_Monday, 11th._--Find other Richmonds in the field, the Kembles being
announced also, for to-night, at the Holiday Theatre, under the
management of Mr. De Camp: I occupying "Front Street," with what is
termed the regular Baltimore company. My front will prove in the rear, I
fear.
This _untoward_ meeting was purely accidental; a thing not desired or
premeditated by either party: my interest and inclination making it
desirable that I should give these attractive objects to the rest of the
world, what sailors term, "a wide berth." Shame that I should say so,
and a lady concerned too!
_The Front Street._--A huge theatre, nearly as large as Covent-Garden.
At night, I found there was indeed ample space "and verge enough." My
clients, however, were uproariously merry, and made up for half an
audience by bestowing upon the performance a double allowance of
applause.
_Tuesday, 12th_--At 'em again!--"the Holiday" against "the Front!" I
have discovered that the _people_ are with _us_; "the Holiday" being
considered the aristocratic house, and "the Front," being, indeed, the
work of an opposition composed of the sturdy democracy of the good city.
The manager says that last night our side was taken by surprise, but
that now our forces are afoot. The worst of my case is, that I am
compelled, _mal-gre bon-gre_, to laugh at my "beggarly account of empty
boxes:" my tragic rivals may, at least, have the satisfaction of
lowering upon their empty pit. But the _people_ are for us, consequently
the right is with us; _ergo_, we must prevail.
_Eight o'clock_ P.M.--A narrower selvage round the vast area of our
_parterre_. "Front Street" for ever!
_Wednesday, 12th._--I, this night at least, had the satisfaction of
seeing my antagonists; for in the side-box I spied Messrs. Kemble and De
Camp laughing to my teeth. I would have forgiven this, and joined with
the wags, had my forces been assembled; but the musters on our side I
find are not yet quite complete.
_Tuesday, 18th._--The struggle continued until yesterday without either
party being able to claim an absolute victory; nor is it for me now to
record a triumph, since I left the allies yet camping on the field,
whilst on their part they must at least admit that I marched off with
all the honours of war.
This day returned to Philadelphia--weather yet unbroken. Reached Mr.
Head's in time to come in with the dinner.
_Wednesday, Nov. 20th._--Took a long walk round the city; the weather
fine. About midday Chestnut-street assumed quite a lively and very
attractive appearance, for it was filled with shopping-parties of
well-dressed women, and presented a sprinkling of carriages neatly
appointed and exceedingly well horsed.
Satisfied that I am correct in my judgment, when I assert that this
population has the happiness to possess an unusual share of handsome
girls. They walk with a freer air and more elastic step than their fair
rivals of New York; have clear brunette complexions, and eyes of great
beauty.
The theatre very full, and the dress-boxes containing a large
proportion of ladies.
_21st._--On horseback early; crossed the Schuylkill, over the Manayunk
bridge, and back by the right bank of the river. The piers of a viaduct,
about to be thrown from the opposite heights by the Lancaster Rail-road
Company, already much elevated since my first visit here in September.
Highly beneficial to the community, no doubt; but destructive of the
repose and seclusion of this charming scene. The sweetest spots, and
such as one would most desire to conserve, seem to be always the places
peculiarly selected for these useful but most unpicturesque invasions.
_23rd._--Visited the dock-yard in company with Lieutenant I----d. A
three-decker, classed according to law as a seventy-four, almost ready
to be sent off the stocks--a noble ship. A frigate is housed close by
her, but looks a mere toy when one views it immediately after having
contemplated the proportions of the Pennsylvania. This dockyard is
smaller, and in appearance inferior every way to that of Boston.
_27th._--Having exhausted all the rides in the immediate neighbourhood,
I this day determined upon widening my circle; so went, accompanied by
K----r, about fifteen miles up the Delaware by the Bristol road.
On the way-side we halted to look upon a mansion, made memorable for
ever by one of those wild atrocities, the details of which indeed
appear, upon review, fitter for the pages of romance than for a journal
of every-day life, yet too striking to be heard and forgotten, or passed
by without comment. I must only premise, that the affair I am about to
describe is of recent occurrence, and strictly true in all its horrible
details.