  | Introductory Chapter | page v | | CHAPTER I. | | His Grandfather and Father—His Birth and first appearance at Drury Lane Theatre and at Sadler's Wells—His Father's severity—Miss Farren—The Earl of Derby and the Wig—the Fortune-box and Charity's reward—His Father's pretended Death, and the behaviour of himself and his brother thereupon | 1 | | CHAPTER II. | | 1788 to 1794. | | The Father's real Death—His Will, and failure of the Executor—Generous conduct of Grimaldi's Schoolmaster, and of Mr. Wroughton the Comedian—Smart running against time—Kindness of Sheridan—Grimaldi's industry and amusements—Fly-catching—Expedition in search of the "Dartford Blues"—Mrs. Jordan—Adventure on Clapham Common: the piece of Tin—His first love and its consequences | 17 | | CHAPTER III. | | 1794 to 1797. | | Grimaldi falls in Love—His success—He meets with an accident which brings the Reader acquainted with that invaluable specific "Grimaldi's Embrocation"—He rises gradually in his Profession—The Pentonville Gang of Burglars | 28 | | CHAPTER IV. | | 1797 to 1798. | | The Thieves make a second attempt; alarmed by their perseverance, Grimaldi repairs to Hatton Garden—Interview with Mr. Trott; ingenious device of that gentleman, and its result on the third visit of the Burglars—Comparative attractions of Pantomime and Spectacle—Trip to Gravesend and Chatham—Disagreeable recognition of a good-humoured friend, and an agreeable mode of journeying recommended to all Travellers | 40 |
| CHAPTER V. | | 1798. | | An extraordinary circumstance concerning himself, with another extraordinary circumstance concerning his Grandfather—Specimen of a laconic epistle, and an account of two interviews with Mr. Hughes, in the latter of which a benevolent gentleman is duly rewarded for his trouble—Preparations for his marriage—Fatiguing effects of his exertions at the Theatre | 51 | | CHAPTER VI. | | 1798. | | Tribulations connected with "Old Lucas," the constable, with an account of the subsequent proceedings before Mr. Blamire, the magistrate, at Hatton Garden, and the mysterious appearance of a silver staff—A guinea wager with a jocose friend on the Dartford Road—The Prince of Wales, Sheridan, and the Crockery Girl | 62 | | CHAPTER VII. | | 1798 to 1801. | | Partiality of George the Third for Theatrical Entertainments—Sheridan's kindness to Grimaldi—His domestic affliction and severe distress—The production of Harlequin Amulet a new era in Pantomime—Pigeon-fancying and Wagering—His first Provincial Excursion with Mrs. Baker, the eccentric Manageress—John Kemble and Jew Davis, with a new reading—Increased success at Maidstone and Canterbury—Polite interview with John Kemble | 76 | | CHAPTER VIII. | | 1801 to 1803. | | Hard work to counterbalance great gains—His discharge from Drury Lane, and his discharge at Sadler's Wells—His return to the former house—Monk Lewis—Anecdote of him and Sheridan, and of Sheridan and the Prince of Wales—Grimaldi gains a son and loses all his capital | 88 |
| CHAPTER IX. | | 1803. | | Containing a Very Extraordinary Incident Well Worthy of the Reader's Attention | 97 | | CHAPTER X. | | 1803 to 1805. | | Bologna and his Family—An Excursion into Kent with that personage—Mr. Mackintosh, the gentleman of landed property, and his preserves—A great day's sporting; and a scene at the Garrick's Head in Bow Street, between a Landlord, a Gamekeeper, Bologna and Grimaldi | 106 | | CHAPTER XI. | | 1805 to 1806. | | Stage Affairs and Stage Quarrels—Mr. Graham, the Bow Street Magistrate and Drury Lane Manager—Mr. Peake—Grimaldi is introduced to Mr. Harris by John Kemble—Leaves Drury Lane Theatre and engages at Covent Garden—Mortification of the authorities at "the other house"—He joins Charles Dibdin's Company and visits Dublin—The wet Theatre—Ill success of the speculation, and great success of his own Benefit—Observations on the comparative strength of Whisky Punch and Rum Punch, with interesting experiment | 115 | | CHAPTER XII. | | 1806 to 1807. | | He returns to town, gets frozen to the roof of a coach on the road, and pays his rent twice over when he arrives at home—Mr. Charles Farley—His first appearance at Covent Garden—Valentine and Orson—Production of "Mother Goose," and its immense success—The mysterious adventure of the Six Ladies and the Six Gentlemen | 124 | | CHAPTER XIII. | | 1807. | | The mystery cleared up chiefly through the instrumentality of Mr. Alderman Harmer; and the characters of the Six Ladies and the Six Gentlemen are satisfactorily explained—The Trial of Mackintosh for Burglary—Its result | 133 |
