TO SAMUEL ROGERS, Esq.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

I HAVE heard you say, that, rare as it was to meet with so gifted a genius as that of Mrs. Siddons, it was almost equally so to meet in human nature with so much candid and benignant singleness of mind as belonged to her personal character. Though this was always my own conviction, yet I was gratified to hear it strongly expressed by one so well acquainted with her, and possessing so much perspicacity. From the happiness which I have felt in the congeniality of our sentiments respecting the illustrious subject of these Volumes, I beg leave to inscribe them to you, with the regard of

Yours sincerely,

T. CAMPBELL.

CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

CHAPTER I.

Mrs. Siddons's Parents-Names of two distinguished Indi-

viduals among her Ancestral Relations-List of her

Brothers and Sisters-Notices of some of them-Mrs.

Whitelocke, her eldest Sister, a successful Actress in

America-Anecdotes of the Indians during her Perform-

ance at Philadelphia-Brecon, in North Wales, the Birth-

place of Mrs. Siddons-Sir Hugh Evans, a Personage in

"The Merry Wives of Windsor," was Curate of the

Priory of Brecon-Resemblance between the Frolics of

Fairy Puck, in "Midsummer Night's Dream," to the

Gambols of his Namesake in Breconshire Anecdote of

Mrs. Siddons in her Childhood-Her early fondness for

Milton's Poetry-Early Appearance on the Stage—Mr.

Siddons joins her Father's Company-Engages her

Affections, and marries her, in her nineteenth Year.

Page 3-52

CHAPTER II

Mrs. Siddons acts at Cheltenham-Meets with the Hon.

Miss Boyle, afterwards Lady O'Neil-Is invited by Garrick

to Drury Lane-Appears as Portia-Has indifferent

Success Is dismissed from Drury Lane by a Letter from

the Prompter-Retires to the Provincial Theatres, where

she is popular-Her future greatness predicted by Hen-

derson-Is admired at Bath, and from thence recalled to

Drury Lane
P. 55--94

CHAPTER III.

First Introduction of Females on the English Stage-Names

and Characters of Mrs. Siddons's greatest Predecessors—

Mrs. Betterton-Mrs. Anne Marshall-Mrs. Boutell-

Mrs. Barry Mrs. Bracegirdle-Mrs. Oldfield - Mrs.

Porter-Mrs. Cibber-Mrs. Pritchard-Mrs. Yates-

Mrs. Crawford
P. 97-152

CHAPTER IV.

Mrs. Siddons plays Isabella, in the "Fatal Marriage," at

Drury Lane Suitableness of the Part for her first new

Trial-Remarks on the Tragedy - Resumption of her

Memoranda-She appears as Euphrasia, in "The Grecian

Daughter"-as Jane Shore-as Calista-as Belvidera-

and as Zara, in the "Mourning Bride" - Her first

Season
P. 155-193