e,
boisterous, and so abhorrent of hypocrisy, that he laboured to make
himself appear as bad as possible. He was a native of Ireland; and it
has often been said of him that in eccentricity and benevolence he was a
full match for any man of that country. He would ridicule and abuse his
actors in a style of whimsical foulmouthedness peculiar to himself--but
he would allow no other man living to do it--and while conferring
substantial benefits upon them, would blackguard them like a
Billingsgate fishwoman. So essentially did he differ from most other
managers, that instead of wronging or pinching them, instead of
intriguing against them, to run them down with the public, in order to
enhance his own consequence, he was their champion, their sincere
friend, and the strenuous supporter of their character and of the
dignity of his company. If they fell into misfortune they found in him a
father--and, dying rich, he bequeathed to his veteran performers who
survived him, a weekly salary for life, which those who survive still
enjoy. Whoever has read or heard of the character of doctor Moncey, may
form some idea of the oddity of James Whiteley. Whiteley went much
further than Moncey--for the effusions of his spleen or his humour were
sometimes too coarse and indelicate to bear public repetition, though
they still remain the topic of conversation with all who knew him, and
supply an inexhaustible fund of mirth to all who remember him.

In this extraordinary personage Hodgkinson found the warmest, most
benevolent friend; and, what may appear strange, a most valuable
instructor. Himself always appearing wrong, and speaking like one
cracked, he never failed to set right all those who were guided by his
advice; and, while his tongue ran riot as if he were drunk or mad, his
conduct was governed by sound sense and prudence. If ever any thing
hobby-horsical or pedantic crept into the conversation of Hodgkinson, it
was his fondness for describing this worthy oddity.

He had heard Whiteley's character described in a variety of quarters,
and went to him expecting to be ridiculed, blackguarded, and patronised.
Nor was he disappointed. Under his auspices, H. grew up, acquired
professional knowledge, and, considering his age, much fame. A whole
number of this work would not contain the anecdotes which, in his
cheerful moments, Hodgkinson has related to this writer, of Whiteley's
worth and eccentricities; but the humour and oddity of them were