The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-15 00:00:00

MR. J. L. TOOLE'S FAREWELL BENEFIT.

(From the Edinburgh Daily Express of August 30, 1856.)
The greatest assemblage that ever greeted a "benefit"
in this city was collected together at the Theatre Royal
last evening, to bid farewell to our popular comedian,
Mr. J. L. Toole. But a few minutes elapsed from the
doers being opened until every part of the house was
crowded by the admirers of the young and versatile per-
former—the gallery and pit with the lovers of that broad
fare) of which Mr. Toole is a master—the boxes and
stalls with the critical audience, which think him greater
still in developing the higher forms of the drama. So
great was the crush that Mr. Mackenzie and his band
were compelled to beat an early retreat behind the scenes,
and their paces in the orchestra, although more closely
crammed and filled with the critical elite which frequent
the stalls, were not less harmonious than the unseen
musicians.

Heavy as the amusements of the night might be to
Mr. Toole, they were light to a sympathising and en-
thusiastic audience. The programme was fresh, varied,
and long. If Mr. Toole appeared in none of the come-
dies io connection with which we believe his name will
be chiefly associated in this city, it was doubtless from
a desire, on this the la ;t night of his engagement in
Edinburgh, to supply something new as well as most
widely acceptable. Hence he appeared for the first
time as Paul Pry, with complete success, and likewise
initiated a farce entitled " Your Life's in Danger." In
addition to this, he appeared in "Domestic Economy,"
where, with Mrs. Wyndham's assistance, he vividly
realised the old ballad of " John Grumley ;" as
Bottom, in the play-scene from " Midsummer Night's
Dream ;" and as the Yankee Gal, in which character
be rendered the quaint ditties of Mrs. Florence with
singular felicity. Each separate appearance was a
triumph ; and when he doffed the professional costume
to say a few farewell words, the loud and long protracted
cheers, with the bouquets showered upon him by the
fair occupants of the boxes, constituted quite an ovation.
His address was as follows :
LADINE4 AND GENTLEMEN.—May I ask you for a few
moments to forget the comedian who owes you so much
gratitude, and to think rather of one who wishes to give
expression to a strong and unaffected sense of the great
kindness extended to him during a period of three
years' residence in Edinburgh—(applause)—and also
to the deep 'egret he cannot fail to feel in mov-
Renewed cheering.) You are
ing from amongst you. (
all no doubt aware that I have received a very flat-
tering offer to become a member of a London com-
pany, at the Lyceum Theatre. I feel lam indebted for
the position to the kind and generous appreciation of
my efforts by my friends in Edinburgh—(applause)—
and I owe much to the management of the theatre—l
mean Mr. and Mrs. Wyndham—(applause)—from whom
I have received great kindness ; also to the ladies and
gentlemen with whom I have had. the pleasure of being
associated ; not forgetting my friends in the orchestra,
who, by-the-bye, are not in the orchestra, but for once
behind with their services—(cheers and laughter)--who
have made me harmonious at times whether I would or
not. (A laugh.) In taking farewell of you for the pre-
gent, I anticipate with great satisfaction the pleasure
of meeting you all here again at no distant period—
(loud and prolonged cheering)--assuring you that any
leisure which I may be permitted to enjoy from my
duties elsewhere can nowhere be more happily spent than
amongst the many sincere and warm-hearted friends I
have in Auld Reekie. (Cheers and laughter.) I wish
you—my friends in the boxes, stalls, pit, and galleries
—all the enjoyment of as great and as true a friend-
ship as you have shown to me, the remembrance of
which no change of circumstances nor success can efface.
(Applause.) I am also indebted to the press of this
city—(cheers)—from whom I have received so much
consideration and attention ; and, cordially thanking
the members of that body, and you again, my good
friends, most warmly—(applause)--I withdraw to pre-
pare for the discharge of the other duties I have under-
taken to-night, and bid you an earnest, but, I trust, not
. a last farewell.