p. 159

44.
sented the following array :--Beverly Fennell ;
Stukely Wignell ; Lewson Cleveland ; Jarvis
Whitlock ; Bates Green ; Dawson Moreton ;
Mrs. Beverly Mrs. Whitlock ; Charlotte Mrs.
Francis ; Lucy Mrs. Cleveland. Moreton's po-
sition was yet humble ; he had not strengthened
the amateur wings on which he soared subse-
quently to a high professional flight. He had
not conquered the natural timidity alluded to in
his memoir.

On June 25th Moreton and Harwood brought
out for their joint night--so late in the summer
to which the season in consequence of the
foregoing circumstances had been unavoidably
prolonged--Milton's "Masque of Comus." Comus
Mr. Fennell ; Spirit Mr. Green ; Elder Brother Mr.
Moreton ; Younger Brother Mr. Cleveland ; Prin-
cipal Bacchanals Messrs. Marshall and Darley ;
Bacchanals Messrs. Warrell J. Darley Robins
Munto Lee Bason &c. ; The Lady Mrs. Whit-
lock ; Sabrina with the song of "Sweet Echo"
accompanied by Mr. Shaw on the hautboy Miss
Broadhurst ; Pastoral Nymph Mrs. Marshall ;
Euphrosyne Mrs. Oldmixon ; First Bacchanti
Mrs. Warrell ; Bacchanti Mesdames Cleveland
Finch Bates Rowson Miss Willems Miss Row-
son. A grand dance by Mr. Francis Monsieur
Bellona Madame De Marque Miss Willems and
Madame Gardie.

They brought this out with the comedy of
the "Wonder." Francis produced for his first
benefit "Gustavus Vasa" and "Harlequin
Shipwreck or the Grateful Lion."

During the season the following pieces were
performed for the first time in the United States :
"The Son-in-Law" a comic opera by O'Keefe ;
"Le Foret Noire or the Natural Son" a pan-
tomime ; "Quality Binding or A Quarter of an
Hour Before Dinner ;" "The Prize or 1, 2, 3, 5,
8," a comic opera ; "Julia or The Italian Lo-
vers" a tragedy ; "Harlequin Shipwreck ;"
"How to Grow Rich" a comedy ; "Slaves in
Algiers" a comedy ; "The Spanish Barber" an
opera translatedfrom the French of Beaumer-
chaise by George Colman upon which was
afterwards constructed Rossini's "Barber of
Seville." The music here was composed by Dr.
Arnold with accompaniments by Carr and ad-
ditional airs by Reinagle. It was produced for
the benefit of Mrs. Oldmixon. "The Birth of
Harlequin" a new pantomime was brought out
for Milbourne's benefit on the 14th of July.
Madame Gardie produced for her benefit "Fe-
male Patriotism or The Siege of Orleans" in
which she sustained the character of Joan of
Arc. The only American production ushered
into existence during this season was "The Em-
bargo or Every Man Has His Own Opinion" a
farce by a citizen of Philadelphia. It was
played for Finch's benefit. On the occasion of
Chalmers' benefit May 21st he introduced a
pantomime entitled "The Triumph of Mirth"
in which he sustained the character of Harle-
quin. On Bates' night May 23d he introduced
a vocal squeaking rhyming rhapsody called
"The Learned Pig or The Fortune-Teller on
All-Fours at the end of which he will leap
through a transparent star eight feet high illu-
minated with fireworks." Mr. Quesnet a dancer
made his first appearance in America on this

occasion. At Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland's benefit
July 2d "Le Americain" was played in French
the principal characters being performed by
Mrs. Cleveland Madame Gardie Miss Rowson
Mr. Finch and Mr. Bologna.

During the season a circumstance which
would create very little alarm in our tumble-
down smashing and blowing-up day was at
this period very exciting. On the occasion of
a full house a box seat was broken down by
the pressure. Consternation seized the audi-
ence and the public excitement was so great
that the management caused a survey to be
made by a committee of builders who pro-
nounced the edifice safe. Ths was published
thereby allaying the excited state of the peo-
ple's mind. Such a circumstance now would
hardly be observed at all.

The first season of the new Chesnut street
theatre closed on the 18th of July 1794 wit
the following entertainments. It will be per-
ceived that the laudable design of creating a
theatrical fund for decayed actors originated
with the management of the first Chesnut street
theatre and that its organization began under
the difficulties of a new undertaking. It de-
serves a memorable record. We therefore give
the bill and address :
NEW THEATRE.
POSITIVELY THE LAST NIGHT.
In aid of a fund about to be established for the relief
and support of those who from age and infirmities may be
obliged to retire from the stage.

