last appearance on the Edinburgh stage. He was said to be in bad health, and so tired of his profession as to have destroyed his diary and all books connected with his stage life, and to have given away his stage wardrobe. He acted, however, more than once subsequently in Aberdeen and Dundee. He retired with a competency to live in St. Andrews, and returning from a party at Professor Playfair's, 5 May 1852, he was taken ill, and shortly afterwards died. Murray was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Dyke, sister of Mrs. Thomas Moore ; the second a Miss Gray, a member of his company. She survived until 1888. He left several children. More than one daughter played occasionally at the Theatre Royal, and a son, Henry Murray, in middle life became an actor.
An excellent actor in juvenile parts where no deep emotion or pathos had to be displayed, Murray was good also in comedy, and in what are known as 'character' parts he excelled. He wrote many dramas intended to serve a temporary purpose, and without literary aim. 'Diamond cut Diamond,' an interlude, from 'How to die for Love,' a translation from Kotzebue ; 'Cramond Brig,' assigned by error to Lockhart, and depreciated by Scott ; 'Mary Stuart,' 'Gilderoy,' and a burlesque of 'Romeo and Juliet,' were among his successes. His management was judicious and resolute, but did not escape the charge of being penurious ; his relations with dramatists were not always satisfactory, or even creditable ; and he suffered in later years from depression, uncertain temper, and an unreasonable fear of bankruptcy. About 1819 he helped to found the Edinburgh Theatrical Fund, and became a director. A special feature in Murray's management was the addresses he spoke at the beginning and close of a season, and on other occasions. These are both in verse and prose, are well written, effective, and not wanting in humour. A collection of them was published in 1851, and is now scarce. He was in the main a worthy man, staid, formal, and a trifle pedantic. Scott often makes friendly reference to him, and records how, in 'High Life below Stairs' (2 March 1827), Murray, answering the question 'Who wrote Shakespeare?' after one had answered Ben Jonson and another Finis, said 'No, it is Sir Walter Scott ; he confessed it at a public meeting the other day.'
A portrait of Murray by his friend, Sir William Allan, P.R.S.A., is in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
[Private information, in part kindly forwarded by James C. Dibdin, esq. ; Dibdin's Annals of the Edinburgh Stage ; Genest's Account of the English Stage ; the Farewell and Occasional Addresses delivered by W. H. Murray, Esq., Edinburgh, 1851 ; The Theatre, Edinburgh, 1851-2; Theatrical Inquisitor, vol. iv. London, 1814 ; Lockhart's Life of Scott ; Journal of Sir Walter Scott ; Memoirs of Charles Mathews, by Mrs. Mathews ; Tallis's Dramatic Magazine.]
MURRELL, JOHN (fl. 1630), writer on cookery, was a native of London and by profession a cook. He had travelled in France, Italy, and the Low Countries, and his foreign experiences greatly improved his knowledge of his art. With the methods of both French and Dutch cookery he was intimately acquainted. He was author of a popular treatise on his art, which was licensed for the press to John Browne on 29 April 1617, under the title 'The Ladies' Practise, or plaine and easie Directions for Ladies and Gentlewemen.' It was first published in 1621 as 'A Delightfull Daily Exercise for Ladies and Gentlewomen, whereby is set foorth the secrete Misteries of the purest Preservings in Glasse and other Confrictionaries, as making of Breads, Pastes, Preserves, Suckets, Marmalates, Tart Stuffes, Rough Candies, with many other Things never before in print, whereto is added a Booke of Cookery by John Murrell, professor thereof' (12mo, Brit. Mus.) In an address to 'all ladies and gentlemen and others whatsoever,' Murrell speaks of the favour previously extended to other books by him, none of which seem extant. Thomas Dewe, the publisher, advertises his readiness to sell the ' moulds ' described by Murrell in the text. About 1630 Murrell published another volume called 'A new Booke of Cookerie, with the newest art of Carving and Serving.' The first edition of 'Murrels Two Books of Cookerie and Carving 'a compilation from earlier works appeared in the same year. A long title-page describes the recipes as 'all set forth according to the now new English and French fashion.' The first book on cookery is dedicated, under date 20 July 1630, to Martha, daughter of Sir Thomas Hayes, lord mayor ; the second book to the wife of Sir John Brown. A fifth edition ' with new additions ' is dated 1638 (Brit. Mus.) Another edition was issued in 1641 (Bodl. Libr.), and a seventh in 1650. Murrell's writings especially his first volume which deals mainly with ornamental cookery give an attractive picture of the culinary art of his day. But they have their barbarous episodes. Murrell strongly recommended for invalids 'an excellent and much approved' beverage, of which the chief ingredients were white snails.
[Murrell's Works ; Quart. Rev. January 1894; Arber's Stationers' Registers, iii. 608.]
