Memoirs Of Joseph Grimaldi

JEE2IOIRS OF JOSEPH GI

323

tion and kindness on their part, and a far greater token of
their recollection of his services than he had ever expected to
receive.

The three years for which Egerton had taken Sadler's Wells
having now expired, he was requested hy the proprietors to
state what views he entertained as to retaining or giving1 up the
property. It being found impossible to comply with Ms terms,
and a Mr. "Williams,* who at that time had the Surrey, having
made an offer for the theatre, they agreed to let it to him for one
season. Soon after this agreement was entered into, "Williams
called upon Grimaldi one morning upon business, and in the
course of the interview the latter inquired by what pkn he
proposed to make both theatres answer.

"Why, Mr. Grimaldi," replied Williams, "if two theatres
could be kept open at the same expense as one, and the company
equally—mind, I say equally—good, don't you think it very
likely that the speculation would succeed?"

" Tes, I think it would," rejoined Grimaldi, doubtfully, for as
yet he understood nothing of the manager's drift; " I think it
would."

" And so do I," said the other; "and that's the way I mean
to manage. I mean to work the two theatres with one and the
same company: I mean to employ one-half the company in the
earlier part of the evening at Sadler's "Wells, and then to transfer
them to the Surrey, to finish there j—at that theatre I shall do
precisely the same: and I am now having carriages built
expressly to convey them backwards and forwards."

This system, which has since been tried (without the carriages)
at the two great houses, was actually put in practice. On
Easter Monday, 1824, the carriages began to run, and tie two
seasons commenced. The speculation turned out as Grimaldi
had anticipated—a dead failure: the lessee lost some money

* Son of the proprietor of the well-known
Bailey.

T 2

«Boiled Beef Eonse" in tlw OH Ms inability to perform, they continued to allow MTTT 5l. a