coutts — First acquaintance with Miss Mellon — 
 The purse of " luck money." 
 
 The next year, 1804, Miss Mellon played Lady 
 Buhy, in " First Love." The part had been 
 originally sustained by Miss Farreii, and, subse- 
 quently to Miss Mellon's assutnption of it, was 
 transferred to Miss Duncan ; but at the close of the 
 year she had an original part, Polhj, in the " Land 
 we Live in," 
 
 Miss Duncan's appearance and iNIrs. H. Johnston's 
 engagement kept Miss Mellon comparatively idle. 
 Her services were principally called for in " The 
 Apprentice," "Mock Doctor," "Irishman in Lon- 
 don," and " Honest Thieves." She had likewise
 
 278 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 attained a standing in the theatre that made the 
 management tenacious how they sent to her in 
 emergencies, as heretofore ; and the consequence 
 was, that what was meant as kindness or forbear- 
 ance, actually militated against her popularity. An 
 actress seldom seen becomes speedily unappreciated. 
 Fortunately, about this time a comedy, which to the 
 present day has maintained its place upon the stage, 
 was sent to the theatre. 
 
 The fate of that clever, but certainly not very 
 original, play, " The Honeymoon," has been made 
 the subject of much cavilling against " the powers 
 that were " in our two great theatres. It was re- 
 jected both at Covent Garden and at Drury Lane. 
 
 The responsibility of success or failure of a play 
 rests as much upon the manager as the author, and 
 the most experienced of either class cannot decide 
 on the probable success of a drama until it has with- 
 stood the test of public opinion or faction. There- 
 fore it is not matter of surprise that the former 
 should pause ere they produced a comedy the plot 
 of which was palpably borrowed from "Rule a Wife 
 and Have a Wife," from " Taming the Shrew," and 
 *' Twelfth Niglit," every one of the situations in 
 which had Ijeen often on the stage before, whilst 
 many of the speeches were paraphrased from Shak- 
 speare, Beaumont and Fletcher, and others. 
 
 Wroughton's interference prevented the piece
 
 HISTORY OF " THE HONEYMOON." 279 
 
 from being returned, upon the following ground : * 
 — He could not deny the justice of the remarks 
 made upon " The Honeymoon ; " but he urged that 
 a mixed audience were not so likely as themselves, 
 the manager and actor, to detect a plagiarist. " It 
 is effective, though it is not new ; besides," said he, 
 *' we can cast it so well." 
 
 If the literary argument had no effect, a strong 
 cast would always sway a manager — it was ac- 
 cepted. Wroughton read it in the green-room. 
 Bannister was undecided as to its success. Miss 
 Mellon, EUiston, and Miss Duncan voted for it, 
 but most of the other persons present shook their 
 heads and said *' it would not do ; " but, as often 
 happens in such cases, it was triumphantly suc- 
 cessful. Mrs. Jordan, on reading the part of 
 Volarite, declared she had no objection to act it; 
 but when she read the play, she found Juliana too 
 good. If she played the latter, which she might 
 have done, then Volante would have been too power- 
 
 * The fate of its author was certainly a hard one. After vainly- 
 striving for yeai's to have a piece performed, lie heard of the ac- 
 ceptance of this when consumption had nearly completed its 
 ravages on his constitution. Part of the inscription on a tablet to 
 his memory, at Cork, tells the story of his melancholy death — 
 "*' Sacred to the memory of John Tobin, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn, 
 whose remains are deposited under the adjacent turf. He died at 
 sea, near the entrance of this harbour, in the month of December, 
 1804, on his passage to a milder climate, in search of better health. 
 Aged 35."
 
 280 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 ful. She therefore determined not to act in tho 
 piece at all, and she was the more strengthened in 
 this resokition as Miss Duncan has just obtained 
 great success, and was likely to become a dangerous 
 rival. Mrs. Jordan did not play for some weeks in 
 consequence, but returned to the theatre to take 
 her benefit. 
 
 Mrs. Jordan's secession materially injured the 
 cast in the estimation of the managers ; but some- 
 one having proposed Miss Mellon, the suggestion 
 was warmly seconded hy Bannister, and the part, 
 equally to her surprise and pleasure, was sent to 
 her house. It was one most peculiarly suited for 
 her, and no once since has been able to produce 
 anything like the effect she communicated to it. 
 
 From the 31st Jan., 1805, when it was brouglifc 
 out, it kept her continually before the public for 
 many seasons in the most favourable light. * A fine 
 coloured engraving of her in this character, after a 
 portrait by Sir Wm. Beechy, was brought out, and 
 sold rapidly ; and this season she ventured, upon 
 the strength of her popularity, to take a benefit on 
 
 • Of " The Honeymoon " and Volante, by Miss IMellon, The 
 Weekly Messenger says, " Aliss Mollon lias one of" tlic best female 
 characters ; we except not Miss Duncan's. There is more arch- 
 ness and comic sprightlincss in the ]iart, and it was admirably 
 adapted to her talents." The Morning Post writes, *• The cha- 
 racter of Volanie is most aptly suited to Miss Mellon's lively 
 acting, and we never saw her to more advantage."
 
 BENEFIT. 281 
 
 her own account. She was not permitted bj the 
 rules of the theatre to play " The Honeymoon," but 
 took on the 21st May, 1805, for her first benefit 
 alone in London, " The Merry Wives of Windsor," 
 playing Mrs. Ford herself. 
 
 As the history of the painting above alluded to, 
 and from which the portrait in the frontispiece is 
 taken, is somewhat curious, we subjoin the account 
 as given by Sir Wm. Beechy himself. 
 
