By the Rev. J. E. Jackson. 115 



which under this difficult and therefore attractive name, exhibited 

 exquisite scenery by that painter with the various effects of sun- 

 shine and gloom, morn, mid-day, night, thunder, lighting, &c.^ 

 Mr. Chapman's imitation presented less of the sublime and more 

 of the miscellaneous ; including, as it did, John Britton's mono- 

 logue, the musical glasses, and a learned dog. This temple of the 

 Muses being destroyed by fire in 1800, others were resorted to, 

 and a large acquaintance was formed in histrionic society of every 

 grade, from writers and actors down to mountebanks and clowns. 

 Many are his anecdotes of these persons. Through the interest of 

 the more distinguished actors, the Kembles, Bannister, Young, 

 and others, he was supplied with orders for the theatre, and at that 

 time believed it was impossible to be tired of reading plays or seeing 

 them represented on the stage. The playhouse seemed the most 

 fascinating place of rational amusement in the world, and he was 

 on the eve of becoming an actor. The fascination fortunately 

 passed away : the accounts of struggle and privation endured by 

 friends who had embarked in that line damped his ambition, and 

 he renounced the stage as a profession. 



But for what was he fitted ? Since emancipation from the Clerk- 

 enwell vaults his life had been one of uncertainty : and though fond 

 of reading and eager for information, he had not dared to think of 

 literature as a means of livelihood. Two or three juvenile essays 

 slipped into the letter-box of a Shoe Lane periodical had indeed 

 been printed, and their appearance in type was gratifjang. He 

 followed them up with comments on players, clubs and theatricals. 

 For these a place was foimd in the "Sporting Magazine," published 

 by John Wheblo of "Warwick Square, who proved a kind friend and 

 was the cause of his becoming, idtimately and for life, an Author. 

 A sixpenny pamphlet called " The Thesj/ian OVio" was the first 

 book of which he was the Editor. Then followed a daring specu- 

 lation (involving the risk of £15, a sum never hitlicrto in his 

 possession at one time), the " Odd Felloivii' Soinj Bool;," price one 

 shilling ! Of this 500 copies were printed and acl ually sold, bring- 

 ing in a trifling profit. IIo thou became connected with John 

 ' See a description bj' W. H. Pyno in "Wine and Walnuts." 



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