Part 3

DAVID EVERETT, born in Princeton, Mass., March 29, 1770, died in Marietta, Ohio, December 21, 1813, was graduated from Dartmouth in 1795. Before entering college he taught school at New Ipswich, studied law in Boston, and wrote for _Russell's Gazette and Farmer's Museum_, in which his prose papers, _Common Sense in Deshabille_, became quite popular. They were published in a volume in 1799. He also contributed to a literary paper called _The Nightingale_ in 1796. In 1809 he edited the _Boston Patriot_, and in 1812 _The Pilot_, a paper in the interest of De Witt Clinton for the Presidency. He left Boston in 1813 for Marietta, Ohio, with the purpose of establishing a newspaper there, but death interrupted his plans.

DARANZEL; OR, THE PERSIAN PATRIOT. An original Drama in Five Acts; as performed at the Theatre in Boston; by David Everett, corrected and improved by a literary friend. Boston, John Russell, 1800. 8vo, pp. 68.

FAIRFIELD, SUMNER LINCOLN

S. L. FAIRFIELD, born in Warwick, Mass., June 25, 1803, died in New Orleans, La., March 6, 1844, entered Brown University, Providence, R. I., at the age of thirteen. He studied so unremittingly, that after a few months he was attacked with a severe sickness. On recovering he was forced to leave college and seek a living as a tutor in the Southern States. In 1825 he sailed for London and wrote his poem, _The Cities of the Plain_, which appeared in the _Oriental Herald_. He was received by Lafayette, in France, where he published _Pére la Chaise_ and _Westminster Abbey_. He returned to the United States in 1826.

MINA. A Dramatic Sketch. Baltimore, Joseph Robinson, 1825. 12mo, pp. 120.

FAUGÉRES, MARGARETTA BLEECKER

MARGARETTA BLEECKER FAUGÉRES, born in Tunkhannock, near Albany, New York, in 1771, died there January 9, 1801, was a daughter of the poetess Ann Eliza Bleecker. In 1791 she married Peter Faugéres, a physician of New York, who dissipated her fortune and died in 1798. She supported herself by teaching until her death in 1801. Her poems are appended to her mother's _Posthumous Works_, edited by her, New York, 1793.

BELISARIUS. A Tragedy. New York, 1795. Frontispiece. 12mo, pp. 53.

Offered to the management of the John Street Theatre and declined.

FINN, HENRY JAMES

HENRY JAMES FINN, born in Cape Breton in 1785, died on the steamer _Lexington_ off Eaton's Neck, Long Island Sound, January 13, 1840, was the son of an officer in the English Navy, who retired from that service, and settled with his family in New York when Finn was a mere child. His early education was received at the Academy at Hackensack, and he was for a time a student at Princeton. While a copying clerk in the office of Mr. Thomas Phoenix, in New York City, he found means to become a supernumerary in the Park Theatre, and, having a taste for drawing, took much interest in scene painting. On the death of his father he was taken to England by his mother, and there was subjected to such privation that he gladly took a place in a company of country players. He was finally engaged at the Haymarket, London, where he first appeared, May 15, 1811, as Lopez in _The Honeymoon_, and for two seasons was an important member of the company. In 1818 he went to Savannah, where he played successfully for a year, and in 1820 became associated with J. K. Tefft as editor and publisher of _The Georgian_, a daily newspaper. In 1821 he went again to England, and, besides playing with success, made material reputation and profit as a miniature painter. He returned to America, and made a brilliant success as _Richard III._ at the Federal Street Theatre, Boston, October 28, 1822. From that time to his tragic death on the loss of the _Lexington_ by fire, he was a very popular actor of tragedy and light comedy.

MONTGOMERY; OR, THE FALLS OF MONTMORENCY. A Drama in Three Acts, as acted at the Boston Theatre. Boston, 1825. 12mo, pp. 11, 56.

This play was acted with much success.

