the father of his wife sarcastically remarked, he had a strong inclination to forgive her, though the match was against his consent, as she had kept her word with him, in one respect at least, and that was never to marry an actor. But, paradoxical as it may appear, there are some men who are merely dunces as workmen, yet often obtain applause and profit when raised to the direction and manage. ment of others. This was evidently the case with ROGER KEMBLE, as the company, of which he was soon afterwards chief, became, from his talents and attention, the most famous troop of itinerants of the day. It was under these auspices our hero first saw the light.

Mr. KEMBLE is stated to have been born at Preston, in Lancashire, on the 1st February, 1757, and was sent at an early age to a Catholic seminary of eminence at Sedgely Park, Staffordshire. Here he gave early proofs of an extraordinary taste for literature; (1) and it was on this ac

(1) It would seem, however, that his school exercises were occasionally interrupted by others of a different description, as may be learned from a play bill, which is still preserved, that he was admitted, while a mere child, a member of the corps dramatique, headed by his father. As the said bill, from its being connected with the early history of the KEMBLE family, is curious, as well as from its relating to the subject of this memoir, we shall here transcribe it.

Worcester, Feb. 12, 1767. Mr. KEMBLE'S Company of Comedians, At the Theatre, at the King's Head, this Evening, will be performed a Concert of Music, to begin exactly at Six o'Clock.

Tickets to be had at the usual Places. Between the Parts of the Concert will be presented, gratis, a celebrated historical Play (never performed here), called

KING CHARLES THE FIRST.

The Characters to be dressed in ancient Habits according to the Fashion of those Times. The Part of King Charles, Mr. JONES

count he was sent, in 1770, to the University of Douay, with the intent of qualifying him for a religious profession.

Duke of Richmond, Mr. SIDDONS.*
Marquis of Lindsay, Mr. SALISBURY.
Bishop Juxon, Mr. FOWLER.
General Fairfax, Mr. KEMBle.
Colonel Ireton, Mr. CRUMP.
Colonel Tomlinson, Mr. HUGHES.†
The part of Oliver Cromwell, Mr. VAUGHAN.
Servant, Mr. BUTLER.

James Duke of York, (afterwards King of England),
Master I. KEMBLE.

The Duke of Gloucester, (King Charles's younger son) Miss FANNY KEMBLE. ||

Serjeant Bradshaw, (Judge of the pretended High Court of
Justice) Mr. BURTON.

The young Princess Elizabeth, Miss KEMBLE. §
Lady Fairfax, Mrs. KEMBLE.

The part of the Queen, Mrs. VAUGHAN.

Singing between the acts by Mrs. FOWLER and Miss KEMBLE. To which will be added a Comedy called

THE MINOR.

And on Saturday next the 14th inst. will be again presented the above tragedy with a farce that will be expressed in the bills of the day.

**The days of performance are Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

It is rather remarkable that after being thus christened, as it were, a player, his father should have intended him for the profession of a priest. Upon what grounds the old gentleman formed this design is not known, unless it may be supposed that the life of an actor occasioned him some

*Husband of the great actress.

The late proprietor of Sadlers Wells and Weymouth Theatres.

The subject of this biography.

Mrs. TwisS.

§ Mrs. SIDDONS.

During his residence there he was properly instructed in the rudiments of Greek and Latin, and was particularly distinguished for the strength of memory, refined taste, and distinct enunciation, which developed themselves in an unusual degree, particularly in recitations from the works of SHAKSPEARE. However, his restricted mode of life, and the prospect before him not according with the inclinations of a youthful and sanguine mind, induced him to quit Douay before he had attained the age of twenty. The young fugitive landed at Bristol, whence he proceeded on foot to Gloucester, where, hearing that his father's company was playing at Brecknock, he continued his peregrination thither; but, on his arrival, had the mortification to meet with a cool reception. It is said, his father even refused to relieve him, and that he was indebted to the generosity of the itinerant players for a subscription, to which his father was prevailed on, with reluctance, to add a guinea, to enable him to subsist. On experiencing this instance of paternal affection, Mr. K. did not long continue in the "house of his father," but hastened to Wolverhampton, where he joined CHAMBERLAIN and CRUMP'S company, and made his debut in the character of Theo

remorse of conscience, and the convenience of having one part of the family capable of absolving the sins of the rest, was a temptation too inviting to be resisted. One would not imagine that he saw any thing attracting in the fate of his ancestor,* who fell a sacrifice to the persecution of the times in the reign of CHARLES I.; to be sure the character of the age was different, and Mr. KEMBLE could hardly apprehend a similar misfortune to his son.

