Barry left Astley's Circus in 1848 after falling-out with another clown, though he later returned, he retired permanently in 1856 after another disagreement.

[1][2] The townspeople rewarded his performance by commissioning an oil portrait of Barry that was presented to him "as a mark of their esteem of his public & private worth".

[1] The trick, first devised by Dicky Usher in 1809, was achieved by having the tub pulled by a rowboat attached by an underwater line.

[5] Barry demanded the right to choose which parts Wallett would be allocated to play in the show but this was denied and he left Astley's Circus.

He appeared before a court at Lambeth in 1850 charged with assaulting William Henry Harvey, the ballet master at Astley's.

[1][12] Barry left Astley's Circus for the final time in 1856 when he was denied the first choice of parts in the show.

[1] In 1857 he was known to be unwell and William Cooke, the manager of Astley's Circus, hosted a benefit show for Barry, providing free use of a venue.