170 THINGS THEATRICAL IN AMERICA. XII, THE UNITED STATES-My First Season-Early Aspirations-The Passage-Sails v. Paddles-Philosophy at sea-Arrival in New York-Impressions-" How do you like our Country?"-Prejudice-A few Words on Hotels-New York, and Clarendon-Wines -Native and Foreign-The Park Theatre-MR. SIMPSON-A Dialogue with him-My First Appearance-The CompanyMR. PLACIDE-Dreadful State of Theatricals-PhiladelphiaWalnut Street Theatre-CHARLOTTE CUSHMAN-Elvira, Nancy Sykes, Meg Merrilies-Anecdote of, and Characteristic Note from her-Her First Appearance in London-Bowery Theatre-MR. FORREST-His Metamora-Boston-Tremont Theatre-Dramatic Taste there. THE United States, her institutions, people, government, and wonderful progress, had been the subject of my eager inquiry and increasing interest, ever since I had been capable of understanding the philosophy of history, or of speculating on the theories of government. As secretary and solicitor to the Liverpool Reform Association-the first position in life which made me known in public-it had naturally fallen within the scope of my inquiries and speculations to examine the rise and advancement of that Greatest of Modern Republics; if, indeed, any ancient elective government may be compared with it. And it was therefore not merely with the ambition of an artist, AMERICAN THEATRICALS. 171 but also with the ardent curiosity and interest of a theoretical republican in principle, that I walked the deck of the fine ship THE GARRICK, which, under the guidance of "Him who has the steerage of my course," was to bear me to the land where the great experiment of self-government by the people was in full blast and full blow. It was my first long acquaintance with the sea, and I enjoyed it. I chose a sailing vessel in preference to steam, that I might see the ocean in its full swing and natural action, without any Watt's-bit or Fulton-curb upon it; but curveting, caracolling, rearing and plunging like a warhorse, with the ship for its rider. We had a delightful passage of thirty days; thirty days of calm, dreamy enjoyment. I have made the passage by steam many -about fifteen-times since; but for pleasure, for the free rollicking, out-and-out sensation of being at sea (I don't mean sea-sickness; heaven forbid !), give me sails and wind, in preference to steam and coal-smoke. On a question of time merely, steam for ever, of course: but let him who loves the sea, trust to the winged bird that skims the wave lightly and easily like a swan, and in smooth water floats with unruffled plume upon its bosom. But, how about calms and head winds?" some one will say. "Well, in calms lie lazily down on deck like a turtle in the sun, and dream of far-off lands and spicy groves; or loll under an awning, on a coil of rope, with a cigar in your mouth, and a good novel in your hand, and, "let the world wag"-you can “take your ease (as) in your inn!" If it blow hard, and the wind be a-head, hold on to a 66 172 NEW YORK-HOTELS. belaying pin or a shroud, and listen to the whistling of the gale in the cordage, and watch "the labouring bark climb hills of seas Olympus high, and duck again as low As hell's from heaven;" enjoy the storm, revel in its impotent fury, and rejoice to feel the good ship staunch and firm as a "tower'd citadel or pendant rock," beneath your feet. If you have not nerve enough for this, or if, as Trinculo says, 'your stomach be not constant," why, e'en turn in, wrap yourself snugly up, and sleep in peace; with the happy consciousness that you are "in Heaven's hand, brother," and that there is no boiler to burst, no paddles to smash, no machinery to give way. When the storm has ceased, the wind is lulled, and the sea smooth again, jump up, forget your qualms and sorrows past, take a brisk, invigorating walk on deck, and go down to breakfast with the appetite of a shark: if it don't answer to the whip at once, touch it up with a thimbleful of cognac (mind it be the real), with not a drop of allaying croton in it, and you'll be surprised what a fillip it will give nerves, brain, and stomach. This all pre-supposes that you are not in a hurry, and can afford the time: if time be an object, take a Cunarder, and do the trip in ten days. I set foot ashore in New York on the 14th September, 1842, and engaged rooms at the Old Clinton Hotel, in Beekman-street, in the immediate neighbourhood of the Park Theatre. The two brothers Leland, the present proprietors of the Metropolitan NEW YORK-HOTELS. 173 Hotel, were clerks in the office, and were remarkable for attention to the guests. Let me say, that the table d'hôte, set at that house-by no means a large one-far surpassed in excellence, and superabundance of good things, the tables which we now find, even at the best hotels; there was not so much attempt at extravagant display, but there was "that which passeth show " a really good, ample, well-cooked dinner; and the price of board was about two-thirds of what it is now. I have lived, in turn, at nearly all the best hotels in the Union,—the Carlton, the New York, the Clarendon, in New York; Jones's, in Philadelphia; Barnum's, and the Eutaw House, in Baltimore; Pulaski, in Savannah; the principal hotels in Charleston, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Louisville, and the old St. Charles, in New Orleans; and I don't scruple to say, that the feeding at the old hotels that have passed away was better, more generous, and more satisfactory, than it now is at the splendid and fashionable caravanseries that have succeeded. Men will seek some stimulus for their parched throats, and exhausted, jaded spirits; wisely, or unwisely, they will drink some liquor, fermented or distilled. Temperance apostles cannot eradicate what seems to be a natural craving of the human system. I have no doubt they do a great deal of good in diminishing the prevalence of intoxication, and its attendant ills; but, to a greater or less extent, men will drink; and neither, water, tea, nor coffee seems to satisfy the desire. They must have stimulus; it is that which seems to inspire, and to give zest to, 174 PALATABLE POISON. social converse, and the friendly interchange of hospitality, when the overtaxed mind unbends, and forgets its daily cares in the happy evening hour. Mind, I only state a fact; I do not advise or applaud the custom. But, as the fact is, as the custom exists, it behoves us to see that "the social glass" does not conceal "a rancorous and deadly poison?" Else, Bacchus, instead of being represented as the rosy god, will have to be depicted as a hideous demon, with blear eyes and bloated cheeks, whose emblems shall be, not clusters of delicious grapes, but a death's head, and cross-bones, with a "baneful cup, whose poison The visage quite transforms of him who drinks, Fixes instead, unmoulding reason's mintage These effects of Comus's magic cup, are the exact picture of the results of indulgence in the baneful concoctions of the present day; and, therefore, be all encouragement given to the native grape, and to those who express its sweet juice. They are the practical Apostles of Temperance; they furnish the antidote to the poisoned bowl. Wine-growing countries, it is well known, produce few drunkards; delirium tremens is unknown amongst them. In the recent public demonstrations and exultations at the prospect of regeneration from Austrian bondage which have lighted up Italy, as with a general illumination, no fact is more pleasing or more significant than that no drunkenness has been seen in street or public place; and that, among excited and freedom-maddened thousands, no other intoxication has been exhibited |