ced with a man of
justice, honour, and generosity, with whom he remained till the grave
terminated the contract. Whiteley's passions were so lively, and bad
habit had so devested him of all control over his tongue that he would
d--n and curse his actors, and call them foul names, even during the
performance of the stage, and that too so loud that the audience would
frequently hear him. Yet he was in substantial concerns a truly
excellent man.

The next place in which Hodgkinson can be distinctly traced is the
northern line of theatres, then under the management of Whitlock and
Munden, viz. Newcastle, Sheffield, Lancaster, Preston, Warrington, and
Chester. In the course of his business in this circuit, the extension of
his fame more than kept pace with his years, and he was soon looked upon
as the most promising actor of his age. At first he was valued chiefly
for his musical talents. A gentleman now residing in Philadelphia was
present at his first appearance in that circuit at Preston in
Lancashire. A valuable actor and singer was put out of the character of
Lubin in the Quaker, to make way for H's debut in that character, in
which he was not so warmly received as the managers expected, being
_encored_ in only one of the songs. His matchless industry, however,
grafted on his great talents, soon produced a rich harvest of the most
excellent fruits. He became a very useful general actor, played any
thing and every thing the managers thought it their interest to appoint
him to, whether tragedy, comedy, opera, or farce; and too confident in
his own powers to be captious or fastidious, he never reneged an
inferior part, when it was the managers' interest he should play it,
even when, by the laws of the theatre, he was entitled to the first. Mr.
Whitlock told this writer that H. did _with good will_ more work than
any two performers they had. "I have known him," said the old gentleman,
"after performing in both play and after-piece at Newcastle in
Northumberland, set off without taking a moment's rest in a post-chaise,
travel all night, and rehearse the next day and perform the next night
in play and farce at Preston in Lancashire."

Powerful as were his talents, he would not, in all probability, have
risen to acknowledged eminence in his profession for many years, if he
had not fallen under the observation of Mrs. Siddons. That extraordinary
actress, little less illustrious for private virtues than splendid
talents, being