OLIYEE GOLDSMITH'S LIFE AND TIMES. [BOOK m.

1759. Backed by which honest purposes may he not again
jEtli. venture to tell his brother that he is very near quite resolved
to be a player; as he has the best judgment of the best
judges, who to a man are of opinion that he shall turn out
(nay, they say that already he is) not only the best tragedian
but comedian in England. "I would not," he prettily
interposes here, " say so much to any body else ; but as this
"may somewhat palliate my folly, you must excuse me.
" Mr. Littleton was wth Me last Night, and took me by ye
" hand and said, he never saw such playing upon ye English
" Stage before." And for other more practical proofs of his
success, he tells Peter that he has had great offers from
Fleetwood; that they have had finer business than either
Dmry Lane or Covent Garden; that Mr. Giffard himself
had given him. yesterday twenty guineas for a ticket; and
(for a climax) that next week he designed buying SOOZ. of his
stock out of his profits of playing. So, as to the business
between them, and the selling off of their joint stock in
London, if his brother should want more money than his
share comes to, he will supply it. In conclusion he admits
that the trade is rather better than it was, but, his mind
being quite turned another way, he desires to be released as
soon as possible from it.

Now, that this was a highly practical, business-like letter,
though written by a flighty stage-player, even the obstinately
unbelieving Peter appears to have felt. It went, at any rate,
straight to the heart of the partnership affairs between them;
and, however reluctantly, he would seem to have made up
his mind to accept it as the best of a bargain that must be
any way a bad one. But one matter he should like to have
cleared up. Had his brother really "been playing Harleqmn,
as reported, before he came out at Goodman's Fields ?you service than any other way."l let him know what he resolves upon, thepposition.'1 Works, ii. 185.b, and