THIS EVENING July 18, 1794
will be performed a comedy called
EVERY ONE HAS HIS FAULT.
Lord Norland..................Mr. Whitlock.
Sir Robert Ramble............Mr. Chalmers.
Mr. Solus...........................Mr. Morris.
Mr. Harmony....................Mr. Bates.
Captain Irwin...................Mr. Fennell.
Mr. Placide.......................Mr. Moreton.
Hammond........................Mr. Greene
Porter................................Mr. Warrell.
Edward..............................Mrs. Francis.
Lady Eleanor Irwin.............Mrs. Whitlock.
Miss Spinster......................Mrs. Bates.
Miss Wooburn....................Mrs. Morris.
End of the play an Occasional Address.
To conclude with the new patomime called

THE BIRTH OF HARLEQUIN
OR FRIENDLY WITCHES.
Harlequin.........................Mr. Francis.
Pantaloon..........................Mr. Bologna.
Miser.................................Mr. Blissett.
Clown................................Mr. Melbourne.
Principal Witches Messrs. Darley Marshall Mrs. Old-
mixon Miss Broadhurst &c.
Columbine.......................Madame Gardie.
Vocal parts by Messrs. Marshall Lee Robins Warrell
Miss Broadhurst.
Scenery by Milbourne.
Machinery by Cox.

In the early part of the season the character
of Edward in the comedy was played by Master
Warrell. It became necessary to change the
performer to Mrs. Francis. Mrs. Marshall sub-
sequently made a great sensation in the charac-
ter in connection with Mrs. Merry as Eleanor.

The address was written by Mr. John Har-
wood of the company. It was as follows :
When peace revisited this happy shore
And war's loud clarion rent the air no more
When plenty from her cornucopia pour'd
Her golden produce on the festive board ;
Science reviv'd and in her polish'd train
The muses of the drama held their reign--
Shelter'd by you who ceaseless seek to give
Content their happy grateful vot'ries live
To shelter age to blunt misfortune's dart
And thus to shield the wounded artist's heart.
When feebly creeps the current thro' the vein
And the slow tott'ring step proclaims life's wane
To cheer as yet the little while he stays
And glid the vet'ran's few remaining days :
Ere yet the fires of genius faintly speak
Or the quick hectic spreads the furrow'd cheek
Ere yet the beaming eye is languid grown
Or damm'd with tears for sorrows all its own--

This done the cheering smile of former days
The loud resounding peal of joyous praise
By fancy's magic rise again to view
The faded senses all their bliss renew
The cordial thought is round his heart entwin'd
And his last breath is grateful pray'r resign'd.

This benevolent first effort to establish a the-
atrical fund was not successful like many
attempts of the kind since made ; and there
have been many fruitless endeavors since 1794
which also failed till phoenix-like the "Ameri-
can Dramatic Fund" at New York recently
arose to protect the poor decayed actor in his
aged condition. I am happy to say it is now in
useful operation. The late Andrew Jackson
Allen was the first member of the fund who re-
ceived its active benefit.

Having thus devoted some space to the first
season of the Chesnut street theatre in 1794
or readers will no doubt be willing to pass for
a short time to a few reminiscences of other mat-
ters in Philadelphia about this period. In the
early part of the spring of 1793 two very clever
musicians arrived from England. One was Ben-
jamin Carr from "the London ancient concerts"
who established himself in a music store at No.
118 Market street. The other was Raynor Tay-
lor--both esteemed and worthy citizens. They
lived long in our midst and died regretted by
all of those who had long shared their acquain-
tance and friendship. They lie buried in St.
Peter's cemetery where the Musical Fund So-
ciety have erected appropriate monuments to
their memory. On the sixth of May in this year
an amateur and professional concert was given
at Oeller's hotel under the direction of George
Gillingham the leader of the theatre Menel
and B. Carr. Concerto on the violin by Gil-
lingham. Song B. Carr. The Battle of Prague
the first time in America adapted for a full
band by J. George C. Schetckey. This gentle-
man was a capital musician and long esteemed.

During this summer concerts vocal and in-
strumental were given at Harrowgate Garden.
On the 4th of July '93 Mr. Kenna was the vo-
calist--the songs were "All the World's a
Stage" "Buy my Matches" "Ne'er Dream Old
Maid" "dish of all Sorts."

At this time Blanchard the balloonist had
an establishment in Chesnut street on a lot
belonging to Governor Mifflin between Seventh
and Eighth streets which was called "the Ro-
tunda" where he amused the worthy cits by
inflating balloons and exhibiting a carriage
made to run without horses. This was the
gentleman who ascended out of the yard of the
Walnut street prison in a balloon. The vehicle
was made to move by an automation eagle
guided by a passenger within it at the rate of
the fastest stage-coach. It was really a very
ingenious invention and if it was never carried
into successful effect the failure may have been
the result of circumstances.

Blanchard made an ascent in a balloon out
of Ricketts' circus at the corner of Twelfth and
Market streets during this year. We shall
speak of Mr. Ricketts shortly. Blanchard at-
tached a parachute to the aerostat which con-
tained a cat and a monkey. The wind at start-
ing was about S.E. which took the adventurer
in the direction of Bush Hill. When over it at