| CHAPTER XIV. | | 1807 to 1808. | | Bradbury, the Clown—His voluntary confinement in a Madhouse, to screen an "Honourable" Thief—His release, strange conduct, subsequent career, and death—Dreadful Accident at Sadler's Wells—The night-drives to Finchley—Trip to Birmingham—Mr. Macready, the Manager and his curious Stage-properties—Sudden recall to Town | 148 | | CHAPTER XV. | | 1808 to 1809. | | Covent Garden Theatre destroyed by fire—Grimaldi makes a trip to Manchester: he meets with an accident there, and another at Liverpool—The Sir Hugh Myddleton Tavern at Sadler's Wells, and a description of some of its frequenters, necessary to a full understanding of the succeeding chapter | 158 | | CHAPTER XVI. | | 1809. | | Grimaldi's Adventure on Highgate Hill, and its consequences | 165 | | CHAPTER XVII. | | 1809 to 1812. | | Opening of the new Covent Garden Theatre—The great O. P. Rows—Grimaldi's first appearance as Clown in the public streets—Temporary embarrassments—Great success at Cheltenham and Gloucester—He visits Berkeley Castle, and is introduced to Lord Byron—Fish sauce and Apple Pie | 172 | | CHAPTER XVIII. | | 1812 to 1816. | | A Clergyman's Dinner-party at Bath—First Appearance of Grimaldi's Son, and Death of his old friend Mr. Hughes—Grimaldi plays at three Theatres on one night, and has his salary stopped for his pains—His severe illness—Second journey to Bath—Davidge, "Billy Coombes" and the Chest—Facetiousness of the aforesaid Billy | 183 |
| CHAPTER XIX. | | 1816 to 1817. | | He quits Sadler's Wells in consequence of a disagreement with the Proprietors—Lord Byron—Retirement of John Kemble—Immense success of Grimaldi in the provinces, and his great gains—A scene in a Barber's Shop | 194 | | CHAPTER XX. | | 1817. | | More provincial success—Bologna and his economy—Comparative dearness of Welsh Rare-bits and Partridges—Remarkably odd modes of saving money | 203 | | CHAPTER XXI. | | 1817 to 1818. | | Production of "Baron Munchausen"—Anecdote of Ellar the Harlequin, showing how he jumped through the Moon and put his hand out—Grimaldi becomes a Proprietor of Sadler's Wells—Anecdotes of the late Duke of York, Sir Godfrey Webster, a Gold Snuff-box, his late Majesty, Newcastle Salmon, and a Coal Mine | 209 | | CHAPTER XXII. | | 1818 to 1823. | | Profit and Loss—Appearance of his Son at Covent Garden—His last engagement at Sadler's Wells—Accommodation of the Giants in the Dublin Pavilion—Alarming state of his health—His engagement at the Coburg—The liberality of Mr. Harris—Rapid decay of Grimaldi's constitution, his great sufferings, and last performance at Covent Garden—He visits Cheltenham and Birmingham with great success—Colonel Berkeley, Mr. Charles Kemble, and Mr. Bunn | 218 | | CHAPTER XXIII. | | 1823 to 1827. | | Grimaldi's great afflictions augmented by the dissipation and recklessness of his Son—Compelled to retire from Covent Garden Theatre, where he is succeeded by him—New Speculation at Sadler's Wells—Changes in the system of Management, and their results—Sir James Scarlett and a blushing Witness | 229 |
| CHAPTER XXIV. | | 1828. | | Great kindness of Miss Kelly towards Grimaldi—His farewell benefit at Sadler's Wells; last appearance, and farewell address—He makes preparations for one more appearance at Covent Garden, but, in a conversation with Mr. Charles Kemble, meets with a disappointment—In consequence of Lord Segrave's benevolent interference, a benefit is arranged for him at Drury Lane—His last interview with Mr. Charles Kemble and Fawcett | 236 | | CHAPTER XXV. | | 1828 to 1836. | | The farewell benefit at Drury Lane—Grimaldi's last appearance and parting address—The Drury Lane Theatrical Fund, and its prompt reply to his communication—Miserable career and death of his Son—His Wife dies, and he returns from Woolwich (whither he had previously removed) to London—His retirement | 183 | | Concluding Chapter | 253 |
|
  |
