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stances which would seem incompatible with versatility of dramatic exhibition. Such is a description of an actor who was pronounced to be "the true disciple of the bard who dipped his pen in the heart." In the Boston Museum there is a wax figure of Mr. Cooke in the dress in which Cooke performed.

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CHAPTER VIII.

Cooke's Last Engagement in Boston.-Entwistle and Cooke hors du combat. The Burning of the Richmond Theatre. - The War of 1812, and its Effects on Theatricals. Cooke in Providence. Anecdotes.The Play of "A New Way to Pay Old Debts.— Commemoration at the Boston Theatre of the Capture of the Guerriere by the Constitution. Mr. and Miss Holman. Sketch of Holman.-"Timour the Tartar."- Commemoration of Perry's Victory on Lake Erie.· Great Fire at Portsmouth, and Benefit. Visit of Commodore Perry to the Theatre. Anecdote of McKenzie. Visit of Commodore Stuart to the Theatre, etc., etc.

THE theatre, during the vacation previous to the season of 1811-12, was refitted. A new stage was built, new decorations provided, and lamps of American manufacture, of a peculiar structure, were introduced. On Monday, the 30th of December, Mr. Cooke was announced to appear and play his farewell engagement, prior to his departure for Europe, having at that time engaged his passage on board a ship which was to sail from this port to England, but owing to a

five days' gale in Long Island Sound, he was detained, and did not open till the next night. The receipts of

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Friday,

Wheel of Fortune,

$761 37

593 87

811 00

703 62

838 87

736 50

Venice Preserved, and Love a la Mode, 854 25

On this night Mr. Cooke had a return of the bowl complaint, and the disease proved contagious, for Entwistle was also taken with it, and the habit clung to him till death. It is stated that Entwistle committed suicide in New Orleans. He took a dose of poison, and then went to his room, where, with a bottle of brandy at his side, and a cigar in his mouth, he awaited the certain coming of death, and was found in this position after the fatal drug had done its work. Both were so badly afflicted in the evening that they could not retain control of their understandings, and were obliged to give up before the afterpiece was concluded. The audience hissed, and Cooke retired in disgust his kind friends stating that his weakness was owing to exposure on board the packet on his passage from New York. He did not act again until Monday, the 20th, when he was received very coldly, and as it will be seen the houses fell off:

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Mr. Cooke received for his share of this engagement

of nineteen nights, $3,200.

The memorable conflagration of the Richmond (Va.) Theatre, causing its entire destruction, and the immense loss of life, which occurred on the 26th of December, 1811, just previous to Cooke's second visit to this city, must claim a passing note. Mr. Cooke was, in a measure, the cause of this sad catastrophe. The theatre would have been closed several weeks previous, but Mr. Cooke was engaged to appear there and it was kept open, when the eccentric tragedian, though a carriage was in waiting at New York to transport him thither, took a fancy that he would visit Boston, and thus disappointed them. On the night of the destruction of this theatre a new play and pantomime was advertised for the benefit of Mr. Placide, and the entertainments attracted an audience of seven hundred. The play and the first act of the pantomime went off — the second act had begun, when from some mismanagement of the lights, a portion of the scenery took fire, and sparks fell upon the stage. A portion of the audience conceived this to be a part of the performances, while others started, but were reassured when it was announced from the stage that there was no danger. But the flames spread more rapidly than the performers could detach the scenery, and finding all attempts fruit

less, it was announced that the house was on fire. Those in the pit and gallery succeeded in making their escape,. but those in the boxes became panic-struck, and rushed for the stairway, which was very narrow, and was. almost instantaneously blocked up with human beings.. One or two in the rush were thrown into the pit, and from thence found easy exit. In two minutes after the alarm was given, the whole audience were enveloped in hot, scorching smoke and flame. The lights wereextinguished by the black smothering vapor. Those who had gained the outside implored the sufferers to leap from the windows, and many did so, though they were severely injured. The alarm soon became known in the city, and mothers and fathers, relatives and friends, at once repaired to the spot to seek out sons. and daughters, parents and relations. But who can picture the distress of those, who, unable to gain the windows or afraid to leap from them, were pent up in the long narrow passages, suffocating by the smoke, or writhing in agony in the flames? Several, who emerged from the building, were so much scorched that they perished, while many others were crushed under foot after getting outside of the door. But we will not dwell upon a scene of such destruction, nor relate instances of peculiar grief. Seventy-one persons in all were either suffocated or burnt to death that night. On the 27th, business was suspended in Richmond, banks and stores were closed, and a law was passed prohibiting amusements of every kind for the term of four months. The following Wednesday was set apart for a day of humiliation and prayer, and in many of the

cities of the Union religious services were holden, while the citizens were mourning for thirty days.

Before the close of the season of 1813, Master John Howard Payne again appeared at the Federal Street "Theatre with success.

The formal declaration of war with Great Britain, made by the United States on the 18th of June, 1812, caused by British excesses in violating the American flag on the great highway of nations, the impressment of American seamen, and other harassing measures adopted by England, threatened to dim the prospects of theatrical operations. In times of great excitement, the public mind is too occupied to pay much attention to the stage, and consequently in seasons of political contest, or time of war, the theatre is apt to be deserted.

In the summer vacation of 1812, Messrs. Powell and Dickson engaged Cooke to appear in Providence, prior to his intended departure for England. On the 13th of July the great actor commenced an engagement at Providence, where he opened as Shylock. He was remarkably steady and regular in his habits, never once failed to perform when announced, and some nights it was thought that he acted better than he had ever done in Boston. On one occasion, Cooke, to oblige his friend Colonel Blodgett, of Providence, consented to play Falstaff, which is a somewhat arduous undertaking in the heat of summer. Just prior to the rising of the curtain, a heavy thunder-shower occurred, and very few had gathered to witness the performance. Mr. Cooke looked at the empty benches, and then addressing the manager, said, "What shall we do? postpone

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