Of Mrs. Crouch, née Phillips, I have already written, slightly, as an Actress. She was born in 1763, and went early on the stage, making her début, at Drury Lane, in the play of "The Lord of the Manor," in 1780, so that she was but 17. In 1784, she went to Ireland, where her admirers were numerous, and some most passionate. One young man, whose affection she did not return, declared he would shoot both her, and himself—and went to the theatre, ostensibly to carry out his threat, but he was ejected from the building, and, ultimately, left the country.
But there was, about this time, a very romantic episode in her life. She was loved by a young man, heir to a title, and fortune, and she returned his love. Naturally, under the circumstances, his family had higher matrimonial aims for him, so the young people had no other course open to them, than a clandestine Marriage. They were even before the Altar, of a Roman Catholic Chapel, but the priest refused to marry them, on hearing the name of the bridegroom, unless he had his father's consent. No priest could be found to marry them, for the lover was under age, so the love lorn couple eloped, hoping, at some seaside port to find a ship for Scotland. They were followed by both irate fathers, Mr. Phillips having informed the other. The lovers were separated, but history is silent as to whether they ever met again.
After she got over this disappointment, which took some time, she married Lieutenant Crouch of the Navy,—good looking, but dissipated, and spendthrift.—Of course the marriage was not a happy one, and they parted:
Her voice was exquisitely sweet, and she was a most graceful actress. She kept her hold on the public, and was on the stage until a short time before her death, in 1805.
The names of Incledon, and Braham, have only to be mentioned, to recall their vocal triumphs.
Benjamin Charles Incledon, was the son of a surgeon—and was born at St. Keveran, in Cornwall, in 1764. He made his first appearance, in London, in 1790—when he played in "The poor Soldier." He, at once, became a public favourite, and so continued until his retirement from the stage, which was some time before his death, in 1826. His acting was clumsy, and ungraceful, but his sweet voice rendered him unequalled in ballad singing, which was his especial forte.
John Braham, (or more correctly Abraham,) was born of Jewish parents, in London, A.D. 1774. Early left an orphan, he was brought up by Leoni, a celebrated Italian Singer, and so well taught by him, was he, that he came out, as a public vocalist, before he was eleven years old, when he sang bravura songs, which had been written for Madame Mara. After singing, both in English, and Italian, Opera, he went to Italy—and, after his return, he appeared at Covent Garden, in 1801. He died in 1856.
Michael Kelly was both composer, and singer, but he cannot take rank with either Incledon, or Braham. He made his first appearance on the stage of the Metropolis, at Drury Lane, in 1787. He composed elegant, and pretty, airs, and he sang nicely, but many of his compositions are said to have had their origin in Italian, and German, sources. This gave rise to a bon mot of Sheridan's, when he heard that Kelly had turned wine merchant—he suggested that, over his door, should be painted, "Michael Kelly, composer of wine, and importer of music." Died 1826.
Ballet at the King's Theatre,—Pantheon,—1791.