 An individual, whose daughter was much patron- 
 ized by Miss Mellon, was employed by Sir William 
 to furnish for his infant daughters some of those 
 back-boards and collars which keep little heads 
 upright while puzzling over their lessons ; and the 
 value of these articles, which were delivered at 
 different times, amounted to about fifteen pounds. 
 On being asked for the account, however, the man 
 hesitated, and hinted something of wishing for a 
 picture in exchange ; and Sir Wm. Beechy having 
 always patronized him, said he would paint him any 
 portrait he would select. The individual being too 
 happy at procuring a sixty-guinea picture on such 
 easy terms, begged it might be the likeness of his 
 daughter's kind friend. Miss Mellon, as Volante, 
 which was accordingly done, and the picture given 
 to him. 
 
 In the course of a few years this person was in 
 prison, without any pecuniary means ; from which 
 
 VOL. I. T
 
 282 3IEM0IRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 distress he had no hope of extrication but through the 
 assistance of her whom he had attacked through the 
 press and calumniated past forgiveness. A young 
 picture-dealer, who pitied the extremity of distress 
 to which the wretched man had reduced himself, 
 suggested the possibility of (the now) Mrs. Coutts 
 buying the portrait, if it came through other hands. 
 The prisoner seized on the idea, consulting Sir Wil- 
 liam Beechy as to what he should demand for it. 
 The latter advised them to name merely the sixty 
 guineas which it would have cost if ordered. The 
 picture-dealer had not the money, and Sir "William 
 advanced it to him, which saved the bandage-maker 
 from starvation. 
 
 "When Mrs. Coutts returned to town, the portrait 
 was offered to her by the picture-dealer, but as she 
 had already four others by the same excellent artist 
 (and they dared not mention the ungrateful person 
 for whom it was intended as a charitable relief), she 
 declined the offer. Here, then, was the picture, 
 originally given away by the painter, and now 
 bought back again with his money. At length, 
 when Mrs. Coutts understood the case, she pur- 
 chased it. The picture-dealer charged her seventy 
 guineas. 
 
 Some years afterwards, the same person being in 
 some extra strait, wrote to his patron and supporter, 
 Sir Wm. Beechy, that "the latter had behaved in-
 
 GREEN-ROOM. 283 
 
 famously to him, in advancing only sixty guineas for 
 a picture which he had immediately resold to Mrs. 
 Coutts for one thousand guineas ; and that unless 
 he sent the applicant fifty pounds he should be 
 shown up all over England through the press ! " 
 
 This letter of ungrateful falsehood, of course, met 
 no answer ; and in a short time another came, in- 
 creasing the threat, but lowering the alternative to 
 thirty pounds. This was also treated silently; and 
 a third came, lowering even to twenty pounds. A 
 similar fate attended the whole. The writer died, 
 reduced by his bad conduct to the most wretched 
 position, and leaving his memoir in MS. The por- 
 tion relating to his former patron was sent for Sir 
 William's perusal; and then he found the undying 
 enmity and falsehood of the lost man had perpe- 
 tuated the calumny about the £1,000. The memoirs, 
 however, were known to be false, and the author's 
 character so notorious, that no publisher would 
 undertake them. 
 
 But to return. Miss Mellon's success in Volante 
 having been greater than that of any other per- 
 former in the piece, raised her so high in public 
 estimation, that everyone now was endeavouring to 
 hint " they had long before made the discovery of 
 Miss Mellon's brilliant talents, beauty, and wit." 
 
 Her benefit during the height of this excitement 
 was crowned with extraordinary success. It was
 
 284 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 quite a point among theatrical amateurs to send a 
 handsome tribute of their admiration for Volante, 
 in exchange for a ticket ; and the ci-devant poor 
 little player girl now found herself mistress of 
 considerable savings from her professional engage- 
 ments. 
 
 She had also become a person of consideration in 
 the green-room — a sun round which the fashionable 
 planets were happy to revolve. Everyone was de- 
 lighted to oblige " the Yolante ; " and ten minutes' 
 conversation with her was considered distinction for 
 the evening. 
 
 Among those who had the power as well as the 
 inclination to be of service to her was Colonel 
 MacMahon, at that time continually with the Prince. 
 Discovering at once his amiable character, Miss 
 Mellon had candidly told him that although the 
 emoluments of her profession sufficed for her own 
 wants, she was deeply anxious to secure for her 
 mother some provision against her old age, and the 
 feeling appeared to him so creditable that he promised 
 his influence when she could point out where it 
 would be useful. 
 
 Everything seemed to take place just as she 
 wished ; the situation of ]JOsUmaster just then be- 
 came vacant at Cheltenham, and Miss Mellon (who 
 perhaps had the credit of flirting at the moment 
 with those around her in the green-room) urged Mr.
 
 HOUSE AT CHELTENHAM. 285 
 
 Entwisle's cause so sincerely that the situation was 
 given to him through the solicitations of his grateful 
 step-daughter. 
 
 She was the joyful messenger of her own good 
 news, and never was anything so happy as the 
 family meeting. 
 
 Those who remember Cheltenham some thirty years 
 ao'o will be well aware how inferior it then was in 
 point of extent and fashion to its present condition, 
 although " coming events " had already " cast their 
 shadows before," and the influx of visitors each year 
 increased. 
 
 Mrs. Entwisle's keen perception did not slumber 
 respecting this change, and as she was constantly 
 studying how to advance the fortunes of her family, 
 she formed a plan by which they might benefit 
 greatly by the increasing fashion of Cheltenham. 
 
