Publication Details | Synopsis | Secondary Commentary |Varieties & Dialects | Other
Publication details |
Author: Cumberland, Richard
Author dates: 1732-1811
Title: The Sailor’s Daughter
First played: 1804
First published: 1804, by Luke Hansard for Lackington, Allen & Co. 86 p.
C18th availability: Not available (not 18thC)
Modern availability: Available from LION (1997)
http://lion.chadwyck.com/toc.do?action=new&divLevel=0&mapping=toc&area=Drama&id=Z000070148&forward=tocMarc&DurUrl=Yes
Genre: Comedy
Character types: Irish; Nautical; Medical
Synopsis |
The orphaned Julia Clareville, who lives with the apothecary Hartshorn and his wife, receives money from an unknown source: is it from the "prig" Varnish or from the mysterious Captain Sentamour? Sentamour approaches Julia in the guise of an apothecary. He cures Sir Mathew Moribund. Sentamour and Julia are married. Mandeville, Sir Mathew's nephew, marries Julia's friend Louisa Davenant.
Act I.
Mrs. Hartshorn tells her husband, an apothecary, that she disapproves of Julia Clareville, their Irish tenant. Julia’s father, Captain Edmund Clareville, died during an amputation in a navel battle. Mrs. Hartshorn worries that the town is mocking the family because of the pretty young girl; she and Hartshorn fight. Julia enters and suggests that she leave, to Hartshorn’s disapproval. Hartshorn warns Julia against Varnish, a “prig”, and tells her that her father’s dying wish was to betroth her to Captain Sentamour, a naval officer. Hartshorn knows that an unknown friend sends Julia money; he suspects that it is Sentamour. Varnish enters unseen. He overhears Hartshorn deriding his character, and demands an explanation. Hartshorn refuses to apologize. Varnish suggests that he would be better able to provide for Julia than her unknown friend; Julia tells him to leave so that she can deliberate. Mandeville asks his friend Singleton if he ever “meditate[d] upon matrimony.” Mandeville tells Singleton that he loves his Louisa Davenant, but cannot approve of her, as she is vain and is unkind to him. Louisa enters; she and Mandeville bicker. Raven enters with a letter from Mandeville’s uncle Sir Mathew Moribund. Sir Mathew says that he will consult Hartshorn as his last measure against death. Mandeville goes to visit his uncle, despite thinking that this is a false alarm; however, before he departs, he admits to Louisa that he loves her. Louisa tells him that she knows this, but that she pities him in return.
Act II.
Raven arrives at Hartshorn’s to ask for his help in curing Sir Mathew. Hartshorn agrees to see the patient. Julia tells Hartshorn that Varnish has been providing for her since her father’s death; Hartshorn replies that Varnish is trying to trick her. One of Captain Sentamour’s friends will arrive the next day, and will be able to tell Julia of Sentamour’s activities. Raven returns to Sir Mathew’s and announces to the invalid that Louisa and Mandeville are coming to dine. Hartshorn arrives and tells Sir Mathew that he will be cured with a bottle of Madeira. Sentamour has returned to England; he tells his friend Lindsay that he intends to pass himself off as Lindsay when meeting Julia Clareville to better understand her heart without appealing to her sense of gratitude. Mrs. Hartshorn tells Julia that she had better quit the house and appeal to Mr. Varnish for protection. Sentamour (as Lindsay) arrives. Julia questions ‘Lindsay’ about Sentamour’s whereabouts and his health. She tells him that Varnish has been providing for her since her father’s death, but that she can never marry him because she would be motivated by the wrong impulse. ‘Lindsay’ suggests that Sentamour meet Varnish so as to determine who has been providing for Julia. To test ‘Lindsay’, who may become Hartshorn’s new apprentice, the latter gentleman asks him what he would have administered in Sir Mathew’s case; when ‘Lindsay’ replies that grog or Madeira would be correct, Hartshorn is delighted.
Act III.
Sir Mathew rejoices in his newfound energy. He tells the company that he intends to be married, and that Varnish had better take care as he may bait a hook to snare Julia. Mandeville warns Varnish that Sentamour may take an interest in Julia. Hartshorn enters and denies the extra payment that Sir Mathew tries to give him in thanks. Louisa arrives to say that she found Julia greatly distressed by a conversation with a man who knew her father. Mandeville suggests that Julia is in love; Louisa says that she is not acquainted with that particular sentiment. The unmarried Sir Mathew encourages all the others to marry. A message arrives from Hartshorn instructing Sir Mathew to take as much exercise and to be at as many public events as possible. Sentamour tells the real Lindsay that Julia’s heart is engaged elsewhere, but not to Varnish; Sentamour intends to be honourable and give Julia up. Varnish arrives; Julia gives him the hundred-pound bank bill and says that she can no longer accept money from him. Sentamour (as Lindsay) tells Varnish that Sentamour has been sending the money to Julia, as a document he produces proves. Varnish tells ‘Lindsay’ that he will quit Julia forever but that he looks forward to renewing their acquaintance shortly. When ‘Lindsay’ asks Julia whether she prefers any man (and that Sentamour will be sure to approve of the match), Julia all but confesses that she favours him, but that she does not want to become indebted to him for his kindness to her.
Act IV.
