148 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
the strength of his fame would cause the doors of Covent Garden and Drury
Lane to be thrown open to him, and that he had nothing to do but choose
between the two. But the managers even then did not propose ; and though
he invited Mr. Leake of Covent Garden to an entertainment, and exerted all
his skill to convince him of his merit, by. various recitations, he was unsuccessful
in procuring an engagement, and returned to “his old perch” chagrined and
mortified at this reception.
In the notice of his life in “ Oxberry’s Dramatic Biography,” it is affirmed
that while in London he amused his friends with ludicrous imitations of favourite
actors, particularly Garrick, who, being informed of it, invited him to breakfast,
and requested a specimen of his talents in mimicry. At the imitations of
Barry, Woodward, and Love, Garrick was in raptures:-(‘ But, Sir,” said he,
‘‘ you’ll kill poor Barry, slay Woodward, and break poor Love’s heart. Your
ear must be wonderously correct, and your voice most singularly flexible. I am
told you have me. Do, I entreat, let me hear what I am; for if you are equally
exact with me as with Bany and Woodward, I shall know precisely what my
peculiar tones are.” Henderson, after some hesitation, complied with his request,
and though two disinterested auditors acknowledged the faithfulness of the
portraiture, Garrick, displeased, said, “Egad! if that is my voice, I never have
known it myself; for, upon my soul, it is entirely dissimiliar to every thing I
conceived nine to be, and totally unlike any thing that has ever struck upon my
ear till this blessed hour.’’
At Bath, Henderson rose in fame by his performing Falstuf and several
other characters of Shakspeare, and at the close of the second season again entered
London in search of an engagement, and again met with a repulse from Garrick,
and from Foote, then managing at the Haymarket; but so eager was he to
make an appearance on the London boards, that when in Bath, towards the end
of 1774, he wrote to Mr. Garrick, and proposed, at his own risk and expense,
to act on Drury Lane stage the characters of Hamlet and Shylock. Mr. Taylor
of Bath also solicited Mr. Garrick to accede to this. Mr. Garrick answered Hr.
Taylor very explicitly :-He thought the proposal would be extremely
injurious to Mr. Henderson himself; he could not suppose that his playing
two characters would give the public a proper idea of his merit. As his
well-wisher, he would strenuously protest against the other scheme ; but if
Henderson chose to be with him, why not fix upon Hamlet, Shylock, Benedict, or
any other part he pleased to appear in next winter. To this letter Henderson,
in answer, made a new proposal-to act the ensuing winter at Drury Lane
Theatre, the parts of Hamlet, Shylock, Richard, and Lear, with other characters,
under restrictions. Garrick was enraged that any one should presume to
dictate terms to him, and “attempt to take the management out of his hands,”
as he expressed it, and again declined his services.
In the summer of 17 7 6, Henderson performed at Birmingham, under the
banners of Mr. Yates, where Mrs. Siddons was the leading actress, having the
preceding season been unsuccessful in London.
