Memoirs Of Joseph Grimaldi

330 MEMOIRS OF JOSEPH GBIMALDI.

"Leave it all to me," said Miss Kelly, "and I'll arrange
pretty nearly everything for you. without a moment's loss of
time. There must be two benefits, one at Sadler's Wells, and
the other at Covent G-arden. The former benefit must take
place first, so you go and consult the proprietors upon the
subject at once, and I'll lose no time in furthering your inte-
rests elsewhere."

The promptitude and decision which Miss Kelly so kindly
evinced, infused something of a similar spirit into the invalid.
He promised that he would see the proprietors immediately;
and, in spite of a severe attack of spasms, which almost
deprived him of speech, went that same night to Sadler's "Wells,
and stated his intention to take a farewell benefit. He was
received with the greatest friendship and liberality: they at
•once entered into his views, and gave an unanswerable proof of
the sincerity with which they did so, by offering him the use of
the house gratuitously. Monday, March the 17th, was fixed
for the occasion; and no sooner was it known decidedly when
the benefit was to take place, than Mr. T. Dibdin, assembling
the company, acquainted them with the circumstance, and
suggested that their offering to play gratuitously would be both,
a well-timed compliment and a real assistance. The hint was
no sooner given than it was most cheerfully responded to : the
performers immediately proffered their services, the band did
the same, and every person in the theatre was anxious and
eager to render every assistance in his or her power, and to
"put their shoulders to the wheel, in behalf of poor old Joe."

The following is a copy of the bill of performance put forth on
this occasion:—

"SADLER'S WELLS,

MR. GBIMALDI'S NIGHX,

And Last Appearance at this Theatre.

Monday, March 17, 1828.
"It is most respectfully announced that Mr. (Mmaldi, fromd, " The Caliph and the Cadi," was revived, and in order to