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Article ANECDOTES OF THE LATE HUGH KELLY. ← Page 3 of 4 →
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Anecdotes Of The Late Hugh Kelly.
himself as a Member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple , Avhere he became very acceptable to the students of that Society by his good humour and conversational talents . —He likewise distinguished himself , during his apprenticeship to the laAv , by a speech in favour of Mr . Stephens , who AA'as at that time well knoAvn by wilting a pamphlet " On the Imprisonment for Debt , " but for some reason or other was refused admittance to the BarnotAvithstanding he had performed all the
, previous requisites . ' Kelly spoke upon this subject with some force , and no inconsiderable degree of elocution , and AA'hen he drew towards the conclusion of his speech , thus expressed himself : " I have now run ' over the several objections which have been stated against this man's admission to the Bar , and do not find one strong enough to warrant a petition to the Honourable the Benchers of this
Society for his exclusion . " But perhaps his poverty may be the only objection . —If this be his crime , I have doubly a fellow-feeling for him , as , I am free to confess , feAV men have been more criminal in this line than myself—indeed so much , that should it be remembered against me , I despair of ever enjoying the professional honours of the long robe . "
, In 1770 , Kelly brought out his comedy of" A Word to the Wise , " against Avhich a strong party Avas made on the first night of its representation , under an idea that the Author Avas concerned in writing for Government . So unjust a persecution Ave never before were Avitnesses to , and we trust , for the honour of the drama , as Avell as literature in
general , that popular zeal will never rise so hig h as to condemn any author unheard , whatever may be the turn of his political opinions . . The history of this little transaction is somewhat curious . The party determined to damn this piece assembled in the pit at an early hour , and long before the beginning of the play " gave dreadful note of preparation , " by various practices of their catcalls , Sec . Sec . On the drawing up of the curtain open hostilities commenced , and
continued , with very few intervals of peace , till the fourth Act , Avhen some little hitch arising in the developement of the plot , the malcontents began with redoubled fury , and from that to the close of the play the performance was-little better " than inexplicable dumbshow . " ' ' " : Tlie comedymost evidently not having a fair trial , was , " given out
, for the next ni ght ; and though strong opposition was made to this by the avowed enemies of the Author , the uninfluenced part of the au ~ dience insisted upon their ri g ht , and it Avas accordingly , brought forward , with an intent to be supported by all those AA'I IO Avere attached to the real freedom of the press . The oppositionhovOeverrallied Avith redoubled forces . They
, , had not only a formidable phalanx in the pit and galleries ,. but their cause was insinuated into the boxes ; and when the play commenced , they shewed such determination to act as well as hiss , that , after a conflict of several hours , during Avhich most of the peaceable part of the audience left the house , the comedy , by the Author ' s . desire , was withdrawn , and a neAV piece given out for the ensuing night . . .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Anecdotes Of The Late Hugh Kelly.
himself as a Member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple , Avhere he became very acceptable to the students of that Society by his good humour and conversational talents . —He likewise distinguished himself , during his apprenticeship to the laAv , by a speech in favour of Mr . Stephens , who AA'as at that time well knoAvn by wilting a pamphlet " On the Imprisonment for Debt , " but for some reason or other was refused admittance to the BarnotAvithstanding he had performed all the
, previous requisites . ' Kelly spoke upon this subject with some force , and no inconsiderable degree of elocution , and AA'hen he drew towards the conclusion of his speech , thus expressed himself : " I have now run ' over the several objections which have been stated against this man's admission to the Bar , and do not find one strong enough to warrant a petition to the Honourable the Benchers of this
Society for his exclusion . " But perhaps his poverty may be the only objection . —If this be his crime , I have doubly a fellow-feeling for him , as , I am free to confess , feAV men have been more criminal in this line than myself—indeed so much , that should it be remembered against me , I despair of ever enjoying the professional honours of the long robe . "
, In 1770 , Kelly brought out his comedy of" A Word to the Wise , " against Avhich a strong party Avas made on the first night of its representation , under an idea that the Author Avas concerned in writing for Government . So unjust a persecution Ave never before were Avitnesses to , and we trust , for the honour of the drama , as Avell as literature in
general , that popular zeal will never rise so hig h as to condemn any author unheard , whatever may be the turn of his political opinions . . The history of this little transaction is somewhat curious . The party determined to damn this piece assembled in the pit at an early hour , and long before the beginning of the play " gave dreadful note of preparation , " by various practices of their catcalls , Sec . Sec . On the drawing up of the curtain open hostilities commenced , and
continued , with very few intervals of peace , till the fourth Act , Avhen some little hitch arising in the developement of the plot , the malcontents began with redoubled fury , and from that to the close of the play the performance was-little better " than inexplicable dumbshow . " ' ' " : Tlie comedymost evidently not having a fair trial , was , " given out
, for the next ni ght ; and though strong opposition was made to this by the avowed enemies of the Author , the uninfluenced part of the au ~ dience insisted upon their ri g ht , and it Avas accordingly , brought forward , with an intent to be supported by all those AA'I IO Avere attached to the real freedom of the press . The oppositionhovOeverrallied Avith redoubled forces . They
, , had not only a formidable phalanx in the pit and galleries ,. but their cause was insinuated into the boxes ; and when the play commenced , they shewed such determination to act as well as hiss , that , after a conflict of several hours , during Avhich most of the peaceable part of the audience left the house , the comedy , by the Author ' s . desire , was withdrawn , and a neAV piece given out for the ensuing night . . .