found to Malevole, a servant, in Moultrie's 'False and True,' Haymarket, 11 Aug. 1798.
Waldron was not only actor and playwright, but also editor and bookseller. In 1789 he brought out an edition of Downes's 'Roscius Anglicanus' with some notes. From 54 Drury Lane he issued in octavo in 1792 'The Literary Museum, or Ancient and Modern Repository,' also published with another title-page as 'The Literary Museum, or a Selection of Scarce Old Tracts,' forming a work of considerable literary and antiquarian interest. He followed this up with the 'Shakspearean Miscellany' (London, 1802, four parts, 4to), a second collection of scarce tracts, chiefly from manuscripts in his possession, with notes by himself and portraits of actors, poems (then unpublished) by Donne and Corbet, and other curious works. Both of these heterogeneous collections are scarce. Waldron also wrote or compiled the lives in the 'Biographical Mirrour' (3 vols. 1795–8), 'Free Reflections on Miscellaneous Papers and Legal Instruments [purporting to be] under the hand and seal of W. Shakespeare in the possession of S. Ireland' (1796, 8vo), 'A Compendious History of the English Stage' (1800, 12mo), 'A Collection of Miscellaneous Poetry' (1802, 4to), and 'The Celebrated Romance intituled Rosalynde. Euphues Golden Legacie' (1802), with notes forming a supplement to the 'Shakspearean Miscellany.' He also contributed a notice of Thomas Davies, the actor and bookseller, to Nichols's 'Literary Anecdotes.'
Waldron died in March 1818, probably at his house in Drury Lane. His portrait as Sir Christopher Hatton in the 'Critic' was painted by Harding and engraved by W. Gardiner in 1788 (Bromley, p. 415). His antiquarian compilations constitute his chief claim to recognition, and show a range of reading rare among actors. Such of his dramas as were printed are without originality or value (though Gifford praises Waldron's continuation of the 'Sad Shepherd'), and as an actor he never got beyond what is known as 'utility.'
[Works cited; Gent. Mag. 1818, i. 283–4; Genest's Account of the English Stage; Biographia Dramatica; Gilliland's Dramatic Mirror; Thespian Dictionary; Doran's Annals of the Stage, ed. Lowe; Young's Memoirs of Mrs. Crouch; Secret History of the Green Room; Allibone's Dictionary; Watt's Bibl. Brit.; Lowndes's Bibliographer's Manual; Brit. Mus. Cat.]
WALDRON, GEORGE (1690–1730?), topographer and poet, born in 1690, was son of Francis Waldron of London, who was descended from an ancient family in Essex. He appears to have received his early education at Felsted school, and on 7 May 1706 he was matriculated at Queen's College, Oxford. He resided in the Isle of Man, where he acted as commissioner from the British government to watch the trade of the island in the interests of the excise. He died in England prior to 1731, just after he had obtained a new deputation from the British government.
Soon after his death his 'Compleat Works in Verse and Prose' were 'printed for the widow and orphans,' London, 1731, fol. The dedication to William O'Brien, earl of Inchiquin, is signed by Theodosia Waldron. The first contains 'Miscellany Poems,' and the second part consists of 'Tracts, Political and Historical,' including Waldron's principal work, 'A Description of the Isle of Man.' This work, written in 1726, was reprinted at London, 1744, 12mo; another edition appeared in 1780; and it was edited, with an introductory notice and notes by William Harrison (1802–1884) [q. v.], for the publications of the Manx Society (vol. xi. Douglas, 1865, 8vo). Sir Walter Scott while writing 'Peveril of the Peak' made large use of this work, and transferred long extracts from it to his notes to that romance. Waldron's production he characterised as 'a huge mine, in which I have attempted to discover some specimens of spar, if I cannot find treasure.' Most of the writers on the Isle of Man have given Waldron's legends a prominent place in their works.
Among his other works are:
- 'A Perswasive Oration to the People of Great Britain to stand up in defence of their Religion and Liberty,' London, 1716, 8vo.
- 'A Speech made to the Loyal Society, at the Mug-House in Long-Acre; June the 7th, 1716. Being the Day for the Public Thanksgiving, for putting an end to that most unnatural Rebellion,' London, 1716, 4to.
- 'A Poem, humbly inscrib'd to … George, Prince of Wales,' London, 1717, fol.
- 'The Regency and Return, a Poem humbly inscribed to … Lord Newport, son and heir to … Richard, Earl of Bradford' [London, 1717?], fol.
- 'An Ode on the 28th of May, being the Anniversary of his Majesty's happy Nativity' [London], 1723, 8vo.
[Harrison's Bibl. Monensis (1876), pp. 24, 28, 48, 219; Notes and Queries, 3rd ser. vi. 348; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1500–1714.]
WALE, Sir CHARLES (1763–1845), general, born on 5 Aug. 1763, was second son of Thomas Wale of Shelford, Cambridgeshire, by Louisa Rudolphina, daughter of
