It would seem that through Hart's "excellent action" alone Ben Jonson's Catiline (his own favourite play), which had been condemned on its first representation, was kept on the stage during the reign of Charles II. With Hart this play died.
Previous to Nell Gwyn's elevation to royal favour, it is said, upon the authority of Sir George Etherge, in Lives of the most celebrated Beauties, &c., 1715, she was "protected" by Lacy, and afterwards by Hart. Whether this be true or not, it is certain that she received instructions in the Thespian art from both of these gentlemen.
The cause of Hart retiring from the stage was in consequence of his being dreadfully afflicted with the stone and gravel, "of which he died sometime after, having a salary of forty shillings a week to the day of his death."
Hart's Christian name was Charles. He is believed by Malone to have been Shakspeare's great nephew.[[7]]
Major Mohun remained in the "United Company" after Hart's retirement.
"He was eminent for Volpone; Face, in the Alchemist; Melantius, in the Maid's Tragedy; Mardonius, in King and no King; Cassius, in Julius Cæsar; Clytus, in Alexander; Mithridates, &c. An eminent poet[[8]] seeing him act this last, vented suddenly this saying: 'Oh, Mohun, Mohun! thou little man of mettle, if I should write 100 plays, I'd write a part for thy mouth.' In short, in all his parts, he was most accurate and correct."[[9]]
Rymer remarks:
"We may remember (however we find this scene of Melanthius and Amintor written in the book) that at the Theater we have a good scene acted; there is work cut out, and both our Æsopus and Roscius are on the stage together. Whatever defect may be in Amintor and Melanthius, Mr. Hart and Mr. Mohun are wanting in nothing. To these we owe what is pleasing in the scene; and to this scene we may impute the success of the 'Maid's Tragedy.'"
Major Mohun's Christian name was Michael.
W. H. Ln.