MACREADY, WILLIAM C. 



MAINE. 



457 



M 



MACREADY, WILLIAM CHARLES, an Eng- 

 lish tragedian, born in London, March 8, 1793; 

 died at his residence in Weston-Super-Mare, 

 England, April 29, 1873. He was the son of 

 an actor, who, desiring a different profession 

 for his son, and wishing to give him a thorough 

 education, sent him to Rugby. At the age of 

 sixteen, when nearly ready for Oxford, his 

 father's affairs became so deeply embarrassed, 

 that the son was compelled to abandon his 

 collegiate pursuits and turn his talents to the 

 stage. His first appearance was made at 

 Birmingham, June 10, 1810, in the character 

 of Borneo, in which he was successful, and un- 

 til 1K14 he remained with his father's com- 

 pany as a leading actor and stage director, per- 

 forming with applause at many of the chief 

 provincial towns. During the two following 

 years he visited Ireland and Scotland, increas- 

 ing his reputation, which was thought sufficient 

 to warrant him in making his appearance on 

 the London stage, and accordingly he appeared 

 at Co vent Garden in September, 1816, as 

 Orettet, in "The Distressed Mother," where 

 he won great applause, not only from the pub- 

 lic, but from Edmund Kean and other promi- 

 nent actors. He had, nevertheless, a hard bat- 

 tle to fight for many years*owing to the jeal- 

 ousy of some of the profession. In 1819 he 

 made a decided hit as Kichard III. His Vir- 

 ginias, Mirandola, and Rob Hoy. were pro- 

 nounced masterly personations, and after his 

 snccess in the first, he speedily took high rank 

 among Shakespearean actors. On removing 

 from Covent Garden to Drury Lane, he be- 

 came the original representative of the heroes 

 in Sheridan Knowles's " Caius Gracchus," and 

 ' William Tell." In 1826 Mr. Macready made 

 his first visit to America, appearing, on the 

 2d of October of that year, at the Park Thea- 

 tre, New York, as Virginiu, and subse- 

 quently as William Tell. The next year he 

 was again in London, and, at Drury Lane, he 

 is said to have attained one of the greatest suc- 

 cesses ever conquered in acting, by his im- 

 personation of Macbeth. A little later he 

 played in Paris, and there also he found a liberal 

 public admiration. In October, 1830, acting at 

 Drnry Lane, he added Lord Byron's " Werner " 

 to his repertory, and in this he has not only 

 never been equaled, but has never been ap- 

 proached. In 1836 he acted at the Haymar- 

 ket, as Jfelantivt, in an adaptation of "The 

 Maid's Tragedy," by Beaumont and Fletcher, 

 made by himself, and entitled "The Bridal." 

 In October, 1837, he took the management of 

 Covent Garden, holding it two seasons, and in- 

 creasing the attraction by the most gorgeous 

 stage pageantry that had ever been seen. The 

 opening piece was " A Winter's Tale ;" this 

 WM followed by "The Lady of Lyons," "Wom- 



an's Wit," by Sheridan Knowles, and Byron's 

 "The Two Foscari." The following season 

 "Richelieu," one of his best personations, was 

 acted. His Shakespearean revivals are counted 

 the best that ever graced the stage. On leav- 

 ing Covent Garden, he appeared at the Hay- 

 market again, and also at Driiry Lane, in 1840, 

 as Macbeth, as Svthten, in a tragedy called 

 " Mary Stuart," and as Stylock in the " Mer- 

 chant of Venice." He revisited the United 

 States in 1843-'44, and again in 1849, on 

 which occasion a riot took place at the As- 

 tor Place Opera-Honse. Returning finally to 

 England, he gave a series of farewell perform- 

 ances in all the prominent theatrical cities 

 of the kingdom ; and then, at the Haymarket 

 theatre, after one comprehensive round of 

 his grent characters, took a last benefit, acted 

 for the last time, and said farewell to the stage 

 and the public. His final appearance was 

 made in "Macbeth;" nnd one who saw the 

 performance states that the tragedian could 

 never have acted better than he did on this 

 touching occasion. The latter portion of his 

 life was occupied chiefly with schemes for the 

 education of the poorer classes. 



MAINE. The legislation of most general 

 interest accomplished by the Legislature which 

 was in session the early part of the year, con- 

 sists of acts to promote immigration, and facil- 

 itate the settlement of the "public lands," "in 

 aid of free high- schools," amending the stat- 

 utes relating to normal schools, and " respect- 

 ing insurance and insurance companies." 



The first-named act provides for the estab- 

 lishment of a State Board of Immigration, 

 consisting of the Governor, Secretary of State, 

 and Land Agent. The board is required to ap- 

 point a Commissioner of Immigration, whose 

 duties are defined in the third section as fol- 

 lows: 



It shall be the duty of said commissioner to exer- 

 cise a general care and oversight over all immigrants 

 coming to Maine ; to give them all needful iniorma- 

 tion, to assist them in settling upon public lands of 

 the State, or obtaining employment within its bor- 

 ders, and to have special charge of thecolony at New 

 Sweden, to the end that its development and pros- 

 perity mnybe promoted in every way consistent with 

 law ; and the compensation and entire expenses of 

 said commission shall not exceed the sum of one 

 thousand dollars. And it shall be the duty of said 

 agent, resident in New Sweden, to have special 

 charge of the State storehouse, stores, tools, and all 

 other State property there, to receive and disburse 

 nil State supplies, and keep proper accounts and 

 vouchers therefor; and the compensation of said 

 agent shall not exceed the sum of $800. 



The board is authorized to expend for pro- 

 visions, tools, seeds, and other necessary aid 

 to be furnished the colonies, and for which 

 payment may be taken in labor on the roads, 

 and other public works, an amount not ex- 



