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In 1770, we find him librarian at Wolfenbüttel, with the title of Hofrath, or court counsellor, to the duke of Brunswick. Here, in company with prince Leopold of Brunswick, and to recreate his thoughts, he undertook a journey through Berlin and Vienna, to Italy; and, at the end of eight months, again returned to Wolfenbüttel. In this library, his active mind was employed in the discovery and publication of its treasures, and he drew from it several. Beitrage zu Geschichte und Litteratur*; he also committed to the press Die Fragmente eines ungennante Deisten †, which he there found. This terrible performance set the theological world in flames, excited a violent paper war, and drew on the editor many vexations; chiefly at the instigation of the pastor, Melchior Göz, of Hamburg. Our author, in 1778, then wrote Nathan, the Sage; which appeared the year following.

In the interim, he had married madam König, a widow lady of Hamburg, who died in two years. From that period, he courted solitude; his health declined, he fell into a lethargy, and expired at Brunswick, 1781, on the 15th of February.

The above account of the life of Lessing is chiefly extracted from an exceedingly useful work, entitled Handbuch der poetischen Litteratur der Deutschen; von C. F. R. Vetterlein: in which is given an account of the various editions of the works of Lessing. From these works it appears that Lessing spent a most indefatigable and honourable life, in those inquires which he thought best could promote polite literature, and especially the dramatic art. Germany, in particular, is everlastingly indebted to his labours, which were unremitting, stimulated by the purest motives, and rewarded by the love and fame which he deserved. Active men of every class, who devote themselves to any useful purpose, deserve the reward and praise of the world: but men of literary and scientific research, perhaps, the most, for they promote that best and most necessary part of the accumulated knowledge of men, on which their social talents, moral virtues, and ultimate happiness depend.

* Aids to History and Literature.
Eragment by an anonymous Deist.

BIOGRAPHY-FOR THE MIRROR.

SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF JOHN HODGKINSON.

(Continued from page 22.)

MANY circumstances concurred to direct the eyes of Hodgkinson to the United States, and to make him overlook the temptations which London and his high patronage held out to his ambition. Young, thoughtless, and addicted to gallantry, he got entangled in disagreeable connexions, and he became enamoured of one of the loveliest young ladies on the British stage, who returned his affection and agreed to marry him. This was Miss Brett, (daughter of a celebrated singer of that name) whose accomplishments and theatrical and musical talents the people of America still have in remembrance. Just about that time, an account of the success of Hallam and Henry had reached England, and if we are to credit the British writers, with intended exaggeration, for the purpose of "deluding the stage-struck heroes of Europe to this land of promise." Hodgkinson was one of the first to feel the force of the attraction, and his domestic arrangements operated as an additional spur to his design. Accordingly in the latter end of 1791, he wrote to Hallam and Henry, offering to come over. A gentleman in this city has obliged us with the original letter, and we have it now before us. As the following extract will not only develop his first views, but serve to show the standing he held on the Bath stage, it cannot be uninteresting to the reader.

To Messrs, Hallam & Henry, Managers of the Theatre, Newyork. GENTLEMEN,

An ardent desire to visit America has forced me to an inquiry how your theatres are situated. Have you a first line vacant? or would you be glad to make one for a principal character in this kingdom? I have in all the first theatres out of the capital, maintained one, as I do now in Bath. Among my range of characters here, are Young Mirabel, Young Quaker, Dashwood, Sir John Restless, The Liar, Othello, Iachimo, Belville (Wives), Clifford (Heiress), Mahomet, Scapin, Captain Plume, Jaquess Deaf Lover, Myrtle, Villeroy, Petruchio, Marplot, Don Carlos

(B. S. Husband), Zanga, Richmond, Don John (Chances), Dyoz nisius, &c. &c.

Now as it may seem singular, that a man in possession of so great a line, and in a first theatre, who has refused, and has now offers of a considerable nature from London, should wish to emigrate; give me leave to say that no pecuniary extravagance has caused the idea, nor could that without great imprudence, be the case, my receipts being near four hundred pounds a year from the theatre.

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I know many who, were they once convinced of the firm establishment of your country would be glad to visit it; and I can treat for you with as capital a singer as any this country has, Mrs. Billington excepted. My wish is, you would be candid with regard to every information relative to your towns, &c. What salary you can give two such people as I have mentioned; and should this meet your approbation do not disappoint in any thing, for on my part or those mentioned, should any take place, you shall be at liberty to relinquish in an instant. Our vacancy here takes place the beginning of August. Some time between that and September my wish would be to set sail.