 At that time there were but few houses at the 
 part of the town called Cambray, although, from its 
 open situation, these were eagerly sought by visitors 
 during the season. Mrs. Entwisle's plan, therefore, 
 was that Miss Mellon should embark every shiUing of 
 her benefit money in the building of a house there, 
 which, being let furnished, would return an interest 
 of at least fifty per cent, on the sum embarked. 
 
 Miss Mellon, who had not shaken off her leading- 
 strings about pecuniary matters, agreed to this 
 project. A piece of ground at Cambray was
 
 286 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 obtained, a *' reasonable " builder undertook the 
 contract, and the whole of her savings were set 
 apart for the completion of this house. They did 
 not, however, amount to the requisite sura ; but in 
 a small gossiping town it was soon known that 
 " Miss Mellon was building, by her savings, a house 
 for the benefit of her mother," and the motive was 
 so unostentatiously good that various tradesmen 
 supplied requisite articles, and promised to wait for 
 payment until the house made some return to its 
 young owner. 
 
 There must have been something unusually 
 winning and genuine in the disposition and manner 
 of Miss Mellon, for it would be tedious to enumerate 
 the number of instances in which the money-making 
 minds of tradespeople seemed to take a higher tone 
 of generosity in her favour, and as she was always 
 punctual to the hour in repaying their obligations — 
 for which she ever afterwards evinced the warmest 
 sense of gratitude — they were (as they deserved to 
 be) gainers in more ways than self -approval for 
 performing a charitable action. 
 
 The actress by care and frugality was now owner 
 of a house, which, on its completion, was imme- 
 diately taken for the season at an excellent rent for 
 those days, enabling Miss Mellon partially to pay 
 her friendly creditors. Mrs. Entwisle rejoiced in 
 her own forethought, and talked of a future range 
 of houses, thinking, perhaps, of a whole street !
 
 MASTER OF THE CEREMONIES. 287 
 
 One circumstaDce tliey bad overlooked, as many 
 wiser amateur builders have done in their plans, 
 namely, that although the unoccupied ground 
 opposite their house left at this period an uninter- 
 rupted view from their window, a time might come 
 when that *' non-interference '' would cease, and a 
 building might start up to impede their prospects in 
 every sense. 
 
 Such was the case with Miss Mellon's speculation, 
 the success of which attracted a host of imitators, 
 and the piece of ground directly facing her house 
 was immediately purchased for building on by Mr. 
 Kins:, the master of the ceremonies. 
 
 An official of such importance in a small town, 
 who had the arbitrary power to recommend or 
 dissuade fashionable strangers respecting the dif- 
 ferent tradespeople, was soon enabled to complete 
 his opposition house, and by the next season Mrs. 
 Entwisle found that Mr. Kins^'s new staring build- 
 ing intercepted the view from her house, and injured 
 the letting of the latter exceedingly. 
 
 One result always followed her troubles — an 
 appeal to her daughter, and the present application 
 was that Miss Mellon should come down again to 
 Cheltenham to perform and have a benefit, so as to 
 counterbalance the injury received by Mrs. Entwisle 
 througfh the means of the master of the ceremonies. 
 
 Mrs. Entwisle, by her frank, lively manner and 
 love of gossip, was very popular among the middle
 
 288 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 classes, so that with her innate skill she had always 
 the power of " making good her own story '' to a 
 large majority, who, in their turn, spread the story 
 further ; and, therefore, when she detailed how 
 " hardly the master of ceremonies had behaved to 
 the dutiful child who had relinquished every shilling 
 of her earnings for her mother's support," there 
 were few residents in Cheltenham who did not hear 
 of and sympathize in the tale. 
 
 Miss Mellon accordingly came down to gather a 
 golden harvest from such well-prepared ground. 
 Her female friend of course accompanied her, and 
 when these two handsome and ladylike young 
 women, guarded by the Argus parent, Mrs. Bn- 
 twisle, went round to request patronage, it may be 
 supposed that few were inclined to refuse them. 
 In short. Miss Mellon's benefit was such a dazzling 
 triumph over the mortified master of ceremonies 
 that it is said he never forgave it. 
 
 At that time there was among the visitors at 
 Cheltenham an elderly invalid gentleman who did 
 not join in society, but passed many hours daily 
 taking exercise in the Long Walk. Mrs. Entwisle 
 soon discovered from hints dropped by his servant 
 to the lodging-people, who, however, did not know 
 his name, that " his master, notwithstanding his 
 penurious appearance, was considered one of the 
 richest people in London, but that he was very un-
 
 BENEFIT AT CHELTENHAM. 289 
 
 happy in consequence of thinking that his wife, 
 also advanced in years, was goin^ out of her miod, 
 which preyed on his spirits so much that he had been 
 ill, and was now trying Cheltenham for a change." 
 
 Her immediate reflection was that the richest 
 gentleman in London might take a box at the 
 theatre for the benefit night, though he were ever so 
 sad, and this idea was communicated to her daughter. 
 A respectful note of solicitation to that effect was 
 given to the attendant at the pump-room a few days 
 before the performance to present to '*the remark- 
 able-looking old gentleman," but as no answer was 
 returned, the three females decided that *' the 
 moping, thin, old creature was too full of his own 
 troubles to care about those of other people." 
 
 On the day but one after sending their note Miss 
 Mellon and her friend were sauntering very early in 
 the Long "Walk, when they were overtaken by the 
 old o^entleman. 
 