FORREST, COLONEL THOMAS

(See BARTON, ANDREW)

DISENCHANTMENT (DISAPPOINTMENT); OR, THE FORCE OF CREDULITY. A New American Comic Opera of Three Acts, by Andrew Barton, Esquire. New York, 1767.

"Perhaps an assumed name for Colonel Thomas Forrest, of Germantown," a MS. note on an old copy in the Library of Philadelphia. This opera was rehearsed by the Douglas Company in Philadelphia, but was withdrawn, supposedly on account of personal allusions of a rather pointed character. The _Disenchantment_ was really printed in Philadelphia by Thomas Goddard, although bearing a New York imprint.

FOWLER, MANLY B.

THE PROPHECY; OR, LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP. A Drama. New York, 1821. 18mo, pp. 34.

FRISBIE, NOAH, JR.

NOAH FRISBIE, JR., born in Woodbury, Conn., Jan. 23, 1758, was the oldest son of Noah Frisbie, of the same town, who married Margery Post in 1752, and was in 1757 a member of Captain Ebenezer Downs's company of volunteers in the expedition for the relief of Fort William Henry on Lake George against the French. On the "Alarm of Lexington," Noah Frisbie with his two sons Noah and Jonathan, and their kinsmen Asabel, Abiel, David and James, joined the Continental forces. Noah Frisbie, Jr., appears on the army list at the end of the war as a lieutenant. No further information, except the printing of the under-mentioned play, is available.

THE HISTORY OF THE FALCOS. A Comedy in Four Acts. Part First. Walpole, N. H.: Printed for the author, at the Observatory Press, 1808. 12mo, pp. 137.

GARDEN, ALEXANDER

KOSCIUSKO; OR, THE FALL OF WARSAW. A Play in Verse.

Published in _The Soldier's Wreath, or The Battle Ground of New Orleans, and Other Poems_, by Oliver Cromwell, of South Carolina. Charleston, W. Riley, 1828, pp. [37-72]. The volume is supposed to be by Alex. Garden, author of _Anecdotes of the Revolutionary War_. This I am, however, in doubt about, as the author calls himself "an almost beardless youth." The play is in three acts.

GODFREY, THOMAS, JR.

THOMAS GODFREY, who was born in Philadelphia on December 4, 1736, and died near Wilmington, N. C., August 3, 1763, was a son of Thomas Godfrey, the inventor of the quadrant. He was apprenticed to a watchmaker and remained at that trade until 1758. He was an officer in the expedition against Fort Du Quesne. He removed to North Carolina and remained there three years. He then went to Philadelphia and sailed as a supercargo to the Island of New Providence, returning from thence to North Carolina, where, a few weeks after his arrival, by exposure to the sun on horseback, he contracted a fever which terminated fatally.

JUVENILE POEMS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, AND THE PRINCE OF PARTHIA. A Tragedy. Philadelphia: Printed by Henry Miller, in Second Street, 1765. 8vo, pp. XVI, 223.

_The Prince of Parthia_ is the earliest known tragedy that was written by an American. The play was offered to the company then performing in Philadelphia, but was not accepted.

GRICE, C. E.

THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS; OR, GLORY, LOVE AND LOYALTY; an Historical and National Drama in Five Acts. New York, 1816. 8vo, pp. 59.

Played at the Park Theatre, New York, July 4, 1816.

HALL, EVERARD

NOLENS VOLENS; OR, THE BITER BIT. Newbern, 1809. 12mo, pp. 92, [2].

HARBY, ISAAC

ISAAC HARBY, born in Charleston, S. C., November 9, 1788, died in New York City, November 14, 1828. First studied law under Langdon Cheves, but soon gave this up to become the principal of a school on Edisto Island. His first literary work was the editing of a weekly paper called _The Quiver_. This paper had but a short existence, and he purchased _The Investigator_, which he changed to _The Southern Patriot_. In 1822 he conducted _The City Gazette_ and wrote for _The Charleston Mercury_.

