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

CHAPTER V.

Mrs. Siddons's second Season at Drury Lane-Plays Isabella,

in "Measure for Measure"-Performs in "The Gamester,"

with her Brother, John Kemble-Performs Constance, in

66 King John" Her own Criticisms on the Character-

Plays Lady Randolph, the Countess of Salisbury, and

Sigismunda in Thomson's Tragedy-Conclusion of the

Season 1783-4
P. 197-232

CHAPTER VI.

Mrs. Siddons's Memoranda-Her Summer Excursion to

Edinburgh and Dublin-Important Quotation from Lee

Lewes's Memoirs
P. 235-272

CHAPTER VII.

Mrs. Siddons's own Account of her being affronted in the

Theatre-Public Opinion is disabused, and she recovers

her Popularity - Appears as Margaret of Anjou, in

Franklin's" Earl of Warwick"-Character of the Piece-

Her next new Part is Zara, in the Tragedy translated by

Aaron Hill from Voltaire's "Zaïre"-Napoleon's Opinion

of Voltaire as a Dramatic Poet-Mrs. Siddons plays the

Lady of St. Vallori, in Cumberland's "Carmelite"-

Comparison of that Tragedy with Home's" Douglas"-

John Kemble adapts Massinger's "Maid of Honour" for

the modern Stage, and Mrs. Siddons acts Camiola-

Remarks on the "Maid of Honour."
P. 275-299

IN THE PRESS,

THE RICHES OF CHAUCER:

In which the impurities have been expunged, the orthography modernised, the rhythm accentuated where necessary, and the obsolete terms explained at the foot of each page. To which have been added, a few Explanatory Notes, with a new Life of the Poet.

By CHARLES COWDEN CLARKE,

Author of "Tales in Prose, from Chaucer ;" and "Adam the Gardener."

CHAPTER I.

B