Bernard had done writing for him before "Rip." In 1831, J. K. Paulding's
"The Lion of the West" had proven so successful, as to warrant Bernard's
transferring the popular _Col. Nimrod Wildfire_ to another play, "The
Kentuckian." Then, in 1837, Hackett corresponded with Washington Irving
about dramatizing the "Knickerbocker History," which plan was consummated
by Bernard as "Three Dutch Governors," even though Irving was not
confident of results. Hackett went out of his way for such native
material. Soon after his appearance as _Rip_, the following notice
appeared in the New York _Evening Post_, for April 24, 1830:

Prize Comedy.--The Subscriber, desirous of affording some pecuniary
inducement for more frequent attempts at dramatizing the manners
and peculiarities of our own country, and the numerous subjects
and incidents connected with its history, hereby offers to the
writer of the best Comedy in 3 acts, in which a principal
character shall be an original of this country, the sum of Two
Hundred and Fifty Dollars--the decision to be made by a committee
of competent literary gentlemen, whose names shall duly be made
public. The manuscripts to be sent to the address of the
subscriber through the Post Office, before _1st September, next,_
each accompanied with a letter communicating the address to which
the author would desire his production returned, if unsuccessful,
together with his _name_ in a _sealed enclosure_, which will only
be opened in the event of his obtaining the Prize.

Jas. H. Hackett,
64 Reed Street, New York

Many such prize contests were the fashion of the day.

Mr. James K. Hackett, in reminiscence, writes: "My mother used to tell me
that Joe Jefferson played the part like a German, whereas _Rip_ was a
North River Dutchman, and in those days dialects were very marked in our
country. But my father soon became identified with the part of _Falstaff_,
and he used to say, 'Jefferson is a younger man than I, so I'll let him
have _Rip_. I don't care to play against him'."

A stage version of the Irving story was made by one John H. Hewitt, of
Baltimore, and during the season of 1833-34 was played in that city by
William Isherwood. It was after this that Charles Burke (1822-1854) turned
his attention to the play, and, as is shown in the text here reproduced,
drew heavily upon Kerr. Winter says that he depended