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Read Ebook: Ambrose Gwinett; or a sea-side story: a melo-drama in three acts by Jerrold Douglas William Daniel George Author Of Introduction Etc
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Editor: George Daniel
AMBROSE GWINETT; OR, A SEA-SIDE STORY:
A MELO-DRAMA,
In Three Acts,
BY D. W. JERROLD,
PRINTED FROM THE ACTING COPY, WITH REMARKS, BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL, BY D--G.
To which are added,
As now performed at the
METROPOLITAN MINOR THEATRES.
EMBELLISHED WITH A FINE ENGRAVING.
LONDON:
JOHN CUMBERLAND, 2, CUMBERLAND TERRACE, CAMDEN NEW TOWN.
REMARKS. Ambrose Gwinett.
Ambrose Gwinett favoured the world with his autobiography at a period when autobiography was a rarity. He is unquestionably the only historian who has written his life after being gibbetted--drawn and quartered we leave to the autobiographers and dramatists of another generation! Egotism under such extraordinary circumstances may surely be pardoned; and if honest Ambrose dwell somewhat complacently on certain events of deep interest and wonder, he may plead a much better excuse than our modern autobiographers, who invent much and reveal little but a tedious catalogue of fictions and vanities; a charge that applies not to the startling narrative of the poor sweeper of the once insignificant village of Charing.
"I was born," says he, "of respectable parents in the city of Canterbury, where my father dealt in slops. He had but two children, a daughter and myself; and, having given me a school education, at the age of sixteen he bound me apprentice to Mr. George Roberts, an attorney in the same town, with whom I stayed four years and three quarters, to his great content and my own satisfaction.
"The publican and his wife where I put up happened, unfortunately for me, to be acquainted with my brother and sister; and finding by the discourse that I was a relation of theirs, and going to visit them, the landlady presently said she would endeavour to get me a bed; and, going out of the kitchen, she quickly called me into a parlour that led from it. Here I saw, sitting by the fire, a middle-aged man, in a nightgown and cap, who was reckoning money at a table. 'Uncle,' said the woman, as soon as I entered, 'this is a brother of our friend, Mrs. Sawyer; he cannot get a bed anywhere, and is tired after his journey. You are the only one that lies in this house alone: will you give him a part of your's?' To this the man answered, that she knew he had been out of order,--that he was blooded that day, and consequently a bedfellow could not be very agreeable. 'However,' said he, 'rather than the young man shall sit up, he is welcome to sleep with me.' After this, we sat some time together; when, having put his money in a canvas bag into the pocket of his nightgown, he took the candle, and I followed him up to bed."
Having occasion to visit the garden during the night, the landlord lent him his pen-knife, that he might more easily open the door, the latch being broken. From this knife a piece of money falls, which Gwinett pockets. Returning to his room, he finds, to his great surprize, that his companion is absent. At six o'clock he rises, dresses himself hastily, and, impatient to see his sister , lets himself out at the street door.
He has not been above an hour or two with his relations, before three horsemen arrive, arrest him for robbery and murder, and he is carried back to Deal, to be dealt with accordingly.
He is taken with the knife in his possession, tried, condemned, and executed: yet, strange to say, the man yet lived; his groans were heard from the gibbet, and he was rescued from his frightful situation by his master's dairymaid. He took ship, went abroad, and encountered Collins, the supposed victim, who, it appeared, had been forced from his home by a press-gang. After enduring many perils, he returned to his native land, crippled and poor, and subsequently became sweeper of the road at Charing Cross.
Mr. Jerrold has heightened the interest of his drama by superadding the passions of love and jealousy. We have no objection to fiction when it conduces to effect; and three rounds of applause are sufficient to justify any interpolation. This piece was well acted, and brought ample receipts to the treasury of the Coburg.
D--G.
Costume.
LABEL.--Barber's dress--three cornered hat and cane.
WILL ASH and BLACKTHORN.--Short tunics, &c.
GEORGE.--Sailor's dress.
BOLT.--Dark tunic, &c.
OFFICER.--The usual costume.
REEF.--Blue jacket--white trowsers--straw hat.
MARY.--Peasant's dress.
Cast of the Characters
No, no, not if these prison walls were turned to gold, and I by fulfilling this hateful task, might become the whole possessor, I would not do it--as I have a soul, I would not.
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