CHAP, n.] DAVID GARKICK.

" consideration that there is no alternative but to fly from 1759.

" him, in case of any neglect or contempt, to Mr. Eich, is JEt.31.

" enough to deter any man in his senses from embarking a

" second time on such a hopeless voyage." Manifestly,

however, this was neither the fault of Eich nor of

Gai-rick, but of the system which left both to shift as they

could, and made self-protection the primary law. " The

" manager," he continues, admitting the whole question at

issue in his complaints, " whether player or harlequin, must

"be the sole pivot on which the whole machine is both to

" move and rest; there is no drawback on the profit of the

" night in old plays; and any access of reputation to a dead

" author, carries no impertinent claims and invidious dis-

" tinctions along with it. When the playhouse is named,"

he added bitterly, " I make it a point to pull off my hat,

" and think myself obliged to the lowest implement belonging

" to it. I am ready to make my best acknowledgments

" to a harlequin, who has continence enough to look

" upon an author in the green-room, of what consideration

" soever, without laughing at him." Other pamphlets

followed in the cry; and Ned Purdon drew up a number of

anonymous suggestions as to " how Mr. Garrick ought to

" behave." *

It was employment of this tone which introduced needless
elements of bitterness. The charge was a simple one,
and might have been stated simply. No doubt Garrick,
in common with every manager-actor, before or since his
time, was fairly exposed to it. I have turned to the play-
bills of the season directly preceding the appearance of

* For which he was afterwards obliged to apologise to the people abused, and
to promise the public, by advertisement, never to oifend again in the like manner.
Monthly Review, xxi. 368.sit down and be