1832.] [185 ] 



ELLISTON AND TftE ASs's HEAD. 



ELLISTON was, in his day, the Napoleon of Drury-lane, but, like the 

 conqueror at Austerlitz, he suffered his declensions, and the Surrey 

 became to him a St. Helena. However, once an eagle always an eagle ; 

 and Robert William was no less aquiline in the day of adversity than 

 in his palmy time of patent prosperity. He was born to carry things 

 with a high hand, and he but fulfilled his destiny. The anecdote 

 which we are about to relate, is one of the ten thousand instances of 

 his lordly bearing. When, the season before last, " no effects" was 

 written over the treasury-door of Covent-garden theatre, it will be re- 

 membered that several actors proffered their services gratis, in aid of 

 the then humble, but now, arrogant and persecuting establishment. 

 Among these patriots was Mr. T. P. Cooke (it was just after his pro- 

 motion to the honorary rank of Admiral of the Blue). The Covent- 

 garden managers jumped at the offer of the actor, who was in due time 

 announced as having, in the true play-bill style, " most generously 

 volunteered his services for six nights !" Cooke was advertised for 

 William ; Elliston having " most generously lent [N.B. this was not put 

 in the bill] his musical score of Black-Eyed Susan, together with the 

 identical captains' coats, worn at a hundred-and- fifty court-martials at 

 the Surrey Theatre \" Cooke the score the coats, were all accepted, 

 and made the most of by the now prosecuting managers of Covent- 

 garden, who cleared out of the said Cooke, score, and coats, one thou- 

 sand pounds at half-price on the first six nights of their exhibition. 

 This is a fact ; nay, we have lately heard it stated that all the sum was 

 specially banked, to be used in a future war against the minors. Cooke 

 was then engaged for twelve more nights, at ten pounds per night a 

 hackney-coach bringing him each night, hot from the Surrey stage, 

 where he had previously made bargemen weep, and thrown nursery- 

 maids into convulsions. Well, time drove on, and Cooke drove into 

 the country. Elliston, who was always classical, having a due vene- 

 ration for that divine " creature," Shakspeare, announced, on the anni- 

 versary of the poet's birth-day, a representation of the Stratford Jubi- 

 lee. The wardrobe was ransacked, the property-man was on the alert ; 

 and, after much preparation, every thing was in readiness for the im- 

 posing spectacle. No ! There was one thing forgotten one important 

 " property !" Bottom must be a " feature" in the procession, and there 

 was no ass's head ! It would not do for the acting manager to apolo- 

 gize for the absence of the head no, he could not have the face to do 

 it. A head must be procured ! Every one was in doubt and trepida- 

 tion, when hope sounded in the clarion-like voice of Robert William. 

 " Ben !" exclaimed Elliston, " take pen, ink, and paper, and write as 

 follows !" Ben (Mr. Benjamin Fairbrother, the late manager's most 

 trusty secretary) sat, ' ' all ear," and Elliston, with finger on nether lip, 

 proceeded : 



" My dear Charles, 



" I am about to represent, ' with entirely new dresses, scenery, and 

 decorations,' the Stratford Jubilee, in honour of the sweet swan of 

 Avon. My scene-painter is the finest artist (except your Grieve) in 

 Europe my tailor is no less a genius, and I lately raised the salary of 

 my property-man. This will give you some idea of the capabilities of 



