Chelsea, in the Olden & Present TimesBryan, George
History
Chelsea, in the Olden & Present Times
Bryan, George
Chelsea (London, England) -- History
John Camden Neild, Esq., was a magistrate for the county, and the son of
the preceding. He resided in his late father’s house in Cheyne Walk, and
bequeathed half a million of money to Queen Victoria. He died in 1852.
* * * * *
John Goss, Esq., the present organist of St. Paul’s Cathedral, lived at
No. 3, Cheyne Walk. He was appointed Organist of St. Luke’s New Church,
when that sacred edifice was completed. His proficiency, even at that
early period of his musical life, excited general admiration, and large
portions of the congregation frequently waited in the Church, at the
close of Divine Service, to listen to his concluding performances.
* * * * *
There are several highly respectable families, who have for many years
resided in Cheyne Walk, of whom it would have been only an act of justice
to notice, but the strict rules of propriety prevent my discharging an
otherwise pleasing duty, which, in some instances especially, is much to
be regretted, as they take a deep interest in the promotion of whatever
tends to enhance the welfare of the parish.
DOGGETT’S COAT AND BADGE.
Mr. Thomas Doggett, a native of Ireland, was an actor, and made his first
appearance in Dublin; but his efforts not meeting with sufficient
encouragement he removed to London, where he performed with great
reputation, and by his talents, industry, and economy, acquired a
competent fortune, and quitted the stage some years before he died. He
was also a patentee and manager of the theatre with Wilks, Booth, and
Cibber; the latter of whom gives Doggett the following character:—“He was
the most original and the strictest observer of nature of all his
cotemporaries. He borrowed from none of them; his manner was his own, he
was a pattern to others, whose greatest merit was that they had sometimes
tolerably imitated him. In dressing a character to the greatest
exactness, he was remarkably skilful; the least article of whatsoever
habit he wore seemed in some measure to speak the different humour he
presented, a necessary care in a comedian, in which many have been too
remiss or ignorant. His greatest success was in characters of lower
life, which he improved from the delight he took in his observations of
that kind in the real world. In songs, and particular dances too of
humour, he had no competitor. Congreve was a great admirer of him, and
found his account in the characters he expressly wrote for him. In those
of Fondlewife in his Old Bachelor, and Ben in Love for Love, no author
and actor could be more obliged to their mutual masterly performances.
He was very acceptable to several persons of high rank and taste, though
he seldom cared to be the comedian, but among his more intimate
acquaintances.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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