MY DEAR FRIEND,
I received your letter dated 20th September with great pleasure. I am always glad to hear from you, and particularly so now, as you are the only correspondent I have from Paisley. My old friends Stewart and Smith have forgot me. I have not forgot them. I begin to like this town very well. There are a number of social souls about it, and I spend some of my evenings very agreeably. There are a number of free-and-easy clubs here, and three good tap-rooms, which are very well attended, which by going to sometimes a stranger gets acquainted with the natives. I have the honour to be president now of a very respectable club. I have sung I don't know how often your glorious song “The Coggie” here, which of all your songs is my favourite. (I hope in God the author of it nor his friends will never want one.) It is a great favourite here. I have never seen Mr. Ross but once since I came here, and then it was by chance he was in town. He keeps no music shop, and teaches but little. He has made his fortune some years ago—keeps a town and country house, elegantly furnished. He is a strange genius for a musician—keeps no company, and never enjoyed his bottle. He sent up a letter to me for you, with his compliments to me, wishing me to forward it, which I did as soon as possible. I hope you received it safe from David Dickie. I am playing in the orchestra at the theatre here. [1] We have a most excellent band, consisting of four violins (three of them first-rate performers), two horns, one flute, one bassoon, and one violincello (played by your humble servant). The theatre has been open about a month. It is a very pretty house, fitted up in the same style as the Edinburgh one, and holds about £60. [GP] There are some good scenes, painted by Naismith in his best style. The company are better than they have been used with here. He is collecting from all quarters for good performers to open with eclat in Glasgow, but he must get a few more capital actors before he can do any good there. Mr. Beaumont is really a bad actor: has a good figure and a fine face for tragedy; graceful in his action, but too pompous—making too much of it;—but he is the worst speaker I ever heard on the stage—a bad voice, and a manner of snapping the last syllable of his words as to render him almost unintelligible. He doth not play much, and when he goes to Glasgow I suppose will play none. Our tragedy hero is a Mr. Seyton, from London, a young man of fortune, but stage mad; plays sometimes very well, but “saws the air” too much with his hands. Indeed, he is too extravagant in his action. The poor fellow is really deranged at times. He has the richest dresses I ever saw. Mr. King, late of the Theatres Edinburgh and Glasgow, is here—a useful man, and pretty clever. We have, too, a Mr. Hubert, the most general actor I ever saw—plays Charles in “The School for Scandal,” Macduff, William in “Rosina,” Caleb Colum, and Lingo—all respectable. He is the best John Thornberry. A Mr. Lewis plays the comedy old men very well. I think he will do for Glasgow. Mrs. Beaumont I think a good tragedienne. Her Belvidere, Jane Shore, and Mrs. Ervin in “Everyone has his Fault,” pleased me very well, yet she cries too loud; but her Lady Teazle and Widow Chearle I think poor. All will be ill to please in parts of that town who have seen Miss Duncan, and, in my opinion, the equally great Mrs. Young, play often. Mrs. Odger is here, and her you have seen. Miss Locke, a beautiful young woman; she is but young on the stage, and will be better than she is, tho' I fear she will never be great. We have had “The Forty Thieves” here in great style. I think the dialogue of that piece very trifling. Indeed, the Col. has some, good things to say, but none else. I suppose you would go to Glasgow to see it. Now, I really think, if you are not tired of theatricals, you may. I am obliged to you for sending me the song you wrote. I think it a very beautiful one, and I would be very glad you would let me have any little thing you do when you write. Your old friend Tom is well and hearty, and wishes to be kindly remembered to you. Give my compliments to our old friends, W. Stewart and A. Smith. I hope you will let me hear from you soon, and let me know any particular news that's amongst you. [2]
I am,
DEAR Bob,
Your friend sincerely,
JAMES CLARK.
[1] Aberdeen Theatre Royal was built in 1795, and was sold on 27th January, 1875, for the erection of a church in connection with the Church of Scotland. A few years ago it had been converted into a music hall.—Ed.
[GP] Presumably should read something like 60 or 600?—GRIAN PRESS
[2] This communication discloses the taste Tannahill had for dramatic per-formances, yet not one of his former biographers have said a single word about his attending theatrical exhibitions in Paisley and Glasgow.—Ed.