Robert William Elliston (1774-1831), actor and manager, famous for his stage lovers, both in comedy and tragedy. His Charles Surface was said to be unequalled, and both in Hotspur and Hamlet he was great. His last performance was in June, 1831, a very short time before his death.
Page 189, line 7. Thin ghosts. In the London Magazine the passage ran:—
"Thin ghosts of Figurantes (never plump on earth) admire, while with uplifted toe retributive you inflict vengeance incorporeal upon the shadowy rear of obnoxious author, just arrived:—
"'what seem'd his tail
The likeness of a kingly kick had on.
* * * * *
"'Yet soon he heals: for spirits, that live throughout
Vital in every part, not as frail man
In entrails, head, or heart, liver or veins,
Can in the liquid texture mortal wound
Receive no more, than can the liquid air,
All heart they live, all head, all eye.'"
Page 189, line 11 from foot. À la Foppington. In Vanbrugh's
"Relapse."
In the Englishman's Magazine the article ended, after "Plaudito, et Valeto," with: "Thy friend upon Earth, though thou did'st connive at his d——n."
The article was signed Mr. H., the point being that Elliston had played Mr. H. at Drury Lane in Lamb's unlucky farce of that name in 1806.
* * * * *
Page 190. ELLISTONIANA.
See note at the head of "To the Shade of Elliston," above.