OLIVER GOLDSMITH'S LIFE AFD TIMES. [BOOK m.
1'59- elderly gentleman of Lichfield, one Mr. Swynfen, and the
M-31- letter which he wrote on the following day to "Mr. Peter
" Garwick," lies now before me, with post-mark corresponding
to its date of the 20th of October 1741. Many there are,
this good old citizen does not question, who, .because their
fathers were called gentlemen, or perhaps themselves the
first, will think it a disgrace and a scandal that the child
of an old friend should endeavour to get an honest liveli-
hood, and is not content to live in a scanty manner all his life
because his father was a gentleman. But Mr. Swynfen thinks
he knows "Mr. Garwick" well enough to be convinced
that he has not the same sentiments ; and he knows better
of his friend's judgment than to suppose him partaking of
the prejudices of other country friends of theirs, who have
been most used to theatrical performances in town-halls, &c,
by strollers, and will be apt to imagine the highest pitch a
man can arrive at on the stage is about that exalted degree
of heroism which they two, in old days at Lichfield, used to
laugh and cry at in " the Herberts and the Hallams ;" but,
as he does not doubt but that Mr. Peter will soon hear
" my good friend David Garwick performed last night at
" Goodman's Fields theatre," for fear lie should hear any
false or malicious account that may perhaps be disagreeable
to him, " I will give you the truth," says the good old gentle-
man plunging into it, " which much pleased me. I was there,
" and was witness to a most general applause He gain'd in
"the character of-Richard the Third; for I believe their
" was not one in the' House that was not in Eaptures, and
" I heard several Men of Judgment declare it their Opinion
" that nobody ever excelled Him in that Part; and that they
" were surprised, with so peculiar a Genius, how it was
" possible for Him to keep of the Stage so long." It is to