CHAP. II.] DAVID GAKRICK.

" for Mm, but Nobody knew it but Min and Giffard. I know 1759.
" it has been said I play'd Harlequin at Covent Garden, jatTil
" but 'tis quite false." With, which imperfect explanation
Peter's ruffled dignity had to compose itself, as best it might.
The anticipation of a triumph in Bayes proved thoroughly
well-founded. After Bayes there was no disputing the pre-
dominance he had reached. To the roar of laughter and
delight at its imitations, what still remained of the old
school came tumbling down irrecoverably. " Heresy,"
growled Quin; * " Eeformation," cried Garrick; and the
smartness of the retort showed off also his pretensions as a
man of wit. Noblemen had him. to their houses; Pope came
out of his retirement to see him play; the great Mr. Murray,
leader of the King's Bench, forgot his briefs and his politics
to entertain him at supper in Lincohi's-inn-fields; ladies
fell in love with him; he had to write to Lichfield to protest
he was not going to be married; and if, in the last letter
I shall quote from this remarkable collection, and which is
dated within less than six months from the first I have
quoted, he refers to some of these distinctions and compli-
_ments with a modest and manly pride, let us admit that
some such set-off was needed to all the bitter mortifications
his brother Peter had been heaping upon him, and that
while he remains victor in the epistolary duel, he sings no

* " Pooh ! pooh !" exclaimed that old stage despot. " This Garrick is a new

"religion. Whitfield was followed for a time, but they'll all come to church.

"again." It was the "Bayes" which gave Quin mortal offence. Quin was

not himself among the actors who were ridiculed, but he took to himself the

laughter at others who were in fact his imitators and disciples. " Delane" says

Murphy "was at the head of his profession. He was tall and comely; had a

clear and strong voice, but was a mere declaimer. Grarrick began with him.

He retired to the upper part of the stage, and drawing his left arm across Ms

breast, rested his right elbow on it, raising a finger to his nose ; and then came

forward in a stately gait, nodding his head as he advanced, and in the exact

tone of Delane, spoke," &c., &c. Life, i. 53. And see Davies, Life, i. 47-8.ine business as soon as I can conveniently, and desire you'll let my Uncle