t the commencement of the French
Revolution, and was made reporter of Debates in Commons by Edmund Burke.
He reported the trial of Hastings, and came to America about 1800, and
edited a magazine in South Carolina until he was engaged by Bradford and
Inskeep to conduct the _Mirror of Taste_.

The magazine was of small octavo size, each number contained about one
hundred pages, and was illustrated with a fine portrait of an actor or
actress. The regular performances at the theatres were criticised with a
good deal of pungency and acumen. It is said in the preface that "London
boasts several periodical publications founded on the _Drama_ alone. In
America there has not yet been one of that description." In January,
1811, the magazine changed hands, and was published by Thomas Barton
Zantzinger & Co., in the Shakespeare Buildings at Sixth and Chestnut
Streets.

At the close of the first year of the magazine a dramatic event occurred
that caused unusual excitement in Philadelphia, and led to important
consequences. The great tragedian, George Frederick Cooke, whom Edmund
Kean pronounced "the greatest of all actors, Garrick alone excepted,"
arrived in New York and appeared on 21st October, 1810, as _Richard III_
before two thousand spectators in the Park Theatre.

It was then that he requested the great audience to stand while "God
Save the King" should be played, and during the storm that followed
calmly took snuff until the audience acceded to his demand.

From New York he proceeded to Philadelphia. No such acting had been seen
in America. The excitement among play-going people was extraordinary.
"He was to play _Richard_ on a Monday night, and on Sunday evening the
steps of the theatre were covered with groups of porters, and other men
of the lower orders, prepared to spend the night there, that they might
have the first chance of taking places in the boxes. I saw some take
their hats off and put on night-caps. At ten o'clock the next morning
the door was opened to them, and at that time the street in front of the
theatre was impassable. When the rush took place, I saw a man spring up
and catch hold of the iron which supported a lamp on one side of the
door, by which he raised himself so as to run over the heads of the
crowd into the theatre. Some of these fellows were hired by gentlemen to
secure places, and others took boxes on speculation, sure of selling
them at double or treble the regular prices. When the time cam