236 LIFE IN IRELAND 



and paid well — it was the cradle of genius. London 

 was indebted to it for some of her very superior per- 

 formers, Afiss O^JVeil, Mathe^vs^ Jo7tes, and many more, 

 were all scions from this old stock piece, and their 

 names will be remembered when that of poor Freddy 

 Jones is only the theme for a bookshop or a coffee- 

 house. 



John Wilson Croker, the present Secretary, who 

 is no mean satirical poet, gave the first shock to the 

 Crow Street Establishment, in a series of Familiar 

 Epistles addressed to the Manager : they possessed ex- 

 quisite humour, but were too severe on individuals, and 

 unmanly towards the female performers. Afr. Talbot 

 then was the leading performer, and of acknowledged 

 excellence : he was married to a young and beautiful 

 woman named Emily Bindon, sprung from a noble 

 family : her imprudences drove her to the stage, where 

 she was rapidly advancing to the height of her pro- 

 fession, when Talbot married her, and she performed 

 no more. This was reflected upon by the famiita?' 

 spirit with some asperity, and for which he has been 

 very justly condemned. Some of his strictures are 

 amusing. — In speaking of Talbot, he says, 



First Talbot comes, the first indeed, 



But fated never to succeed, 



In the discerning eye of those 



Who place their taste on Kemble's nose ; 



And deem that genius a dead loss is, 



Without dark brows and long proboscis. 



Thus far he is complimentary and just ; but he does 

 not continue so very long : he shows his teeth, and bites 