 He introduced himself to Miss Mellon, whom he 
 said he knew by sight in Drury Lane green-room, 
 to apologize for not having sooner answered the 
 application, for which he accounted by a great 
 pressure of London correspondence ; but he trusted 
 his silence had been considered an assent to patro- 
 nizing her laudable filial efforts, of which he had 
 heard admirable accounts at every turn in Chelten- 
 ham.
 
 290 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 The young ladies tendered their best thanks and 
 brightest smiles ; their new friend mentioned that he 
 had had the pleasure that morning of sending to the 
 post-oflSce his answer respecting the box ; and after 
 a conversation of some length they separated, 
 mutually pleased. 
 
 On hastening home, they found Mrs. Entwisle in 
 ecstasies. There is no knowing what grand visions 
 had been conjured up in her wild brain ; but the 
 tangible circumstance was, that she held in her hand 
 an open letter from the old gentleman, " the richest 
 person in London," who had enclosed five guineas 
 for a box, which he desired should be kept for Mr. 
 Coutts ! Mr. Ooutts ! — the Mr. Coutts ! — well 
 might the servant hint that his master was " the 
 richest person in London " — a man whose name was 
 a proverb of wealth even in country towns. Thus 
 Mrs. Entwisle raved, wondering at her husband's 
 stupidity, that when anyone had called for letters 
 for Mr. Coutts, he had not directly guessed he was 
 the thin old gentleman, and told her so ! But the 
 young friends defended Mr. Entwisle, by exclaiming 
 against the idea of anyone supposing that the great 
 Mr. Ooutts, who managed the royal family, and 
 commanded everything he liked, could be an old, 
 pallid, sickly, thin gentleman, in a shabby coat and 
 brown scratch wig. 
 
 Peace was soon restored, as Mrs. Entwisle was in
 
 THE PURSE OF "LUCK MONEYS 291 
 
 a sunny humour after the day's adventure. The 
 new acquaintances met generally in their early 
 promenade in the Long Walk ; and when the day of 
 the benefit performance arrived, Mr. Coutts paid 
 Miss Mellon the compliment of promising to occupy 
 the box, although he had only taken it to patronize 
 her, without intending to go. 
 
 As a mark of Miss Mellon's strong superstition 
 regarding good luck, may be given the following 
 pendant to the foregoing facts : — 
 
 The money sent by Mr. Coutts for the box 
 chanced to be the largest sum in gold she had ever 
 yet received from any one individual. In the en- 
 velope which enclosed it he had commended her 
 industry, good reputation, and perseverance, and 
 concluded by saying, he trusted she would find 
 that his trifling present would prove to be *' luch- 
 money.^^ 
 
 In her enthusiastic manner she instantly declared 
 that nothing should ever tempt her to part with 
 these her " first five golden guineas," which, sent 
 with such kind wishes, were sure to bring her good 
 fortune. They happened to be guineas just fresh 
 from the mint ; and she put the bright coins apart 
 in a separate purse, often showing them to those 
 who knew the circumstances ; and she frequently 
 endured temporary privations rather than change 
 any portion of her " lucky money," the only thing
 
 292 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON, 
 
 she was ever known to refuse to her mother's 
 rapacity. 
 
 On the day of her marriage with Mr. Coutts she 
 produced the well-worn purse, with its glittering 
 contents, and twelve years afterwards its faded 
 glories were again shown to a bridal party when 
 she became a duchess.
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Season of 1805-6 : critique on a play whicli did not appear — 
 " The School for Friends " — Master Betty — Charles Lamb 
 and " Mr. H." — Destruction of both the royal houses by fire 
 — Sir John Duckworth : his taste for Melons and passion for 
 pigs — The " Mock Doctor " — Mrs. Entwisle a promoter of Mr. 
 Coutts's marriage with her daughter — Mr. Coutts's worsted 
 stockings — Mr. Coutts mistaken for a man in distress. 
 
 At tlie opening of Drury Lane Theatre for the 
 season, commencing September 20th, 1805, Miss 
 Mellon presented herself on the scene of her former 
 successes in the character of Volante, in " The 
 Honeymoon," and was greeted with three distinct 
 rounds of applause on her entrance upon the stage. 
 Bannister, Elliston, and Miss Duncan received a 
 similar compliment.* 
 
 On the revival of " The Constant Couple " (9th 
 October, 1805), she was the Angelica. The piece 
 had been announced for the 5th, and on the 7th a 
 
 * Morning Post, Sept. 21, 1805.
 
 294 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 flaming critique appeared, abusing a performance 
 that bad not taken place, for which the actors so 
 abused brought an action, and recovered damages. 
 
 A new comedy, by Miss Chambers, called " The 
 School for Friends," was produced on the 10th of 
 December, the character of Lucy, a merry waiting 
 woman, having been allotted to Miss Mellon. The 
 play was voted dull, not surviving many nights; and 
 the representative of Luci/ had the credit of saving 
 it from sudden condemnation. The chief point in 
 the piece was the fendresse made by Daw, a rigid 
 Quaker, to the gay, laughing waiting woman. The 
 passion being mutual, works the marvellous change 
 of altering Lucy into a Quakeress, and, at the finale, 
 she suddenly appeared in the prim costume of the 
 Friends. This plain, simple dress became her ex- 
 ceedingly ; and prettily drawling out, " Yea, verily, 
 he hath converted me," she seldom failed to bear 
 away the final applause. " The School for Friends" 
 was repeated on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 9th, 15th, and 
 20th of January, 1806. 
 
