Mrs. Thomson), and a colonial actor and author named Belfield, who took a poorish benefit in a piece of his own, entitled " The Rebel Chief." Christmas Eve, 1849, was very near presenting a tragedy in real life, for Mrs. Thomson went (so saith the doctors) within an eighth of an inch of killing herself. Having to appear in a prominent character in " T h e Bridge of Sighs," she is supposed to stab herself, and drop to the ground. By mistake the dagger handed for the suicidal finale yvas a sharp-pointed one, and when she delivered the prod it yvent further than intended, and was nearly fatal. Selt-yvounded, she tottered and fell on the stage. T h e blood spurted out, and in the midst of tremendous uproar Dr. Campbell yvas hurriedly brought. O n examination he ascertained that the weapon had penetrated two inches into her body in the immediate region of the heart, and very little further yvould have ended the lady's career on and off the boards of a theatre. H e staunched and dressed the wound, had the patient removed, and after a short laying-up she recovered. Nothing worthy of special notice occurred until 5th March, 1850, yvhen a grand concert yvas given by a Mr. Reed. It yvas under the patronage of the Superintendent (Mr. Latrobe), and yvas most respectably and numerously attended. Miss Sara Flower made her appearance, and yvas supported by Messrs. Young, Megson, Thomson, Lord, and Miss E m m a Reed. T h e usual orchestra was reinforced by Hore's Saxhorn Band, and a capital bill of fare, very meritoriously disposed of, yvound up yvith "Julien's celebrated D r u m Polka." THE FIRST.LOCAL PANTOMIME
Was produced on 13th May, 1850, when Young took a benefit. The pantomime, entirely new and local, was " yvritten by Mr. Young expressly for the occasion." T h e introduction of such a novelty—the first home-made composition of the kind—seems in itself of sufficient importance to justify the insertion of the name and characters of the piece. It was entitled— THE GOBLIN OF THE GOLD COAST ; Or, H A R L E Q U I N A A N D T H E MEI.BOURNITES IN CALIFORNIA,
Jupiter Mars Neptune Minerva
CELESTIALS: Mr. Belfield Hercules Mr. Wood Pluto Mr. Thompson Venus Mrs. Deering Diana TERRESTRIALS :
Mr. Charles Mr. Turner Mrs. M'Knight Mrs. Avins
Chief-Constable Brodie Mr. Ward Dick Batters (the Tinman) Mr. Montague (In which he will sing an entirely new Parody, written for this occasion, entitled, " H U R R A H ! H U R R A H ! F O R T H E GOLD.") Powel Courtier, of Cookshop Notoriety Mr. Thompson Bernard Reynolds (on the patriotic principle) ... Mr. Belfield Lumina (afterwards Columbine) ... Mrs. Avins INFERNALS : The Demon of Discord Mr. Deering Gilderkin (the Goblin) Mr. Hasker Platina (the Gold King) Mr. Crisp Ironspark, Firefly, Pinchbeck, Quicksilver, Virgingold, Copperous, etc., etc.—By a host of Auxiliaries.
There was not much merit in the production, and the " locals" had neither point nor humour to recommend them ; but the sound and fury, the jumping and capering, seemed from the uproarious acclamations to afford unstinted gratification to a thronged attendance, and Young and his patrons parted at a late hour mutually delighted with the interview. For some time Mr. J. T. Smith had ardently ambitioned election to the Mayor's Chair. H e was a leading m e m b e r of the City Council, and so surely did he calculate the probabilities of his election, that he divested himself of the theatrical management, yvhich he held to be incompatible with the office of Chief Magistrate. In October, Messrs. Morton King and Charles Young became the lessees, and declared it was their intention " to introduce all the available talent of the colonies as soon as possible, and to conduct the theatre upon a scale of respectability and liberality." Amongst other so-called improvements the place yvas decorated with gorgeous Italian scroll-work, painted in a most elaborate and chaste manner by
