The Sun.
London, England, 1826-12-26 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

O'KEEFFE'S RECOLLECTIONS—London, 1826. 2 vole.

pp. 428.

The peculiar style of literary and biographical gos-
sip of which the present work consists has been but of
late years naturalized in England. In France, how-
ever, it was always a popular class of Literature, to
which national predilections we owe that amusing
historiette, Sully's memoirs ; and in a still lighter style
of Avriting, the entertaining scandals of Grimm, Gram-
mont, and that Prince of egotists, Rousseau. Perhaps
our late intimate connections with the continent may
hare set this passion for anecdote afloat ; certain at any
rate it is, from whatever motive, that at the present moment
it is the universal mania, and no sooner is a new work
professing to gossip about public individuals announced,
than the Edition is enthusiastically sought after. The
present volume professes to give anecdotes and sketches
of a gentleman who never yet wrote any thing worth a
moment's consideration, but who, from circumstances
was elevated into a fictitious importance, that lend in-
terest to his recollections by binding them up with
names deservedly dear to the public. Mr. 0 keeffe
himself we take to be as aetant a driveller "as ever
spawned -his dramatic, abortions on the stage; his
anecdotes, however, are' of a different cast, they relate
to times and individuals longsince gone by, and whom,
however deserving, historic dignity could not consist-
ently condescend to notice. His occasional allusions
to Sheridan, for instance, his interviews with G.
Colman, father to the present Saint and beef-
eater of that name, together with his passing hints
about Garrick, are all valuable in their way, as
redeeming from oblivion certain features of character
without the pale of history. We think the book there-
fore deserves great praise in the two important points
of amusement and instruction ; at the same time, we
could wish that its author, in his outrageous seal for
g9ssipping, had refrained from assuring us that his son
Tottenham, about eight-and-twenty years ago, was ex-
ceedingly partial to a rump-steak. It is impolitic,
however, as Sancho informs us, to look a gift horse in
the mouth, so let us make the most of what we can
get, and set to work at a few choice extracts ; and first
of the " Agreeable Surprise" (a pretty farce enough),
let us hear what its author says—
Though the season was nearly closed, Mr. Colman asked me
for my piece, and I gave him my "Agreeable Surprise," which
he immediately brought out. A circumstance scarcely credible
happened the eery morning of the day on which this piece was to
be acted. A play-bill, wet from the press, Was brought in, and
laid upon the table, for Mr. Colman to read and correct ; and we
were both puzzled how to spell the word "Agreeable." With
one a," I said, " thus, asireable." of I think so too," ho replied ;
" yet they have put two sec" Thus we bandied the word from
one to another, spelling it repeatedly, and at last were forced to
send up stairs for a dictionary; when the two poets found they
were in the wrong, sad the compositor in the right. The first
night, Dr. Arnold and I were in the box-lobby together, both
misah pleased with its successful proves!. The tumult of laugh-
ter grew louder, and we were highly gratified ; but when Edwin
got up in the window and voeihrated, " Stand out of the way,
Domino Felix, till Rusty Fusty shoots the Attorney! " the roar of
applause was so loud and universal, that both composer and pact
stood for a few moments looking at each other in silent conster-
nation. We did not knew whether the uproar proceeded from
applause or disapprobation; however, we were soon convinced
of the former; and, the play over, !we were 'surrounded by the
dramatis persona in full costume, behind the scenes, all joy and
congratulations.

Macklin was in the pit the drat night, and at the dropping of
the curtain was heard to say, " ' The Agreeable Surprise' is the
best farce in the English language, except the ' Son-in.law !' "
which decision on its merits, coming from the author of "Love
a-la-mode" and " The Man of the World," and an excellent actor
himself, did me no harm with his hearers. My brother was also
there; but such the fear of our nearest relations for us in untried
enterprise, that he, full of grave anxiety, asked a person who
eat next to him, " Do you think they will ever let this be done
again ?"

Every lover of the drama has heard, at one time or
other, of Miss Catley, the celebrated vocalist ; the
following is an amusing anecdote regarding her :--
The first time of my venturing into • theatre after my defeat,
Min Catley accosted me from a front row in the lower boxes,
loud enough, as I was many rows back, to be heard by every
body, "fie, O'Keeffe, you had a piece. d---d the other night.
I'm glad of it—the devil mend you for writing an opera without
bringing me into it." Oa my second attempt, therefore, I wrote
the character of a Lady Abbess for her, with * song and chorus
of Nuns, to the tune of Stony Batter—so that, upon reflection,
the unfavourable judgments of the performers on this my second
attempt shielded ma from additional mortification. A few mi-
nutes after Miss Coley had thus accosted me, I.eoni entered the
box, with a lady leaning on his arm. Min Catley, catching his
eye, called out, " How do you do, Leoni ? I hear you're mar-
ried—is that your wife Bid her stand up till I see her." Leoni,
abashed, whispered the lady, who with goon-humoured com-
pliance stood up. Catley, after surveying her a little,. said,
" Ha! very well, indeed. I like your choice." The audience
around seemed more diverted with this nen° in the box*, than
that on the stage, as Miss Catley and her oddities were Well
known to all. She was one of the most beautiful women Lever
saw : the expression of her eyes, and the smile* and dimples that
played round her lips and cheeks, enchanting. She was eccen-
tric, but had an excellent heart.

On the whole, however meanly we think of the