 Miss Mellon's career during the rest of the season 
 was as triumphant as her warmest friends could 
 have wished, and ought certainly to have satisfied 
 the extravagant expectations of her sanguine mother. 
 The management of Drury Lane seemed to have 
 considered her a " tower of strength ; " for in all 
 the newspaper advertisements her name was the
 
 MASTER BETTY. 295 
 
 only one mentioned, as performing in the various 
 pieces for which she was announced. Up to the 
 17th of May the only event deserving record was her 
 appearance in " Miss in her Teens," Master Betty, 
 the young Roscius, performing Captain Flash to her 
 Miss Biddy. Miss Mellon did not take a benefit this 
 season. 
 
 During this year (1806) an artist made a drawing 
 of her in the character of the Comic Muse, which 
 was soon afterwards engraved and published. 
 
 This plate is pronounced by her contemporaries 
 to have been an unusually good likeness. Strange 
 to say, considering the line of acting of the subject, 
 and the character in which she is represented, that 
 the expression of the face is pensive ; that of her 
 eyes amounting almost to sadness. This shade of 
 melancholy will be found to pervade all her earlier 
 portraits, except that by Sir William Beechy, of her 
 as the laughing Mrs. Ford. It appears to be one of 
 the principal changes effected by the course of time, 
 that her expression latterly was more joyous than 
 sad. 
 
 The costume of this personification of the Comic 
 Muse is much more decorous than artists would 
 bestow on her in these liberal days ; the robes having 
 sleeves half way down to the elbow, and the drapery 
 being fastened high and close round the shoulders. 
 Such, however, was the taste of those days (more
 
 296 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 refined than classic) ; and the decorum of the dress 
 was so great that the costume of the Muse occasioned 
 Miss Mellon to feel uneasiness lest the painter's 
 selection might be supposed to have been her dic- 
 tation. 
 
 Mrs. Entwisle also, who used to show her extent 
 of affection by proportionable scoldings to its object, 
 gave poor Harriot a most severe lecture on "her 
 stupid folly, and the painter's impudence in pre- 
 senting the public with such an improper picture." 
 
 When the late Charles Lamb's farce, called " Mr. 
 H.," was produced, he cast his own piece, and Miss 
 Mellon was the heroine, and Elliston the hero ; but 
 alas ! (Tobin alone excepted) it was her fate to deal 
 with a most unfortunate set of authors ; even men 
 of established reputation, such as Lewis and Lamb, 
 managed to fail in the pieces in which it was her 
 misfortune to essay. 
 
 In 1807, Cherry added another to this melancholy 
 list ; in his " Day in London " she had a good part, 
 but the piece only lived three nights. 
 
 On November 1st, 1807, H. Siddons produced a 
 weak play, entitled "Time's a Telltale," in which 
 she sustained the character of Lachj Delmar. This 
 play was, like its precursors, unsuccessful. 
 
 In 1808 she had another original part, and Mrs. 
 Jordan, Dowton, Matthews, and J. Johnstone were 
 also in the piece; yet, despite this phalanx of
 
 FIBE AT COVENT GARDEN THEATRE. 297 
 
 talent, the farce went the way of all condemned 
 dramas. 
 
 A dreadful fire took place on the 20th September 
 of the following year, by which Covent Garden 
 Theatre was burnt down, with a number of the 
 adjacent houses ; and a great many lives were 
 lost. Miss Mellon, who was a great coward respect- 
 ing fire, was almost out of her senses at the proximity 
 of the flames to her house in Little Russell Street. 
 But when a report arrived that several walls had 
 fallen in and buried a number of poor creatures, her 
 whole anxiety was for their rescue from their 
 dreadful sufferings, if still alive. Accordingly, with 
 her usual promptitude, she took every measure to 
 aid the great cause of humanity. 
 
 The compiler of these volumes, on the evening 
 after the fire, when returning home from school 
 under charo-e of one of her father's servants, besfo-ed 
 hard to be taken to see the ruins. The crowd was 
 alarming; and the servant carried her as near as 
 was practicable, which was to the theatrical book- 
 seller's shop, nearly opposite, which is still kept 
 there. 
 
 Many workmen were engaged in digging out the 
 bodies of the unfortunate persons who were buried 
 under the ruins ; and they worked by torchlight at 
 their sad occupation. 
 
 At the door of the bookseller's shop was placed a 
 
 VOL. I. w
 
 298 MEMOTRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 large barrel of ale, ordered by Miss Mellon, from 
 whicli the labourers were supplied by her directions. 
 In the drawing-room window above stood Miss 
 Mellon herself, all anxiety, earnestly urging the men 
 to proceed, and offering five pounds for each of 
 those who were brought out alive, and two pounds 
 for each body of the hapless creatures who perished. 
 
 She was dressed in a blue satin pelisse, looking 
 lovely in her anxiety ; and each time she appeared 
 at the window she was received with animated cheers 
 by the crowd, who seemed ready to worship her. 
 
 While remaining there, eight individuals were ex- 
 humated, and Miss Mellon distributed her rewards ; 
 but life was extinct in all, and they were carried to 
 St. Paul's churchyard, Covent Garden. Many 
 theatrical persons were in the room with Miss 
 Mellon while engaged in her laudable exertions. 
 Surely this instance deserves a record here, as it will 
 have one hereafter ! 
 
 This was followed the succeeding year by the de- 
 struction of the rival house. On Friday, the 24th 
 February, 1809 (Lent), Drury Lane Theatre was 
 burnt to the ground. A fire had been left in the 
 upper coffee-room at four in the afternoon, and there 
 being no performance, all the servants were out of 
 that part of the theatre ; it is supposed that it 
 ig-nited and cauo:lit the wood-work. At eleven at 
 night it was discovered that the theatre was in
 
 FIRE AT DRURT LANE THEATRE. 299 
 
 flames ; which, at three o'clock, were nearly extin- 
 guished. In that short space of time, a theatre that 
 had cost £129,000, and was not then completed, was 
 reduced to one huge mass of ashes and rubbish. 
 
