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CHARACTERS OF ACTORS IN CIBBER'S APOLOGY

Reverting to a Query in your Second Number, p. 29, your correspondent DRAMATICUS may rest assured that Colley Cibber's characters of actors and actresses (his contemporaries and immediate predecessors) first appeareded in his Apology, 4to. 1740, and were transferred verbatim, as far as I have been able to consult them, to the subsequent editions of that very entertaining and excellent work. If Colley Cibber were not a first-rate dramatist, he was a first-rate critic upon performers; and I am disposed to place his abilities as a play-wright much higher than the usual estimate.

Probably the doubt of your correspondent arose from the fact, not hitherto at all noticed, that these characters no sooner made their appearance, than they were pirated, and pirated work may have been taken for the original. It is a scarce tract, and bears the following title–The Theatrical Lives and Characters of the following celebrated Actors; and then follow sixteen names, beginning with Betterton, and ending with Mrs. Butler, and we are also told that A General History of the Stage during their time is included. The whole of this, with certain omissions, principally of classical quotations, is taken from Cibber's Apology, and it professed to be "Printed for J. Miller, in Fleet Street, and sold at the pamphlet shops," without date. The whole is nothing but an impudent plagiarism, and it is crowned and topped by a scrap purporting to be from Shakspeare, but merely the invention of the compiler. In truth, it is the only original morsel in the whole seventy pages. At the end of the character of Betterton, the following is subjoined, and it induces a Query, whether any such work, real or pretended, as regards Betterton, is in existence?

"N.B. The author of this work has, since he began it, had a very curious manuscript of Mr. Betterton's communicated to him, containing the whole duty of a Player; interspersed with directions for young Actors, as to the management of the voice, carriage of the body, etc. etc., reckoned the best piece that has ever been wrote on the subject," p. 22.

This "best piece" on the subject is promised in the course of the volume, but it is not found in it. Did it appear anywhere else and in any other shape? As the Query of DRAMATICUS is now answered, perhaps he may be able to reply to this question from

T.J.L.

I should have sent this note sooner, had I not waited to see if any body else would answer the Query of DRAMATICUS, and perhaps afford some additional information.

ANCIENT TAPESTRY

Sir,–I believe I can answer a Query in your Third Number, by N., respecting the whereabouts of a piece of ancient tapestry formerly in the possession of Mr. Yarnold, of Great St. Helen's, London, described, upon no satisfactory authority, as "the Plantagenet Tapestry." It is at present the property of Thos. Baylis, Esq., of Colby House, Kensington. A portion of it has been engraved as representing Richard III, etc.; but it is difficult to say what originated that opinion. The subject is a crowned female seated by a fountain, and apparently threatening two male personages with a rod or slight sceptre, which she has raised in her left hand, her arm being stayed by another female standing behind her. This has been said to represent Elizabeth of York driving out Richard III, which, I need scarcely say, she did not do. There are nineteen other figures, male and female, looking on or in conversation, all attired in the costume of the close of the 15th century, but without the least appearance of indicating any historical personage. It is probably an allegorical subject, such as we find in the tapestry of the same date under the gallery of Wolsey's Hall at Hampton Court, and in that of Nancy published by Mons. Juninal.

I believe one of the seven pieces of "the siege of Troy," mentioned in Query, No. 3, or an eighth piece unmentioned, is now in the possession of Mr. Pratt, of Bond Street, who bought it of Mr. Yarnold's widow.

I may add that the tapestry in St. Mary's Hall, Coventry, contains, undoubtedly, representations of King Henry VI, Queen Margaret, and Cardinal Beaufort. It is engraved in Mr. Shaw's second volume of Dresses and Decorations; but the date therein assigned to it (before 1447) is erroneous, the costume being, like that in the tapestries above mentioned, of the very end of the 15th century.

J.R. PLANCHÉ.

Brompton, Nov. 20. 1849.

[To this Note, so obligingly communicated by Mr. Planché, we may add, that the tapestry in question was exhibited to the Society of Antiquaries at their opening meeting on the 22nd ultimo.]