The second representation of _Alberti_, in Charleston, 1819, was honored by the presence of President Monroe. _Alberti_ was written for Cooper, but he never appeared in the character. Harby is said to have been the finest dramatic critic of his time in America. He came to New York in 1828.

ALBERTI. A Play. Charleston, 1819. 12mo, pp. 55.

Republished with a selection of his writings, Charleston, 1829. pp. 3-54.

This play was performed at the Charleston Theatre, 1818.

THE GORDIAN KNOT; OR, CAUSES AND EFFECTS. [1807].

"I had the gracious alternative of making a bonfire or of making a publication [of the _Gordian Knot_]. I decided for the latter--how wisely time will show."--Harby's _Works_, p. 20.

HATTON, ANN JULIA

ANN JULIA HATTON was a member of the Kemble family and a sister of Mrs. Siddons. She was the wife of William Hatton, a celebrated musical instrument maker, at 3 Peck Slip, New York City.

THE SONGS OF TAMMANY; OR, THE INDIAN CHIEF. A Serious Opera, by Ann Julia Hatton. To be had at the printing-office of John Harrison, No. 3 Peck Slip, and of Mr. Faulkner, at the box-office of the theatre. [Price one shilling.] New York, 1794. 16mo, pp. 16.

The opera from which these songs were taken (_Tammany; or, The Indian Chief_), was written for the Tammany Society, and was first played at the John Street Theatre, March 3, 1794, and "had a great run."

No trace can be found of the play itself being published.

The prologue to _Tammany_ was published in a volume of poems by R. B. Davis, New York, 1807, pp. 120-1.

HAWKINS, MICAH

THE SAW MILL; OR, A YANKEE TRICK. A Comic Opera. New York, 1824. 12mo.

Played at the Park Theatre, New York, November 29, 1825.

HENRY, JOHN

JOHN HENRY was a native of Dublin, and made his début at Drury Lane, in 1762, with little success. He joined Douglas's Company in the West Indies, and coming to New York from there made his first appearance on the American stage at the John Street Theatre, New York, December 7, 1767, playing in America until the close of the year 1794. He died in 1795, on a vessel bound for Newport.

"It is recorded that for many years after the Revolution, Mr. Henry was the only actor in New York who kept a coach, and that in his case frequent attacks of the gout rendered it a necessity." The panels of the coach were decorated with a representation of two crutches crossed, and the motto, "This or These."

A SCHOOL FOR SOLDIERS; OR, THE DESERTER. A Dramatic Poem. Printed at Kingston in Jamaica [W. I.] 1783. 8vo.

This piece was first played in Kingston.

Played at the John Street Theatre, New York, April 24, 1788.

HILLHOUSE, JAMES ABRAHAM

JAMES ABRAHAM HILLHOUSE, born in New Haven, September 26, 1789, died there January 5, 1841, son of Hon. James Hillhouse, was graduated from Yale in 1808. He came to New York and engaged in business as a merchant, but soon retired, and gave his time to literary pursuits.

PERCY'S MASQUE. A Drama in Five Acts, from the London edition. New York, 1820. 12mo.

It is doubtful if a London edition of this piece was published.

HADAD. A Dramatic Poem, by James A. Hillhouse, author of _Percy's Masque_ and _The Judgment_. New York, 1825. 8vo, pp. 208.

DEMETRIA. A Domestic Tragedy in Five Acts.

This was written in 1813, but was not published until 1839, when it was included in the author's _Works_, Bost. 1839. 2 vols.

HITCHCOCK, EDWARD

EDWARD HITCHCOCK, born in Deerfield, Mass., May 24, 1793, died in Amherst, Mass., February 27, 1864. In 1816 he became principal of the academy in Deerfield, where he remained for three years. He was ordained minister of the Congregational Church at Conway, Mass., in 1821. In 1825 he was appointed Professor of Chemistry and Natural History in Amherst College. He continued his connection with the college, having been appointed to the presidency with the professorship of Natural Theology and Geology, until his resignation in 1854. He was the author of numerous scientific and theological works. The tragedy mentioned below is his first and probably his only dramatic production. He died in 1864.

