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under m y arm, and yvent through strange vicissitudes that yvould be considered quite sensational in description. At nineteen I yvas engaged as ' second fiddle ' in the orchestra, and second low comedian at the Woolwich Theatre by M r . Faucett, and before the season terminated I became his stage manager, and first foyv comedian at a salary of 2rs. per yveek. M y next engagement yvas with M r . Davenport (the model of Charles Dickens's Vincent Crummies), at Richmond; salary, 25s. a yveek, upon condition that in addition to m y playing in the orchestra, second low c o m e d y upon the stage, dancing and singing between the pieces—I should also teach the infant phenomenon to sing and dance, yvhich I did. I yvas then engaged for London. Subsequently took Mr. Compton's situation in the York Circuit, at a salary of 30s. a yveek, when that celebrated comedian yvent to London. I aftenvards visited Belfast, Glasgoyv, and Dublin. Starred it through Ireland and a portion of England, sailed from Liverpool in the 'Templar' on the 17th November, 1842, and arrived in Sydney on the ioth March, 1843, only 113 days on the voyage, yvhich yvas considered not so bad at that time. M yfirstsensation in Melbourne yvas m y arrival with a complete company and band, yvithout having m a d e any arrangement for their appearance at the only theatre. I had to rent the large hall at the Royal Hotel, and threaten a strong opposition to force the manager of the Queen's Theatre into terms. M y next sensation yvas covering the stage with a piece of drugget for the production of ' T h e School for Scandal.' It was considered a lavish expenditure, although it did not cost as m a n y shillings as I have since paid pounds for the Theatre Royal carpet. Since that time m y motto has been ' Progress.' Having read in some print that Coppin had sung one song 250 times in succession in Dublin, I wrote to him for its name, and was courteously favoured yvith this reply : — " Y o u sang ' Billy Barloyv ' 250 times at the Abbey Street Theatre, Dublin, in 1842, local verses, three and four times a night.' Poor Lysteryvas very fond of relating a singular circumstance. H e was a middy on board a sailing ship. T h e night before leaving Dublin he visited the Abbey Street Theatre, and heard m e sing ' Billy Barloyv.' T h e ship put into two or three ports on her yvay to Sydney. T h e day after arrival, young Lyster went to the Victoria Theatre, and to his great astonishment heard m e singing ' Billy Barlow '—the same dress, &c. H e described the feeling as most bewildering, and the impression m a d e on him was so strong that he remembered the local verses, and frequently used to sing them, to the great delight of friends w h o were favoured yvith his interesting anecdote." T h e "poor Lyster " referred to here is the " M r . W . S." of that ilk, so well known in connection with the operatic history of Victoria, and whose death in 1881 was universally regretted. Mr. Coppin shortly after his arrival in Sydney arranged to appear at the Victoria Theatre there upon a share of the profits, and frequently received upwards of .£50 a night as his proportion of the takings. H e m a d e a little fortune by acting—lost it in publichouse business through inexperience, left Sydney in debt, and m a d e hisfirstappearance in Hobart T o w n on the 5th of January, 1845. After playing a very successful " star" engagement there, he commenced management in Launceston on the 3rd March, 1845, and encouraged by a prosperous season, engaged (paying all expenses) his company to visit Port Phillip and try his fortune there. Mr. Coppin remained in Melbourne until August, 1846, when his next m o v e was to South Australia, where he built a theatre infiveyveeks, and commenced management in Adelaide on the 2nd of November. H e also built a theatre at Port Adelaide; m a d e a large fortune—lost it in copper mining by the discovery of gold in Victoria ; went through the Insolvent Court; returned to Melbourne : yvalked to the diggings yvithout sixpence in his pocket; walked back again within a fortnight with blistered hands, a backache, and no gold; played a short "star" engagement, and commenced management in Geelong in 1852, and m a d e another' fortune, M o n d a y nights' receipts frequently paying the weekly expenses. Retiring from the management, he revisited his old friends, the Adelaide creditors, who, believing in the man, had, in the midst of'his embarrassments, given him free leave and license to leave their colony. H e invited them to dinner and by way of dessert handed to each a cheque for 20s. in the £ a condiment not often found amongst debtors. Returning to Melbourne he was able in January, 1854, to withdraw from business with a handsome competence, and he proceeded to England, after which he returned to Victoria, and carved out for himself a future prolific of many and important results, to some of which special reference will be m a d e before this chapter closes.