And to the equipoise of English fun,
Exalt the lowly and bring down the great.
Covent Garden re-opened in September; and this year he was in constant requisition before Christmas, as well as after, Aladdin being found an extremely profitable piece. "Harlequin and the Swans, or the Bath of Beauty," was produced at Christmas,[63] and followed at Easter by "Sadak and Kalasrade," in which Grimaldi played Hassan.
[63] "Harlequin and the Swans," produced at Covent Garden on December 27, 1813, presented two Harlequins, Bologna, jun., and Ellar, who then made his first appearance at that theatre. Grimaldi played in the prelude, "Doctor Tumble Tuzzy," Chief Physician to the Court, when, if laughter be physic to the megrims, he and his assistant medical gentleman flung it about in no small potions.
The Grand Asiatic Spectacle of "Sadak and Kalasrade" was produced at the same Theatre on Easter Monday, April 11, 1814; Sadak, by Mr. Abbott; Hassan, his Slave, by Mr. Grimaldi; Agra, Principal Dancer, by Mr. Ellar; Kalasrade, by Mrs. H. Johnston. On the same night, Sadler's Wells commenced the season of 1814, with Joe's Comic Dance of "Fun and Physic," and the Pantomime of "Rival Genii; or Harlequin Wild Man." Ellar made his first appearance there as Harlequin in the "Rival Genii;" Clown, Mr. Grimaldi, with a new song, called "Frost Fair; or, the Disasters of Mr. Higgins and Mrs. Wiggins." As these pieces were frequently performed on the same evening at the two theatres, it was a regular run for both from the Wells to Covent Garden.
Having now none of those amusements which in former years had served to employ his idle hours having lost his flies, given up his pigeons, removed from Finchley, sold his house, and resigned his garden, he devoted the whole of his leisure time to the society and improvement of his son. As he could not bear to part with him, and was wholly unable to make up his mind to send him to any great boarding-school, he was partly educated at the same school at which his father had been a pupil, and partly by masters who attended him at home. The father appears to have bestowed great and praiseworthy care upon his education. Although at this time he was only twelve years old, he had not only quite mastered the common rudiments of learning, but had become well acquainted with French literature, and wrote the language with ease and propriety. He had at a very early age manifested a great fondness for music, especially the violin, and had acquired great proficiency on that instrument, under the tuition of one of the first masters in the country.
As he was a very clever boy, was an excellent dancer, and displayed a great fondness and aptitude for the stage, his father finding that his inclinations lay irrevocably that way, determined to encourage them, and accordingly proceeded to instruct him in melodrama and pantomime. He fancied that in his old age, when his own heyday of fame and profit was over, he should gather new life from the boy's success, and that old times would be called up vividly before him when he witnessed his popularity in characters which had first brought his father before the public, and enabled him gradually, after the loss of his property, to acquire an independent and respectable station in society. The wish was a natural one, and the old man cherished it dearly for many years. It was decreed otherwise; and although in his better days the blight of this hope caused him great grief and misery, he endeavoured to bear it with humility and resignation.
On the 26th of April[64] he resumed his labours at Sadler's Wells. He acted in a drama called the "Slave Pirate," which was successful. His first benefit brought him 216l., and his second 263l. 10s.; the last-named being the best he ever had at that house.
[64] Sadler's Wells opened April 11th, not the 26th. The Aqua-Drama of "Kaloc; or, The Pirate Slave," Kaloc, by Mr. Grimaldi, performed in the previous season, for the first time, August 9th, 1813, was not played during that of 1814.