The second play, "Raleigh," is very differently constructed; for whereas the time of action in "Alfred" was three days,--that of "Raleigh" was sixty years: in fact with the former I dramatised a single conquest, with the latter the varied battles of a long life. I have several times read all my plays before audiences at my readings, and know the points that tell. In "Raleigh" the introduction of Shakespeare, the cloak incident, the trial scene, Elizabeth's death, and the terrible climax of the noble victim's execution on the stage, seemed chiefly to interest and excite the audience.
I wrote "Washington" principally to please my many friends in America, whither I was going for a second time; but it rather damped me to find, when at Philadelphia during its Grand Exhibition, and was giving "Readings out of my own Works" through the Star Company, that my _entrepreneur_ stoutly objected to my proposal to read this new play of mine, with the remark,--"No, sir, our people are tired of George Washington,--he's quite played out: give us anything else of yours you like." As he was my financial provider, and paid well, of course I had to acquiesce.
Perhaps the most interesting thing in the play was the account of my discovery of Washington's heraldry: here is part of the passage; the whole being too long to quote: one asks "Coat-of-arms?--what was this coat-of-arms?" and Franklin answers,--
"I'll tell you, friends, I've searched it out and known it for myself, When late in England there, at Herald's College And found the Washingtons of Wessyngton In county Durham and of Sulgrave Manor, County Northampton, bore upon their shield Three stars atop, two stripes across the field Gules--that is red--on white, and for the crest An eagle's head upspringing to the light, It's motto, Latin, "Issue proveth acts." The architraves at Sulgrave testify, And sundry painted windows in the hall At Wessyngton, this was their family coat. They took it to their new Virginian home: And at Mount Vernon I myself have noted An old cast-iron scutcheoned chimney-back Charged with that heraldry."
In my first American Journal will be found more about this discovery of mine--in 1851--then quite new even to Americans. Here in London, Mr. Tuffley of Chelsea and Northampton has popularised the original coat-of-arms with a view to ornamental jewellery for our Transatlantic cousins.