Was now the parting scene, and the hand of the clock pointed very near to the time for the departure of the coach. The bustle of this place prevented the Trio from much conversation; but the separation of such staunch pals was a trying moment to the feelings of poor Jerry: and though he was above blubbering like a Johnny Raw, yet his Heart was rather touched, and his ogles underwent some queer sensations, which he endeavoured to suppress, when Coachy asked “if all was right” and began to smack his whip.
The hearty grasps of the hand, and the good-byes were over between Hawthorn and his pals, and Tom and Logic were only waiting to see the coach start, when Jerry, with much eagerness of expression, as if he had forgotten to mention the circumstance previously, said, “my dear Coz”—but the coach was now fast rattling over the stones, and the last broken sentence which the ear of the Corinthian caught was, “Mention me in the kindest manner to the lovely Sue; tell her I am only gone into training, and in the course of a few weeks I shall most certainly return to London to enjoy a few more sprees (which I have so unexpectedly been deprived of), and also to have with her the pleasure of another game at romps.”
The End.
The Adelphi version of Tom and Jerry, or Life in London, was performed ninety-three nights in succession; and its golden career only stopped by the termination of the season. At the end of which, Little Bob Keeley, who had made a great hit as Jemmy Green—a character imported into the piece by Mr. W. T. Moncrieff—went with Walbourn, the great Dusty Bob, and Cooper, who played to the life, Little Jemmy, the cripple, to Sadler’s Wells Theatre, were Pierce Egan’s own version was produced April 8th, 1822. Keeley was threatened by the Adelphi lessees—Messrs. Rodwell and Jones—with an action for breach of engagement, but the action was never brought. In the season of 1822-3 at the Adelphi, John Reeve—‘Glorious John!’ became Jerry Hawthorn, Mr. Brown took the part of Jemmy Green, and several other changes in the original cast were effected. At Christmas, 1822, Tom and Jerry was compressed so as to admit of the production of a pantomime called Beauty and the Beast, or, Harlequin and the Magic Rose. When the managers announced that:—
“In consequence of the astonishing Overflows to witness the admired Extravaganza of Tom and Jerry, or Life in London, and to prevent, as far as possible, any unpleasant Disappointment, the Public are respectfully informed that:—
NO PLACES, IN FUTURE CAN BE KEPT, UNLESS PAID FOR WHEN TAKEN.
Shouts of Laughter and Applause attend each Representation of the New Pantomime.”
When the long run of Tom and Jerry ended at the Adelphi, a spectacular extravaganza of the same kind was produced with the title of “Green in France,” but it did not catch the fancy of the town like its predecessors.[34]