The New York herald., 1849-05-10
The Forrest and Macready Anair-New De-
velopemcnts-Chev"li WikoHs Tcsti-
umonv Refuted.

The Forrest and Macready Anair-New De-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS WikOn's Tcsti-
mony Refuted.
The following Is the famous letter of Chevalier
W;koA-Fanny ElssIer's man-which is the only
and principal testimony given by Forresl against
Macready
New YORK, February g. 1919.
To EDWIN FORREST, ESQ.,
Dear Sir:-ln reply to your inquiries, beg to
state that during the winter OF lS36-'3, whilst you
were performing at Drury Lane theatre, in London
had frequently the pleasure of meeting. at his own
house and elsewhere, Mr.. Albany Fcnblanque, the
accomplished editor and proprietor ct the EramihG
newspaper, as well as various members OF ms Ia
mily. knowing my intimacy with you, ooth ne ana
they often in the habit OF explaining and apo
logzing for the abuse the bitter invectives
and spiteu scurrility against your acting and per,
son, that weekly appeared under the theatrical head
with these parties, gathered the following facts
that the theatrical department OF said journal had
been confded to the exclusive direction OF person
by the name of Forster, who had in the main ac-
quilted himself previously, with ability, discretion
and taste; but that, on your appearance at Drury
Lane, his course and temper had completely
changed and that instead of treating your perform
ances with the impartiality which had always be-
fore characterized the Examiner, he had, to their
sincere regret, abandoned himself to wholesale
system of unsparing detraction and undeserved
censure, exceeding the utmost limits of dramatic
criticism. Both Mr.. Fonbanque and his family
testified, over and over again, their undivided APP
almost constant presence at the theatre during the
whole period OF your performances.
In seeking solution of this strange contradic-
ton between the opinions and the taste of the dis
tinguished editor Of the Examiner and one of his
employees, whom he found it inconvenient to dis
llace, discovered that the said Forster was on
he English actor. From this was allowed to IN
Ter two things First, That it to win the favor
of his friend and patron, Mr. Macready, that Forster
id his best not only to write down his American
huf IN cfIr I'm cpcbO yVn null.
late against his Vour) success IN England;
Secondly, That it was any time in the power of
Macready, by look or word, to arrest the foul
stream of unmanly abuse that was weekly poured
out upon you; for though it was not stated that
MIR. Macready would not commit himself, by is
SUNG instructions IN many words, to his friends
to assail you, yet is clear to me, from all that
was said, as II will be to any one, from the clrcum-
stances cited, that, if it had pleased MIR. Macready
to relieve you from the pertinacious and brutal at
tacks of the servile of his friends, that
entirely within the scope of his known influence to
do So merely desire to add, that do not take it
upon myself to repeat the words of MIR: Flon-
banque and his family at this distant time; but the
impression left on my mind by repeated conyersa-
tons with them on this subject are still fresh and
ndehble, and for the authenticity of which, as re-
lated, / pledge my word and honor.
Very truly yours, HENRY WIKOFF.
The above letter was published, few weeks
ago, by Mr.. Forrest himself. The following are
published by Mr. Macready, and prove
Wikof, in the language of Forrest "to be liar. -
The Replies from England, sc.
TO CERTAIN STATEMENTS CIRCULATED IN THIS
COUNTRY, REsPEPTINa
MR. CREADY.
The following article appeared in the Boston
Mail on the morning of Mr.. Macreadys appearance
at the Howard Athenaum, Boston, Monday, Oct
3Oth, 1913.
From the Boston Mail, Oct. 80, 1881
More about Maceady-His abuse of Forrest in
Ew0N-Endeap~s to put him do,cn in Paris,
London, and Edinbwgh-Hs Intrigue Nth Bul-
1cer to 2rerent Forrest Playing in Bul,cer's
Pieces-His abuse of americans.
MIR. Macready has at length arrived, and next to
epoch in times calendar. He plays this evening
at the Howard Athenaum, and refuses 10 show
himself for less than one dollar ticket. Thiswas
his price in New York, and with the exception o.
the first night, resulted in 'beggary account Of
empty boxes We repeat what we said In a for
meI article, that PIslby, the enierprsing manager
OF the National Theatre, deserves immortal honors
for not acceding to the dieatoria terms Of this ac-
tor autocrat. Although Macready saw fit on his
opening night In New York. on being called out by
some friends to slur a "certain penny paper" that
had "dared' to express an opinion regarding his
talents and conduct, we shall not by any means
give him the retort churlsh; we only pity his g-
norance OF the institutions of this country, and
hope for his own credits sake that he will not,
when ne gets home, write black book about
American manners, Nc., q la Trollope and others,
but if he does, that he will spare us in the produc
ton OF his brain. The reader will no doubt ask
what fault we find with Mr.. Macready Has he
not the same right as other men have, to do as he
pleases! We answer yes. He has right to come
TO this country In the exercise of his professions;
he has right to demand dollar from every per-
son who witnesses his acting and if managers of
theatres are willing to accede to his arbitrary pro-
posals, ne has certainly right to make them We
complain not of any of these. Our charges against
Macready are based upon mere important grounds.
II Is his conduct IN his own country In relation to
MIR. Forrest, that we about investigating; his
inhospitay, his crushing influence, his vndictive
opposition, and his steadfast determination to ruin
the prospects of that gentleman IN England, that
We bring TO his door Let him deny them If he
can. Every true Ameaican takes pride in that
which represents his conntrys interests, industry,
and enterprise, and from the smallest commodity
gathered frem his soil, TO the lotest labors of ge
mus, his ambition goes with it, and the strong arm
OF his power will protect in every cline. Mr.. Ed
WIN Forrest is titled the American Tragedian-he
is Justly entitled to that honor-he has acquired it
by his own iabors; from a poorboy IN circus, ne
bas arisen TO be man OF fame and wealth, all OF
which he has lastlngy gained by enterprise and
talent, and secured both by economy and tempe
rance. -
Every American-born man is willing that Mr.
Forrest should wear this title, and when he visit
ed England they were anXlously interested In his
success. Macready had previously been In this
country, and played engagements IN every city,
and made fortune He was extoled by thu. press,
and treated as a gentleman by the citizens of every
place he visited. But, instead OF returning this
kindness, he acted openly towards Mr. Forrest, as
his determined foe. We speak by card, and write
upon the very best information, VIZ; the hlghes-
authority In Paris, Mr.. Macready and Mr.. Fort
rest met The latter anxious to appear on the
French boards; but Macready threw obstacles In
the way, and this was the first time that the two
parties were enemies. Mr.. Mitchell, the enter
prsing lessee of ST. James Theatre, in London,
took an English company of actors to the French
capital, with Mr.. Macready at the head of the list
Macready was to be the hero--the great attraction
of Paris. lie failed, however, to draw money to
the treasury, and Mr.. Mitchell lost large sum by
the speculation; or rather would have lost it, if
Louis Philippe had not made hun most liberal
presents. Mr. Forrest had letters of Introduction
to Mr. MITCHELL from his friends in London but
Mcready jealous, lest Forrest should prove to
be the great STAR and he cautioned Mitchell not
allow Forrest TO appear The resutswas, that Mr..