BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 149
At last chance brought about that which his own fame and the strong recommendations
of men of genius and nobles could not effect. Mr. Colmaa having
purchased the patent for acting plays at the Haymarket from Mr. Foote, and
fearing that the infirmities of that gentleman might incapacitate him from
furnishing his quota of public entertainment in writing and acting, engaged Henderson
to supply his place occasionally, at a salary of one hundred pounds for
the season, which was eagerly accepted. He opened in Shylock, and, after
appearing in one or two other parts, his success was complete. All the world
ran to the Haymarket to witness his performances, and a considerable sum was
realised by the manager, who, though no stipulation had been made to that
effect, gave him a free benefit. Messrs. Harris and Leake, of Covent Garden
theatre, insinuated that Henderson was not fit for the t'opping parts, but was
only equal to a second or third rate character, and still withheld from engaging
him ; but Sheridan, who had seen him act, Hamlet twice, was not to be swayed
by their dictum, and, on his own responsibility, enrolled him as a member of the
corps of Drury Lane for the ensuing winter season. His salary was fked at
310 per week, and Mr. Sheridan at the same time undertook to pay the forfeiture
of articles to Palmer, the Bath manager, amounting to 3300, which was
done by Sheridan giving Palmer the liberty of performing The School for Scandal.
Nothing was now wanting but the countenance of Mr. Garrick ; but he, to use
his own words, '' could not think of having any connection with a man who had
ridiculed him by mimicry, and had exposed and laughed at his letters." The
latter charge Henderson always denied.
On the conclusion of the season, Henderson took a trip to Ireland, by which
movement his purse and reputation were considerably increased. On his return
to England, he espoused a lady bearing the Cockney plebeian name of Figgins,
at her native place, Chippenham, Somersetshire, on the 13th January 1779.
He again visited Ireland during the summer of that year, and in consequence of
some disagreement between him and Mr. Sheridan, transferred his services to
Covent Garden during the winter. It was during this engagement that he performed
Macbeth for the first time. The summer of 1780 he passed at Liverpool,
and returned to Covent Garden in the winter, when he appeared in the characters
of WoEsey, Sir Jolm Bwte, and Iago; there is an engraving of him in the
last character by Bartolozzi, which is rather scarce. In the summer of 1781
he was without an engagement; 1782, he played at Liverpool; and in November
1783, appeared as Tamerlane to Mr. Kemble's Bajazet.
On Saturday, 31st July 1784, he made his first appearance on the Scottish
stage at Edinburgh, in the character of Handet. The following is a notice of
his performance of that character :-" On Saturday evening Mr. Henderson
made his first appearance in this theatre, in the character of Handd, to a very
genteel audience. The house was full, but not crowded. This gentleman is
undoubtedly the most correct actor at present on the stage. His deportment is
easy and unaffected ; his voice, when not carried too high, pleasing and comprehensive
; and his action is the result of good sense, taste, and a perfect know
150 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ledge of his author. To speak comparatively, Digges’ figure was better, and his
voice perhaps more mellow and powerful, but Digges played with little judgment,
was very deficient in the nicer touches of the art, and often had no conception
of what he spoke. In judgment and taste Mr. Henderson is eminent, He understands
perfectly the character he plays, and never fails to give the just meaning
of his author, and this, in so difficult and various a character as Hamlet, requires
the powers of a master. He avoids that unnatural violence and rant which is
often introduced into the part, and which seldom fails to catch the ears of the
groundlings, but is certainly more characteristic of the blustering player than the
Prince of Denmark. From what we have seen we are of opinion that the admirers
of Shakspeare, who wish to understand perfectly their favourite author, should
attend Mr. Henderson ; in his mouth no passage seems perplexed, and he is a
comment at once pleasing and instructive.”
On the 2d August he acted Shylock in the Merchant of Venice, which the
newspaper advertisement, for the instruction of the ignorant, announces to be
“ written by Shakspeare.”
“ One would
have thought,” continues the critique alluded to, “from the crowded state of
the house, that the Siddons was still here. Greater praise, perhaps, was not
due to Mrs. Siddons for any of her parts than to Mr. Henderson ,for the
inimitable humour and original manner in which he played Falstn, In this
character he stands unrivalled on the British stage. He met with repeated
bursts of applause from every part of the house. One honest gentleman was
so tickled with the humour, that he almost fell into convulsions with laughing.
Mr. Henderson was perhaps painted too youthful for the character.”
5th, Don John in the Chances, as altered from Beaumont and Fletcher by
Garrick. In this comedy “he gave a proof that his powers were as well
adapted to the lively-spirited rake, as to the serious and philosophic Hamlet.”
7th, Acted iyacbeth. ‘‘ In Macbeth he was equally animated and correct as
in any of the other parts he has displayed.”
Sth, Sir John Falstaf, in the First Part of King Henry IK, for his benefit.
“ In this character he exceeded any thing we have seen of his performance. The
continued peals of laughter and applause, from a most brilliant and crowded
audience, testified the strongest approbation, and the part perhaps was never played
with such inimitable genuine humour. The Knight’s description of his troop,
with Mr. Henderson’s looks, tones, and gestures, was beyond description admirable.
On the 3d, Sir John Falstaf in the Merry Wives of Windsor.
loth, Richard 111.
14th, King Lear.
16th, Sir Oiles Ouerreach.
1 ‘‘ It is surprising that there should not be a proper Scots dress on the stage in the metropolis
of Scotland, and that a Spauish dress, or indeed any other, should serve as a Highland dress by the
addition of a piece of tartan drawn awkwardly across the shoulder, as if it waa the insignia of an
order of knighthood. The characters in Macbeth, indeed, exhibited the dresses of all nations, and
one might have thought that a dealer in Monmouth Street had been airing his stock-in-trade to
prevent it being eaten by moths.”-Courccnt. . The witches are said to have made a Dutch chorus of the music.
