ite. I soon produced the little piece,
which was called "Paul and Alexis; or, the Orphans of the
Rhine." I was, at that period, a very active politician, and my
political opponents did me the honour to go to the theatre the
night it was performed, for the purpose of hissing it, which was
not attempted until the curtain fell, and the piece was
successful. After three years' absence in Europe and Africa, I
saw the same piece performed at the Park, under the title of
"The Wandering Boys,"[1] which even now holds possession of the
stage. It seems Mr. Young sent the manuscript to London, where
the title was changed, and the bantling cut up, altered, and
considerably improved.

About this time, John Miller, the American bookseller in London,
paid us a visit. Among the passengers in the same ship was a
fine English girl of great talent and promise, Miss Leesugg,
afterwards Mrs. Hackett. She was engaged at the Park as a
singer, and Phillips, who was here about the same period
fulfilling a most successful engagement, was decided and
unqualified in his admiration of her talent. Every one took an
interest in her success: she was gay, kind-hearted, and popular,
always in excellent spirits, and always perfect. Anxious for her
success, I ventured to write a play for her benefit, and in
three days finished the patriotic piece of "She Would be a
Soldier; or, the Battle of Chippewa,"[2] which, I was happy to
find, produced her an excellent house. Mrs. Hackett retired from
the stage after her marriage, and lost six or seven years of
profitable and unrivalled engagement.[3]

After this play, I became in a manner domiciliated in the
green-room. My friends, Price and Simpson, who had always been
exceedingly kind and liberal, allowed me to stray about the
premises like one of the family, and, always anxious for their
success, I ventured upon another attempt for a holy-day
occasion, and produced "Marion; or, the Hero of Lake George." It
was played on the 25th of November, Evacuation day [1821], and I
bustled about among my military friends, to raise a party in
support of a military play, and what with generals,
staff-officers, rank and file, the Park Theatre was so crammed,
that not a word of the play was heard, which was a very
fortunate affair for the author. The managers presented me wit