Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-06-01
Alexandria, June 4, ASAS.

heart, that we have always thought 1t
would be a great pity to let it pass into
oblivion:
The celebrated Charles Macklin, the
Nestor Of the stage, whose peculiar praise
it was to have rescued Shakspeare's cha
racter Of Shylsck from being mingled
with that heap Of farce an low comedy
which cucumber the stage and degrade
the public taste, and to be the first who
reduced acting to science, was at the
age of about hundred, arrested in the
prosecution Of his public labors, by a
stroke of mental darkness, as unexpected
as sulden--in short, by an instantaneous
loss Of memory, as he Wa on the stage,
performing the character of that Jew to
crowded audience. All his life, too &C.
nerous to accumulate property for the
support Of old age, though for more than
half century moving in the most rsspec-
table r.nks Of his profession. this vista.
ten of incapacity brought along with it
poverty; il became necessary TO call on
the public for o subscription in some
shape or other, for his support; and oil a
consul alton of his friends it was deter
mined to publish bis "Man Of the World
and his "Love Alamods," and t. solicit
subscriptions for the volume at a large
price. Mr.. Arthur Murphy wrote an al.
dress, to be issued with the printed pro.
posals, intending to follow it up at no
distant period with history of Macklin's
life aud writings. Doctor Johnson had
long before observed, on similar occa.
sion, that "to assist industrious indi-
gence, struggling with distress, and de
bilitated by age, is display OF virtue,
ard an acquisition Of happiness and no.
nor"-and it was very justly concluded,
that such an appeal to the people OF Eng
land on behalf of a man who had been
near 20 years diligently employed in
hi calling, and Immediately under the
public eye, would not be fruitless ; and
the great doctor Brocklesby. who had for
many years been the admirer ard ardent
friend of Macklin, stood foremost in the
benevolent transaction. The day after
the projoc. was unfolded BY advertise
nent to the public, the doctor received
the following letter from sir Joseph Nav
hey:
" To Doctor Brockissby.
"Dear Sir Having heard last night,
that plan had been adopted for the re-
lief of Mr.. Macklin, l have sent five
suineas which | desire you will apply as
my subscription.
independent Of the pleasure have
received from the writings and action OF
that celebrated comediau, MIR. Macklin
has peculiar claim on me, from the fol- !
lowing circumstance:
con the death Of 'Hesiod Cooke, a.
bout the end of the year 1856, at South |
Lambeth, myself and another gentleman
set on foot private subscription for bu
rying him, and for the relief of his wife
and daughter. Whilst he yet lay deaf
IN the house, I related to friend at the
Bedford coffee house, an account OF his
death, and the distress Of his family, In
the hearing Of Mr.. MackliO, then stand
ing near the bar; Immediately after
which, though I had never spoken to him
before, nor have at any time since, Mr..
Macklin addressed me in words to the
following effect: Il am much concerned,
sir, at hearing the melancholy account
you have given Of poor Cooke and his ia
mily; l had respect for him whilst liv
ing and you will therefore obige me
very much, if you will permit me to add
nv mite to the subscription you have SO
| laudably set on foOt;' and he gave me
two gulneas.
| "Such an unexampled act Of genuine
benevoence has ever since impressed my
nind with a most favorable opinion Ut
the goodness of Mr.. Machine heart, and
I have scarce ever heard his name men-
toned in private companies without tell