EMANCIPATION OF EUROPE; OR, THE DOWNFALL OF BUONAPARTE. A Tragedy. Greenfield, 1815. 16mo, pp. 108.

HODGKINSON, JOHN

JOHN HODGKINSON was born in Manchester, England, in 1767, died in Washington, D. C., December 12, 1805. His real name was Meadowcraft. His first successes were on the Bath stage. He came to America with the company of Hallam & Henry, and made his début at the John Street Theatre in 1793. He bought out Henry's interest, and continued one of the managers until 1798. He went to Charleston, S. C., in 1803, but became a victim of yellow fever while travelling, and died near Washington, D. C.

THE MAN OF FORTITUDE; OR, THE KNIGHT'S ADVENTURE. A Drama in Three Acts. New York, 1807. 16mo, pp. 32.

Played at the John Street Theatre, New York, June 7, 1797.

Dunlap says that this play was rewritten in prose upon the text of a manuscript in blank verse in one act called _The Knight's Adventure_, which Dunlap had submitted to Hodgkinson some years previously, and declares that the latter seemed unconscious of any wrong-doing.

ROBIN HOOD; OR, SHERWOOD FOREST. A Comic Opera in Two Acts, by Leonard Macnally, Esq. From Hodgkinson's Prompt-Book. New York, 1808. 16mo, pp. 68.

HOPKINSON, FRANCIS

FRANCIS HOPKINSON, born in Philadelphia, Pa., September 21, 1737, died there May 9, 1791, was the son of Thomas Hopkinson. Francis was educated at the College of Philadelphia, studied law under Benjamin Chew, and was admitted to the bar in 1761. His career belongs to the public history of the making of the United States. To enumerate his works and honors would transcend the scope of this book. He was a member of the Continental Congress in 1776, signed the Declaration of Independence, and was the first head of the treasury department of the new government. The first powerful satire of the British in Revolution, _The Battle of the Kegs_, was from his pen. A ripe scholar and a prolific writer of prose and verse in both humorous and earnest methods, skilled in music and in polite conversation, he was one of the most brilliant of the group of early jurists and writers of our country. He was United States District Judge of Pennsylvania at the time of his death. The authorship of the two anonymous college dialogues cited below is positively given to him in the Brinley Catalogue (New York, March, 1880), in view of which, and of the not less important fact that Thomas Hopkinson died in 1751, I think, notwithstanding the statement made by a contemporary newspaper, that the Dialogue of the 1776 commencement was his work. Of that occasion Sanderson's _Biography of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence_ says in the memoir of Francis Hopkinson: "Among the records of a public commencement of that institution [the College of Philadelphia], held on the twentieth of May, 1766, the board of trustees, comprising the governor, chief justice and most distinguished men of the province, passed the following resolution: 'After the business of the commencement was finished, it was resolved that as Francis Hopkinson (who was the first scholar entered in this seminary at its opening and likewise one of the first who received a degree in it) was about to embark for England and has always done honor to the place of his education by his abilities and good morals, as well as rendered it many substantial services on all public occasions, the thanks of this institution ought to be delivered to him in the most affectionate manner.'"

AN EXERCISE CONTAINING A DIALOGUE AND ODE SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF HIS LATE GRACIOUS MAJESTY, GEORGE II. Performed at the Public Commencement in the College of Philadelphia, May 23, 1761. The Ode Written and set to music by Francis Hopkinson. Philadelphia: W. Dunlap, 1761. 4to, pp. 8.