TRAVELLING IN ENGLAND

Mr. Editor,–Your No. 3. has just fallen into my hands, with the wonderful account of Schultz's journey of fifty miles in six hours, a hundred years ago. I am inclined to think the explanation consists in a misprint. The distances are given in figures, and not in words at length, if we may trust your correspondent's note on p. 35. May not a 1 have "dropped" before the 6, so that the true lection will be, "dass wir auf dem ganzen Wege kaum 16 Stunden gefahren sind"? This time corresponds with the time of return, on which he set out in the evening (at 8?) of one day and arrived at noon the next. It was also most likely that the spring carriages of fifteen years later date should go much faster than the old springless vehicles. Any one who has corrected proofs will appreciate the "dropping" of a single type, and may be ready to admit it on such circumstantial evidence.

I may remark that 1749 was still Old Style in England; but the German Schultz, in dating his expedition on Sunday, 10 Aug. 1749, has used the New Style, then prevalent in Germany. Sunday, 10 Aug. 1749, O.S., was on Thursday, 31 July, 1749, N.S. The York coach-bill cited on the same page is in O.S.

Is not "Stäts-Kutsche," in the same communication, a misprint?

A.J.E.

G.G. has perhaps a little overrated the import of the passage he quotes from Schultz's travels. "Dass wir kaum 6 Stunden gefahren sind"–even supposing there is no misprint of a 6 for an 8 or 9, which is quite possible–will not, I apprehend, bear the meaning he collects from the words, viz. that the journey occupied no more than six hours, or less even than so much.

In the first place, I believe it will be allowed by those familiar with German idioms, that the phrase kaum 6 Stunden, is not to be rendered as though it meant no more or less than 6; but rather thus: "but little more than 6;"–the "little more," in this indefinite form of expression, being a very uncertain quantity, it may be an hour or so.

Then he says merely that they "kaum 6 Stunden gefahren sind," which may mean that the time actually spent in motion did not exceed the number of hours indicated, whatever that may be; and not that the journey itself, "including stoppages," took up no more. Had he meant to say this, I imagine he would have used a totally different phrase: e. g. dass wir binnen kaum mehr als 6 Stunden nach London schön gekommen sind; or something like these words.

Making these allowances, the report is conceivably true, even of a period a century old, as regards the rate of day-travelling on the high road to Norwich, still at that time a place of much business with London. The second journey of the Pastor on the same road was, it seems, by night: but what perhaps is of more consequence to explain is the apparent difference between it and the other. It appears that in the second instance we are told when he arrived at his journey's end; in the former, nothing beyond the number of hours he was actually moving, may have been communicated to us.

V.

Mr. Editor,–I inclose copies of advertisements which appear in some old newspapers in my possession, and which in some degree illustrate the history of travelling, and in themselves show, I imagine, the advance made between 1739 and 1767, since I consider that "The Old Constant Froom Flying Waggon," of the former date, was the parent of "The Frome Stage Machine" of the latter.

I notice in the Sherborne paper all public stage conveyances are designated as machines.

Copies of advertisements in The Daily Advertiser of the 9th April, 1739:–

"For Bath.
A good Coach and able Horses will set out from the Black Swan Inn, in Holborn, on Wednesday or Thursday.
Enquire of William Maud."
"Exeter Flying Stage Coach in Three Days, and Dorchester and Blandford in two days.
Go from the Saracen's Head Inn, in Friday Street, London, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and from the New Inn, in Exeter, every Tuesday and Thursday, perform'd by
JOAN PAYNE,
JOHN SANDERSON,
THOMAS BURY.
Note.–Once a week there is an entire Dorchester and Blandford Coach from Dorchester on Mondays, and from London on Fridays.
The stage begins Flying on Monday next, the 16th instant."
"The old standing constant Froom Flying Waggon in Three days
Sets out with goods and Passengers from Froom for London, every Monday, by One o'clock in the morning, and will be at the King's Arms Inn, at Holborn Bridge, the Wednesday following by Twelve o'clock at Noon; from whence it will set out on Thursday morning, by One o'clock, for Amesbury, Shrewton, Chittern, Heytesbury, Warminster, Froom, and all other places adjacent, and will continue allowing each passenger fourteen pounds, and be at Froom, on Saturday by twelve at noon.
If any Passengers have Occasion to go from either of the aforesaid Places they shall be supplied with able Horses and a Guide by Joseph Clavey; the Proprietor of the said Flying Waggon. The Waggon calls at the White Bear in Piccadilly coming in and going out.
Note.–Attendance is constantly given at the King's Arms, Holborn Bridge aforesaid, to take in Goods and Passengers' names; but no Money, Plate, Bank Notes, or Jewels will be insured unless delivered as such, perform'd by
JOSEPH CLAYEY.

