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When last in Paris, I had been to the Theatre Frangais to see a petite comedy
performed, entitled "Les Deux Postes," and delighted I was with the manner in
which it was acted. Baptiste, the elder, played the Blind Old Man to
admiration. Indeed, the whole dramatis personae were perfect. I procured a
copy of the piece, and gave it to my friend George Colman, who, being pleased
with the subject, resolved to write a musical afterpiece from it ; and his
adaptation was far superior to the original, as indeed was every thing he did
in the same way. It was brought out on the 28th January, under the title of
"We Fly by Night ; or, Long Stories," at Covent Garden Theatre. I composed the
whole of the music. Munden's personification of the Old Story-teller was
perfect ; indeed, all the performers in the piece gave it their best support ; it was
strongly cast. Liston and Fawcett were exquisitely comic ; the part of the
Englishman (in the French original so well performed by Baptiste the younger)
was transposed into a Frenchman, and very well acted by Farley ; Miss Tyrer,
now Mrs. Liston, was truly comic in the Landlady, and sang with her usual
sweetness; Miss Bavies was the Heroine. The piece was eminently successful,
and had a great run. Both Miss Tyrer and Miss Davies were pupils of Mrs.
Crouch and myself. Mrs. Liston was always attentive to her profession, and
scrupulously honourable in fulfilling all her engagements.
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