The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-12-08


| in very extraordinary degree, and Of which
| Booth was entirely destitute. The former
though small man (not larger than BOOTH was
possessed of extraordinary physical strength
and activity. as may well be supposed from his
having, in his earlier days, at the provincial
sheatIes, played the monkey in La Peyrouse,
Harlequin, and similar characters. He could
turn you a somerset, jump over your head, or
walk backwards and forwards on his hands,
with all the ease of Mr.. Quilp's marvellous
boy in the "Od Curiosity Shop" Accustom-
ed to rule without rival, for years, possessing
an non will aud determination, these accidents
OF position and nature gave him a most over
bearing carriage whenever ne chose TO assume
1t. Wlthal, he had none of that nice regard for
the feelings OF others, which always so eminent
ly distinguished Booth. His was a harder and
coarser nature, while Booth had more than
ordinary share Of those nice sensibilities which
are but too often the characteristic, as they are
the curse Ct genius.
| The evening came-the play was Olhello-
| the house was crowded-the excitement in
tense. Kean played Othello-Booth took
Iago. The Jupiter of Drury Lane had arrayed
himself in all his terrors-the victim from CO.
vent Garden had no suspicion of the fate that
| was in preparation for him. In the very first
scene where they came together kean put him
down at once-his delicate sensbilities gave
way beneath the overpowerng energy of his
rival. lie failed miserably, and in the madness
of the moment few from Drury Lane, the
| shouts which greeted the success of his de-
stroyer still ring ing in his ears. He broke his
articles a second time, and returned to Covent
Garden. TWAS the worst thing he could have
done. The friends of the establi hment, en-
ragged at his having deserted them, and the
friends OF keon combined to overwhelm him.
The most terrible theatrical riots that had ever
occurred in London followed
In the meantime, the unntentional cause of
these riots had determined on exile. Several
years before, while playing at Newcaste-upon-
Tyne, he had broken blood vessel, and the
recent excitement had seriously endangered
his health. He sailed to Madeira, and from Ma
deira came 10 Norfolk. Our friend saws we were
wrong in surprising that Hilson first recon-.
mended him TO Gilfert; on the contrary, GilfeH
determined to employ him as soon as he heard
OF his arrival in Norfolk. He had not seen him,
but he very well knew that any man who could
divide the torn, even tor moment, with kean,
must be such an actor as never had been seen
on these boards. Our informant saw him, for
the first time, on his way from Rockets I'D to
the city. He processes to have been utterly
astounded when he beheld him, and knew who
ne was. He was then barely twenty-five years
old, but he looked at least seven years Young
er. He had on al old straw hat and linen
roundabout, the weather being very hot
Without the slightest shadow of 13reteasion,
he sauntered along, gazing with curious eyes
on every thing he saw, not assuming the least
Importance, or apparently seeming to know that
he was an object of great interest to the crowds
who gathered to see him. He might readily
have been mistaken for sprightly, curious
country boy, who had never been in town be-
fore, to whom every thing he saw was new,
and who was resolved to make the best use of
his time and eyes, while they were both at his
disposal. The careless Indifference Of his
manner, and his dminutiye size, astonished
the solemn por. and stately person of Cooper.
Even the actors, particularly Hilson, partook
of The general astonishment and could not be
made to believe that any man who assumed so
little, could play the naughty and over bearing
Richard. II their fears were aroused by his
appearance and demeanor in the street. thew
were excited TO a pitch of agony when thew
COZ raha II
part as it he were burlesquing it, with smile
all the. while on his face, and the spirit of fun
dancing in his eye. He gave no directions to
the subordinates as to how they were 10 stand
or deport themselves, but left them entirely to
themselves. new "star' is generally al
lowed TO have things done as he wishes them.
but to dliterrs question Of whether he wished
any thing particularly done, he replied "no-
thing. Only hope you will put the pre,tiest
woman In your company 10 play Lady Ann,
and let the person who plays Richmond be
good tencer, for if he is not shall be very apt
to hurt him."
Up 10 the very moment of his triumphant sue
cess, the actors all, with the exception of Gil
ter', believed that Booth would fail. How
sloriousiy he falsi6ed that prediction, our cor
respondent tells. Such was his first appear
ance on any stage in America. His reason for
going to Osborne's to live was singular. He
had learned that threatened consumption had
often been averted by spell of ague and
fever and determined to try it, he aenquired if
there was any chance of getting such a spell
any where in this neighborhood. He was re-
tered to the swamps on the river below, and
selected Osborne's as a point convenient to
them. He failed in catching the ague and fe-
yer, but he obtained tolerably fair substitute
in the shape oft bilious fever.
LONDON LANCET.-We have Just received
the December No. of this farfamed periodical