N.B. His other Waggons keep their Stages as usual."

From Cruttwell's Sherborne, Shaftesbury, and Dorchester Journal, or Yeovil, Taunton, and Bridgewater Chronicle, of Friday, February 6th, 12th, and 20th, 1767.

"Taunton Flying Machine,
Hung on Steel Springs, in Two Days
Sets out from the Saracen's Head Inn in Friday Street, London, and Taunton, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at Three o'clock in the morning: and returns every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, lays at the Antelope in Salisbury, going Up and Down; To carry Six inside Passengers, each to pay

Outside Passengers and Children in the Lap, Half-Fare as above, each Inside Passenger allowed Fourteen Pounds Luggage; all above, to Taunton Two-pence per Pound and so in Proportion to any Part of the road.
Note. No Money, Plate, Jewels, or Writings, will be accounted for if Lost, unless Entered as such, and Paid for accordingly.
Performed by {JOHN WHITMASH, THOMAS LILEY.}"

From the same Paper of Friday, April 17th, 24th, and May 1st, 1767:–

"Frome, 1767.

The Proprietors of the
FROME STAGE MACHINE
In Order to make it more agreeable to their Friends in the West, have engaged to set out Post Chaises from the Christopher Inn, in Wells, every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday Evenings, at Five o'clock, to stop at the George Inn, at Shepton Mallet, and set out from thence at a Quarter past Six, to carry Passengers and Parcels to Frome, to be forwarded from thence to London in the One Day Flying Machine, which began on Sunday the 12th of April, 1767; Also a Chaise from Frome every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Evenings to Shepton and Wells, as soon as the Coach arrives from London, if any Passengers, etc. go down, at the following Prices:–from Wells to Frome Four Shillings, from Shepton Three Shillings, small parcels from Wells to Frome 6d. each, from Shepton 4d., large ditto a Halfpenny per Pound from each place. All Passengers who intend taking the Advantage of this method of travelling, are desired to take their Places at the above Inns in Wells and Shepton as follows: viz. those who intend going on Sunday enter the Tuesday before going, those who go on Tuesday enter the Thursday before, and for Thursday the Sunday before, that proper notice may be given at Frome to secure the places: If at any time more than three Passengers an extra Chaise to be provided.
Fare to and from London £1 8s. 0d. Trowbridge, £1 6s. 0d. Devizes £1 2s. 6d. One half to be paid at Booking, the other at entering the machine. Inside passengers allowed 10lb. wt., all above Three Half-pence per pound from Frome as usual. The Coach will set out from the Crown Inn in Frome, at Ten o'clock in the evening of every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday; and from the Bull Inn in Holborne, London, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Evening, at the same Hour.–Books are kept, Places taken, and Parcels received, at the Christopher in Wells, the George in Shepton, the Crown in Frome, the Woolpack in Trowbridge, and the Bull in Holborne, London; calls going in and coming out, at the White Bear Inn, Piccadilly, and the new White Horse Cellar.
Perform'd by
R. MESSETER, at the Crown, at Thatcham,
and
J. HITCHCOCK, at the Catherine Wheel, Beckhampton.
"N.B. No Jewels, Plate, Money, Writings, or other things of Value, will be paid for if lost, unless enter'd as such, and paid for accordingly."

With regard to G.G.'s Query as to the time occupied in the journey of Schultz from Colchester to London, do not the circumstances sufficiently prove that by some means six must have been written for sixteen? Sixteen hours would give a rate of travelling nearer the average of those days, and was about the time occupied on the return to Colchester. For if we allow a due time after twelve for dinner, settling accounts, and going to the inn whence the "Stäts-Kutsche" started, and for partaking of the meal there provided, we shall very easily get to seven or eight in the evening; sixteen hours after that time would be "towards noon" in the following day.