THE POLYANTHOS. MARCH, 1807. MEMOIRS OF MR. FENNELL: Speak of me as I am.’ HE Drama, from its first institution to TH the present time, though generally al lowed to be favourable to the interests of literature and morality, has had to encounter the ignorance of some, the superstitious bigotry of others, and the violent prejudice of a large portion of mankind. No class of men has suffered so much from the poisoned tongues of envy, malice, and detraction, as its followers. Though Roscius and Cicero were intimate friends, and Garrick enjoyed the caresses of the nobility; yet a majority of the world has ever been disposed to consider them as a class of beings, who live for no other purpose than to amuse their fellows ;. to strut an hour upon the stage merely to afford a transitory pastime ; T... VOL. 4. but has never been willing to admit them to The American stag ( proudly boast of votaries who are entitl private esteem as well as publick approbat JAMES FENNELL was born in London, De 11, 1766. His father, who is still livi, iz in the Navy Pay-Office. He received the t rudiments of his education under the Revod Mr. French, at Bow, near London. He was afterwards placed at Eton College, and Sor thence removed to Trinity College, Camb " ge. fot Mr. Fennell was intended by his parer the church, and not for the profession of the law, as been often erroneously stated. When he had completed his studies at Cambridge, being too young to take orders, he was placed at Lincoln's Inn, to receive the last polish of his education. During his residence here he conceived an aversion to theological pursuits, and began to think of studying the law. This idea however was soon abandoned. A serious dispute arose between him and his father, respecting his expenses, which his father thought too extrava gant. The result was, Mr. Fennell abruptly left London and went to Edinburgh, early in the summer of 1787. While at Edinburgh he formed an acquaint ance with Mr. Jackson, manager of the thea tre; and, having frequently performed with applause at private theatres, he agreed to perform a few nights with his company. After this he attended Mr. Jackson to Glasgow, where he also played a short time, and returned to London. As this was done merely for recreation, he neither asked nor received any compensation for his services. On his arrival in London he found his rela lations so much incensed at his irregular conduct, that they refused to see him. After some time spent in fruitless in endeavours to reconcile them, he then, and not till then, be gan to think seriously of becoming an actor by profession. Mr. Jackson soon after came to London to engage performers for his winter campaign at Edinburgh, and made very advantageous offers to Mr. Fennell, requesting the fulfilment of a conditional engagement previously made with him,---That if he should determine to follow the profession, he would enlist under Mr. Jackson in preference to any other manager. The flattering reception Mr. Fennell had met at Edinburgh and Glasgow induced him to hope for approbation from a London audience. He waited on Mr. Harris, about the opening of Covent-Garden theatre, in September, 1787, and without any kind of introduction, explained the object of his visit. Mr. Harris listened to a few short recitations, with which he was so well pleased that a night was immediately fixed on for his appearance. He selected the character of Othello for his first attempt, and his success was so great as to induce the manager to request a repetition of it the next night. The tragedy of Alexander was then brought up in great splendour, and Mr. Fennell appeared twice in the Macedonian Hero. He afterwards played Jaffier. Respect for the feelings of his relations had hitherto induced him to perform under the assumed name of Cambray. Having obtained a considerable degree of celebrity as an actor, and seeing no probability of a reconciliation with his friends, Mr. Fennell determined to fulfil his conditional contract with Mr. Jackson. Mr. Harris offered to pay Mr. Jackson the forfeiture of that engagement, and any further sum he might think he should lose, to relinquish Mr. Fennell, which was refused. The temptation was then held out to Mr. Fennell, who perhaps might have yielded to it, but for the advice of a friend, Mr. Smith of Covent-Garden theatre. gentleman, on being consulted by Mr. Fennell, replied, "Never embark in any enterprise, however advantageous, by a breach of faith." This Mr. Fennell joined the Edinburgh company at the opening of the theatre in December, |