as announced as being
written by Thomas Morton, Esq.

"This was audacious enough in all conscience," says Mr. Barker, "but the
finesse was successful, and a play most probably otherwise destined to
neglect, ran like wild fire through all our theatres." On March 24, 1817,
there was acted in Philadelphia, Barker's "The Armourer's Escape; or,
Three Years at Nootka Sound," described by Mr. Barker as a melodramatic
sketch, founded on the adventures of John Jewett, the armourer of the ship
_Boston_, in which Jewett himself assumed the hero's role. This same year
he likewise wrote "How to Try a Lover," suggested by Le Brun's novel.
Finally, in 1824, on March 12, there was performed "Superstition," a
five-act drama. This closed the account that Barker sent to Dunlap.

We see from it a number of things relative to placing Barker as a literary
personage. First, his interest in literature made him draw from all
sources, combining Scott with Holinshed, and turning, as was the wont of
the cultivated American of that day, to the romantic literatures of the
past. Secondly, Barker's interest in Colonial History was manifest by his
return, time and time again, to Colonial records for dramatic material.
Furthermore, as a participant in the political disputes of his day, it
would have been a surprise had Barker not directed his pen to some
reflection of the discussions of the period.

James Nelson Barker was the son of the Honourable John Barker, one-time
Mayor of Philadelphia, and ex-Revolutionary soldier. He was born in that
city on June 17, 1784.

His education was received in Philadelphia, and he must have entered the
literary and political arenas at an early age. After the fashion of the
day, he was trained in the old-time courtesy and in the old-time manner of
defending one's honour with the sword, for it is recorded that he was once
severely wounded in a duel.

At the outbreak of the War of 1812, he received a commission, fighting
mostly on the Canadian frontier, and winning distinction as a Captain of
Artillery. After the close of the War, he was supported by the Democratic
Party, and elected Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. Later, he upheld
"Old Hickory" for the Presidency, and, after filling the position of the
Collector of the Port of Philadelphia from 1829-1838, on the election of
Van Buren to the presidency, he was appointed First Controller of the
Treasury, and moved to Washington. From that time on, he was connected