DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0028
16
kirby’s wonderful museum.
his want of common sense, and astonishing lack of ab>
lity. The joke is now grown stale ; the most splendid
stupidity, when it becomes hacknied, will grow in*
sipid. Being interrupted by a person in the pit, he
accosted him, ec Sir, I wish particularly to address my-
self to you, as you have insulted me.” The usual
tumult followed, and he appealed to the audience, tell-
ing them, fC he came forward for a purpose of benevolence,
without any interested motive, and had been interrupted by
a man in the pit.” He happened to stammer, while mak-
ing this statement, new interruption was the consequence,
and he was obliged to retire, amidst shouts of contemptu-
ous laughter. He was marked out for the rest of the evening,
and imperiously ordered in one of the scenes to take off his
hat. Failing to obey, an apology was called for ; and he
was so hooted in every scene, that he at last came forward,
to try his hand, (if we may be allowed the expression) at a
speech. He was just enabled to tell them, what they pret-
ty well knew, “ That he had been repeatedly called on for
an apology;” when the derision of the audience was so loud-
ly expressed, that he was a second time forced to withdraw,
without finishing his speech. The whole of the Dramatis
Persona were treated with the most outrageous ridicule.—
Coates was frequently jeered about Mrs. Lyall—his curricle,
—the Carlton House Fete, &c. Every species of discord
that fancy could suggest, w’as eagerly pressed into service,
and uproar was every where the order of the night.”
Mr. Coates had at length made himself so conspicuous as
an actor, that even John Bull became tired of laughing at
his absurdities. From critiques and contemptuous sarcasms
on his acting, the public began to spread insinuations against
his private character. It was rumoured that he received pay
for his performance, and that, under the pretence of perform-
ing for the benefit of a distressed widow, a person, whose
kirby’s wonderful museum.
his want of common sense, and astonishing lack of ab>
lity. The joke is now grown stale ; the most splendid
stupidity, when it becomes hacknied, will grow in*
sipid. Being interrupted by a person in the pit, he
accosted him, ec Sir, I wish particularly to address my-
self to you, as you have insulted me.” The usual
tumult followed, and he appealed to the audience, tell-
ing them, fC he came forward for a purpose of benevolence,
without any interested motive, and had been interrupted by
a man in the pit.” He happened to stammer, while mak-
ing this statement, new interruption was the consequence,
and he was obliged to retire, amidst shouts of contemptu-
ous laughter. He was marked out for the rest of the evening,
and imperiously ordered in one of the scenes to take off his
hat. Failing to obey, an apology was called for ; and he
was so hooted in every scene, that he at last came forward,
to try his hand, (if we may be allowed the expression) at a
speech. He was just enabled to tell them, what they pret-
ty well knew, “ That he had been repeatedly called on for
an apology;” when the derision of the audience was so loud-
ly expressed, that he was a second time forced to withdraw,
without finishing his speech. The whole of the Dramatis
Persona were treated with the most outrageous ridicule.—
Coates was frequently jeered about Mrs. Lyall—his curricle,
—the Carlton House Fete, &c. Every species of discord
that fancy could suggest, w’as eagerly pressed into service,
and uproar was every where the order of the night.”
Mr. Coates had at length made himself so conspicuous as
an actor, that even John Bull became tired of laughing at
his absurdities. From critiques and contemptuous sarcasms
on his acting, the public began to spread insinuations against
his private character. It was rumoured that he received pay
for his performance, and that, under the pretence of perform-
ing for the benefit of a distressed widow, a person, whose