AN EXERCISE, CONTAINING A DIALOGUE AND ODE ON THE ACCESSION OF HIS PRESENT GRACIOUS MAJESTY, GEORGE III. Performed at the Public Commencement in the College of Philadelphia, May 18th, 1762. Philadelphia: Printed by W. Dunlap, 1762. 4to, pp. 8.

DIALOGUE [in verse] FOR THE COMMENCEMENT in the College of Philadelphia, May 30th, 1765. 8vo, pp. 4.

HOPKINSON, THOMAS

THOMAS HOPKINSON, born in London, England, April 6, 1709, died in Philadelphia, Pa., November 5, 1751, was son of a London merchant. In 1731, having been admitted to the bar, he settled in Philadelphia, where he became a deputy, and finally principal clerk of the Orphan's Court. For many years he was a member of the council of the province and a judge of court. Always interested in letters and science, he became the intimate friend of Franklin, to whom he suggested the use of metal points for the purpose of obtaining electric sparks. The Library Company, the College of Philadelphia, and the Philosophical Society named him among their incorporators and earliest officers. Perhaps his greatest distinction now is that he was the father of Francis Hopkinson, who may have caused the under-mentioned dialogue to be produced "for remembrance."

AN EXERCISE, CONTAINING A DIALOGUE AND TWO ODES. Performed at the Public Commencement in the College of Philadelphia, May 20th, 1766. Philadelphia: Printed by W. Dunlap, 1766. Small 4to, pp. 8.

The _Pennsylvania Journal_ of June 5, 1766, is authority for the authorship of this exercise.

HOSMER, W. H. C.

WILLIAM HENRY CUYLER HOSMER was born at Avon, in the valley of the Genesee, New York, May 25, 1814, and died there May 23, 1877. He was graduated from the University of Vermont, and was for many years a well-known lawyer and writer on the subjects of North American Indians, and their lore. He contributed a number of articles to magazines, and also published several volumes of poetry. His poetical works were published in two volumes in 1854, when the author was a clerk in the Custom House of the port of New York.

THE FALL OF TECUMSEH. A Drama. Avon, 1830. 12mo.

This play, written when the author was but sixteen years of age, was his first literary work.

HUMPHREYS, DAVID

DAVID HUMPHREYS was born in Derby, Conn., in July, 1753, died in New Haven, Conn., February 21, 1818. He was graduated from Yale College in 1767, and at the beginning of the Revolution entered the army. In 1778 he was attached to the staff of General Putnam, with the rank of major.

In 1780 he was made a colonel and aide-de-camp to Washington. He was custodian of the standards, surrendered at Yorktown and was presented with a sword by Congress.

In 1784 he was appointed Secretary to the Legation for concluding treaties with foreign powers.

He resided at Mount Vernon until the framing of the Constitution, when he came to New York with the President.

In 1790 he was nominated Ambassador to Portugal, and sailed for that country in 1791. He was afterwards appointed to represent the United States at Madrid, and during this time concluded treaties of peace with Tripoli and Algiers. He was the author of a number of works, including a Life of General Israel Putnam.

THE WIDOW OF MALABAR; OR, THE TYRANNY OF CUSTOM. A Tragedy in Five Acts. Translated from the French of M. Le Mierre.

This play was published in the _Miscellaneous Works_ of Humphreys, New York, 1790, pp. 115-176.

First played at the Philadelphia Theatre, 1790. The announcement of its performance at the John Street Theatre, New York, October 17, 1791, was in these words:

_The Widow of Malabar; or, The Tyranny of Custom._ A play in five acts, written by a citizen of the United States (acted at Philadelphia and Baltimore with great applause), with a prologue by J. Trumbull, LL.D.

Played at the John Street Theatre, New York, October, 1791.

THE YANKEY IN ENGLAND. A Drama in Five Acts. n. p., n. d. [Conn., 1815.] 12mo, pp. 110, 1.

Dunlap says he also wrote a comedy, and relates how he endeavored to persuade the manager, John Bernard, to bring it out, but was unsuccessful. _The Yankey in England_ was probably the play.

