13 May 1854
Sat. 13 . Warm—shower P.M. Rehearsal A.M. walking & studying P.M. at Theatre 7 P.M. H Chapman's benefit—Chapman wanting some attraction for his benefit I foolishly gave him my piece of "Laugh and Grow Fat"—foolishly because it was not well cast and so came near being damned—Dumps, the principal part after my own, on whom it devolves to be letter-perfect—the whole play depending on that character—was entrusted to J. T. Lorton—who might have done something with the part had he been himself, but having been on a spree for the last five days, and being stupidly drunk this evening—he killed, most effectually, all the scenes in which he was concerned. I was obliged to tell him nearly every line he spoke. In the last scene he capped the climax. According to his part the plot of the piece, Dumps has to be arrested on a charge of mal-practice , but on this occasion Dumps insisted upon the policemen arresting me—and it required considerable coaxing to induce the refractory Doctor to leave the stage so that the play might be ended. I will be quits with Mr Lorton for his contemptible conduct towards me—especially as he had made strong professions of friendship and faithfully promised, when the piece was first cast, to do all in his power to render it successful. Indeed, no drunkard will ever find favor with me in this profession—The house was the best of the three Benefits