benevolence was m u c h appreciated, and at a subsequent meeting of the general subscribers to the Shipwreck Fund it yvas decided that a special letter of thanks should be transmitted to Mr. Coppin. T h e theatre now began tofixitself in public estimation, and though Coppin's patience was severely taxed at times, m u c h care and cleverness yvere bestoyved upon the performances, and a reasonably uniform degree of success folloyved. O n the 2nd October, that ayvkward encumbrance (a mother-in-law) caused the secession of the Youngs from the' company, because Mr. Coppin would not pay Mrs. T h o m p s o n (Mrs. Young's mother) as highly as her abilities yvere assessed by her relatives. F r o m a newspaper of the 18th October I take this notice of the theatrical doings of the period :—
QUEEN'S THEATRE.
" This emporium of public amusement opened on Saturday evening yvith the drama of ' Robert Macaire; or T h e Tyvo Murderers of Prance,' in yvhich Coppin as Jaques Strop afforded considerable merriment. Thompson, as Macaire, acquitted himself yvith great credit. Mesdames Coppin and Mereton yvere not in the back ground, and the latter, in disclaiming the foul imputation of a murderess, and watching the departing spirit of her homicidal husband, was very touching. Black Harry's hornpipe yvas yvell received, but the interlude 'The Review,' yvas the attraction of the night. This yvas Nesbitt's first appearance in Irish comedy, and he ' came out' in a very creditable way. In adapting himself, however, to the dialect of Mr. Looney Macwalter, the real accent yvould at times break through the one of fiction—not a very extraordinary circumstance, yvhen it is considered that Mr. Nesbitt's forte is tragedy. A s it yvas, hoyvever, he kept the audience in a roar of laughter; his personification of an insolent Irish servant forming a very agreeable contrast to the pliancy of Opie in Johnny Lump. Rogers, as Mr. Deputy Bull, gave a good specimen of a doating old fool, while Coppin, as Caleb Quotem, showed himself to be a regular business man. His song yvasfirst-rate.T h e evening's entertainment concluded yvith ' R e d Eric ; or T h e Banner of Blood,' in yvhich Mrs. Coppin as the Witch Glorma, and Nesbitt as the Sea King, yvere the principal characters. T h e theatre opened last evening yvith the ' Rent Day,' under the patronage of the Licensed Victuallers of Melbourne, and the house was well attended. O n Thursday his Worship the Mayor will patronise the performance for the last time prior to his vacating the Mayoralty." O n the 24th November Coppin had a slashing benefit, which must have delighted him much, for the house yvas crammed. T h e " School for Scandal " yvas played, Mr. and Mrs. Coppin sustaining the parts of Sir Peter and Lady Teazle with marked ability. Coppin gave an original version of " Billy Barlow ;" bis hits about the Mayor and his salary, the Corporation, and other local topics brought forth thunders of applause. H e netted ,£80, and this put him in such high good humour that he lost no time in entering into a fresh agreement yvith Smith, and declared he should stick to the concern for another season. Nesbitt noyv struck for higher yvages, and as Coppin yvould not accede to his demand, he cut the connection and left for Sydney. In December 1845 Coppin began to think that the speculation yvas not, after all, making him as rich as he anticipated, so he took a notion of going to India, and purchased a schooner called the " Apollo," and until he should be quite ready to set sail, placed her in the coasting trade between Melbourne and Portland. She yvas c o m m a n d e d by a Captain Loutit, w h o had occasion to run her at times into some of the small bays for shelter, and from this cause Coppin called one of them Loutit Bay in compliment to his skipper, and a second Apollo Bay, after the schooner. Changing his mind afterwards as to the Indian trip, he sold the craft to the Governmentfora buoy boat. POPPING AT COPPIN.
There yvere elements of fun in the old theatrical times in Melbourne, to enliven the occasionally dull performances, yvhich are altogether absent from the dramatic entertainments of modern days. Smoking then, though nominally prohibited, occasionally caused m u c h trouble and annoyance. Shying coppers was a pleasant variation, and sometimes profitable to the under (and often not) paid actors, who generally had the presence of mind to pick up the shot bullets. It was the lot of George Coppin to be sometimes placed
