RECOLLECTIONS OF THE OLD ACTORS, &C. &C. 523 



observed the practice of Garrick, analyzed the principles upon which 

 Garrick conducted his practice, and finding he did not possess the 

 same, merely physical principles as Garrick did in the same degree, 

 he wisely combined the same principles of science that were used by 

 Garrick with his own physical principles, and by this judicious com- 

 bination produced characters that were quite as perfect as what had 

 then been produced by any other character whatever. Hamlet is, 

 perhaps, the character in which Henderson may be more justly com- 

 pared with all other actors. I never saw Garrick act Hamlet ; there- 

 fore cannot compare Henderson with him ; but I saw Henderson in 

 that character frequently, and all other actors who have since that 

 time performed it in the London theatres, and do not hesitate to say, 

 that, where nature did not oppose physical disabilities, Henderson 

 was greatly superior in that character to every other actor I have 

 seen j in several particulars, but, more than all others, in affecting 

 sensibility becoming the character, in which I have, more frequently 

 than in others, seen other actors fail. Of this I will give one example, 

 which, notwithstanding the time that has elapsed since I saw it, has 

 still retained its seat in my memory. 



In the scene with the grave-diggers, when Hamlet and Horatio 

 walked on the stage, while Parsons was digging, singing, and tum- 

 bling the bones about, Hamlet and his companion, after looking at 

 him with a mixture of curiosity and attention, till Parsons lifted the 

 skull to him ; he held his hand to receive it there it lay, Hamlet 

 looking with some curiosity to learn what was next to be said ; as 

 the grave-diggers went on with their description in their own way_, 

 Hamlet's curiosity visibly increasing till the man said it belonged to 

 " YORICK, THE KING'S JESTER " without starting, Hamlet became 

 motionless in every part, except, without visible effort, his right hand 

 fell gradually upon the skull; he exclaimed, " Alas ! poor Yorick!" 

 then, without other motion, directing his eyes to his companion, he 

 continued, " I knew him well, Horatio" &c, &c., his hand remaining 

 upon the ^.kull, as if unconscious of its being there, while his eyes 

 were silently observing the grave-digger, who was speaking ; at last, 

 as if recalled to think of what he held by its offensive smell, looking 

 at his companion, he exclaimed, 



" Shall we look so when we are dead ?" 



Horatio. Aye, my lord. 



Hamlet. And smell so ? 



Horatio. Aye, my lord. 



Hamlet, (putting it towards the person who was to take it} Get 

 thee to my lady's chamber ; tell her this, though she paint an inch 

 thick, to this complexion SHE MUST COME AT LAST ! 



This description is poor, as every thing called back by memory 

 after a long period has elapsed, must be ; but those who saw it were 

 electrified by it, as the beginning of a long and admirable scene, that 

 went on with energy continually increasing to its end. 



Henderson was a most excellent and original actor in the best 

 sense of the word : he had much talent for mimicry, which Garrick 

 said that no man who was a good actor could be without ; but 

 though, in establishing his own reputation, he took pains to show 