 After a few nights' performance at the Opera 
 House, the Chamberlain consented to the company's 
 using the Lyceum. The defection of Elhston, Mrs. 
 Jordan, and others, threatened to prove iujurious; 
 but Mrs. Edwin was engaged, and, during the run 
 of her attraction, Miss Mellon was in a deofree 
 shelved. 
 
 At this theatre she had another unfortunate 
 original part, in a peculiar short-lived farce, entitled 
 " Sharpset." 
 
 In the vacation of 1809, Miss Mellon proceeded 
 to Plymouth, and her success at that theatre was 
 very great. The following anecdote, she used to 
 relate, was the subject of much pleasantry at the 
 time : — 
 
 " The eccentric Sir John Duckworth was port- 
 admiral at that time at Plymouth, and he devoted 
 his leisure hours most impartially between his two 
 hobbies — the culture of fruit and the imDrovement 
 of pigs. The former was the origin of the single 
 pun recorded of him ; small enough most certainly, 
 but repeated then, in Plymouth, with the due re- 
 spect for ' the port-admiral's jest.' A numerous 
 party were invited to a dejeuner at the admiral's
 
 300 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 house, to admire tlie produce of his garden, and Miss 
 Mellon had accompanied one of the officers' wives 
 by the host's request, who, with the first Lady 
 Duckworth, always patronized her and theatricals 
 generally. As may be supposed, however, the hand- 
 some London actress was a greater magnet for the 
 younger officers than the contents of the fruit 
 dishes ; and the admiral's vanity was wounded. 
 When the party broke up, he observed that the 
 midshipman who had been her most assiduous beau 
 was secreting a small pine-apple, and, guessing it 
 would be an offering of gallantry to the attractive 
 actress, he asked what was to become of it ? The 
 saucy young culprit replied, ' Sir, our melancholy 
 mess are inclined to pine.^ The admiral stuttered 
 out, 'While yoUf I perceive, only pine for Mellon! ' 
 and taking away the ' apple of discord,' presented it 
 himself to the London belle." 
 
 In those days, the officers used to tell a story with 
 reference to Sir John Duckworth's porcine fancy 
 while afloat ; — for he kept as many pigs on board as 
 he did on shore ; and used to barter them with the 
 ward-room or midshipmen's mess, who were not so 
 well provided with fresh provisions. 
 
 One day, after having effected one of these good 
 bargains, on returning to his cabin he heard a 
 dreadful screaming above, and, running on deck, he 
 learnt that a pig had jumped overboard : the ship
 
 SIE JOHN DUCKWORTH. 301 
 
 was ^oing afc an immense rate past Spithead, in a 
 heavy sea, but in an agony he stuttered to the first 
 Heutenaot, " Back the yards, back the yards; lower a 
 boat, there's a pig overboard; my pig — pig — 'pig 
 will be drowned.'' One of the little middies, who 
 had anticipated a feast from their recent bargain, 
 most humbly observed, in a sad toue, so as to be 
 overheard, " It is our pig — our poor little, new 
 pig!" "What — what?" stammered Sir John 
 Duckworth; '' ihei?' pig — their pig: keep on your 
 
 course, Mr. , we must not risk — risk — risk 
 
 men's lives for a pig, poor thing; they can buy 
 another ! " 
 
 On the 14th October, 1811, Miss Mellon played 
 Mrs. Jaunch'ce, in a farce called " The Green 
 Monster." The piece, by Pocock, was a poor 
 affair; but her performance was justly extolled; 
 the part, in fact, was the original of Mrs. Simpson^ 
 in " Simpson and Co." 
 
 This season she was much praised in a chamber- 
 maid of the old school, Viletta, in " She Would and 
 She ^ould Not ; " and as the piece was played 
 pretty frequently for the sake of Mrs. Davison (nee 
 Miss Duncan), Miss Mellon was again often before 
 the public. 
 
 The part about this time in which she still kept 
 her great hold upon public favour was Dorcas, in 
 *' The Mock Doctor," which has been before men-
 
 302 3IEM0IFS OF 3IISS MELLON. 
 
 tioDcd as one of lier best cliaracters. The piece 
 rests entirely upon the characters of Grecjory and 
 Dorcas ; and those two, as they were then sustained, 
 kept up the popularity of this farce (from Moli^re) 
 for many seasons ; the characters are few, and thus 
 cast : 
 
 MOCK DOCTOR. 
 
 Sir Jasper ... ... ... Mr. Maddocks 
 
 Leaiider ... ... ... Mr. J. Wallack 
 
 Gregory ... ... ... Mr. Bannister 
 
 Dorcas ... ... ... ... Miss Mellon 
 
 From the period of the first introduction of Mr. 
 Coutts to Miss Mellon at Clieltenham, a constant 
 and friendly intercourse was kept up between them 
 in London. There is little reason to doubt that this 
 friendship was promoted by the scheming Mrs. 
 Entwisle by every expedient she could devise. 
 
 The strict limits of biography, perhaps, should be 
 confined to merely narrating such events as have 
 reached the author, without any comment or sup- 
 position as to motives — which can hardly ever be 
 given without a chance of offending parties con- 
 nected by relationship with the subject of remark. 
 