I should thank you to attend to these points. I am sure you'll pardon my being particular in them all, and in requesting an answer by the first return. Rest assured that on my part, or the person I treat for, no failure shall take place.

I am, gentlemen,

Your servant,

Bath, December 28, 1791.

JOHN HODGKINSON.

Thus we find that twenty years ago, at which time he could not at the utmost have been more than twenty-five years of age, did. Hodgkinson fill the most comprehensive line of general acting that perhaps any actor ever did on the British or any other stage; not in an obscure country town, but in a theatre, which for the taste and splendour of the audience is at least equal to those of London.

And here it appears necessary to say something of the state of the American stage, about the time Hodgkinson first conten

plated a removal to it. To the family of Hallam this country is indebted for the introduction of dramatic performandes into the New World. The late Lewis Hallam was not, as is imagined by some, the first manager, or, as it is called the father of the American stage. His father, who was brother to that Hallam who was manager of the Goodman's Fields theatre, and son of him whom Charles Macklin killed in a quarrel about a comedy wig, being obliged by embarrassed circumstances to quit England, came over to this country to try his fortune, and established theatres in Newyork, Charleston, and Philadelphia, by which he realized a very large fortune, not less, some say, than ten thousand pounds. He dying, one Douglas succeeded to the theatres and to the care of such of his family as were in America, by marriage with his widow. But in the revolutionary struggle most of the property was lost, and Douglas and the family retired to the West Indies. Peace being concluded, Lewis Hallam, the son, lately manager at Newyork, returned to the United States, and in right of his father-in-law, claimed and took possession of the theatre, and crossed over to London for performers. While there he played Hamlet at Drury Lane, it is said, with some success, and formed a copartnership with John Henry, an actor who had made an unsuccessful attempt at Covent Garden, in the character of Othello. Having made their arrangements for opening the theatre with eclat in the new country, they returned thither with Mr. and Mrs. Kuma, Mr. and Mrs. Morris, Mr. Harper, a young actor of considerable talents, and several others.

The theatre of Philadelphia was opened and presented to the admiring eyes of the Americans a spectacle which, for the stile of its embellishments far exceeded any thing known before, being beyond all comparison superior in scenery, decorations, dresses, and general splendour to that exhibited by Douglas. The circumstances of the times, their victory over Great Britain, and the exultation consequent to their newly acquired independence, fitted the people for enjoyment. The magnificence of the tragedies astonished, while comedy filled them with delight; the theatre became a place of fashionable resort, and the managers found money flowing in upon them beyond their most sanguine expectations. Nothing but prudence and temper were wanting

to their accumulating each a splendid independence. With a vigorous, strenuous mind, and an herculean frame, however, Henry laboured under an irritable temper, which was latterly inflamed perhaps by bodily infirmity; and from this and some other causes discontents arose between them, and destroyed that unanimity without which no partnership can long exist. Wignell who played in the company, and was rather a public favourite, disagreeing with Henry, resolved to secede, and in partnership with Reinagle, a musician in the company, who possessed some property, conceived the project of erecting a new theatre upon a more extensive plan than that of Hallam and Henry, and having obtained a large subscription for the purpose, Wignell set off to England to collect a company, after having laid the foundation of that elegant and spacious structure, the present New Theatre in Chesnut street.

Hallam and Henry saw the stroke that was aimed at their interest and hastened to repel it. The latter set off for England resolved to collect together such a company as would enable them to take the field successfully against their intended antagonists, and arriving there before Wignell, lost no time in forming the best engagements. Among those were Hodgkinson and his intended wife, then Miss Brett, with her mother and sister. He also engaged the celebrated Mrs. Wrighten of Drury Lane, and several others.

The agreement with Hodgkinson and the Brett family was as follows; it will serve to show what the salaries were at that time. When such a performer as Hodgkinson received only three guineas and a half, not quite seventeen dollars a week, what must have been the salaries of the inferior performers? No inconsiderable proof of the general advancement of the drama in this country.

Agreement between Messrs. Hallam and Henry on the one part, and Mr. Hodgkinson for himself, wife, and Mrs. Brett and daughter on the other, drawn this fifth day of May, 1792.

"Mr. Hodgkinson to receive for his services as an actor the sum of three and a half guineas weekly, with a winter benefit, paying equal charges with the rest of the company: likewise, a benefit in any summer town that Messrs. Hallam and Henry may

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