Thomas Doggett : a Famous Comedian. By Theodore Andrea Cook
and Guy Nickalls. (A. Constable and Co. 10s. 6d. net)— Mr. Cook relates the story of Doggett the "Man" ; Mr. Nickalls tells about the " Race." The actor's story begins with a lament over the transitorineas of the fame which attends the stage. It is great while it lasts, though not so great, it is probable, as it was a hundred and eighty years ago,—what should we think now of a famous actress lying in state in the Jerusalem Chamber as did Nance Oldfield, who died in 1730? The facts of Thomas Doggett's life are not very fully known. He was acting at Drury Lane in 1691; he left the stage in 1714., and died at Eltham, where he seems to have lived for some time, seven years later. His will was made, as was the almost universal custom of the time, only a few days before his death,—he was buried on September 27th, and the document bears date September 10th. He left 41,500 in legacies, and directed the purchase of lands which would yield an annual income of £10,—.45 was to go for a badge of silver weighing twelve ounces, £1 19s. for the coat, .21 10s. to the clerk of the Watermen's Company, and the balance to the trustees. The Fishmongers' Company undertook for £350 to carry out the bequest, and if it invested the money in land must have made a good thing out of it. The race was first rowed in 1715. The names of the winners are given on pp. 84-89; but as at first no regular record was kept some few are lost. Later benefactors have added other prizes.
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