 The present instance is, however, an isolated case ; 
 for Mrs. Entwisle (the only relation of Miss Mellon 
 ever known) died long before her daughter, and 
 there being no descendants on whom a comment 
 might reflect, there is a singularly open field for the
 
 MRS. ENTWISLE AND MR. COUTTS. 303 
 
 candid biographer, who need not fear a chance of 
 wounding others in freely expressing opinions. 
 
 On this principle, then, we will give here our 
 ideas reo^arding^ the conduct of Mrs. Entwisle and 
 her daughter towards Mr. Coutts. 
 
 I^umbers of their warm advocates assert that they 
 had no idea of Mr. Coutts becoming attached to 
 and marrying Miss Mellon; but that they merely 
 sought to take advantag-e of a weak and rich old 
 man's patronage as long as it would last. 
 
 From this opinion loe differ totally. Let it be re- 
 membered how ambitious Mrs. Entwisle was, how 
 unceasingly watchful to advance her child's position 
 in the world, how careful (even ostentatiously so) 
 regarding^ her daus^hter's moral conduct, never 
 letting her be out alone, even when in humble life ; 
 so that she might bring with her a thoroughly good 
 reputation. In addition to her ambition, Mrs. 
 Entwisle was selfish, and inordinately fond of 
 money. Hence, she had prevented her daughter 
 from marrying through affection, because the former 
 would derive no improvement in situation by it. 
 She was clever, artful, and scheming, like the 
 generality of the Irish peasantry; and, considering 
 all the qualities together, we have little hesitation 
 in expressing an opinion that from this first intro- 
 duction to the old hanker she had marked Mm for her 
 daughter s husband.
 
 304 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 "We see and hear of sucb plans daily in the higher 
 circles, where the system is for young innocent girls 
 to try and barter their hands for rank and wealth, 
 no matter how revolting the possessor of those 
 advantages may be ; and in these nefarious schemes 
 we know that jewelled matrons lend the most inces- 
 sant aid to their beauteous daughters, by plots to 
 *' take in " anyone they mark down as fair game. 
 Why not, then, an humble edition of Almack's 
 practices in Mrs. Entwisle and Miss Mellon? A 
 legal gentleman, long in the busy world, has assured 
 the writer that there existed a bond between Mr. 
 Coutts and Miss Mellon that if slie would remain 
 unmarried while his invalid wife survived he would 
 marry her whenever his hand was free to offer. Of 
 this we know nothing beyond the assertion. 
 
 It is well known that agreements had existed in 
 the case of Miss Farren and other females of her 
 profession, highly respected in private life after- 
 wards ; and in our own times the engagement of 
 the much-esteemed Miss Stephens, which has been 
 protracted to so late a period, has been no secret. 
 
 On their return to London the conduct of Mr. 
 Coutts shows clearly that he intended to place Miss 
 Mellon at the head of his house : for one of his 
 earliest proceedings was to present her to his three 
 daughters, the Marchioness of Bute, the Countess of 
 Guilford, and Lady Burdett. From the time of Mr.
 
 MRS. ENTWISLE AND MR. COUTTS. 305 
 
 Coutts's first acquaintance with Miss Mellon, until 
 bis wife's death, these three irreproachable ladies 
 were on the most sister-like habits o£ intimacy with 
 Miss Mellon. They were at her house in Little 
 Russell Street continually, the shopkeepers there 
 recollecting their wonder at such grand carriages 
 waiting for hours at so poor a place. They used to 
 meet their father there by appointment, or call to 
 take him home. These ladies were married to men 
 ■of the world, and had daughters grown up ; there- 
 fore there was every reason why they should have 
 looked with rigid scrutiny at the stranger whom 
 they invited to their houses, and at whose house 
 they allowed their children to stay. They used fre- 
 quently to make parties to lunch with Miss Mellon. 
 The Marquis and Marchioness of Bute, with Lord 
 Dudley Stuart and his sister, Lady Frances Sandon, 
 did so several times ; and, what is more marked, 
 Miss Mellon was at their country seat, Petersham, 
 near Richmond. In one of her bedrooms in Henrietta 
 Street there were four pretty little white beds, 
 which were occupied by four of Sir Francis Bur- 
 dett's daughters when staying with Miss Mellon. 
 
 Miss Mellon' s manner towards Mr. Coutts, which 
 was totally different from her careless style, was 
 doubtless the result of her mother's tutorage, and cer- 
 tainly was politic in the extreme. It was steady and 
 respectful, like a daughter, perfectly free from any
 
 306 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 levity (everyone who knew the parties state this),, 
 and, to prove her respect, no office was too humble ; 
 for instance — she never allowed a servant to open 
 the door when he knocked, but either went down 
 herself or requested the young lady living with her 
 to do so. 
 
 From her steady demeanour she was generally 
 considered by her friends to be an achnov^ledged 
 daughter of Mr. Goutts^ and from the friendship 
 shown to her by his daughters they had possibly 
 formed a similar conclusion. 
 
 As for Mr. Coutts himself, he was exactly the sort 
 of person, and in exactly the position, to fall in 
 with Mrs. Entwisle's schemes. He was eccentric, 
 and very shrewd in worldly matters, but open to 
 being won by " a soft word," as the royal brothers, 
 and many needy dandies of the peerage, knew. 
 Then there was a strong: vein of romance — his^h- 
 flown romance — beneath all this shrewdness; also a 
 great love of witty society, and more especially that 
 of the green-room. 
 
 His position, notwithstanding his wealth, was 
 lonely in the extreme as regards a domestic circle of 
 afPection ; for his daughters had been long married, 
 and his poor wife, through the infliction of the 
 Almighty hand, was not companionable, or even 
 sensible of his presence.
 