*The person here alluded to was a Roman Catholic priest in the reign of CHARLES 1. and was tried and executed at Hereford. The place where the execution took place is now the race-ground, and known by the name of Wide Marsh. His hand was cut off, and continued in the possession of Mr. FOREMAN, a respectable Catholic within two miles of the town, and was in great esteem by the superstitious, who used it to touch wens, &c. under the insane idea that it possessed supernatural virtues.

dosius in the "Force of Love." His first effort was not very successful. His second attempt was Bajazet in the play of "Tamerlane," in which he gave more decided promise of those extraordinary talents which have since raised him to unrivalled eminence.

It cannot be supposed that the receipts of a provincial actor are great; Mr. KEMBLE in this respect was not more fortunate than his brethren; although regarded as a rising performer, there was an extreme negligence and a tendency to dissipation and extravagance in his conduct which operated as a considerable drawback upon his interests. (1) Indeed his pecuniary resources were in so low a state that it is related of him he could not even pay his laundress the sum of fifteen pence, nor obtain credit for that amount; she consequently refused to deliver him a shirt, the only one belonging to his wardrobe, which he was in urgent want of, to dress for his part, Ventidius in" All for love," till she was paid; he was actually reduced to the necessity of shifting an odd ruffle from one wrist to the other, alternately during the performance, concealing the naked one in his cloak so as to prevent the audience noticing the mal-apropos deficiency. Another instance of his poverty is the well known adventure of the whipping top. Being in arrears with his landlady, and not able to satisfy her importunate demands for payment, he practised the following expedient:- In the room

(1) When KEMBLE commenced his career, there existed an actor of some popularity named JONES, (who is mentioned in the above play bill). This man was patronized by GARRICK for his ingenuity in making paper models, scenes, &c. to imitate carved work. A beautiful specimen of his workmanship, we understand, is still preserved in the collection formed by that gentleman. Whatever degree of talent he might have possessed as an actor, his name was certainly considered by the managerial potentates of barns and cocklofts as a tower of strength." Our reason for introducing him to the reader is, that we may mention a fact with which his name is connected. The bills which announced the early performance of Mr. KEMBLE stated he would act Hamlet, Macbeth, and other characters," after the manner of Mr. JONES."

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exactly under that occupied by KEMBLE, the good woman's cara sposa lay ill; and as the apothecary was one day quitting the house, he left directions that the patient should be kept quiet. Mr. KEMBLE overhearing the injunction, instantly conceived the idea of converting the doctor's prescription to his own advantage. This he did by spinning a top, under the pretence of exercise being necessary for his health, with incessant noise and velocity, continuing this troublesome motion till his hostess was glad to purchase peace on any terms; a bargain was therefore struck, and Mr. KEMBLE took his departure, exempt from all charges.

A very considerable time passed on in this state of poverty, indolence, and "raising the wind," but not without laying in almost imperceptibly, that stock of theatrical knowledge, which was to be the basis of wealth and fame. In hopes of better success, KEMBLE at length released himself from the managerial authority of CHAMBERLAIN and CRUMP (1) and strolled about the country in company with a man of the name of CARLETON, practising various schemes and experiments in order to raise a poor supply of daily necessaries. Penury will often lead a man into strange vicissitudes and ludicrous embarrassments; the life of a strolling player is fruitful in examples of distress mingled with the ridiculous.

After undergoing a variety of mortifying circumstances and enduring all sorts of contumely and neglect, we find him at Worcester, where he was unfortunate enough to incur a debt to a tailor, for which he was arrested. From this bondage he was released by Mrs. SIDDONS, and by her introduced to Mr. YOUNGER, with whom she was then performing and from this time he began to rise gradually in respectability and estimation.

(To be Resumed.)

(1) CRUMP and CHAMBERLAIN are described by RYLEY in the "Itinerant," the former as being a blunt, morose, brutish character;-the latter sly, and cunning; they were commonly known by the names of "For and Bruin !" when KEMBLE left them he chalked the following couplet upon the theatrical barn door:

"I fly to shun impending ruin,

And leave the Fox to fight with Bruin."