Mrs. Hartshorn tells her husband that she suspects that ‘Lindsay’ is a fraud who hopes to make off with Julia. ‘Lindsay’ enters and Hartshorn quizzes him about types of medicine; although ‘Lindsay’ bears up bravely, Hartshorn realizes that he is no true apothecary. ‘Lindsay’ confesses that he is Sentamour and that he is disguised to meet Julia on equal terms; Hartshorn is glad to find out that it is Sentamour who has been supporting Julia, not Varnish, who has been “dismissed for ever.” Louisa asks Julia to tell her what is bothering her; Julia admits that she loves Lindsay but that her father’s dying wish was for her to be united to Sentamour. Mandeville and Sentamour (as Lindsay) arrive, and Mandeville and Louisa leave ‘Lindsay’ and Sentamour alone together. Louisa sings a song about softhearted, silly women in love. Mandeville asks her to answer some questions with nods or shakes of the head; he finds out that she knows he loves her, that nothing prevents him from asking him to marry her, and that she will not accept him because he is too much like a lover and not enough like a husband. Sir Mathew enters to tell Mandeville that Varnish has accused him of making Julia dislike him. Louisa says she will defend Mandeville by marrying him the next day, to Mandeville’s delight. However, she tells Sir Mathew, her promise is false: she will have to spend at least a year before they are married becoming acclimatized to the country lifestyle she will have to live. Hartshorn goes to visit Varnish, who tells him that he is not displeased by his services as an apothecary but has been greatly angered by Hartshorn’s warnings to Julia against him. Varnish tells Hartshorn that he will deal only with Lindsay; Hartshorn departs, leaving Varnish with a bill.
Act V.
Sir Mathew tells Raven that he is glad that Louisa and Mandeville are to be married, as this saves him from having to produce heirs. Louisa consents to immediate marriage provided that there is no great ceremony. Varnish arrives to speak with Sir Mathew in private. Louisa goes to tell Julia a secret (with Mandeville’s permission). Varnish asks Sir Mathew to be his second in a duel with ‘Lindsay’; Sir Mathew tells him that this gentleman is really Sentamour and that he will willingly serve as a mediator between them. Sentamour and Lindsay (his second) wait for Varnish in the grove; Hartshorn offers to be Sentamour’s second, but the latter says he is already provided with one. Varnish arrives without a second. Sentamour tells Varnish that he would prefer not to fight because Varnish’s quarrel was with the fictitious Lindsay. Varnish accepts this proposition, atones for his wrongdoing, says he will quit the city, and wishes Sentamour the best in his suit with Julia. However, Sentamour tells him not to leave the city just yet; people will suspect that he has an ulterior motive for doing so. Louisa tells Julia that ‘Lindsay’ is in love with her and that he is really Sentamour. Sir Mathew enters and says that Sentamour has been challenged to a fight. Julia bursts into tears, thinking that her lover has bled for her. Sentamour runs in and confesses the deception; Julia tells him that she is overjoyed to find that the man she loves is the same as the man her father chose for her. Varnish apologizes, and Julia forgives him.
Secondary commentary |
None.
Varieties & Dialects |
Overview of varieties / dialects
Surprisingly little language variation: Julia, the Irishwoman, uses “look ye” (a stereotypically Irish idiom) and has one instance of non-standard grammar, Mandeville (a well-born man) uses “thou” and “you” inconsistently, and Hartshorn, the apothecary, speaks in sentence fragments, to his wife’s disgust.
Varieties / dialectsVariety: Julia
a. Sample of dialect
[page 5]
Julia.
Ah, but look ye now, Mr. Hartshorn. You are my own kind friend, that is true; but that is no reason I should tarry in your house, when your spouse don't like my company. She is your wife; I am only your encumbrance.
b.1 Orthography
b.2 Grammar: “your spouse don’t like”
b.3 Vocabulary: “look ye” (Irish)
c. Nationality: Irish
d. Character profile: orphaned daughter of a sailor
e. Consistency of representation: inconsistent (this is her only 'Irish' idiom)
Variety: Mandeville
a. Sample of dialect
[page 9]
Mand.
Friend Tom, friend Singleton, I want to have a little serious talk with you.
[Page 10 ]
Sing.
Out with it! and as serious as you please.
Mand.
Yes; I didn't come to this giggling place to be merry; I came to meditate. Prythee, Tom, didst ever meditate upon matrimony?
b.1 Orthography
b.2 Grammar: inconsistent “you” / “thou” use (“Prythee…didst ever” suggests “thou”)
b.3 Vocabulary
c. Nationality: English
d. Character profile: young well-born man
e. Consistency of representation: inconsistent
Variety: Hartshorn
a. Sample of dialect
[page 34]
Harts.
Gadso! I forgot. Hav'nt introduc'd you to Mrs. Hartshorn---hav'nt made you known to my dear Dolly---
(Introduces Lindsay.)
Fine woman; amiable creature; happy couple--- perfect sample of true nuptial felicity.
Mrs. H.
Don't believe him, Mr. Lindsay. He gabbles without thought. There is no continuity, as my first husband us'd to say, in his discourse.
b.1 Orthography
b.2 Grammar: sentence fragments (characteristic of all of Cumberland’s apothecaries?)
b.3 Vocabulary
c. Nationality: English
d. Character profile: apothecary
e. Consistency of representation: somewhat consistent
On an apothecary's speech:
Harts.
Gadso! I forgot. Hav'nt introduc'd you to Mrs. Hartshorn---hav'nt made you known to my dear Dolly---
(Introduces Lindsay.)
Fine woman; amiable creature; happy couple--- perfect sample of true nuptial felicity.
Mrs. H.
Don't believe him, Mr. Lindsay. He gabbles without thought. There is no continuity, as my first husband us'd to say, in his discourse.
Other points of interest |
None.
©2009 Arden Hegele