 ME. COUTTS'S WORSTED STOCKINGS. 307 
 
 It will be readily seen what a chance there was 
 for the wheedling Irishwoman and her respectful 
 daughter, when they received a visit from the 
 solitary millionaire, and devoted themselves to pre- 
 paring all the trifling comforts which servants 
 would not do of themselves, and their master (en- 
 grossed in business) forgot to order. In time, he 
 regularly took his luncheon in Little Russell Street 
 at two, and if his family wanted to see him they 
 knew where to go. 
 
 As an instance how the richest man in London 
 was neglected by the lazy menials, over whom there 
 was no female inspection, may be mentioned a cir- 
 cumstance which Mr. Coutts himself used to relate 
 with great mirth, and which the friends of Mrs. 
 Entwisle heard from her vain lips also. 
 
 Mr. Coutts was complaining to her one day of the 
 extreme numbness he felt in his arms, and also that 
 he was scarcely able to endure the pain of walking, 
 although ordered to do so daily, for the benefit of 
 his failing health. 
 
 She naturally suggested that his sleeves might be 
 too tight, and his shoes and stockings might not fit 
 him comfortably ; but added, in her good-natured 
 Irish way, " Sir, if you will do me the honour of 
 putting one of your flannel waistcoats and a pair of 
 your stockings into your pocket to-morrow, and
 
 308 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 bring them here at lunchoon-time, perhaps I can 
 suggest some change to relieve your sufferings." 
 
 The next day accordingly " the rich man " 
 brought the samples of his wardrobe, and even 
 Mrs. Entwisle, with all her respectful policy, could 
 scarcely avoid laughing outright. The waistcoat 
 had been worn, patched, and washed so often, that 
 it had shrunk into a little yellow hard thing, quite 
 incapable of elasticity, like a washed glove. The 
 worsted stockings were equally harsh from frequent 
 washing, and had been darned in lumps over and 
 over again, until it was no wonder the poor old 
 gentleman was pained by walking in them. 
 
 Mrs. Entwisle requested two days for considera- 
 tion how to alter them, and she improved her time 
 so well, that at the end of that period she produced 
 a dozen of newly-made flannel waistcoats and also 
 of new stockings. 
 
 When the old gentleman saw them he laughed 
 heartily, and said, " I protest, ma'am, you have 
 understood admirably the complaint in my ward- 
 robe, and I really believe, if it had not been 
 for your kindness in thinking for me, I am so 
 busy that I could not have thought for myself; 
 so I should have continued hide-bound to my last 
 ■days ! " 
 
 He used to talk of this accession to his comfort
 
 MISTAKEN FOR A DISTRESSED PERSON. 30^ 
 
 repeatedly, just like a poor man for whom she 
 might have made them in charity. 
 
 We do not give the anecdote as anything very 
 elegant, but it is strongly characteristic of the 
 lonely position in wliich he was placed, and the 
 watchful care for his comfort which our Irish 
 politician was ready to show or suggest. 
 
 Mr. Coutts was a remarkably shabby dresser, 
 however; so that the fault does not rest entirely on 
 those who had chars^e of his wardrobe. He was a 
 tall, thin, spare figure, and his clothes, always ill- 
 fitting, bore that appearance of being "rubbed at 
 the seams " which reveals the " business coat " of 
 an office. He was often mistaken for an indigent 
 person, and used to enjoy the mistake of all things. 
 The following is one of many instances : — 
 
 Mr. Coutts, from his too strict attention to the 
 bank, felt his appetite diminished ; and, in order to 
 afford him a little exercise, his phj^sician ordered 
 him to walk daily after the bank closed to a 
 chemist's, who resided at some distance from the 
 Strand, to have some tonic preparation made 
 up. So quiet and unassuming was he in his 
 manners, that he always made way for everyone 
 who came while he was at the shop, so that they 
 might be served before him ; and, with his fair, 
 delicate countenance, spare frame, and very simple
 
 510 MEMOIRS OF MISS MELLON. 
 
 dress, no strangers guessed that they were pushing 
 aside the opulent Mr. Coutts. A kind-hearted, 
 liberal man, a merchant — who used to quit his 
 counting-house about the same time that Mr. Coutts 
 left the bank, and who had chanced to be in the 
 chemist's shop two or three times at the hour when 
 the latter came there — had remarked him, and, 
 from his retiring, gentle appearance and actions, 
 concluded he was a reduced gentleman, whose mind 
 was superior to his means. Accordingly, this 
 charitable merchant resolved to administer to the 
 necessities of the shrinking, modest individual ; and, 
 one day, having sealed up a sum of money for the 
 purpose, he went to the chemist's shop, where he 
 remained a length of time, waiting anxiously for the 
 appearance of the latter, — who, however, on that 
 day did not come for the tonic, being probably too 
 much engaged in distributing thousands. 
 
 The stranger being at length tired of waiting, and 
 feeling ashamed of occupying a place in the shop so 
 long, told the chemist how the absence of the pale, 
 iudigent, elderly gentleman had prevented his 
 intended donation. 
 
 The chemist in amazement said : " And you 
 really meant to offer pecuniary aid to that person, 
 sir ? Have you no idea who he is ? " 
 
 " None," said the other ; " but I conclude he is
 
 MISTAKEN FOR A DISTRESSED PERSON. 311 
 
 some gentlemanly man, in distressed, or, at least 
 reduced, circumstances." 
 
 " You shall judge, sir, as to his circumstances : 
 — that unassuming, quiet individual is Thomas 
 
 'COUTTS ! " 
 
 END OF VOL. I.
 
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