HUNTER, ROBERT

ROBERT HUNTER was born in England, and was appointed governor of New York in 1710. He was afterwards governor of Jamaica, where he died in 1734. He was the author of the celebrated letter on enthusiasm, which has been ascribed to Swift.

ANDROBOROS. A Bographical Farce, in Three Acts, viz., The Senate, The Consistory, And The Apotheosis. By Governour Hunter.

Printed at Monoropolis since 1st August, 1714.

The first dramatic piece published in America.

It is a severe criticism of the clergy, members, and others of Trinity Church, the principal among whom was Dr. Vesey.

The piece is excessively rare, and mentioned by few bibliographers, and then only by the first word of the title. It was published anonymously, and printed by Wm. Bradford in 1714. Only one copy is known, now in the collection of the Duke of Devonshire. A manuscript copy of it is in the collection of Evert Jansen Wendell, Esq., of New York.

The copy owned by the Duke of Devonshire formerly belonged to John Philip Kemble, the tragedian. It contains a number of manuscript corrections, probably from the hand of the author, among them the word "Bographical" on the title-page, which is changed to "Biographical"; "Monoropolis," which is changed to "Moropolis." The title-page has been torn at the bottom, and the figures 14 appear in ink.

The following lines have been written in this copy by Kemble:

"Androboros, etc. Printed at Mosicropolis. Whoever made the correction meant, I suppose, to imply that it was printed at Moros Polis--'Foolstown.' The corrections that run all through the piece, and the key to the characters, make me suppose that this was the author's copy."

On the title, Kemble has written, "Collated and perfect, J. P. K., 1798."

Gov. Hunter was assisted in the writing of this piece by Chief Justice Lewis Morris.

HUTTON, JOSEPH

JOSEPH HUTTON was born in Philadelphia, Pa., February 25, 1787, and died in Newbern, N. C., January 31, 1828. In early life he contributed verses to periodicals of that city; he also wrote prose, and published several romantic stories in a literary paper. About 1811 he published a collection of fugitive poems under the title of _Leisure Hours_. He also published a poem called _The Field of Orleans_, in the style of Sir Walter Scott. In 1823 he removed to Newbern, N. C., where he established himself as a teacher and wrote for the Newbern _Sentinel_.

THE SCHOOL FOR PRODIGALS. A Comedy in Five Acts, as performed at the New Theatre, Philadelphia. New York, 1809. 18mo, pp. 62.

Played at the Chestnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, in 1808.

THE WOUNDED HUSSAR; OR, RIGHTFUL HEIR. A Musical Afterpiece in Two Acts, as performed at the New Theatre, Philadelphia. Philadelphia, 1809. 18mo, pp. 24.

Another edition, Philadelphia, 1809, 16mo, pp. 62.

Played at the Chestnut Street Theatre, Phila., in 1809.

FASHIONABLE FOLLIES. A Comedy. New York, 1809. 18mo.

Another edition, Philadelphia, 1815, 18mo, pp. 76.

THE ORPHAN OF PRAGUE. A Drama in Five Acts. New York, 1810. 18mo, pp. 58.

HYER, W. G.

ROSA. A Melodrama in Three Acts. New York, 1822. 12mo, pp. 44.

INGERSOLL, CHARLES JARED

CHARLES JARED INGERSOLL, born in Philadelphia, Pa., October 3, 1782, died there May 14, 1862, was a lawyer of note, elected to Congress from Pennsylvania, 1813-15 and 1841-47. He was United States District Attorney for Pennsylvania from 1815 to 1829. He was the author of the celebrated _Inchiquin's Letters_ (1810) and a _Historical Sketch of the Second War between the United States and Great Britain_.

EDWY AND ELGIVA. A Tragedy in Five Acts. Performed at the New Theatre. Philadelphia, Ashbury Dickins. 8vo, pp. 84.