OLIVER GOLDSMITH'S LIFE AND TIMES. [BOOK m.
1759. "is right," said Quin, decisively. "I'faith, Bracey," said
m. 31. Gibber, taking snuff, and turning to his ancient partner in
theatrical glory, Mrs. Bracegirdle, " the lad is clever ! "
Justly was Garrick proud of that opinion; for only a year
before, the Apology had given proof of what a masterly critic
Gibber was, and all the old man's prejudices and tastes went
strongly counter to the admission thus wrung from. him. That
it was given, however, and in still stronger terms, may fairly
be inferred from what G-arrick goes on to say to his brother,
in this letter dated the 22nd December. " You perhaps would
" be glad to know what parts I have play'd. King Eichd,
" Jack Smatter in Pamela, Clody Fop's Fortune, Lothario
" Fair Penitent, Charnont Orphan, Ghost Hamlet, and shall
" soon be ready in Bays, in ye Rehearsal, and in ye part of
" Othello, Both which I believe will do Me and Giffard
" great service. I have had great success in all, and 'tis not
" yet determin'd whether I play Tragedy or Comedy best.
" Old Gibber has spoke with ye Greatest Commendation
" of my Acting." Of course the reader has observed that
the grave question as to Harlequin has not been answered.
But it creeps into the letter before its close. "As to
" playing a Harlequin, 'tis quite false. Yates * last season
" was taken very ill, and was not able to begin ye Entertain-
" ment; so I put on ye Dress, and did two or three scenes
" He plays all parts, and is a very good mimic. His acting I have seen, and may
" say to you, who -will not tell it again here, I see nothing wonderful in it; but
" it is heresy to say so : the Duke of Argyll says, ' he is superior to Betterton.' "
Cott. Lett. L 189.
* Then a brother aetor at Goodman's-fields, who afterwards married the cele-
brated actress, his second wife, for whom Goldsmith, as will hereafter be seen, had
the highest admiration. The occasion was, no doubt, when Yates in the preceding
March had to appear with Miss Hippisley, a Columbine, in a new pantomime called
'' Harlequin Student; or, the fall of Pantomime with ike Restoration of the Drama,
"the whole to conclude with a representation of Shakespeare's Monument as
" lately erected." Some Account of the English Stage (Bath, 1832) iii. 641,